Patents by Inventor Ming-Fang Huang
Ming-Fang Huang 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: 12078528Abstract: Systems, and methods for automatically identifying an underground optical fiber cable length from DFOS systems in real time and pair it with GPS coordinates that advantageously eliminate the need for in-field inspection/work by service personnel to make such real-time distance/location determinations. As such, inefficient, error-prone and labor-intensive prior art methods are rendered obsolete. Operationally, our method disclosure involves driving vehicles including GPS to generate traffic patterns and automatically mapping traffic trajectory signals from a deployed buried fiber optic cable to locate geographic location(s) of the buried fiber optic cable. Traffic patterns are automatically recognized; slack in the fiber optic cable is accounted for; location of traffic lights and other traffic control devices/structures may be determined; and turns in the fiber optic cable may likewise be determined.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Ming-Fang Huang, Shaobo Han, Yuheng Chen, Milad Salemi, Ting Wang
-
Patent number: 12051326Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe DFOS systems, methods, and structures that advantageously extract road traffic from DFOS vibration patterns such that anomaly detection is possible. Sensed vibration data is represented accurately as a set of points, where each point is denoted as a tuple with elements indicating a time stamp, a location along a length of a DFOS optical sensing cable, and vibration strength detected at the location at the time. Traffic pattern detection is based on a progressive probabilistic Hough transform (PPHT) that exploits global information from an entire spatial-temporal data snapshot to assess a cause of detected vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2022Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Shaobo Han, Ming-Fang Huang, Philip Ji, Yueheng Chen, Milad Salemi
-
Patent number: 12051309Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously extend DFOS techniques to anomaly detection using optical magnetism switches (OMC) that are integrated into the DFOS system.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2022Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Ming-Fang Huang, Ting Wang
-
Publication number: 20240249614Abstract: Disclosed are vehicle-infrastructure interaction systems and methods employing a distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) system operating with pre-deployed fiber-optic telecommunication cables buried alongside/proximate to highways/roadways which provide 24/7 continuous information stream of vehicle traffic at multiple sites; only require a single optical sensor cable that senses/monitors multiple locations of interest and multiple lanes of traffic; the single optical sensor cable measures multiple related information (multi-parameters) about a vehicle, including driving speed, wheelbase, number of axles, tire pressure, and others, that can be used to derive secondary information such as weight-in-motion; and overall information about a fleet of vehicles, such as traffic congestion or traffic-cargo volume. Different from merely traffic counts, our approach can provide the count grouped by vehicle-types and cargo weights.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Shaobo HAN, Yuheng CHEN, Ming-Fang HUANG, Tingfeng LI, Ting WANG
-
Publication number: 20240248228Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that estimate machine distance to an optical fiber cable from sensing data collected using distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS). Specialized hardware, DFOS that uses optical sensor fiber as a continuous spatial sensor along with a real time Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing unit, that detects threats within a proximity of buried fiber optic cable and a determines a moving direction of the threats such that it can effectively mitigate and contain the threats before damage to the buried fiber optic cable occurs. Advantageously, the system according to the present disclosure does not require any prior location knowledge or surveying prior to performing its monitoring.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Ming-Fang HUANG, Milad SALEMI
-
Publication number: 20240241275Abstract: Disclosed are machine learning (ML) based Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures for Sonic Alert Pattern (SNAP) event detection performed in real time including an intelligent SNAP informatic system in conjunction with DFOS/Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and machine learning technologies that utilize SNAP vibration signals as an indicator. Without installation of additional sensors, vibration signals indicative of SNAP events are detected along a length of an existing optical fiber through DAS. Raw DFOS data is utilized—and not DFOS waterfall data—resulting in faster and more accurate information derivation as rich, time-frequency information in the raw DFOS/DAS waveform data is preserved. A deep learning module Temporal Relation Network (TRN) that accurately detects SNAP events from among chaotic signals of normal traffic is employed, making it reliable when applied to busy roads with dense traffic and vehicles of different speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2024Publication date: July 18, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Shaobo HAN, Yuheng CHEN, Ming-Fang HUANG, Tingfeng LI
-
Patent number: 12038320Abstract: A fiber optic sensing technology for vehicle run-off-road incident automatic detection by an indicator of sonic alert pattern (SNAP) vibration patterns. A machine learning method is employed and trained and evaluated against a variety of heterogeneous factors using controlled experiments, demonstrating applicability for future field deployment. Extracted events resulting from operation of our system may be advantageously incorporated into existing management systems for intelligent transportation and smart city applications, facilitating real-time alleviation of traffic congestion and/or providing a quick response rescue and clearance operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Shaobo Han, Yuheng Chen, Ming-Fang Huang, Tingfeng Li
