Patents by Inventor Michael George Shean

Michael George 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: 10080208
    Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques are provided for setting a quality attribute of a WiFi access point that is suspected to have moved. The WiFi access point is identified when within range of a mobile WiFi-enabled device based on received signals received by a Wi-Fi radio of a mobile WiFi-enabled device. A recorded location associated with the identified WiFi access point is received from a local copy of a reference database or a remote store of the reference database on a server system. A location estimate is determined for the mobile WiFi-enabled device and compared to the recorded location associated with the identified WiFi access point to evaluate whether the identified WiFi access point has moved from its recorded location. Feedback is then generated that is sent to the server system in response to determining that the identified WiFi access point has moved, where the feedback is usable to set the quality attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones
  • Publication number: 20160323843
    Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques are provided for setting a quality attribute of a WiFi access point that is suspected to have moved. The WiFi access point is identified when within range of a mobile WiFi-enabled device based on received signals received by a Wi-Fi radio of a mobile WiFi-enabled device. A recorded location associated with the identified WiFi access point is received from a local copy of a reference database or a remote store of the reference database on a server system. A location estimate is determined for the mobile WiFi-enabled device and compared to the recorded location associated with the identified WiFi access point to evaluate whether the identified WiFi access point has moved from its recorded location. Feedback is then generated that is sent to the server system in response to determining that the identified WiFi access point has moved, where the feedback is usable to set the quality attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones
  • Patent number: 9398558
    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: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SKYHOOK WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones
  • Publication number: 20140080510
    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: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SKYHOOK WIRELESS, INC.
    Inventors: Edward James MORGAN, Michael George SHEAN, Farshid ALIZADEH-SHABDIZ, Russel Kipp JONES
  • Patent number: 8538457
    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: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones
  • Patent number: 8478297
    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: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones
  • Patent number: 8140094
    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: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Patent number: 8031657
    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: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel Kipp Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean
  • Patent number: 7493127
    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: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel K. Jones
  • Patent number: 7433694
    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 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones, Michael George Shean
  • Patent number: 7414988
    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, 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: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel Kipp Jones, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean
  • Patent number: 7403762
    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 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward James Morgan, Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones, Michael George Shean
  • Patent number: 7305245
    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 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Skyhook Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Farshid Alizadeh-Shabdiz, Russel Kipp Jones, Edward James Morgan, Michael George Shean