Patents by Inventor Keith W. Barnes

Keith W. 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).

  • Patent number: 9204405
    Abstract: Synchronization methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed. An example method includes storing, in memory of a device, schedule information indicating times at which the device is to listen for a sequential series of data frames, the schedule information further indicating a reference time at which transmission of the sequential series of data frames to the device is to be initiated; initiating a listening session at a first time of the schedule information according to a native clock of the device; identifying which of the data frames of the sequential series is received first during the listening session; and adjusting the native clock of the device based on the identified data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ITRON, INC.
    Inventors: Holger Hildebrandt, Keith W. Barnes, Bret Holmdahl, Jim Ogle
  • Publication number: 20150163756
    Abstract: Synchronization methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed. An example method includes storing, in memory of a device, schedule information indicating times at which the device is to listen for a sequential series of data frames, the schedule information further indicating a reference time at which transmission of the sequential series of data frames to the device is to be initiated; initiating a listening session at a first time of the schedule information according to a native clock of the device; identifying which of the data frames of the sequential series is received first during the listening session; and adjusting the native clock of the device based on the identified data frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger Hildebrandt, Keith W. Barnes, Bret Holmdahl, Jim Ogle
  • Patent number: 7633893
    Abstract: A fixed wireless access system generally comprises a consumer premise equipment (CPE) unit, that is connected via an Ethernet interface to a personal computer or local area network, and a base station unit that is connected via an Ethernet interface to a network. As such, the CPE unit is preferably easily user-installed while the base station unit is preferably tower-mounted within a 1-5 mile range of the CPE unit. Both the CPE unit and base station unit preferably incorporate an integrated data transceiver/switch that enables a radio frequency air link operating in the 2.5-2.686 GHz range. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is used in the uplink and downlink transmissions between CPE units and base station units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: NextNet Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mervin L. Grindahl, Vladimir Z. Kelman, J. Eric Dunn, Stuart A. Froelich, Keith W. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7626920
    Abstract: A fixed wireless access system generally comprises a consumer premise equipment (CPE) unit, that is connected via an Ethernet interface to a personal computer or local area network, and a base station unit that is connected via an Ethernet interface to a network. As such, the CPE unit is preferably easily user-installed while the base station unit is preferably tower-mounted within a 1-5 mile range of the CPE unit. Both the CPE unit and base station unit preferably incorporate an integrated data transceiver/switch that enables a radio frequency air link operating in the 2.5-2.686 GHz range. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is used in the uplink and downlink transmissions between CPE units and base station units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: NextNet Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Mervin L. Grindahl, Vladimir Z. Kelman, J. Eric Dunn, Stuart A. Froelich, Keith W. Barnes
  • Patent number: 6804529
    Abstract: A system for channel assignment in a trunked transmission communication system including a plurality of subscribers. A plurality of subscribers is provided home channel assignment to reduce collisions. A home channel alias is provided for home channel coverage where a designated home channel is unavailable. A system for call grouping is provided to avoid talk group splitting. A first check is used to determine if other channels are conducting communications with identical home and talk group information. A second check is available after a temporary channel assignment. In one system both the home channel aliasing and call grouping are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Transcrypt Internationall E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Rory A. Smith, Mervin L. Grindahl
  • Patent number: 6684080
    Abstract: A system for channel assignment in a trunked transmission communication system including a plurality of subscribers. A plurality of subscribers is provided home channel assignment to reduce collisions. A home channel alias is provided for home channel coverage where a designated home channel is unavailable. A system for call grouping is provided to avoid talk group splitting. A first check is used to determine if other channels are conducting communications with identical home and talk group information. A second check is available after a temporary channel assignment. In one system both the home channel aliasing and call grouping are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Transcrypt International/E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Rory A. Smith, Mervin L. Grindahl
  • Patent number: 6529486
    Abstract: A trunked radio repeater communication system capable of use in a networked system includes a plurality of distributive switches and a unique signaling protocol and a switching protocol for interconnecting the trunked transmission communications systems into a wide area network that provides an expanded feature set of radio communications capabilities. The trunked radio repeater system including a protocol supporting communications for repeaters and/or subscribers conducting communications using existing protocols, such as the Logic Trunked Radio (LTR) protocol and supporting additional special functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Transcrypt International/E.F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Rory A. Smith, Mervin L. Grindahl
  • Patent number: 6374115
    Abstract: A trunked radio repeater communication system capable of use in a networked system includes a plurality of distributive switches and a unique signaling protocol and a switching protocol for interconnecting the trunked transmission communications systems into a wide area network that provides an expanded feature set of radio communications capabilities. The trunked radio repeater system including a protocol supporting communications for repeaters and/or subscribers conducting communications using existing protocols, such as the Logic Trunked Radio (LTR) protocol and supporting additional special functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Transcrypt International/E.F. Johnson
