Patents Examined by Brian Wilson
  • Patent number: 11030840
    Abstract: A wearable device is used to authenticate a user into a user account at a user device of the user. In particular, the wearable device may include a sensor configured to detect whether the wearable device is worn by or is with the user. If so, the wearable device may send a signal to the user device and the user device may authenticate the user based on the signal received from the wearable device. For example, when the sensor detects that the wearable device is worn by the user, the wearable device may send a unique signal periodically, such as every five seconds or every 10 seconds. Based on whether the unique signal from the wearable device is received, the user device may authenticate the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Megan Marie Williams, Michael Hwang, Michelle Serrano
  • Patent number: 11024104
    Abstract: A method for conducting an interaction using a vehicle is disclosed. A vehicle can be identified based on one or more vehicle characteristics, including a license plate number, a make, a model, and a color. A user credential can be identified based on the vehicle and used for an interaction. Additionally, user contact information can be identified based on the vehicle and the user can be contacted to approve the interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Sivanarayana Gaddam, Gaurav Kohli, Gyan Prakash
  • Patent number: 11015441
    Abstract: A transmitter is carried proximate to an inground tool for sensing a plurality of operational parameters relating to the inground tool. The transmitter customizes a data signal to characterize one or more of the operational parameters for transmission from the inground tool based on the operational status of the inground tool. A receiver receives the data signal and recovers the operational parameters. Advanced data protocols are described. Pitch averaging and enhancement of dynamic pitch range for accelerometer readings are described based on monitoring mechanical shock and vibration of the inground tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Merlin Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert W. Chau, Loc Viet Lam, Scott Phillips
  • Patent number: 11011036
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer programs, for tracking objects are disclosed. In one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes actions of obtaining an image, determining that a user of a first monitoring system has opted-in for object tracking by a second monitoring system that is remote from the first monitoring system, and based on a determination that the user of the first monitoring system has opted-in for object tracking: determining whether the obtained image satisfies a predetermined level of similarity to a stored tracking object image model stored on a first device of the first monitoring system, and based on a determination that the obtained image satisfies a predetermined level of similarity to the stored tracking object image model, generating a tracking update notification, and transmitting the tracking update notification to the second monitoring system that is remote from the first monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald Madden, Daniel Todd Kerzner, Stephanie Sun Kinney
  • Patent number: 11004076
    Abstract: A method and system of using a vehicle mounted camera device to authenticate a user during an interaction is disclosed. The method includes receiving interaction data regarding an interaction between a user operating a communication device and an access device, the user being near other candidate users. The method then includes determining one or more match indicators, the match indicators generated by comparing different sample biometric templates of the user with different enrolled biometric templates. At least one of the different biometric sample templates may be an image-based biometric template and at least one may be a voice print biometric template. Then the method includes identifying the user based on at least the match indicator associated with the voice print biometric template. The method then includes, if the match indicators are positive match indicators, initiating a process on behalf of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Visa International Service Association
    Inventors: Sunpreet Arora, Lacey Best-Rowden, Kim Wagner, Saman Sarraf
  • Patent number: 10994654
    Abstract: A rear pre-crash safety system of a vehicle comprising a judgement logic adapted to issue at least one collision warning signal in response to a detected radar signal reflected by an object approaching the vehicle from behind depending on a radar cross section, RCS, of the approaching object and depending on a velocity of the approaching object relative to the respective vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Gladys Acervo, Koji Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10997681
    Abstract: A device (30) is used to cushion at least one object (12a) in a container (10a). According to the invention, the device comprises: an automatic reading device (32) for reading an item of information which is present on the container (10a) and relates to a predetermined amount of cushioning material (28a-c) for a predefined combination of container (10a) and object (12a); a cushioning material provisioning device (38) for providing cushioning material (28a-c); and a control device (36) which receives a signal, based on the item of read information, from the automatic reading device (32) and initiates supply of the corresponding cushioning material (28a-c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Storopack Hans Reichenecker GMBH
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Slovencik, Paul Deis
