Patents by Inventor Andrew Chou

Andrew Chou 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: 7800535
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Van Roy
  • Patent number: 7738406
    Abstract: Peer-to-peer communications sessions involve the transmission of one or more data streams from a source to a set of receivers that may redistribute portions of the data stream via a set of routing trees. Achieving a comparatively high, sustainable data rate throughput of the data stream(s) may be difficult due to the large number of available routing trees, as well as pertinent variations in the nature of the communications session (e.g., upload communications caps, network link caps, the presence or absence of helpers, and the full or partial interconnectedness of the network.) The selection of routing trees may be facilitated through the representation of the node set according to a linear programming model, such as a primal model or a linear programming dual model, and iterative processes for applying such models and identifying low-cost routing trees during an iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shao Liu, Sudipta Sengupta, Mung Chiang, Jin Li, Philip Andrew Chou
  • Publication number: 20100085979
    Abstract: Peer-to-peer communications sessions involve the transmission of one or more data streams from a source to a set of receivers that may redistribute portions of the data stream via a set of routing trees. Achieving a comparatively high, sustainable data rate throughput of the data stream(s) may be difficult due to the large number of available routing trees, as well as pertinent variations in the nature of the communications session (e.g., upload communications caps, network link caps, the presence or absence of helpers, and the full or partial interconnectedness of the network.) The selection of routing trees may be facilitated through the representation of the node set according to a linear programming model, such as a primal model or a linear programming dual model, and iterative processes for applying such models and identifying low-cost routing trees during an iteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shao Liu, Sudipta Sengupta, Mung Chiang, Jin Li, Philip Andrew Chou
  • Patent number: 7680178
    Abstract: A communication device with cross-correlation detection based upon statistical tests to determine whether the off-peak signal energy is consistent with auto-correlation energy levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: SIRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sundar Raman, Reza Abtahi, Steven A. Gronemeyer, Andrew Chou
  • Patent number: 7680223
    Abstract: A method for detecting a positioning signal includes (a) correlating a segment of a received positioning signal with a reference signal of a selected code phase and frequency to obtain a correlation value, (b) if the correlation value is less than a predetermined minimum, assigning the correlation value to the predetermined minimum, and (c) accumulating the correlation value in a sum of correlation values obtained using other segments of the received positioning signal. In addition, the correlation value may be reduced by a predetermined value, which is preferably an expected mean value for a noise component in the segment of the received positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: SirF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Basch, Andrew Chou, Robert Lorenz, Jesse Stone
  • Publication number: 20090214052
    Abstract: A system that facilitates blind source separation in a distributed microphone meeting environment for improved teleconferencing. Input sensor (e.g., microphone) signals are transformed to the frequency-domain and independent component analysis is applied to compute estimates of frequency-domain processing matrices. Modified permutations of the processing matrices are obtained based upon a maximum magnitude based de-permutation scheme. Estimates of the plurality of source signals are provided based upon the modified frequency-domain processing matrices and input sensor signals. Optionally, segments during which the set of active sources is a subset of the set of all sources can be exploited to compute more accurate estimates of frequency-domain mixing matrices. Source activity detection can be applied to determine which speaker(s), if any, are active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zicheng Liu, Philip Andrew Chou, Jacek Dmochowski
  • Publication number: 20090102710
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Van Roy
  • Patent number: 7502364
    Abstract: Structured hierarchies for communicating contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation are provided. The structured hierarchies are utilized for efficient communications of various amounts and types of contextual information over a VoIP conversation channel. Information identifying at least one structured hierarchy, which will be used to carry the contextual information, is transmitted during establishment of a conversation between two VoIP enhanced devices and prior to the exchange of contextual information. The structural hierarchy is selected from a set of predefined and declared structured hierarchies. Subsequently transmitted contextual information exchanged between two VoIP enhanced devices is represented in accordance with the identified structural hierarchy. Additionally, the structural hierarchies can be extensible by the addition of more definitions to the current structural hierarchies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Milstein, David A. Howell, Linda Criddle, Michael D. Malueg, Philip Andrew Chou, Scott C. Forbes, Kuansan Wang, Timothy M. Moore
  • Patent number: 7426677
    Abstract: A data sequence may be encoded in a plurality of layers of multiple description coding. The layers of multiple description coding may include a first and a second layer of multiple description coding. The first layer of multiple description coding may include an initial part of a data sequence as well as forward error correction code for the initial part. The second layer of multiple description coding may include a next part of the data sequence as well as forward error correction code for the next part. A first set of data sequence breakpoints may be determined for the first layer of multiple description coding. A second set of data sequence breakpoints may be determined for the second layer. The data sequence may be encoded in the plurality of layers of multiple description coding as a function of the first and second sets of data sequence breakpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Chou, Venkata N. Padmanabhan, Helen Wang
