Patents Examined by Erin File
  • Patent number: 9839003
    Abstract: The invention is directed to reducing paging overhead in a network. An exemplary method comprises: determining whether a user equipment (UE) is substantially stationary, wherein the UE is located in a first network cell associated with a network; in response to determining the UE is substantially stationary, transmitting an indicator to the network; determining whether the UE moves from the first network cell to a second network cell; and in response to determining the UE moves from the first network cell to the second network cell, transmitting updated location information associated with the UE to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Rickard Ljung, Linh Trang
  • Patent number: 9815332
    Abstract: A working vehicle according to the present invention is configured with a fuel tank, a fuel sensor for detecting an amount of fuel stored in the fuel tank, and an informing device (a controller, informing switch, and speaker) for informing the stored amount of fuel detected by the fuel sensor, by changing the informing pattern in response to this stored amount of fuel. The working vehicle is also configured with an exhaust gas purification system for purifying exhaust gas using urea water, a urea water tank, a urea water sensor for detecting the amount of urea water stored in the urea water tank, and an informing device (the controller, informing switch, and speaker) for informing a stored amount of urea water detected by the urea water sensor, by changing the informing pattern in response to this stored amount of urea water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TAKEUCHI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuki Jinno, Shumpei Okutani
  • Patent number: 9812011
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products for providing dangerous driving weather messages in a tile-based system are provided. An example method comprises receiving one or more measurements of one or more weather parameters for a geographic area. The geographic area is represented by a plurality of tiles. The method further comprises processing at least one of the measurements of at least one of the one or more weather parameters to determine a dangerous driving weather score for at least a first tile of the plurality of tiles; identifying a first tile of the plurality of tiles that is experiencing dangerous driving weather based on the dangerous driving weather score for the first tile; generating a dangerous driving weather message; and providing the dangerous driving weather message. The dangerous driving weather message comprises a timestamp, a list of one or more affected tile identifiers, an alert type, and alert information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leon Stenneth, Michael Weinberger
  • Patent number: 9813785
    Abstract: A telemetry system includes: a plurality of meters; a data reader configured to acquire meter reading information for each of the meters; a transmitter configured to receive the meter reading information for each of the meters acquired through the data reader and transmit a corresponding Bluetooth beacon signal; a receiver configured to receive transmission information from the transmitter; and a meter reading server configured to manage the meter reading information for each of the meters based on the transmission information received through the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung-Jin Jang
  • Patent number: 9807982
    Abstract: A scalable pet ecosystem includes modules that are activated by an activity collar of a pet. The modules collect data, such as feeding, resting, and other biological functions. The data may be uploaded to a central server for reporting to an owner's computing device. An app on the computing device may be used to link multiple pets via the activity collars to multiple modules. Modules of the system may include a feeding bowl, a pet bed, an activity collar, and a litter box, and a water dish. A pet recognition device on the activity collar may identify a pet within the system. A profile may logically link the pet recognition device to one or more of the system modules. Collected data may be stored in a repository that is accessible to owners, veterinarians, and marketers via a phone app or server connection. The data may be analyzed to identify trends, to provide marketing and industry data, and to provide advice to owners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Edward Hall
  • Patent number: 9813230
    Abstract: Systems and methods for provided for reducing interference caused by leakage of signals generated by a spread spectrum phase lock loop (SS PLL). Output of SS PLL may be processed to reduce interference. For example, a sinusoidal spreading signal may be used to spread the output of the SS PLL. A notch filter tracks the frequency of the output of the SS PLL to steer the notch in the filter to the instantaneous frequency output from the SS PLL, thus allowing the notch filter to be placed in the path of signals that have unwanted leakage from the SS PLL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Chi-ping Nee, Branislav Petrovic
  • Patent number: 9803474
    Abstract: Methods, radios, components thereof, and other terminals for broadcasting alert and advisory. A radio signal at a current radio frequency is obtained. The current radio signal comprises a plurality of identifiers, numbers, and commands that collectively represent an advisory signal. Each receiving terminal in the plurality of receiving terminals corresponds to a portion of the broadcast area. The current radio signal is compared with a predetermined group number, a terminal number, and a physical address. Each receiving terminal in the plurality of reference receiving terminals is associated with a group number, a terminal number, and a physical address. When the comparing identifies a unique match between the current radio signal and a reference receiving terminal in the plurality of reference receiving terminals, the advisory signal is deemed to be targeted to the physical address associated with the receiving terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Gar Lung Bethune Tong
