Patents by Inventor Erich Hoffmann

Erich Hoffmann 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: 7788397
    Abstract: A personal computer's (PC) microprocessor is used to provide both the physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) processing functions required to implement a wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter. This technique uses the polling mechanism associated with the power save (PS) functionality of WLAN protocol to relieve networking stress on the host processing system. It does this while maintaining networking integrity and packet delivery. The WLAN protocol polling mechanism is used to briefly inhibit the transfer of packets from the WLAN access point (AP) during peak periods of network traffic and/or host processor loading. Because the modulation, demodulation, and MAC functions, typically implemented in dedicated hardware on existing adapters are implemented in software running on the host PC microprocessor, other host system processes and applications can interfere with these time critical functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Douglas Schultz, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., John Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100208612
    Abstract: A personal computer's (PC) microprocessor is used to provide both the physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) processing functions required to implement a wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter. This technique uses the polling mechanism associated with the power save (PS) functionality of WLAN protocol to relieve networking stress on the host processing system. It does this while maintaining networking integrity and packet delivery. The WLAN protocol polling mechanism is used to briefly inhibit the transfer of packets from the WLAN access point (AP) during peak periods of network traffic and/or host processor loading. Because the modulation, demodulation, and MAC functions, typically implemented in dedicated hardware on existing adapters are implemented in software running on the host PC microprocessor, other host system processes and applications can interfere with these time critical functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Douglas Schultz, George Rodney Nelson, JR., John Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7577122
    Abstract: A method and wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter for the reduction of receive packet processing in a communications system receiver. The method includes establishing a set of criteria which identifies a packet as one requiring demodulation. The method further includes detecting a packet preamble to trigger at least one waveform identification function and determining with the at least one waveform identification function of the detected packet meets an established criteria for demodulation. The established criteria may include at least one of data rate, modulation type, signal to noise ratio, or coding rate. If the detected packet meets the established criteria for demodulation, a host processor may be interrupted to begin demodulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Douglas Schultz, John Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7532723
    Abstract: Tokens/keys are produced for wireless communications. These tokens/keys are used for watermarks, signature insertion, encryption and other uses. In one embodiment, contextual information is used to generate tokens/keys. The tokens/keys may be derived directly from the contextual information. The contextual information may be used in conjunction with other information to derive the tokens/keys. Tokens/keys may be exchanged between transmit/receive units. The exchange of these tokens/keys may be encrypted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Prabhakar R. Chitrapu, Alain Charles Louis Briancon, Akinlolu Oloruntosi Kumoluyi, Alan Gerald Carlton, Kiran Kumar S. Vanganuru, Richard Dan Herschaft, John Erich Hoffmann, John Thommana, Debashish Purkayastha, Guodong Zhang, Robert Lind Olesen, Alexander Reznik, TieJun Shan, Sung-Hyuk Shin, Amit Singhal
  • Publication number: 20080311148
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20080311149
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7465456
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: MedImmune, LLC
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Hong Jin, Bin Lu, Gregory Duke, George Kemble, Zhongying Chen
  • Publication number: 20080233560
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7415043
    Abstract: A spread spectrum method and apparatus for protecting and authenticating wirelessly transmitted digital information using numerous techniques. The apparatus may be a wireless code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, a base station, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a transmitter, a receiver and/or an integrated circuit (IC). The wireless CDMA communication system includes a transmitter which steganographically embeds digital information in a CDMA communication signal and wirelessly transmits the CDMA communication signal. The system further includes a receiver which receives the CDMA communication signal and extracts the steganographically embedded digital information from the received CDMA communication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John David Kaewell, Jr., Prabhakar R. Chitrapu, Robert Lind Olesen, Sung-Hyuk Shin, John Erich Hoffmann, Alexander Reznik
  • Publication number: 20080118531
    Abstract: A vaccine composition and method which is effective in preventing or ameliorating Avian Influenza Virus infection is set forth herein. The vaccine contains at least two inactivated strains of avian influenza virus, wherein the combined hemagglutinin (HA) total is at least about 200 HA/dose of the vaccine composition, and wherein each of the strains presents at least about 128 HA/dose, and further wherein one of the strains has the same HA subtype as that of a challenge virus, and wherein at least one of the strains has a different NA subtype than the challenge virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicants: Wyeth, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Scott L. Krauss, Mahesh Kumar, Richard J. Webby, Robert G. Webster
