Patents by Inventor David Benjamin Millman

David Benjamin Millman 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).

  • Publication number: 20220366031
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for unlocking a first device based on signals transmitted between the first device and a second device are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, by a first device, at least one wireless signal from a second device; transmitting, by the first device, at least one wireless signal to the second device; determining, by the first device, transit times of the at least one received wireless signal and the at least one transmitted wireless signal; determining, by the first device, one or more range measurements between the first device and the second device based at least in part on the transit times; determining, by the first device, an unlock decision based at least in part on the one or more range measurements; and causing, by at least the first device, the first device to unlock if the unlock decision is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
  • Patent number: 11381982
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a plurality of data items. Each data item includes an indication of a particular location, an indication that a wireless signal from a first access point was observed at that location, and an indication of a time at which the wireless signal from the first access point was observed at that location. The method also includes determining a locational stability of the first access point based on the data items. Determining the locational stability of the first access point includes clustering the plurality of data items into one or more clusters based on the locations indicated in the plurality of data items, determining whether the N most recent data items are associated with a common cluster, and determining whether a time span between the N most recent data items exceeds a threshold period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret Tam, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Benjamin A. Detwiler
  • Patent number: 11372959
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for unlocking a first device based on signals transmitted between the first device and a second device are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, by a first device, at least one wireless signal from a second device; transmitting, by the first device, at least one wireless signal to the second device; determining, by the first device, transit times of the at least one received wireless signal and the at least one transmitted wireless signal; determining, by the first device, one or more range measurements between the first device and the second device based at least in part on the transit times; determining, by the first device, an unlock decision based at least in part on the one or more range measurements; and causing, by at least the first device, the first device to unlock if the unlock decision is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
  • Publication number: 20210044986
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a plurality of data items. Each data item includes an indication of a particular location, an indication that a wireless signal from a first access point was observed at that location, and an indication of a time at which the wireless signal from the first access point was observed at that location. The method also includes determining a locational stability of the first access point based on the data items. Determining the locational stability of the first access point includes clustering the plurality of data items into one or more clusters based on the locations indicated in the plurality of data items, determining whether the N most recent data items are associated with a common cluster, and determining whether a time span between the N most recent data items exceeds a threshold period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Margaret Tam, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Benjamin A. Detwiler
  • Patent number: 10834600
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a plurality of data items. Each data item includes an indication of a particular location, an indication that a wireless signal from a first access point was observed at that location, and an indication of a time at which the wireless signal from the first access point was observed at that location. The method also includes determining a locational stability of the first access point based on the data items. Determining the locational stability of the first access point includes clustering the plurality of data items into one or more clusters based on the locations indicated in the plurality of data items, determining whether the N most recent data items are associated with a common cluster, and determining whether a time span between the N most recent data items exceeds a threshold period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret H. Tam, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Benjamin A. Detwiler
  • Patent number: 10794986
    Abstract: A method comprising: receiving a radio map of an indoor venue using survey data collected by a survey device positioned throughout the venue, the radio map including a boundary; receiving harvest data from a mobile device, wherein at least some of the harvest data are obtained by the mobile device while the mobile device is positioned at locations that are outside of the boundary; determining, based on the harvest data, a trajectory of the mobile device, wherein at least some of the trajectory resides outside of the boundary; identifying one or more locations on or proximate to the trajectory; and extending the radio map using the survey data and the one or more identified locations, wherein the extended radio map is defined at least in part by an extension of the boundary to encompass the one or more identified locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahshan Bhatti, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Jasvinder Singh
  • Patent number: 10757671
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for using multiple sensors to determine a location fingerprint are described. A sampling device can measure RF signals detected at a train station of a transit system or a route of the transit system. The sampling device, or a location server receiving the measurements, can filter RF signal measurements using one or more readings from sensors coupled to the sampling device and that are different from RF receivers. The readings can be taken concurrently with the RF signal measurements. These readings, designated as motion cues, can include motion sensor readings, barometer readings, or magnetometer readings. Using the motion cues, the sampling device or location server can distinguish different platforms of a station of the transit system and different levels of the station, or filter out RF signal measurements that may have been inaccurate, e.g., as caused by disturbances from a train entering or leaving a station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor, Brian Stephen Smith
