Patents by Inventor Brent M. Ledvina
Brent M. Ledvina 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).
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Patent number: 11889302Abstract: The presence of a wireless device and/or accessory that cannot maintain an independent network connection can be detected by network connected wireless devices and the location of the detected device and/or accessory can be reported to a device location service. As the wireless devices and/or accessories do not have independent network connections, periodic maintenance is performed on those devices by nearby owner devices to which the wireless devices and/or accessories are paired or associated. Described herein are systems, methods, and associated devices to maintain a locatable wireless device by a set of multiple owner devices for that wireless device.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kenneth U. Victa, Benjamin A. Detwiler, Nikhil Nilakantan, Todd Wheeler, Robert W. Mayor, Brent M. Ledvina, E. Thomas Erdmann, IV, Sriram Hariharan
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Patent number: 11876806Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to user authentication. In some embodiments, a first computing device receives, from a second computing device, a request for a user credential to be input into an authentication prompt associated with the second device. The first computing device determines a proximity associated with the second computing device based on a received wireless location beacon and, based on the request and the determined proximity, presents a selection prompt asking a user of the first computing device to select a user credential stored in the first computing device. The first computing device then provides the selected user credential to the second computing device to input into the authentication prompt. In some embodiments, the first computing device receives the wireless location beacon from a remote controller of the second computing device and determines a proximity based on a signal strength associated with the received location beacon.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Conrad A. Shultz, Alexander D. Sanciangco, Brent M. Ledvina, Chelsea E. Pugh, Kyle C. Brogle, Marc J. Krochmal, Maureen G. Daum, Reza Abbasian, Richard J. Mondello, Jacob S. Klapper
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Publication number: 20230328635Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for a mobile electronic device including a a wireless network interface coupled to a bus, a memory device coupled to the bus, and one or more processors coupled to the bus, the one or more processors to execute instructions to perform a scan, via the wireless network interface, for a beacon advertisement that is broadcast by a wireless device within range of the wireless network interface, detect the beacon advertisement broadcast by the wireless device, retrieve an identifier broadcast within the beacon advertisement, based on a result of a comparison between the identifier to at least one expected identifier, selectively send a timer reset packet to the wireless device and an authorization token for the wireless accessory to remain in near-owner mode, and allow the one or more processors to sleep for a predetermined time.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Benjamin A. Detwiler, Brent M. Ledvina, Kenneth U. Victa, Langford M. Wasada, Yannick L. Sierra
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Publication number: 20230328515Abstract: The presence of a wireless device and/or accessory that cannot maintain an independent network connection can be detected by network connected wireless devices and the location of the detected device and/or accessory can be reported to a device location service. As the wireless devices and/or accessories do not have independent network connections, periodic maintenance is performed on those devices by nearby owner devices to which the wireless devices and/or accessories are paired or associated. Described herein are systems, methods, and associated devices to maintain a locatable wireless device by a set of multiple owner devices for that wireless device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Kenneth U. Victa, Benjamin A. Detwiler, Nikhil Nilakantan, Todd Wheeler, Robert W. Mayor, Brent M. Ledvina, E. Thomas Erdmann, IV, Sriram Hariharan
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Publication number: 20230308994Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 11736938Abstract: The presence of a wireless device and/or accessory that cannot maintain an independent network connection can be detected by network connected wireless devices and the location of the detected device and/or accessory can be reported to a device location service. As the wireless devices and/or accessories do not have independent network connections, periodic maintenance is performed on those devices by nearby owner devices to which the wireless devices and/or accessories are paired or associated. Described herein are systems, methods, and associated devices to maintain a locatable wireless device by a set of multiple owner devices for that wireless device.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Kenneth U. Victa, Benjamin A. Detwiler, Nikhil Nilakantan, Todd Wheeler, Robert W. Mayor, Brent M. Ledvina, E. Thomas Erdmann, IV, Sriram Hariharan
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Publication number: 20230239656Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for allowing a mobile device (e.g., a key fob or a consumer electronic device, such as a mobile phone, watch, or other wearable device) to interact with a vehicle such that a location of the mobile device can be determined by the vehicle, thereby enabling certain functionality of the vehicle. A device may include both RF antenna(s) and magnetic antenna(s) for determining a location of a mobile device relative to the vehicle. Such a hybrid approach can provide various advantages. Existing magnetic coils on a mobile device (e.g., for charging or communication) may be re-used for distance measurements that are supplemented by the RF measurements. Any device antenna may provide measurements to a machine learning model that determines a region in which the mobile device resides, based on training measurements in the regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Brumley, Robert William Mayor, William J. Bencze, Alejandro J. Marquez, Shang-Te Yang, Xu Chen, Indranil S. Sen, Mohit Narang
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Publication number: 20230184961Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Benjamin A. WERNER, Brent M. LEDVINA, Dennis P. HILGENBERG, Aarti SATHYANARAYANA
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Patent number: 11671530Abstract: A mobile device can include ranging circuitry to determine distance to another mobile device. A first wireless protocol can establish an initial communication session to perform authentication and/or exchange ranging settings. A second protocol can perform ranging, and other wireless protocols can transmit content. In one example, the distance information can be used to display a relative position of another device on a user interface of a sending device. The user interface can allow a user to quickly and accurately select the recipient device for sending the data item. As other example, the distance information obtained from ranging can be used to trigger a notification (e.g., a reminder) to be output from a first mobile device or used to display a visual indicator on a receiving device. Proximity of a device (e.g., as determined by a distance) can be used to suggest recipient for a new communication.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Marc J. Krochmal, Robert W. Brumley, Sriram Hariharan
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Publication number: 20230147041Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to the pairing of a pairing initiator device and a pairing responder device for communication. The pairing initiator device and the pairing responder device range with each other to determine the distance between the pairing initiator device and the pairing responder device. Based on the distance being below a threshold distance, the pairing initiator device and the pairing responder device wirelessly pair with each other without further input from the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Yannick L. Sierra, Kyle C. Brogle, Steven Andrew Myers
