Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Hansen
Christopher J. Hansen 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: 9960865Abstract: A station (STA) can receive messages (e.g., beacon frames) at a regular interval, and perform measurements on the received messages. The STA maintains a running average of recent measurement values, and updates the running average after each new measurement interval. At some measurement opportunities, the expected messages cannot be received by the STA, and so the STA cannot perform a measurement; when this occurs, the STA can choose substitute values to use for the missed measurements when next calculating the running average. As one example, the STA can substitute the value for a previously-performed measurement for the missed measurements. As another example, the STA can substitute a predetermined low value for the missed measurements. Based on the value of the running average at a given point in time, the STA can take actions such as initiating a roaming scan or switching to a different wireless interface.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Xiaowen Wang, Vinay R. Majjigi, Syed A. Mujtaba, Christopher J. Hansen
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Patent number: 9949227Abstract: A method and apparatus for location determination by a WLAN station is disclosed. The method can include a first WLAN station receiving a packet sent by a second WLAN station, deriving a channel quality metric for a channel between the first WLAN station and the second WLAN station, comparing the channel quality metric to a threshold, and calculating a distance between the first WLAN station and the second WLAN station in an instance in which the channel quality metric satisfies the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Stuart K. Neubarth
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Patent number: 9826373Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transmitter includes a baseband processing module and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters. The processing module selects one of a plurality of modes of operation based on a mode selection signal. The processing module determines a number of transmit streams based on the mode selection signal. The processing of the data further continues by converting encoded data into streams of symbols in accordance with the number of transmit streams and the mode selection signal. A number of the plurality of RF transmitters are enabled based on the mode selection signal to convert a corresponding one of the streams of symbols into a corresponding RF signal such that a corresponding number of RF signals is produced.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTDInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky, Nambirajan Seshadri, Kelly Brian Cameron, Hau Thien Tran, Ba-Zhong Shen
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Publication number: 20170203566Abstract: A multinozzle deposition system for direct write applications comprises a body including a first network of microchannels embedded therein, where the first network of microchannels extends from a parent microchannel through a series of furcations to a plurality of branching microchannels. The series consists of k generations with furcation number m where the kth generation includes mk branching microchannels. A first end of the body includes a single inlet to the parent microchannel and a second end of the body includes mk outlets from the branching microchannels, where k is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and m is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The body comprises a material having a sufficient rigidity to sustain a pressure in the microchannels of about 690 kPa or greater without distortion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of IllinoisInventors: Jennifer A. Lewis, Christopher J. Hansen, Steven Kranz, John J. Vericella, Willie Wu, David B. Kolesky
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Patent number: 9643358Abstract: A multinozzle deposition system for direct write applications comprises a body including a first network of microchannels embedded therein, where the first network of microchannels extends from a parent microchannel through a series of furcations to a plurality of branching microchannels. The series consists of k generations with furcation number m where the kth generation includes mk branching microchannels. A first end of the body includes a single inlet to the parent microchannel and a second end of the body includes mk outlets from the branching microchannels, where k is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and m is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The body comprises a material having a sufficient rigidity to sustain a pressure in the microchannels of about 690 kPa or greater without distortion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: The Board of Trustees of The University of IllinoisInventors: Jennifer A. Lewis, Christopher J. Hansen, Steven Kranz, John J. Vericella, Willie Wu, David B. Kolesky
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Patent number: 9596637Abstract: In order to facilitate communication between an electronic device and another electronic device, the electronic device determines communication-quality metrics for a first connection in a wireless network based on received information from the other electronic device. Then, the electronic device calculates an overall communication-quality indicator for the first connection based on at least some of the communication-quality metrics. Moreover, the electronic device dynamically adapts the communication with the other electronic device based on the overall communication-quality indicator. For example, the electronic device may establish a second connection in a cellular-telephone network and may use the second connection to communicate with the other electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Kee-Bong Song, Syed A. Mujtaba, Vinay R. Majjigi, Xiaowen Wang
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Patent number: 9516483Abstract: A method for wireless communication between stations of differing protocols begins by determining whether protocols of target stations of a wireless communication are different than a protocol of a source station. The method continues by, when at least one of the target stations has a different protocol than the protocol of the source station, determining whether the wireless communication is a direct wireless communication or an indirect wireless communication. The method continues with the source station transmitting a frame to an access point, wherein the frame is formatted in accordance with the protocol of the source station, when the wireless communication is the indirect wireless communication. The method continues with the access point converting the frame into at least one alternate frame based on the protocol of the at least one of the target stations having the different protocol.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky, Timothy W. Markison
