Patents by Inventor James A. Stephanick

James A. Stephanick 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: 11096011
    Abstract: A floor device generates output data indicative of the presence of objects, such as feet of users, on the floor device. The output data from the floor device is processed to determine an object representation at a given time. The object representation may then be associated with a user identifier based on characteristics or features of the object representation. If a location of a user associated with the user identifier is determined to be near a fixture that stores one or more items, changes in quantity of items at the fixture may be associated with the user. For example, sensors on the fixture may generate fixture data indicative of a pick or place of items on the fixture. Based on the location of the user being near the fixture and the fixture data, interaction data may be generated indicating the user interacting with the items at the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Somasundaram Niranjayan, Patrick Ian McCleary, Matthew Gregory Bowen, Nikolai Orlov, James Stephanick
  • Patent number: 10834547
    Abstract: A facility is equipped with floor tiles, each tile having several segments, each segment with an antenna. Each segment on a tile is associated with a particular timeslot. A transmitter at the tile transmits on a specific frequency. During the particular timeslot for that segment, a signal at the specific frequency is transmitted and radiated from the antenna for that segment. A user electromagnetically couples to one or more antennas of the tile, acting as a signal path for the signal. A receiver in a second tile detects the signal, and information about the frequency detected, timeslot for the signal, and relative signal strength is generated. Where the user has stepped from is determined using the information. By concatenating these steps, a path of the user may be determined. Receivers in shelves facilitate disambiguation of one user from another when interacting with items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Ian McCleary, Jeremy Samuel De Bonet, James Stephanick, Somasundaram Niranjayan, Nikolai Orlov, Nathan Pius O'Neill, Camerin Cole Hahn
  • Patent number: 10477355
    Abstract: A surface within a facility, such as a floor, is equipped with electromagnetic sensors that generate data indicative of the presence of objects, such as the feet of users, at or close to the floor. The data may also be indicative of cross-coupling resulting from a transfer of an electromagnetic signal by the object, such as from one foot to another of a user. The data is processed to determine presence of individual object representations, such as representing a foot. Information about object representations such as their movement, cross-coupling, physical distance between, or features of the object representation may be determined. This data may be used to maintain the identity of particular object representations, track object representations over time, determine that particular object representations are associated with a single user and so forth. Adjacent object representations may avoid merging by using a top-down cross sectioning technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Somasundaram Niranjayan, Patrick Ian McCleary, Matthew Gregory Bowen, Nikolai Orlov, James Stephanick
  • Patent number: 10371786
    Abstract: One or more surfaces within a facility are equipped with devices having several segments, each segment with an antenna. Segments may be grouped together into a cluster. Each segment within a cluster is associated with a particular timeslot. A transmitter at the device transmits on a specific frequency. During the particular timeslot for that segment, a signal at the specific frequency is transmitted and radiated from the antenna for that segment. An object electromagnetically couples to one or more antennas of the device, acting as a signal path for the signal. A receiver in a second segment detects the signal, and information about the timeslot for the signal and relative signal strength is generated. By using this information, a location and path of the object may be determined. Receivers in shelves may also be used to facilitate disambiguation of one user from another when interacting with items on those shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Nikolai Orlov, Nathan Pius O'Neill, Somasundaram Niranjayan, James Stephanick, Camerin Cole Hahn
  • Patent number: 9513900
    Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least an active firmware image and another firmware image, and circuitry configured to execute instructions provided in the firmware image. The circuitry receives commands and a firmware image included from the electronic device. The circuitry determines whether the firmware is targeted to a non-active block of the memory and if so, writes the firmware image to the non-active memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Wojcik, Kim J. Hansen, James Stephanick
  • Publication number: 20150254072
    Abstract: A protective cover for an electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least an active firmware image and another firmware image, and circuitry configured to execute instructions provided in the firmware image. The circuitry receives commands and a firmware image included from the electronic device. The circuitry determines whether the firmware is targeted to a non-active block of the memory and if so, writes the firmware image to the non-active memory block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: James J. WOJCIK, Kim J. HANSEN, James STEPHANICK
  • Patent number: 9092300
