Patents by Inventor Robert W. Brumley

Robert W. Brumley 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: 12085657
    Abstract: In some aspects, a mobile device may receive, from a transmitting device, the signal by a plurality of antennas. The mobile device may measure one or more phase differences among the signal received at the plurality of antennas. The mobile device may determine a first set of possible values for the angle of arrival that are consistent with the one or more phase differences. The mobile device may measure one or more signal values using one or more sensors of the mobile device. The mobile device may for each of the first set of possible values, determining a confidence score based on the one or more signal values. The mobile device may select, based on the confidence scores, one of the first set of possible values as the angle of arrival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Qiang Chen, Robert W. Brumley
  • Publication number: 20240298140
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for communication techniques between an electronic device (e.g., a smart speaker, a smart TV, a smart appliance, etc.) and one or more mobile devices (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device etc.). Techniques can vary the rate the mobile device responds to ranging messages based on one or more factors. These factors can include a state of the mobile device (e.g., awake or asleep), mobile device orientation (e.g., face down), application state (e.g., music App active), motion of the mobile device (e.g., at rest for period of time), and a range (distance/angle) between the mobile device and the speaker to conserve battery life. The range to the electronic device can activate one or more features on the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Brumley, Peter C. Tsoi, Yagil Burowski
  • Patent number: 11991586
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for communication techniques between an electronic device (e.g., a smart speaker, a smart TV, a smart appliance, etc.) and one or more mobile devices (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable device etc.). Techniques can vary the rate the mobile device responds to ranging messages from the smart speaker based on one or more factors. These factors can include a state of the mobile device (e.g., awake or asleep), mobile device orientation (e.g., face down), application state (e.g., music App active), motion of the mobile device (e.g., at rest for period of time), and a range (distance/angle) between the mobile device and the speaker to conserve battery life. The range to the electronic device can activate one or more smart speaker features on the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Brumley, Peter C. Tsoi, Yagil Burowski
  • Publication number: 20240027570
    Abstract: A wireless device may coordinate UWB channel usage with neighboring devices. In some embodiments, an initiator may periodically send an ultra-wideband acquisition packets (UWB-AP). The UWB-AP may comprise information of future UWB channel usage of the initiator. Neighboring UWB devices may receive the UWB-AP and adjust channel usage based on the UWB-AP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Lochan Verma, Robert Golshan, Robert W. Brumley, Yong Liu
  • Publication number: 20230397154
    Abstract: In some implementations, the device may include conducting ranging with one or more playback devices to determine ranging information between the mobile device and each of the one or more playback devices, where the one or more playback devices are configured to play the streaming data when received from the mobile device, and where the ranging information provides at least one of a distance and an orientation between the mobile device and each of the one or more playback devices. In addition, the device may include detecting a selection of a media item. Also, the device may include identifying a particular playback device from the one or more playback devices for playing the selected media item based on the ranging information of the mobile device relative to each of the one or more playback devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yagil Burowski, Robert W. Brumley, Charles W. Duyk, Ron Eyal, Yunxing Ye
  • Publication number: 20230379655
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for passive beacon communication techniques. Transmitting devices (e.g., beacons) can transmit advertising messages using a first wireless protocol to provide timing for ranging messages for one of more ranging messages over a second protocol (e.g., UWB). One or more receiving devices can determine using signal strength if the devices are within a threshold range to perform communication techniques. Various ranging communications techniques can be used to determine a range between the receiving device and transmitting device. Other techniques can be used to passively calculate the angle of arrival for transmitter signals. The angle of arrival information can be used for precise position locating for the receiving device or to indicate interest in information provided by the one or more transmitting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yagil Burowski, Santhoshkumar Mani, Robert W. Brumley
  • Publication number: 20230353365
    Abstract: A mobile device may receive a plurality of polling messages with each polling message including an identifier of a particular access device transmitting the polling message. Each polling message of the plurality of polling messages may be transmitted during a polling phase. The mobile device may select a timeslot of a response phase of a communication session. The mobile device may transmit a response message during the timeslot of the response phase. The mobile device may receive, during a third phase, an assignment message including an assigned timeslot for a response phase of a future session. The mobile device may perform secure ranging with one or more access devices of the plurality of access devices during the future session using the assigned timeslot. The mobile device may provide an access credential to the one or more access devices based on a location determined using the secure ranging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Qiang Chen, Robert W. Brumley, Robert Golshan, Jinjing Jiang
  • Patent number: 11765544
