Patents by Inventor Benjamin A. Werner

Benjamin A. Werner 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: 12279227
    Abstract: Embodiments for a device locator application are described. In an embodiment, one or more inertial displacement measurement values may be received using the inertial sensor and received camera sensor data, a trajectory based on the one or more inertial displacement measurement values may be determined, a beacon signal from a target wireless device and determine at least one signal strength value from the beacon signal may be received, at least one proximity value to the target wireless device may be estimated based on the at least one signal strength value corresponding to at least one position along the trajectory, and an indicator of the at least one proximity value to the target wireless device may be presented along the trajectory in a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Tunc Ertan
  • Publication number: 20250113163
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to generate, for transmission to a second wireless communication device, a request to initiate a ranging operation, process, based on one or more signals received from the wireless communication device, a response indicating that the apparatus is to locate the wireless communication device, collect inertial measurement unit (IMU) data, from at least one of the apparatus or the wireless communication device and generate an arrow to be displayed based on at least the IMU data, the arrow indicating a direction of the wireless communication device relative to the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Vignesh Babu MOORTHY, Benjamin A WERNER
  • Publication number: 20250113332
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to generate, for transmission to a wireless communication device, a request to initiate a ranging operation, process a response indicating that the apparatus is to locate the wireless communication device, generate first ranging data, process second ranging data, determine a direction of the wireless communication device relative to the apparatus based on at least the first ranging data and the second ranging data, wherein the direction is based on a spherical coordinate system including a radial distance, an azimuthal angle, and a polar angle and generate, for display on a display device, a graphic based on at least the determined direction of the wireless communication device relative to the apparatus, the graphic indicating a three dimensional direction of the wireless communication device relative to the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Vignesh Babu MOORTHY, Benjamin A WERNER, Sanjeevi BALASUBRAMAMIAN
  • Publication number: 20250113333
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to generate, for transmission to a wireless communication device, a request to initiate a ranging operation, process, based on one or more signals received from the wireless communication device, a response indicating that the apparatus is to locate the second wireless communication device, determine information corresponding to physical environmental conditions of the apparatus or the wireless communication device and select one or more find location techniques to use for generating a graphic to be displayed on a display device based on at least the information corresponding to the physical environmental conditions of the apparatus or the wireless communication device, the graphic indicating a direction of the wireless communication device relative to the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Vignesh Babu MOORTHY, Benjamin A WERNER, Kenneth M PESYNA, JR., Robert W BRUMLEY
  • Publication number: 20250089016
    Abstract: In some implementations, techniques may include at a plurality of times while a user of the first portable device is moving with the first portable device: performing ranging at a respective position with a second device to determine a respective distance, thereby determining a plurality of respective distances, where the second device is stationary; obtaining raw measurements from a motion sensor of the first portable device. In addition, the device may include using the raw measurements at the plurality of times to determine relative positions at the plurality of times, the relative position from an initial position. The techniques may include estimating a second position of the second device that optimizes a loss function that includes differences of the respective distances at the relative positions and the actual distance between the relative positions and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gabrielle A. Belzberg, Alexander J. Wiens, Halil Ibrahim Basturk, Benjamin A. Werner, Adam S. Howell, Hui Lin, Jun Kyu Lee, Jack D. Reilly, Behrooz Shahsavari, Hojjat Seyed Mousavi
  • Publication number: 20250088584
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a first electronic device facilitates tracking of a second electronic device. In some embodiments, when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are within a specified distance from each other, the second electronic device automatically generates an alert to indicate its current location. In some embodiments, the alert includes audio and/or tactical feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Frank DE JONG, Tyler D. HAWKINS, David S. WILSER, Benjamin A. WERNER, Richard B. ONG, Andrey LIFINSKIY, Andrez E. AGUAYO, Benjamin T. CHRISTIE, Anton M. DAVYDOV, Marcello LUPPI, Yibo ZHU, Travis JONES, Taylor G. CARRIGAN, Jules K. FENNIS, Pedro MARI, Charles C. HOYT, Molly P. WIEBE, Gary I. BUTCHER
  • Publication number: 20240406735
    Abstract: The subject technology provides a framework for a trusted device to modify a security state of a target device (e.g., not fully unlocking the target device by activating biometric authentication at the target device) based on a secure ranging operation. The subject technology enables the trusted device to establish a secure and authenticated connection with the target device that is used to activate biometric authentication at the target device. The biometric authentication may fully unlock the target device. The trusted device may be able to activate the biometric authentication at the target device when the trusted device is in an unlocked state, or even when the trusted device is in a locked state so long as less than a threshold amount of time has passed since the trusted device was last unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin A. WERNER, Wade BENSON, Rachel E. MILLER, Brian G. KILBERG
