Patents by Inventor Ronald Crocker

Ronald Crocker 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: 20050227722
    Abstract: During the course of a push-to-talk talkgroup wireless communication, decisions (21) are made regarding possible subsequent push-to-talk communication needs for the group. Based at least in part upon such decisions, a network location is identified (22) to provide talker arbitration support for this talkgroup. In one embodiment the identified network location can comprise a mobile station, such as a mobile station that comprises a member of the talkgroup. In a preferred embodiment, the talker arbitration capability is then assigned (24) to the identified network location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Philip Fleming
  • Publication number: 20050169223
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need for providing substantially reduced PTT call setup times and more efficient wireless bandwidth utilization for PTT sessions utilizing an IP-based protocol. The use of non-IP messaging between an originating MS (101) and PCF (131) and a target MS (102) and PCF (132), the use of IP-based messaging between the PCFs, the use of access channel signaling by the originating MS, and the generation of SIP responses by a target PCF on behalf of the target MS are described. Embodiments incorporating some or all of these protocol changes, can provide either, or both, reduced end-to-end call setup time for PTT as it presently exists in IS-2000 systems or reduced bandwidth consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart, Robert Horvath
  • Publication number: 20050122937
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to address the need for providing substantially reduced PTT call setup delays. Modifications to channel assignment request messaging (400), such as an IS-2000 Reconnect Message and an IS-2000 Origination Message, are described. In addition, the use of common control channel signaling (e.g., 201), changes to page response messaging (e.g., 301) and new uses for A9-Short Data Delivery messaging (e.g., 203 and 303) are described. Embodiments incorporating some or all of these protocol changes, can provide reduced end-to-end call setup time for PTT as it presently exists in IS-2000 systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hart, Ronald Crocker
  • Publication number: 20050048995
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operating characteristics of a buffer in a mobile unit. At least one communication from a source mobile unit may be received in a play-out buffer at a destination mobile unit. The play-out buffer may have an associated play-out depth. The communications received at the play-out buffer may be played to a recipient at the destination mobile unit. The remaining play-out depth of the play-out buffer in the destination mobile unit may be determined. An indication may be formed and sent to the source mobile unit when the remaining play-out depth of the play-out buffer in the destination mobile unit reaches a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker
  • Publication number: 20050009537
    Abstract: The need to facilitate wireless presence-based services more efficiently is addressed by embodiments of the present invention. In general, a wireless presence proxy (WPP) (131) caches presence updates (such as buddy list presence updates) from a presence server (161) for a mobile station (MS) (101). The WPP maintains presence information, which reflects the presence updates received, for transfer to the MS when an update condition exists. Thus, updates are made when, for example, a resource-efficient condition is present, such as the assignment of a traffic channel for other call activity. The WPP also updates the presence server, on behalf of the MS, when the MS presence status changes. In this manner, the embodiments described are able to reduce the system resources required to facilitate wireless presence-based services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Crocker, John Harris, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20050009547
    Abstract: The need to decrease paging-related delays in wireless systems (100) is addressed by embodiments herein. A RAN (201) anticipates that an MS (120) is likely to be a target of communication not yet initiated. In one embodiment, a traffic channel is assigned to the MS, when a loading level of a serving cell of the MS is below an assignment threshold. This avoids paging-related delays for the MS should the MS become a target of communication. In another embodiment, the MS is signaled to transition to at least one operational mode in which paging-related delays for the MS are reduced. Such modes include a semi-dormant mode, an unslotted mode, a control hold mode, a speculative scanning mode, and a reduced slot cycle index (RSCI) mode. This allows the MS to begin participating in communication more quickly than it otherwise would, should communication targeting the MS be initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Sean Kelley
  • Publication number: 20050009534
    Abstract: The need to reduce the cost associated with signaling mobiles (120) across multiple cells (101-108) is addressed by embodiments of the present invention. A targeted MS is initially paged only in those cells in which the paging channel loading level is below a particular paging threshold. Similarly for short messaging, the RAN transmits the short messaging to the MS only in those cells in which the paging channel loading level is below a short messaging threshold. Therefore, the MS can be signaled in under-loaded cells first, were the effect on system capacity and performance is negligible. When successful, the MS signaling is achieved at a lower cost to the system than when loaded cells are involved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Sean Kelley
  • Publication number: 20030075102
    Abstract: The present invention is a substrate inverting apparatus mounted to a substrate-coating machine. The apparatus is used for inverting a substrate within a vacuum chamber. The apparatus includes a substrate holding means for holding the substrate substantially rigidly relative to the substrate holding means. The apparatus further includes an actuating means mounted to the substrate-coating machine for inverting the substrate holding means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald A. Crocker