-
Patent number: 12000729Abstract: Distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods and structures for determining the proximity of vibration sources located perpendicular to a sensor fiber that is part of the DFOS system that may potentially threaten/damage or otherwise compromise the sensor fiber itself. Systems, methods, and structures according to aspects of the present disclosure employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) methodology(ies) that use as input a fundamental physical understanding of wave propagation and attenuation in the ground along with Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) techniques for estimating/determining the proximity of potentially damaging vibration sources to the optical sensor fiber.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Shaobo Han, Ming-Fang Huang, Yuheng Chen, Milad Salemi
-
Publication number: 20240133719Abstract: Systems and methods for manhole localization along deployed fiber optic cables that employs cross-correlation methodologies and ambient road traffic operating proximate to the manholes including fiber optic telecommunications cables to detect the manhole locations using distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS). Advantageously the manhole locations are determined without employing labor intensive field surveys.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Milad SALEMI, Ming-Fang HUANG, Shaobo HAN, Yuheng CHEN
-
Publication number: 20240133735Abstract: A device may receive, from a fiber sensor device, sensing data associated with a fiber optic cable, the sensing data being produced by an activity that poses a threat of damage to the fiber optic cable, and the sensing data identifying: amplitudes of vibration signals, frequencies of the vibration signals, patterns of the vibration signals, times associated with the vibration signals, and locations along the fiber optic cable associated with the vibration signals. The device may process, with a machine learning model, the sensing data to determine a threat level of the activity to the fiber optic cable, the machine learning model having been trained based on historical information regarding detected vibrations, historical information regarding sources of the detected vibrations, and historical information regarding threat levels to the fiber optic cable. The device may perform one or more actions based on the threat level to the fiber optic cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicants: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., NEC Laboratories America, Inc., NEC CorporationInventors: Tiejun J. XIA, Glenn A. WELLBROCK, Ming-Fang HUANG, Ting WANG, Yoshiaki AONO
-
Publication number: 20240134074Abstract: An AI-driven cable mapping system that employs distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) fiber sensing and machine learning that provides autonomous determination of fiber optic cable location and mapping of same. Designed Al algorithms operating within our inventive systems and methods provide an easy solution for cable mapping in a GIS system; automatically maps using landmarks and manhole locations; and employs a supervised learning algorithm. A vehicle-assist operation is employed wherein a vehicle carries a Global Positioning System (GPS) device and drives along a roadway thereby following the fiber optic cable route; data paring that provides further significant locational information wherein time synchronizes between the DFOS system and vehicle GPS device from which we automatically pair the data of fiber length from traffic trajectories and GPS coordinates by time series.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Ming-Fang HUANG, Chaitanya Prasad NARISETTY
-
Publication number: 20240125962Abstract: Method for source localization for cable cut prevention using distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS)/distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is described that is robust/immune to underground propagation speed uncertainty. The method estimates the location of a vibration source while considering any uncertainty of vibration propagation speed and formulates the localization as an optimization problem, and both location of the sources and the propagation speed are treated as unknown. This advantageously enables our method to adapt to variances of the velocity and produce a better generalized performance with respect to environmental changes experienced in the field. Our method operates using a DFOS system and AI techniques as an integrated solution for vibration source localization along an entire optical sensor fiber cable route and process real-time DFOS data and extract features that are related to a location of a source of vibrations that may threaten optical fiber facilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Yifan WU, Ming-Fang HUANG, Shaobo HAN, Jian FANG, Yuheng CHEN, Yaowen LI, Mohammad KHOJASTEPOUR
-
Publication number: 20240102833Abstract: A DFOS system and machine learning method that automatically localizes manholes, which forms a key step in a fiber optic cable mapping process. Our system and method utilize weakly supervised learning techniques to predict manhole locations based on ambient data captured along the fiber optic cable route. To improve any non-informative ambient data, we employ data selection and label assignment strategies and verify their effectiveness extensively in a variety of settings, including data efficiency and generalizability to different fiber optic cable routes. We describe post-processing steps that bridge the gap between classification and localization and combining results from multiple predictions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Shaobo HAN, Yuheng CHEN, Ming-Fang HUANG, Ting WANG, Alexander BUKHARIN
