Patents by Inventor J. Rodney Walton

J. Rodney Walton 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: 8576846
    Abstract: For a peer-to-peer call in an ad hoc wireless network, a wireless device performs discovery of a target wireless device, performs authentication of the target wireless device and generates a session key (e.g., using a pre-shared key or a certificate provisioned on the wireless device), forms an ad hoc wireless network with the target wireless device, and communicates peer-to-peer with the target wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network. The wireless device may perform discovery with a list of identifiers for wireless devices designated to communicate with this wireless device. The wireless device may derive a service set identifier (SSID) used to identify the ad hoc wireless network based on its user-specific identifier (e.g., its phone number) and/or a user-specific identifier for the target wireless device. The wireless device may also performs IP address discovery using the user-specific identifier for the target wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar, J. Rodney Walton, Qiang Fu, Subrahmanyam Dravida
  • Patent number: 8570988
    Abstract: Techniques are described to calibrate the downlink and uplink channels to account for differences in the frequency responses of the transmit and receive chains at an access point and a user terminal. In one method, pilots are transmitted on the downlink and uplink channels and used to derive estimates of the downlink and uplink channel responses, respectively. Correction factors for the access point and correction factors for the user terminal are determined based on (e.g., by performing matrix-ratio computation or minimum mean square error (MMSE) computation on) the downlink and uplink channel response estimates. The correction factors for the access point and the correction factors for the user terminal are used to obtain a calibrated downlink channel and a calibrated uplink channel, which are transpose of one another. The calibration may be performed in real time based on over-the-air transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark S. Wallace, John W. Ketchum, J. Rodney Walton, Steven J. Howard
  • Publication number: 20130281086
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for managing and optimizing service discovery in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network. Nodes of the P2P network advertise their capabilities to their peers in the form of services. Efficient propagation and management of node's services to other nodes is proposed in the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Oliver MICHAELIS, J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Publication number: 20130281146
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for improving the effective coverage of nodes within a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network. Collection of nodes of the P2P network can have a larger aggregate coverage footprint than any given single node. This inherent multi-site property of P2P wireless networks can be exploited to provide each node with benefits of multi-user diversity, thus improving discovery of devices in the P2P network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 8542589
    Abstract: Techniques for quickly sending feedback information for beamforming are described. A transmitter/initiator sends a first frame comprising training symbols. A receiver/responder receives the first frame, determines the amount of time to generate feedback information, and determines the amount of time to send the feedback information. The receiver then determines the length of a second frame carrying the feedback information based on the amounts of time to generate and send the feedback information. The receiver sends the second frame after waiting a short interframe space (SIFS) period from the end of the first frame, without performing channel access. The receiver generates the feedback information based on the training symbols and sends the information in the second frame when ready. The transmitter receives the second frame, derives at least one steering matrix based on the feedback information, and sends a third frame with the at least one steering matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shravan K. Surineni, J. Rodney Walton, Mark S. Wallace, Steven J. Howard
  • Publication number: 20130235825
    Abstract: A MIMO system supports multiple spatial multiplexing modes for improved performance and greater flexibility. These modes may include (1) a single-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams on orthogonal spatial channels to a single receiver, (2) a single-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas to a single receiver without spatial processing at a transmitter, (3) a multi-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams simultaneously to multiple receivers with spatial processing at a transmitter, and (4) a multi-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas (co-located or non co-located) without spatial processing at the transmitter(s) to receiver(s) having multiple antennas. For each set of user terminal(s) selected for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink, a spatial multiplexing mode is selected for the user terminal set from among the multiple spatial multiplexing modes supported by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney WALTON, John W. KETCHUM, Mark S. WALLACE, Steven J. HOWARD
  • Patent number: 8489107
    Abstract: Techniques to schedule downlink data transmission to a number of terminals in a wireless communication system. In one method, one or more sets of terminals are formed for possible data transmission, with each set including a unique combination of one or more terminals and corresponding to a hypothesis to be evaluated. One or more sub-hypotheses may further be formed for each hypothesis, with each sub-hypothesis corresponding to specific assignments of a number of transmit antennas to the one or more terminals in the hypothesis. The performance of each sub-hypothesis is then evaluated, and one of the evaluated sub-hypotheses is selected based on their performance. The terminal(s) in the selected sub-hypothesis are then scheduled for data transmission, and data is thereafter coded, modulated, and transmitted to each scheduled terminal from one or more transmit antennas assigned to the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, Mark S. Wallace, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 8483188
