Patents by Inventor John E. Hoffmann

John E. Hoffmann 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: 20090116469
    Abstract: A technique for encoding digital communication signals. Data symbols are augmented in pilot symbols inserted at predetermined positions. The pilot augmented sequence is then fed to a deterministic error correction block encoder, such as a turbo product coder, to output a coded sequence. The symbols in the error correction encoded sequence are then rearranged to ensure that the output symbols derived from input pilot symbols are located at regular, predetermined positions. As a result, channel encoding schemes can more easily be used which benefits from power of two length block sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, JR., James A. Proctor, JR., Antoine J. Rouphael
  • Publication number: 20090097455
    Abstract: A technique for efficient implementation of pilot signals on a reverse link in a wireless communication system. An access channel is defined for the reverse link such that within each frame, or epoch, a portion is dedicated to sending only pilot symbols. Another portion of the frame is reserved for sending mostly data symbols; however, within this second portion of the frame, additional pilot symbols are interleaved among the data symbols. The pilot symbol or preamble portion of the access channel frame allows for efficient acquisition of the access signal at the base station, while providing a timing reference for determining the effects of multipath fading. In particular, a pilot correlation filter provides a phase estimate from the pilot symbols in the preamble portion, which is then used to decode the data symbols in the payload portion. An access acquisition portion of the receiver uses the phase estimates provided by the pilot correlation filter to process the output of a data symbol correlation filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: IPR LICENSING, INC.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, JR., James A. Proctor, JR., Antoine J. Rouphael
  • Patent number: 7502424
    Abstract: The present invention provides for making code rate adjustments and modulation type adjustments in a pseudonoise (PN) encoded CDMA system. Coding rate adjustments may be made by changing the number of information bits per symbol, or Forward Error Code (FEC) coding rate. A forward error correction (FEC) block size is maintained at a constant amount. Therefore, as the number of information bits per symbol are increased, an integer multiple of bits per epoch is always maintained. The scheme permits for a greater flexibility and selection of effective data rates providing information bit rates ranging from, for example, approximately 50 kilobits per second to over 5 mega bits per second (Mbps) in one preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., Daniel I. Riley, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090060005
    Abstract: A system and method for encoding/decoding data channels in a CDMA system having data channel interference cancellation, wherein data channel interference cancellation is used to remove unwanted non-orthogonal pilot signal components which are present within a demodulated data signal. This is accomplished by regenerating interference terms with respect to the non-orthogonal pilot signal and subtracting them from the demodulated data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine J. Rouphael, John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, JR., James A. Proctor, JR.
  • Patent number: 7483473
    Abstract: A technique for efficient implementation of pilot signals on a reverse link in a wireless communication system. An access channel is defined for the reverse link such that within each frame, or epoch, a portion is dedicated to sending only pilot symbols. Another portion of the frame is reserved for sending mostly data symbols; however, within this second portion of the frame, additional pilot symbols are interleaved among the data symbols. The pilot symbol or preamble portion of the access channel frame allows for efficient acquisition of the access signal at the base station, while providing a timing reference for determining the effects of multipath fading. In particular, a pilot correlation filter provides a phase estimate from the pilot symbols in the preamble portion, which is then used to decode the data symbols in the payload portion. An access acquisition portion of the receiver uses the phase estimates provided by the pilot correlation filter to process the output of a data symbol correlation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., James A. Proctor, Jr., Antoine J. Rouphael
  • Patent number: 7447187
    Abstract: A technique for encoding digital communication signals. Data symbols are augmented in pilot symbols inserted at predetermined positions. The pilot augmented sequence is then fed to a deterministic error correction block encoder, such as a turbo product coder, to output a coded sequence. The symbols in the error correction encoded sequence are then rearranged to ensure that the output symbols derived from input pilot symbols are located at regular, predetermined positions. As a result, channel encoding schemes can more easily be used which benefits from power of two length block sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., James A. Proctor, Jr., Antoine J. Rouphael
  • Patent number: 7428263
    Abstract: A system and method for encoding/decoding data channels in a CDMA system having data channel interference cancellation, wherein data channel interference cancellation is used to remove unwanted non-orthogonal pilot signal components which are present within a demodulated data signal. This is accomplished by regenerating interference terms with respect to the non-orthogonal pilot signal and subtracting them from the demodulated data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine J. Rouphael, John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080225991
