Patents by Inventor Bruce Allen Bernhardt

Bruce Allen Bernhardt 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: 9942698
    Abstract: A method includes receiving location information from a mobile device, the location information indicating a location of a mobile device operating the mobile device in a global positioning navigation satellite system (GNSS)-location-denied environment. One or more communication parameters associated with communications between the mobile device and a network can be identified. The communication parameters can be associated with the location of the mobile device. The mobile device can provide the location information using a social networking site, for example, using a check-in feature or drop-down location menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Ali Ă–mer Mubarek, Arnold Sheynman, Michael Shenfield
  • Patent number: 9507010
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for determining a frequency drift of clock of a mobile communication device is disclosed. A first positioning signal, such as M-LMS signals, is received at a first positioning engine of the mobile communication device controlled by the clock. A second positioning signal, such as GNSS signals, is received at a second positioning engine of the mobile communication device controlled by the clock. A first position is determined from the first positioning signal, and a second position is determined from the second positioning signal. A difference between the first position and the second position is determined, and the frequency drift of the clock is determined from the difference between the first position and the second position. The frequency drift determined may be subsequently applied to the clock, and thus enhance the accuracy of M-LMS positioning when GNSS signals are unreliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Mohammad Shafiq Bani Hani, Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Arnold Sheynman
  • Patent number: 9164161
    Abstract: Mobile devices are able to determine their location based radio transmitters that are visible at the device to provide geographic location services. A knowledge of the location of the transmitters is required for the mobile device to determine a location estimate, however this can be difficult in network environments where the transmitters are temporary and their locations are not identified in location databases. Locations of temporary transmitters can be provided to mobile devices in order to augment the available location data used in determining the mobile device location. 3rd parties can provide temporal location data on transmitters that are set up for short period of time, as well as better control the distribution of the location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Jingwei Xu, I-Ming Tsai
  • Patent number: 9121931
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards mobile device location estimation, and more particularly, to indoor mobile device location estimation. One computer-implemented method includes using indoor floor map, indoor wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) location map and constructing a pseudo-AP map associated with an indoor location, wherein the pseudo-AP map includes at least one pseudo-AP, each pseudo-AP a function of at least a radio-frequency (RF) signal strength indication (RSSI) associated with at least one actual AP associated with the indoor location; estimating a mobile device location within the boundaries of the indoor location using at least one actual AP associated with the indoor location, and at least one pseudo-AP from the pseudo-AP map associated with the indoor location; and using the estimated mobile device location for indoor navigation within the indoor location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jingwei Xu, Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Arnold Sheynman
  • Publication number: 20150177360
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for determining a frequency drift of clock of a mobile communication device is disclosed. A first positioning signal, such as M-LMS signals, is received at a first positioning engine of the mobile communication device controlled by the clock. A second positioning signal, such as GNSS signals, is received at a second positioning engine of the mobile communication device controlled by the clock. A first position is determined from the first positioning signal, and a second position is determined from the second positioning signal. A difference between the first position and the second position is determined, and the frequency drift of the clock is determined from the difference between the first position and the second position. The frequency drift determined may be subsequently applied to the clock, and thus enhance the accuracy of M-LMS positioning when GNSS signals are unreliable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mohammad Shafiq Bani Hani, Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Arnold Sheynman
  • Publication number: 20150133171
    Abstract: A method, device and circuit for determining a position of a mobile cellular communication device is disclosed. A pseudolites positioning signal is received in a first frequency band at an antenna of the mobile cellular communication device. The pseudolites signal is converted from the first frequency band to a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) frequency band to obtain a corresponding positioning signal in the GNSS frequency band. The converted positioning signal is delivered to a GNSS chipset of the mobile cellular communication device. The GNSS chipset determines the position of the mobile cellular communication device using the converted positioning signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mohammad Shafiq BANI HANI, Arnold SHEYNMAN, Bruce Allen BERNHARDT
  • Publication number: 20140274116
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards mobile device location estimation, and more particularly, to indoor mobile device location estimation. One computer-implemented method includes using indoor floor map, indoor wireless local area network (WLAN) access point (AP) location map and constructing a pseudo-AP map associated with an indoor location, wherein the pseudo-AP map includes at least one pseudo-AP, each pseudo-AP a function of at least a radio-frequency (RF) signal strength indication (RSSI) associated with at least one actual AP associated with the indoor location; estimating a mobile device location within the boundaries of the indoor location using at least one actual AP associated with the indoor location, and at least one pseudo-AP from the pseudo-AP map associated with the indoor location; and using the estimated mobile device location for indoor navigation within the indoor location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jingwei Xu, Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Arnold Sheynman
  • Publication number: 20140218241
    Abstract: Mobile devices are able to determine their location based radio transmitters that are visible at the device to provide geographic location services. A knowledge of the location of the transmitters is required for the mobile device to determine a location estimate, however this can be difficult in network environments where the transmitters are temporary and their locations are not identified in location databases. Locations of temporary transmitters can be provided to mobile devices in order to augment the available location data used in determining the mobile device location. 3rd parties can provide temporal location data on transmitters that are set up for short period of time, as well as better control the distribution of the location data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Bruce Allen BERNHARDT, Jingwei XU, I-Ming TSAI
  • Publication number: 20140171128
    Abstract: A method includes receiving location information from a mobile device, the location information indicating a location of a mobile device operating the mobile device in a global positioning navigation satellite system (GNSS)-location-denied environment. One or more communication parameters associated with communications between the mobile device and a network can be identified. The communication parameters can be associated with the location of the mobile device. The mobile device can provide the location information using a social networking site, for example, using a check-in feature or drop-down location menu.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bernhardt, Ali Omer Mubarek, Arnold Sheynman, Michael Shenfield
  • Publication number: 20120109979
    Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates selection of a media file for play-out at a media player, such as a media player forming part of a wireless device. Prioritization criteria is used to prioritize a plurality of media files according to a prioritization criteria. And, once prioritized, a playlist is established. The playlist is used in the selection of a media file to be played out at the media-file player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventor: Bruce Allen Bernhardt