Patents by Inventor Steven Howard

Steven Howard 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: 20050185728
    Abstract: The downlink and uplink are calibrated to account for differences in the responses of transmit and receive chains at an access point and a user terminal. For initial calibration, the access point and user terminal transmit MIMO pilots on the downlink and uplink, which are used to derive channel estimates including the responses of the applicable transmit/receive chains. Correction matrices {circumflex over (K)}ap and {circumflex over (K)}ut are derived based on these channel estimates and thereafter used by the access point and user terminal, respectively. For follow-on calibration, one entity transmits a MIMO pilot and a steered reference. The other entity derives a first transmit matrix based on the steered reference and a second transmit matrix based on the MIMO pilot and calibration error matrices Qap and Qut, which contain estimates of the errors in {circumflex over (K)}ap and {circumflex over (K)}ut, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Wallace, John Ketchum, J. Walton, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050180312
    Abstract: A multi-antenna transmitting entity transmits data to a single- or multi-antenna receiving entity using (1) a steered mode to direct the data transmission toward the receiving entity or (2) a pseudo-random transmit steering (PRTS) mode to randomize the effective channels observed by the data transmission across the subbands. The PRTS mode may be used to achieve transmit diversity or spatial spreading. For transmit diversity, the transmitting entity uses different pseudo-random steering vectors across the subbands but the same steering vector across an entire packet for each subband. The receiving entity does not need to have knowledge of the pseudo-random steering vectors or perform any special processing. For spatial spreading, the transmitting entity uses different pseudo-random steering vectors across the subbands and different steering vectors across the packet for each subband. Only the transmitting and receiving entities know the steering vectors used for data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: J. Walton, John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard, Sanjiv Nanda
  • Publication number: 20050175115
    Abstract: Spatial spreading is performed in a multi-antenna system to randomize an “effective” channel observed by a receiving entity for each transmitted data symbol block. For a MIMO system, at a transmitting entity, data is processed (e.g., encoded, interleaved, and modulated) to obtain ND data symbol blocks to be transmitted in NM transmission spans, where ND?1 and NM>1. The ND blocks are partitioned into NM data symbol subblocks, one subblock for each transmission span. A steering matrix is selected (e.g., in a deterministic or pseudo-random manner from among a set of L steering matrices, where L>1) for each subblock. Each data symbol subblock is spatially processed with the steering matrix selected for that subblock to obtain transmit symbols, which are further processed and transmitted via NT transmit antennas in one transmission span. The ND data symbol blocks are thus spatially processed with NM steering matrices and observe an ensemble of channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Jay Walton, Lizhong Zheng, John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050157805
    Abstract: For data transmission with spatial spreading, a transmitting entity (1) encodes and modulates each data packet to obtain a corresponding data symbol block, (2) multiplexes data symbol blocks onto NS data symbol streams for transmission on NS transmission channels of a MIMO channel, (3) spatially spreads the NS data symbol streams with steering matrices, and (4) spatially processes NS spread symbol streams for full-CSI transmission on NS eigenmodes or partial-CSI transmission on NS spatial channels of the MIMO channel. A receiving entity (1) obtains NR received symbol streams via NR receive antennas, (2) performs receiver spatial processing for full-CSI or partial-CSI transmission to obtain NS detected symbol streams, (3) spatially despreads the NS detected symbol streams with the same steering matrices used by the transmitting entity to obtain NS recovered symbol streams, and (4) demodulates and decodes each recovered symbol block to obtain a corresponding decoded data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Jay Walton, John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050159735
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic operation of a refrigeration system to provide refrigeration power to a catheter for tissue ablation or mapping. The primary refrigeration system can be open loop or closed loop, and a precool loop will typically be closed loop. Equipment and procedures are disclosed for bringing the system to the desired operational state, for controlling the operation by controlling refrigerant flow rate, for performing safety checks, and for achieving safe shutdown. The catheter-based system for performing a cryoablation procedure uses a precooler to lower the temperature of a fluid refrigerant to a sub-cool temperature (?40° C.) at a working pressure (400 psi). The sub-cooled fluid is then introduced into a supply line of the catheter. Upon outflow of the primary fluid from the supply line, and into a tip section of the catheter, the fluid refrigerant boils at an outflow pressure of approximately one atmosphere, at a temperature of about ?88° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Jay Walton, Lizhong Zheng, John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050157806