  • Publication number: 20240402279
    Abstract: A mobile device may determine a set of range values between the first mobile device and the second mobile device based on a difference between the first time and the second time for ranging wireless signals. The mobile device can determine first odometry information using a first sensor on the first mobile device, the first odometry information indicating a first motion of the first mobile device during a time period. The mobile device can receive, via a data channel, second odometry information determined from second measurements captured using a second sensor on the second mobile device. The mobile device can solve an angle between a first reference frame for the first device and a second reference frame for the second device using the set of range values, and the first and second odometry information to display a directional arrow pointing to a current position of the second mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Anup Dhital, Alexander Singh Alvarado, Brian G. Kilberg, Kenneth M. Pesyna, JR., Tunc Ertan, Mohamed Youssef, Ranjini Narayan, Shreya Dilip Date, Jonathan M. Beard, Lucie A. Huet, Xiaoyuan Tu, Ryan K. Burns, Ozhan Turgut
  • Publication number: 20240397477
    Abstract: Embodiments for a device locator application are described. In an embodiment, one or more inertial displacement measurement values may be received using the inertial sensor and received camera sensor data, a trajectory based on the one or more inertial displacement measurement values may be determined, a beacon signal from a target wireless device and determine at least one signal strength value from the beacon signal may be received, at least one proximity value to the target wireless device may be estimated based on the at least one signal strength value corresponding to at least one position along the trajectory, and an indicator of the at least one proximity value to the target wireless device may be presented along the trajectory in a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Tunc Ertan
  • Publication number: 20240302518
    Abstract: A mobile device may receive a plurality of timestamps, wherein the plurality of timestamps indicate sending and receiving time for ranging packets and response packets. The mobile device may calculate a responder turn-around time as a first difference between the second time and the first time. The mobile device may calculate a responding round trip time as a second difference between the second time and the third time. The mobile device may receive from the electronic device an initiator turn-around time and an initiator round trip time. The mobile device may calculate a frequency offset for the wireless protocol using the responder turn-around time, the responding round trip time, the initiator turn-around time, and the initiator round trip time. The mobile device may compare an observed frequency offset to the calculated frequency offset to determine a frequency offset difference and whether it exceeds a threshold, adjusting a ranging measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Merrick K. McCracken, Wobert W. Brumley
  • Patent number: 12019140
    Abstract: A mobile device may receive a plurality of timestamps, wherein the plurality of timestamps indicate sending and receiving time for ranging packets and response packets. The mobile device may calculate a responder turn-around time as a first difference between the second time and the first time. The mobile device may calculate a responding round trip time as a second difference between the second time and the third time. The mobile device may receive from the electronic device an initiator turn-around time and an initiator round trip time. The mobile device may calculate a frequency offset for the wireless protocol using the responder turn-around time, the responding round trip time, the initiator turn-around time, and the initiator round trip time. The mobile device may compare an observed frequency offset to the calculated frequency offset to determine a frequency offset difference and whether it exceeds a threshold, adjusting a ranging measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Werner, Merrick McCracken, Robert Brumley
  • Patent number: 12000938
    Abstract: A device implementing a system for estimating device location includes at least one processor configured to receive an estimated position based on a positioning system comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite, and receive a set of parameters associated with the estimated position. The processor is further configured to apply the set of parameters and the estimated position to a machine learning model, the machine learning model having been trained based at least on a position of a receiving device relative to the GNSS satellite. The processor is further configured to provide the estimated position and an output of the machine learning model to a Kalman filter, and provide an estimated device location based on an output of the Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Dennis P. Hilgenberg, Aarti Sathyanarayana
  • Publication number: 20230394111
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes at each position of a plurality of positions along a trajectory of a first electronic device within an area: determining a range value corresponding to a distance between the first electronic device and a second electronic device, determining a pose of the first electronic device with respect to a reference coordinate system, and setting and storing an anchor point corresponding to the determined range value and pose. An update to an anchor point set for a current position of the first electronic device is received and the determined pose corresponding to one or more of the set anchor points is updated based on the update to the anchor point set for the current position of the first electronic device. A location of the second electronic device is estimated based on the range values and poses corresponding to the set anchor points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin A. WERNER, Anup DHITAL, Tunc ERTAN
  • Publication number: 20230379994
