Patents by Inventor Eric T. Eaton

Eric T. Eaton 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: 20040041849
    Abstract: An electronic information processing device (110) includes a transceiver (215), a CPU (120), and a display (225). The transceiver (215) receives one or more messages from at least one communication device (60) and transmits one or more messages to the at least one communication device (60). The CPU (120) is coupled to the transceiver (215) for processing the received and transmitted messages. The display (225) is coupled to the CPU (120). The display (225) includes a first screen layout (229) including a screen saver graphic, and a second screen layout (237) including a two way messaging interface window (240) for displaying the received and transmitted messages. The CPU (120) activates the second screen layout (237) for two way messaging communication with at least one information processing device user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Von Mock, Eric T. Eaton, David J. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20030058808
    Abstract: A portable device (100) communicates with a short range wireless local area network (114) and a wide area communication system (116). The portable device (100) receives a location data from the short range wireless local area network (114). The portable device (100) generates a location sensitive information request to the wide area communication system (116) including the location data received from the short range wireless local area network (114).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Von Mock
  • Patent number: 6229794
    Abstract: A selective call device (106) for monitoring at least two communication systems. The selective call device (106) has a receiver (204) for receiving information from a first communication system (110), a processor (206) for referencing a time slot assignment on the first communication system (110) to a common time base. The processor (206) calculates timing information relating a common time base and a transmitter (222) transmits the timing information to the second communication system (120) informing the second communication system (120) when to transmit information to the selective call device (106) with reference to the common time base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Willard, Eric T. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5956640
    Abstract: A message transmission system (100) and method for providing flexible roaming to a receiving device (126) which includes a code memory (422) which stores addresses of a first type (1202) to enable reception of messages within a local geographic area, and an address of a second type (1214) to enable reception of the messages within a different geographic area. The message transmission system (100) includes a transmitter (SSID1) which transmits the addresses of the first type with the messages associated therewith within the local geographic area, and a controller (204) which controls conversion of the addresses of the first type to the address of the second type, and transfer of the address of the second type with the messages associated with the addresses of the first type to a transmitter (SSID2-SSID5) which transmits the address of the second type with the messages associated therewith to the receiving device when operating within the different geographic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, David F. Willard, William J. Kuznicki
  • Patent number: 5905447
    Abstract: A method for conveying message origination information in a selective call receiver comprises selectively receiving a message (300) intended for the call receiver (140). The call receiver (140) identifies if the message received is flawed (302). In response to determining that the message is flawed, the selective call receiver (140) extracts origin information which has been appended to the message (306). The selective call receiver applies the origin information to a look-up table (308) in order to report more detailed information to the subscriber (310) indicating who the subscriber may contact to obtain the complete message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Von A. Mock
  • Patent number: 5886645
    Abstract: A communication system (100) for providing information includes transceivers (110) for receiving the information and acknowledging reception of the information and a terminal (105) for transmitting the information to the transceivers (100). The terminal (105) transmits a first frame of data that has been queued with first information for reception by recipient time diversity transceivers. When at least one acknowledgment is received from at least one recipient time diversity transceiver, a second frame of data with second information intended for reception by the recipient time diversity transceivers is batched. The second information duplicates at least some of the first information and excludes portions of the first information indicated by the at least one acknowledgment. A controller (165) then queues third information into available words of the second frame after the second information has been batched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric T. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5625351
    Abstract: A messaging system capable of transmitting messages to receivers which roam between coverage areas. In one configuration, a coverage area (100) is divided into a plurality of zones (110). A single simulcast system identification (SSID) number is assigned which consists of a local identification number which identifies the coverage area (100), a zone identifier which identifies a zone (110) within the coverage area, traffic splitting flags and a frequency. For larger roaming areas, a network (200) is defined as consisting of a plurality of service areas (210) and is identified by network roaming identification information (NRI). NRI information and/or SSID information is stored in a receiver according to desired coverage and like information is transmitted in the corresponding zone or service area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Willard, Barbara D. Laflin, William J. Kuznicki, Mark Aronson, Eric T. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5610919
    Abstract: Network roaming information (NRI), which comprises identifies a network (200) and a service area (210) within the network (200), a receiver address, is transmitted in a network (200) during a predetermined number of time slots of a signal, whereby the signal is transmitted in consecutive cycles, each cycle comprising a plurality of consecutive time slots. The placement of the NRI in the transmitted signal is made to be predicted by a receiver so that the receiver can compute an expected time slot location of a NRI to be compared with a stored NRI. The placement of the NRI is made according to an algebraic relationship between moduloN of the transmission frequency of the signal, moduloN of the order of the cycle, and moduloN of a portion of the NRI, wherein N is an integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Willard, Eric T. Eaton, Barbara D. Laflin
  • Patent number: 5600312