    Abstract: A MIMO system supports multiple spatial multiplexing modes for improved performance and greater flexibility. These modes may include (1) a single-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams on orthogonal spatial channels to a single receiver, (2) a single-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas to a single receiver without spatial processing at a transmitter, (3) a multi-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams simultaneously to multiple receivers with spatial processing at a transmitter, and (4) a multi-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas (co-located or non co-located) without spatial processing at the transmitter(s) to receiver(s) having multiple antennas. For each set of user terminal(s) selected for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink, a spatial multiplexing mode is selected for the user terminal set from among the multiple spatial multiplexing modes supported by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum, Mark S. Wallace, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 8478776
    Abstract: A collection of nodes in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network can have a larger aggregate coverage footprint than any given single node. This inherent multi-site property of P2P wireless networks can provide each node with benefits of multi-user diversity. This can improve the effective coverage of nodes within a P2P wireless network and improve discovery of devices in the P2P network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 8478820
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for managing and optimizing service discovery in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network. Nodes of the P2P network advertise their capabilities to their peers in the form of services. Efficient propagation and management of node's services to other nodes is proposed in the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Oliver Michaelis, J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum
  • Patent number: 8472306
    Abstract: In one aspect of a multiple-access OFDM-CDMA system, the data spreading is performed in the frequency domain by spreading each data stream with a respective spreading code selected from a set of available spreading codes. To support multiple access, system resources may be allocated and de-allocated to users (e.g., spreading codes may be assigned to users as needed, and transmit power may be allocated to users). Variable rate data for each user may be supported via a combination of spreading adjustment and transmit power scaling. Interference control techniques are also provided to improve system performance via power control of the downlink and/or uplink transmissions to achieve the desired level of performance while minimizing interference. A pilot may be transmitted by each transmitter unit to assist the receiver units perform acquisition, timing synchronization, carrier recovery, handoff, channel estimation, coherent data demodulation, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard, Mark Wallace
  • Patent number: 8462653
    Abstract: Techniques to select a suitable transmission mode for a data transmission in a multi channel communication system with multiple spatial channels having varying SNRs are presented in this disclosure. For certain embodiments, a closed-loop technique may be applied, in which back-off factors used to calculate an effective SNR value fed back to a transmitter are adjusted. An open-loop rate control scheme is also presented in which a transmitter may select a data rate and number of streams based on whether transmitted packets are received in error at a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Irina Medvedev, John W. Ketchum, J. Rodney Walton
  • Patent number: 8462643
    Abstract: A multiple-access MIMO WLAN system that employs MIMO, OFDM, and TDD. The system (1) uses a channel structure with a number of configurable transport channels, (2) supports multiple rates and transmission modes, which are configurable based on channel conditions and user terminal capabilities, (3) employs a pilot structure with several types of pilot (e.g., beacon, MIMO, steered reference, and carrier pilots) for different functions, (4) implements rate, timing, and power control loops for proper system operation, and (5) employs random access for system access by the user terminals, fast acknowledgment, and quick resource assignments. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the frequency responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminals. The spatial processing may then be simplified by taking advantage of the reciprocal nature of the downlink and uplink and the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, Mark S. Wallace, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 8462709
    Abstract: Embodiments for bandwidth allocation methods, detecting interference with other systems, and/or redeploying in alternate bandwidth are described. Higher bandwidth channels may be deployed at channel boundaries (410), which are a subset of those for lower bandwidth channels (310), and may be restricted from overlapping. Interference may be detected (930) on primary, secondary, or a combination of channels, and may be detected in response to energy measurements (910) of the various channels. When interference is detected, a higher bandwidth Basic Service Set (BSS)(100) may be relocated to an alternate channel, or may have its bandwidth reduced to avoid interference. Interference may be detected based on energy measured on the primary or secondary channel, and/or a difference between the two. An FFT (1010) may be used in energy measurement in either or both of the primary and secondary channels. Stations may also monitor messages from alternate systems to make channel allocation decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanjiv Nanda, Shravan K. Surineni, J. Rodney Walton
  • Patent number: 8406200
