Patents by Inventor Bran Ferren

Bran Ferren 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).

  • Systems and methods for monitoring sound during an in-building emergency
    Patent number: 9800738
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William D. Duncan, Bran Ferren, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Techniques for augmenting a digital on-screen graphic
    Patent number: 9788075
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a digital on-screen graphic may be identified within a multimedia stream for an electronic display. An augmentation overlay may be determined based on the digital on-screen graphic. The augmentation overlay may be presented on the electronic display to at least partially surround the digital on-screen graphic. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Techniques for acoustic management of entertainment devices and systems
    Patent number: 9781484
    Abstract: Techniques for acoustic management of entertainment devices and systems are described. Various embodiments may include techniques for acoustically determining a location of a remote control or other entertainment device. Some embodiments may include techniques for controlling one or more entertainment components using voice commands or other acoustic information. Other embodiments may include techniques for establishing a voice connection using a remote control device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Cory J. Booth, David B. Andersen
  • Controlled access to functionality of a wireless device
    Patent number: 9778842
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention may be used to verify that a person being authorized by biometric techniques to use a device is a living person and not some form of recording intended to spoof the system. Some embodiments may try to cause a change in a measured biometric feature, and compare images taken before and after the change to verify the change occurred. In some embodiments, multiple stages of verification may be used, either to increase the difficulty of spoofing the security system, or to provide different levels of security for different levels of access to the device's functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Micro deflectors on touch sensor
    Patent number: 9772719
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a touch surface may comprise multiple individual sensors, each of which is capable of mechanical deflection in a direction parallel to the surface, with the device using the touch surface being able to detect such deflection in each sensor. With this capability, the device may be able to detect intended movement of a touch over the touch surface even if no additional sensors are activated by that movement. Such sensors may be useful for detecting very small motions, and may be especially useful for motions in which the shape of the user's thumb results in the same touch area being in contact with the thumb even though the thumb is executing an extension or retraction movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Michael Keesling
  • Techniques to customize a media processing system
    Patent number: 9769534
    Abstract: Techniques to customize a media processing system are described. A media processing system is described capable of integrating a large set of heterogeneous electronic devices into a single integrated system with enhanced navigation capabilities and automated configuration services. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Cory J. Booth, Genevieve Bell, David B. Andersen
  • Taggant for cement authentication
    Patent number: 9751812
    Abstract: A traceable cement mixture includes a volume of cementitious material and a taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material. The taggant includes data relating to a characteristic of the volume of cementitious material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Bran Ferren, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Cameron A. Myhrvold, Conor L. Myhrvold, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Thomas J. Nugent, Jr., Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • ADAPTIVE VIRTUAL KEYBOARD FOR HANDHELD DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170235482
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the size, shape, and arrangement of keys on a virtual keyboard may be determined based on touchscreen contacts made by the user. Further, the actual contact patch made by the user may be analyzed to interpret which point of contact was intended, and other factors such as spelling and context may also be considered. These factors may be determined based on a calibration session and/or on continuing inputs during operation of the keyboard, and applied to future operational interpretations of the touchscreen contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Transcoder enabled cloud of remotely controlled devices
    Patent number: 9736546
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to one or more transcoder devices in communication with an input device such as a remote control device and multiple destination devices in which the transcoder device(s) facilitate communication between the remote control and the various destination devices in the vicinity. The transcoder device(s) can also provide the user with an environmental awareness of conditions and events surrounding the user. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Treatment indications informed by a implant information
    Patent number: 9717896
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying one or more capture components configured to accelerate a decrease in a local concentration of one or more therapeutic structures along a downstream portion of a vasculature and one or more dispensation components configured to release the one or more therapeutic structures into an upstream portion of the vasculature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GEARBOX, LLC
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Eric C. Leuthardt, Dennis J. Rivet, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Systems and methods for helmet liner evaluation
    Patent number: 9719902
    Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus including a movable member, a sensor coupled to the movable member and configured to acquire compliance data regarding a liner disposed within a shell of a helmet through engagement of the sensor with the liner, and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Geoffrey F. Deane, William D. Duncan, Philip A. Eckhoff, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Max N. Mankin, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • CASIMIR-EFFECT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170200815
