Patents by Inventor Sean Simmon

Sean Simmon 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: 20100084575
    Abstract: The present invention relates to surfacing material which may emit radiation in response to exposure to a given light source. Such surfacing material may be polymeric based, and e.g., fiber based, and may be used in relatively low-light areas, including low-light areas as applied to vehicular applications. The fiber-based or molded materials may emit radiation in response to exposure to a selected light source and may be used in relatively dimly lit areas. The materials may also provide a visible contrast to other objects located adjacent their surface which do not emit radiation. Optical brighteners and luminous particles may be included in the materials to make them luminous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Ernie Wilson, Mitchell Whitesell, Sean Simmons
  • Publication number: 20100074354
    Abstract: A wireless communications device may include a housing and a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver carried by the housing. The wireless receiver may include a joint demodulation filter for reducing co-channel interference between a desired signal and a co-channel interfering signal which may include an input receiving samples of the desired signal and the co-channel interfering signal, a Viterbi decoder, and a first signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder comprising a first filter. The joint demodulation filter may further include a second signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder and comprising a linear finite impulse response (FIR) modeler for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the co-channel interfering signal. Additionally, a third signal path may be between the input and the Viterbi decoder and include a whitened matched filter for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the desired signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Zoltan Kemenczy, Huan Wu, Sean Simmons
  • Publication number: 20100067395
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, divide the source data into a collection source packets, and encode the data using a fountain code encoding protocol to form a series of encoded packets. The voice band modem is also configured to transmit the series of encoded packets to the remote receiver station as a burst including all of the source data and repeatedly transmit the encoded packets until receiving an indication that the series of packets including all of the source data has been received at the receiving station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20100067439
    Abstract: A system and method for communicating wirelessly from a mobile device to a remote receiver station is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to monitor a status of the mobile device and, upon an initiation event, initiate a data transfer process to wirelessly communicate data to the remote receiver station. The system also includes a voice-band modem that, upon initiation of the data transfer process. The voice-band modem is configured to receive data for transfer to the remote receiver station, encode the data to form a series of encoded packets, and transmit the encoded packets to the remote receiver station using a first modulation scheme. Thereafter, unless an indication that the series of packets has been received by at the receiving station is provided, the voice-band modem automatically retransmit the encoded packets to the remote receiver station using a second modulation scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20100069018
    Abstract: A system and method to be used with first and second devices where the first and second devices are capable of communicating using a subset of different modulation schemes wherein the subset includes at least first and second different modulation schemes, the method for optimizing transmission of data from the first device to the second device, the method comprising the acts of at the first device, when data is to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, receiving at least a portion of a trigger signal from the second device wherein the transmitted trigger signal includes data transmitted using a sequence of at least two of the modulation schemes from the subset, the portion of the trigger signal received being a received trigger signal, analyzing the received trigger signal to identify one of the modulation schemes from the subset as a function of the received trigger signal as an initial modulation scheme to be used to transmit data to the second device and transmitting the data from the f
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20100067415
    Abstract: A method to be used with first and second devices where the first device communicates with the second device via numbered data packets where the second device needs to know the number of each received packet upon reception, the method comprising the acts of at the first device, forming a plurality of separate initial data packets, for each initial data packet, associating a unique number with the initial data packet, combining the initial data packet with its associated unique number to form a numbered packet, calculating a checksum for the numbered packet, combining the checksum with the initial data packet to form a transmission packet that fails to include the associated unique number and transmitting the transmission packet to the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Stefan E. Janhunen, David S. Furbeck
  • Publication number: 20100054381
    Abstract: A joint demodulation filter for reducing co-channel interference between a desired signal and a co-channel interfering signal may include an input receiving samples of the desired signal and the co-channel interfering signal, a Viterbi decoder, and a first signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder comprising a first filter. The joint demodulation filter may further include a second signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder and comprising a linear finite impulse response (FIR) modeler for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the co-channel interfering signal. Additionally, a third signal path may be between the input and the Viterbi decoder and include a whitened matched filter for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the desired signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Zoltan Kemenczy, Huan Wu, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 7672412
    Abstract: A receiver and associated method estimates a channel impulse response of the communications signal. A communications signal is received as a burst of transmitted symbols, including a known training sequence. The joint estimation of timing offset and initial channel impulse response is determined based on the cross-correlations of the known transmitted symbols and received communications signal. A constant modulus interference removal iteration is applied to improve the initial channel impulse estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Huan Wu, Sean Simmons, Zoltan Kemenczy
  • Patent number: 7653369
    Abstract: A wireless communications receiver includes a memory configured to store offset values corresponding to respective gain settings. A gain controller is configured to continuously select one of the gain settings based on amplitude of a received signal. An amplifier is configured to amplify the signal based on the selected gain setting. An offset estimator is configured to determine an updated offset value as a function of both a time-average value of the signal and a previously-stored offset value. The previously stored offset value is an offset value that was stored in the memory at a time prior to the gain controller switching to the currently-selected gain setting from a previously-selected gain setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Muhammad Dajani, Zoltan Kemenczy
  • Patent number: 7643590
    Abstract: A joint demodulation filter for reducing co-channel interference between a desired signal and a co-channel interfering signal may include an input receiving samples of the desired signal and the co-channel interfering signal, a Viterbi decoder, and a first signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder comprising a first filter. The joint demodulation filter may further include a second signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder and comprising a linear finite impulse response (FIR) modeler for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the co-channel interfering signal. Additionally, a third signal path may be between the input and the Viterbi decoder and include a whitened matched filter for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the desired signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Zoltan Kemenczy, Huan Wu, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 7639763
