Patents by Inventor Peter S. Ford

Peter S. Ford 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: 20240077945
    Abstract: A controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more user input devices, such as sensors or electrodes, a user interface device, and one or more switch-controlled devices. The controller presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes. The controller assigns one or more of the user input devices according to a current selected configuration of an access mode. The controller detects a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular user input device and switches the switch-controlled device based on the detected user input. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more biosignal electrodes attachable to a user and/or mechanical, positional, or other switch technologies. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more sensors for detection of movement, gestures, eye tracking or other input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Control Bionics Limited
    Inventors: James E. Schorey, Peter S. Ford
  • Patent number: 11853478
    Abstract: A controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more user input devices, such as sensors or electrodes, a user interface device, and one or more switch-controlled devices. The controller presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes. The controller assigns one or more of the user input devices according to a current selected configuration of an access mode. The controller detects a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular user input device. The controller identifies the user input based on the current selected configuration and the detected volitional user input and switches the switch-controlled device based on the detected user input. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more sensors for detection of movement, gestures, eye tracking or other input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Control Bionics Limited
    Inventors: James E. Schorey, Peter S. Ford
  • Publication number: 20230266824
    Abstract: A controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more user input devices, such as sensors or electrodes, a user interface device, and one or more switch-controlled devices. The controller presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes. The controller assigns one or more of the user input devices according to a current selected configuration of an access mode. The controller detects a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular user input device. The controller identifies the user input based on the current selected configuration and the detected volitional user input and switches the switch-controlled device based on the detected user input. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more sensors for detection of movement, gestures, eye tracking or other input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Control Bionics Limited
    Inventors: James E. Schorey, Peter S. Ford
  • Patent number: 11646805
    Abstract: A measurement system utilizing metasurfaces and compressive sensing is provided that measures specular and diffuse RF reflection properties of a sample omnidirectionally across a broad frequency regime in a monostatic, bistatic, or BRDF sense. The measurement system may be used to measure the full hemispherical (or spherical) reflection from a target that has been illuminated in a monostatic or bistatic case. The measurement system may also be used to measure the full BRDF of a sample or spatially complex bistatic reflections from a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Sorbel, Clayton Spann, Robert D. Johnson, James A. McDaniel, William Barrett, III, Peter S. Ford
  • Publication number: 20220113799
    Abstract: A method, human interface device, and computer program product that provide improved multilevel switching from each bioelectrical sensor with inclusion of switch filtering based on extraneous events (e.g., spasms). A biosignal is received from a sensor device by an electronic processor of a first electrode switch device. In response to determining that the amplitude of the signal has changed from less than a first switch range to greater than the first switch range and less than the second switch range, the electrode switch device communicates a first switch signal to control the human interface system. In response to determining that the amplitude of the biosignal has changed from less than the second switch range to greater than the second switch range, the electronic switch device performs one of: (i) ignoring the instance and (ii) transmitting a second switch signal to control the human interface system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Control Bionics Limited
    Inventors: James E. Schorey, Peter S. Ford, Robert W. Wong
  • Patent number: 11284844
    Abstract: A system includes a processor in communication with a set of bioelectrical sensors and a user interface device that provides functionality to monitor one or more bioelectrical signals from a set of bioelectrical electrodes. Processor automatically adjusts a selected one of: (i) a resting threshold; and (ii) a switch threshold that is greater than the resting threshold based at least in part on a trend of the bioelectrical signal. The processor determines whether an amplitude of the bioelectrical signal is less than the resting threshold. In response to determining that the amplitude is less than the resting threshold, the processor determines whether an amplitude of the bioelectrical signal subsequently is equal to or greater than the switch threshold. In response to determining that the bioelectrical signal is greater than the switch threshold, the processor triggers the user interface device with a switch signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Control Bionics Holdings Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: James E. Schorey, Peter S. Ford, Robert W. Wong
  • Publication number: 20220029714
    Abstract: A measurement system utilizing metasurfaces and compressive sensing is provided that measures specular and diffuse RF reflection properties of a sample omnidirectionally across a broad frequency regime in a monostatic, bistatic, or BRDF sense. The measurement system may be used to measure the full hemispherical (or spherical) reflection from a target that has been illuminated in a monostatic or bistatic case. The measurement system may also be used to measure the full BRDF of a sample or spatially complex bistatic reflections from a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Scott R. Sorbel, Clayton Spann, Robert D. Johnson, James A. McDaniel, William Barrett, III, Peter S. Ford