  • Patent number: 7312064
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hosptal
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20070031453
    Abstract: The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Aleksandr Lipatov, Richard Webby, Elena Govorkova, Robert Webster
  • Publication number: 20070010259
    Abstract: The current location and bearing of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are determined. Next, signal quality measurements of a pre-determined geographic region are taken. This geographic region includes the current location of the WTRU. From these quality measurements, a signal quality profile is generated. The signal quality profile and a directional guidance indicator are then displayed to the user of the WTRU. The display indicates areas of preferred signal quality relative to the current location of the WTRU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: John Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20050266026
    Abstract: Vectors and methods for the production of influenza viruses suitable as recombinant influenza vaccines in cell culture are provided. Bi-directional expression vectors for use in a multi-plasmid influenza virus expression system are provided. Additionally, the invention provides methods of producing influenza viruses with enhanced ability to replicate in embryonated chicken eggs and/or cells (e.g., Vero and/or MDCK) and further provides influenza viruses with enhanced replication characteristics. A method of producing a cold adapted (ca) influenza virus that replicates efficiently at, e.g., 25° C. (and immunogenic compositions comprising the same) is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Erich Hoffmann, Hong Jin, Bin Lu, Gregory Duke, George Kemble, Zhongying Chen
  • Patent number: 6951754
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuramimidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20050186563
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20020164770
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the development of a dual promoter system (preferably a RNA pol I-pol II system) for the efficient intracellular synthesis of viral RNA. The resultant minimal plasmid-based system may be used to synthesize any RNA virus, preferably viruses with a negative single stranded RNA genome. The viral product of the system is produced when the plasmids of the system are introduced into a suitable host cell. One application of the system is production of attenuated, reassortant influenza viruses for use as antigens in vaccines. The reassortant viruses generated by cotransfection of plasmids may comprise genes encoding the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase from an influenza virus currently infecting the population and the internal genes from an attenuated influenza virus. An advantageous property of the present invention is its versatility; the system may be quickly and easily adapted to synthesize an attenuated version of any RNA virus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
    Inventor: Erich Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6400317
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus for increasing the capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective signal control component to provide a weight to the signal transmitted from each element. The weight for each antenna element is adjusted to achieve optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode when a pilot signal is received. The weight values cause the antenna array to create a beam former for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading and intercell interference are greatly reduced. The weights are adjusted at the transmitting site in accord with signal quality metric information determined at the receiving site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Tantivy Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine J. Rouphael, Daniel Innis Riley, John Erich Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., James Arthur Proctor, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20010026880
    Abstract: Tape-like magnetic recording media having a nonmagnetic substrate and at least one layer applied to the substrate having incorporated into at least one of these layers, an inorganic needle-shaped pigment which serves as a supporting pigment and has a ratio of the average length to the average diameter of the pigment of at least 3, and the mean modulus of elasticity of the layers is not less than 15 Gpa in the longitudinal direction of the tape-like recording media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: August Lehner, Helmut Jakusch, Volker Koch, Manfred Ohlinger, Albert Kohl, Werner Lenz, Norbert Schneider, Peter Heilmann, Werner Hubner, Erich Hoffmann, Ronald John Veitch, Rudi Lehnert, Harald Jachow
  • Publication number: 20010022557
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus for increasing the capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective signal control component to provide a weight to the signal transmitted from each element. The weight for each antenna element is adjusted to achieve optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode when a pilot signal is received. The weight values cause the antenna array to create a beam former for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading and intercell interference are greatly reduced. The weights are adjusted at the transmitting site in accord with signal quality metric information determined at the receiving site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Antoine J. Rouphael, Daniel Innis Riley, John Erich Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, James Arthur Proctor