  • Patent number: 10681666
    Abstract: Coarse location estimation for mobile devices is disclosed for detecting mobile device presence at general locations of interest and switching operating modes and services for one or more location context aware applications. In some implementations, sensor data is received from a plurality of data sources at a location. For each data source, a first probability is estimated that the mobile device is at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. A second probability is estimated that the mobile device is not at the location based on sensor data from the data sources. The first and second estimated probabilities are statistically combined to generate a third estimated probability that the mobile device is at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stephen Smith, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Ilya K. Veygman, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman, Abhinav R. Patel, Vitali Lovich
  • Patent number: 10545231
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for compressing radio maps of fingerprint-based positioning systems using different compression models. In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving, by a computing device, access point (AP) data from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a geographic region, the AP data including signal strength measurements of AP signals received at a plurality of reference locations in the geographic region and uncertainty measurements associated with the signal strength measurements; determining a level of accuracy with the first compression model; responsive to the determining, selecting one of the first compression model or a second compression model to compress the AP data, the second compression model being different than the first compression model; compressing the AP data using the selected compression model; and responsive to a request from a mobile device operating in the geographic region, sending a data packet including the compressed AP data to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wuzhou Zhang, Benjamin A. Detwiler, David Benjamin Millman, Jasvinder Singh, Anders M. Holtsberg, Darin Tay
  • Publication number: 20190394649
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for unlocking a first device based on signals transmitted between the first device and a second device are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, by a first device, at least one wireless signal from a second device; transmitting, by the first device, at least one wireless signal to the second device; determining, by the first device, transit times of the at least one received wireless signal and the at least one transmitted wireless signal; determining, by the first device, one or more range measurements between the first device and the second device based at least in part on the transit times; determining, by the first device, an unlock decision based at least in part on the one or more range measurements; and causing, by at least the first device, the first device to unlock if the unlock decision is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
  • Patent number: 10440574
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for unlocking a first device based on signals transmitted between the first device and a second device are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, by a first device, at least one wireless signal from a second device; transmitting, by the first device, at least one wireless signal to the second device; determining, by the first device, transit times of the at least one received wireless signal and the at least one transmitted wireless signal; determining, by the first device, one or more range measurements between the first device and the second device based at least in part on the transit times; determining, by the first device, an unlock decision based at least in part on the one or more range measurements; and causing, by at least the first device, the first device to unlock if the unlock decision is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
  • Publication number: 20190137621
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for compressing radio maps of fingerprint-based positioning systems using different compression models. In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving, by a computing device, access point (AP) data from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a geographic region, the AP data including signal strength measurements of AP signals received at a plurality of reference locations in the geographic region and uncertainty measurements associated with the signal strength measurements; determining a level of accuracy with the first compression model; responsive to the determining, selecting one of the first compression model or a second compression model to compress the AP data, the second compression model being different than the first compression model; compressing the AP data using the selected compression model; and responsive to a request from a mobile device operating in the geographic region, sending a data packet including the compressed AP data to the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wuzhou Zhang, Benjamin A. Detwiler, David Benjamin Millman, Jasvinder Singh, Anders M. Holtsberg, Darin Tay
  • Patent number: 10151824
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for compressing radio maps of fingerprint-based positioning systems. In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving access point (AP) data from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a geographic region, the AP data including signal strength measurements of AP signals received at a plurality of reference locations in the geographic region; filtering the AP data to remove outlier AP data; fitting a surface to the AP data; projecting AP data at surface control points onto a two-dimensional image grid; determining a boundary surrounding locations of the AP data at the surface control points; encoding the boundary; encoding the AP data at the surface control points included within the boundary; generating compressed radio maps from the encoded AP data; and responsive to a request from a mobile device operating in the geographic region, sending a data packet including the compressed radio maps to the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Benjamin Millman, Jasvinder Singh, Anders M. Holtsberg, Darin Tay
  • Publication number: 20180348333