  • Publication number: 20190142349
    Abstract: A system includes a processor in communication with a set of bioelectrical sensors and a user interface device that provides functionality to monitor one or more bioelectrical signals from a set of bioelectrical electrodes. Processor automatically adjusts a selected one of: (i) a resting threshold; and (ii) a switch threshold that is greater than the resting threshold based at least in part on a trend of the bioelectrical signal. The processor determines whether an amplitude of the bioelectrical signal is less than the resting threshold. In response to determining that the amplitude is less than the resting threshold, the processor determines whether an amplitude of the bioelectrical signal subsequently is equal to or greater than the switch threshold. In response to determining that the bioelectrical signal is greater than the switch threshold, the processor triggers the user interface device with a switch signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Control Bionics Holdings Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: James E. Schorey, Peter S. Ford, Robert W. Wong
  • Patent number: 7949138
    Abstract: Secure instant messaging is described. In an embodiment, a messaging device encrypts a challenge identifier to generate an encrypted challenge message, and communicates the encrypted challenge message via a peer-to-peer communication link to a recipient messaging device. The recipient messaging device decrypts the encrypted challenge message and encrypts the challenge identifier as a return challenge identifier to generate an encrypted challenge return. The messaging device receives the encrypted challenge return from the recipient messaging device, decrypts the encrypted challenge return, and verifies that the return challenge identifier matches the challenge identifier to establish that communications are secure when communicated via the peer-to-peer communication link and, optionally, to establish control policies pertaining to a communication received at the recipient messaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eyal Schwartz, Peter S. Ford, John S Holmes
  • Patent number: 7949873
    Abstract: Secure instant messaging is described. In an embodiment, a messaging device encrypts a challenge identifier to generate an encrypted challenge message, and communicates the encrypted challenge message via a peer-to-peer communication link to a recipient messaging device. The recipient messaging device decrypts the encrypted challenge message and encrypts the challenge identifier as a return challenge identifier to generate an encrypted challenge return. The messaging device receives the encrypted challenge return from the recipient messaging device, decrypts the encrypted challenge return, and verifies that the return challenge identifier matches the challenge identifier to establish that communications are secure when communicated via the peer-to-peer communication link and, optionally, to establish control policies pertaining to a communication received at the recipient messaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eyal Schwartz, Peter S. Ford, John S Holmes
  • Patent number: 7693958
    Abstract: Instant messaging with data sharing is described. One or more of the described techniques may be employed to share data in conjunction with an instant messaging session, even if one or more clients which are to share the data are not currently available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Teodosiu, Peter S. Ford
  • Patent number: 7693139
    Abstract: A system for assisting a user in selecting a packet-based telephony service provider (“PBTSP”) from a group of PBTSPs, and in registering the user with the selected PBTSP for outbound and/or inbound calling. The selection of a particular PBTSP may be stored in a database, and this stored information may be used to enable the user to exchange telephone call data with one of the PBTSPs. One preferred system receives data from the user's computer device, determines whether the user is registered with one the PBTSPs and, if so, transmits data to the computer device which enables it to exchange telephone call data with one of the PBTSPs. The system also receives telephone call data from the computer device, accesses contact information for a PBTSP, and transmits the received telephone call data to the PBTSP using the accessed contact information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Glasser, Peter S. Ford, Jeremy D. Stone, Brian R. Daugherty
  • Patent number: 7647430
    Abstract: A robust device messaging framework is disclosed that enables a user to send commands to a device. A provisioning service is used to provision unique device identities and maps user web identities to device identities. The provisioning service also limits device per day provisioning attempts to limit denial of service attacks. A command service allows remote users to issue commands to a device, synchronize outgoing commands with incoming results, receive accurate feedback about whether a command was received, and maintain state information about the device. A device layer encrypts and stores device identities, authenticates itself with the command service, establishes a high-availability Internet connection to receive alerts that a command has issued, and reports results to the server-based command service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Norman N. Ng, Michael P. Hart, David M. Miller, Jonathan Wilkins, Kenneth Fern, Markham F. MacLin, Peter S. Ford, Scott D. Sanders, Walter VonKoch
  • Patent number: 7602756
    Abstract: A device control model provides an integrated set of addressing, naming, discovery and description processes that enables automatic, dynamic and ad-hoc self-setup by devices to interoperate with other devices on a network. This permits a computing device when introduced into a network to automatically configure so as to connect and interact with other computing devices available on the network, without a user installation experience and without downloading driver software or persisting a configuration setup for connecting and interacting with such other computing devices. Upon completing interaction with such other devices, the computing device automatically releases the setup for such other devices so as to avoid persistent device configurations that might create a configuration maintenance and management burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ye Gu, Peter S. Ford, Holly Knight, Yaron Y. Goland, Paul J. Leach
