Patents by Inventor Michael J. Giles

Michael J. Giles 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).

  • Publication number: 20160360526
    Abstract: An interface circuit in a computing device may communicate with user-interface devices using shared slots during time intervals. In particular, the computing device may transmit outgoing messages to the user-interface devices at a first predefined time during sequential time intervals when the user-interface devices transition from a sleep mode to a normal mode. In response, the computing device may receive incoming messages from one or more of the user-interface devices at a second predefined time following the first predefined time during the sequential time intervals. Then, the computing device may transmit a multicast message to the user-interface devices at a third predefined time during the sequential time intervals. In response to the given multicast message, one of the user-interface devices may communicate data to the computing device. Note that, in some instances, a multicast time slot may instead be used to communicate data to one of the user-interface devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Siegfried Lehmann, Christiaan A. Hartman, Camille Chen, Sriram Hariharan, Jianxiong Shi, Syed Aon Mujtaba, Alessio Centazzo, Donald Eng, Michael J. Giles, Craig P. Dooley, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa, Anjali S. Sandesara, Langford M. Wasada
  • Patent number: 9451438
    Abstract: In order to reduce latency and overhead during the device discovery process, operations involved in pairing of two electronic devices may be predefined. In particular, when a user specifies a new electronic device in a list of their electronic devices, a computer provides a notification to these electronic devices. In response to the notification, a given one of the electronic devices generates encryption information and identification information for the given electronic device, and provides this encryption information and identification information to the new electronic device via a network (such as the Internet). Then, the new electronic device generates encryption information and identification information for the new electronic device, and provides this encryption information and identification information to the given electronic device via the network. This pairing information may subsequently facilitate secure wireless communication between the two electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Conn, Akshay Mangalam Srivastsa, Craig P. Dooley, Michael J. Giles
  • Patent number: 9445275
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mitigation of radio interference between two or more wireless concurrently operating interfaces in a wireless device having an aggressive form factor. In one embodiment, the interfaces are used for different tasks (e.g., WLAN for data and PAN for human interface devices), and the device includes logic configured to evaluate the priority of the tasks and adjust the operation of one or more of the interfaces accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, David Cheung, Hsin-Yao Chen, Michael J. Giles, Christopher B. Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20160242071
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reduction of interference between a plurality of wireless interfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, a device having a first (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface and a second (e.g., Bluetooth) interface monitors interference between its interfaces. A reduction in transmit power of the Wi-Fi module causes a disproportionately larger reduction in undesirable interference experienced at the Bluetooth antennas. For example, when the Bluetooth interface detects interference levels above acceptable thresholds, the Wi-Fi interface adjusts operation of one or more of its transmit chains based on various conditions such as duty cycle, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), etc. Various embodiments of the present invention provide simultaneous operation of WLAN and PAN interfaces, without requiring time division coexistence, by reducing power on a subset of interfering antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Camille Chen, Lei Li, Chris Zimmermann, Michael J. Giles, Jaime Tolentino, Chris Hartman, Arthur Lin
  • Patent number: 9319887
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reduction of interference between a plurality of wireless interfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, a device having a first (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface and a second (e.g., Bluetooth) interface monitors interference between its interfaces. A reduction in transmit power of the Wi-Fi module causes a disproportionately larger reduction in undesirable interference experienced at the Bluetooth antennas. For example, when the Bluetooth interface detects interference levels above acceptable thresholds, the Wi-Fi interface adjusts operation of one or more of its transmit chains based on various conditions such as duty cycle, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), etc. Various embodiments of the present invention provide simultaneous operation of WLAN and PAN interfaces, without requiring time division coexistence, by reducing power on a subset of interfering antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, Lei Li, Chris Zimmermann, Michael J. Giles, Jaime Tolentino, Chris Hartman, Arthur Lin
  • Publication number: 20150350865
    Abstract: In order to reduce latency and overhead during the device discovery process, operations involved in pairing of two electronic devices may be predefined. In particular, when a user specifies a new electronic device in a list of their electronic devices, a computer provides a notification to these electronic devices. In response to the notification, a given one of the electronic devices generates encryption information and identification information for the given electronic device, and provides this encryption information and identification information to the new electronic device via a network (such as the Internet). Then, the new electronic device generates encryption information and identification information for the new electronic device, and provides this encryption information and identification information to the given electronic device via the network. This pairing information may subsequently facilitate secure wireless communication between the two electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Jason C. Conn, Akshay Mangalam Srivastsa, Craig P. Dooley, MIchael J. Giles
