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).

  • Publication number: 20180338330
    Abstract: Proximity of a responder device to an initiator device can be used to determine user intent for pairing the responder device with the initiator device. For example, the initiator device can measure a signal strength of an advertisement signal from the responder device. When the signal strength is sufficiently strong, a pairing process can be initiated, e.g., the user of the initiator device can automatically be prompted to begin pairing. The determination of whether the signal strength is sufficiently high can be determined based on a human interaction model, which can use measurements from various geometrical configurations of the two types of devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert William Mayor, Bob Bradley
  • Patent number: 10117046
    Abstract: A method for identifying a location of a mobile device is disclosed. The method includes during each of a plurality of instances of time: measuring one or more signal properties of one or more other devices across a time interval; obtaining an identifier from each of the one or more other devices; creating a data point to include the one or more signal properties; and storing the data point in a database. The method further includes analyzing the plurality data points in the database to determine clusters of data points; detecting an event at an input device of the mobile device; measuring one or more new signal properties of one or more of the plurality of other devices at one or more new times; creating a new data point from the one or more new signal properties; and identifying a first cluster corresponding to the new data point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Mayor, Lukas M. Marti, David R. Stites, Jahshan A. Bhatti, Kevin Duffy
  • Patent number: 10091303
    Abstract: 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 to determine a data point at each of a plurality of first times, associating an accessory device with each of the data points, clustering the data points within a threshold distance of each other to create a plurality of clusters. The method also includes, after clustering the data points, measuring one or more sensor values to determine one or more current data points at a second time, determining that one or more current data points at the second time corresponds to a first cluster of the plurality of clusters, identifying a first accessory device associated with one or more of the data points in the first cluster, and providing a message using the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Kevin P. McLaughlin, David R. Stites, Jahshan A. Bhatti, Kevin Duffy, Robert William Mayor
  • Publication number: 20180234797
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Brumley, Robert William Mayor, William J. Bencze, Alejandro J. Marquez, Shang-Te Yang, Xu Chen, Mohit Narang, Indranil S. Sen
  • Publication number: 20180115439
    Abstract: The subject system aggregates, or stitches, multiple component channel estimates to generate an aggregated wideband channel estimate that can be used to determine more accurate time of arrival estimations than those determinable from the individual component channel estimates. The subject system also provides for multipath detection on a single channel or an aggregated channel that may be used to facilitate an accurate time of arrival estimation. For example, information derived from the multipath detection may be used to supplement and/or enhance a time of arrival estimation algorithm. The subject system also provides a sounding protocol that allows devices to perform one or more signal exchanges to facilitate generating the aggregated wideband channel estimate and/or to facilitate performing the multipath detection. The protocol allows the devices to perform signal exchanges over one or more channels within a coherence time, and also provides for security mechanisms as well as failure recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Jahshan A. BHATTI, Brent M. LEDVINA, Robert W. BRUMLEY, Wei ZHANG, Chiu Ngok E. WONG
  • Publication number: 20170359680
    Abstract: A method for identifying a location of a mobile device is disclosed. The method includes during each of a plurality of instances of time: measuring one or more signal properties of one or more other devices across a time interval; obtaining an identifier from each of the one or more other devices; creating a data point to include the one or more signal properties; and storing the data point in a database. The method further includes analyzing the plurality data points in the database to determine clusters of data points; detecting an event at an input device of the mobile device; measuring one or more new signal properties of one or more of the plurality of other devices at one or more new times; creating a new data point from the one or more new signal properties; and identifying a first cluster corresponding to the new data point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Mayor, Lukas M. Marti, David R. Stites, Jahshan A. Bhatti, Kevin Duffy
  • Publication number: 20170359697
    Abstract: A mobile device can identify its physical location without explicit knowledge of physical coordinates, but instead using sensor measurements dependence on distance, e.g., signal strength from a Wi-Fi router. Sensor measurements can be used to determine the mobile device is at a same physical location as a previous measurement. For example, numerous measurements of sensor values can form data points that are clustered in sensor space, where a cluster of data points in sensor space corresponds to a physical cluster of physical positions in physical space. A current physical location of the mobile device can be determined by identifying which cluster of sensor positions the current measurements correspond. To identify the cluster of sensor positions, a probability can be determined for each cluster based on a sensor distance between the current measurement and a representative data point of the cluster and a kernel function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahshan A. Bhatti, Brent M. Ledvina
  • Publication number: 20170357788
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
  • Publication number: 20170359679
