Patents by Inventor Leonard C. Nieman
Leonard C. Nieman 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: 20190191266Abstract: The present application generally relates to an apparatus for communicating between a user device and a vehicle infotainment system. In particular, the system includes a near field antenna fabricated from a wire wrapped ferrite core located along an edge of a video display unit under trim piece surrounding the video display.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: William H. Wang, Eray Yasan, Timothy J. Talty, Daniel G. Hool, Leonard C. Nieman, Duane S. Carper, James H. Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song
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Publication number: 20190191267Abstract: The present application generally relates to an apparatus for communicating between a user device and a vehicle infotainment system. In particular, the system includes a near field antenna with near transparent conductors applied to a video display image such that the near field antenna is constructed from nearly transparent or color matched conductors and wherein the antenna is applied to the video display surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: William H Wang, Eray Yasan, Timothy J Talty, Daniel G Hool, Leonard C Nieman, Duane S Carper, James H Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song
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Publication number: 20190123952Abstract: In one aspect, the technology includes a portable system, for providing add-on resources to a host device, such as a vehicle host device. The portable system includes a portable-system resource, which in various embodiments is at least partially a part of a portable-system data storage. The data storage includes at least one companion application that, when executed, provides, based on operation of the portable-system resource, host-device output for use at the host device, wherein the host-device output is output that the host device could not produce on its own or is supplemental to output that the host device can produce on its own. Example portable-system resources include a central-processing unit, a graphics processor, an application shop, an app-refresh program, security or hardware accelerators, and a speech recognition or three-dimensional rendering program. The technology in various embodiments also includes the host device described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Robert A. Hrabak, Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Dan Shan, Leonard C. Nieman, Karen Juzswik
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Publication number: 20180260853Abstract: Disclosed are algorithms for provisioning content browsing and personalized advertising using hybrid collaborative filters, electronic audiovisual systems implementing such browsing and advertising algorithms, and motor vehicles with onboard audiovisual infotainment systems for provisioning content browsing. A method is disclosed for provisioning content browsing to an occupant of a motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, GENERAL MOTORS LLCInventors: Cagdas Karatas, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman
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Patent number: 9830396Abstract: A crowd sensing system includes a central entity and remote entities. The remote entities receive queries from the central entity and transmit data to the central entity in response to the query. The sample data obtained from the queried remote entity is analyzed and an average value for the sample data is determined for a current time interval. The central entity determines whether a difference between the average values for the current time interval and a previous time interval is greater than a predetermined threshold. The central entity increases the number of entities in response to the difference being greater than the predetermined threshold, and decreases the respective number of remote entities sampled in response to the difference being less than the predetermined threshold. The central entity queries a number of remote entities in the plurality of regions equal to the adjusted number of samples identified by the central entity.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman
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Patent number: 9612127Abstract: A method of determining ride share compatibility. Vehicle data acquisition devices are employed to collect user attribute information relating to a travel route and locations traveled by the operator. The attribute information includes regularity data, frequency data, and duration data. A regression analysis is applied by a processor for using the regularity data, the frequency data, and the duration data, for identifying an importance probability of each of the locations visited by the operator. A match is determined between the operator and a potential travel partner traveling to locations in proximity to the locations traveled by the operator.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman
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Publication number: 20170026684Abstract: Distributed, duplexing, arrangements include a portable system and a host device. The portable system and the host device are configured in various embodiments to receive user input and, in response, affect a feature of itself or send a message to the other to alter a feature of the other. The portable system divides a source video file or a virtualized source video into a plurality of image components, and sends them to the host device for publishing of the image components sequentially for real-time display rendering of streaming video by way of the host device and a display component. The portable system can generate a meta-index package, wherein each constituent index component corresponds to a respective image component, and can send the image components as part of a circular data-content package.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Dan Shan, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman, Donald K. Grimm, Karen Juzswik