  • Publication number: 20150351038
    Abstract: In order to reduce the power consumption of a receiving electronic device, received advertising beacons may be filtered so that the receiving electronic device selectively transitions from a power-saving mode to a normal operating mode. For example, the receiving electronic device may receive a beacon with advertising information for a transmitting electronic device. If the advertising information is changed relative to a previous version of the advertising information for the transmitting electronic device, the receiving electronic device may transition from the power-saving mode to the normal operating mode. In this way, the receiving electronic device may ‘wake up’ if it receives an advertisement that it wants to act on, such as advertisements for: file sharing, wireless streaming of information, proximity pairing and/or continuity of a user experience with an application when the user transitions from the transmitting electronic device to the receiving electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Craig P. Dooley, Akshay Mangalam Srivatsa, Anjali S. Sandesara, Michael J. Giles
  • Publication number: 20150257011
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mitigation of radio interference between two or more wireless concurrently operating interfaces in a wireless device having an aggressive form factor. In one embodiment, the interfaces are used for different tasks (e.g., WLAN for data and PAN for human interface devices), and the device includes logic configured to evaluate the priority of the tasks and adjust the operation of one or more of the interfaces accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Camille Chen, David Cheung, Hsin-Yao Chen, Michael J. Giles, Christopher B. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9065924
    Abstract: A system and method for improved wireless communications at a host device (e.g., a portable computing device, a mobile communications device) having multiple wireless communication abilities (e.g., Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®). When a component (e.g., a monitor, an Ethernet dongle) having Bluetooth capability is coupled to the host device (e.g., wired or wirelessly), the host device copies its Bluetooth link keys to the component, deactivates its own Bluetooth module and activates (or initiates activation of) the component's. The component's Bluetooth module is operated using a software stack executing on the host device. Thereafter, the component handles Bluetooth operations and the host device communicates with Bluetooth devices via the component. Greater radio isolation is thus provided between antennae used by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Huy B. Le, Hassan Lashkari, John M. Richey, Michael J. Giles
  • Patent number: 9021288
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fiyinfolu O. Adewale, Paul J. Costa, David R. Cox, Michael J. Giles, Steven I. Kuo, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Steven J. Sfarzo
  • Patent number: 8995553
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mitigation of radio interference between two or more wireless concurrently operating interfaces in a wireless device having an aggressive form factor. In one embodiment, the interfaces are used for different tasks (e.g., WLAN for data and PAN for human interface devices), and the device includes logic configured to evaluate the priority of the tasks and adjust the operation of one or more of the interfaces accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, David Cheung, Hsin-Yao Chen, Michael J. Giles, Christopher B. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8989668
    Abstract: This document describes, inter alia, techniques for use at a wireless device for establishing communications with other devices, and for displaying related information in a graphical user interface. The wireless device may discover, pair with, and/or connect to other wireless devices, and may display a list of information regarding the other wireless devices in a graphical user interface. The wireless device may order the list based on factors such as: the connectivity status of the other devices (e.g., whether the other devices are connected, paired, or discovered); the types of the other wireless devices (e.g., whether the devices are human interface devices (HIDs), audio devices, phones, imaging devices, computers, or other types of devices); whether device names for the other wireless devices are known/unknown; and/or other factors. The features described herein may be implemented using Bluetooth wireless technology, and/or any other wireless technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Akshay M. Srivatsa, Craig P. Dooley, Matt I. Gillette, Michael J Giles
  • Publication number: 20140364060
    Abstract: This document describes, inter alia, techniques for use at a wireless device for establishing communications with other devices, and for displaying related information in a graphical user interface. The wireless device may discover, pair with, and/or connect to other wireless devices, and may display a list of information regarding the other wireless devices in a graphical user interface. The wireless device may order the list based on factors such as: the connectivity status of the other devices (e.g., whether the other devices are connected, paired, or discovered); the types of the other wireless devices (e.g., whether the devices are human interface devices (HIDs), audio devices, phones, imaging devices, computers, or other types of devices); whether device names for the other wireless devices are known/unknown; and/or other factors. The features described herein may be implemented using Bluetooth wireless technology, and/or any other wireless technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Akshay M. Srivatsa, Craig P. Dooley, Matt I. Gillette, Michael J Giles
  • Publication number: 20140258397
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates communication with a first electronic device from a second electronic device. During operation, the system establishes a peer-to-peer connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device on a first physical network interface. Next, the system uses the peer-to-peer connection to obtain, on the second electronic device, a first set of network-interface capabilities for the first electronic device. Finally, the system switches the peer-to-peer connection to a second physical network interface based on at least one of the first set of network-interface capabilities and one or more characteristics associated with the peer-to-peer connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Peter N. Heerboth, Craig P. Dooley, Michael J. Giles
