Patents by Inventor Robert Novak

Robert Novak 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: 9635695
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for determining the proximity of client nodes within a wireless-enabled communication environment. A first client node comprises a database containing identification data associated with a plurality of wireless network access nodes and fingerprint data associated with the client node and a plurality of second client nodes. As the fingerprint information is updated, it is processed by the first client node to identify second client nodes that have matching, or similar, fingerprint information. Those that do are determined to be within a viable device-to-device (D2D) communication range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Gwyn Steer, Dongsheng Yu, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20170111804
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, articles of manufacture and systems for providing secondary coverage in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Example methods for a first device to provide secondary coverage in a mobile communication system include transmitting a secondary coverage signal and receiving a presence indication from a second device. Such example methods can also include reporting the presence indication to an access node of the mobile communication system. Such example methods can further include receiving information from the access node to enable relay node functionality in the first device in response to reporting the presence indication to the access node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Biswaroop MUKHERJEE, Jack Anthony SMITH, Masoud EBRAHIMI TAZEH MAHALLEH, William Anthony GAGE, Robert NOVAK
  • Patent number: 9614650
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for allocating time-frequency resources for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) communications between base stations and mobile stations. Different forms of resource allocation messages including combinations of bitmaps and bitfields provide additional information about the resources and/or how they are assigned. In some implementations the resource allocation messages enable reduced overhead, which may ultimately improve transmission rates and/or the quality of transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Mo-Han Fong, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic
  • Patent number: 9608773
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Patent number: 9565573
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, articles of manufacture and systems for providing secondary coverage in a mobile communication system are disclosed. Example methods for a first device to provide secondary coverage in a mobile communication system include transmitting a secondary coverage signal and receiving a presence indication from a second device. Such example methods can also include reporting the presence indication to an access node of the mobile communication system. Such example methods can further include receiving information from the access node to enable relay node functionality in the first device in response to reporting the presence indication to the access node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Biswaroop Mukherjee, Jack Anthony Smith, Masoud Ebrahimi Tazeh Mahalleh, William Anthony Gage, Robert Novak
  • Publication number: 20170012741
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Patent number: 9468032
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for managing device-to-device (D2D) communications session in a wireless-enabled communication environment. A first client node comprises a database containing location and ID information associated with a plurality of second client nodes. The location information in the database is updated as individual second client nodes change their location. As the location information is updated, it is processed by the first client node to determine the distance between it and an individual second client node. If the distance between the first client node and the individual second client node is within a viable D2D communications range, then the user of the first client node is notified that a D2D communications session can be initiated with the individual second client node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, David Gwyn Steer, Dongsheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9467254
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Publication number: 20160277157
    Abstract: Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Mo-han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20160248549
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic
  • Publication number: 20160183257
    Abstract: A method and system are provided having an uplink control structure and a pilot signal having minimal signal overhead for providing channel estimation and data demodulation in a wireless communication network. The uplink control structures enable mobile terminals to communicate with corresponding base stations to perform various functions including obtaining initial system access, submitting a bandwidth request, triggering a continuation of negotiated service, or providing a proposed allocation re-configuration header. A dedicated random access channel is provided to communicatively couple the base station and the mobile terminal so that the mobile terminal can select a random access signaling identification. A resource request is received at the base station to uplink resource information from the mobile terminal and an initial access information request is received from the mobile terminal to configure the base station connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Sophie Vrzic, Jun Yuan, Mo-Han Fong, Robert Novak, Dong-Sheng Yu, Jianglei Ma
  • Patent number: 9374198
    Abstract: Methods described herein are for wireless communication systems. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method for a HARQ process, in which the HARQ process includes a first transmission of an encoder packet and at least one retransmission. The method involves allocating a transmission resource for each respective transmission. The method involves transmitting control information from a base station to a mobile station for each respective transmission. The control information includes information to uniquely identify the HARQ process and an identification of one of a time resource, a frequency resource and a time and frequency resource that is allocated for the transmission. In some embodiments of the invention, specific control information is signalled from a base station to a mobile station to enable RAS-HARQ operation. In some embodiments of the invention, retransmission signaling in included as part of regular unicast signaling used for both first transmission and retransmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu
  • Publication number: 20160174235
    Abstract: A system and method of receiving a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) is presented. At a user equipment, a first CSI-RS transmitted from a base station is received. In some implementations, the first CSI-RS is transmitted at a first periodicity using a first set of antenna ports. At the user equipment, a second CSI-RS transmitted from the base station is received. In some implementations, the second CSI-RS is transmitted at a second periodicity using a second set of antenna ports. At least one of the first CSI-RS and the second CSI-RS is used to perform channel measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Mo-Han Fong, Dongsheng Yu, Hua XU, Robert NOVAK, Shiguang GUO, Zhijun CAI, Youn Hyoung HEO
  • Publication number: 20160128122
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for managing device-to-device (D2D) communications session in a wireless-enabled communication environment. A first client node comprises a database containing location and ID information associated with a plurality of second client nodes. The location information in the database is updated as individual second client nodes change their location. As the location information is updated, it is processed by the first client node to determine the distance between it and an individual second client node. If the distance between the first client node and the individual second client node is within a viable D2D communications range, then the user of the first client node is notified that a D2D communications session can be initiate with the individual second client node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Novak, David Gwyn Steer, Dongsheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9301281
    Abstract: A method for communication in a wireless telecommunications network is provided. The method comprises coordinating, by a wireless device, with a first network node to identify a first radio resource configuration comprising a first set of radio resources which is used by the wireless device to communicate with the first network node. The first set of radio resources comprises at least one of radio resources in which the wireless device transmits to the first network node, or radio resources in which the wireless device receives from the first network node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, William Anthony Gage, Biswaroop Mukherjee, Yufei Wu Blankenship
  • Publication number: 20160088644
    Abstract: A multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communication system comprising a master base station and a slave base station. The master base station has a plurality of transmit antennas and transmits a first set of data to a mobile station in a first transmission. The slave base station has a plurality of transmit antennas and transmits a second set of data to the mobile station in the first transmission. The master base station retransmits the second set of data to the mobile station during a first retransmission and the slave base station retransmits the first set of data to the mobile station during the first retransmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Kelvin Kar-Kin Au, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Robert Novak, Jun Yuan
  • Patent number: 9295044
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses of a wireless communications network can involve transmitting, to a first user equipment (UE), configuration information for the first UE (UE1 configuration information) for an inter-device session (IDS) between the first UE and a second UE. The UE1 configuration information may include a first IDS radio network temporary identifier (IDS-RNTI). A radio resource control (RRC) message indicating a resource allocation can be transmitted to the first UE for the first UE to communicate directly with the second UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Robert Novak, William Anthony Gage, Biswaroop Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9288024
    Abstract: Methods, base stations and access terminals for uplink signalling are provided. Resource request channel characteristics such as location in time-frequency, sequence, time slot, are assigned to each access terminal to distinguish their resource requests from the resource requests of other access terminals. Access terminals make requests using a resource request on a resource request channel having the assigned characteristics. The base station can then determine which access terminal transmitted 0 the resource request based on the resource request channel characteristics of the resource request channel upon which the resource>request was received. The base station then transmits a response to the request which may for example be a new resource allocation, a default allocation or a renewal of a previous allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic, Jun Yuan, Dong-Sheng Yu, Jianglei Ma
  • Patent number: 9281572
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for improving capacity in wireless communications systems for use in areas having a high user traffic density. For reception, signals received from an antenna array are processed by performing a transformation comprising aperture synthesis to map signal content received from the antenna array to at least one element of a plurality of elements in an image plane storage to produce a time series of values for the at least one element, and then by assigning the at least one element to at least one radio access transceiver of a plurality of radio access transceivers for receiving the time series of values from the at least one element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David G. Steer, Robert Novak, Dongsheng Yu
  • Patent number: 9281882
    Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a multiple-input-multiple-output space-time coded communication using a mapping table mapping a plurality of symbols defining the communication to respective antennae from amongst a plurality of transmission antennae and to at least one other transmission resource. The mapping table may comprise Alamouti-coded primary segments and may also comprise secondary segments, comprising primary segments. The primary segments in the secondary segments may be defined in accordance to an to Alamouti based code pattern applied at the segment level to define a segment-level Alamouti based code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Novak, Hosein Nikopourdeilami, Mo-Han Fong, Sophie Vrzic