  • Patent number: 7558846
    Abstract: A device control model provides an integrated set of addressing, naming, discovery and description processes that enables automatic, dynamic and ad-hoc self-setup by devices to interoperate with other devices on a network. This permits a computing device when introduced into a network to automatically configure so as to connect and interact with other computing devices available on the network, without a user installation experience and without downloading driver software or persisting a configuration setup for connecting and interacting with such other computing devices. Upon completing interaction with such other devices, the computing device automatically releases the setup for such other devices so as to avoid persistent device configurations that might create a configuration maintenance and management burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ye Gu, Peter S. Ford, Holly Knight, Paul J. Leach, Yaron Y. Goland
  • Patent number: 7487230
    Abstract: A device control model provides an integrated set of addressing, naming, discovery and description processes that enables automatic, dynamic and ad-hoc self-setup by devices to interoperate with other devices on a network. This permits a computing device when introduced into a network to automatically configure so as to connect and interact with other computing devices available on the network, without a user installation experience and without downloading driver software or persisting a configuration setup for connecting and interacting with such other computing devices. Upon completing interaction with such other devices, the computing device automatically releases the setup for such other devices so as to avoid persistent device configurations that might create a configuration maintenance and management burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ye Gu, Peter S. Ford, Holly Knight, Yaron Y. Goland, Paul J. Leach
  • Patent number: 7441019
    Abstract: A universal plug and play (UPnP) device makes itself known through a set of processes—discovery, description, control, eventing, and presentation. Following discovery of a UPnP device, an entity can learn more about the device and its capabilities by retrieving the device's description. The description includes vendor-specific manufacturer information like the model name and number, serial number, manufacturer name, URLs to vendor-specific Web sites, etc. The description also includes a list of any embedded devices or services, as well as URLs for control, eventing, and presentation. The description is written by a vendor, and is usually based on a device template produced by a UPnP forum working committee. The template is derived from a template language that is used to define elements to describe the device and any services supported by the device. The template language is written using an XML-based syntax that organizes and structures the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Zintel, Amar S. Gandhi, Ye Gu, Shyamalan Pather, Jeffrey C. Schlimmer, Christopher M. Rude, Daniel R. Weisman, Donald R. Ryan, Paul J. Leach, Ting Cai, Holly N. Knight, Peter S. Ford
  • Patent number: 7437434
    Abstract: A universal plug and play (UPnP) device makes itself known through a set of processes—discovery, description, control, eventing, and presentation. Following discovery of a UPnP device, an entity can learn more about the device and its capabilities by retrieving the device's description. The description includes vendor-specific manufacturer information like the model name and number, serial number, manufacturer name, URLs to vendor-specific Web sites, etc. The description also includes a list of any embedded devices or services, as well as URLs for control, eventing, and presentation. The description is written by a vendor, and is usually based on a device template produced by a UPnP forum working committee. The template is derived from a template language that is used to define elements to describe the device and any services supported by the device. The template language is written using an XML-based syntax that organizes and structures the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William Michael Zintel, Amar S. Gandhi, Ye Gu, Shyamalan Pather, Jeffrey C. Schlimmer, Christopher M. Rude, Daniel R. Weisman, Donald R. Ryan, Paul J. Leach, Ting Cai, Holly N. Knight, Peter S. Ford
  • Patent number: 7380006
    Abstract: A method and system are directed at automatically tuning a TCP receive window (RWIN). The size of the RWIN may be determined by attributes of a network card. One attribute used to size the RWIN is the speed of the adapter card. The adapter speed is readily available by polling the network card. Once the speed is known, the size of the RWIN is selected from a table and is automatically set. Alternatively, the size of the RWIN may be determined by a formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nk Srinivas, Art Shelest, Peter S. Ford
  • Patent number: 7130895
    Abstract: A device control model provides an integrated set of addressing, naming, discovery and description processes that enables automatic, dynamic and ad-hoc self-setup by devices to interoperate with other devices on a network. This permits a computing device when introduced into a network to automatically configure so as to connect and interact with other computing devices available on the network, without a user installation experience and without downloading driver software or persisting a configuration setup for connecting and interacting with such other computing devices. Upon completing interaction with such other devices, the computing device automatically releases the setup for such other devices so as to avoid persistent device configurations that might create a configuration maintenance and management burden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William Michael Zintel, Amar S. Gandhi, Ye Gu, Paul J. Leach, Ting Cai, Holly N. Knight, Peter S. Ford