Patents by Inventor Michael G. Shean

Michael G. Shean 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: 9918295
    Abstract: In one embodiment, characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area are determined at least in part from observing the signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device. A location is calculated for each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points based on the characteristics of the signals of the Wi-Fi access point, and stored in records of a reference database. A request from an application or service executing on a mobile device is received for a current location of the mobile device. Positioning software obtains characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location. The positioning software computes the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and provides the computed current location to the application or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20170127376
    Abstract: In one embodiment, characteristics of signals of a plurality of Wi-Fi access points within a target area are determined at least in part from observing the signals during a traversal of a programmatic route through the target area by a scanning device. A location is calculated for each of the plurality of Wi-Fi access points based on the characteristics of the signals of the Wi-Fi access point, and stored in records of a reference database. A request from an application or service executing on a mobile device is received for a current location of the mobile device. Positioning software obtains characteristics of signals of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location. The positioning software computes the current location of the mobile device using at least the characteristics of signals observed by the mobile device and the location of Wi-Fi access points stored in the reference database, and provides the computed current location to the application or service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Patent number: 9554247
    Abstract: In one embodiment, scanning data is received for wireless access points whose wireless signals were observed by the one or more scanning devices in a target area. For each group of scanning data that shares a common identifier of a Wi-Fi access point, a centroid of the scanning data is determined, a set of scanning data of the group that exceeds a threshold distance from the centroid is designated as having potential error, and a location of the Wi-Fi access point is calculated. The calculated location of the Wi-Fi access point for each group of scanning data is stored in a reference database. Upon receiving a request for a location of a mobile device, an identity of one or more Wi-Fi access points in range of the mobile device is determined, and the location of the mobile device is computed using calculated locations from the reference database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20160295360
    Abstract: In one embodiment, scanning data is received for wireless access points whose wireless signals were observed by the one or more scanning devices in a target area. For each group of scanning data that shares a common identifier of a Wi-Fi access point, a centroid of the scanning data is determined, a set of scanning data of the group that exceeds a threshold distance from the centroid is designated as having potential error, and a location of the Wi-Fi access point is calculated. The calculated location of the Wi-Fi access point for each group of scanning data is stored in a reference database. Upon receiving a request for a location of a mobile device, an identity of one or more Wi-Fi access points in range of the mobile device is determined, and the location of the mobile device is computed using calculated locations from the reference database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Patent number: 9369884
    Abstract: In one embodiment, characteristics of signals received from Wi-Fi access points during a traversal of a number of drivable streets within a geographic area having a radius of one or more miles are determined, the characteristics of a given signal including a unique identifier of a Wi-Fi access point that transmitted the signal, a location where the signal was observed, and an observed signal strength at the location where the signal was observed. Using the characteristics, a reference database is built including records descriptive of Wi-Fi access points in the geographic area. To determine a current location of a mobile device, an observed signal strength of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location is determined and a current location of the mobile device is computed using at least the observed signal strength of the one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device in comparison to information in the reference database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Patent number: 9037162
    Abstract: Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves. A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. Observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location are identified. The recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points is used to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device. The reference database is informed of the WiFi access points (for which there was no information in the database) and is provided the calculated position in conjunction therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Patent number: 8965412
    Abstract: In one embodiment, in response to a user application request to determine a location of a user-device having a Wi-Fi radio, the Wi-Fi radio is triggered to transmit a request to Wi-Fi access points within range. Messages are received from the Wi-Fi access points, each message identifying the Wi-Fi access point sending the message. Signal strength of the messages received from the Wi-Fi access points is calculated. A reference database of stored locations for Wi-Fi access points in a target area is accessed to obtain the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points. Based on the number of the identified Wi-Fi access points identified via received messages, a corresponding location-determination algorithm is chosen from a plurality of location-determination algorithms. The location of the user-device is determined using the stored locations for the identified Wi-Fi access points, the signal strengths of the received messages and the chosen location-determination algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20140342752
