Patents by Inventor Stephen N. Levine

Stephen N. Levine 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: 20080159208
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocation of shared spectrum in a wireless communication system uses a radio frequency (RF) beacon signal that is transmitted between access points of the wireless communication system. The information content of the RF beacon signal includes an identifier of the access point that generated the signal, identifiers of clients of that access point; and identifiers of the communication channels assigned to those clients. The client identifier may include at least part of an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the client. Additionally the beacon signal may contain client attributes to enable negotiation of the sharing of available communication channels between access points and clients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kloker, Gregory J. Buchwald, Lawrence M. Ecklund, Stephen L. Kuffner, Stephen N. Levine, S. David Silk
  • Publication number: 20080159207
    Abstract: A node of a wireless mesh network assigns a radio frequency (RF) channel for operation by sensing an interference level in a number of RF channels, determining which RF channels are available for use and selecting the available RF channel having the best performance. The node then attempts to communicate with neighboring nodes of the wireless mesh network using the selected RF channel. If communication with a sufficient number of nodes is not achieved, the node selects an available RF channel having the next best performance, and attempts to communicate with neighboring nodes using the selected RF channel. The process is repeated until the node can communicate with a sufficient number of nodes. The selected RF channel is then assigned for node operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Lawrence M. Ecklund, Stephen L. Kuffner
  • Publication number: 20080120264
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient management of hierarchically administered spectrum resources in a communications network are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Whay Chiou Lee, Charbel Khawand, Kevin L. Kloker, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 6498809
    Abstract: A video bitstrean error resilient transcoder (100), method (300), video-phone, and video-communicator are provided wherein error resilience is implemented by verifying a syntax of a video bitstream and replacing the video bitstream between resynchronization markers with a valid syntax that is used by a decoder to produce a video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick D. Dean, James C. Brailean, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5778191
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method (200) and device (300) for error control of a video compressed sequence in which error protection for both random and burst channel errors is provided. The error control syntax (100) applies a fixed length packet synchronization system to variable length coded compressed video data, which provides the capability to limit error propagation within the decoded video bit stream. The fixed length packet control information provides information to decode compressed video data in both forward and reverse directions to allow for the recovery of correctly decoded video data within a decoded frame after long bursts of channel errors while reducing the overhead for error control. The error control method also provides video error detection which may be used for error concealment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, James C. Brailean, Mark R. Banham
  • Patent number: 5764921
    Abstract: A method (100, 200), device (300) and microprocessor (400) are provided for selectively compressing video frames of a motion compensated prediction-based video codec based on a predetermined set of compression techniques. An energy estimate of the current displaced frame difference, DFD, is used to compute a ratio between the estimate and a historical mean of energy estimates. The ratio is iteratively compared to a predetermined set of thresholds which are associated with the predetermined set of compression techniques. The comparisons are used to choose a technique based on the thresholds, and a technique is selected to be used for encoding the current DFD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignees: Motorola, Northwestern University
    Inventors: Mark R. Banham, James C. Brailean, Stephen N. Levine, Aggelos K. Katsaggelos, Guido M. Schuster
  • Patent number: 5724369
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method (100, 200) and a device (300, 400, 600) for containing and concealing errors which occur in a transmitted video bitstream. Utilizing a plurality of predetermined scanning patterns, particular macroblocks are chosen per frame to have their intensity information encoded and transmitted. This approach provides an efficient method to limit the degradation to the visual quality of a video sequence decoded from a bitstream corrupted by an extended error burst. Concealment of areas within a video sequence that are affected by short error bursts and/or random errors is achieved by estimating the corresponding lost macroblock information from the remaining uncorrupted macroblocks. That is, for each lost macroblock a prediction of the intensity information is generated through the use of a motion vector from a neighboring uncorrupted macroblock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Brailean, Kevin J. O'Connell, Mark R. Banham, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5646867
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method (600) and system (100) for predicting a differential vector field. The method and system enable the detection and encoding of an area where motion compensating the past image frame to the current image frame, fails. Based on the DFD signal, the present invention detects regions where the motion compensation has failed (102). The boundaries of these regions are encoded and sent to the decoder (104). The intensity values contained in this region, by the current intensity frame, are also encoded and sent to the decoder. Based on the decoded region boundaries, the decoder decodes the intensity values and places them into the correct regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola Inc.
