Patents by Inventor Charles J. Rieger

Charles J. Rieger 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: 9146300
    Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and/or methods for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A method may include (a) receiving, into a mobile device, a common RF signal on a common carrier frequency, wherein the common RF signal includes a respective RF signal output by each of three or more transmitters on a common time basis in a round-robin manner, and wherein each of the three or more transmitters is positioned at a known location, (b) capturing data representing the common RF signal, (c) based on the captured data, discriminating between each respective RF signal that forms the received common RF signal, (d) determining a relative phase shift of each respective RF signal, and (e) determining the location of the mobile device based on the determined relative phase shifts and the known locations of the three or more transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Patent number: 8965403
    Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Publication number: 20130331124
    Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Navteq B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Patent number: 8548493
    Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Publication number: 20130012223
    Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and/or methods for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A method may include (a) receiving, into a mobile device, a common RF signal on a common carrier frequency, wherein the common RF signal includes a respective RF signal output by each of three or more transmitters on a common time basis in a round-robin manner, and wherein each of the three or more transmitters is positioned at a known location, (b) capturing data representing the common RF signal, (c) based on the captured data, discriminating between each respective RF signal that forms the received common RF signal, (d) determining a relative phase shift of each respective RF signal, and (e) determining the location of the mobile device based on the determined relative phase shifts and the known locations of the three or more transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Patent number: 8294617
    Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and/or methods for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A method may include (a) receiving, into a mobile device, a common RF signal on a common carrier frequency, wherein the common RF signal includes a respective RF signal output by each of three or more transmitters on a common time basis in a round-robin manner, and wherein each of the three or more transmitters is positioned at a known location, (b) capturing data representing the common RF signal, (c) based on the captured data, discriminating between each respective RF signal that forms the received common RF signal, (d) determining a relative phase shift of each respective RF signal, and (e) determining the location of the mobile device based on the determined relative phase shifts and the known locations of the three or more transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Publication number: 20120264447
    Abstract: One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Publication number: 20120044109
    Abstract: Systems, devices, features, and/or methods for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A method may include (a) receiving, into a mobile device, a common RF signal on a common carrier frequency, wherein the common RF signal includes a respective RF signal output by each of three or more transmitters on a common time basis in a round-robin manner, and wherein each of the three or more transmitters is positioned at a known location, (b) capturing data representing the common RF signal, (c) based on the captured data, discriminating between each respective RF signal that forms the received common RF signal, (d) determining a relative phase shift of each respective RF signal, and (e) determining the location of the mobile device based on the determined relative phase shifts and the known locations of the three or more transmitters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Patent number: 7136915
    Abstract: A communications system to post arbitrary information to any geographical region simply by outlining the region on a map in the system's user interface and attaching the information to the outlined region is provided. The outlined region can be of any size, e.g., a city block, a neighborhood, a county, and defines the information's “region of relevance”. Any user of the system can also browse and receive these geographically relevant postings simply by identifying a point or region of interest on one of the system's maps. Uses of the system range from personal communication of questions and announcements to a geographically identified group, to governmental and commercial news and announcements aimed at a particular population, to “virtual billboards” for advertising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Charles J Rieger, III
  • Patent number: 6654800
    Abstract: An HTTP server connected to the World Wide Web is described. The system allows a user to post arbitrary information to any geographical region simply by outlining the region on a map in the system's graphical user interface and attaching the information to the outlined region. Any user of the system can browse and receive these geographically relevant postings simply by identifying a point or region of interest on one of the system's maps. Users with registered accounts can elect to receive automatic email of postings that are relevant to one or more of their primary geographical coordinates. Mobile users can condition their cell phones or other communications devices to check into the system periodically to receive geographically relevant postings as they travel. The system can be used for communications with a geographically identified group, for governmental and commercial communications with a particular population, and for advertising, among other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III
  • Publication number: 20020103892
    Abstract: A communications system to post arbitrary information to any geographical region simply by outlining the region on a map in the system's user interface and attaching the information to the outlined region is provided. The outlined region can be of any size, e.g., a city block, a neighborhood, a county, and defines the information's “region of relevance”. Any user of the system can also browse and receive these geographically relevant postings simply by identifying a point or region of interest on one of the system's maps. Uses of the system range from personal communication of questions and announcements to a geographically identified group, to governmental and commercial news and announcements aimed at a particular population, to “virtual billboards” for advertising.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger
  • Patent number: 5732324
    Abstract: An audio program of up to several minutes duration, together with identifying information, is transferred from a stationary low power radio transmitting unit to a receiving unit in a moving vehicle during a several second digitally encoded burst communication as the vehicle passes by.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Charles J. Rieger, III