    Abstract: A messaging system and method capable of transmitting group messages throughout a Network (200) such that receivers which are outside of a "local" or "home" area of coverage receive such group messages, whereas receivers which are in a "local" area of coverage over ride and do not receive the group message as a result of decoding system identifiers and ignoring those messages having network roaming identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Willard, Robert J. Schwendeman, Eric T. Eaton, Barbara D. Laflin
  • Patent number: 5546394
    Abstract: A time diversity communication system (150) comprises a messaging terminal (154), a queue (156) at the messaging terminal for queuing incoming messages, an encoder (158) for encoding a first fragment of a message and the remaining fragments of a message, a transmitter (160) for repeatedly transmitting the first fragment in a plurality of time slots to at least one selective call receiver (201) operating in a first mode, the number of time slots equaling a desired number of repeat transmissions and wherein the first fragment contains instructions for decoding the remaining fragments in a second mode by the selective call receiver, the transmitter (160) also repeatedly transmits the remaining portions of the message in subsequent time slots and at least one selective call receiver that decodes the first fragment and remaining fragments of the message in accordance with instructions in the decoded first fragment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Ronald H. Evoy, David J. Hayes, David F. Willard, Shogo Ito, Yasushi Yamao
  • Patent number: 5479452
    Abstract: A method is used in a receiver (100) for aligning the receiver (100). The method has a step of intercepting and demodulating the FM signal, which includes data symbols. The method has a step of determining error rates, in which the error rates of at least two subsets of the data symbols are determined. Each subset includes a plurality of the data symbols modulated at a unique one of a plurality of frequency deviations. The at least two subsets include data symbols of two opposite polarities. The method has a step of generating a frequency control signal, in which the frequency control signal is determined based on the error rates. The method has a step of aligning a receiver section (105), in which the receiver section (105) is aligned to the FM signal by controlling a local oscillator (320)which is responsive to the frequency control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Hayes, Eric T. Eaton, Von A. Mock
  • Patent number: 5414596
    Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises a housing (100) including an attachment dip (110), electronic circuitry (215) enclosed within the housing, and an energy storage device (120) housed within the attachment clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Charles W. Mooney
  • Patent number: 5382949
    Abstract: A selective call receiver system (150, 200) includes a base site (150) which transmits paging information (100) having a plurality of batches (1-to-N). The base site (150) comprises timer (266) for calculating a time between a first of the at least two successive paging transmissions, and counter (266) for counting a number of batches to be transmitted in the at least two successive paging transmissions. A base site processor (254), coupled to the timer/counter (266), processes the paging information. The base site processor (254) comprises encoder (262) for encoding a portion of the first of the at least two successive paging transmissions with the calculated time and the number batches to be transmitted in the first paging transmission. A base site transmitter (252), coupled to the base site processor (254), transmits the at least two successive paging transmissions according to the calculated time to a plurality of selective call receivers (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Von A. Mock, Eric T. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5381134
    Abstract: An electronic device (300) has a housing (301) forming a cavity that enshrouds a circuit supporting substrate (302) having at least one electrical contact (303) coupled to a conductor (304). The conductor (304) couples an electrical signal between the electrical contact (303) and electronic circuitry (305) associated with the circuit supporting substrate (302). An aperture (306) in the housing (301) provides access to the at least one electrical contact (303). An articulable cover (307) contiguous to a surface (310) of the housing (310) blocks the aperture (306) when the electronic device (300) is disengaged from a peripheral device (308).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald S. Friday, Brian N. Nover, Eric T. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5272475
    Abstract: An alerting system for a selective call communication receiver (10) which includes a battery (26A, 26B) for supplying energy at a first supply rate and a receiver (14) coupled thereto for receiving transmitted selective call message signals includes a decoder (16), a power source (44), an annunciator (34) and a charging circuit (36). The decoder (16) is coupled to the battery (26A, 26B) and decodes the received selective call message signals and generates an alert signal output in response to the received selective call message signals. The power source (44) is capable of being charged and supplies energy at a second supply rate. The annunciator (34) is coupled to the power source (44) and is responsive to the alert signal output for providing a sensible alert. The annunciator (34) consumes energy at the second supply rate when providing the sensible alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Von A. Mock, Matthew J. Stanislawski
  • Patent number: 5268699
    Abstract: A substantially card shaped data communication receiver (100) for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals comprises receiver circuitry for recovering information included in the RF signals, an insulative frame (210), a first conductive panel (215) disposed over a first side of the frame (210), and a second conductive panel (220) disposed over a second side of the frame (210) such that the receiver circuitry is enclosed within the space defined by the frame (210) and the first and second panels (215, 220). The first and second panels (215, 220) have coupling members formed thereon for electrically coupling the first panel (215) to the second panel (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter K. Laute, Eric T. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5245649
    Abstract: A communication system (10) includes a selective call receiver (12) for receiving transmitted information coupled to a telephone answering machine (44) via a fiber optic cable (48). The fiber optic link (48) transfers information from the selective call receiver (12) to the telephone answering machine (44), thereby allowing messages to the selective call receiver (12) to be accessed from any world-wide, conventional telephone system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Rodney S. Whaley
  • Patent number: 5087906
    Abstract: A selective call receiver includes a fiber optic channel located along the length of at least one side thereof for providing a visual alert of a received message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Eaton, Rodney S. Whaley