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Publication number: 20160212575Abstract: Protocol adaptation layer for wireless communications. Communication devices that include one or more radio modules operable in accordance with multiple communication protocols establish communications using one communication protocol and then switch to another communication protocol. This switching to another communication protocol may be performed based on a variety of factors including effectuating communications of higher throughput, supporting uni-directional communications vs. bi-directional communications, or any other desired factor. In some embodiments, various communication devices include two radio modules that are each implemented to operate in accordance with one particular communication protocol. Alternatively, a multi-protocol capable radio module may support and operate in accordance with more than one communication protocol. Examples of possible communication protocols include those compliant with Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, and/or 802.15.3c.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATIONInventors: Saishankar Nandagopalan, Christopher J. Hansen
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Patent number: 9356673Abstract: A communication device includes a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a processing module. The wireless transmitter, the wireless receiver, and/or the processing module facilitate: a control-level communication with another communication device using initial transmit beamforming parameters and initial receive beamforming parameters; a handshake communication with the other communication device to determine adjustments of at least one of the initial transmit beamforming parameters and the initial receive beamforming parameters to produce at least one of adjusted transmit beamforming parameters and adjusted receive beamforming parameters; and a normal-level communication with the other communication device using the at least one of the adjusted transmit beamforming parameters and the adjusted receive beamforming parameters.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky
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Patent number: 9344535Abstract: A method for multiple protocol wireless communications begins by determining protocols of wireless communication devices within a proximal region. The method then continues by determining whether the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are of a like protocol. The method continues by, when the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region are not of a like protocol, selecting a protocol of the protocols of the wireless communication devices within the proximal region based on a protocol ordering to produce a selected protocol. The method continues by utilizing the selected protocol by the wireless communication devices within the proximal region to set up a wireless communication within the proximal region.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky, Rajendra Tushar Moorti, Matthew James Fischer
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Patent number: 9307350Abstract: Protocol adaptation layer for wireless communications. Communication devices that include one or more radio modules operable in accordance with multiple communication protocols establish communications using one communication protocol and then switch to another communication protocol. This switching to another communication protocol may be performed based on a variety of factors including effectuating communications of higher throughput, supporting uni-directional communications vs. bi-directional communications, or any other desired factor. In some embodiments, various communication devices include two radio modules that are each implemented to operate in accordance with one particular communication protocol. Alternatively, a multi-protocol capable radio module may support and operate in accordance with more than one communication protocol. Examples of possible communication protocols include those compliant with Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, and/or 802.15.3c.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATIONInventors: Saishankar Nandagopalan, Christopher J. Hansen
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Patent number: 9300368Abstract: Information may be communicated between two or more wireless devices via adaptive or steered antennas or antenna systems and 60 GHz signals. The adaptive or steered antennas or antenna systems may be initialized based upon location information determined from a beacon signal and/or a reference system. The beacon signal may be swept through an angle and may be utilized along with reference system information to determine the direction and/or distance between the two or more wireless devices. Spatial relationships between the two or more wireless devices may vary. The two or more wireless devices may communicate and coordinate communications between them via alternate lower frequency signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jeyhan Karaoguz
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Patent number: 9247439Abstract: A method for receiving a frame in a high data throughput wireless local area network begins by receiving a preamble of the frame via a channel in accordance with a default receiver filter mask. The processing continues by validating the preamble. The processing continues by, when the preamble is validated, interpreting the preamble to determine a high data throughput channel configuration. The processing continues by reconfiguring the default receiver filter mask in accordance with the high data throughput channel configuration to produce a reconfigured receiver filter mask. The processing continues by receiving a data segment of the frame in accordance with the reconfigured receiver filter mask.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Rajendra Tushar Moorti, Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky
