Patents by Inventor Ronald K. Huang

Ronald K. Huang 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).

  • PARKING EVENT DETECTION AND LOCATION ESTIMATION
    Publication number: 20170358208
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and computer-readable mediums are disclosed for parking event detection and location estimation. In some implementations, a method comprises: determining, by a processor of a mobile device, a first activity state indicative of a possible parking event; obtaining, by the processor, a speed of the mobile device from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) of the mobile device; obtaining, by the processor, pedometer data from a digital pedometer of the mobile device; determining, by the processor, a second activity state indicative of a possible parking event based at least in part on the GNSS speed and pedometer data; and responsive to the second activity state, estimating, by the processor, a location of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Pejman Lotfali Kazemi, Lili Cao, Sunny Kai Pang Chow, Gunes Dervisoglu, Anh Phan, Ryan David Shelby, Ronald K. Huang
  • Location-based services for calendar events
    Patent number: 9843895
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and program products for determining a location of a calendar item are described. A mobile device can receive a calendar item including a description and a time. The mobile device can determine that, at the time specified in the calendar item, the mobile device is located at a location that is estimated to be significant to a user. The mobile device can store the description in association with the significant location. Upon receive a new calendar item containing at least one term in the description, the mobile device can predict that the user will visit the significant location at the time specified in the new calendar item. The mobile device can provide user assistance based on the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald K. Huang, Lili Cao, Lukas M. Marti, Michael P. Dal Santo
  • Determining a size of a significant user location
    Patent number: 9843894
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and program products for providing services to a user by a mobile device based on the user's daily routine of movement. The mobile device determines whether a location cluster indicates a significant location for the user based on one or more hints that indicate an interest of the user in locations in the cluster. The mobile device can perform adaptive clustering to determine a size of area of the significant location based on how multiple locations converge in the location cluster. The mobile device can provide location-based services for calendar items, including predicting a time of arrival at an estimated location of a calendar item. The mobile device can provide various services related to a location of the mobile device or a significant location of the user through an application programming interface (API).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas M. Marti, Michael P. Dal Santo, Ronald K. Huang, Lili Cao
  • DETECTING ACTIVITY BY A WHEELCHAIR USER
    Publication number: 20170347885
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of detecting activity by a wheelchair user. In one aspect, a method comprises collecting motion data of a user device located on an appendage of the user; detecting, by a processor circuit, that one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred based on the motion data; calculating, by a processor circuit, an energy expenditure by the user based the one or more activities by the wheelchair user occurred; and outputting, by a processor circuit, the energy expenditure estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Xing Tan, Karthik Jayaraman Raghuram, Adeeti Ullal, Umamahesh Srinivas, Mrinal Agarwal, Daniel Trietsch, Alexander Singh Alvarado, Hung A. Pham, Ronald K. Huang, Adam Howell
  • Dynamic device collaboration
    Patent number: 9838266
    Abstract: Using various functionalities of electronic devices such as applications that gather location information to provide a service to the user can come at the cost of significant power consumption, and consequently battery drainage. A data sharing system enables the creation of a network of participant devices where participant devices in the network can take turns in collecting and sharing data with the rest of the participant devices in the network. The one or more participant devices can share the obtained data through Bluetooth® low energy (BTLE) or other low consumption channel, so that the ensemble of participant devices could have better battery life, higher availability, and/or better accuracy, compared to each device having to individually obtain the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jay N. Bruins, Leonardo A. Soto Matamala, Ronald K. Huang
  • Location determination using a companion device
    Patent number: 9838838
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for a mobile device determining its location based on a location of a companion device are described. A mobile device can receive a request for determining a location of the mobile device from an application. The request can include an accuracy specification providing a lower limit on accuracy of the determined location. The mobile device can determine that the mobile device is incapable of achieving that accuracy. The mobile device can then submit a location request to a companion device that has paired with the mobile device. The companion device, upon receiving the location request, can determine a location of the companion device and provide the location of the companion device to the mobile device. The mobile device can then designate the location of the companion device as the location of the mobile device, and provide the location to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rhee, Bradley Joel Jensen, Robert Mayor, Ronald K. Huang
  • Correcting Compass View Using Map Data
    Publication number: 20170343361
