Patents by Inventor Winfeng Li

Winfeng Li has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9582692
    Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader is provided The RFID reader includes a transmitter/receiver module configured to transmit a radio signal at a plurality of different power levels, and a control module coupled to the transmitter/receiver module and configured to control the power level at which the radio signal is transmitted based on a number of RFID tags detected when transmitting the radio signal at an initial power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Timothy M. Mitchell, Anil Kumar, Winfeng Li, Kevin Yong Ung
  • Patent number: 9576167
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method involves transmitting a first transmit signal(s) having a first signal strength and/or a first field of view (FOV), thereby establishing a first radiation region. The method further involves receiving a first receive signal(s) radiated from an EMID tag(s). Also, the method involves transmitting a second transmit signal(s) having a second signal strength and/or a second field of view (FOV), thereby establishing a second radiation region. In addition, the method involves receiving a second receive signal(s) radiated from an EMID tag(s). Additionally, the method involves subtracting the second radiation region from the first radiation region to determine a difference region. Also, the method involves determining which of the EMID tags are located within the difference region by using the first receive signal(s) and the second receive signal(s). Further, the method involves determining a location of the EMID tag(s) located within the difference region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Anil Kumar, Winfeng Li, Arun Ayyagari, Kevin Y. Ung, Sudhakar S. Shetty
  • Patent number: 9344439
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for executing unprotected mode services in a protected mode computing environment includes initiating a protected mode service that is configured to execute in a protected mode. Further, the method includes verifying an integrity of one or more unprotected mode services configured to execute in an unprotected mode. The one or more unprotected mode services is registered with the protected mode service. The method also includes initiating an unprotected mode service of the one or more unprotected mode services in response to the integrity of the unprotected mode service being verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Blair, Winfeng Li, Arun Ayyagari, Lester L. Houston, III
  • Publication number: 20150363616
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method involves transmitting a first transmit signal(s) having a first signal strength and/or a first field of view (FOV), thereby establishing a first radiation region. The method further involves receiving a first receive signal(s) radiated from an EMID tag(s). Also, the method involves transmitting a second transmit signal(s) having a second signal strength and/or a second field of view (FOV), thereby establishing a second radiation region. In addition, the method involves receiving a second receive signal(s) radiated from an EMID tag(s). Additionally, the method involves subtracting the second radiation region from the first radiation region to determine a difference region. Also, the method involves determining which of the EMID tags are located within the difference region by using the first receive signal(s) and the second receive signal(s). Further, the method involves determining a location of the EMID tag(s) located within the difference region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Anil Kumar, Winfeng Li, Arun Ayyagari, Kevin Y. Ung, Sudhakar S. Shetty
  • Patent number: 9178897
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in identifying cyber-security threats for an aircraft are provided. The method includes storing parts information relating to each hardware and software component used on the aircraft in an aircraft parts database, receiving, by a computing device, a cyber-security threat, and determining, by the computing device, a threat is relevant to the aircraft by comparing the received threats to the stored parts information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John Eric Bush, Arun Ayyagari, Winfeng Li, Shawn W. Lorimer, Matthew L. Benson, Steven J. Bates, John A. Craig
  • Patent number: 9171167
    Abstract: Methods and systems for use in in analyzing cyber-security threats for an aircraft are described herein. One example method includes generating an interconnection graph for a plurality of interconnected aircraft systems. The interconnection graph includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links. The method also includes defining a cost function for a cyber-security threat to traverse each link and defining a requirements function for a cyber-security threat to exploit each node. The method further includes generating a set of threat traversal graphs for each cyber-security threat of a plurality of cyber-security threats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arun Ayyagari, Winfeng Li, John Eric Bush, Sudhakar S. Shetty, Brian C. Grubel, Dion S. Reid
  • Patent number: 9162776
    Abstract: An aircraft safety and configuration monitoring system includes a plurality of RFID equipped items, a plurality of RFID interrogators communicating with the plurality of RFID equipped items, a processor communicating with the plurality of RFID interrogators and adapted to determine an issue with respect to any of the plurality of RFID equipped items and an indicating mechanism communicating with the processor and adapted to indicate the issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Rebecca Shore, Steve Kopecki, Winfeng Li, William P. Coop, Thanh D. Hoang, Swanee Yourkowski, Kevin Yong Ung, Yucheng Zheng, Robert Lee Avery, Christopher B. Kettering
  • Patent number: 9131529
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed to facilitate operation of a network. First network state data descriptive of a first network state is received. The first network data includes network demand associated with nodes of a dynamic network, where the nodes of the dynamic network include at least one movable node. The first network data also includes a node state of each node of the dynamic network. At least one first link is automatically established between two or more nodes of the dynamic network to satisfy at least a portion of the network demand. Link data is generated where the link data is descriptive of node utilization, the at least one first link, and assignment of the portion of the network demand to the at least one first link. One or more changes to the dynamic network are modeled based on the link data to identify a second network state, wherein the second network state satisfies a greater quantity of the network demand than the first network state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Arun Ayyagari, Winfeng Li, Craig F. Battles, Michael A. Dorsett
