Patents by Inventor Nicholas Ihm

Nicholas Ihm 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: 12108252
    Abstract: A system and method in which the Bluetooth technology is used in conjunction with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. The user app communicates with a controller driver in a controller unit that interfaces with a compliant fare gate. Bluetooth beacons are used to determine a passenger's proximity to the gate and camera-like devices determine whether a passenger has entered a fare validation zone. A user with a valid and active electronic ticket on their mobile device may simply walk through the fare gate “hands free” without the need to search for a physical ticket or a smartcard or a mobile phone. This hassle-free approach significantly improves the user experience and passenger throughput through fare gates. The Bluetooth-based automated fare validation system also detects passengers with valid electronic tickets and those without a valid permit for travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Nicholas Ihm, Michael O'Haire, Kevin Rejko
  • Patent number: 11803784
    Abstract: A system and method in which various sensors collect and/or generate data that are analyzed to provide automated transit features. In the automatic capacity management feature, a transit operator is alerted of potential capacity issues in advance to enable the operator to handle the situation before a station or a vehicle reaches its capacity limit. The automatic trip planning feature allows a passenger to dynamically plan the fastest route to a destination according to real time data and historical data trends. The automatic fraud detection feature alerts a fare inspector to a ticket fraud or other fraudulent activity at a specific transit station or on a specific transit vehicle. The automatic vehicle routing feature dynamically routes autonomous transit vehicles to stations, notifies transit vehicle drivers to stop at a particular station, and/or notifies transit operators to route a vehicle to a particular station based on current and historical demand from passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Michael O'Haire, Nicholas Ihm, Ross Smith
  • Patent number: 11556863
    Abstract: This invention discloses a novel system and method for distributing electronic ticketing such that the ticket is verified at the entrance to venues by means of an animation or other human perceptible verifying visual object that is selected by the venue for the specific event. Tins removes the need to use a bar-code scanner on an LCD display of a cell phone or other device and speeds up the rate at which human ticket takers can verify ticket holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bytemark, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Matthew Grasser, Christopher Guess, Nicholas Ihm, Samuel Krueckeberg, Gregory Valyer
  • Publication number: 20220222684
    Abstract: This invention discloses novel systems and methods for providing visual confirmation that a passenger has a valid ticket and has previously paid for additional items such as luggage, suitcase, briefcase, bicycle, musical instrument, wheelchair, car, vehicle, motorcycle, automobile (in the case of, for example, a ferry). The visual validation display object allows tickets and additional items to be easily and quickly confirmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Nicholas Ihm, Michael O'Haire
  • Publication number: 20220150701
    Abstract: A system and method in which the Bluetooth technology is used in conjunction with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. The user app communicates with a controller driver in a controller unit that interfaces with a compliant fare gate. Bluetooth beacons are used to determine a passenger's proximity to the gate and camera-like devices determine whether a passenger has entered a fare validation zone. A user with a valid and active electronic ticket on their mobile device may simply walk through the fare gate “hands free” without the need to search for a physical ticket or a smartcard or a mobile phone. This hassle-free approach significantly improves the user experience and passenger throughput through fare gates. The Bluetooth-based automated fare validation system also detects passengers with valid electronic tickets and those without a valid permit for travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Nicholas Ihm, Michael O'Haire, Kevin Rejko
  • Patent number: 11323881
    Abstract: A system and method in which the Bluetooth technology is used in conjunction with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. The user app communicates with a controller driver in a controller unit that interfaces with a compliant fare gate. Bluetooth beacons are used to determine a passenger's proximity to the gate and camera-like devices determine whether a passenger has entered a fare validation zone. A user with a valid and active electronic ticket on their mobile device may simply walk through the fare gate “hands free” without the need to search for a physical ticket or a smartcard or a mobile phone. This hassle-free approach significantly improves the user experience and passenger throughput through fare gates. The Bluetooth-based automated fare validation system also detects passengers with valid electronic tickets and those without a valid permit for travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Bytemark Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Nicholas Ihm, Kevin Rejko, Michael O'Haire, Edward J. Donovan
  • Publication number: 20220067774
    Abstract: A transit fare approach that offers a transit agency the ability to cap how many transit passes of a particular type in a given fare cycle would be equivalent of buying a discounted transit product (like a weekly pass, a bi-weekly pass, or a monthly pass). Once this equivalent is reached by a rider, the system automatically gives the rider the corresponding discount pass for free. The free pass remains activated and good for the remainder of the fare cycle. A software module provides a user app for the rider's mobile device and a controller app for a control unit of the transit agency, both of which operate in conjunction with each other to monitor the use of transit passes by the rider to determine when the rider qualifies for the fare cap-based free transit product and subsequently reward the rider with the free use of the appropriate transit product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Bytemark, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Schrauth, Nicholas Ihm, Vishal Arora, Shashidhar Yaranal, Ram Roy, Jyoti Mahansaria, Sumit Basu, Andrea Costa, Christina Lee
