Patents by Inventor Christopher Rice

Christopher Rice 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: 9389044
    Abstract: A device is convertible between a knife and a fore grip of a firearm. The device has a grip body operatively connected to a blade, and an attachment member connecting the grip body to a longitudinally extending rail of a firearm. The blade converts between an extended position when the device is disconnected from the firearm to a stored position when the device is connected the rail. The blade remains oriented along the longitudinal axis of the grip body when it is in both the stored position and the extended position. The grip body remains operatively connected to the blade when the device is disconnected from the firearm and the blade is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Switch Grip LLC
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Rice, Torrance L. Adcock
  • Patent number: 9374362
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing radio communication with an electronic object in a local environment are disclosed. For example the method receives via a mobile endpoint device of a user at least one first digital certificate associated with the local environment from a trusted source, and a second digital certificate from the electronic device deployed in the local environment via a wireless connection. The method then authenticates the electronic device using the at least one first digital certificate and the second digital certificate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Killian, Byoung-Jo Kim, Christopher Rice, Nemmara K. Shankaranarayanan
  • Publication number: 20160102939
    Abstract: A device is convertible between a knife and a fore grip of a firearm. The device has a grip body operatively connected to a blade, and an attachment member connecting the grip body to a longitudinally extending rail of a firearm. The blade converts between an extended position when the device is disconnected from the firearm to a stored position when the device is connected the rail. The blade remains oriented along the longitudinal axis of the grip body when it is in both the stored position and the extended position. The grip body remains operatively connected to the blade when the device is disconnected from the firearm and the blade is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Rice, Torrance L. Adcock
  • Patent number: 9234722
    Abstract: A device is convertible between a knife and a fore grip of a firearm. The device has a grip body operatively connected to a blade, and an attachment member connecting the grip body to a longitudinally extending rail of a firearm. The blade converts between an extended position when the device is disconnected from the firearm to a stored position when the device is connected the rail. The blade remains oriented along the longitudinal axis of the grip body when it is in both the stored position and the extended position. The grip body remains operatively connected to the blade when the device is disconnected from the firearm and the blade is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Switch Grip LLC
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Rice, Torrance L. Adcock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9228796
    Abstract: A foregrip for a firearm may comprise a mounting device configured to attach to a mounting rail of a firearm and a grip body. The grip body may include a top portion configured to be removably attached to the mounting device and a lateral side portion configured to be gripped by the hand of a person using a firearm. A cavity may be disposed within the grip body, and a blade may be disposed at least partially within the cavity, wherein the blade is movable between a refracted position and a deployed position relative to the grip body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Switch Grip LLC
    Inventors: Torrance L. Adcock, Jr., Michael Christopher Rice
  • Publication number: 20150095640
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing radio communication with an electronic object in a local environment are disclosed. For example the method receives via a mobile endpoint device of a user at least one first digital certificate associated with the local environment from a trusted source, and a second digital certificate from the electronic device deployed in the local environment via a wireless connection. The method then authenticates the electronic device using the at least one first digital certificate and the second digital certificate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Killian, SR., Byoung-Jo Kim, Christopher Rice, Nemmara K. Shankaranarayanan
  • Patent number: 8914628
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing radio communication with an electronic object in a local environment are disclosed. For example the method receives via a mobile endpoint device of a user at least one first digital certificate associated with the local environment from a trusted source, and a second digital certificate from the electronic device deployed in the local environment via a wireless connection. The method then authenticates the electronic device using the at least one first digital certificate and the second digital certificate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Killian, Byoung-Jo Kim, Christopher Rice, Nemmara K. Shankaranarayanan
  • Publication number: 20140230303
    Abstract: A device is convertible between a knife and a fore grip of a firearm. The device has a grip body operatively connected to a blade, and an attachment member connecting the grip body to a longitudinally extending rail of a firearm. The blade converts between an extended position when the device is disconnected from the firearm to a stored position when the device is connected the rail. The blade remains oriented along the longitudinal axis of the grip body when it is in both the stored position and the extended position. The grip body remains operatively connected to the blade when the device is disconnected from the firearm and the blade is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Rice
  • Patent number: 8667106
    Abstract: A management system for a guard chip. The guard chip is adapted to prevent malware communications between a user operating system and an external network without user interaction. The management system comprises an authentication function to authenticate interactions between the guard chip and the management system with each communication, an update function to provide updates to the guard chip without user interaction, and a control function to prevent users control of the guard chip. The management system can comprise an administrator to create the updates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Killian, David Kormann, Christopher Rice, Norm Schryer
  • Patent number: 8611339
