Patents by Inventor Mike Horton

Mike Horton 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: 9948359
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to secondary short-range wireless assist for wireless-based access control. According to one aspect, a method can include receiving, at an access control system, a first identifier via a near-field communications (“NFC”) reader associated with an entryway to an area. The NFC reader can receive the first identifier from an NFC component of a mobile device. The method can include receiving, at the access control system, a second identifier via a wireless transceiver associated with the area. The wireless transceiver associated with the area can receive the second identifier from a wireless communication component of the mobile device after the mobile device has entered the area through the entryway. The method can also include determining, by the access control system, that the first identifier and the second identifier constitute an authentication pair that identifies the mobile device as being authenticated to access the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Mike Horton
  • Publication number: 20180081669
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems facilitating communications via a mobile internet-enabled connection interface are provided. One apparatus is configured to perform various operations, including performing a first type of security function associated with determining whether an information package is authorized to be received and downloaded to a device other than the apparatus, wherein the information package is associated with updating a functionality of the device; and performing a second type of security function associated with identifying an authorized user of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Becker, Paul W. Nichols, SR., Michael Calamusa, Mike Horton, Robert Osterwise
  • Publication number: 20150084736
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to secondary short-range wireless assist for wireless-based access control. According to one aspect, a method can include receiving, at an access control system, a first identifier via a near-field communications (“NFC”) reader associated with an entryway to an area. The NFC reader can receive the first identifier from an NFC component of a mobile device. The method can include receiving, at the access control system, a second identifier via a wireless transceiver associated with the area. The wireless transceiver associated with the area can receive the second identifier from a wireless communication component of the mobile device after the mobile device has entered the area through the entryway. The method can also include determining, by the access control system, that the first identifier and the second identifier constitute an authentication pair that identifies the mobile device as being authenticated to access the area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Mike Horton
  • Patent number: 5819206
    Abstract: A three-dimensional position and orientation tracking system uses accelerometers to measure acceleration of a moveable object (e.g., a head-mounted display unit or a data glove). A tracking processor generates both position and orientation information on the object relative to a simulation environment as a function of the acceleration data. In one embodiment, a simplified radar-based tracking system is disposed relative to the object and periodically provides additional tracking data on the object to the tracking processor. The tracking processor uses the additional data to correct the position and orientation information using a feedback filter process. The position and orientation information signals generated can be used, for example, in a simulation or virtual reality application. Position and orientation information is received by a simulation processor relative to the object. The simulation processor modifies a simulation environment as a function of the position and orientation information received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike A. Horton, A. Richard Newton
  • Patent number: 5615132
    Abstract: A three-dimensional position and orientation tracking system uses accelerometers to measure acceleration of a moveable object (e.g., a head-mounted display unit or a data glove). A tracking processor generates both position and orientation information on the object relative to a simulation environment as a function of the acceleration data. In one embodiment, a simplified radar-based tracking system is disposed relative to the object and periodically provides additional tracking data on the object to the tracking processor. The tracking processor uses the additional data to correct the position and orientation information using a feedback filter process. The position and orientation information signals generated can be used, for example, in a simulation or virtual reality application. Position and orientation information is received by a simulation processor relative to the object. The simulation processor modifies a simulation environment as a function of the position and orientation information received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Crossbow Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike A. Horton, A. Richard Newton