Patents by Inventor Christopher John McLain

Christopher John McLain 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: 7155168
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying which one of a plurality of mobile terminals in communication with a ground-based base station, via a transponded satellite, is causing interference with a non-target satellite orbiting in a vicinity of the transponded satellite. The method involves using the base station to sequentially check each of the mobile terminals to identify which one is causing the interference. The check is made by the base station commanding each mobile terminal to modulate the power level of its transmitted signals and then checking with an operator of the interfered with non-target satellite to see if the interference condition has changed. Once the mobile terminal causing the interference condition is identified, the base station can command the mobile terminal to reduce its transmit power accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Michael de La Chapelle
  • Patent number: 6941111
    Abstract: A method for rapidly identifying which one of a plurality of mobile wireless terminals on-board a corresponding plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft, accessing a target transponded satellite, is causing interference with one or more non-target satellites orbiting in proximity to the target satellite. The method involves dividing the plurality of mobile wireless terminals into two groups and commanding one-group of terminals to stop transmitting. A check is then made to determine which group of terminals is causing the interference. That particular group is then subdivided successively by a factor of 2 and alternately checked to see if it is still causing the interference until a single mobile terminal is identified as the source of the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Melvin Barmat
  • Patent number: 6785526
    Abstract: A system and method for quickly detecting and remedying an interference incident caused by one of a plurality of mobile terminals in communication with a transponded satellite. The method makes use of a time line constructed from communications of each of the mobile terminals. The time line forms a real time, sequential record of events wherein various mobile terminals have made contact with the transponded satellite. The method extrapolates from the time line which one of the mobile terminals has caused an interfering event by determining which mobile terminal accessed the communication system just prior to the interference event arising.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Gary V. Stephenson, Michael de La Chapelle
  • Publication number: 20040157563
    Abstract: A method for rapidly identifying which one of a plurality of mobile wireless terminals on-board a corresponding plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft, accessing a target transponded satellite, is causing interference with one or more non-target satellites orbiting in proximity to the target satellite. The method involves dividing the plurality of mobile wireless terminals into two groups and commanding one-group of terminals to stop transmitting. A check is then made to determine which group of terminals is causing the interference. That particular group is then subdivided successively by a factor of 2 and alternately checked to see if it is still causing the interference until a single mobile terminal is identified as the source of the interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Melvin Barmat
  • Patent number: 6731909
    Abstract: A method for rapidly identifying which one of a plurality of mobile radio frequency (RF) terminals on-board a corresponding plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft, accessing a target transponded satellite, is causing interference with one or more non-target satellites orbiting in proximity to the target satellite. The method involves dividing the plurality of mobile RF terminals into two groups and commanding one group of terminals to stop transmitting. A check is then made to determine which group of terminals is causing the interference. That particular group is then subdivided successively by a factor of 2 and alternately checked to see if it is still causing the interference until a single mobile terminal is identified as the source of the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Melvin Barmat
  • Patent number: 6708019
    Abstract: A method for rapidly monitoring and detecting a mobile terminal causing RF interference with one or more satellites orbiting in the vicinity of a target satellite, from a plurality of mobile terminals accessing the target satellite. Each mobile terminal performs a transmit lobing signal sequence and a ground-based component in the form of a Network Operation Center (NOC) analyzes the signals transmitted by each mobile platform. The NOC determines a ratio of energy-per-bit to noise spectral density (Eb/No) value for the signals transmitted by each mobile platform and compares these values to a predetermined Eb/No value. If the Eb/No values for a given mobile platform deviate by more than a predetermined magnitude from the predetermined Eb/No value, then the NOC identifies that given mobile platform as causing the unintended RF interference with the adjacent satellite(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Michael de La Chapelle, David S. Parkman
  • Publication number: 20020151278
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying which one of a plurality of mobile terminals in communication with a ground-based base station, via a transponded satellite, is causing interference with a non-target satellite orbiting in a vicinity of the transponded satellite. The method involves using the base station to sequentially check each of the mobile terminals to identify which one is causing the interference. The check is made by the base station commanding each mobile terminal to modulate the power level of its transmitted signals and then checking with an operator of the interfered with non-target satellite to see if the interference condition has changed. Once the mobile terminal causing the interference condition is identified, the base station can command the mobile terminal to reduce it transmit power accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Michael de La Chapelle
  • Publication number: 20020145562
    Abstract: A method for rapidly identifying which one of a plurality of mobile radio frequency (RF) terminals on-board a corresponding plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft, accessing a target transponded satellite, is causing interference with one or more non-target satellites orbiting in proximity to the target satellite. The method involves dividing the plurality of mobile RF terminals into two groups and commanding one group of terminals to stop transmitting. A check is then made to determine which group of terminals is causing the interference. That particular group is then subdivided successively by a factor of 2 and alternately checked to see if it is still causing the interference until a single mobile terminal is identified as the source of the interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Melvin Barmat
  • Publication number: 20020146995
    Abstract: A system and method for quickly detecting and remedying an interference incident caused by one of a plurality of mobile terminals in communication with a transponded satellite. The method makes use of a time line constructed from communications of each of the mobile terminals. The time line forms a real time, sequential record of events wherein various mobile terminals have made contact with the transponded satellite. The method extrapolates from the time line which one of the mobile terminals has caused an interfering event by determining which mobile terminal accessed the communication system just prior to the interference event arising.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Gary V. Stephenson, Michael de La Chapelle
  • Publication number: 20020146982
    Abstract: A method for rapidly monitoring and detecting a mobile terminal causing RF interference with one or more satellites orbiting in the vicinity of a target satellite, from a plurality of mobile terminals accessing the target satellite. Each mobile terminal performs a transmit lobing signal sequence and a ground-based component in the form of a Network Operation Center (NOC) analyzes the signals transmitted by each mobile platform. The NOC determines a ratio of energy-per-bit to noise spectral density (Eb/No) value for the signals transmitted by each mobile platform and compares these values to a predetermined Eb/No value. If the Eb/No values for a given mobile platform deviate by more than a predetermined magnitude from the predetermined Eb/No value, then the NOC identifies that given mobile platform as causing the unintended RF interference with the adjacent satellite(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher John McLain, Michael de La Chapelle, David S. Parkman