Patents by Inventor Stephen Christopher

Stephen Christopher 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).

  • Synchronization among multiple playback and storage devices
    Patent number: 9407385
    Abstract: A wireless communication system and in particular to a wireless communication system for digital audio players that provides for increased functionality, such as communication, interaction and synchronization between a computing platform and various mobile, portable or fixed digital audio players, as well as providing a communication link between the various digital audio players themselves. The computing platform may act, for example, through a wireless network or wireless communication platform, to control the digital audio players; to act as a cache of digital audio data for the digital audio players; as well as provide a gateway to the Internet to enable the digital audio players to access additional digital audio content and other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jonathan Spurgat, Stephen Christopher Gladwin, Hoyet Harrison Andrews, III
  • OVEN APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING AN OVEN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160209050
    Abstract: An oven appliance with one or more features for controlling airflow within a cooking chamber of the oven appliance is provided. Further, a method for operating an oven appliance to control airflow within a cooking chamber of the oven appliance is provided. In particular, the oven includes features for and the method includes steps for dynamic control of the speed of a convection fan over an oven cycle to maintain proper airflow within the cooking chamber for cooking performance of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen Christopher Boedicker
  • Digital content distribution and subscription system
    Patent number: 9397991
    Abstract: Digital content distribution systems and methods are provided for distributing for digital data files, such as digital audio and video data files. In accordance with one implementation, a token-based authentication system is provided that does not require knowledge of the individual user requesting the download of digital content data or real-time access to user account information. Instead, the token-based authentication system embeds the authentication information, or token, in the download request information itself. In this way, the download or content server authenticates the download request using the token contained in the download request information and therefore does not require any additional information to carry out this authentication, such as access to user account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventors: Depeng Bi, Stephen Christopher Gladwin, Troy Steven Denkinger, Timothy Scott Franklin, Bart Richard Cilfone, Anne Marie Pewterbaugh, Jeffrey Jonathan Spurgat
  • Using audio signals in personal emergency response systems
    Patent number: 9390612
    Abstract: A personal emergency response (PER) device may include an audio sensor that is used to enhance the operation of the PER device. The audio sensor may obtain audio data that can be used to verify whether a fall event that is detected by the PER device is a false positive signal and/or enhance the reliability of a detected fall event. In some implementations, the audio data may be used in the detection of vehicle crashes in which a user of the PER device is involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Telematics, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, Jr., Stephen Christopher Welch
  • Automatic vehicle crash detection using onboard devices
    Patent number: 9392431
    Abstract: Vehicle collisions may be automatically detected and reported based to a call center. The collisions may be automatically detected based on a collision detection model that receives sensor data, or other data, as input, and outputs an indication of whether there is a collision. The collision detection model may be trained on historical sensor data associated with potential vehicle collisions, where the historical sensor data is labeled to indicate whether the data corresponds to an actual collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, Jr., Stephen Christopher Welch
  • Methods and apparatus to clamp overvoltages for alternating current systems
    Patent number: 9350159
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to clamp overvoltages for inductive power transfer systems are described herein. An example overvoltage protection circuit is described, including a first terminal configured to receive an alternating current signal for conversion to a second signal, a capacitor, a first switch configured to selectively electrically couple the capacitor to the first terminal based on an overvoltage detection signal to reduce an overvoltage on the second signal, and an overvoltage detector. The example overvoltage detector is configured to determine a signal level of the second signal and, in response to determining that the signal level of the second signal is greater than a threshold, to output the overvoltage detection signal to cause the switch to electrically couple the capacitor between the first terminal and a second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher Terry, Paul L. Brohlin
  • Multi-spectral holographic security marker, method for its manufacture and holographic security system
    Patent number: 9342049
    Abstract: A multi-spectral holographic security marker is made by a novel method according to the invention involving a replay frequency shift to one or more final replay frequencies of a part or parts only of a recorded image plane volume hologram. The marker comprises an optional surface hologram and an image plane volume hologram. The volume hologram is divided into discrete areas which have mutually different final replay frequencies. The security information carried by the marker is a combination of the size and shape of those different replay areas together with the hologram content itself which is spread across the different replay areas. If the marker also includes a surface hologram, then that is preferably aligned with the junctions between the replay areas. Preferably one volume hologram replay frequency is in the visible spectrum and the other is in the invisible part of the spectrum (IR or UV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: De Montfort University
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher Brown, Steven L. Smith, Martin John Richardson
  • OVEN AIRFLOW CONTROL
    Publication number: 20160116171
    Abstract: An oven appliance is provided with one or more features for modifying the airflow within the cooking chamber of the oven appliance to help overcome a change in the heating environment of the cooking chamber after a door of the oven is opened and closed. Further, a method for operating an oven appliance is provided. The method includes features for modifying the airflow within the cooking chamber of the oven appliance to help overcome a change in the heating environment of the cooking chamber after a door of the oven is opened and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Scott Johnson, Stephen Christopher Boedicker
  • OBIGGS ASM PERFORMANCE MODULATION VIA TEMPERATURE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20160107116
    Abstract: A controller for controlling an on-board inert gas generation system (OBIGGS) having an air separation module (ASM) dynamically modulates a temperature setpoint for air inlet temperature to the ASM to provide a minimum temperature setpoint that produces a prescribed oxygen concentration at an output of the ASM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Stephen Christopher Metrulas
  • Reducing corruption of communication in a wireless power transmission system
    Patent number: 9318897