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Publication number: 20170026694Abstract: An apparatus for use in rendering media in real-time by way of a distributed arrangement comprising a portable system and a host device. The apparatus includes a processing hardware unit and a non-transitory storage device comprising code causing the processing hardware unit to select a multi-tier frame-buffering technique, of a plurality of optional multi-tier frame-buffering techniques, to use for processing media data at the portable system and transferring the media data, as processed, from the portable system to the host device. The code also causes the processing hardware unit to initiate transferring, according to the selected frame-buffering technique, the processed media data by the portable system to the host device for processing at the host device for rendering the media. The apparatus in various embodiments includes the portable system and/or the host device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Fan Bai, Dan Shan, Leonard C. Nieman, Donald K. Grimm, Karen Juzswik
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Patent number: 9554249Abstract: A system comprising a processor and comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to perform operations comprising determining that user-system location data is needed by an application running at a user device. Operations of the system further include determining a first user-system location and determining a privacy parameter based on a location-accuracy requirement associated with the application. The operations further include generating, based on the privacy parameter and the first user-system location, privacy-adjusted location data indicating a second user-system location being less accurate than the first user-system location by an amount corresponding to a value of the privacy parameter. The operations also include providing the privacy-adjusted location data to a destination for use in providing a location-dependent service by way of the application at the user device.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
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Publication number: 20160328197Abstract: A method for rendering vehicle information includes receiving from an application of a user device a request for information. The request identifies the application requesting vehicle information. A filter is applied to determine whether the requested information is allowable information. The allowable information includes information that the vehicle is authorized to output to the user device. A format-type of information is determined to be output to the user device. A quality level of information is determined to provide to the user device. The quality level of information determined as a function of variable parameters in response to the requested information being allowable information. The vehicle information is processed as a function of the quality level of information and the format-type of information. The processed vehicle information is output to the user device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2015Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN, ROBERT A. HRABAK, CEM U. SARAYDAR
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Publication number: 20160316332Abstract: A system comprising a processor and comprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to perform operations comprising determining that user-system location data is needed by an application running at a user device. Operations of the system further include determining a first user-system location and determining a privacy parameter based on a location-accuracy requirement associated with the application. The operations further include generating, based on the privacy parameter and the first user-system location, privacy-adjusted location data indicating a second user-system location being less accurate than the first user-system location by an amount corresponding to a value of the privacy parameter. The operations also include providing the privacy-adjusted location data to a destination for use in providing a location-dependent service by way of the application at the user device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN, ROBERT A. HRABAK
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Patent number: 9477989Abstract: A system and method for sharing information from a vehicle for comparison to information from other vehicles. The system and method include collecting vehicle trace data and sharing the vehicle trace data using a communications network such that the vehicle trace data is compared and ranked relative to the vehicle trace data of other vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
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Patent number: 9430476Abstract: A method and system for recommending applications to users of in-vehicle infotainment systems are disclosed. Application rating data from many road vehicle infotainment system users are collected on a central server, including both explicit ratings and implicit ratings. Implicit ratings may be calculated based on application usage data. The user/application rating data is filtered for relevance, and then analyzed to determine inferred ratings for user/application relationships where no rating exists. The inferred ratings are calculated using both a user-driven consensus rating calculation and an application-driven consensus rating calculation. The inferred ratings, along with optional cyberspace-based external inputs, are used to synthesize application recommendations for users. The synthesized recommendations for application consideration are provided to the appropriate user via downloading from the central server to the infotainment system in the user's vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Massimo Osella, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
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Publication number: 20160124976Abstract: A crowd sensing system includes a central entity and remote entities. The remote entities receive queries from the central entity and transmit data to the central entity in response to the query. The sample data obtained from the queried remote entity is analyzed and an average value for the sample data is determined for a current time interval. The central entity determines whether a difference between the average values for the current time interval and a previous time interval is greater than a predetermined threshold. The central entity increases the number of entities in response to the difference being greater than the predetermined threshold, and decreases the respective number of remote entities sampled in response to the difference being less than the predetermined threshold. The central entity queries a number of remote entities in the plurality of regions equal to the adjusted number of samples identified by the central entity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Leonard C. Nieman
