Patents by Inventor Eric J. Hefner

Eric J. Hefner 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: 11157058
    Abstract: An electronic device detects ambient contextual data and positioning data such as orientation and motion to determine an activity state of the electronic device. A controller sets a polling interval of an open/closed position sensor that is connected to a movable portion connected to a base to detect an open/closed event. In response to determining a first activity state, controller sets a first polling interval that mitigates power consumption. In response to determining a second activity state, the controller sets the polling interval to a second polling interval that is shorter than the first polling interval to reduce latency in detecting the open/closed event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Hefner, John S. Ratke, Jenna M. Zylema
  • Patent number: 11047734
    Abstract: A method, an electronic device, and a computer program product for measuring light sensor output in an electronic device. The method includes receiving periodic synchronization signals from a display and generating one or more timing signals based on the received periodic synchronization signals. The method further includes tracking a number of timing signals and in response to each timing signal, recording output signals from a light sensor. The output signals correspond to a light level detected by the light sensor. The method further includes accumulating the recorded output signals over a threshold number of timing signals, The method includes determining if a value of the counter is at least equal to or greater than the threshold number. In response to determining that the value of the counter is at least equal to or greater than the threshold number, generating a composite output signal based on the accumulated recorded output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: John J. Gorsica, Eric J. Hefner
  • Patent number: 10861298
    Abstract: A portable electronic device provides adaptive vibration noise reduction by generating a user alert vibration that is one of a first magnitude and a second magnitude, with the first magnitude being greater than the second magnitude. The portable device is configured to alert the user by providing a first magnitude alert vibration except when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low, and to provide a second magnitude alert vibration when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Seungho L. Kim, John J. Gorsica, Eric J. Hefner
  • Publication number: 20200379538
    Abstract: An electronic device detects ambient contextual data and positioning data such as orientation and motion to determine an activity state of the electronic device. A controller sets a polling interval of an open/closed position sensor that is connected to a movable portion connected to a base to detect an open/closed event. In response to determining a first activity state, controller sets a first polling interval that mitigates power consumption. In response to determining a second activity state, the controller sets the polling interval to a second polling interval that is shorter than the first polling interval to reduce latency in detecting the open/closed event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: ERIC J. HEFNER, JOHN S. RATKE, JENNA M. ZYLEMA
  • Patent number: 10659595
    Abstract: A method, a mobile device, and a computer program product for determining orientation of a mobile device. The method includes detecting, via an accelerometer, movement of a mobile device and calculating, by a processor, an orientation of the mobile device based on accelerometer data received from the accelerometer as the mobile device is moving. The method further includes tracking the orientation of the mobile device as the mobile device moves over a period of time and maintaining an image capture device and a display in an off state, while the mobile device is moving. The method further includes determining if the mobile device is in a landing position, based, at least partially, on the calculated orientation of the mobile device and in response to determining that the mobile device is not in the landing position, continuing to maintain the image capturing device in the off state such that power consumption of the mobile device is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Eric J. Hefner, John S. Ratke, Jenna M. Zylema
  • Publication number: 20200128123
    Abstract: A method, a mobile device, and a computer program product for determining orientation of a mobile device. The method includes detecting, via an accelerometer, movement of a mobile device and calculating, by a processor, an orientation of the mobile device based on accelerometer data received from the accelerometer as the mobile device is moving. The method further includes tracking the orientation of the mobile device as the mobile device moves over a period of time and maintaining an image capture device and a display in an off state, while the mobile device is moving. The method further includes determining if the mobile device is in a landing position, based, at least partially, on the calculated orientation of the mobile device and in response to determining that the mobile device is not in the landing position, continuing to maintain the image capturing device in the off state such that power consumption of the mobile device is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: ERIC J. HEFNER, JOHN S. RATKE, JENNA M. ZYLEMA
  • Publication number: 20190035236
    Abstract: A portable electronic device provides adaptive vibration noise reduction by generating a user alert vibration that is one of a first magnitude and a second magnitude, with the first magnitude being greater than the second magnitude. The portable device is configured to alert the user by providing a first magnitude alert vibration except when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low, and to provide a second magnitude alert vibration when the device is lying flat and ambient noise at the device is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Seungho L. Kim, John J. Gorsica, Eric J. Hefner
  • Publication number: 20190035233
    Abstract: A mobile device includes a housing having therein at least one single-axis vibrator. A processor within the device is linked to the single-axis vibrator and in an embodiment is configured to drive the single-axis vibrator to provide an alert based on an orientation of the device, an ambient noise level at the device, and the vibrator noise level caused by the single-axis vibrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Seungho L. Kim, John J. Gorsica, Eric J. Hefner
  • Patent number: 9560129
    Abstract: Disclosed are peer-to-peer group re-formation techniques. The techniques enable automatic reformation of a peer-to-peer group when the Group Owner (“GO”) device is lost. To do so, the techniques enable selection of a one of the peer devices in the peer-to-peer group as a next GO device responsive to detecting the loss of the original GO device. Then, the peer device selected as the next GO device automatically activates as the GO device, while the other peer devices scan for and connect to the next GO device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Binesh Balasingh, Viji Alexander, Gabriel B. Burca, Ranjeet Gupta, Eric J. Hefner, Mary K. Hor-Lao, Ishwara Ja, Douglas A. Lautner, Sudhir C. Vissa
  • Patent number: 9509670