    Abstract: A method comprising: receiving a radio map of an indoor venue using survey data collected by a survey device positioned throughout the venue, the radio map including a boundary; receiving harvest data from a mobile device, wherein at least some of the harvest data are obtained by the mobile device while the mobile device is positioned at locations that are outside of the boundary; determining, based on the harvest data, a trajectory of the mobile device, wherein at least some of the trajectory resides outside of the boundary; identifying one or more locations on or proximate to the trajectory; and extending the radio map using the survey data and the one or more identified locations, wherein the extended radio map is defined at least in part by an extension of the boundary to encompass the one or more identified locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jahshan Bhatti, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Jasvinder Singh
  • Publication number: 20180348334
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for compressing radio maps of fingerprint-based positioning systems. In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving access point (AP) data from a plurality of mobile devices operating in a geographic region, the AP data including signal strength measurements of AP signals received at a plurality of reference locations in the geographic region; filtering the AP data to remove outlier AP data; fitting a surface to the AP data; projecting AP data at surface control points onto a two-dimensional image grid; determining a boundary surrounding locations of the AP data at the surface control points; encoding the boundary; encoding the AP data at the surface control points included within the boundary; generating compressed radio maps from the encoded AP data; and responsive to a request from a mobile device operating in the geographic region, sending a data packet including the compressed radio maps to the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Benjamin Millman, Jasvinder Singh, Anders M. Holtsberg, Darin Tay
  • Publication number: 20180338245
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a plurality of data items. Each data item includes an indication of a particular location, an indication that a wireless signal from a first access point was observed at that location, and an indication of a time at which the wireless signal from the first access point was observed at that location. The method also includes determining a locational stability of the first access point based on the data items. Determining the locational stability of the first access point includes clustering the plurality of data items into one or more clusters based on the locations indicated in the plurality of data items, determining whether the N most recent data items are associated with a common cluster, and determining whether a time span between the N most recent data items exceeds a threshold period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret H. Tam, David Benjamin Millman, Brian Stephen Smith, Benjamin A. Detwiler
  • Patent number: 9918203
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for correcting in-venue location estimation using structural information are described. A mobile device can use wireless location technologies and dead reckoning to determine an estimated location of the mobile device in a venue. The mobile device can compare the estimated location with a map of the venue. Upon determining that the estimated location conflicts with a structural constraint, the mobile device can adjust the location estimation using the structural information. Adjusting the location estimation can include adjusting a statistical filter that provides estimation of the location and changing a heading of the mobile device used in the dead reckoning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Darin Tay, Robert Mayor, David Benjamin Millman
  • Publication number: 20170357788
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for unlocking a first device based on signals transmitted between the first device and a second device are disclosed. A disclosed technique includes receiving, by a first device, at least one wireless signal from a second device; transmitting, by the first device, at least one wireless signal to the second device; determining, by the first device, transit times of the at least one received wireless signal and the at least one transmitted wireless signal; determining, by the first device, one or more range measurements between the first device and the second device based at least in part on the transit times; determining, by the first device, an unlock decision based at least in part on the one or more range measurements; and causing, by at least the first device, the first device to unlock if the unlock decision is positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor
  • Patent number: 9769622
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product for generating location fingerprint data for a venue are described. A sampling device surveying a venue can move inside the venue. While the sampling device moves, the sampling device can record environmental readings including, for example, strengths of signals from multiple radio signal sources. The sampling device can take the recording at fixed or various time intervals. Meanwhile, the sampling device can determine, based on a starting point and motion sensor readings, an estimated location of the mobile device for each time the sampling device takes the recordings. The sampling device can display a motion path of the estimated locations and a user interface item for receiving a user input for correcting the estimated locations. The sample device can tag the recorded environmental readings with the corrected locations, and submit the tagged readings to a server for determining a location fingerprint for the venue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav R. Patel, Darin Tay, David Benjamin Millman, Jessica Noel Tsoong, Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, Robert Mayor, Vitali Lovich, Vojislav Samsalovic, Ashish Agarwal, Mithilesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 9758183
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for building a location fingerprint database for a transit system are described. The transit system can be a subway system including underground train stations and routes where location determination using GPS signals is difficult or impossible. A sampling device can measure signals, e.g., radio frequency (RF) signals detected at the stations or on the routes. A location server can construct a location fingerprint for each of the stations and the routes. Each location fingerprint can represent expected signal measurements by a user device if the user device is located at the respective station or route. The location server can provide the location fingerprint to a user device for the user device to determine a location of the user device within the station or on the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Benjamin Millman, Johan Olav Bergerengen, Robert Mayor, Brian Stephen Smith