  • Patent number: 7418066
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Van Roy
  • Patent number: 7408505
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Van Roy
  • Publication number: 20080098056
    Abstract: A method for detecting a positioning signal includes (a) correlating a segment of a received positioning signal with a reference signal of a selected code phase and frequency to obtain a correlation value, (b) if the correlation value is less than a predetermined minimum, assigning the correlation value to the predetermined minimum, and (c) accumulating the correlation value in a sum of correlation values obtained using other segments of the received positioning signal. In addition, the correlation value may be reduced by a predetermined value, which is preferably an expected mean value for a noise component in the segment of the received positioning signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Julien Basch, Andrew Chou, Robert Lorenz, Jesse Stone
  • Patent number: 7313207
    Abstract: A method for detecting a positioning signal includes (a) correlating a segment of a received positioning signal with a reference signal of a selected code phase and frequency to obtain a correlation value, (b) if the correlation value is less than a predetermined minimum, assigning the correlation value to the predetermined minimum, and (c) accumulating the correlation value in a sum of correlation values obtained using other segments of the received positioning signal. In addition, the correlation value may be reduced by a predetermined value, which is preferably an expected mean value for a noise component in the segment of the received positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Basch, Andrew Chou, Robert Lorenz, Jesse Stone
  • Publication number: 20070283142
    Abstract: Generally described, multimode authentication over a VoIP communication channel is provided. A calling client and a called client may be authenticated for a communication channel establishment. When a calling client requests a call connection with a called client, the calling client is authenticated for the communication channel, based on exchanged contextual information between the calling client and the called client. Likewise, the called client is authenticated for the communication channel by the calling client. Upon authentication, a communication channel is established, over which the calling client and the called client are allowed to exchange more contextual and voice/multimedia information. During a conversation, when a secured service is desired by any of the clients, a series of authentication processes can be performed to grant access to the secured service over the communication channel without loss of the communication channel connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Milstein, Philip Andrew Chou, Scott C. Forbes, Timothy M. Moore
  • Publication number: 20070164901
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Roy
  • Patent number: 7222285
    Abstract: A data sequence may be encoded in a plurality of layers of multiple description coding. The layers of multiple description coding may include a first and a second layer of multiple description coding. The first layer of multiple description coding may include an initial part of a data sequence as well as forward error correction code for the initial part. The second layer of multiple description coding may include a next part of the data sequence as well as forward error correction code for the next part. A first set of data sequence breakpoints may be determined for the first layer of multiple description coding. A second set of data sequence breakpoints may be determined for the second layer. The data sequence may be encoded in the plurality of layers of multiple description coding as a function of the first and second sets of data sequence breakpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Chou, Venkata N. Padmanabhan, Helen Wang
  • Patent number: 7212156
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Van Roy
  • Patent number: 7132980
    Abstract: A multi-function device with a positioning function and a real time positioning engine is disclosed. The device contains also a shared processor used by the positioning function and other functions of the device, such as a mobile radio-communication function. The positioning engine performs in real time the most computational intensive calculations of the positioning function, such as downsampling, Doppler mixing and correlation calculations. Since the received signal need not be stored, the memory requirements of the positioning function are significantly reduced if aiding data is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Bloebaum, Andrew Chou, Benjamin Van Roy
  • Publication number: 20060245479
    Abstract: A communication device with cross-correlation detection based upon statistical tests to determine whether the off-peak signal energy is consistent with auto-correlation energy levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Sundar Raman, Reza Abtahi, Steven Gronemeyer, Andrew Chou
  • Patent number: 7069019
    Abstract: System and method to determine the location of a receiver are provided. The received signal is decomposed into signal chunks that are then correlated with the reference signals of the transmitting sources. In some embodiments, the signal chunks may be shorter than the period of the reference signals. For each signal source, a grid of correlation values is constructed containing one column of correlation values for each signal chunk. Each column contains correlation values for several code-phases. Probes are executed in the grid to acquire the location-determining signals. In some embodiments, a probe includes calculating the fourier transform of a row in the grid, yielding correlation values associated with a refined set of frequency values. Potential acquisitions are verified by processing increasing portions of the received signal. Confirmed acquisition may be used to aid further acquisitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: SiRF Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anant Sahai, Andrew Chou