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing secure communications in an ad-hoc network having three or more users including a first user, a second user and a third user. Each user is associated with at least one communication device, and has a set of keys associated with the user for managing secure communications between the at least one communication device of the user and the at least one communication device of another one of the three or more users. Each set of keys includes a private key and a public key, where the public key is shared with the communication device of the other ones of the three or more users with which the user has been authenticated, and the private key is used to decrypt communications encrypted using the corresponding public key from the same set of keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Binesh Balasingh, Viji Alexander, Gabriel B. Burca, Ranjeet Gupta, Eric J. Hefner, Mary K. Hor-Lao, Ishwara Ja, Douglas A. Lautner, Sudhir C. Vissa
  • Patent number: 9354722
    Abstract: A method, device, system, or article of manufacture is provided for low-power management of multiple sensor chip architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel B Burca, Douglas A Lautner, Scott P Debates, Mary K Hor-Lao, Eric J Hefner, Ryan D Jones, Daniel T Moore, Robert Wiegand
  • Patent number: 9348434
    Abstract: A method, device, system, or article of manufacture is provided for low-power management of multiple sensor chip architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Jason Jae Hyun Koh, Douglas A Lautner, Scott P Debates, Mary K Hor-Lao, Eric J Hefner, Ryan D Jones, James A Rumpler
  • Publication number: 20160057117
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing secure communications in an ad-hoc network having three or more users including a first user, a second user and a third user. Each user is associated with at least one communication device, and has a set of keys associated with the user for managing secure communications between the at least one communication device of the user and the at least one communication device of another one of the three or more users. Each set of keys includes a private key and a public key, where the public key is shared with the communication device of the other ones of the three or more users with which the user has been authenticated, and the private key is used to decrypt communications encrypted using the corresponding public key from the same set of keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Binesh Balasingh, Viji Alexander, Gabriel B. Burca, Ranjeet Gupta, Eric J. Hefner, Mary K. Hor-Lao, Ishwara JA, Douglas A. Lautner, Sudhir C. Vissa
  • Publication number: 20160028802
    Abstract: Disclosed are peer-to-peer group re-formation techniques. The techniques enable automatic reformation of a peer-to-peer group when the Group Owner (“GO”) device is lost. To do so, the techniques enable selection of a one of the peer devices in the peer-to-peer group as a next GO device responsive to detecting the loss of the original GO device. Then, the peer device selected as the next GO device automatically activates as the GO device, while the other peer devices scan for and connect to the next GO device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Binesh Balasingh, Viji Alexander, Gabriel B. Burca, Ranjeet Gupta, Eric J. Hefner, Mary K. Hor-Lao, Ishwara JA, Douglas A. Lautner, Sudhir C. Vissa
  • Publication number: 20140351558
    Abstract: A method, device, system, or article of manufacture is provided for low-power management of multiple sensor chip architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Gabriel B. Burca, Douglas A. Lautner, Scott P. Debates, Mary K. Hor-Lao, Eric J. Hefner, Ryan D. Jones, Daniel T. Moore, Robert Wiegand
  • Publication number: 20140347274
    Abstract: A method, device, system, or article of manufacture is provided for low-power management of multiple sensor chip architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Jae Hyun Koh, Douglas A. Lautner, Scott P. Debates, Mary K. Hor-Lao, Eric J. Hefner, Ryan D. Jones, James A. Rumpler
  • Patent number: 8699990
    Abstract: A method for requesting location information, for example, Enhanced Observed Time of Arrival timing information, from mobile wireless communications in wireless communications networks. The exemplary location request (300) includes multiple response interval field (310) specifying intervals at which multiple responses to the location request must be sent or maximum intervals between which multiple responses to the location request must be sent, a final response time field (320) specifying a maximum time interval during which a final response to the location request must be sent, and an initial response time field (330) specifying when an initial response to the location request must be sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Christopher F. Bussan, Eric J. Hefner
  • Patent number: 7630722
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for suppressing subsequent re-request of a location request, for example a MO-LR request in a GSM communication system, by a mobile station (MS) (110) to the network. The method in the mobile station comprises transmitting (302) a location request message to a network. Then, at the MS, determining (304) that the network can not provide the requested location information. Creating (306) an indicator in a memory of the device that the network is not capable of providing the requested location information and finally suspending (308) subsequent transmission of location request message to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Hao Xiong, Eric J. Hefner
  • Publication number: 20040180645
    Abstract: A method for requesting location information, for example, Enhanced Observed Time of Arrival timing information, from mobile wireless communications in wireless communications networks. The exemplary location request (300) includes multiple response interval field (310) specifying intervals at which multiple responses to the location request must be sent or maximum intervals between which multiple responses to the location request must be sent, a final response time field (320) specifying a maximum time interval during which a final response to the location request must be sent, and an initial response time field (330) specifying when an initial response to the location request must be sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher F. Bussan, Eric J. Hefner
  • Patent number: 6477372
    Abstract: A method for allowing a radiotelephone to scan for alternate radiotelephone systems, where each cellular radiotelephone system is within a corresponding geographic area and each cell has a base station providing paging and voice communication, includes a first step of registering the radiotelephone on a radiotelephone system. A next step includes establishing whether alternate technology scanning has been enabled for the radiotelephone. If alternate technology scanning is disabled, the radiotelephone receives paging messages from the base station and acknowledges the paging messages addressed to the radiotelephone. If alternate technology scanning is enabled, the radiotelephone scans for an alternate technology while the base station repeats any paging messages addressed to the radiotelephone and ignores a lack of acknowledgement from the radiotelephone for paging messages addressed to the radiotelephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcia J. Otting, Eric J. Hefner, Stephen A. Howell