    Abstract: A method for identifying a suggested application on a mobile device is disclosed. The method includes detecting an event, determining a first location of the mobile device, identifying that the first location is within a first location region of a plurality of predetermined location regions, and then measuring one or more sensor values at one or more times. The measured sensor values may then be used to create a first-data point. In response to identifying the first location region, a plurality of clusters of data points may be retrieved. A first cluster of the plurality of clusters corresponding to the first data point may then be identified. The method may further include identifying a set of one or more applications, and then providing a message to the user based on the identified set of one or more applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Mayor, Lukas M. Marti, David R. Stites, Jahshan A. Bhatti, Kevin Duffy
  • Patent number: 9618625
    Abstract: A system and method of continuous carrier wave reconstruction includes a radio navigation receiver that includes one or more processors, memory coupled to the one or more processors, and an input for receiving a signal from a transmitter. The signal has a phase. The one or more processors are configured to obtain phase lock on the received signal, extract first phase information from the received signal, detect a loss in phase lock on the received signal, and extrapolate second phase information while phase lock is lost using a model of the phase. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are further configured to reconstruct the carrier signal based on the first and second phase information. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are further configured to scale the first and second phase information from a first nominal frequency of the received signal to a different second nominal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, William J. Bencze, Robert W. Brumley, Brent M. Ledvina, Mark L. Psiaki, Thomas J. Holmes, Clark E. Cohen
  • Patent number: 9612340
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and subassemblies for creating and delivering crowd-sourced GNSS models include receiving at one or more navigation receivers first signals transmitted by one or more navigation beacons, determining by the navigation receivers first navigation observables based on the received first signals, receiving at an augmentation server information associated with the first navigation observables, determining by the augmentation server augmentation information based on at least the received information associated with the first navigation observables and computational models, transmitting the augmentation information to the navigation receivers, receiving by the navigation receivers the augmentation information, receiving by the navigation receivers second signals transmitted by the one or more navigation beacon, determining by the navigation receivers second navigation observables based on the received second signals and determining by the navigation receivers a respective high-precision posi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, Brent M. Ledvina
  • Publication number: 20170090037
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for determining extended coherent integration intervals based on information about user activity, dynamics and clock stability. Dynamically extending the coherent integration interval increases the signal-to-noise ratio during signal acquisition and tracking, thereby providing a benefit when antenna gain is poor, in weak signal conditions, and when being jammed, or when power needs to be conserved, compared to extending the coherent integration interval for a fixed amount of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Isaac Thomas Miller
  • Patent number: 9557422
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and subassemblies for creating and delivering a GNSS augmentation service include one or more reference stations for receiving signals transmitted by navigation beacons and an augmentation server coupled to the reference stations. At least one of the reference stations is able to receive at least one of the signals from a low earth orbit satellite. Each of the reference stations determines first navigation observables based on the received signals and transmit information associated with the first navigation observables to the augmentation server. The augmentation server is configured to determine and distribute augmentation information to a receiver. The augmentation information is based on the received information associated with the first navigation observables, locations of the reference stations, and computational models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, William J. Bencze, Robert Brumley, Brent M. Ledvina
  • Publication number: 20160313449
    Abstract: Position, navigation and/or timing (PNT) solutions may be provided with levels of precision that have previously and conventionally been associated with carrier phase differential GPS (CDGPS) techniques that employ a fixed terrestrial reference station or with GPS PPP techniques that employ fixed terrestrial stations and corrections distribution networks of generally limited terrestrial coverage. Using techniques described herein, high-precision PNT solutions may be provided without resort to a generally proximate, terrestrial ground station having a fixed and precisely known position. Instead, techniques described herein utilize a carrier phase model and measurements from plural satellites (typically 4 or more) wherein at least one is a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite. For an Iridium LEO solution, particular techniques are described that allow extraction of an Iridium carrier phase observables, notwithstanding TDMA gaps and random phase rotations and biases inherent in the transmitted signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, Clark E. Cohen, Robert W. Brumley, William J. Bencze, Brent M. Ledvina, Thomas J. Holmes, Mark L. Psiaki
  • Patent number: 9360557