    Abstract: An access point in a multi-antenna system broadcasts data using spatial spreading to randomize an “effective” channel observed by each user terminal for each block of data symbols broadcast by the access point. At the access point, data is coded, interleaved, and modulated to obtain ND data symbol blocks to be broadcast in NM transmission spans, where ND?1 and NM>1. The ND data symbol blocks are partitioned into NM data symbol subblocks, one subblock for each transmission span. A steering matrix is selected (e.g., in a deterministic or pseudo-random manner from among a set of L steering matrices) for each subblock. Each data symbol subblock is spatially processed with the steering matrix selected for that subblock to obtain transmit symbols, which are further processed and broadcast via NT transmit antennas and in one transmission span to user terminals within a broadcast coverage area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Jay Walton, John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050128953
    Abstract: Techniques are described to calibrate the downlink and uplink channels to account for differences in the frequency responses of the transmit and receive chains at an access point and a user terminal. In one method, pilots are transmitted on the downlink and uplink channels and used to derive estimates of the downlink and uplink channel responses, respectively. Correction factors for the access point and correction factors for the user terminal are determined based on (e.g., by performing matrix-ratio computation or minimum mean square error (MMSE) computation on) the downlink and uplink channel response estimates. The correction factors for the access point and the correction factors for the user terminal are used to obtain a calibrated downlink channel and a calibrated uplink channel, which are transpose of one another. The calibration may be performed in real time based on over-the-air transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Wallace, John Ketchum, J. Walton, Steven Howard
  • Patent number: 6902827
    Abstract: A process for electrodepositing a low stress nickel-manganese multilayer alloy on an electrically conductive substrate is provided. The process includes the steps of immersing the substrate in an electrodeposition solution containing a nickel salt and a manganese salt and repeatedly passing an electric current through an immersed surface of the substrate. The electric current is alternately pulsed for predetermined durations between a first electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and a second electrical current that is effective to electrodeposit nickel and manganese. A multilayered alloy having adjacent layers of nickel and a nickel-manganese alloy on the immersed surface of the substrate is thereby produced. The resulting multilayered alloy exhibits low internal stress, high strength and ductility, and high strength retention upon exposure to heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventors: James John Kelly, Steven Howard Goods, Nancy Yuan-Chi Yang, Charles Henry Cadden
  • Publication number: 20050111599
    Abstract: An uplink channel response matrix is obtained for each terminal and decomposed to obtain a steering vector used by the terminal to transmit on the uplink. An “effective” uplink channel response vector is formed for each terminal based on its steering vector and its channel response matrix. Multiple sets of terminals are evaluated based on their effective channel response vectors to determine the best set (e.g., with highest overall throughput) for uplink transmission. Each selected terminal performs spatial processing on its data symbol stream with its steering vector and transmits its spatially processed data symbol stream to an access point. The multiple selected terminals simultaneously transmit their data symbol streams via their respective MIMO channels to the access point. The access point performs receiver spatial processing on its received symbol streams in accordance with a receiver spatial processing technique to recover the data symbol streams transmitted by the selected terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: J. Walton, John Ketchum, John Smee, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050078762
    Abstract: For eigenmode transmission with minimum mean square error (MMSE) receiver spatial processing, a transmitter performs spatial processing on NS data symbol streams with steering vectors to transmit the streams on NS spatial channels of a MIMO channel. The steering vectors are estimates of transmitter steering vectors required to orthogonalize the spatial channels. A receiver derives a spatial filter based on an MMSE criterion and with an estimate of the MIMO channel response and the steering vectors. The receiver (1) obtains NR received symbol streams from NR receive antennas, (2) performs spatial processing on the received symbol streams with the spatial filter to obtain NS filtered symbol streams, (3) performs signal scaling on the filtered symbol streams with a scaling matrix to obtain NS recovered symbol streams, and (4) processes the NS recovered symbol streams to obtain NS decoded data streams for the NS data streams sent by the transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, J. Walton, Steven Howard
  • Patent number: 6878704
    Abstract: Pleuromutilin compounds of the formula: are of use in anti-bacterial therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham p.l.c.
