Patents by Inventor David A. Small

David A. Small 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: 7936305
    Abstract: An attitude system that includes a radiating means which moves predeterminately through three-dimensional space, such that a cyclic Doppler is superimposed upon a transmitted signal; receiving this transmitted signal through a receiving means which moves predeterminately through three-dimensional space, such that a cyclic Doppler is superimposed upon the received signal; analyzing the movement of the receive means in relation to the radiating means by interpreting the received cyclic Doppler; and determining attitude based on the interpreted Doppler. Or alternatively, adjusting the movement of the receive means in three-dimensional space so the superimposed cyclic Doppler is minimized on the received signal and; determining attitude based on the adjustment required to bring the receive means and radiating means into an alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 7883615
    Abstract: A method is provided for electrochemically depositing a polysaccharide mass having a selected physical state. According to an embodiment, an electrically conductive support of a substrate is contacted with an aqueous solution including a selectively insolubilizable polysaccharide, and the selectively insolubilizable polysaccharide is electrochemically deposited on the electrically conductive support while controlling deposition conditions to form the polysaccharide mass having the selected physical state, such as that of a hydrogel. Deposition may be performed in a spatially and/or temporally controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    Inventors: Gregory F. Payne, Li-Qun Wu, Reza Ghodssi, William E. Bentley, Gary W. Rubloff, Hyunmin Yi, Rohan Fernandes, Tianhong Chen, David A. Small
  • Publication number: 20100331002
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving network performance in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to group a plurality of wireless base terminals (WBTs) into first and second groups that share at least one common WBT and select a resultant communication path for the at least one common WBT to a mobile telephone switching office based on differential delays associated with alternative communication paths for combinations of WBTs in at least one of the first and second groups. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: DAVID SMALL, CANHUI OU, JONATHAN H. ROLL
  • Patent number: 7859462
    Abstract: The system comprises a positioning-unit device (PUD) that receives, from other PUDs and other signal sources, one or more positioning signals, which each have carrier, code and data componcuts. In response to the received positioning signals and using their known locations, the PUD generates a unique positioning signal, which similarly has carrier, code and data components, all of which are respectively chronologically synchronized to the counterpart components of the received positioning signals. Once synchronized, other PUDs entering the network use the unique positioning signal as a reference, providing a time-coherent network of positioning signals that propagate a reference timebase over a geographical area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 7848397
    Abstract: Generating frequency coherence between a received reference positioning signal carrier component transmitted by at least one reference transmitter and a unique positioning signal carrier component generated by a positioning-unit device. The positioning-unit device receives a reference positioning signal and measures a frequency offset of the reference positioning signal carrier component relative to a common oscillator. Once a frequency offset is measured, the positioning-unit device adjusts a frequency steerable clock by an amount derived from the measured frequency offset. The positioning-unit device then generates a unique positioning signal carrier component at an aligned carrier frequency with the reference positioning signal carrier component. Furthermore, the positioning-unit device continuously adjusts the unique positioning signal carrier component by applying the measured frequency offset to the frequency steerable clock, which is reference to the common oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 7813736
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving network performance in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) that manages operations of a communication system including a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to a plurality of wireless base terminals (WBTs) by way of a corresponding plurality of network elements, having a network configuration element that identifies for each of the plurality of WBTs a resultant communication path to the MTSO according to a plurality of performance characteristics calculated from alternative communication paths connecting combinations of the WBTs to the MTSO. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Canhui Ou, Jonathan H. Roll
  • Patent number: 7787381
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage network transport paths in accordance with network policies are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a policy manager to manage a first policy for a first endpoint and a second policy for a second endpoint, and a path manager to provision a transport network path based on the first and second policies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Michael T. Raftelis
  • Publication number: 20100136958
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multimedia content over a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a customer via a data enabled cellular phone for accessing one or more multimedia content from a multimedia content server of the customer, and performs an authentication for obtaining the one or more multimedia content from the multimedia content server. The method obtains the one or more multimedia content from the multimedia content server, and transmits the one or more multimedia content to the data enabled cellular phone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: NALESH CHANDRA, David Small
  • Publication number: 20100085869
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for method and apparatus for maintaining network performance in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management server (NMS) that manages operations of a communication system including an access office (AO) coupled to a plurality of base terminals (BTs) by way of a corresponding plurality of network elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: DAVID SMALL, CANHUI OU, JONATHAN H. ROLL
  • Patent number: 7652625
    Abstract: A positioning system that includes a plurality of chronologically synchronized Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Positioning-Unit Devices and a position receiver incorporating a TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is disclosed. The plurality of chronologically synchronized Positioning-Unit Devices, positioned at known locations, transmit positioning signals in a predetermined Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) sequence, such that each Positioning-Unit Device has a unique transmission time slot. The TDMA Adaptive Directional Antenna Array is configured to consecutively steer a directional receive antenna in spatial synchronization with the plurality of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Positioning-Unit Device transmissions, such that the directional receive antenna is oriented toward the currently transmitting Positioning-Unit Device, or the directional receive antenna is oriented toward the origin of the currently received positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 7632187