    Abstract: A method of controlling a Casimir-effect device includes applying a voltage to a field-effect gate of the Casimir-effect device. The Casimir-effect device includes a conducting material and a semiconductor. The conducting material and semiconductor are separated by a gap to form the field-effect gate over at least a portion of the semiconductor facing the gap. The method further includes altering, in response to the applied voltage, a density of free charge carriers in the portion of the semiconductor facing the gap to control a nanoscale Casimir force between the conducting material and the portion of the semiconductor facing the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Caldeira, Bran Ferren, William Gates, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, John Latham, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Controlled access to functionality of a wireless device
    Patent number: 9690480
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention may be used to verify that a person being authorized by biometric techniques to use a device is a living person and not some form of recording intended to spoof the system. Some embodiments may try to cause a change in a measured biometric feature, and compare images taken before and after the change to verify the change occurred. In some embodiments, multiple stages of verification may be used, either to increase the difficulty of spoofing the security system, or to provide different levels of security for different levels of access to the device's functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Bran Ferren
  • Method and apparatus for selectively enabling a microprocessor-based system
    Patent number: 9626514
    Abstract: A system for selectively enabling a microprocessor-based system is disclosed. State information that describes the operating conditions or circumstances under which a user intends to operate the system is obtained. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a valid hash value is determined, preferably based on the state information and preferably by locating the valid hash value within a table of valid hash values indexed by the state information. Candidate authorization information is obtained from the user, and a candidate hash value is generated by applying a hashing algorithm to the candidate authorization information, the state information, or a combination of the candidate authorization information and state information. The candidate hash value and the valid hash value are then compared, and the microprocessor-based system is enabled if the candidate hash value matches the valid hash value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Creative Mines LLC
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Bran Ferren
  • Systems and methods for monitoring sound during an in-building emergency
    Patent number: 9602673
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Jesse R Cheatham, III, William David Duncan, Bran Ferren, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David B. Tuckerman, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING DATA IN A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
    Publication number: 20170078873
    Abstract: Data in a portable electronic device is protected by using external and internal status detection means to determine if the device is misplaced, lost, or stolen. The device then takes, singly or in combination, one of several actions to protect the data on the device, including declaring its location to an owner or service provider, locking the device or specific functions of the device to disable all data retrieval functionality, erasing or overwriting all the stored data in the device or, where the data has been stored in the device in an encrypted format, destroying an internally-stored encryption key, thereby preventing unauthorized access to the encrypted data in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Bran FERREN, W. Daniel HILLIS
  • MICRO DEFLECTORS ON TOUCH SENSOR
    Publication number: 20170075500
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a touch surface may comprise multiple individual sensors, each of which is capable of mechanical deflection in a direction parallel to the surface, with the device using the touch surface being able to detect such deflection in each sensor. With this capability, the device may be able to detect intended movement of a touch over the touch surface even if no additional sensors are activated by that movement. Such sensors may be useful for detecting very small motions, and may be especially useful for motions in which the shape of the user's thumb results in the same touch area being in contact with the thumb even though the thumb is executing an extension or retraction movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Bran FERREN, Michael KEESLING
  • TOUCH SENSOR GESTURE RECOGNITION FOR OPERATION OF MOBILE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20170068440
    Abstract: Touch sensor gesture recognition for operation of mobile devices. An embodiment of a mobile device includes a touch sensor for the detection of gestures, the touch sensor including multiple sensor elements, and a processor, the processor to interpret the gestures detected by the touch sensor, where the mobile device divides the plurality of sensor elements into multiple zones, and the mobile device interprets the gestures based at least in part on which of the zones detects the gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Bran FERREN, David BEAL, W. Daniel HILLIS, Dimitri NEGROPONTE, James SARRETT
  • COLOR NIGHT VISION CAMERAS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS THEREOF
    Publication number: 20170070715
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods, systems and devices for color night vision that reduce the number of intensifiers and/or decrease noise. In some embodiments, color night vision is provided in system in which multiple spectral bands are maintained, filtered separately, and then recombined in a unique three-lens-filtering setup. An illustrative four-camera night vision system is unique in that its first three cameras separately filter different bands using a subtractive Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (CMY) color filtering-process, while its fourth camera is used to sense either additional IR illuminators or a luminance channel to increase brightness. In some embodiments, the color night vision is implemented to distinguish details of an image in low light. The unique application of the three-lens subtractive CMY filtering allows for better photon scavenging and preservation of important color information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michael KEESLING, Bran FERREN, Adrian KAEHLER, Dan RUDERMAN, David BEAL, Pablo MAURIN, Eric POWERS
  • Memory Device Activation and Deactivation
    Publication number: 20170046283
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Edward K.Y. Jung