    Inventors: Steven Aitken, Gerald Brooks, Steven Dabbs, Colin Henry Frydrych, Steven Howard, Eric Hunt
  • Publication number: 20050047515
    Abstract: Frequency-independent eigensteering in MISO and MIMO systems are described. For principal mode and multi-mode eigensteering, a correlation matrix is computed for a MIMO channel based on channel response matrices and decomposed to obtain NS frequency-independent steering vectors for NS spatial channels of the MIMO channel. ND data symbol streams are transmitted on ND best spatial channels using ND steering vectors, where ND=1 for principal mode eigensteering and ND>1 for multi-mode eigensteering. For main path eigensteering, a data symbol stream is transmitted on the best spatial channel for the main propagation path (e.g., with the highest energy) of the MIMO channel. For receiver eigensteering, a data symbol stream is steered toward a receive antenna based on a steering vector obtained for that receive antenna. For all eigensteering schemes, a matched filter is derived for each receive antenna based on the steering vector(s) and channel response vectors for the receive antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: J. Walton, John Ketchum, Mark Wallace, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20050002326
    Abstract: Techniques for transmitting data from a transmitter unit to a receiver unit in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system. In one method, at the receiver unit, a number of signals are received via a number of receive antennas, with the received signal from each receive antenna comprising a combination of one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter unit. The received signals are processed to derive channel state information (CSI) indicative of characteristics of a number of transmission channels used for data transmission. The CSI is transmitted back to the transmitter unit. At the transmitter unit, the CSI from the receiver unit is received and data for transmission to the receiver unit is processed based on the received CSI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Fuyung Ling, Jay Walton, Steven Howard, Mark Wallace, John Ketchum
  • Publication number: 20050002468
    Abstract: Techniques to “successively” process received signals at a receiver unit in a MIMO system to recover transmitted data, and to “adaptively” process data at a transmitter unit based on channel state information available for the MIMO channel. A successive cancellation receiver processing technique is used to process the received signals and performs a number of iterations to provide decoded data streams. For each iteration, input (e.g., received) signals for the iteration are processed to provide one or more symbol streams. One of the symbol streams is selected and processed to provide a decoded data stream. The interference due to the decoded data stream is approximately removed (i.e., canceled) from the input signals provided to the next iteration. The channel characteristics are estimated and reported back to the transmitter system and used to adjust (i.e., adapt) the processing (e.g., coding, modulation, and so on) of data prior to transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Jay Walton, Mark Wallace, John Ketchum, Steven Howard
  • Publication number: 20040254182
    Abstract: This invention relates to compounds which are useful as enhanced propertied pharmaceutical compounds for both human and veterinary application. The pharmaceutical compounds which are suitable for use in this invention are those compounds which can be substituted with a moiety, said moiety comprising a substituent which enhances or changes the properties of the pharmaceutical compound. The chemical modification of drugs into labile derivatives with enhanced physicochemical properties that enable better transport through biological barriers is a useful approach for improving-drug delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Mulvihill, Steven Howard Shaber
  • Publication number: 20040255028
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing virtual private network (VPN) connectivity between at least two customer sites. Each of a plurality of PE routers includes at least one access module adapted for connectivity to at least one customer site. The access modules are generated automatically for each PE router associated with a VPN, wherein customer sites, which are associated with said VPN and have an identical export route target (RT) value and import RT value, are connected to a common access module. Otherwise, customer sites associated with the PE router that do not have identical export and import RT values are coupled to their own respective access modules at the PE router. Each access module generates an ingress-forwarding table for routing packetized information between the at least two customer sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Chu, Francis Robert Magee, Steven Howard Richman, Bhadrayu J. Trivedi
  • Patent number: 6826025
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having either or both ESD and noise suppression devices that use the inherent resistance in the substrate as an ESD trigger and/or part of the noise suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raminderpal Singh, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6774017
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure, and associated method of fabrication, comprising a substrate having a continuous buried oxide layer and having a plurality of trench isolation structures. The buried oxide layer may be located at more than one depth within the substrate. The geometry of the trench isolation structure may vary with depth. The trench isolation structure may touch or not touch the buried oxide layer. Two trench isolation structures may penetrate the substrate to the same depth or to different depths. The trench isolation structures provide insulative separation between regions within the substrate and the separated regions may contain semiconductor devices. The semiconductor structure facilitates the providing of digital and analog devices on a common wafer. A dual-depth buried oxide layer facilitates an asymmetric semiconductor structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Brown, Andres Bryant, Robert J. Gauthier, Jr., Randy William Mann, Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6762918
    Abstract: A fuse state circuit for reading the state of a fuse that is enhanced to reduce the circuits susceptibility to ESD, EOS or CDM events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Howard Voldman
  • Patent number: 6757803
    Abstract: A memory usage data structure (MUDS) is maintained for each process executing in the computer system, the MUDS having a bitmap field having a bit corresponding to each block of allocatable memory. A bit corresponding to a selected memory block is set to the value of “1” when the selected memory block is allocated to the selected process. The bit corresponding to the selected memory block is set to the value of “0” when the selected memory block is not allocated to the selected process. A master MUDS is generated by combining the MUDS maintained by each process, the master MUDS having bits set to a value of “0” for free memory blocks, and the master MUDS having bits set to a value of “1” for memory blocks allocated to any processes of the multiprocess computer system. In response to the master MUDS, all memory blocks having a corresponding bit set to a value of “0” are returned to free memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Minjie Lin, Steven Howard Berl