Patents by Inventor Francis A. Rogers

Francis A. Rogers 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: 9286322
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite method for implementing a dual purpose Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a first data stream which is compatible with a dedicated GIS data collection device is generated. The method further comprises generating a second data stream which is compatible with a mobile electronic device configured for collecting GIS data and which was not originally intended for use as a GIS data recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 9112947
    Abstract: A system and methods for adapting streaming data for transmission over a connection of time-varying capacity are disclosed. A streaming server individually adapts transmission rates of signals directed to subtending clients according to measurements characterizing connections from the streaming server to the clients. The measurements may relate to characteristics such as transfer delay, data-loss fraction, and occupancy level of a buffer at a client's receiver. A flow controller associated with the streaming server derives metrics from measurements taken over selected time windows to determine a permissible transmission rate from the server to each active client. Metrics related to a specific characteristic may include a mean value over a moving window as well as short and long term tendencies of respective measurements. An adaptable encoder at the streaming server encodes signals to meet permissible transmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: VANTRIX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 8677241
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adapting the media contained in a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, which may include a presentation, into a single media format such as an audio/video file or stream by creating a logical timeline from information found in the presentation, creating an adaptation pipeline from the logical timeline, and executing the adaptation pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Elliott Norton, Francis Roger Labonte, Mario Joseph Leo Claude Lavalliere
  • Patent number: 8417829
    Abstract: A system and methods for adapting streaming data for transmission over a connection of time-varying capacity are disclosed. A streaming server individually adapts transmission rates of signals directed to subtending clients according to measurements characterizing connections from the streaming server to the clients. The measurements may relate to characteristics such as transfer delay, data-loss fraction, and occupancy level of a buffer at a client's receiver. A flow controller associated with the streaming server derives metrics from measurements taken over selected time windows to determine a permissible transmission rate from the server to each active client. Metrics related to a specific characteristic may include a mean value over a moving window as well as short and long term tendencies of respective measurements. An adaptable encoder at the streaming server encodes signals to meet permissible transmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 8298906
    Abstract: A trench decoupling capacitor is formed using RIE lag of a through silicon via (TSV) etch. A method includes etching a via trench and a capacitor trench in a wafer in a single RIE process. The via trench has a first depth and the capacitor trench has a second depth less than the first depth due to RIE lag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Bernstein, Francis Roger White
  • Patent number: 8255559
    Abstract: A method of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder through a time-varying connection, is disclosed. The method includes associating an encoding coefficient with said time-varying connection, the encoding coefficient determining a flow rate at an output of said encoder; defining a performance metric of the time-varying connection; defining an acceptance interval of the performance metric having a lower bound and an upper bound; acquiring a set of performance measurements of the time-varying connection over a time window at a current encoding coefficient; determining a current value of the metric of the time-varying connection according to the set of measurements; determining a preferred encoding coefficient according to the current value of the metric; and modifying the current encoding coefficient based on the current value of the metric and the acceptance interval to attain the preferred encoding coefficient. A corresponding streaming server and system for data streaming are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Publication number: 20120173676
    Abstract: A method of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder through a time-varying connection, is disclosed. The method includes associating an encoding coefficient with said time-varying connection, the encoding coefficient determining a flow rate at an output of said encoder; defining a performance metric of the time-varying connection; defining an acceptance interval of the performance metric having a lower bound and an upper bound; acquiring a set of performance measurements of the time-varying connection over a time window at a current encoding coefficient; determining a current value of the metric of the time-varying connection according to the set of measurements; determining a preferred encoding coefficient according to the current value of the metric; and modifying the current encoding coefficient based on the current value of the metric and the acceptance interval to attain the preferred encoding coefficient. A corresponding streaming server and system for data streaming are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 8135856
    Abstract: Methods of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder through a connection subjected to time-varying conditions are disclosed. The connection is assigned a nominal flow rate and an encoding coefficient associated with the connection modifies the nominal flow rate to determine a permissible flow rate compatible with a time-varying state of the connection. Multiple performance characteristics are associated with the connection and corresponding sets of performance measurements taken over adaptively selected time windows are acquired. Performance metrics having one-to-one correspondence to the performance characteristics are determined and compared with lower bounds and upper bounds of respective predefined acceptance intervals. A current encoding coefficient is computed as a function of the performance metrics and used to determine the permissible flow rate. The encoder's configuration is adapted to produce an encoded signal which maximizes signal fidelity under the constraint of the permissible flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 8095149
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for administrating GIS data dictionaries. In one embodiment, a mobile electronic device is assigned to a workgroup. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the mobile electronic device based upon the assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to the workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the mobile electronic device via a wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 8081988
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for provisioning a Java equipped cellular telephone. In one embodiment, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collector application is uploaded onto a Java equipped cellular telephone for enabling the Java equipped cellular telephone to perform GIS data collection functions. The method further comprises uploading a data dictionary onto the Java equipped cellular telephone comprising at least one GIS feature type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 8081987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for implementing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, configuration data comprising a unique identification of a mobile electronic device and an assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to a workgroup is received. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the mobile electronic device based upon the assigned membership of the mobile electronic device to the workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the mobile electronic device via a wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 8081989