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and computer-readable storage mediums are disclosed for correcting a compass view using map data. In an implementation, a method comprises: receiving, by one or more sensors of a mobile device, sensor data; determining, by a processor of the mobile device, compass offset data for a compass view based on the sensor data and map data; determining, by the processor, a corrected compass view based on the compass offset data; and presenting, by the processor, the corrected compass view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anil K. Kandangath, Adam S. Howell, Ronald K. Huang, Xiaoyuan Tu
  • Batch processing for improved georeferencing
    Patent number: 9791572
    Abstract: Crowd-sourced location data from client devices is processed using enhanced filtering techniques in non-realtime by a centralized server process to improve the accuracy and reliability of georeferenced geodata. At a server computer, enhanced filtering techniques make use of future information to improve georeferencing of the geodata. In some implementations, the server computer can be configured to implement batch processing of raw GNSS data and other crowd-sourced location data (e.g., wireless scan data, inertial sensor data) using, for example, a smoothing filter or batch estimator. Augmentation data (e.g., satellite ephemeris data, clock offset and ionospheric delay) and sensor data independent of client devices can also be used by the server computer to augment the crowd-sourced location data to further improve georeferencing of geodata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Donald MacGougan, Robert Mayor, Ronald K. Huang
  • Location Service Management
    Publication number: 20170272904
    Abstract: An application manager of a mobile device can provide a user with the ability to control whether an application can use location information provided by a location subsystem of the mobile device. The application can request to be notified by the location subsystem when the mobile device crosses a geofence. When the mobile device crosses the geofence, the location subsystem provides a notice to the application. The application manager can intercept the notice to the application, and present an alert on a user interface. The application manager can then provide the notice to the application only upon receiving an input through the user interface confirming that the application still has permission to use location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Shepherd, Ronald K. Huang, Stephen J. Rhee, Daniel T. Kurtz, Erik Neuenschwander
  • DETERMINING A SIGNIFICANT USER LOCATION FOR PROVIDING LOCATION-BASED SERVICES
    Publication number: 20170257739
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and program products for providing services to a user by a mobile device based on the user's daily routine of movement. The mobile device determines whether a location cluster indicates a significant location for the user based on one or more hints that indicate an interest of the user in locations in the cluster. The mobile device can perform adaptive clustering to determine a size of area of the significant location based on how multiple locations converge in the location cluster. The mobile device can provide location-based services for calendar items, including predicting a time of arrival at an estimated location of a calendar item. The mobile device can provide various services related to a location of the mobile device or a significant location of the user through an application programming interface (API).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Dal Santo, Lukas M. Marti, Ronald K. Huang, Lili Cao
  • SENDING SMART ALERTS ON A DEVICE AT OPPORTUNE MOMENTS USING SENSORS
    Publication number: 20170251097
    Abstract: Measurements can be obtained from sensors to determine a state of a device. The state can be used to determine whether to provide an alert. For example, after a first alert is provided, it can be determined that the device is not accessible to the user based on the determined state, and a second alert can be suppressed at a specified time after providing the first alert. The sensor measurements can be monitored after suppressing the second alert, and a state engine can detect a change in a state based on subsequent sensor measurements. If the state change indicates that the device is accessible to the user the second alert can be provided to the user. Alerts can be dismissed based on a change in state. A first device can coordinate alerts sent to or to be provided by a second device by suppressing or dismissing such alerts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Jackson, Anil K. Kandangath, Ronald K. Huang
  • Path determination based on application usage
    Patent number: 9749803
    Abstract: Techniques of determining a path using anonymous application usage data are described. A path determination system and method can determine a location and geometrical shape of a path based on anonymous application usage data received from one or more devices. The anonymous application usage data can include an identifier or a category of the application program executed by a device, and multiple locations of the device observed while the application program executes on the device. Based on the locations, the system and method can determine a path for associating with the application program. The system and method can use metadata of the application program for identifying the path in response to a query or a request. The system and method can provide the path to a device for display in an information layer on a virtual map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald K. Huang
  • LOCATION SERVICE AUTHORIZATION AND INDICATION
    Publication number: 20170230787
    Abstract: An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. The text of the authorization dialog can be customized by the application to provide more detail on how the location data will be used by the application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Rhee, Adam M. Driscoll, Jeffrey Michael Bartunek, Ronald K. Huang, Erik Neuenschwander, Patrick Coffman, Guy L. Tribble
  • LOCATION MONITORING FEATURE OF A MOBILE DEVICE FOR ACTIVATING AN APPLICATION SUBSYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170188307