    Abstract: A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications between a two or more players is provided. The device includes two infrared transceivers and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger, a barrel portion and a user-interface including a display and a keypad for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions. A first infrared transceiver transmits a directional infrared signal to another game participant and receives an acknowledgment signal therefrom in response to the transmitted directional signal. A second infrared transceiver facilitates omnidirectional two-way communications between two or more devices. The transceivers facilitate communications between game players before, during, and after a game of infrared electronic tag such as game setup, player identification and gameplay analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farley, David Small
  • Patent number: 7627306
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for method and apparatus for maintaining network performance in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) that manages operations of a communication system including a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to a plurality of wireless base terminals (WBTs) by way of a corresponding plurality of network elements, having a network configuration element that identifies for each of the plurality of WBTs a plurality of resultant communication paths to the MTSO according to a plurality of differential delays calculated from alternative communication paths connecting combinations of the WBTs to the MTSO for each of a plurality of change scenarios affecting the plurality of network elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Canhui Ou, Jonathan H. Roll
  • Patent number: 7616682
    Abstract: Chronologically synchronizing a unique positing signal generated by a positioning-unit device at a known location with a reference positioning signal generated by a reference transmitter at a known geometric distance. The positioning-unit device receives and interprets a reference positioning signal. It then generates and transmits a unique positioning signal, wherein the unique positioning signal is aligned with a frequency steerable clock. The positioning-unit device then receives the unique positioning signal. The positioning-unit device then adjusts the frequency of the frequency steerable clock by an amount derived from a measured frequency difference. The positioning-unit device then determines a reference positioning signal propagation delay between the reference transmitter and the positioning-unit device. At this stage, a time difference is measured between the received reference positioning signal and the received unique positioning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: David Small
  • Publication number: 20090252061
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to implement a partial mesh virtual private local area network service are disclosed. An example method to implement a partial mesh virtual private local area network service (VPLS) network disclosed herein comprises identifying a desired partial mesh topology of connections for interconnecting a plurality of provider edge devices comprising the VPLS network, and decomposing the partial mesh topology into a plurality of cliques, wherein each clique comprises a respective full mesh topology of connections for interconnecting a respective subset of the plurality of provider edge devices, and wherein a union of the plurality of cliques implements the desired partial mesh topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: David Small, Thomas Spencer, Canhui Ou
  • Publication number: 20090080624
    Abstract: A method for caller identification notification, including determining caller identification information associated with a telephone call to a first device. The method further includes sending a notification to a second device when the caller identification information matches a user defined list of caller identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, LP
    Inventors: David Small, Nalesh Chandra
  • Publication number: 20090070640
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting alarm conditions, the method involving receiving at a first time a trigger notification describing a monitored occurrence on a network; setting a redundancy window to begin at the first time and to end at an expiration time; designating a first alarm condition to represent the trigger notification; receiving a second notification at a second time after the first time, the second notification describing the monitored occurrence; and determining whether a second alarm condition exists by testing whether the second time is within the redundancy window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence A. STABILE, Mark W. Sylor, Thomas Allen LaRosa, Bradley S. Carey, David William Russo, Kevin M. Jackson, Albert Briner, Jeremiah David Small, Matthew Eric Baddeley
  • Patent number: 7495614
    Abstract: A diversity system for positioning systems is disclosed, whereby a plurality of positioning signals, which are transmitted and/or are received from substantially the same location, are received and interpreted by an observing receiver. The observing receiver is configured to compare and then select substantially coherent positioning signals, and/or create a best-fit estimate of the measured positioning signals, such that accurate position measurements can be determined in multipath-affected environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: David Small
  • Publication number: 20090049469
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring data packet traffic in a communication network for at least two of a plurality of subscriber devices associated with a subscriber; developing a holistic subscriber profile for the subscriber based on the monitored data packet traffic; selecting advertisement data for a current one of the plurality of subscriber devices based on the holistic subscriber profile and sending the selected advertising data to the current subscriber device. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed for use in performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: ATT Knowledge Ventures L.P.
    Inventors: David Small, Canhul Ou, Raghvendra Savoor, Stephen Sposato
  • Patent number: 7474265
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for allowing a position receiver to determine position solutions from positioning signals from a plurality of autonomous positioning networks, each of which is synchronized to a different timebase. Each of the plurality of autonomous networks comprises one or more positioning-unit device, which is a specialized transceiver capable of receiving and interpreting reference positioning signals from a reference transmitter, a position receiver, another positioning-unit device or all. At least one positioning-unit device within a first autonomous positioning network receives positioning signals from at least one positioning-unit device from a second adjacent autonomous positioning network and measures the timebase difference between the second network and the first network and subsequently calculates a timebase clock correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Inventor: David Small
  • Publication number: 20090002238
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for allowing a position receiver to determine position solutions from positioning signals from a plurality of autonomous positioning networks, each of which is synchronized to a different timebase. Each of the plurality of autonomous networks comprises one or more positioning-unit device, which is a specialized transceiver capable of receiving and interpreting reference positioning signals from a reference transmitter, a position receiver, another positioning-unit device or all. At least one positioning-unit device within a first autonomous positioning network receives positioning signals from at least one positioning-unit device from a second adjacent autonomous positioning network and measures the timebase difference between the second network and the first network and subsequently calculates a timebase clock correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventor: David Small