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for implementing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection utilizing a legacy electronic device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application is installed upon a legacy electronic device which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the legacy electronic device based upon an assigned membership of the legacy electronic device to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the legacy electronic device via a wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 8068848
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for upgrading a legacy cellular device. In one embodiment, a GIS data collector application for enabling a cellular telephone to perform GIS data collector functions is installed upon a cellular telephone which is not originally intended to be used as a GIS data recording device. The method further comprises selecting a data dictionary comprising at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended for use by the cellular telephone based upon an assigned membership of the cellular telephone to a workgroup. The method further comprises sending the data dictionary to the cellular telephone via a wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 8068849
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection network. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a mobile electronic device that was not originally intended for use as a GIS data collector. The present invention further comprises a data dictionary forwarding device communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device and a GIS data management component communicatively coupled with the data dictionary forwarding device for receiving GIS data collected by the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Publication number: 20110264820
    Abstract: A system and methods for adapting streaming data for transmission over a connection of time-varying capacity are disclosed. A streaming server individually adapts transmission rates of signals directed to subtending clients according to measurements characterizing connections from the streaming server to the clients. The measurements may relate to characteristics such as transfer delay, data-loss fraction, and occupancy level of a buffer at a client's receiver. A flow controller associated with the streaming server derives metrics from measurements taken over selected time windows to determine a permissible transmission rate from the server to each active client. Metrics related to a specific characteristic may include a mean value over a moving window as well as short and long term tendencies of respective measurements. An adaptable encoder at the streaming server encodes signals to meet permissible transmission rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 8032152
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for creating a flexible Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a data dictionary is assigned to a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the data dictionary comprises a definition of at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended to be recordable by the mobile electronic device. The method further comprises uploading the data dictionary onto the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Bergen, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 8001260
    Abstract: A system and methods for adapting streaming data for transmission over a connection of time-varying capacity are disclosed. A streaming server individually adapts transmission rates of signals directed to subtending clients according to measurements characterizing connections from the streaming server to the clients. The measurements may relate to characteristics such as transfer delay, data-loss fraction, and occupancy level of a buffer at a client's receiver. A flow controller associated with the streaming server derives metrics from measurements taken over selected time windows to determine a permissible transmission rate from the server to each active client. Metrics related to a specific characteristic may include a mean value over a moving window as well as short and long term tendencies of respective measurements. An adaptable encoder at the streaming server encodes signals to meet permissible transmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 7989865
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes an active semiconductor layer, a semiconductor device having a gate disposed on top of the active semiconductor layer, and source and drain regions and a body/channel region disposed within the active semiconductor layer, an insulator layer having a first and second side, the first side being adjacent to the active semiconductor layer, a substrate disposed adjacent to the second side of the insulator layer, a deep trench capacitor disposed under the body/channel region of the semiconductor device. The deep trench capacitor electrically connects with and contacts the body/channel region of the semiconductor device, and is located adjacent to the gate of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor structure increases a critical charge Qcrit, thereby reducing a soft error rate (SER) of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Edward Barth, Jr., Kerry Bernstein, Ethan Harrison Cannon, Francis Roger White
  • Publication number: 20110047283
    Abstract: Methods of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder through a connection subjected to time-varying conditions are disclosed. The connection is assigned a nominal flow rate and an encoding coefficient associated with the connection modifies the nominal flow rate to determine a permissible flow rate compatible with a time-varying state of the connection. Multiple performance characteristics are associated with the connection and corresponding sets of performance measurements taken over adaptively selected time windows are acquired. Performance metrics having one-to-one correspondence to the performance characteristics are determined and compared with lower bounds and upper bounds of respective predefined acceptance intervals. A current encoding coefficient is computed as a function of the performance metrics and used to determine the permissible flow rate. The encoder's configuration is adapted to produce an encoded signal which maximizes signal fidelity under the constraint of the permissible flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 7844725
    Abstract: Methods of data streaming from an encoder to a decoder through a connection subjected to time-varying conditions are disclosed. The connection is assigned a nominal flow rate and an encoding coefficient associated with the connection modifies the nominal flow rate to determine a permissible flow rate compatible with a time-varying state of the connection. Multiple performance characteristics are associated with the connection and corresponding sets of performance measurements taken over adaptively selected time windows are acquired. Performance metrics having one-to-one correspondence to the performance characteristics are determined and compared with lower bounds and upper bounds of respective predefined acceptance intervals. A current encoding coefficient is computed as a function of the performance metrics and used to determine the permissible flow rate. The encoder's configuration is adapted to produce an encoded signal which maximizes signal fidelity under the constraint of the permissible flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Vantrix Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Roger Labonte, Sebastien Cote, Yves Lefebvre