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for baseband location monitoring and related functions are disclosed. A mobile device can monitor its own current location using its baseband subsystem and decide whether to selectively activate its application subsystem based on whether particular conditions are satisfied by the current location. The mobile device can also correlate location and cellular signal information using its baseband subsystem and provide the correlated location and cellular signal information to a server. The server can receive the correlated location and cellular signal information from the baseband subsystems of a large number of widely distributed mobile devices and generate respective profiles of cellular network base stations that transmitted the cellular signals to the mobile devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald K. HUANG, Morgan GRAINGER, Robert W. MAYOR
  • Determining a significant user location for providing location-based services
    Patent number: 9615202
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and program products for providing services to a user by a mobile device based on the user's daily routine of movement. The mobile device determines whether a location cluster indicates a significant location for the user based on one or more hints that indicate an interest of the user in locations in the cluster. The mobile device can perform adaptive clustering to determine a size of area of the significant location based on how multiple locations converge in the location cluster. The mobile device can provide location-based services for calendar items, including predicting a time of arrival at an estimated location of a calendar item. The mobile device can provide various services related to a location of the mobile device or a significant location of the user through an application programming interface (API).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Dal Santo, Lukas M. Marti, Ronald K. Huang, Lili Cao
  • Sending smart alerts on a device at opportune moments using sensors
    Patent number: 9603123
    Abstract: Measurements can be obtained from sensors to determine a state of a device. The state can be used to determine whether to provide an alert. For example, after a first alert is provided, it can be determined that the device is not accessible to the user based on the determined state, and a second alert can be suppressed at a specified time after providing the first alert. The sensor measurements can be monitored after suppressing the second alert, and a state engine can detect a change in a state based on subsequent sensor measurements. If the state change indicates that the device is accessible to the user the second alert can be provided to the user. Alerts can be dismissed based on a change in state. A first device can coordinate alerts sent to or to be provided by a second device by suppressing or dismissing such alerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Jackson, Anil K. Kandangath, Ronald K. Huang
  • APP RECOMMENDATION USING CROWD-SOURCED LOCALIZED APP USAGE DATA
    Publication number: 20170075910
    Abstract: Applications may be tagged with location data when they are used. Mobile device may anonymously submit application usage data. Aggregated application usage data from many mobile devices may be analyzed to determine applications that are particularly relevant to a given location (i.e., exhibiting a high degree of localization). Analysis may include determining the application usage intensity, whether hotspots exist or not at a given location, the spatial entropy of a particular application, the device populations in a particular area, etc. Based on the localized application analysis, applications may be ranked according to local relevance, and, based on this ranking, application recommendations may be provided to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Leonardo A. Soto Matamala, Ronald K. Huang, Lukas Marti, Xiaoyuan Tu
  • Location monitoring feature of a mobile device for activating an application subsystem
    Patent number: 9596565
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for baseband location monitoring and related functions are disclosed. A mobile device can monitor its own current location using its baseband subsystem and decide whether to selectively activate its application subsystem based on whether particular conditions are satisfied by the current location. The mobile device can also correlate location and cellular signal information using its baseband subsystem and provide the correlated location and cellular signal information to a server. The server can receive the correlated location and cellular signal information from the baseband subsystems of a large number of widely distributed mobile devices and generate respective profiles of cellular network base stations that transmitted the cellular signals to the mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald K. Huang, Morgan Grainger, Robert Mayor
  • Location service management
    Patent number: 9591443
    Abstract: An application manager of a mobile device can provide a user with the ability to control whether an application can use location information provided by a location subsystem of the mobile device. The application can request to be notified by the location subsystem when the mobile device crosses a geofence. When the mobile device crosses the geofence, the location subsystem provides a notice to the application. The application manager can intercept the notice to the application, and present an alert on a user interface. The application manager can then provide the notice to the application only upon receiving an input through the user interface confirming that the application still has permission to use location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew E. Shepherd, Ronald K. Huang, Stephen J. Rhee, Daniel T. Kurtz, Erik Neuenschwander
  • Determining Location and Direction of Travel Using Map Vector Constraints
    Publication number: 20170052031
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining the location and direction of travel of a mobile device using map vector constraints is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Donald MacGougan, Stephen J. Rhee, Robert Mayor, Ronald K. Huang