  • Publication number: 20140221029
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reduction of interference between a plurality of wireless interfaces. In one exemplary embodiment, a device having a first (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface and a second (e.g., Bluetooth) interface monitors interference between its interfaces. A reduction in transmit power of the Wi-Fi module causes a disproportionately larger reduction in undesirable interference experienced at the Bluetooth antennas. For example, when the Bluetooth interface detects interference levels above acceptable thresholds, the Wi-Fi interface adjusts operation of one or more of its transmit chains based on various conditions such as duty cycle, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), etc. Various embodiments of the present invention provide simultaneous operation of WLAN and PAN interfaces, without requiring time division coexistence, by reducing power on a subset of interfering antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, Lei Li, Chris Zimmermann, Michael J. Giles, Jaime Tolentino, Chris Hartman, Arthur Lin
  • Patent number: 8792832
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for compensating for the effects of interference between multiple wireless communication apparatus. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a first wireless communication apparatus operating in a first band and a second wireless communication apparatus operating at least partly in the first band, where the second wireless communication apparatus operates according to a different communication protocol than the first wireless communication apparatus. Interference is compensated for between the first wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus by selecting and operating according to one of a plurality of operational protocols. In another embodiment, the first wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus operate in a closed-loop relationship to cooperatively compensate for communication interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, Michael A. Robinson, Marco Pontil, Michael J. Giles
  • Patent number: 8750799
    Abstract: A wireless communications system includes an accessory device and multiple host devices. A host device pairs wirelessly with an accessory device using a unique link key, detects a primary trigger event and responds by transferring automatically its pairing with the accessory device to a second host device while all devices remain within wireless range of each other. The pairing transfer involves communicating the link key to the second host device, unpairing the accessory device from the first host device, and establishing a wireless pairing of the accessory device to the second host device. The primary trigger event can involve establishing a ported connection between host devices. A secondary trigger event results in the first host device automatically reclaiming its pairing with the accessory device. An accessory device can also select and pair with one of multiple host devices in response to a specific user gesture detected by the accessory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Giles, Jack I-Chieh Fu, Clifford J. Hunt, Michael A. Cretella, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8688056
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selectively switching one or more antennas in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array so as to mitigate interference with another RF interface within the same space-constrained device, based on radio frequency isolation. In one embodiment, the MIMO interface comprises a WLAN interface having a 2×2 or 3×3 array of antennae which are placed in a wireless device in an asymmetric fashion with respect to the antenna of the second interface, and the other interface comprises a PAN (e.g., Bluetooth) interface operating in an overlapping frequency band (e.g., ISM band). When both interfaces are operating, interference is mitigated through selectively switching off one or more of the MIMO antennae, and using the remaining antenna(e) having the best isolation from the Bluetooth antennae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Camille Chen, Michael A. Robinson, Michael J. Giles
  • Publication number: 20140065962
    Abstract: A system and method for improved wireless communications at a host device (e.g., a portable computing device, a mobile communications device) having multiple wireless communication abilities (e.g., Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®). When a component (e.g., a monitor, an Ethernet dongle) having Bluetooth capability is coupled to the host device (e.g., wired or wirelessly), the host device copies its Bluetooth link keys to the component, deactivates its own Bluetooth module and activates (or initiates activation of) the component's. The component's Bluetooth module is operated using a software stack executing on the host device. Thereafter, the component handles Bluetooth operations and the host device communicates with Bluetooth devices via the component. Greater radio isolation is thus provided between antennae used by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Huy B. Le, Hassan Lashkari, John M. Richey, Michael J. Giles
  • Publication number: 20130326251
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering from a low power state in a computing system is disclosed. In one embodiment of the method, the computing system enters the low power state from a standard power state after an activity detector indicates a user controlled peripheral device connected to the computer system has been inactive for a period of time. To enter the low power state, the method disconnects the user controlled peripheral device from a host controller, while continuing to supply power to the user controlled peripheral device and shutting off power to the host controller. The method returns the computer system to the standard power state when the activity detector indicates the user controlled peripheral device has become active. To return to the standard power state, power is restored to the host controller and the user controlled peripheral device is reconnected to the host controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Fiyinfolu O. Adewale, Paul J. Costa, David R. Cox, Michael J. Giles, Steven I. Kuo, Nicholas W. Ruhter, Steven J. Sfarzo