  • Patent number: 9798908
    Abstract: An object detection system includes a reader waveguide (101) formed as an open transmission line, an RFID tag (102) placed above the reader waveguide (101), a signal strength acquisition unit (103) that acquires signal strength of a read signal read from the RFID tag (102) by electromagnetic coupling through the reader waveguide (101), and an object detection unit (104) that detects physical characteristics of an object (105) corresponding to the acquired signal strength based on a relationship between a plurality of (three or more values of) signal strength of the read signal and physical characteristics of the object to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Ohashi, Wataru Hattori, Naoki Kobayashi, Hiroshi Fukuda, Yusuke Takahashi, Yusuke Konishi
  • Patent number: 9799197
    Abstract: A fall protection harness or fall protection static line includes one or more straps, an electrical sensing device coupled to the one or more straps, a computer processor coupled to the electrical sensing device, and a transmitter coupled to the computer processor. The one or more straps are made up of an electrically non-conducting thread and an electrically conducting thread. The electrically non-conducting thread and the electrically conducting thread are intertwined, or the electrically conductive thread is intertwined with itself. The electrical sensing device detects a disruption in current in the electrically conducting thread, a disruption in voltage in the electrically conducting thread, or a change in resistance in the electrically conducting thread, which indicates damage to the fall protection harness or a fall by a person wearing the fall protection harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hai D. Pham, Steve D. Huseth, Gina Marie Theisen
  • Patent number: 9799220
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system. A remote keyless entry fob is provided for remote control of vehicle access. The fob includes a receiver for receiving a message broadcast by the vehicle-to-vehicle communication system and a memory for storing at least some elements of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Xing Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 9792745
    Abstract: An on-vehicle apparatus start verifying a first code of a portable apparatus returned from the portable apparatus in response to a first signal from the on-vehicle apparatus unless a battery of the portable apparatus is not exhausted upon detection of a user's operation to unlock/lock a door beside a vehicle; verifies a second code of the portable apparatus returned from the portable apparatus in response to power supply to the portable apparatus through electromagnetic induction caused by a second signal from the on-vehicle apparatus; determines whether the user's operation has been continuously detected if the first code is not returned; ends the verification of the first code if there is no state where the user's operation has been continuously detected; and ends the verification of the first code and starts the verification of the second code if the user's operation has been continuously detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Nishiyama, Tomoyuki Funayama, Toru Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 9792744
    Abstract: An electronic lock system including an access control device configured to provide system instructions, an interface module electrically coupled to the access control device and configured to transmit RF signals in response to system instructions received from the access control device, and a plurality of wireless electronic door locks each configured to wirelessly communicate with the interface module. Each of the wireless electronic door locks includes a controller and a wireless receiver operatively connected to the controller, the wireless receiver including a first antenna defined as a circuit board trace and a second antenna, spaced from the first antenna and defined as a circuit board trace. Each of the first antenna and the second antenna include one of a monopole antenna and a fractal antenna. The controller is configured to switch between the first antenna and the second antenna to receive a wireless signal having a greater signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Brian A. Telljohann, Ron M. Kielkowski, Frank A. Nardelli, Russell Steiner
  • Patent number: 9792469
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods implemented using physical property sensors. A physical/property sensor includes a sensor coil configured to wirelessly communicate with an external interrogator, an analog front end communicatively coupled to the sensor coil, a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the analog front end, and a physical property sensing element, wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate a digitally modulated electrical signal based on signals generated by the physical property sensing element, and wherein the analog front end is configured to forward the digitally modulated electrical signal to the sensor coil for transmission to the external interrogator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventor: Jin Woo Park