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for passive beacon communication techniques. Transmitting devices (e.g., beacons) can transmit advertising messages using a first wireless protocol to provide timing for ranging messages for one of more ranging messages over a second protocol (e.g., UWB). One or more receiving devices can determine using signal strength if the devices are within a threshold range to perform communication techniques. Various ranging communications techniques can be used to determine a range between the receiving device and transmitting device. Other techniques can be used to passively calculate the angle of arrival for transmitter signals. The angle of arrival information can be used for precise position locating for the receiving device or to indicate interest in information provided by the one or more transmitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yagil Burowski, Santhoshkumar Mani, Robert W. Brumley
  • Publication number: 20230239656
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for allowing a mobile device (e.g., a key fob or a consumer electronic device, such as a mobile phone, watch, or other wearable device) to interact with a vehicle such that a location of the mobile device can be determined by the vehicle, thereby enabling certain functionality of the vehicle. A device may include both RF antenna(s) and magnetic antenna(s) for determining a location of a mobile device relative to the vehicle. Such a hybrid approach can provide various advantages. Existing magnetic coils on a mobile device (e.g., for charging or communication) may be re-used for distance measurements that are supplemented by the RF measurements. Any device antenna may provide measurements to a machine learning model that determines a region in which the mobile device resides, based on training measurements in the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Brumley, Robert William Mayor, William J. Bencze, Alejandro J. Marquez, Shang-Te Yang, Xu Chen, Indranil S. Sen, Mohit Narang
  • Patent number: 11693467
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reducing a power consumption of an electronic device while maintaining some functionality of the electronic device while the electronic device is in a low power mode. The device may be in the low power mode due to a battery level being below a threshold. If the battery level is below the threshold, the electronic device may enter the low power mode. However, before entering the low power mode, some functionality of an application processor may be transferred to a communication controller. Once the functionality is transferred, the application processor may be disabled to reduce power consumption while maintaining functionality of the application processor. The electronic device may also utilize various communication protocols to communicate with a peripheral device. Even though the electronic device may be in the low power mode, the communication controller may be used to cause the peripheral device to perform various actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Langford M. Wasada, Arun Unkn, Andrew C. Chang, Sriram Hariharan, Robert W. Brumley, Raman S. Thiara
  • Patent number: 11671530
    Abstract: A mobile device can include ranging circuitry to determine distance to another mobile device. A first wireless protocol can establish an initial communication session to perform authentication and/or exchange ranging settings. A second protocol can perform ranging, and other wireless protocols can transmit content. In one example, the distance information can be used to display a relative position of another device on a user interface of a sending device. The user interface can allow a user to quickly and accurately select the recipient device for sending the data item. As other example, the distance information obtained from ranging can be used to trigger a notification (e.g., a reminder) to be output from a first mobile device or used to display a visual indicator on a receiving device. Proximity of a device (e.g., as determined by a distance) can be used to suggest recipient for a new communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Marc J. Krochmal, Robert W. Brumley, Sriram Hariharan
  • Patent number: 11627433
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for allowing a mobile device (e.g., a key fob or a consumer electronic device, such as a mobile phone, watch, or other wearable device) to interact with a vehicle such that a location of the mobile device can be determined by the vehicle, thereby enabling certain functionality of the vehicle. A device may include both RF antenna(s) and magnetic antenna(s) for determining a location of a mobile device relative to the vehicle. Such a hybrid approach can provide various advantages. Existing magnetic coils on a mobile device (e.g., for charging or communication) may be re-used for distance measurements that are supplemented by the RF measurements. Any device antenna may provide measurements to a machine learning model that determines a region in which the mobile device resides, based on training measurements in the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Robert W. Brumley, Robert William Mayor, William J. Bencze, Alejandro J. Marquez, Shang-Te Yang, Xu Chen, Indranil S. Sen, Mohit Narang
  • Patent number: 11622243
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, or a non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for many-to-many communication techniques for coordinating communications among a group of mobile devices that can be performed by a first mobile devices. The first mobile device can transmit a request to establish outgoing pairwise ranging sessions with other mobile devices of the group. Each of the mobile devices of the group of mobile devices can establish ranging sessions with the other mobile devices. Each mobile device can act as both an initiating device and a responding device for the ranging session. The first mobile device can detect one or more redundant ranging sessions the mobile devices. The first mobile device can identify whether to keep or terminate each of the one or more redundant ranging sessions based on a common criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yagil Burowski, Robert W. Brumley, Brandon S. Dewberry
  • Publication number: 20230062363
    Abstract: Techniques for ranging for a mobile device with one or more electronic devices using communication circuitry implementing a wireless protocol can include storing a schedule for a plurality of communication sessions. The technique can include broadcasting the advertising packets during a selected number of available time slots of a second time period, the advertising packets including information about the schedule for the plurality of communication sessions. After broadcasting an advertising packet during a selected time slot, the technique can include entering a reduced power state for the communication circuitry until a subsequent advertising packet is sent or a subsequent first time period for communicating the ranging packets as specified by the schedule. The technique can include exiting the reduced power state for the communication circuitry prior to the subsequent first time period. The technique can include transmitting a ranging packet via the wireless protocol according to the schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Robert Golshan, Adwait N. Dongare, Robert W. Brumley