    Inventors: Taner Ozcelik, James C. Brailean, Aggelos K. Katsaggelos, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5619341
    Abstract: The present invention is method and apparatus for preventing overflow and underflow of an encoder buffer in a video compression system. A virtual buffer is created in a rate controller to model the decoder buffer fullness (102). A sequence of bits is generated by an encoder (104). The encoder is controlled by the rate controller to prevent a decoder buffer underflow and overflow. Then, the sequence of bits is received by the encoder buffer to produce a bitstream (106). The bitstream corresponds to an instantaneous channel bitrate. The bitstream is transmitted from the encoder buffer to a decoder buffer following a delay (108). The delay is controlled by a rate controller to synchronize an encoder buffer fullness with a virtual buffer fullness (110). The synchronization prevents overflow and underflow of the encoder buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheung Auyeung, Brett L. Lindsley, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5537155
    Abstract: Efficient and adaptable motion estimation between flames in a video sequence is achieved in a video compression system 100 by first performing a series of comparisons in a first region between a present video block of a present video frame and a comparison video block of a previously stored video frame based on a first search point displacement pattern 500. Then, similar comparisons are performed in a second and third region based on a second and third search point displacement pattern respectively 501, 502. A best match video block is determined as a result of the series of comparisons 503. The series of comparisons may be made for a predetermined number of video blocks 600 and video statistics may be collected for the comparisons 601. If the video statistics are unfavorable 602 or if a predetermined time has expired 603, then the region used for searching for a best match block may be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. O'Connell, Cheung Auyeung, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5506686
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method (100) and device (200) for allocating bits to video pictures in a video compression system. A sequence of video frames or pictures is received, and the number of bits used to compress a previously encoded frame and a signal-to-noise ratio for the immediately previously encoded video frame are determined. Rate distortion model parameters are updated. Then, first, second, and third deviations are determined. Finally, the bit allocation for the frame is determined based on the first number of bits used to compress a previously encoded frame, the first deviation, the second deviation, and the third deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheung Auyeung, Stephen N. Levine, James J. Kosmach
  • Patent number: 5497382
    Abstract: The extended error correction process of the present invention error corrects a data message that has been transmitted a plurality of times. The process first receives the data message at least twice, logically combining the first and second messages received to form an error indication word. The error indication word is then used to locate the error locations in each message after which some of the errors are complemented, depending on the total number of errors found. The message is then decoded and used for transmit power changes, channel reassignment, to release a call, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Michael P. Metroka
  • Patent number: 5486863
    Abstract: Whether to encode a present video block of an incoming video frame, i.e. intra code, or whether to encode the difference between the present video block of the incoming frame and a best match video block from a previously stored video frame, i.e. non-intra code, is determined in a video compression system 100. First the present video block is divided into a predetermined number of sub blocks 301. Then an average pixel value is calculated for each sub block 302 and used along with the individual pixel values of the sub block to determine sub block deviations 303. The sub block deviations are used to compute a present video block deviation 303. The present video block deviation is then compared with an error deviation 306 that is calculated based upon the present video block pixel values and the best match video block pixel values 305. If the comparison is favorable, then the difference between the present video block and the best match video block are encoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheung Auyeung, Kevin J. O'Connell, Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5339337
    Abstract: There is provided a mechanism for block synchronization. It comprises: predeterminally arranging synchronization words about a point of interest, transmitting such arrangement, receiving that transmission having synchronization words predeterminally arranged about that point of interest, detecting at least part of those synchronization words, and locating the point of interest with reference to the arrangement of one detected word about another and their arrangement about the point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Levine
  • Patent number: 5276911
    Abstract: In a cellular radiotelephone communication system, there is provided a method and apparatus for reducing contention between a plurality of mobile units requesting system resources comprising the steps of A) receiving access requests from at least one of the plurality of mobile units, B) determining the number of attempted access requests (access request count); and C) altering system resources as a function of the access request count in order to reduce the likelihood of contending mobile units. An alternative embodiment suggests deriving timing advance information as well as access request count, correlating the access request count to the timing advance information, and altering system resources as a function of the correlation in order to reduce the likelihood of contention. Yet another embodiment suggests that the mobile unit take independent action, based upon its access request count, in order to reduce the likelihood of contention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Douglas C. Dominiak, Mary B. Flanders
  • Patent number: 5170485
    Abstract: The hand-off process of the present invention minimizes the number of hand-offs in radiotelephone system using smaller, elongated cells that may provide radiotelephone coverage in an urban environment along streets. While in the idle mode, the process of the present invention keeps track of the radiotelephone's direction of travel. When the radiotelephone is making a call, the base station process of the present invention keeps track of any fade condition that occurs, both short term and long term, and hands the radiotelephone off to another cell if one of these conditions occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Larry C. Puhl
  • Patent number: 5121414
    Abstract: In a receiver employing complex correlation, there is provided a mechanism for carrier frequency offset equalization. There exists a linear phase progression in the correlation process that is indicative of frequency offset. One method involves curve fitting the phase progression in order to warp the sync word against which subsequent correlation is performed rather than controlling the reference frequency of the receiver. The other successively approximates the phase progression by pre- and re-warping the synchronization reference word within the correlation process itself rather than controlling the reference frequency of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Robert J. Irvine
  • Patent number: 4984290
    Abstract: A cellular system employs a subaudible signalling control protocol. The protocol includes transmitting supervisory related signals between the radiotelephone and one of the cell sites at a first subaudible digital bit rate, and transmitting data messages between the radiotelephone and said one of the cell sites at a second subaudible digital bit rate. Additionally, the system employs specific protocols involving alert, hand-off and call disconnect which accommodate the subaudible signalling, yet provide significant integrity and reliability advantages over previously known protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Larry Puhl
  • Patent number: 4876740
    Abstract: A cellular radiotelephone system is disclosed in which the signalling protocol for the system is embedded in the frame synchronization of the digital messages transmitted on the system. Multiple functions are accomplished by the synchronization signal and include call supervision, mode definition, and data frame synchronization. The synchronization signal is a high auto correlation, low cross correlation sequence of a predetermined number of data bits. Different bit sequences may be employed as a synchronization signal while conveying call supervision information defining the serving fixed site. Additionally, the logical inverse of the synchronizing signal may be utilized interchangably with the synchronizing signal to define the fixed site. A repetitive pattern of synchronizing signals and logical inverse synchronizing signals convey system mode information without increasing signalling overhead or losing the correlation performance of the full synchronization word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Albert J. Leitich
  • Patent number: 4803726
    Abstract: A method and means for maintaining continuous bit synchronization of data transmitted from a remote unit through a base unit to a landline unit is disclosed. An input data stream at a first bit rate, such as digitized or encrypted speech, is interleaved with a plurality of signalling words, and transmitted over an RF channel at a second bit rate. The base site recovers the clock of the received data, strips off the signalling word, modifies the bit rate of the received data, and adjusts the recovered clock rate to provide an output data stream which is in bit synchronization with the input data stream and within a predetermined modem specification. The encrypted data is then sent over landlines to a decryption unit which requires bit synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Levine, Larry C. Puhl, Harry M. Bliss, Gerald E. Corrigan