    Abstract: A wireless communications device may include a housing and a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver carried by the housing. The wireless receiver may include a joint demodulation filter for reducing co-channel interference between a desired signal and a co-channel interfering signal which may include an input receiving samples of the desired signal and the co-channel interfering signal, a Viterbi decoder, and a first signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder comprising a first filter. The joint demodulation filter may further include a second signal path between the input and the Viterbi decoder and comprising a linear finite impulse response (FIR) modeler for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the co-channel interfering signal. Additionally, a third signal path may be between the input and the Viterbi decoder and include a whitened matched filter for generating a channel impulse response estimate for the desired signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Zoltan Kemenczy, Huan Wu, Sean Simmons
  • Publication number: 20090309975
    Abstract: An event visualization system. The system uses a digital video capture array. The array is synchronized into a composited video feed file. The composited video feed file has a number of unit perspective video files. Each unit perspective video file has a coordinate location, a unit frame height, and a unit frame width. The unit perspective video files can be played simultaneously for individual display in a digital event player. The digital event player is operated on a client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Scott Gordon, Daniel Gordon, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 7623605
    Abstract: An interference cancelling matched filter (ICMF) may include an antenna array for receiving a signal burst including a training sequence therein, and an adaptive space-time filter connected to the virtual antenna array and having settable filter coefficients. The ICMF may further include a channel impulse response estimator for estimating a channel impulse response based upon the training sequence, and a signal blocker operatively connected between the channel impulse response estimator and the adaptive space-time filter so that the filter coefficients thereof are set based upon the training sequence and not the whole signal burst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Huan Wu, Sean Simmons, Zoltan Kemenczy
  • Publication number: 20090271309
    Abstract: A media exchange. The media exchange uses an exchange database. The database supports interoperation between an exchange component, a media user component and a first media provider component. The media user component enables a media client to access a media component. The media component is supplied from a media provider client using the media provider component. The media user component enables the media client to enable the media component and accrue a first media value. The media user component enables the first media client to also access a second media component associated with a second media value. This is done by exchanging the first media value for the second media value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Scott Gordon, Clifford Daniel Gordon, Sean Simmons, Aaron Raddich
  • Patent number: 7590197
    Abstract: A receiver for a mobile communication system includes a channel equalizer for receiving a burst and generating a soft decision output associated with the burst, a soft decision correction circuit follows the channel equalizer and a decoder receives and decodes a block of bursts. The soft decision correction circuit calculates a correction factor based on the soft decision output for the burst and applies the correction factor to the burst prior to the burst entering the decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Sean Simmons, Huan Wu, Zoltan Kemenczy
  • Patent number: 7583640
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for notifying a remote station of a communication resource allocation made to communicate data thereto. The allocation of communication resources is made across a plurality of radio carriers during time frames defined upon each of the carriers. A matrix representation of the resource allocation is made, and the matrix representation is included in an allocation message that is created and sent to the remote station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Mark Pecen, Mihal Lazaridis, Sean Simmons
  • Publication number: 20090187380
    Abstract: A handheld computing device comprises a data processor configured to allocate a set of measurements of a wireless signal amongst partitions of a hierarchical multi-level partition space. Each level has a plurality of the partitions. Each partition has a respective numerical range, and the value of each allocated measurement is within one of the ranges. One of the measurements allocated to one of the partitions has a desired rank. This partition encompasses the range of all the partitions in the immediately lower level. Each partition in the immediately lower level has a desired resolution for the allocated measurements. The data processor sums the number of measurements allocated to each respective partition in the immediately lower level until the desired rank is obtained. The numerical range of the partition in this lower level that is associated with the desired rank comprises an estimate of a characteristic of the wireless signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Phat Tran, Xing Qian, Sean Simmons, Jonathan Swoboda
  • Patent number: 7564823
    Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for allocating communication resources in a data radio communication system, such as a communication system that provides for EDGE data communication services. A multi-carrier radio resource control logic element includes an analyzer that analyzes communication resource requirements to carry out a communication service, and a resource allocator allocates communication resources to be used by which to communicate the data. The communication resources are allocated across a plurality of mobile allocation index offsets, increasing the likelihood that increased amounts of communication resources can be allocated to perform a particular data communication service. A communication station that embodies the control logic element includes a wideband radio frequency transceiver from which the data is communicated during performance of the communication service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Mark Pecen, Mihal Lazaridis, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 7564815
    Abstract: Apparatus and an associated method for notifying communication stations of communication allocations made to communicate data. A matrix representation is formed of communication resources that are allocated for communication of the data. The matrix representation is used to construct an assignment bit map by a bit map constructor that is representative of the allocated communication resources. And, a temporary flow set identifier generator is used to form a temporary flow set identifier. The temporary flow set identifier includes the assignment bit map as a portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Mark Pecen, Mihal Lazaridis, Sean Simmons
  • Patent number: 7526406
    Abstract: A method of estimating an electrical characteristic of an electrical signal involves allocating measurements amongst numerically sequential primary partitions. Each measurement is associated with a characteristic of an electrical signal. Each primary partition has a respective primary numerical range, and the value of each measurement is numerically within one of the primary numerical ranges. The measurements associated with one of the primary partitions are then allocated amongst numerically sequential secondary partitions. One of the measurements that is associated with the one primary partition has a desired rank. The secondary partitions are disposed numerically within the primary numerical range of the one primary partition. Each secondary partition has a respective secondary numerical range, and the value of each measurement that is associated with each secondary partition is within one of the secondary numerical ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Phat Tran, Xing Qian, Sean Simmons, Jonathan Swoboda