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Rory A. Smith, Mervin L. Grindahl
  • Patent number: 5815799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing priority access for users in a transmission trunked communication system, including a plurality of distributive radio network terminal (RNT) switches and a unique signaling protocol and a switching protocol especially adapted for communication of control signals in the subaudio band for interconnecting the trunked transmission communications systems into a wide area network that provides an expanded feature set of radio communications capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: E.F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman, Howard N. Brace, Philip A. Keefer, Michael E. Mihelich
  • Patent number: 5724515
    Abstract: A packet radio communications system having a protocol which provides for nonstandard communications. The protocol providing a standard format indicator to indicate whether a received packet is in a standard or nonstandard format. If the standard format indicator signals a standard packet format, then all transceivers understand the standard information contained in the packet. Transceivers which do not understand the nonstandard format will ignore the nonstandard packet and discard it. The nonstandard format contains a format type code which is decoded along with the standard format indicator to distinguish one manufacturer's nonstandard packet format from another manufacturer's nonstandard packet format. The nonstandard protocol is expanded to manage multiple block packetized transmissions. A Message Continuance (MC) field is incorporated into the header information of the packet to signal the beginning, middle, and end of a multi-block transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman
  • Patent number: 5613196
    Abstract: A land mobile transmission trunked communication system is provided with a unique switching protocol arrangement among repeaters that are networked to one or more external communication networks. The land mobile transmission trunked communication system includes a plurality of transceivers for transmitting and receiving transmission trunked radio communications over one or more radio channels. The transceivers communicate with a selected one of a plurality of repeaters to establish transmission trunked radio communications on a preassigned radio channel. The unique switching protocol arangement includes a switch that is operably connected to each repeater and selectively communicates information signals between a repeater and an external communication network. A bus system is operably connected to each repeater and to the switch for communicating control signals among all of the repeaters and the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman, Howard N. Brace, Philip A. Keefer, Michael E. Mihelich
  • Patent number: 5548802
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributively interconnecting a plurality of land mobile trunked transmission communication systems into a wide area network includes a plurality of distributive radio network terminal (RNT) switch and a unique signaling protocol and a switching protocol especially adapted for communication of control signals in the subaudio band for interconnecting the trunked transmission communications systems into a wide area network that provides an expanded feature set of radio communications capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman, Howard N. Brace, Philip A. Keefer, Michael E. Mihelich
  • Patent number: 5465386
    Abstract: A land mobile transmission trunked communication system is provided with an enhanced control signal protocol. The land mobile transmission trunked communication system includes a plurality of transceivers for transmitting and receiving transmission trunked radio communications over one or more radio channels. The transmission trunked radio communications comprises an information signal having either voice information, data information, or both, and a control signal. The transceivers communicate with a selected one of a plurality of repeaters to establish transmission trunked radio communications on one of the preassigned set of the radio channels between the repeater and one or more transceivers. The enhanced signaling protocol and switching protocol are especially adapted for communicating control signals in the subaudio band to interconnect a plurality of transmission trunked communication systems into a wide area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: E.F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman, Howard N. Brace, Philip A. Keefer, Michael E. Mihelich
  • Patent number: 5159701
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributively interconnecting a plurality of land mobile trunked transmission communication systems into a wide area network includes a plurality of distributive radio network terminal (RNT) switch means and a unique signaling protocol and a switching protocol especially adapted for communication of control signals in the subaudio band for interconnecting the trunked transmission communications systems into a wide area network that provides an expanded feature set of radio communications capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman, Howard N. Brace, Philip A. Keefer, Michael E. Mihelich
  • Patent number: 5040237
    Abstract: An alternate home channel for a land mobile transmission trunked communication system designates one of a plurality of repeaters for a given site or coverage zone as an alternate home repeater. The control signals transmitted over the subaudio band for all home channels repeaters in that site are also duplicatively transmitted over the subaudio band of the alternate home repeater. Each mobile transceiver will be programmed with two channel numbers. One for the home repeater and the other for the site alternate home repeater. When the power is turned on, the mobile transceiver determines which repeater to monitor by scanning both the home and alternate home channels. When a valid control message is detected on either channel, that channel becomes the monitor channel. Operation of the mobile transceiver is then generally similar to prior operation, with the exception that the monitor channel (either home or alternate home channel) is used instead of just the home channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: E. F. Johnson Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Barnes, Donald R. Bauman, Philip A. Keefer