Patents by Inventor Craig Eldershaw
Craig Eldershaw 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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Publication number: 20140195281Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing information through a display of parking devices is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces is managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are associated with at least one of the parking spaces. Use of the parking spaces is managed through the server. The parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are activated. Occupancy of at least one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Information associated with the identity of the driver is displayed on the smart parking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicants: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Publication number: 20140195283Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are each proximate to at least one of the parking spaces. Tourist parking identification cards are issued to an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges, which are then provided to the visitors. The parking identification cards are activated by pairing each identification card with a digital ticket issued to the agency. The parking spaces are managed by sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and by determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicants: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Publication number: 20140195279Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing guest parking reservations are provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Use of one of the parking spaces for a guest of a resident of the area is reserved. A request for a reservation is accepted and that the resident is eligible to reserve the space is confirmed. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations in the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of the parking space by a vehicle is sensed through the nearest sensor. An identity of a motorist is verified through the nearest parking device. The use of the parking space is denied if not by the guest.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicants: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, Roger Phylos Hoover, Robert Thomas Krivacic
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Publication number: 20140195282Abstract: A system and method for offering customer priority parking reservations. Motor vehicle parking spaces are provided through a server. The server respectively interfaces with smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators that are each associated with the parking spaces. The parking spaces are reserved by accepting a request for a customer priority parking reservation from a merchant for a reservation period. Use of the parking space is managed through the server by activating the parking availability indicators associated with the reserved parking spaces, sensing occupancy of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the vehicle occupancy sensor, and retrieving and providing an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device to the server. The use of the parking space is validated from the merchant through the server.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicants: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Publication number: 20140195280Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating rental of a private parking space by an urban resident are provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. The parking spaces are supplemented with a private parking space under legitimate control by a resident of the residential area. Use of the private parking space is managed through the server and the smart parking device nearest to the private parking space. Parking availability the parking spaces is indicated through the nearest parking availability indicator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicants: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, Roger Phylos Hoover, Robert Thomas Krivacic
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Patent number: 8751271Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering commercial parking reservations through flexible loading zones is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a business district are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces as a loading zone is reserved. A reservation request from a business is accepted. The business is confirmed as eligible. The request is granted, provided the requested parking space is available over any other reservations. Use of the loading zone is managed. The parking availability indicator is activated contemporaneous to the reservation period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. An identity of a driver is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is permitted upon matching the driver's identity to the business.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Xerox CorporationInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Patent number: 8730062Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing gun shot detection through a centralized parking services server is provided. Smart parking devices are physically proximate parking spaces. Acoustic sensors are deployed with at least one acoustic sensor in a smart parking device. Vehicle occupancy sensors and parking availability indicators are associated with the parking spaces. Parking space occupancy is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. Use of the parking space is processed based on an identity of a driver. Potential gunshots are detected by aurally monitoring ambient sounds in the service region through the acoustic sensors. The potential gunshots are identified by evaluating the ambient sounds for sound characteristics of gunfire and triangulating the ambient sounds relative to the locations of the acoustic sensor comprised in one of the smart parking devices and at least one other of the acoustic sensors. Finally, an alert is generated for the potential gunshot.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignees: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Craig Eldershaw, Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Patent number: 8705893Abstract: A system which generates a floor plan of a building includes: a camera which obtains a series of images as it is moved, each image represented by a first data set representing color and a second 3D data set representing depth. A processor generates the floor plan from the image data, defined by polylines that represent structures of the building and polygons that represent an area which has been observed by the camera. Suitably, the processor: performs a local matching sub-process which is operative to align two adjacent images with one another; performs a global matching sub-process in which key images and registered to one another; finds a 2D subset of points from the image data associated with each image, corresponding to a plane defined therethrough; determines the polylines based on said subset of points; and defines the polygons based on the polylines and a determined pose of the camera.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Ying Zhang, Juan Liu, Craig Eldershaw, David Garcia, Daniel Davies, Kelly L. Coupe, Chuanjiang Luo
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Publication number: 20140085109Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for managing interchangeable parking spaces is provided. A parking pool that includes a plurality of parking spaces, which are each interchangeably reservable by motorists, is formed. The parking spaces in the parking pool that are currently-occupied by other vehicles and any reservations by motorists to park their vehicles in the parking pool are identified. The number of the parking spaces in the parking pool free of the currently-occupied parking spaces and the parking spaces in the parking pool that will be used to fulfill the reservations, plus the time available for parking in the parking pool, are displayed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark J. Stefik, Kristian Lyngbaek, Christopher R. Dance, Shrenik Devasani, Craig Eldershaw, Roger Hoover, Ellen Isaacs, Peter Jarvis, Sylvia Smullin, Makiko Taniguchi, Francisco E. Torres, Alan G. Bell, Robert Thomas Krivacic
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Publication number: 20140089021Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing multi-locational curbside valet parking service is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces are managed by a server. A plurality of smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced with the server. Use of a plurality of the parking spaces is reserved for a valet service. A reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces is accepted for use by the valet service for a period of time. Occupancy of the reserved parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the vehicle occupancy sensor. A valet drop-off location of at least one of the parking spaces that is reserved for the use of the valet service and is not occupied by a motor vehicle is identified. The valet drop-off location and a location of a lock box are provided to the motorist through a user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicants: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, Kurt Partridge