    Abstract: Techniques to schedule terminals for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink in a MIMO-OFDM system based on the spatial and/or frequency “signatures” of the terminals. A scheduler forms one or more sets of terminals for possible (downlink or uplink) data transmission for each of a number of frequency bands. One or more sub-hypotheses may further be formed for each hypothesis, with each sub-hypothesis corresponding to (1) specific assignments of transmit antennas to the terminal(s) in the hypothesis (for the downlink) or (2) a specific order for processing the uplink data transmissions from the terminal(s) (for the uplink). The performance of each sub-hypothesis is then evaluated (e.g., based on one or more performance metrics). One sub-hypothesis is then selected for each frequency band based on the evaluated performance, and the one or more terminals in each selected sub-hypothesis are then scheduled for data transmission on the corresponding frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum, Mark S. Wallace, Irina Medvedev
  • Patent number: 8406235
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a communication device, operable with a plurality of remote devices, and operable with an admission profile comprising a capacity reservation for zero or more remote devices, comprises a scheduler for determining if a remote device corresponding to the data transmission indicator has a capacity reservation in the admission profile and for allocating capacity in accordance with the data transmission indicator. In another aspect, data indicators correspond to one or more service levels. Remaining capacity may be allocated in priority of increasing size of data transmission requirement. In yet another aspect, an admission profile is updated to accept a new flow, characterized by flow parameters, in accordance with available system capacity. Various other aspects are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, Sanjiv Nanda
  • Patent number: 8355313
    Abstract: A MIMO system supports multiple spatial multiplexing modes for improved performance and greater flexibility. These modes may include (1) a single-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams on orthogonal spatial channels to a single receiver, (2) a single-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas to a single receiver without spatial processing at a transmitter, (3) a multi-user steered mode that transmits multiple data streams simultaneously to multiple receivers with spatial processing at a transmitter, and (4) a multi-user non-steered mode that transmits multiple data streams from multiple antennas (co-located or non co-located) without spatial processing at the transmitter(s) to receiver(s) having multiple antennas. For each set of user terminal(s) selected for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink, a spatial multiplexing mode is selected for the user terminal set from among the multiple spatial multiplexing modes supported by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, John W. Ketchum, Mark S. Wallace, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 8320301
    Abstract: A multiple-access MIMO WLAN system that employs MIMO, OFDM, and TDD. The system (1) uses a channel structure with a number of configurable transport channels, (2) supports multiple rates and transmission modes, which are configurable based on channel conditions and user terminal capabilities, (3) employs a pilot structure with several types of pilot (e.g., beacon, MIMO, steered reference, and carrier pilots) for different functions, (4) implements rate, timing, and power control loops for proper system operation, and (5) employs random access for system access by the user terminals, fast acknowledgment, and quick resource assignments. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the frequency responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminals. The spatial processing may then be simplified by taking advantage of the reciprocal nature of the downlink and uplink and the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, Mark S. Wallace, John W. Ketchum, Steven J. Howard
  • Patent number: 8290089
    Abstract: Techniques for efficiently deriving a transmit steering matrix and sending feedback for this matrix are described. A receiver determines a set of parameters defining a transmit steering matrix to be used for transmission from a transmitter to the receiver. The receiver may derive the transmit steering matrix based on a set of transformation matrices, which may be used for multiple iterations of Jacobi rotation to zero out off-diagonal elements of a channel matrix. The receiver may then determine the set of parameters based on the transformation matrices. The set of parameters may comprise at least one angle, at least one value, at least one index, etc., for each transformation matrix. The receiver sends the set of parameters defining the transmit steering matrix (instead of elements of the transmit steering matrix) to the transmitter for use by the transmitter to derive the transmit steering matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven J. Howard, John W. Ketchum, Mark S. Wallace, J. Rodney Walton
  • Patent number: 8265208
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting and demodulating a signal/transmission are described. Signal detection is performed in multiple stages using different types of signal processing, e.g., using time-domain correlation for a first stage, frequency-domain processing for a second stage, and time-domain processing for a third stage. For the first stage, products of symbols are generated for at least two different delays, correlation between the products for each delay and known values is performed, and correlation results for all delays are combined and used to declare the presence of a signal. For demodulation, the timing of input samples is adjusted to obtain timing-adjusted samples. A frequency offset is estimated and removed from the timing-adjusted samples to obtain frequency-corrected samples, which are processed with a channel estimate to obtain detected symbols. The phases of the detected symbols are corrected to obtain phase-corrected symbols, which are demodulated, deinterleaved, and decoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: J. Rodney Walton, Mark S. Wallace