Patents by Inventor Mark N. Willetts

Mark N. Willetts 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: 10039117
    Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, analyzing a signal to identify a present interference and extracting the interference from the signal. The extracting can include comparing a presence time for the interference with a reference time; if the presence time exceeds the reference time and at least one of a plurality of filters is available for filtering the present interference, an available filter of the plurality of filters is activated, thereby causing filtering of the interference from the signal. If no filter is available due to activation of the filters for filtering a plurality of previously identified interferences, a priority order is determined for the present interference and the previously identified interferences, based on their interference signal levels. The filters are assigned to the interferences in accordance with the priority order. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9894662
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for detecting power levels of signals of a group of signals that lie within a wideband channel, wherein the detecting of the power levels is according to an analysis order for the group of channels, determining an adaptive threshold based on power levels of at least some of the signals, and detecting interference associated with a channel of the group of channels based on the adaptive threshold. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ISCO INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9788331
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold, tracking narrow band interferers according to the adaptive threshold and the average composite wideband power level, and transmitting a report descriptive of the narrow band interferers. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Publication number: 20170280464
    Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, analyzing a signal to identify a present interference and extracting the interference from the signal. The extracting can include comparing a presence time for the interference with a reference time; if the presence time exceeds the reference time and at least one of a plurality of filters is available for filtering the present interference, an available filter of the plurality of filters is activated, thereby causing filtering of the interference from the signal. If no filter is available due to activation of the filters for filtering a plurality of previously identified interferences, a priority order is determined for the present interference and the previously identified interferences, based on their interference signal levels. The filters are assigned to the interferences in accordance with the priority order. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9706559
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and generating an interference report based on the detecting of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Publication number: 20160353455
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and generating an interference report based on the detecting of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9451495
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and generating an interference report based on the detecting of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Publication number: 20160100327
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and generating an interference report based on the detecting of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9247553
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for determining, by a base station comprising a processor, a mitigation strategy based on detection of a narrow band interferer according to an adaptive threshold. The narrow band interferer is detected in a wide frequency band of a received signal, and the adaptive threshold is determined by sampling at least some narrow band signal power levels in the wide frequency band. Information descriptive of the narrow band interferer is obtained, and interference caused by the narrow band interferer is reduced based on the information and according to the mitigation strategy. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9232423
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and configuring a filter to suppress at least a portion of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Publication number: 20150382225
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold, tracking narrow band interferers according to the adaptive threshold and the average composite wideband power level, and transmitting a report descriptive of the narrow band interferers. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9215723
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for scanning wireless signals in a wide frequency band, identifying from the wireless signals power levels in frequency channels that lie within the wide frequency band, determining an adaptive threshold according to at least some of the power levels in the frequency channels, identifying a frequency channel interferer based on the adaptive threshold, obtaining identification information for a source of the frequency channel interferer, and developing a strategy for responding to interference in the wide frequency band caused by the detected frequency channel interferer. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9215719
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for determining a wideband power level by scanning a wide frequency band, determining a threshold, detecting from signals scanned in the wide frequency band interference associated with a plurality of channels, wherein the interference is detected according to one of the threshold, the wideband power level, or both, and modifying a variable bandwidth of a filter to substantially suppress the detected interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9198055
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Publication number: 20150312785
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the power levels of the received signals, detecting interference according to an adaptive threshold based on the average composite wideband power level, and configuring a filter to suppress at least a portion of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9107224
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold, detecting narrow band interference according to one of the average composite wideband power level, the adaptive threshold, or both, prioritizing the detected narrow band interference, and selectively filtering a portion of the detected narrow band interference according to the prioritization. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9100850
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a process for measuring by a system having a processor, within a wide frequency band, signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level that excludes a portion of the signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring an adjustable bandwidth of a filter to suppress at least a portion of the interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9100867
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9100860
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for measuring power levels of signals provided by a receiver configured to scan radio frequency signals over a wide frequency band, calculating an average power level from at least a portion of the measured power levels, determining a threshold, detecting interference in the wide frequency band based on the threshold, the average power level, or both, and causing a null that substantially suppresses the interference received by the receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia
  • Patent number: 9100859
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold, tracking narrow band interferers according to the adaptive threshold and the average composite wideband power level, and transmitting a report descriptive of the narrow band interferers. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ISCO International, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Jagger, Mark N. Willetts, Micolino Tobia