  • Patent number: 10991215
    Abstract: An intelligent sign, such as an exit or other informational sign, is equipped with control circuitry, at least one sensor, and in certain embodiments, a communication interface. The control circuitry can monitor sensor data from the associated sensors. The sensor data bears on various conditions or events associated with the area that is associated with the exit sign. Based on the sensor data, the intelligent sign can provide one or more operations. A sign operation may include any operation provided by the intelligent sign. When equipped with the communication interface, the intelligent sign may control its own internal operation and/or control the operation of other entities based on the sensor data, the type of sensor data, the content of the sensor data, and the like. The intelligent sign may also share sensor data or other information derived from the sensor data with other entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
    Inventor: John Roberts
  • Patent number: 10981503
    Abstract: A warning system implemented in a vehicle includes a proximity warning module and a display module. The proximity warning module is configured to detect an object approaching the vehicle and generate a proximity warning signal. The display module is configured to display a signal in the side area when the proximity warning signal is generated, where a position of the signal is determined based on a relative direction of the object to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Mindtronic AI Co., Ltd., Shanghai XPT Technology Limited
    Inventors: Mu-Jen Huang, Ya-Li Tai, Yu-Sian Jiang
  • Patent number: 10966658
    Abstract: A lifestyle service with data and routines storable in a memory of a wearable electronic device is discussed. The lifestyle service has at least a Sleep data routine and an Activity data routine. The lifestyle service can cooperate with an insight engine. The lifestyle service is aware of different types of information contained in one or more time synchronous applications. The system can compare tracked physical activity data with historical data in set increments in light of the information in the time synchronous applications and then communicate notifications to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Aaron Surbur, Heather Mehle Shapiro, Kevin Thomas Hill
  • Patent number: 10960850
    Abstract: A tamper detection system is disclosed. The tamper detection system may include an electronic control module (ECM) of a machine and a tamper detection module. The tamper detection module may detect, while the machine is powered off, an opening of a switch that is associated with a component of the machine. The opening of the switch may indicate tampering with the component of the machine. The tamper detection module may set, while the machine is powered off, a state of a latch based on detecting the opening of the switch. The state, while set, may indicate that the switch was opened. The tamper detection module may cause, when the machine is powered on, the ECM to provide an indication that tampering with the component of the machine has occurred based on the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Neyens, Fernando Venegas, Brian R. Huffman
  • Patent number: 10945925
    Abstract: A smart bottle used for storing liquids and medications is disclosed. The smart bottle includes electronics, memory, and a processor that causes alarms and reminders for user to take their medications in a timely manner. The bottle shaped smart bottle is essentially an electronic device with liquid and medication storage compartments. It includes speaker for providing audible alerts to the users as well as their caregivers. It also includes a microphone that can be used by the user or caregiver to provide instructions relating to the intake of medication or to assist patients that have hand or finger arthritis. The bottle has a longitudinal and circular body with a cap that can be twisted on/off at its top. The top, or the cap, is a smart cap that carries core intelligence and electronics. It comprises a microprocessor, in-built real-time clock, speaker and lights for intuitive alarms and microphone to hear the voice of user for ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Miteshkumar Ishwarbhai Patel, Raj Kalpesh Patel, Rihen Shah, Sweet Swagatika, Yash Nebhwani, Amit Shakya
  • Patent number: 10943482
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an input to receive identifier parameters for one or more identifiers, where the identifiers are displayable at a display device mounted or mountable in a vehicle. The apparatus may comprise a storage device to store identifier parameters for at least one of the one or more identifiers. The apparatus may also comprise a locating module to determine a location parameter relating to the display device. Also the apparatus may comprise a processor to select an identifier for display at the display device based, at least in part, on the stored identifier parameters for one of the one or more identifiers matching the location parameter relating to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Arm IP Limited
    Inventors: Francois Christopher Jacques Botman, Thomas Christopher Grocutt, Daryl Wayne Bradley, Marianne Crowder
  • Patent number: 10943165