  • Publication number: 20150207805
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for executing unprotected mode services in a protected mode computing environment includes initiating a protected mode service that is configured to execute in a protected mode. Further, the method includes verifying an integrity of one or more unprotected mode services configured to execute in an unprotected mode. The one or more unprotected mode services is registered with the protected mode service. The method also includes initiating an unprotected mode service of the one or more unprotected mode services in response to the integrity of the unprotected mode service being verified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Blair, Winfeng Li, Arun Ayyagari, Lester L. Houston, III
  • Patent number: 9067690
    Abstract: An anomaly detection and cataloging system is described that includes a handheld probe having a probe tip, a user interface, and a communications interface. The system further includes a system controller and a probe locating device. The probe is operable, via the user interface, for transmitting, via the communications interface, a user selected anomaly type to the system controller, the anomaly type being associated with a manufactured part or airplane on the ground (AOG). The probe locating device is operable to provide to the system controller a location associated with the probe tip, and the system is programmed to associate the user selected anomaly type with the location associated with the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel Francis Pedigo, Brice A. Johnson, Craig Farris Battles, Donald L. Kaiser, Kimberly Jyl Kaiser, Richard Neil Blair, Winfeng Li, James M. Cobb, Matthew W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140380485
    Abstract: Methods and systems for use in in analyzing cyber-security threats for an aircraft are described herein. One example method includes generating an interconnection graph for a plurality of interconnected aircraft systems. The interconnection graph includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of links. The method also includes defining a cost function for a cyber-security threat to traverse each link and defining a requirements function for a cyber-security threat to exploit each node. The method further includes generating a set of threat traversal graphs for each cyber-security threat of a plurality of cyber-security threats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arun Ayyagari, Winfeng Li, John Eric Bush, Sudhakar S. Shetty, Brian C. Grubel, Dion S. Reid
  • Patent number: 8791823
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing parts. Location information is displayed for a part on an aircraft on a mobile device. A determination is made as to whether the part is present in a location using a sensor system in the mobile device when the mobile device is in a zone including the location. A presence of the part in the location is indicated in response to the part being present in the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alekzander Hao Xu, Winfeng Li, Arun Ayyagari, Anil Kumar, David B. Blackwell, Kevin Yong Ung
  • Publication number: 20140013431
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in identifying cyber-security threats for an aircraft are provided. The method includes storing parts information relating to each hardware and software component used on the aircraft in an aircraft parts database, receiving, by a computing device, a cyber-security threat, and determining, by the computing device, a threat is relevant to the aircraft by comparing the received threats to the stored parts information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: John Eric Bush, Arun Ayyagari, Winfeng Li, Shawn W. Lorimer, Matthew L. Benson, Steven J. Bates, John A. Craig
  • Publication number: 20130054176
    Abstract: An anomaly detection and cataloging system is described that includes a handheld probe having a probe tip, a user interface, and a communications interface. The system further includes a system controller and a probe locating device. The probe is operable, via the user interface, for transmitting, via the communications interface, a user selected anomaly type to the system controller, the anomaly type being associated with a manufactured part or airplane on the ground (AOG). The probe locating device is operable to provide to the system controller a location associated with the probe tip, and the system is programmed to associate the user selected anomaly type with the location associated with the probe tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Samuel Francis Pedigo, Brice A. Johnson, Craig Farris Battles, Donald L. Kaiser, Kimberly Jyl Kaiser, Richard Neil Blair, Winfeng Li, James M. Cobb, Matthew W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120306666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing parts. Location information is displayed for a part on an aircraft on a mobile device. A determination is made as to whether the part is present in a location using a sensor system in the mobile device when the mobile device is in a zone including the location. A presence of the part in the location is indicated in response to the part being present in the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Alekzander Hao Xu, Winfeng Li, Arun Ayyagari, Anil Kumar, David B. Blackwell, Kevin Yong Ung
  • Patent number: 8231062
    Abstract: A formable RFID tag includes a tag inlay including a composite polymer material having a pliant and flexible pre-cured state and a hardened cured state, non-rigid RFID circuitry embedded in the tag inlay and a non-rigid RFID antenna embedded in the tag inlay and interfacing with the RFID circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arun Ayyagari, Kevin Yong Ung, Winfeng Li, William P. Coop, Thanh D. Hoang, Swanee Yourkowski, Rebecca Shore, Yucheng Zheng, Robert Lee Avery, Christopher B. Kettering
  • Publication number: 20120044092
    Abstract: An aircraft safety and configuration monitoring system includes a plurality of RFID equipped items, a plurality of RFID interrogators communicating with the plurality of RFID equipped items, a processor communicating with the plurality of RFID interrogators and adapted to determine an issue with respect to any of the plurality of RFID equipped items and an indicating mechanism communicating with the processor and adapted to indicate the issue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Rebecca Shore, Steve Kopecki, Winfeng Li, William P. Coop, Thanh D. Hoang, Swanee Yourkowski, Kevin Yong Ung, Yucheng Zheng, Robert Lee Avery, Christopher B. Kettering