    Abstract: In one embodiment, characteristics of signals received from Wi-Fi access points during a traversal of a number of drivable streets within a geographic area having a radius of one or more miles are determined, the characteristics of a given signal including a unique identifier of a Wi-Fi access point that transmitted the signal, a location where the signal was observed, and an observed signal strength at the location where the signal was observed. Using the characteristics, a reference database is built including records descriptive of Wi-Fi access points in the geographic area. To determine a current location of a mobile device, an observed signal strength of one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device from the current location is determined and a current location of the mobile device is computed using at least the observed signal strength of the one or more Wi-Fi access points observed by the mobile device in comparison to information in the reference database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Patent number: 8837363
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to reduce arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, Wi-Fi identity information and GPS location information is detected. The location information is used to reverse triangulate the position of the detected Wi-Fi access point; and the position of the detected access point is recorded in a reference database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Patent number: 8630664
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to avoid arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, periodically receive the GPS coordinates of the GPS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20120309420
    Abstract: Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point has moved relative to its previously recorded location. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves; A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. The recorded location information is used for each of the observed WiFi access points in conjunction with predefined rules to infer whether an observed WiFi access point has moved relative to its recorded location. The reference database is informed of the identity of any observed WiFi access point that is inferred to have moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Patent number: 8244272
    Abstract: Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point has moved relative to its previously recorded location. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves; A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. The recorded location information is used for each of the observed WiFi access points in conjunction with predefined rules to infer whether an observed WiFi access point has moved relative to its recorded location. The reference database is informed of the identity of any observed WiFi access point that is inferred to have moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Publication number: 20120178477
    Abstract: Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves. A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. Observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location are identified. The recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points is used to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device. The reference database is informed of the WiFi access points (for which there was no information in the database) and is provided the calculated position in conjunction therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. MORGAN, Michael G. Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Publication number: 20110317579
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to reduce arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, Wi-Fi identity information and GPS location information is detected. The location information is used to reverse triangulate the position of the detected Wi-Fi access point; and the position of the detected access point is recorded in a reference database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel K. Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20110093443
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to avoid arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, periodically receive the GPS coordinates of the GPS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20110035420
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to avoid arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, periodically receive the GPS coordinates of the GPS device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Farshid ALIZADEH-SHABDIZ, Russel K. JONES, Edward J. MORGAN, Michael G. SHEAN
  • Patent number: 7818017
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to avoid arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, periodically receive the GPS coordinates of the GPS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Patent number: 7769396
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to avoid arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, periodically receive the GPS coordinates of the GPS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones, Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean
  • Publication number: 20090149197
    Abstract: Methods and systems of continuously optimizing data in WiFi positioning systems. A location-based services system uses WiFi-enabled devices to monitor WiFi access points in a target area to indicate whether a WiFi access point is newly-observed. A WiFi-enabled device communicates with WiFi access points within range of the WiFi-enabled device so that observed WiFi access points identify themselves. A reference database is accessed to obtain information specifying a recorded location for each observed WiFi access point in the target area. Observed WiFi access points for which the reference database has no information specifying a corresponding recorded location are identified. The recorded location information for each of the observed WiFi access points is used to calculate the position of the WiFi-enabled device. The reference database is informed of the WiFi access points (for which there was no information in the database) and is provided the calculated position in conjunction therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Morgan, Michael G. Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Publication number: 20090075672
    Abstract: A location beacon database and server, method of building location beacon database, and location based service using same. Wi-Fi access points are located in a target geographical area to build a reference database of locations of Wi-Fi access points. At least one vehicle is deployed including at least one scanning device having a GPS device and a Wi-Fi radio device and including a Wi-Fi antenna system. The target area is traversed in a programmatic route to reduce arterial bias. The programmatic route includes substantially all drivable streets in the target geographical area and solves an Eulerian cycle problem of a graph represented by said drivable streets. While traversing the target area, Wi-Fi identity information and GPS location information is detected. The location information is used to reverse triangulate the position of the detected Wi-Fi access point; and the position of the detected access point is recorded in a reference database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SKYHOOK WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Russel K. JONES, Farshid ALIZADEH-SHABDIZ, Edward J. MORGAN, Michael G. SHEAN