Patents by Inventor John Black

John Black 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: 20200350960
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to user equipment assisted multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink configuration. Features are described for a user equipment determination of a desired transmission mode and/or active set of serving nodes for wireless communication service(s). The user equipment may submit a request for the desired mode and/or nodes to a network controller such as a baseband unit. The user equipment may subsequently receive a configuration for the requested wireless communication service(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200338431
    Abstract: A robotic athletic training system may include a mobile robotic platform, a sensor module associated with the mobile robotic platform and configured to obtain data from an environment. The system may include a drive system that propels the platform, as well as a steering system that steers the platform. The system may include a processor which receives data from the sensor module and control the drive system or steering system to follow a path based on the data received from the sensor module. A method may include controlling a robotic athletic training system (or robotic training platform) so that it moves at a velocity. The robotic athletic training system may include a vision system configured to receive data related to a surface and compare a baseline data of a desired surface to the received data and adjusting a travel direction of the robotic system in response to the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen John BLACK, Christian DIBENEDETTO
  • Patent number: 10812216
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to cooperative multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink scheduling. Features are described for scheduling transmissions within a MIMO network to efficiently allocate resources considering the needs and/or characteristics of devices served by the network. The downlink mode or active set may be scheduled based at least in part on the channel state information and additional network system information detected by or otherwise available to the scheduling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Patent number: 10805000
    Abstract: Power consumption by a communication satellite may be reduced by operating in a transmission time interval (TTI) gating mode, in which an on period is provided for the satellite to transmit a reference signal (RS), control signals, and a portion of data within an on period through a forward link to a user terminal (UT), followed by an off period in which forward link transmission ceases. During the off period of the TTI, the satellite may turn off its forward link power amplifier and cease transmission of data to the UT. A gateway may send a signal enabling the TTI gating mode, as well as information specifying the TTI gating configuration, such as the length of the on or off period of the TTI, to the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Qiang Wu
  • Patent number: 10794847
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow meter and method for measuring water cut and salinity of a multiphase mixture. The water-cut meter includes a conduit configured to receive the multiphase mixture, and a probe array configured to measure a cross-sectional area of the conduit. The probe array includes a plurality of coaxial probes connected in parallel. Optionally, the probe array is configured to operate at a single high frequency, for example, 1 to 3 GHz, to minimize conductivity loss relative to capacitance. The flow meter further includes a processor configured to transmit a signal to the probe array and to receive a reflected signal from the probe array using a single channel. The processor is further configured to calculate the water cut and the salinity of the multiphase mixture based on a single complex permittivity of the multiphase mixture calculated from the received reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael John Black, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10794846
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flow meter and method for measuring water cut and salinity of a multiphase mixture. The water-cut meter includes a conduit configured to receive the multiphase mixture, and a probe array configured to measure a cross-sectional area of the conduit. The probe array includes a plurality of coaxial probes connected in parallel. Optionally, the probe array is configured to operate at a single high frequency, for example, 1 to 3 GHz, to minimize conductivity loss relative to capacitance. The flow meter further includes a processor configured to transmit a signal to the probe array and to receive a reflected signal from the probe array using a single channel. The processor is further configured to calculate the water cut and the salinity of the multiphase mixture based on a single complex permittivity of the multiphase mixture calculated from the received reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael John Black, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Publication number: 20200288936
    Abstract: A control system for a robotic floor cleaning machine configured to perform a cleaning operation along a cleaning path can comprise a controller, and a plurality of sensors. The controller can be configured to control autonomous movement of the robotic floor cleaning machine along the cleaning path and autonomous performance of the cleaning operation. The plurality of sensors can be configured to sense a location of the robotic floor cleaning machine relative to surroundings of the robotic floor cleaning machine. At least two sensors from the plurality of sensors are configured to locate the robotic floor cleaning machine in overlapping areas of the surroundings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kipp Knutson, Stuart McDonald, Stephen Klopp, John Black, Dave Wood, Donald Joseph Legatt
  • Patent number: 10768825
    Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Antony Ian Taylor Rowstron, Ioan Alexandru Stefanovici, Aaron William Ogus, Douglas Wayne Phillips, Richard John Black, Austin Nicholas Donnelly, Alexander Lloyd Gaunt, Andreas Georgiou, Ariel Gomez Diaz, Serguei Anatolievitch Legtchenko, Reinhard Sebastian Bernhard Nowozin, Benn Charles Thomsen, Hugh David Paul Williams, David Lara Saucedo, Patrick Neil Anderson, Andromachi Chatzieleftheriou, John Christopher Dainty, James Hilton Clegg, Raluca Andreea Diaconu, Rokas Drevinskas, Mengyang Yang
  • Patent number: 10751571
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods can be used including receiving motion data including comparing time-stamped speed data with predetermined cycling speed ranges, categorizing the speed data into portions of a minute that indicate each of the predetermined cycling speed ranges, determining portions of a minute indicate a cycling activity has begun, determining portions of a later minute indicate a cycling activity has paused or ended, confirming a minimum time inactive indicating that a cycling activity has ended, and determining that a minimum time active has elapsed between the indication a cycling activity has begun and indication a cycling activity has ended such that a cycling activity is categorized as a cycling workout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Alan Lee, Stephen John Black, Jason Iijima
  • Patent number: 10756860
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to distributed multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink configuration. Features are described for a network controller (e.g., baseband unit) to receive one or more requests including a desired transmission mode and/or active set of serving nodes for wireless communication service(s) for user equipment. The baseband unit may determine an optimal configuration in consideration of the desired parameters along with other network information. The network controller may then transmit one or more configuration messages via the network to optimally allocate resources distributed within the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Patent number: 10756795