  • Publication number: 20230061200
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reducing a power consumption of an electronic device while maintaining some functionality of the electronic device while the electronic device is in a low power mode. The device may be in the low power mode due to a battery level being below a threshold. If the battery level is below the threshold, the electronic device may enter the low power mode. However, before entering the low power mode, some functionality of an application processor may be transferred to a communication controller. Once the functionality is transferred, the application processor may be disabled to reduce power consumption while maintaining functionality of the application processor. The electronic device may also utilize various communication protocols to communicate with a peripheral device. Even though the electronic device may be in the low power mode, the communication controller may be used to cause the peripheral device to perform various actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Langford M. Wasada, Arun Unkn, Andrew C. Chang, Sriram Hariharan, Robert W. Brumley, Raman S. Thiara
  • Publication number: 20230056966
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for passive beacon communication techniques. Transmitting devices (e.g., beacons) can transmit advertising messages using a first wireless protocol to provide timing for ranging messages for one of more ranging messages over a second protocol (e.g., UWB). One or more receiving devices can determine using signal strength if the devices are within a threshold range to perform communication techniques. Various ranging communications techniques can be used to determine a range between the receiving device and transmitting device. Other techniques can be used to passively calculate the angle of arrival for transmitter signals. The angle of arrival information can be used for precise position locating for the receiving device or to indicate interest in information provided by the one or more transmitting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yagil Burowski, Santhoshkumar Mani, Robert W. Brumley
  • Publication number: 20230051718
    Abstract: A mobile device can include ranging circuitry to determine distance to another mobile device. A first wireless protocol can establish an initial communication session to perform authentication and/or exchange ranging settings. A second protocol can perform ranging, and other wireless protocols can transmit content. In one example, the distance information can be used to display a relative position of another device on a user interface of a sending device. The user interface can allow a user to quickly and accurately select the recipient device for sending the data item. As another example, the distance information obtained from ranging can be used to trigger a notification (e.g., a reminder) to be output from a first mobile device or used to display a visual indicator on a receiving device. Proximity of a device (e.g., as determined by a distance) can be used to suggest recipient for a new communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Marc J. Krochmal, Robert W. Brumley, Sriram Hariharan
  • Publication number: 20220390541
    Abstract: In some aspects, a mobile device may receive, from a transmitting device, the signal by a plurality of antennas. The mobile device may measure one or more phase differences among the signal received at the plurality of antennas. The mobile device may determine a first set of possible values for the angle of arrival that are consistent with the one or more phase differences. The mobile device may measure one or more signal values using one or more sensors of the mobile device. The mobile device may for each of the first set of possible values, determining a confidence score based on the one or more signal values. The mobile device may select, based on the confidence scores, one of the first set of possible values as the angle of arrival.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Qiang Chen, Robert W. Brumley
  • Patent number: 11516337
    Abstract: A mobile device can include ranging circuitry to determine distance to another mobile device. A first wireless protocol can establish an initial communication session to perform authentication and/or exchange ranging settings. A second protocol can perform ranging, and other wireless protocols can transmit content. In one example, the distance information can be used to display a relative position of another device on a user interface of a sending device. The user interface can allow a user to quickly and accurately select the recipient device for sending the data item. As other example, the distance information obtained from ranging can be used to trigger a notification (e.g., a reminder) to be output from a first mobile device or used to display a visual indicator on a receiving device. Proximity of a device (e.g., as determined by a distance) can be used to suggest recipient for a new communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brent M. Ledvina, Marc J. Krochmal, Robert W. Brumley, Sriram Hariharan
  • Patent number: 11470444
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for passive beacon communication techniques. Transmitting devices (e.g., beacons) can transmit advertising messages using a first wireless protocol to provide timing for ranging messages for one of more ranging messages over a second protocol (e.g., UWB). One or more receiving devices can determine using signal strength if the devices are within a threshold range to perform communication techniques. Various ranging communications techniques can be used to determine a range between the receiving device and transmitting device. Other techniques can be used to passively calculate the angle of arrival for transmitter signals. The angle of arrival information can be used for precise position locating for the receiving device or to indicate interest in information provided by the one or more transmitting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yagil Burowski, Santhoshkumar Mani, Robert W. Brumley