  • Publication number: 20220051200
    Abstract: An electronic-ticketing approach in which a user of a mobile device receives a voucher code at a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) in a transit station, enters the voucher code into the user's mobile device, and sends it to a control unit to receive an electronic ticket from the control unit delivered to the user's mobile device. The voucher code is a randomly-generated, alpha-numeric code that can be displayed on TVM displays and also can be easily be printed on TVM receipts. When the control unit receives the voucher code, it links the electronic ticket to the user before delivering the ticket to the user's mobile device so as to keep a track of the user's usage of the ticket. A software module provides a user app portion for the user's mobile device and a server app portion for the control unit, both of which operate in conjunction with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Bytemark, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Schrauth, Nicholas Ihm, Vishal Arora, Shashidhar Yaranal
  • Patent number: 10762733
    Abstract: This invention discloses a novel system and method for automated protocols between a mobile device and an electronic ticketing verification system, where proximity detection is used to automatically display the verification or to automatically control entry gates or turnstiles when the mobile device is verified has holding a valid ticket and being located in a specific location associated with the ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Nicholas Ihm, Matthew Grasser
  • Patent number: 10453067
    Abstract: Systems and methods using Bluetooth with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. Utilizes a set of signal strength detection data points and timestamps from a mobile device and synchronizes location data points and timestamps from a camera and determines an estimated location of the mobile device according to the set of signal strength detection data points and timestamps from the mobile device and the location data points and timestamps from the camera. This provides enhanced accuracy in determining the correct mobile device. The system computing device determines that the mobile device contains a valid ticket or does not, wherein the mobile device contains a valid ticket and the system computing device determines the estimated location of the mobile device is within a predetermined area the system computing device will mark the ticket as used and allow entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Nicholas Ihm, Michael O'Haire
  • Publication number: 20190306716
    Abstract: A system and method in which the Bluetooth technology is used in conjunction with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. The user app communicates with a controller driver in a controller unit that interfaces with a compliant fare gate. Bluetooth beacons are used to determine a passenger's proximity to the gate and camera-like devices determine whether a passenger has entered a fare validation zone. A user with a valid and active electronic ticket on their mobile device may simply walk through the fare gate “hands free” without the need to search for a physical ticket or a smartcard or a mobile phone. This hassle-free approach significantly improves the user experience and passenger throughput through fare gates. The Bluetooth-based automated fare validation system also detects passengers with valid electronic tickets and those without a valid permit for travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Nicholas Ihm, Kevin Rejko, Michael O'Haire, Edward J. Donovan
  • Patent number: 10375573
    Abstract: A system and method in which the Bluetooth technology is used in conjunction with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. The user app communicates with a controller driver in a controller unit that interfaces with a compliant fare gate. Bluetooth beacons are used to determine a passenger's proximity to the gate and camera-like devices determine whether a passenger has entered a fare validation zone. A user with a valid and active electronic ticket on their mobile device may simply walk through the fare gate “hands free” without the need to search for a physical ticket or a smartcard or a mobile phone. This hassle-free approach significantly improves the user experience and passenger throughput through fare gates. The Bluetooth-based automated fare validation system also detects passengers with valid electronic tickets and those without a valid permit for travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Nicholas Ihm, Kevin Rejko, Michael O'Haire, Edward J. Donovan
  • Patent number: 10360567
    Abstract: This invention discloses a novel system and method for distributing electronic ticketing to mobile devices such that the ticket stored on the device is checked for its integrity from tampering and the device periodically reports on ticket usage with a central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Matthew Grasser, Kevin Rejko, Nicholas Ihm
  • Patent number: 10346764
    Abstract: This invention discloses a novel system and method for distributing electronic ticketing such that the ticket is verified at the entrance to venues by means of an animation or other human perceptible verifying visual object that is selected by the venue for the specific event. This removes the need to use a bar-code scanner on an LCD display of a cell phone or other device and speeds up the rate at which human ticket takers can verify ticket holders. The system also can permit ticket purchase verification in the absence of a network connection during verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BYTEMARK, INC.