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to pair of wireless communication devices wirelessly communicating with a network system in a coordinated manner. A secondary wireless communication device can wirelessly communicate part of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission associated with a primary wireless communication device (i) with the primary wireless communication device via the peer-to-peer link and (ii) with the network system via a cellular link. The secondary wireless communication device can enable the primary wireless communication device to communicate with the network system at a higher data rate and/or at a higher MIMO rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous, Matthew Stuart Grob
  • Patent number: 10756767
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a user equipment that includes a transceiver that can operate in at least a traffic mode and a virtual network element mode. In the traffic mode, the transceiver can process a received downlink radio frequency signal and transmit an uplink radio frequency signal. The transceiver can couple a receive path to a transmit path in an analog domain in the virtual network element mode. In the virtual network element mode, the transceiver can, for example, perform functions of a network repeater or a network transmit-receive point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Eric Jacobs, Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200252107
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to systems and methods for wirelessly communicating data. A network system can wirelessly communicate with a user equipment in traffic mode and in a repeater mode. In the repeater mode, the user equipment functions as a repeater of a network system. The network system can signal a particular user equipment to operate in the repeater mode. The network system can wirelessly communicate cellular data for another user equipment with the particular user equipment in the repeater mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Eric Jacobs, Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200252100
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to systems and methods for wirelessly communicating data. A network system can wirelessly communicate with a user equipment in traffic mode and in a virtual transmit-receive point mode. In the virtual transmit-receive point mode, the user equipment functions as a virtual transmit-receive point of a network system for serving another user equipment. The network system can signal a particular user equipment to operate in the virtual transmit-receive point mode. The network system can wirelessly communicate cellular data for another user equipment with the particular user equipment in the virtual transmit-receive point mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Eric Jacobs, Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200252088
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a user equipment that includes a transceiver that can operate in at least a traffic mode and a virtual network element mode. In the traffic mode, the transceiver can process a received downlink radio frequency signal and transmit an uplink radio frequency signal. The transceiver can couple a receive path to a transmit path in an analog domain in the virtual network element mode. In the virtual network element mode, the transceiver can, for example, perform functions of a network repeater or a network transmit-receive point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Eric Jacobs, Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200252145
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficient transmission of data by half-duplex transceivers in satellite communication systems are provided. Time reference for the return link is skewed or time-lagged relative to the time reference for the forward link to reduce the amount of guard time required to separate return link transmission from forward link reception by the half-duplex transceiver of a user terminal. The guard time is determined based on a maximum differential round-trip propagation delay and transition times of the half-duplexer transceiver to switch between transmit and receive modes. In a satellite communication system in which a large number of active user terminals are present in a beam coverage, random time offsets are applied to spread approximately equal traffic loads across the time offsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Qiang WU, Peter John BLACK, Jelena DAMNJANOVIC
  • Patent number: 10735057
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a selection scheme implemented by a scheduler in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network to identify which users to schedule simultaneously during the same time slot. For uplink communications and a particular frequency wholeband or sub-band, the scheduler can obtain uplink channel information for channels between base stations and UEs. The scheduler can then determine a strength of the channels using the uplink channel information, order the UEs using a fairness metric based on the channel strengths, and compute one or more QR decompositions to identify whether a spatial dimension of a UE is roughly or approximately orthogonal to spatial dimension(s) of other UEs selected to be served during a time slot being scheduled. If the spatial dimensions are roughly or approximately orthogonal, the scheduler selects the UE to be served at the same time as other UEs already selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Wanlun Zhao, Jinghu Chen, Tamer Adel Kadous, Michael Mingxi Fan, Peter John Black
  • Patent number: 10723018
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remote operating and/or monitoring of a robot are disclosed. In some exemplary implementations, a robot can be communicatively coupled to a remote network. The remote network can send and receive signals with the robot. In some exemplary implementations, the remote network can receive sensor data from the robot, allowing the remote network to determine the context of the robot. In this way, the remote network can respond to assistance requests and also provide operating commands to the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Brain Corporation
    Inventors: Cody Griffin, Roger Unwin, John Black
  • Patent number: 10722775
    Abstract: A robotic athletic training system may include a mobile robotic platform, a sensor module associated with the mobile robotic platform and configured to obtain data from an environment. The system may include a drive system that propels the platform, as well as a steering system that steers the platform. The system may include a processor which receives data from the sensor module and control the drive system or steering system to follow a path based on the data received from the sensor module. A method may include controlling a robotic athletic training system (or robotic training platform) so that it moves at a velocity. The robotic athletic training system may include a vision system configured to receive data related to a surface and compare a baseline data of a desired surface to the received data and adjusting a travel direction of the robotic system in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Stephen John Black, Christian Dibenedetto
  • Patent number: 10719239
    Abstract: A data-storage system comprises a head receiver configured to variably receive up to a number M of write heads. The data-storage system also includes an installed number N of write heads arranged in the head receiver, a substrate receiver configured to receive one or more data-storage substrates, and a positioner machine configured to adjust a relative placement of each of the M write heads with respect to at least one of the one or more data-storage substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Antony Ian Taylor Rowstron, Ioan Alexandru Stefanovici, Aaron William Ogus, Douglas Wayne Phillips, Richard John Black, Austin Nicholas Donnelly, Alexander Lloyd Gaunt, Andreas Georgiou, Ariel Gomez Diaz, Serguei Anatolievitch Legtchenko, Reinhard Sebastian Bernhard Nowozin, Benn Charles Thomsen, Hugh David Paul Williams, David Lara Saucedo, Patrick Neil Anderson, Andromachi Chatzieleftheriou, John Christopher Dainty, James Hilton Clegg, Raluca Andreea Diaconu, Rokas Drevinskas, Mengyang Yang