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive presence information from each presence source of a plurality of presence sources, wherein the presence information is associated with a user, receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) which identifies the user, wherein identification information associated with the user from each presence source is mapped to the SIP URI, select at least a portion of the received presence information to be utilized in determining a presence status of the user, determine the presence status of the user based on the selected presence information, and transmit the presence status and the SIP URI to a computing device operably coupled to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, John Murray, Christopher Rice, Ron Shacham
  • Patent number: 8581729
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of constant bit rate (CBR) data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher Rice, Thomas Killian
  • Patent number: 8542098
    Abstract: A method and system for location determination and guidance using radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed. A location of a mobile RFID reader can be determined by detecting stationary RFID tags located at fixed locations. Each RFID tag stores location information associated with its position as well as location information of at least one other RFID tag. The location information stored by each RFID tag can be used to direct a user from one RFID tag to another. Thus, RFID technology is also used to guide mobile RFID reader between the fixed locations of the stationary RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Killian, Christopher Rice
  • Patent number: 8416134
    Abstract: A system for determining a location of a receiver is disclosed. The system includes at least one transmitter transmitting one or more radio signals, respectively. The system also includes a receiver comprising a clock, a memory, and a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory. The instructions makes the receiver operable to receive the radio signals, capture the radio signals as one or more received signal waveform, respectively, and store the received signal waveforms in the memory. The instructions also make the receiver operable to calculate one or more virtual transmitted waveforms based upon the received signal waveforms, respectively and determine, based upon the received signal waveforms and the virtual transmitted waveforms, a position of the receiver relative to the transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Paul Henry, Byoung-Jo Kim, Christopher Rice
  • Patent number: 8374172
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server operably couplable to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and an Interactive Television (ITV) system, where the server includes a controller to receive a session transfer request from a first communication device operably connected to the ITV system and presenting media content where the session transfer request includes identification information associated with a second communication device operably connected to the ITV system, and transmit an INVITE message to the second communication device and transmit a media adjustment message to a Media Resource Function Processor (MRFP) of the IMS network, where the media content is adjusted and transmitted to the second communication device based on receipt of the media adjustment message, where the adjusted media content is generated by the MRFP based on the identification information associated with the second communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rittwik Jana, John Murray, Christopher Rice
  • Publication number: 20120273375
    Abstract: Disclosed is a protective outer skin covering for a television remote that comprises a forming-fitting Flex-Gel or silicon material adapted to provide shock protection in the event the remote is dropped or thrown. The covering is a unitary form that is adapted to snugly secure a remote control device, wherein the covering is a generally hollow structure having sidewalls, a backing surface and an inwardly facing lip that retains the remote within the hollow interior. The Flex-Gel material is one that can provide shock resistance, provide a relatively rigid outer shell while being malleable enough to insert the remote within the hollow, wherein the lip prevents dislodgment. An open area interior of the lip allows unobstructed access to the remote buttons and control surface. The interior of the hollow may further include expansion material to accommodate differing sized remote geometries within a single cover form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher Rice
  • Publication number: 20120229340
    Abstract: A method for determining geolocation of a mobile device, and a system for performing the method. The mobile device includes a location component, a local positioning component, and a reference positioning component. The method includes determining a local-positioning period based on an identified factor, and obtaining a location fix for the device from the reference positioning component. The method further includes commencing the period and measuring movement using the location component. The method also includes determining a present location of the device, using the location component, based on the location fix and the movement data and, during the period, repeating the measuring and determining steps. The method further includes, after the period expires, updating the location fix with a new location fix from the reference positioning component, resetting the local-positioning period; and repeating the steps for determining location during the reset period using the new location fix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Henry, Christopher Rice
  • Publication number: 20120206241
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of constant bit rate (CBR) data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher Rice, Thomas Killian
  • Publication number: 20120202531
    Abstract: A method and system for location determination and guidance using radio frequency identification (RFID) are disclosed. A location of a mobile RFID reader can be determined by detecting stationary RFID tags located at fixed locations. Each RFID tag stores location information associated with its position as well as location information of at least one other RFID tag. The location information stored by each RFID tag can be used to direct a user from one RFID tag to another. Thus, RFID technology is also used to guide mobile RFID reader between the fixed locations of the stationary RFID tags.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Killian, Christopher Rice
  • Patent number: 8164459
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of constant bit rate (CBR) data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher Rice, Thomas Killian
  • Patent number: D737050
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Rice Ferguson, Megan Elizabeth Marvin