Patents by Inventor Keith Barnes
Keith Barnes 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).
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Publication number: 20210068039Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network discovery and other phases of network operation. Example techniques include efficiently listening for other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device by, for example, shortening its listening window depending on how close the time reference maintained by the battery powered device is estimated to be to the time reference used by the other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range. Other techniques include slowing the rate of listening by the battery powered device when the battery powered device is unlikely to be able to receive discovery messages or is already connected to the network. Other techniques include using knowledge of the network to listen for discovery messages on a channel or channels on which other devices are likely to be transmitting.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Fabrice Monier, Thomas Uhling, Imad Jamil, Keith Barnes
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Publication number: 20210021434Abstract: A battery-powered device (BPD) node compresses certificate chains to generate compressed certificate chains. The BPD node includes a compression dictionary that indexes various data entries that occur across many certificate chains and/or repeat within a particular certificate chain. The BPD node compresses a given certificate chain by replacing data entries within the given certificate chain with indices to corresponding data entries in the compression dictionary. The indices are smaller in size than the corresponding data entries. A neighboring BPD node also includes the compression dictionary and decompresses a compressed certificate chain by replacing indices included in the compressed certificate chain with the indexed data entries stored in the compression dictionary.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Keith Barnes, Garten HAESKA, Howard BRACE, Kalvinder SINGH
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Patent number: 10716057Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network discovery and other phases of network operation. Example techniques include efficiently listening for other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device by, for example, shortening its listening window depending on how close the time reference maintained by the battery powered device is estimated to be to the time reference used by the other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range. Other techniques include slowing the rate of listening by the battery powered device when the battery powered device is unlikely to be able to receive discovery messages or is already connected to the network. Other techniques include using knowledge of the network to listen for discovery messages on a channel or channels on which other devices are likely to be transmitting.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Fabrice Monier, Thomas Uhling, Imad Jamil, Keith Barnes
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Publication number: 20200177350Abstract: Techniques for acknowledging communications from multiple devices are described herein. For example, a device may broadcast a group acknowledgement message indicating that communications from multiple devices have been received by the device. Each acknowledgement in the group acknowledgement message may include a device identifier for a device that sent a communication (e.g., a Medium Access Control (MAC) address of the device, a hash of the MAC address of the device, etc.) and a communication identifier for the communication (e.g., a sequence number of the communication, a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code for the communication, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Thomas Uhling, Keith Barnes
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Patent number: 10554369Abstract: Techniques for acknowledging communications from multiple devices are described herein. For example, a device may broadcast a group acknowledgement message indicating that communications from multiple devices have been received by the device. Each acknowledgement in the group acknowledgement message may include a device identifier for a device that sent a communication (e.g., a Medium Access Control (MAC) address of the device, a hash of the MAC address of the device, etc.) and a communication identifier for the communication (e.g., a sequence number of the communication, a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code for the communication, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Uhling, Keith Barnes
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Publication number: 20190342640Abstract: Techniques for discovering a device in a wireless network are described herein. For example, a first device may send a network discovery solicitation message to a second device to solicit a communication relationship (e.g., request connection to a parent). The network discovery solicitation may include one or more information elements that indicate a channel function associated with the first device and a listening window during which the first device will be listening for communications. The second device may use the channel function to frequency hop and send a network discovery message to the first device during the listening window. The network discovery message may include one or more information elements to establish a sampled schedule for the first device moving forward.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Jerome Bartier, Keith Barnes, James Laurence Taylor, Thomas Uhling, Fabrice Monier
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Patent number: 10362374Abstract: Techniques for discovering a device in a wireless network are described herein. For example, a first device may send a network discovery solicitation message to a second device to solicit a communication relationship (e.g., request connection to a parent). The network discovery solicitation may include one or more information elements that indicate a channel function associated with the first device and a listening window during which the first device will be listening for communications. The second device may use the channel function to frequency hop and send a network discovery message to the first device during the listening window. The network discovery message may include one or more information elements to establish a sampled schedule for the first device moving forward.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Jerome Bartier, James Laurence Taylor, Keith Barnes, Thomas Uhling, Fabrice Monier
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Patent number: 10244532Abstract: Techniques for communicating channel data regarding a channel plan are described herein. For example, a device may communicate a channel information element that includes a tag indicating a first operating context to which to apply channel data regarding a channel plan. The channel information element may also include a reference tag to indicate whether the channel data is contained in the channel information element or has been previously received and/or to identify a second operating context associated with previously received channel data. If the reference tag indicates that the channel data is contained in the channel information element, the channel data may be extracted from the channel information element and applied to the first operating context. If the reference tag indicates that the channel data has been previously received, the previously received channel data may be accessed and applied to the first operating context.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Jerome Bartier, Keith Barnes, Thomas Uhling
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Patent number: 10063943Abstract: Techniques for communicating schedule data regarding a schedule are described herein. For example, a device may communicate a schedule information element that includes a tag indicating a first operating context to which to apply schedule data regarding a schedule. The schedule information element may also include a reference tag to indicate whether the schedule data is contained in the schedule information element or has been previously received and/or to identify a second operating context associated with previously received schedule data. If the reference tag indicates that the schedule data is contained in the schedule information element, the schedule data may be extracted from the schedule information element and applied to the first operating context. If the reference tag indicates that the schedule data has been previously received, the previously received schedule data may be accessed and applied to the first operating context.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Jerome Bartier, Keith Barnes, Thomas Uhling