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Publication number: 20160025507Abstract: A method of determining ride share compatibility. Vehicle data acquisition devices are employed to collect user attribute information relating to a travel route and locations traveled by the operator. The attribute information includes regularity data, frequency data, and duration data. A regression analysis is applied by a processor for using the regularity data, the frequency data, and the duration data, for identifying an importance probability of each of the locations visited by the operator. A match is determined between the operator and a potential travel partner traveling to locations in proximity to the locations traveled by the operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN
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Publication number: 20160019651Abstract: A system and method for sharing information from a vehicle for comparison to information from other vehicles. The system and method include collecting vehicle trace data and sharing the vehicle trace data using a communications network such that the vehicle trace data is compared and ranked relative to the vehicle trace data of other vehicles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
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Publication number: 20150262198Abstract: A method and system for tracking and predicting usage trends for in-vehicle infotainment system applications are disclosed. Application usage data are collected in the infotainment systems of many road vehicles. Vehicle context relevance indicators are also provided, using data from the vehicle CAN bus or other data bus. The context relevance indicators—which indicate vehicle contextual situations such as traffic and weather conditions, presence of back seat passengers, length of driving trip, etc.—are cross-referenced to the application usage data to determine which applications are likely to be used in which situations. Application usage data and application/context correlation data from many vehicles are collected on a central server and analyzed to provide various metrics which are indicative of application usage trends. The application usage trend data can be used by vehicle manufacturers to optimize future infotainment system designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, MASSIMO OSELLA, ROBERT A. HRABAK, LEONARD C. NIEMAN
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Publication number: 20150261754Abstract: A method and system for recommending applications to users of in-vehicle infotainment systems are disclosed. Application rating data from many road vehicle infotainment system users are collected on a central server, including both explicit ratings and implicit ratings. Implicit ratings may be calculated based on application usage data. The user/application rating data is filtered for relevance, and then analyzed to determine inferred ratings for user/application relationships where no rating exists. The inferred ratings are calculated using both a user-driven consensus rating calculation and an application-driven consensus rating calculation. The inferred ratings, along with optional cyberspace-based external inputs, are used to synthesize application recommendations for users. The synthesized recommendations for application consideration are provided to the appropriate user via downloading from the central server to the infotainment system in the user's vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Massimo Osella, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
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Publication number: 20140303806Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, for providing a relevant information set, based on vehicle crowd data, to vehicles. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of participating vehicles, vehicle crowd data relating to a condition sensed by the participating vehicles in a geographic area, yielding received vehicle crowd data. In one embodiment, the condition includes at least one pre-identified condition selected from a group consisting of cruise-control engagement, road hazard, icy road, other slick-road condition, and vehicle-security violation. The method also includes filtering the received vehicle crowd data, yielding relevant vehicle crowd data, and constructing, by the device, using the relevant vehicle crowd data, the relevant information set. The method further includes sending the relevant information set for delivery to one or more user vehicles associated with the geographic area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: FAN BAI, DONALD K. GRIMM, LEONARD C. NIEMAN, ROBERT A. HRABAK
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Patent number: 8526930Abstract: A system and method for configuring communications between a wireless device and a vehicle telematics unit over a short-range wireless communication link includes receiving a serial port profile (SPP) software application at a wireless device from a central facility; storing the SPP software application at the wireless device; identifying third-party software applications stored on the wireless device using the SPP software application; sending the identity of the third-party software applications to the central facility; and communicating between the wireless device and a vehicle telematics unit via a short-range wireless communication link using the stored SPP software application and data transmitted using one or more software templates that have been received by the vehicle telematics unit in response to the identity of the third-party software applications sent.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gary A. Watkins, Richard C. Vanitvelt, Leonard C. Nieman