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Patent number: 9198035Abstract: An integrated circuit radio transceiver and associated method comprises a multi-mode device operable to support personal area network communications as well as traditional wireless local area network communications. In one embodiment, IEEE 802.11 protocol IBSS communications are used to transport Bluetooth communication data packets. In another embodiment, a direct link comprising direct packet transfers without beaconing is performed between the multi-mode device and another multi-mode device. Thus, the multi-mode device is operable to establish traditional BSS communications with an Access Point in addition to establishing peer-to-peer communications with another multi-mode device to transport the Bluetooth communications over the 802.11 IBSS communication link or over an IEEE 802.11 direct communication link.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Henry Ptasinski
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Patent number: 9191092Abstract: Aspects of the invention described herein may enable a greenfield access mode in IEEE 802.11n WLAN systems in comparison to an alternative approach that may not provide greenfield access. The utilization of greenfield access may reduce the portion of time required to transmit data due to overhead comprising preamble fields and header fields. This may enable higher data throughput rates to be achieved. This may further enable more robust transmission of data by enabling comparable data rates to be maintained while reducing the coding rate of encoded transmitted data. The reduction of the coding rate may enable comparable data rates to be maintained for transmission via RF channels characterized by lower SNR while still achieving desired target levels of packet error rates. In another aspect of the invention, mixed mode access may be achieved while reducing the portion of time required for transmitting data due to overhead.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: BROAD CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Rajendra T. Moorti, Jason A. Trachewsky
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Patent number: 9130705Abstract: A method for transmitting high rate data within a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless local area network (WLAN) begins by determining a data transmission rate. The method continues by, when the data transmission rate is between a first data rate and a second data rate, enabling two transmission paths. The method continues by, for each of the two transmission paths, determining at least one of: level of constellation, number of data subcarriers, rate code, and cyclic prefix duration.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventor: Christopher J. Hansen
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Publication number: 20150207578Abstract: A multichannel wireless local area network (WLAN) using multiple radio frequency (RF) channels simultaneously for a basic service set (BSS) is described. The multichannel WLAN provides efficient use of RF bandwidth and improves throughput. An access point of the multichannel WLAN communicates with client devices using at least two parallel RF channels, which can be located in two different RF bands. The access point supports connections to client devices using a “legacy” mode over a single logical channel mapped to a single RF channel and includes data traffic, control traffic, and management frames combined. The access point also supports connections to client devices using a high efficiency WLAN mode having multiple logical channels, each logical channel associated with one or more physical RF channels. The multiple logical channels include a management channel for management frames and a separate high efficiency WLAN data channel to carry data traffic and control traffic.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Harish Ramamurthy, Joonsuk Kim, Yong Liu, Christopher J. Hansen
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Publication number: 20150163650Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transmitter includes a baseband processing module and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters. The processing module selects one of a plurality of modes of operation based on a mode selection signal. The processing module determines a number of transmit streams based on the mode selection signal. The processing of the data further continues by converting encoded data into streams of symbols in accordance with the number of transmit streams and the mode selection signal. A number of the plurality of RF transmitters are enabled based on the mode selection signal to convert a corresponding one of the streams of symbols into a corresponding RF signal such that a corresponding number of RF signals is produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky, Nambirajan Seshadri, Kelly Brian Cameron, Hau Thien Tran, Ba-Zhong Shen
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Publication number: 20150124794Abstract: Aspects of the invention described herein may enable a greenfield access mode in IEEE 802.11n WLAN systems in comparison to an alternative approach that may not provide greenfield access. The utilization of greenfield access may reduce the portion of time required to transmit data due to overhead comprising preamble fields and header fields. This may enable higher data throughput rates to be achieved. This may further enable more robust transmission of data by enabling comparable data rates to be maintained while reducing the coding rate of encoded transmitted data. The reduction of the coding rate may enable comparable data rates to be maintained for transmission via RF channels characterized by lower SNR while still achieving desired target levels of packet error rates. In another aspect of the invention, mixed mode access may be achieved while reducing the portion of time required for transmitting data due to overhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: May 7, 2015Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Rajendra T. Moorti, Jason A. Trachewsky
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Patent number: 9025491Abstract: Wireless devices may utilize a communication stack to setup a data transmission session with other devices. The data transmission session may include a physical layer that permits wireless devices to perform operations such as discovery, pairing, and security setup. When a radio interface of a wireless device is insufficient to enable performing a data communication, a data transmission session may be established with at least one of a plurality of other physical layers to accommodate the data communication.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Broadcom CorporationInventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jeyhan Karaoguz