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).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200206569
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for tracking the location of an individual during a fitness activity are disclosed. A method of tracking a participant engaged in a fitness activity includes determining a location of the participant during the fitness activity based on data received at a portable fitness device used by the participant; determining a location of a spectator during the fitness activity based on data received at a mobile spectator device used by the spectator; from a server, sending an alert to a spectator at a spectator device during the fitness activity indicating that the participant is within a predetermined distance of the spectator; and sending an alert to the portable fitness device during the fitness activity indicating that the spectator is within a predetermined distance of the participant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jon Harald WERNER, Christian DIBENEDETTO, Stephen John BLACK, Amy Jones VATERLAUS
  • Patent number: 10694517
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for providing improved position location (e.g., time-of-arrival) measurement and enhanced position location in wireless communication systems. In an example method, an access terminal may receive a reference signal in a time slot, the reference signal comprising a sequence of symbols known to a receiver before being received, and may determine, based at least in part on the reference signal, a position location of the access terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob
  • Patent number: 10693574
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Qiang Wu, Peter John Black, Jelena Damnjanovic
  • Publication number: 20200195323
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to pair of wireless communication devices wirelessly communicating with a network system in a coordinated manner. The wireless communication devices of the pair can be in communication with each other via a wireless peer-to-peer link. A primary wireless communication device can communicate a first part of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission via cellular communications and a second part of the MIMO transmission via the peer-to-peer link. This 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous, Matthew Stuart Grob
  • Publication number: 20200195321
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to pair of wireless communication devices communicating with a network system in a coordinated manner. The network system can transmit data to and/or receive data from the pair of wireless communication devices. This can enable the network system to communicate with a primary wireless communication device of the pair at a higher data rate than a peak data rate of wirelessly communicating with the primary wireless communication device. The pair of wireless communication devices can be in communication with each other via a peer-to-peer link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous, Matthew Stuart Grob
  • Publication number: 20200195313
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to group of wireless communication devices communicating with a network system in a coordinated manner. The wireless communication can be unbalanced between uplink and downlink. In some instances, the network system can wirelessly communicate uplink data with the group of devices and wirelessly communicate downlink data with a single device of the group. In some other instances, the network system can wirelessly communicate downlink data with the group of devices and wirelessly communicate uplink data with a single device of the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous, Matthew Stuart Grob
  • Publication number: 20200188734
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring the performance of an individual during a fitness activity are disclosed. A method of monitoring the performance of a participant engaged in a fitness activity includes receiving a GPS signal during the fitness activity at a portable fitness device used by the participant; determining participant performance data based on the received GPS signal; at a stationary position beacon, transmitting location data associated with the location of the stationary position beacon; at a mobile participant receiver supported by the participant, receiving the location data from the stationary position beacon; and modifying the participant performance data based on the data received from the stationary position beacon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Jon Harald WERNER, Christian DIBENEDETTO, Stephen John BLACK
  • Publication number: 20200195322
    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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous, Matthew Stuart Grob
  • Patent number: 10686502
    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 downlink communications and a particular frequency wholeband or sub-band, the scheduler can determine downlink channel information using uplink channel information for channels between base stations and UEs. The scheduler can then determine a strength of the channels using the downlink 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: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Wanlun Zhao, Jinghu Chen, Tamer Adel Kadous, Michael Mingxi Fan, Peter John Black
  • Patent number: 10672428
    Abstract: A method to record data in a solid substrate comprises modulating a polarization angle of a coherent optical pulsetrain, and, while the polarization angle is being modulated, focusing the coherent optical pulsetrain on a locus moving through the solid substrate at a relative velocity. Here the relative velocity, a width of the locus in a direction of the relative velocity, and a rate of modulation of the polarization angle are such that the substrate receives within the width of the locus two or more pulses of the optical pulsetrain differing in polarization angle. In this manner, the two or more pulses record, in different portions of the substrate within the width of the locus, two or more different symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Richard John Black, Patrick Neil Anderson, Rokas Drevinskas, Austin Nicholas Donnelly, Hugh David Paul Williams
  • Publication number: 20200169312
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an improved coordinated multipoint (CoMP) network operating in a millimeter wave frequency band in which user equipment (UEs) combine signals received across multiple spatial beams from multiple base stations. The improved CoMP network can achieve high throughput, low latency, and/or high reliability at millimeter wave frequencies while maintaining a reasonable network complexity (e.g., lower network overhead than CoMP networks implemented with coherent combining). For example, the improved CoMP network can include one or more base stations and one or more UEs. Multiple base stations can transmit the same data across multiple spatial beams to a UE at the same time. The base stations may use information provided by a UE to identify an active set of base stations and/or spatial beams to serve the UE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Tamer Adel Kadous, Michael Mingxi Fan, Siddhartha Mallik
  • Patent number: 10667188
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a satellite system including different satellites that may belong to different types of satellite constellations. In some implementations, the satellite system may include a LEO satellite constellation and one or more non-LEO satellite constellations that can be used to increase the forward link capacity of the LEO satellite constellation, for example, by allowing an LEO satellite to offload at least some of its forward link traffic to one of the non-LEO satellites. The user terminals can dynamically switch forward link communications between a LEO satellite and a non-LEO satellite while maintaining a return link connection with the LEO satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incoporated
    Inventors: Qiang Wu, Peter John Black, Ruoheng Liu
  • Patent number: 10659112
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: XCOM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200145154
    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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200145128
    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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Publication number: 20200145061
    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: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Peter John Black, Matthew Stuart Grob, Michael Mingxi Fan, Tamer Adel Kadous
  • Patent number: D885553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Blackstone International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Anton Kimball, John Black