    Abstract: Position, navigation and/or timing (PNT) solutions may be provided with levels of precision that have previously and conventionally been associated with carrier phase differential GPS (CDGPS) techniques that employ a fixed terrestrial reference station or with GPS PPP techniques that employ fixed terrestrial stations and corrections distribution networks of generally limited terrestrial coverage. Using techniques described herein, high-precision PNT solutions may be provided without resort to a generally proximate, terrestrial ground station having a fixed and precisely known position. Instead, techniques described herein utilize a carrier phase model and measurements from plural satellites (typically 4 or more) wherein at least one is a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite. For an Iridium LEO solution, particular techniques are described that allow extraction of an Iridium carrier phase observables, notwithstanding TDMA gaps and random phase rotations and biases inherent in the transmitted signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, Clark E. Cohen, Robert W. Brumley, William J. Bencze, Brent M. Ledvina, Thomas J. Holmes, Mark L. Psiaki
  • Publication number: 20150042511
    Abstract: A system and method of continuous carrier wave reconstruction includes a radio navigation receiver that includes one or more processors, memory coupled to the one or more processors, and an input for receiving a signal from a transmitter. The signal has a phase. The one or more processors are configured to obtain phase lock on the received signal, extract first phase information from the received signal, detect a loss in phase lock on the received signal, and extrapolate second phase information while phase lock is lost using a model of the phase. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are further configured to reconstruct the carrier signal based on the first and second phase information. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are further configured to scale the first and second phase information from a first nominal frequency of the received signal to a different second nominal frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Coherent Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, William J. Bencze, Robert W. Brumley, Brent M. Ledvina, Mark L. Psiaki, Thomas J. Holmes, Clark E. Cohen
  • Patent number: 7978130
    Abstract: A practical method for adding new high-performance, tightly integrated Nav-Com capability to any Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) user equipment requires no hardware modifications to the existing user equipment. In one example, the iGPS concept is applied to a Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) and combines Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites, such as Iridium, with GPS or other GNSS systems to significantly improve the accuracy, integrity, and availability of Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) and to enable new communication enhancements made available by the synthesis of precisely coupled navigation and communication modes. To achieve time synchronization stability between the existing DAGR and a plug-in iGPS enhancement module, a special-purpose wideband reference signal is generated by the iGPS module and coupled to the DAGR via the existing antenna port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Coherent Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark E. Cohen, Todd E. Humphreys, Brent M. Ledvina, William J. Bencze, Mark L. Psiaki, Bryan T. Galusha
  • Publication number: 20110163913
    Abstract: A practical method for adding significant new high-performance, tightly integrated Nav-Com capability to any Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) user equipment, such as GPS receivers, requires no hardware modifications to the existing user equipment. In one example, the iGPS concept is applied to a Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) and combines Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites, such as Iridium, with GPS or other GNSS systems to significantly improve the accuracy, integrity, and availability of Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT)—in some cases by three orders of magnitude, to enable high precision GNSS carrier phase observable to be more readily exploited to improve PNT availability—even under interference conditions or occluded environments, and to enable new communication enhancements made available by the synthesis of precisely coupled navigation and communication modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Dalaware Corporation
    Inventors: Clark E. Cohen, Todd E. Humphreys, Brent M. Ledvina, William J. Bencze, Mark L. Psiaki, Bryan T. Galusha
  • Publication number: 20110109506
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating radio-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals that are carrier-phase and code-phase aligned with ambient GNSS signals at a user-specified location in the vicinity of the simulator. Such phase alignment allows the synthesized signals to be made to appear substantially the same as the authentic signals to a target receiver, allowing the target receiver to transition seamlessly between authentic and simulated signals. The method is embodied in a device, a phase-coherent GNSS signal simulator, which can be implemented on a digital signal processor for embedded applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: COHERENT NAVIGATION, INC.
    Inventors: Todd E. Humphreys, Brent M. Ledvina, William J. Bencze, Bryan T. Galusha, Clark E. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20110102259
    Abstract: A method of countering GNSS signal spoofing includes monitoring a plurality of GNSS signals received from a plurality of GNSS signal sources and comparing broadcast data to identify outlying data, which is excluded from generation of a navigation solution defined by the plurality of GNSS signals. The outlying data can be a vestigial signal from a code or carrier Doppler shift frequency. The method includes triggering a spoofing indicator upon identification of the outlying data or other phenomenon. The phenomenon can include a shift in a phase of a measured GNSS navigation data bit sequence or a profile phenomenon of a correlation function resulting from correlation of the incoming GNSS signals with a local signal replica. The profile phenomenon can be the presence of multiple sustained correlation peaks. A nullifying signal can be generated and superimposed over a compromised signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: COHERENT NAVIGATION, INC.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Todd E. Humphreys, William J. Bencze, Bryan T. Galusha, Clark E. Cohen