  • Patent number: 9787509
    Abstract: An apparatus including a receiver coupled to receive an input signal from a communication link and operable to employ decision feedback equalization to the input signal of the communication link and generate an edge sample signal. The apparatus also includes a timing recovery module coupled to the receiver and operable to receive the edge sample signal and use the edge sample signal to generate a data sampling phase signal, wherein the edge sample signal influences a settling point of the data sampling phase signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Lizhi Zhong, Vishnu Balan, Arif Al Amin, Sanjeev Maheshwari
  • Patent number: 9783162
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for authorizing a user to access an access-controlled environment. The system includes a system server platform that communicates with mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) and on-board vehicle computing devices accessed by users. The embodiments enable a series of operations whereby a user accessing a vehicle is prompted to biometrically authenticate using the user's smartphone or on-board vehicle computer. In addition, the system can further authorize the user and electronically facilitate access to the vehicle as well as perform other authorized operations relating to the use of the vehicle. In addition the vehicle access system integrates with various computing devices and computer-based services accessible to the user. The systems and methods also facilitate active monitoring of the vehicle occupants and environmental conditions using optical sensors and the like so as to enhance security, convenience and safety of the occupants during use of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: VERIDIUM IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Hector Hoyos, Jason Braverman, Geoffrey Xiao, Jonathan Francis Mather, Scott Streit
  • Patent number: 9770987
    Abstract: An in-vehicle safety visualization system and method for coordinating driver alerts with a navigation system. Driver alert systems are interfaced with a display that is also used for depiction of navigation system images and information, allowing driver alerts to be shown at a location in which the driver's attention is likely to be directed, in addition to the locations dictated by the driver alert systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Erik Glaser, Jaime Camhi, Dij Jayaratna
  • Patent number: 9770055
    Abstract: An electronic vapor device is disclosed comprising a first container for storing a vaporizable material, a vaporizer component coupled to the first container, configured for vaporizing the vaporizable material, a processor coupled to the vaporizer component, configured to control the vaporizer component in response to a disposition signal, and a network access device, coupled to the processor, configured for receiving the disposition signal from a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: LUNATECH, LLC
    Inventors: John Cameron, Dean Becker, Gene Fein
  • Patent number: 9764713
    Abstract: A vehicle communication system (100) comprises a base station (104) positioned in the vehicle (102) and a mobile communication unit (122). The base station (104) comprises a first transmitter for transmitting a signal to the mobile communication unit (122) and a first receiver for receiving an authentication signal from the mobile communication unit (122). The base station (104) is configured to track a position of the mobile communication unit with respect to the vehicle based on a time of flight of a communication between the mobile communication unit and at least the first transmitter and the first receiver, to receive a subsystem status signal relating to performance of a monitored vehicle (102) function and to determine, based on the subsystem status signal, a monitored function status relating to the monitored vehicle (102) function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Howard Siswick, Mohammed Khan
  • Patent number: 9767402
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for better reading large populations of RFID tags. Such systems include an RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags, each having an antenna and an associated RFID chip. Each chip includes an auto-tune circuit and is programmed to confirm the occurrence of a preselected condition. Upon such confirmation, the RFID chip modifies the functionality of the auto-tune circuit to reduce the effects of proximity coupling within the population. The preselected condition may be the tag being read by the RFID reader or the elapse of a preselected amount of time since a power-on-reset of the chip or some other event. The modification to the functionality of the auto-tune circuit may be the disabling of the auto-tune circuit or the changing of the impedance value of the chip or a decrease in the power supplied to the chip or some other modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Ian James Forster
  • Patent number: 9763478
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a vapor output, a container for storing a vaporizable material, a vaporizer component coupled to the container, configured for vaporizing the vaporizable material to create a vapor and expelling the vapor out the vapor output, a processor, coupled to the vaporizer component, configured to control the vaporizing of the vaporizable material, and an input/output connector, coupled to the processor, configured for coupling to an electronic communication device to exchange one or more of power and data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LUNATECH, LLC
    Inventors: John Cameron, Dean Becker, Gene Fein