Patents by Inventor Eric Frank

Eric Frank 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: 12593167
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20250174117
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 12183187
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20240263881
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating a furnace, wherein the furnace comprises an inner chamber and a outer chamber. A process gas is introduced into the inner chamber. A fuel is combusted with an oxidant to produce combustion gases in a combustion chamber. The combustion gases are passed through the outer chamber, and recirculated to the combustion chamber. The process gas is pre-heated by indirect heat exchange with the combustion gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Joachim VON SCHEELE, Anders CARLSSON, Eric FRANK, Mats JONSSON
  • Patent number: 11869291
    Abstract: A smart locker system with assistance for a visually impaired user is disclosed. Each locker in the smart locker system includes a beacon that emits a signal either before the locker door is released or at the same time as the locker door is released. The beacon is used by a visually impaired user to locate the specified locker before it opens or at the same time as it opens. The beacon may be a haptic device that causes the specified locker to vibrate, which allows the user to find the locker by feel. The beacon may also be an auditory device that causes the specified locker to emit a sound, which allows the user to find the locker by sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Meridian Zero Degrees LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dallimore, Richard Medlin, Eric Frank, Ben Misegades, Dominic Atibil, Victor Graham, Tim Dobson, Josh Edwards
  • Publication number: 20230319464
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20230229966
    Abstract: An estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a vehicle is predicted by receiving a request for the vehicle to conduct a trip that includes a first location. A predicted ETA for the vehicle to travel from a particular location to the first location is computed. The predicted ETA is refined to compute a refined ETA using a machine-learned model that takes as input a plurality of features associated with the trip. The plurality of features including at least geospatial features transformed using a locality-sensitive hashing function. An action is performed based on the refined ETA. The action may include one or more of estimating a pickup time or drop-off time for the trip, matching a driver to the trip, and planning a delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Fahrettin Olcay Cirit, Xinyu Hu, Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 11659323
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20230148098
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20220383681
    Abstract: A smart locker system with assistance for a visually impaired user is disclosed. Each locker in the smart locker system includes a beacon that emits a signal either before the locker door is released or at the same time as the locker door is released. The beacon is used by a visually impaired user to locate the specified locker before it opens or at the same time as it opens. The beacon may be a haptic device that causes the specified locker to vibrate, which allows the user to find the locker by feel. The beacon may also be an auditory device that causes the specified locker to emit a sound, which allows the user to find the locker by sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ross Dallimore, Richard Medlin, Eric Frank, Ben Misegades, Dominic Atibil, Victor Graham, Tim Dobson, Josh Edwards
  • Patent number: 11514777
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20220167082
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 11184702
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 10909176
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating dictionary migration or dictionary mapping from a first vocabulary or a first dictionary of terms to a second vocabulary includes one or more computers configured to carry out the steps of mapping a subset of the first set of terms to respective terms in an interface terminology and flagging another subset as not mapped to respective terms in the interface terminology. The system then may provide suggested mappings for the non-mapped terms, relying on user-supplied indications in order to map those terms. The system and method also may map the first dictionary terms to a reference terminology, an administrative terminology, or a clinical terminology or, conversely, may use those external terminologies to assist in mapping to the interface terminology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligent Medical Objects, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Naeymi-Rad, Regis Charlot, Andrew Kanter, Matthew Cardwell, Eric Frank, Michael Ericksen, Fred Masarie, Andre Young, Gregory Aldin, Curtis Winn, Jose Maldonado
  • Publication number: 20210006893
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 10791396
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20200107116
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Publication number: 20200105128
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 10277981
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a playback device transmits a first sound signal including a predetermined waveform. In one example, the playback device receives a second sound signal including at least one reflection of the first sound signal. The second sound signal is processed to determine a location of a person relative to the playback device, and a characteristic of audio reproduction by the playback device is selected, based on the determined location of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: D831309
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Munoz, Michael Trang, Christopher Porro, Ronald Sandoval, Elijah Flores, Eric Frank, Emilio Castro, Matthew Benitez