-
Patent number: 11885670Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously are employed in smart stadium or other venue applications, such applications including: parking lot security and management; intrusion detection; social sensing; air quality monitoring and early fire detection—among others.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Ming-Fang Huang, Ting Wang
-
Patent number: 11874160Abstract: A device may receive, from a fiber sensor device, sensing data associated with a fiber optic cable, the sensing data being produced by an activity that poses a threat of damage to the fiber optic cable, and the sensing data identifying: amplitudes of vibration signals, frequencies of the vibration signals, patterns of the vibration signals, times associated with the vibration signals, and locations along the fiber optic cable associated with the vibration signals. The device may process, with a machine learning model, the sensing data to determine a threat level of the activity to the fiber optic cable, the machine learning model having been trained based on historical information regarding detected vibrations, historical information regarding sources of the detected vibrations, and historical information regarding threat levels to the fiber optic cable. The device may perform one or more actions based on the threat level to the fiber optic cable.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignees: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc., NEC Laboratories America, Inc., NEC CorporationInventors: Tiejun J. Xia, Glenn A. Wellbrock, Ming-Fang Huang, Ting Wang, Yoshiaki Aono
-
Publication number: 20240003717Abstract: A DFOS system and method providing detection and localization of vehicle emergency stops which employs DFOS and machine learning techniques as an integrated solution for automatic, real-time, detection and localization of vehicle emergency stop events. Real time-location data from a buried optical sensing fiber located along a roadway is used to derive continuous vehicle trajectories while providing a wide coverage area for more accurate assessments. AI techniques are employed which track vehicles' speed and acceleration, locate vehicle deceleration events, and localize emergency stop events. Danger assessment is determined by analyzing a vehicle's anticipated and reproducible trajectory after an emergency breaking event—while ignoring stop-and-go events as low-risk events—and discovering stop-no-go events exhibiting large deceleration as high-risk events.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Milad SALEMI, Ming-Fang HUANG, Yuheng CHEN, Shaobo HAN
-
Publication number: 20230400350Abstract: A machine learning (ML)/artificial intelligence (AI) based distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) system and method providing detection and localization of gunshot events. In addition to the ML/AI DFOS, a signal processing pipeline that compresses an audible distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) waveform data into a small set of features that protects privacy of individuals while preserving the utility of acoustic events to detect the gunshot events and discriminate same from other events. A data-driven deep learning approach automatically predicts acoustic event types with higher accuracy that realized by prior art methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Shaobo HAN, Ming-Fang HUANG, Jian FANG
-
Publication number: 20230375376Abstract: A distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) system including a smart-mat that: 1) identifies indoor locations of moving persons/objects; 2) provides a 2D visual mapping; and 3) covers any blind spots with supplemental technologies including LiDAR, RF radar, etc. The DFOS system with smart-mat may be deployed virtually anywhere indoors and may even be constructed to replace carpeting. When our inventive DFOS system and smart-mat is deployed throughout an entire building, building safety and security is greatly improved by providing up-to-date localization information of building occupants while eliminating blind zones and reducing maintenance costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.Inventors: Yueheng CHEN, Ming-Fang HUANG
-
Publication number: 20230366726Abstract: A distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) system and method employing a fiber optic sensor cable that autonomously collects DFOS data and employs artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) to distinguish sections of the fiber optic sensor cable that are above ground (aerial), below ground (buried), and buried but occasionally above ground, in addition to any change(s) that occur with respect to the fiber optic sensor cable at such sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: NEC LABORATORIES AMERICA, INCInventors: Shaobo HAN, Ming-Fang HUANG, Ting Wang
-
Patent number: 11733089Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe an unsupervised context encoder-based fiber sensing method that detects anomalous vibrations proximate to a sensor fiber that is part of a distributed fiber optic sensing system (DFOS) such that damage to the sensor fiber by activities producing and anomalous vibrations are preventable. Advantageously, our method requires only normal data streams and a machine learning based operation is utilized to analyze the sensing data and report abnormal events related to construction or other fiber-threatening activities in real-time. Our machine learning algorithm is based on waterfall image inpainting by context encoder and is self-trained in an end-to-end manner and extended every time the DFOS sensor fiber is optically connected to a new route. Accordingly, our inventive method and system it is much easier to deploy as compared to supervised methods of the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Inventors: Shaobo Han, Ming-Fang Huang, Eric Cosatto