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to pairing and finding a group of accessory devices are described. In an embodiment, a pairing status is received from a first accessory device, a request is sent to the first accessory device for information on a number of accessory devices in a device group and a number of accessory devices that are proximate to the first accessory device in the device group, information on a second accessory device in the device group is received, a continue pairing message is sent to the second accessory device if the second accessory device is proximate, and a device group profile is created with information on the number of parts and received information on the second accessory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Siva Ganesh Movva, Tunc Ertan, Ariane Cotte, Kerry Nguyen, Anita Desai, Steven Douglas Laver, Brent Ledvina, Kenneth U. Victa, Ping-Ko Chiu, Michal Adam Kaluzny, Soujanya A. Kedilaya, Benjamin A. Werner
  • Publication number: 20230308994
    Abstract: In some aspects a first electronic device may detect a triggering condition for enabling control of a second electronic device. Upon detection of the triggering condition, the method can include determining an increased rate of transmission of advertising signals of a wireless protocol transmitted from a wireless transceiver of the first electronic device. The method can include transmitting a plurality of advertising wireless signals at the increased rate using the wireless protocol. The method can include receiving, from the second electronic device, one or more responses to the advertising wireless signals. The method can include determining a distance measurement based on the one or more responses. Responsive to the distance measurement being less than a threshold value, the method can include enabling control of one or more components of the first electronic device or the second electronic device by the other device. Numerous other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Kevin J. Van Vechten, Robert W. Mayor, Brent M. Ledvina, Brian G. Kilberg, Subash Marri Sridhar, Alejandro A. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20230184961
    Abstract: A device implementing a system for estimating device location includes at least one processor configured to receive an estimated position based on a positioning system comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite, and receive a set of parameters associated with the estimated position. The processor is further configured to apply the set of parameters and the estimated position to a machine learning model, the machine learning model having been trained based at least on a position of a receiving device relative to the GNSS satellite. The processor is further configured to provide the estimated position and an output of the machine learning model to a Kalman filter, and provide an estimated device location based on an output of the Kalman filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin A. WERNER, Brent M. LEDVINA, Dennis P. HILGENBERG, Aarti SATHYANARAYANA
  • Patent number: 11604287
    Abstract: A device implementing a system for estimating device location includes at least one processor configured to receive an estimated position based on a positioning system comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite, and receive a set of parameters associated with the estimated position. The processor is further configured to apply the set of parameters and the estimated position to a machine learning model, the machine learning model having been trained based at least on a position of a receiving device relative to the GNSS satellite. The processor is further configured to provide the estimated position and an output of the machine learning model to a Kalman filter, and provide an estimated device location based on an output of the Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Dennis P. Hilgenberg, Aarti Sathyanarayana
  • Publication number: 20220394660
    Abstract: Embodiments for a device locator application are described. In an embodiment, one or more inertial displacement measurement values may be received using the inertial sensor and received camera sensor data, a trajectory based on the one or more inertial displacement measurement values may be determined, a beacon signal from a target wireless device and determine at least one signal strength value from the beacon signal may be received, at least one proximity value to the target wireless device may be estimated based on the at least one signal strength value corresponding to at least one position along the trajectory, and an indicator of the at least one proximity value to the target wireless device may be presented along the trajectory in a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Tunc Ertan
  • Publication number: 20220299621
    Abstract: A mobile device may receive a plurality of timestamps, wherein the plurality of timestamps indicate sending and receiving time for ranging packets and response packets. The mobile device may calculate a responder turn-around time as a first difference between the second time and the first time. The mobile device may calculate a responding round trip time as a second difference between the second time and the third time. The mobile device may receive from the electronic device an initiator turn-around time and an initiator round trip time. The mobile device may calculate a frequency offset for the wireless protocol using the responder turn-around time, the responding round trip time, the initiator turn-around time, and the initiator round trip time. The mobile device may compare an observed frequency offset to the calculated frequency offset to determine a frequency offset difference and whether it exceeds a threshold, adjusting a ranging measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Werner, Merrick McCracken, Robert Brumley
  • Patent number: 11451924
    Abstract: A method for identifying a second mobile device in a vicinity of a first mobile device includes performing, by the first mobile device, determining distance information corresponding to a distance between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, determining angular information indicating an angle between a pointing direction of the first mobile device and the second mobile device, determining, based on the distance information and the angular information, that a location of the second mobile device lies within a first spatial region relative to the first mobile device, and providing a user interface that displays an icon corresponding to the second mobile device in a specified position on the user interface based on the location of the second mobile device being within the first spatial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Merrick K. McCracken