    Abstract: A peripheral device for an electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least an active firmware image and another firmware image, and circuitry configured to execute instructions provided in the firmware image. The circuitry receives, from a software application of the electronic device, commands and a firmware image included in the software application. The circuitry verifies the received firmware image file and writes the portions to a memory block different from a memory block at which the active firmware image is located. A command from the software application causes the peripheral device to specify the newly written firmware image as an active firmware image and to execute the newly active firmware image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: OTTR PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: James John Wojcik, Kim J. Hansen, James Stephanick
  • Publication number: 20150189081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing data associated with a caller to a mobile device, in which the caller data may be presented by the mobile device upon receiving a first incoming call from the caller, are provided. In some embodiments, an image associated with the caller may be obtained by the mobile device such that the image may be displayed along with other call screening data during a first incoming call from the caller. In some embodiments, termination of the incoming call is held by a service control point while the data is transmitted to the mobile device over a data channel. Once termination of the incoming call is released by the service control point, the mobile device receives the incoming call and may present the data as call screening information. In some embodiments, the data channel may include a warm socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: CEQUINT, INC.
    Inventors: Mark H. Gosselin, James Stephanick, Jeffrey S. Ross
  • Patent number: 9002334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing data associated with a caller to a mobile device, in which the caller data may be presented by the mobile device upon receiving a first incoming call from the caller, are provided. In some embodiments, an image associated with the caller may be obtained by the mobile device such that the image may be displayed along with other call screening data during a first incoming call from the caller. In some embodiments, termination of the incoming call is held by a service control point while the data is transmitted to the mobile device over a data channel. Once termination of the incoming call is released by the service control point, the mobile device receives the incoming call and may present the data as call screening information. In some embodiments, the data channel may include a warm socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cequint, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark H. Gosselin, James Stephanick, Jeffrey S. Ross
  • Publication number: 20140274000
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributing data associated with a caller to a mobile device, in which the caller data may be presented by the mobile device upon receiving a first incoming call from the caller, are provided. In some embodiments, an image associated with the caller may be obtained by the mobile device such that the image may be displayed along with other call screening data during a first incoming call from the caller. In some embodiments, termination of the incoming call is held by a service control point while the data is transmitted to the mobile device over a data channel. Once termination of the incoming call is released by the service control point, the mobile device receives the incoming call and may present the data as call screening information. In some embodiments, the data channel may include a warm socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CEQUINT, INC.
    Inventors: Mark H. Gosselin, James Stephanick, Jeffrey S. Ross
  • Patent number: 8583440
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing visual indication of character ambiguity and ensuing reduction of such ambiguity during text entry are described. An application text entry field is presented in a display screen, into which the user enters text by means of a reduced keyboard and a disambiguating system. The default or most likely word construct for the current key sequence may be presented at the insertion point of the text entry field. An indication of ambiguity is presented in the display screen to communicate to the user the possible ambiguous characters associated with each key. A word choice list field may also be present to display at least one word construct matching the current key sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Ethan R. Bradford, Pim Van Meurs, Richard Eyraud, Michael R. Longé
  • Patent number: 8466896
    Abstract: A selective input system and method are provided which track the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longé
  • Patent number: 8456441
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longe
  • Publication number: 20120280950
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: James STEPHANICK, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longe
  • Publication number: 20120280931
    Abstract: A selective input system and method are provided which track the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longé
  • Patent number: 8237681
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longé
  • Patent number: 8237682
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longe
  • Publication number: 20110037718
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: James STEPHANICK, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longe
  • Publication number: 20100271299
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: JAMES STEPHANICK, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longe
  • Patent number: 7821503
    Abstract: A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Stephanick, Christina James, Ethan R. Bradford, Michael R. Longé