Patents by Inventor Rodric C. Fan

Rodric C. Fan 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: 8130697
    Abstract: The invention is a system, a device, and a method that allows remote mobile unit monitoring. The communication system of the invention includes a plurality of mobile units monitored by a stationary unit. Each of the mobile units has a processor, a memory, and a wireless modem for automatically generating a status report and transmitting the status report in an e-mail format without user intervention. The processor of the mobile unit determines when and whether to send a status report by determining if a predefined condition is fulfilled. The stationary unit, which is primarily a user interface unit, parses the status report in the received e-mail and presents the report to the user. Most of the processing and storage capabilities of the system reside in the individual mobile units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Genx Mobile, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Edward David Mleczko, Sean Dominic Taylor
  • Patent number: 7996018
    Abstract: An in-vehicle system comprises a location unit, a frequency selection unit, and a receiving unit. Frequency tuning data is loaded into the selection unit. The frequency tuning data includes a radio signal reception area for each unique frequency in the tuning data. The location unit determines the system location and passes the location information to the frequency selection unit. The selection unit selects tuning data for a particular frequency having a signal reception area that encompasses the present vehicle location, and passes the selected data to the receiving unit. The receiving unit uses the selected tuning data to tune the radio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Rodric C. Fan
  • Patent number: 7801553
    Abstract: Vehicle maintenance-related services are provided from a server over a wide area network, such as the Internet. Under one method, a server that is accessible over the wide area network through a wireless communication link is provided. Then, in a vehicle, an apparatus is provided to collect, over a data bus in the vehicle, data relating to an operation of the vehicle. The data received from the data bus is then communicated to the server over the wireless communication link. Based on the data received at the server, the maintenance-related services is then initiated. The operation data of the vehicle can be collected from various subsystems of the vehicle, such as a brake sub-system, an engine sub-system and various sensors located at various subsystems of the vehicle. Under one mode of operation, the data collected from these subsystems are reported to the server at pre-determined time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kulbir S Saudhu, Rodric C. Fan, David B Mleczko
  • Patent number: 7738878
    Abstract: A position determination method in a mobile unit uses the telephone number of a wireline telephone and a reverse phone-book operation for determining the location of a mobile unit. In one embodiment, a method for determining the location of a mobile unit using a telephone number of a wireline telephone in the vicinity of the mobile unit includes receiving at a server the telephone number transmitted from the mobile unit using wireless communication through a data network, retrieving an address associated with the telephone number in the server, and retrieving a location of the mobile unit based on the address. The server may provide location-relevant information using the location information. The system and method of the present invention provides a low cost solution to position determination in wireless hand-held devices and can be used to supplement the conventional positioning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Carey B. Fan
  • Patent number: 7590681
    Abstract: A method and a system allow presentation of web pages to an internet appliance (e.g., a hand-held computer, a mobile telephone, or a digital personal assistant) according to user preferences. The user preferences are captured by a management server, which provides a web page customization service in conjunction with a document manager, which parses the web pages to identify information units. The customized web pages are stored in a database using a standardized hypertext document representation device, such as XML. The customized web pages are accessible from a portal adapted for accessing by the internet appliance. In one implementation, the user is also offered pre-configured resources for frequently used services when accessing the portal using the internet device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Daniel T. Chang, Jay Raju, Rodric C. Fan, Haiqi Chen, Paul Chen
  • Patent number: 7574215
    Abstract: A positioning information distribution system for distributing positioning information through a data network is described. In one embodiment, the system distributes satellite information from a global positioning system (GPS). The system includes an information processing station connected to a data network accessible by wireless communication, a receiving station including a GPS receiver, and a mobile unit including a GPS receiver and a wireless receiver. The information processing station collects GPS satellite information from the receiving station and transmits the satellite information to the mobile unit using wireless communication. Alternately, a network of receiving stations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Per K. Enge
  • Patent number: 7535416
    Abstract: A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the display location information to a location-relevant service server using the second mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Julia A. Langley, Edward D. Meczko, Kulbir S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7509116
    Abstract: A system for remotely tracking a mobile unit is presented. The system includes a computer connected to a data network, mobile units collecting data and transmitting the data to the computer, and a configuration database connected to the data network. The configuration database stores configuration parameters for the mobile units. The mobile units are programmed to contact the configuration database upon being powered on, obtain the configuration parameters, and transmit the collected data to the computer according to the configuration parameters. Since each configuration file could apply to multiple mobile units, the system provides an efficient way to control the data reporting patterns of many mobile units. The configuration database may be organized in layers of configuration files for improved flexibility. Files from different layers can be mixed and matched and then applied to a group of mobile units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: GenX Mobile Incorporated
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Edward David Mleczko, Sean Dominic Taylor
  • Publication number: 20080132246
    Abstract: Vehicle maintenance-related services are provided from a server over a wide area network, such as the Internet. Under one method, a server that is accessible over the wide area network through a wireless communication link is provided. Then, in a vehicle, an apparatus is provided to collect, over a data bus in the vehicle, data relating to an operation of the vehicle. The data received from the data bus is then communicated to the server over the wireless communication link. Based on the data received at the server, the maintenance-related services is then initiated. The operation data of the vehicle can be collected from various subsystems of the vehicle, such as a brake sub-system, an engine sub-system and various sensors located at various subsystems of the vehicle. Under one mode of operation, the data collected from these subsystems are reported to the server at pre-determined time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Kulbir S. Sandhu, Rodric C. Fan, David Mleczko
  • Patent number: 7301925
    Abstract: Presented is a method and apparatus for selectively using a local area network and a wide area network in a hybrid network system. A mobile unit receives information, for example positioning information from Global Positioning System satellites. Upon receiving information, the mobile unit associates the information with either a WAN category or a LAN category. Information in the WAN category are transmitted to a WAN computer via a wide area network and information in the LAN category is transmitted to a LAN computer via a local area network. A user may specify which network he wants to use. Alternatively, the mobile unit may be programmed with criteria by which it can categorize the received information. The WAN computer and the LAN computer may be coupled, allowing a user to access the LAN computer via the WAN or the WAN computer via the LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: At Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Paresh L. Nagda, Sandeep Manojkumar Singh, Kenny Man D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7239887