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing a CDMA receiver to a transmitter when an adaptive antenna is utilized to receive transmitted data, wherein a receiving antenna system is adapted between a 360° reception angle pattern (i.e., an omni-directional pattern) and a fixed reception angle (i.e., a directional pattern) by permitting the receiver to identify a pilot signal having the largest magnitude. The receiver minimizes interference from other pilot signals by steering antenna pattern nulls toward other transmitters. As a result, the time required for the receiver to acquire a valid pilot signal is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael, John E. Hoffmann, George R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7414579
    Abstract: A communications device for separating source signals provided by M signal sources includes an antenna array comprising N correlated antenna elements for receiving at least N different summations of the M source signals, with N and M being greater than 1. A receiver is connected to the antenna array for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals. A blind signal separation processor is connected to the receiver for forming a mixing matrix comprising up to the at least N different summations of the M source signals, and for separating desired source signals from the mixing matrix. The mixing matrix has a rank equal to at least N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ivica Kostanic, Steven J. Goldberg, Thomas E. Gorsuch, John E. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7272169
    Abstract: A single, common correlation filter (CF) core is provided in a wireless system using CDMA. A plurality of channels with different data rates are provided in the wireless system. The channels provided in the wireless system include the access channel, the maintenance channel, and the traffic channel in which information (e.g., pilot or data symbols or both) is transmitted at the tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 rates. The data rate for transmitting the information is programmable by digital signal processor (DSP). A user-unique code, such as a PN code, is applied to the information being transmitted in the channels of the wireless system. The information is QPSK modulated and transmitted in any one of the channels at any data rate. The transmitted information is correlated at the smallest data rate (i.e., the tier 1 rate) in the correlation filter (CF) of the wireless system by time multiplexing delayed versions of the PN code to the correlation filter core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine J. Rouphael, John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., Samir K. Patel, James A. Proctor, Jr., Daniel I. Riley
  • Patent number: 7233627
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing a CDMA receiver to a transmitter when an adaptive antenna is utilized to receive transmitted data, wherein a receiving antenna system is adapted between a 360° reception angle pattern (i.e., an omni-directional pattern) and a fixed reception angle (i.e., a directional pattern) by permitting the receiver to identify a pilot signal having the largest magnitude. The receiver minimizes interference from other pilot signals by steering antenna pattern nulls toward other transmitters. As a result, the time required for the receiver to acquire a valid pilot signal is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Proctor, Antoine J. Rouphael, John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7212499
    Abstract: A Station Management Entity (SME) steers a directional antenna for a station to communicate with an Access Point (AP) in an 802.11 protocol system. The SME can steer the antenna before or after an 802.11 station has authenticated and associated with the Access Point. During a passive scan, the steering process cycles through the available antenna positions and monitors an AP beacon signal to determine a best position based on, for example, a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI). During an active scan where access probing is used, the steering process cycles through the antenna positions and monitors a probe response to determine the best antenna position. Additional scans may be performed based on a decision that the received signal level of the currently selected antenna position has dropped below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., John A. Regnier, Kevin P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7160056
    Abstract: A material transfer vehicle for transporting asphalt from a delivery truck to a paving machine includes a frame and a vehicle drive system. The vehicle also includes a turret that is rotatably mounted on the frame and a surge bin that is mounted on the turret. The surge bin has a front side and a rear side with a discharge opening therein. A truck-unloading conveyor is mounted on the frame. The truck-unloading conveyor has an inlet end, and an outlet end which is adjacent to the front side of the surge bin. A paver-loading conveyor is mounted on the turret and has an inlet end extending into the discharge opening on the rear side of the surge bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Roadtee, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, David Swearingen
  • Patent number: 7145964