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for reducing data corruption in a wireless power transmission system. Power is transmitted from a primary coil to a secondary coil by induction. The voltage induced on the secondary coil by induction is rectified. The change in current supplied to a load configured to be coupled to the wireless power transmission system is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Paul LeRoy Brohlin, Stephen Christopher Terry, Deepak Mohanlal Khanchandani
  • OVEN APPLIANCE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING AN OVEN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160102869
    Abstract: An oven appliance with one or more features for minimizing the time to preheat the cooking chamber and balancing the heat distribution within the cooking chamber of the oven appliance is provided. Features for minimizing the acoustic noise of the oven appliance are also provided. Further, a method for operating an oven appliance to minimize the preheat time and balance the heat distribution within the cooking chamber of the oven appliance while minimizing acoustic noise is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Scott Johnson, Stephen Christopher Boedicker
  • AUTOMATIC VEHICLE CRASH DETECTION USING ONBOARD DEVICES
    Publication number: 20160094964
    Abstract: Vehicle collisions may be automatically detected and reported based to a call center. The collisions may be automatically detected based on a collision detection model that receives sensor data, or other data, as input, and outputs an indication of whether there is a collision. The collision detection model may be trained on historical sensor data associated with potential vehicle collisions, where the historical sensor data is labeled to indicate whether the data corresponds to an actual collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, JR., Stephen Christopher Welch
  • Determining that a user is in a vehicle or driving a vehicle based on sensor data gathered by a user device
    Patent number: 9258409
    Abstract: A device may receive sensor data regarding a user device; and determine, based on the sensor data, that a user of the user device is in a vehicle or driving the vehicle. When determining that the user of the user device is in the vehicle or driving the vehicle, the device may compare the sensor data, received from the user device, with a reference dataset that includes reference data associated with users being present in or driving a vehicle, or determine that a value of a measurement, received as part of the sensor data, satisfies a threshold that is related to whether the user is in the vehicle or driving the vehicle. The device may output a particular control instruction to the user device based on determining that the user is in the vehicle or is driving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, Jr., Stephen Christopher Welch, Thomas Steven Taylor
  • ANALYSIS OF VEHICLE DATA TO PREDICT COMPONENT FAILURE
    Publication number: 20160035150
    Abstract: Vehicle data may be analyzed to predict potential component failures, diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), or other mechanical failures relating to the vehicle. In one implementation the vehicle data may be received from a number of vehicles, the vehicle data including DTCs generated by on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems of the vehicles. The vehicle data may be evaluated using a predictive model to output predictions of DTCs that are likely to occur for a particular vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, JR., Stephen Christopher Welch, Marc Edmond Barbier
  • DETERMINING THAT A USER IS IN A VEHICLE OR DRIVING A VEHICLE BASED ON SENSOR DATA GATHERED BY A USER DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160036964
    Abstract: A device may receive sensor data regarding a user device; and determine, based on the sensor data, that a user of the user device is in a vehicle or driving the vehicle. When determining that the user of the user device is in the vehicle or driving the vehicle, the device may compare the sensor data, received from the user device, with a reference dataset that includes reference data associated with users being present in or driving a vehicle, or determine that a value of a measurement, received as part of the sensor data, satisfies a threshold that is related to whether the user is in the vehicle or driving the vehicle. The device may output a particular control instruction to the user device based on determining that the user is in the vehicle or is driving the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: James Ronald Barfield, JR., Stephen Christopher Welch, Thomas Steven Taylor
  • TEXTUAL REPRESENTATION OF AN IMAGE
    Publication number: 20160004928
    Abstract: At least a computer-implemented method and an apparatus for processing an image are described. In examples, numeric values for at least one property of the image are determined. These values are then converted into at least one corresponding text character, said conversion being independent of any text content within the image. This enables a text representation of the image to be generated that contains said plurality of text characters. This text representation may be used to index and search for the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Sean Mark Blanchflower, Stephen Christopher Davis
  • Method and system for drone deliveries to vehicles in route
    Publication number: 20150370251
    Abstract: A system comprise a server configured to communicate vehicle information with a vehicle transceiver of a vehicle moving along a vehicle route and communicate drone information with a drone transceiver of a drone moving along a drone route. A computing device with a memory and a processor may be configured to communicatively connect with the server, process the vehicle information and the drone information, identify a plurality of pickup locations based in part on the vehicle information and drone information, select at least one of the plurality of pickup locations based in part on a priority score associated with a travel time to or wait time for each of the plurality of pickup locations, and update the drone route based in part on the selected pickup location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Robert S. Siegel, Stephen Christopher Welch, James Ronald Barfield, JR.
  • METHOD FOR OPERATING AN OVEN APPLIANCE AND A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN OVEN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20150370267
    Abstract: A method for operating an oven appliance includes establishing a set temperature, operating a heating element of the oven appliance in order to heat a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to a target temperature with the heating element, and continually reducing the target temperature to the set temperature. A related control system for an oven appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen Christopher Boedicker
  • SYNCHRONIZATION AMONG MULTIPLE PLAYBACK AND STORAGE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20150358095
    Abstract: A wireless communication system and in particular to a wireless communication system for digital audio players that provides for increased functionality, such as communication, interaction and synchronization between a computing platform and various mobile, portable or fixed digital audio players, as well as providing a communication link between the various digital audio players themselves. The computing platform may act, for example, through a wireless network or wireless communication platform, to control the digital audio players; to act as a cache of digital audio data for the digital audio players; as well as provide a gateway to the Internet to enable the digital audio players to access additional digital audio content and other information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jonathan Spurgat, Stephen Christopher Gladwin, Hoyet Harrison Andrews, III
  • Electronic band
    Patent number: D742372
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher, Carl J. Ledbetter, Monique Chatterjee, Farah Shariff, Sung Ho Son