    Abstract: Vehicle maintenance-related services are provided from a server over a wide area network, such as the Internet. Under one method, a server that is accessible over the wide area network through a wireless communication link is provided. Then, in a vehicle, an apparatus is provided to collect, over a data bus in the vehicle, data relating to an operation of the vehicle. The data received from the data bus is then communicated to the server over the wireless communication link. Based on the data received at the server, the maintenance-related services is then initiated. The operation data of the vehicle can be collected from various subsystems of the vehicle, such as a brake sub-system, an engine sub-system and various sensors located at various subsystems of the vehicle. Under one mode of operation, the data collected from these subsystems are reported to the server at pre-determined time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kulbir S. Sandhu, Rodric C. Fan, David Mleczko
  • Patent number: 7227499
    Abstract: A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the displayed location information to a location-relevant service server using the second mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Julia A. Langley, Edward D. Meczko, Kulbir S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 6980812
    Abstract: A method for facilitating a commercial transaction based on a current location of a mobile customer and a mobile merchant provides opportunity for commercial transaction not previously possible. In one application, the method establishes a wireless link between a server on a wide-area network and mobile customer, and obtains from the mobile customer a current location by reading automatically from a positioning device associated and located with said customer. Based on the current location so obtained, the server matches the mobile customer, as one party of the commercial transaction, with one or more business concern within a predetermined distance from the current location, so that the business concern can act as a counter-party to complete the commercial transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: @Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Kulbir S. Sandhu, Rodric C. Fan
  • Patent number: 6965665
    Abstract: A system and method for voice interaction for location-relevant mobile resource management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network server transmits a voice message to a voice device at a mobile unit upon detection that the mobile unit is within a predetermined distance of a certain location. Pursuant to another embodiment, the network server receives a voice request for location-relevant information from a user at a mobile unit and transmits responsive location-relevant information to the user as a voice message. The network server may also conduct certain actions responsive to voice requests received from users at mobile units. Users may receive information from the server via voice devices even when not located at a mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: @ Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, James D. Fay
  • Patent number: 6882313
    Abstract: A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the displayed location information to a location-relevant service server using the second mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: At Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Julia A. Langley, Edward D. Meczko, Kulbir S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 6862524
    Abstract: System and methods for determining and disseminating current traffic information and/or route information are presented. For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, traffic condition information is collected from mobile units that provide their location or position information. The traffic condition may be determined, for example, based on the difference between the velocity of each mobile unit and the speed limit corresponding to their location. Furthermore, the fastest routes between two locations may be determined and provided based on historical and/or current conditions and provided to a mobile unit. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, route information may be utilized to determine whether a mobile unit (e.g., associated with a vehicle) is allowed or prohibited from traveling along a certain route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: At Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Paresh Nagda, Wenbin Li, Julia Howlett, Rodric C. Fan, Xinnong Yang, James D. Fay
  • Patent number: 6832140
    Abstract: Presented are a method and a system by which an individual can obtain usage information of a vehicle. A mobile unit, which may be located inside a vehicle, receives data from a part of the vehicle (e.g., the odometer) and/or Global Positioning System satellites and derives parameters such as the velocity and the travel distance from the received data. Using these parameters, the mobile unit may determine time information such as the amount of time the vehicle is traveling, in idle, or in a parked state within a given time period. Alternatively, the mobile unit may transmit the parameters to a remote computer, which then determines the time information. When a user submits a query requesting a parameter or a mathematical operation on a parameter, either the mobile unit or a remote computer prepares a response and transmits the response to the appropriate user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: At Road, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, Kenny Man D. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20040162087
    Abstract: A system and method for voice interaction for location-relevant mobile resource management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network server transmits a voice message to a voice device at a mobile unit upon detection that the mobile unit is within a predetermined distance of a certain location. Pursuant to another embodiment, the network server receives a voice request for location-relevant information from a user at a mobile unit and transmits responsive location-relevant information to the user as a voice message. The network server may also conduct certain actions responsive to voice requests received from users at mobile units. Users may receive information from the server via voice devices even when not located at a mobile unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, James D. Fay
  • Publication number: 20040161092
    Abstract: A system and method for voice interaction for location-relevant mobile resource management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network server transmits a voice message to a voice device at a mobile unit upon detection that the mobile unit is within a predetermined distance of a certain location. Pursuant to another embodiment, the network server receives a voice request for location-relevant information from a user at a mobile unit and transmits responsive location-relevant information to the user as a voice message. The network server may also conduct certain actions responsive to voice requests received from users at mobile units. Users may receive information from the server via voice devices even when not located at a mobile unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, James D. Fay
  • Publication number: 20040161091
    Abstract: A system and method for voice interaction for location-relevant mobile resource management are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network server transmits a voice message to a voice device at a mobile unit upon detection that the mobile unit is within a predetermined distance of a certain location. Pursuant to another embodiment, the network server receives a voice request for location-relevant information from a user at a mobile unit and transmits responsive location-relevant information to the user as a voice message. The network server may also conduct certain actions responsive to voice requests received from users at mobile units. Users may receive information from the server via voice devices even when not located at a mobile unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Rodric C. Fan, James D. Fay