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Patent number: 8671014Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing recurring residential parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces by a resident is reserved on a recurring basis throughout a subscription period. A parking reservation, including recurring times and dates, is requested. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations stored in the server. Use of the reserved parking space is managed throughout the subscription period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. A motorist's identity is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is denied if not by the resident and parking non-availability is indicated during each recurring time and date.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Xerox CorporationInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, Roger Phylos Hoover, Robert Thomas Krivacic
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Patent number: 8671002Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Use of the parking space is validated. The parking space's location and the driver's identity are retrieved at the location of a merchant. Payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant is provided through the server.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Xerox CorporationInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Patent number: 8610597Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for tagging a parking space for a motor vehicle through a gesture is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced. Vehicle occupancy sensors also physically proximate the parking spaces are interfaced. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced. Those parking spaces that are unoccupied based on their respective vehicle occupancy sensors and currently available over any other reservations stored in the server are identified to a driver of a motor vehicle. One of the unoccupied parking spaces is reserved upon a gesture provided by the driver. Occupancy of the reserved unoccupied parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor following parking of the motor vehicle. The identity of the motorist is verified against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignees: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, James Glasnapp, Ellen Isaacs
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Patent number: 8600786Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing basic valet parking through centrally-managed parking services is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Vehicle occupancy sensors also physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced to the server. Use the parking spaces is reserved for a valet service. A reservation request for the parking spaces is accepted through the server for use by the valet service for a period of time. Occupancy of the reserved parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor is sensed during the time period. Availability of each parking space is indicated through the nearest parking availability indicator throughout the time period based upon the current time and use by the valet service.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignees: Xerox Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center IncorporatedInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, Kurt Partridge
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Publication number: 20120253507Abstract: A high throughput parcel unloading system includes a robotic arm arrangement, including a cluster of robotic arms having grouping mechanisms. A conveyor system is also provided onto which parcels are placed by the robotic arm system. An image recognition system determines the position and arrangement of parcels within a container, and a control system is configured to receive image information from the image recognition system and control operation of the robotic arm system and conveyor system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Craig Eldershaw, Eric J. Shrader
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Publication number: 20120158196Abstract: A tactical smart grid system and method includes a plurality of energy generators and a plurality of loads, where the loads require energy from at least some of the energy generators. A plurality of interface units are provided, where each energy generator and load are connected to one of the plurality of interface units. Each of the interface units including a controller to thereby provide distributed intelligence and distributed system control, thereby removing the requirement of a centrally controlled system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Craig Eldershaw, David G. Duff
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Publication number: 20120127308Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for providing gun shot detection through a centralized parking services server is provided. Smart parking devices are physically proximate parking spaces. Acoustic sensors are deployed with at least one acoustic sensor in a smart parking device. Vehicle occupancy sensors and parking availability indicators are associated with the parking spaces. Parking space occupancy is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. Use of the parking space is processed based on an identity of a driver. Potential gunshots are detected by aurally monitoring ambient sounds in the service region through the acoustic sensors. The potential gunshots are identified by evaluating the ambient sounds for sound characteristics of gunfire and triangulating the ambient sounds relative to the locations of the acoustic sensor comprised in one of the smart parking devices and at least one other of the acoustic sensors. Finally, an alert is generated for the potential gunshot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicants: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Craig Eldershaw, Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Publication number: 20120092191Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for tagging a parking space for a motor vehicle through a gesture is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices physically proximate to the parking spaces are interfaced. Vehicle occupancy sensors also physically proximate the parking spaces are interfaced. Parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are interfaced. Those parking spaces that are unoccupied based on their respective vehicle occupancy sensors and currently available over any other reservations stored in the server are identified to a driver of a motor vehicle. One of the unoccupied parking spaces is reserved upon a gesture provided by the driver. Occupancy of the reserved unoccupied parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor following parking of the motor vehicle. The identity of the motorist is verified against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicants: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins, James Glasnapp, Ellen Isaacs
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Publication number: 20120095791Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Use of the parking space is validated. The parking space's location and the driver's identity are retrieved at the location of a merchant. Payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant is provided through the server.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicants: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins
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Publication number: 20120095792Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for offering commercial parking reservations through flexible loading zones is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a business district are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces as a loading zone is reserved. A reservation request from a business is accepted. The business is confirmed as eligible. The request is granted, provided the requested parking space is available over any other reservations. Use of the loading zone is managed. The parking availability indicator is activated contemporaneous to the reservation period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. An identity of a driver is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is permitted upon matching the driver's identity to the business.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicants: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATEDInventors: Mark Jeffrey Stefik, Alan G. Bell, Craig Eldershaw, Lance E. Good, Daniel H. Greene, Francisco Eduardo Torres, Serdar Uckun, David Preston Cummins