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Publication number: 20180191478Abstract: Techniques for acknowledging communications from multiple devices are described herein. For example, a device may broadcast a group acknowledgement message indicating that communications from multiple devices have been received by the device. Each acknowledgement in the group acknowledgement message may include a device identifier for a device that sent a communication (e.g., a Medium Access Control (MAC) address of the device, a hash of the MAC address of the device, etc.) and a communication identifier for the communication (e.g., a sequence number of the communication, a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) code for the communication, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Applicant: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Uhling, Keith Barnes
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Publication number: 20180124479Abstract: Techniques for communicating schedule data regarding a schedule are described herein. For example, a device may communicate a schedule information element that includes a tag indicating a first operating context to which to apply schedule data regarding a schedule. The schedule information element may also include a reference tag to indicate whether the schedule data is contained in the schedule information element or has been previously received and/or to identify a second operating context associated with previously received schedule data. If the reference tag indicates that the schedule data is contained in the schedule information element, the schedule data may be extracted from the schedule information element and applied to the first operating context. If the reference tag indicates that the schedule data has been previously received, the previously received schedule data may be accessed and applied to the first operating context.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Jerome Bartier, Keith Barnes, Thomas Uhling
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Publication number: 20180124785Abstract: Techniques for communicating channel data regarding a channel plan are described herein. For example, a device may communicate a channel information element that includes a tag indicating a first operating context to which to apply channel data regarding a channel plan. The channel information element may also include a reference tag to indicate whether the channel data is contained in the channel information element or has been previously received and/or to identify a second operating context associated with previously received channel data. If the reference tag indicates that the channel data is contained in the channel information element, the channel data may be extracted from the channel information element and applied to the first operating context. If the reference tag indicates that the channel data has been previously received, the previously received channel data may be accessed and applied to the first operating context.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: James Laurence Taylor, Jerome Bartier, Keith Barnes, Thomas Uhling
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Publication number: 20180124589Abstract: Techniques for discovering a device in a wireless network are described herein. For example, a first device may send a network discovery solicitation message to a second device to solicit a communication relationship (e.g., request connection to a parent). The network discovery solicitation may include one or more information elements that indicate a channel function associated with the first device and a listening window during which the first device will be listening for communications. The second device may use the channel function to frequency hop and send a network discovery message to the first device during the listening window. The network discovery message may include one or more information elements to establish a sampled schedule for the first device moving forward.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Jerome Bartier, James Laurence Taylor, Keith Barnes, Thomas Uhling, Fabrice Monier
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Patent number: 9456258Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Itron, Inc.Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Publication number: 20160021433Abstract: Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network communications and performance of other functions. Example techniques include efficiently discovering other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device. In another example, techniques enable a battery powered device to serve as a relay for one or more other battery powered devices. In another example, techniques ensure that transmissions to and/or from battery powered devices are delivered efficiently and with low latency. In yet another example, techniques determine whether and under what conditions a battery powered device should migrate from one network to another. In the event of migration, example techniques minimize battery consumption associated with the migration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Mehdi Mani, Hartman Van Wyk, Kenneth Charles Rigdon, Elliott Adam Nelson, Keith Barnes, Iskander Banaouas, Yacine Khaled, Viet-Hung H. Nguyen, Bastien Mainaud
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Patent number: 9049075Abstract: A phase detector includes data detection logic for detecting data in a communication signal, amplitude detection logic for processing modulation chosen from any of a PAM2 and a PAM4 communication modality, in-phase edge detection logic for detecting in-phase edge information in the communication signal, quadrature edge detection logic for detecting quadrature edge information in the communication signal, and mixing logic for determining an amount of in-phase edge information and quadrature edge information to be applied based on at least one channel parameter in the communication channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Christopher M. Juenemann, Robert Keith Barnes, Jade Michael Kizer
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Publication number: 20150055694Abstract: A phase detector includes data detection logic for detecting data in a communication signal, amplitude detection logic for processing modulation chosen from any of a PAM2 and a PAM4 communication modality, in-phase edge detection logic for detecting in-phase edge information in the communication signal, quadrature edge detection logic for detecting quadrature edge information in the communication signal, and mixing logic for determining an amount of in-phase edge information and quadrature edge information to be applied based on at least one channel parameter in the communication channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: Avago Technologies General IP ( Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Christopher M. Juenemann, Robert Keith Barnes, Jade Michael Kizer
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Patent number: 8432191Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) includes PLL loop circuitry, a frequency divider, and a phase-frequency detector (PFD) that can produce both high-gain output signals to operate the PLL in a high-gain mode and normal output signals to operate the PLL in a normal (not high-gain) mode. A mode signal can be used to switch the PFD between high-gain mode and normal operational mode. When the mode signal indicates high-gain mode, the PFD output signals are extended by one or more additional clock cycles beyond their length when the mode signal indicates normal operational mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Robert Keith Barnes
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Publication number: 20120187989Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) includes PLL loop circuitry, a frequency divider, and a phase-frequency detector (PFD) that can produce both high-gain output signals to operate the PLL in a high-gain mode and normal output signals to operate the PLL in a normal (not high-gain) mode. A mode signal can be used to switch the PFD between high-gain mode and normal operational mode. When the mode signal indicates high-gain mode, the PFD output signals are extended by one or more additional clock cycles beyond their length when the mode signal indicates normal operational mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: Avago Technologies Enterprise IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Robert Keith Barnes
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Patent number: 7702031Abstract: A wireless communication system is configured for adaptive modulation of a transmitted symbol. The specific modulation and/or coding is uniquely identified and data related thereto is embedded within the transmitted symbol. A receiver extracts pilot signals form the transmitted symbol and performs a correlation analysis to identify the particular modulation/coding used for that particular transmitted symbol. This permits adaptive modulation on a symbol-by-symbol basis. A base station communicating with a plurality of peripheral subscribers may utilize different modulation/coding for each subscriber depending on channel conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: NextNet Wireless, Inc.Inventors: J. Eric Dunn, Mervin L. Grindahl, Keith Barnes