Patents Assigned to SkyBitz, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11120393
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing asset utilization using satellite aided location tracking. Smart sensor technology incorporated into mobile tracking hardware affixed to an asset can be used to support decision processes related to management of multiple assets. Automated decision processes based on customized business rules can operate on asset positions at various defined landmark locations and customized geographical areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: John McKethan
  • Publication number: 20200302383
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing asset utilization using satellite aided location tracking. Smart sensor technology incorporated into mobile tracking hardware affixed to an asset can be used to support decision processes related to management of multiple assets. Automated decision processes based on customized business rules can operate on asset positions at various defined landmark locations and customized geographical areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: John McKethan
  • Patent number: 10614409
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing asset utilization using satellite aided location tracking. Smart sensor technology incorporated into mobile tracking hardware affixed to an asset can be used to support decision processes related to management of multiple assets. Automated decision processes based on customized business rules can operate on asset positions at various defined landmark locations and customized geographical areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: John McKethan
  • Patent number: 9841506
    Abstract: A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal, forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal needs only to gather a few milliseconds of observation data, and to relay this observation data to the processor. In one embodiment, the observation data is communicated to the processor using either a satellite communication network or through a mobile telephone network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Brosius, Richard Burtner
  • Patent number: 9784848
    Abstract: A system and method for position determination using low earth orbit satellites. A mobile terminal affixed to an asset initiates a collection of global positioning system satellite measurements (e.g., code phase) based on a hardware trigger generated by a low earth orbit satellite modem. Timing information reflective of the time of the hardware trigger pulse is transmitted to an operations center along with the global positioning system satellite measurements to enable the operations center to determine a position of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Harvey, Craig Malone, Uday Shankar, Mike Walgren, Corwin Walker Young
  • Patent number: 9784583
    Abstract: A system and method for reporting a status of an asset is described. In one embodiment, an asset status is determined based on configurable parameters to thereby enable accurate reporting of departures and arrivals of an asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 9717066
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a low-power local-area network for use with a mobile terminal satellite modem. This low-power local-area network enables sensors on an asset to transmit sensor data to a mobile terminal affixed on the asset. The mobile terminal reports the sensor data along with asset position information to a centralized facility via a communications satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 9704399
    Abstract: A system and method for adaptive motion sensing with location determination is described. In one embodiment, the adaptive motion sensor is based on vibration sensor readings and can identify different states of motions based on modifiable parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Battista, Jianming Yuan
  • Patent number: 9607499
    Abstract: A satellite aided location tracking and data services with user interface. A graphical user interface is provided that enables users to monitor the status of movable assets. Detailed information in a position history enables the user to obtain status information (e.g., starts and stops) at each position report. This status information promotes visibility into the journey of each movable asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 9607282
    Abstract: A multi-mode asset tracking and monitoring system and method is provided that enables comprehensive reporting of asset position, status, and alerts. In one embodiment, the multi-mode system and method is based on the addition of a local network monitoring system to a wide area satellite network monitoring system. In this example, the local network monitoring system would add container presence and status monitoring in crowded environments (e.g., within a port facility, on-board a ship, etc.), while the wide area satellite network monitoring system would provide tracking and monitoring coverage when the container is in dispersed environments. Both the local and wide area monitoring systems work together to provide end-to-end container tracking and monitoring to thereby ensure continuous container tracking and monitoring from container loading to container unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Brosius, III
  • Patent number: 9496946
    Abstract: A system and method for improving efficiency of satellite communications is described. In one embodiment, multiple return links are associated with a single forward link to reduce communications costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Battista, John W. Brosius, Uday Shankar
  • Patent number: 9482758
    Abstract: A geographic tracking system with minimal power and size required at the mobile terminal collects observation data at the mobile terminal and forwards the data to a processor, which calculates the position. The mobile terminal is configured to measure both code phase and data phase of a GPS satellite signal. The code phase and data phase information enables the processor to reduce the number of candidate points to be considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Brosius, III
  • Patent number: 9470797
    Abstract: Various implementations of the invention comprise a position tracking module, a transmitter, and a controller. The position tracking module collects measurements from a plurality of positioning satellites, where the collected measurements may be used to determine a position of said mobile terminal. The transmitter transmits status reports to an operations center. The controller controls an activation of the transmitter based on an analysis of a geographic cost function, where the geographic cost function identifies a geographic area in which the controller alters a communication parameter of the mobile terminal. The alteration of the communication parameter may be used by the operations center as a basis for a change in a billing rate during at least part of a time that the mobile terminal is resident within the geographic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Walgren, Craig Malone, Homaira Akbari
  • Patent number: 9264995
    Abstract: A system and method for improving efficiency of satellite communications is described. In one embodiment, efficient satellite communications is enabled through event-driven reporting by a mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Battista, John W. Brosius, III, Uday Shankar
  • Patent number: 9258796
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a low-power local-area network for use with a mobile terminal satellite modem. This low-power local-area network enables sensors on an asset to transmit sensor data to a mobile terminal affixed on the asset. The mobile terminal reports the sensor data along with asset position information to a centralized facility via a communications satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 9223028
    Abstract: A GPS receiver acquires carrier frequency and Gold code phase using short segments of a received GPS signal. In one embodiment, a 1-ms segment of the GPS signal is transformed to the frequency domain. This is multiplied by a frequency representation of the Gold code. The resulting product is converted to the time domain, and a peak is detected. The location of the peak corresponds to the code phase. If no peak is located, the carrier frequency is changed. Full- and half-bin steps in carrier frequency are considered. Processing gain is achieved by using longer segments of the input signal, for example 4 or 16 ms and integrating 1-ms segments. Considerations are provided for compensating for the effects of a transition, should it occur in the short segment of the GPS signal being processed. Integrations can be performed using non-coherent and coherent techniques. Adjustments are made for non-integral millisecond segment lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark C. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9128179
    Abstract: A system and method for adaptive motion sensing with location determination is described. In one embodiment, the adaptive motion sensor is based on vibration sensor readings and can identify different states of motions based on modifiable parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Battista, Jianming Yuan
  • Patent number: 9064421
    Abstract: A system and method for reporting a status of an asset is described. In one embodiment, an asset status is determined based on configurable parameters to thereby enable accurate reporting of departures and arrivals of an asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 8971227
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing a low-power local-area wireless network for use with a mobile terminal satellite modem. This low-power local-area wireless network enables sensors on an asset to wirelessly transmit sensor data to a mobile terminal affixed on the asset. The mobile terminal reports the sensor data along with asset position information to a centralized facility via a communications satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Battista
  • Patent number: 8929279
    Abstract: A system and method for improving efficiency of satellite communications is described. In one embodiment, efficient satellite communications is enabled through event-driven reporting by a mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc.
    Inventors: Rich Battista, Jay Brosius, Uday Shankar