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Matthew Grasser, Nicholas Ihm, Samuel Krueckeberg, Gregory Valyer
  • Publication number: 20190019199
    Abstract: This invention discloses novel systems and methods for providing visual confirmation that a passenger has a valid ticket and has previously paid for additional items such as luggage, suitcase, briefcase, bicycle, musical instrument, wheelchair, car, vehicle, motorcycle, automobile (in the case of, for example, a ferry). The visual validation display object allows tickets and additional items to be easily and quickly confirmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Michael O'Hair, Nicholas Ihm
  • Patent number: 10127746
    Abstract: A system for monitoring two or more persons in an area with an entry point having an access allowed indication or an access denied indication. a token device in communication with at least one wireless proximity detection device which determines a relative location of the token device to provide a detection data point for each of the wireless proximity detection devices and a set of detection data points for the group of detection data points; a system computing device which calculates the shared proximity of the token device according to the set of detection data points and determines that the token device contains at least two valid tickets or does not, if there are valid tickets and the shared proximity of the token device is within a predetermined area the access allowed indication will display to allow entry for a number of persons corresponding to the number of the tickets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Nicholas Ihm, Gregory Valyer
  • Publication number: 20180293523
    Abstract: A system and method in which various sensors collect and/or generate data that are analyzed to provide automated transit features. In the automatic capacity management feature, a transit operator is alerted of potential capacity issues in advance to enable the operator to handle the situation before a station or a vehicle reaches its capacity limit. The automatic trip planning feature allows a passenger to dynamically plan the fastest route to a destination according to real time data and historical data trends. The automatic fraud detection feature alerts a fare inspector to a ticket fraud or other fraudulent activity at a specific transit station or on a specific transit vehicle. The automatic vehicle routing feature dynamically routes autonomous transit vehicles to stations, notifies transit vehicle drivers to stop at a particular station, and/or notifies transit operators to route a vehicle to a particular station based on current and historical demand from passengers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Michael O'Haire, Nicholas Ihm, Ross Smith
  • Patent number: 10089606
    Abstract: This invention is related to secure payments using data codes displayed on a mobile device, for example a QR code displayed on a cell-phone. The invention establishes a third party transaction service that protects the customer's proprietary payment information, for example, credit card numbers, while ensuring for a merchant that a payment token, for example, the QR code, will represent a valid payment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Ihm, Christopher Guess, Micah Bergdale, Gregory Valyer, Matthew Grasser
  • Publication number: 20180211188
    Abstract: A system and method in which a user application on a mobile device facilitates hands-free fare validation and gateless entry/exit at a transit facility like a transit station or a transit vehicle. The user application communicates with a Bluetooth gateway to authenticate the device and provides device-specific information for device identification and location determination. The user application also sends a secure token to the gateway to validate an electronic ticket stored in the device. A positioning unit uses the device-specific information to generate a timestamped location data for the device. A camera monitors the device user's movement and generates another timestamped location data for the device. A controller driver compares two timestamped location data to determine that the user of the device is approaching a gateless entry point and allows the user to avail a transit service through the gateless entry point when the electronic ticket is valid and active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Michael O'Haire, Nicholas Ihm, Ross Smith
  • Publication number: 20180068315
    Abstract: Systems and methods using Bluetooth with a user application on a mobile device to facilitate hands-free fare validation at a transit station. Utilizes a set of signal strength detection data points and timestamps from a mobile device and synchronizes location data points and timestamps from a camera and determines an estimated location of the mobile device according to the set of signal strength detection data points and timestamps from the mobile device and the location data points and timestamps from the camera. This provides enhanced accuracy in determining the correct mobile device. The system computing device determines that the mobile device contains a valid ticket or does not, wherein the mobile device contains a valid ticket and the system computing device determines the estimated location of the mobile device is within a predetermined area the system computing device will mark the ticket as used and allow entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Micah Bergdale, Edward Donovan, Nicholas Ihm, Michael O'Haire