Patents by Inventor John Ian Ferrell

John Ian Ferrell 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: 9612121
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for locating a position within an enclosure. In one example, known global coordinates (e.g., GPS coordinates of latitude/longitude) associated with the position within the enclosure may be transformed into local coordinates (e.g., x/y coordinates) for the position. The local coordinates may be used for tracking a location of the position within the enclosure. In another example, known local coordinates of the position within the enclosure may be transformed into global coordinates for the position, which may be used for tracking a location of the position within the enclosure. In another example, a blueprint image of the enclosure may be used to track a location of the position within the enclosure. In this way, location tracking may be provided for objects within indoor spaces (e.g., a mapping application may track a current position of a mobile device within a building).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mattias Beermann, John Ian Ferrell, Edward Un, Kai Wang, Jun Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140163864
    Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for locating a position within an enclosure. In one example, known global coordinates (e.g., GPS coordinates of latitude/longitude) associated with the position within the enclosure may be transformed into local coordinates (e.g., x/y coordinates) for the position. The local coordinates may be used for tracking a location of the position within the enclosure. In another example, known local coordinates of the position within the enclosure may be transformed into global coordinates for the position, which may be used for tracking a location of the position within the enclosure. In another example, a blueprint image of the enclosure may be used to track a location of the position within the enclosure. In this way, location tracking may be provided for objects within indoor spaces (e.g., a mapping application may track a current position of a mobile device within a building).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mattias Beermann, John Ian Ferrell, Edward Un, Kai Wang, Jun Zhao
  • Patent number: 8194567
    Abstract: A mesh network is initiated by using multiple frequency bands for establishing communication between mesh nodes. In one aspect, a higher or lower frequency communication link may be established depending on the range between two mesh nodes. As the mesh network increases and decreases in density, and range and communication aspects change, a communication link may be change between the higher and lower frequency bands as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Baird Erwin, Stephen Thomas Kelly, John Ian Ferrell
  • Patent number: 8135859
    Abstract: Infrastructure services such as addressing, directory services, performance monitoring, and diagnostic capabilities are shared among nodes of an ad-hoc mesh network without a designated network manager. A first mesh node creates parameters corresponding to the services to be provided. As each new mesh node joins the network, parameters are update, synchronized among the mesh nodes, and stored in a virtual database shared by the mesh nodes. For some of the services such as performance monitoring, a designated representative may be elected by a group of mesh nodes once a predetermined number of connected mesh nodes is exceeded. The representative nodes may share performance monitoring information among themselves and act as redundant back-up servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Thomas Kelly, John Ian Ferrell, Jeff Baird Erwin
  • Patent number: 7082298
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for using a mobile device to compose an electronic message by adding audio content to the message. Mobile devices include any type of portable or hand-held computing device, such as wireless telephones, personal digital assistants, and the like. After selecting the option to add audio content, the user speaks into the mobile device's audio input. The mobile device diverts the resulting audio stream into a temporary storage as the user speaks. To provide visual feedback, a progress indicator shows the user the amount of audio content stored compared to the amount that may be stored. An indicator shows that a message includes audio content as well as the size of the included audio content. No particular format or type is required for the audio content or electronic message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Neil R. N. Enns, John Ian Ferrell