    Abstract: The present invention provides for making code rate adjustments and modulation type adjustments in a pseudonoise (PN) encoded CDMA system. Coding rate adjustments may be made by changing the number of information bits per symbol, or Forward Error Code (FEC) coding rate. A forward error correction (FEC) block size is maintained at a constant amount. Therefore, as the number of information bits per symbol are increased, an integer multiple of bits per epoch is always maintained. The scheme permits for a greater flexibility and selection of effective data rates providing information bit rates ranging from, for example, approximately 50 kilobits per second to over 5 mega bits per second (Mbps) in one preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., Daniel I. Riley, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7103386
    Abstract: A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is provided. The access point includes a directional antenna for communicating with a plurality of remote stations, and the directional antenna includes a plurality of antenna patterns. The method includes creating an antenna database by associating between the access point and each remote station a respective measured signal quality corresponding to the plurality of antenna patterns. The respective measured signal qualities are determined by the access point based upon communications with each remote station. The method further includes determining for each remote station a preferred antenna pattern based upon the antenna database, and selecting a remote station and the corresponding preferred antenna pattern to communicate with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, Kevin P. Johnson, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., John A. Regnier
  • Patent number: 7092430
    Abstract: A system and method for encoding/decoding data channels in a CDMA system having data channel interference cancellation, wherein data channel interference cancellation is used to remove unwanted non-orthogonal pilot signal components which are present within a demodulated data signal. This is accomplished by regenerating interference terms with respect to the non-orthogonal pilot signal and subtracting them from the demodulated data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine J. Rouphael, John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7079523
    Abstract: Multiple field units in a CDMA system are synchronized for communication with a base station using shared forward and reverse link channels. In an illustrative embodiment, each field unit is assigned a time slot in a forward link channel to receive messages from the base station. Likewise, each field unit is assigned a time slot on a common reverse link channel for transmitting messages to the base station. Timing alignment and power level control among each of many field units and the base station is achieved by analyzing messages received at the base station in a corresponding time slot as transmitted by each field unit. Thereafter, a message is transmitted from the base station in a corresponding time slot to a particular field unit for adjusting its timing or power level so that future messages transmitted from the field unit are received in the appropriate time slot at the base station at a desired power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: G. Rodney Nelson, Jr., John E. Hoffmann, Antoine J. Rouphael, James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7061427
    Abstract: A technique for steering a directional antenna such as may be used in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device. The technique detects signal parameters during reception of short sync pulses in the very beginning portion of a Packet Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) frame. As a result, the antenna can be steered to an optimum direction for reception prior to receiving other portions of a preamble that may be needed to acquire carrier signal phase and frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., John A. Regnier, Kevin P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7047046
    Abstract: A method for operating an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is provided. The access point includes a directional antenna for communicating with a plurality of remote stations, and the directional antenna includes an omni angle and a plurality of directional angles. The method determines a preferred direction to the point the directional antenna from the access point to a desired remote station. This determination is based on a sequence of probe signals exchanged between the access point and the remote station. The probe response signals are measured by the access point, and are stored in an antenna database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, Kevin P. Johnson, George Rodney Nelson, Jr., John A. Regnier
  • Patent number: 7006483
    Abstract: Data rate allocation decisions are made for a communications channel, such as a wireless reverse link connection. A first parameter used in this determination is a path loss, which is determined by the following process. First, a message is sent from a first station to a second station, such as on a paging channel. The message indicates a forward Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of a pilot signal transmitted by the first station. The second station then determines the received signal strength of this pilot signal, taking into account receiver gains. The path loss can then be estimated by the second station as the difference between the forward ERP data value that it received and the detected received pilot power. The second station also then preferably determines a transmit power level when transmitting a message back to the first station. This transmit power level information is encoded as a digital data word together with the forward path loss information as calculated by the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: George Rodney Nelson, Jr., James A. Proctor, Jr., John E. Hoffmann, Antoine J. Rouphael