    Abstract: An antenna device incorporated in an electronic apparatus and communicating with an external device via an electromagnetic field signal, including: an antenna coil inductively coupled to the external device and provided by winding around a conducting wire in planar shape; a magnetic sheet arranged to overlap with the antenna coil mutually along the antenna coil by inserting the magnetic sheet into a coil opening provided at center side of the antenna coil; and a metallic cover formed with an opening near an end of the metallic cover and arranged at surface side of the antenna coil opposing to the external device, wherein the antenna coil is arranged to overlap with the metallic cover in a region between the opening and the end of the metallic cover at a backside surface of the metallic cover opposite to a surface of the metallic cover opposing to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuhisa Orihara
  • Patent number: 10937545
    Abstract: A centralized monitoring unit (CMU) receiving patient monitoring data from multiple patient monitoring devices includes at least two monitoring technician stations and an assignment management module. Each monitoring technician station is configured to present alarms for each patient in the group of patients to a CMU technician. The assignment management module is executable by a processing system to calculate a load index for each monitoring technician station based on alarms for patients in the group of patients. The load index for each monitoring technician station is calculated based on at least one of a number of alarms, an alarm type of each alarm, a severity of each alarm, and a duration of continuous alarming at the monitoring technician station. Assignment of the multiple patients amongst the at least two monitoring technician stations is then distributed based on the load indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventor: Brian D. Janssen
  • Patent number: 10926701
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes: a surrounding-image generation circuit that generates a surrounding image that is a view of surroundings of a mobile object from above; an image display circuit that displays an assistance image at a position of an empty parking space in the surrounding image, the first assistance image indicating the empty parking space; and a turning determination circuit that determines whether the mobile object is turning. In a case where it is determined by the turning determination circuit that the mobile object is turning, the image display circuit prohibits the assistance image from being displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Ko Sato, Daisuke Tanaka, Yasuhiro Sakurai, Ryota Yamanaka, Junya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10916131
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-executable instructions for detecting distances between vehicles near an intersection includes determining positions for each vehicle from video frames of an intersection. A status of a traffic light at the intersection is determined. Follow distances between a first vehicle and a second vehicle is determined. An alert condition associated with the second vehicle is determined based on the follow distance. A driver activity of a driver of the second vehicle is determined. An alert mechanism based on the alert condition and the driver activity is determined. An alert is provided using the alert mechanism to one or more drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: Paul Schottland
  • Patent number: 10913391
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for controlling a horn assembly, a vehicle and a computer-readable storage medium. The horn assembly includes multiple horns mounted in different regions of transportation means. The method includes that: acquiring running information of the transportation means; selecting at least one of the regions in the transportation means as a related region according to the running information and determining a horn mounted in the related region as a main horn; and determining a sounding manner for the main horn according to the running information, the sounding manner including at least one of a sounding type or a sounding volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yan Xie
  • Patent number: 10896336
    Abstract: To provide a parking space recognition apparatus that can reduce a processing load for detecting the parking space. The parking space recognition apparatus recognizes a parking space by using images generated by four cameras to be mounted on a vehicle. In the parking space recognition apparatus, an image acquisition part acquires the images generated by the cameras. A detection setter selects the cameras to be used for detecting the parking space from among the cameras based on a traveling state of the vehicle. A parking space detector acquires the images generated by the cameras selected by the detection setter from the image acquisition part, and detects the parking space from the acquired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamamoto, Hiroaki Sano, Akihiko Shiotani, Hiroki Morinaga
  • Patent number: 10896599
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for alerting a user immersed in a virtual reality environment to the occurrence of an event. In one aspect, a system includes sensors and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a network interface, a processor, and a storage device that includes instructions to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include detecting the occurrence of an event at a property, determining that a user who is located at the property is immersed in a virtual reality environment at a time of occurrence of the event at the property, based on determining that the user who is located at the property is immersed in the virtual reality environment at the time of the occurrence of the event, generating an alert notification that is configured to initiate the user's emergence from the virtual reality environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Aaron Lee Roberts, Charles Richard Alpert, Aaron Eidelman, Alison Jane Slavin