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Patent number: 11627433Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for allowing a mobile device (e.g., a key fob or a consumer electronic device, such as a mobile phone, watch, or other wearable device) to interact with a vehicle such that a location of the mobile device can be determined by the vehicle, thereby enabling certain functionality of the vehicle. A device may include both RF antenna(s) and magnetic antenna(s) for determining a location of a mobile device relative to the vehicle. Such a hybrid approach can provide various advantages. Existing magnetic coils on a mobile device (e.g., for charging or communication) may be re-used for distance measurements that are supplemented by the RF measurements. Any device antenna may provide measurements to a machine learning model that determines a region in which the mobile device resides, based on training measurements in the regions.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Brumley, Robert William Mayor, William J. Bencze, Alejandro J. Marquez, Shang-Te Yang, Xu Chen, Indranil S. Sen, Mohit Narang
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Patent number: 11604287Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Dennis P. Hilgenberg, Aarti Sathyanarayana
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Publication number: 20230051718Abstract: A mobile device can include ranging circuitry to determine distance to another mobile device. A first wireless protocol can establish an initial communication session to perform authentication and/or exchange ranging settings. A second protocol can perform ranging, and other wireless protocols can transmit content. In one example, the distance information can be used to display a relative position of another device on a user interface of a sending device. The user interface can allow a user to quickly and accurately select the recipient device for sending the data item. As another example, the distance information obtained from ranging can be used to trigger a notification (e.g., a reminder) to be output from a first mobile device or used to display a visual indicator on a receiving device. Proximity of a device (e.g., as determined by a distance) can be used to suggest recipient for a new communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Marc J. Krochmal, Robert W. Brumley, Sriram Hariharan
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Patent number: 11575752Abstract: Techniques for suggesting accessory devices controlled by an application executing on a mobile device are disclosed. A method includes measuring one or more sensor values using one or more sensors of a mobile device and the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices. An area of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices can be determined based on the one or more sensor values. A second one or more accessory devices associated with the same area as the first one or more accessory devices can be suggested to a user.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Kevin P. McLaughlin, David R. Stites, Jahshan A. Bhatti, Kevin Duffy, Robert William Mayor
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Publication number: 20230008448Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to user authentication. In some embodiments, a first computing device receives, from a second computing device, a request for a user credential to be input into an authentication prompt associated with the second device. The first computing device determines a proximity associated with the second computing device based on a received wireless location beacon and, based on the request and the determined proximity, presents a selection prompt asking a user of the first computing device to select a user credential stored in the first computing device. The first computing device then provides the selected user credential to the second computing device to input into the authentication prompt. In some embodiments, the first computing device receives the wireless location beacon from a remote controller of the second computing device and determines a proximity based on a signal strength associated with the received location beacon.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Inventors: Conrad A. Shultz, Alexander D. Sanciangco, Brent M. Ledvina, Chelsea E. Pugh, Kyle C. Brogle, Marc J. Krochmal, Maureen G. Daum, Reza Abbasian, Richard J. Mondello, Jacob S. Klapper
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Patent number: 11540137Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to the pairing of a pairing initiator device and a pairing responder device for communication. The pairing initiator device and the pairing responder device range with each other to determine the distance between the pairing initiator device and the pairing responder device. Based on the distance being below a threshold distance, the pairing initiator device and the pairing responder device wirelessly pair with each other without further input from the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Yannick L. Sierra, Kyle C. Brogle, Steven Andrew Myers
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Publication number: 20220394660Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2021Publication date: December 8, 2022Inventors: Benjamin A. Werner, Brent M. Ledvina, Tunc Ertan
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Patent number: 11516337Abstract: A mobile device can include ranging circuitry to determine distance to another mobile device. A first wireless protocol can establish an initial communication session to perform authentication and/or exchange ranging settings. A second protocol can perform ranging, and other wireless protocols can transmit content. In one example, the distance information can be used to display a relative position of another device on a user interface of a sending device. The user interface can allow a user to quickly and accurately select the recipient device for sending the data item. As other example, the distance information obtained from ranging can be used to trigger a notification (e.g., a reminder) to be output from a first mobile device or used to display a visual indicator on a receiving device. Proximity of a device (e.g., as determined by a distance) can be used to suggest recipient for a new communication.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Marc J. Krochmal, Robert W. Brumley, Sriram Hariharan
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Publication number: 20220366031Abstract: Techniques and systems for unlocking a first device based on signals transmitted between the first device and a second device are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, by a first device, at least one wireless signal from a second device; transmitting, by the first device, at least one wireless signal to the second device; determining, by the first device, transit times of the at least one received wireless signal and the at least one transmitted wireless signal; determining, by the first device, one or more range measurements between the first device and the second device based at least in part on the transit times; determining, by the first device, an unlock decision based at least in part on the one or more range measurements; and causing, by at least the first device, the first device to unlock if the unlock decision is positive.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
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Publication number: 20220335807Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic device displays visual indications to a user when an electronic device is associated with a particular user account. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays notifications of a separation with a remote locator object (and/or device). In some embodiments, an electronic device utilizes a first or second locator process for locating a device or a remote locator object based on the device or remote locator object being located. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates finding associated components that are at one or more physical locations. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates display of location information of associated components that are at one or more physical locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Frank DE JONG, Christine A. FRANCO, Benjamin A. Detwiler, Brent M. Ledvina