Patents by Inventor Thomas Hart

Thomas Hart 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: 20060272209
    Abstract: A table for use in combination with a container such as a flower pot or vase. The decorative table is formed from a frame that couples to the open end of the container wherein the container operates as a support base. A decorative item, such as a plant, is placed in therein and operates as a weighted base. A frame is secured to the container having a spaced upper end forming an upper support member. A planar tabletop is then secured to the upper support member providing a tabletop that can be used in a conventional manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20060199603
    Abstract: A method and computer program for initiating a message to a radio access network include steps of: (404) detecting a request to transmit a probe message from a transmitter over an access channel to a radio access network; (406) calculating a transmit power for the probe message; (408) checking a condition that may result in failure to receive the probe message over the access channel by the radio access network; and (410) when the condition is determined to be true, then (412) reducing a message length of the probe message to generate a shorter probe message; (414) recalculating the transmit power to send the shorter probe message; and (416) transmitting the shorter probe message over the access channel at the recalculated transmit power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Hart, Ronald Crocker, John Harris, Shreesha Ramanna
  • Publication number: 20060172752
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described to provide push to talk (PTT) talk permit notification (TPN) with less average delay, given a desired rate of falsing, than prior art systems can achieve. A first communication system device (e.g., 101, 121, or 161) determines (504) whether one or more conditions are present for a PTT call that decrease the likelihood of successfully establishing the call. If (506) one or more conditions are present or a querying delay is expected to be less than an acceptable delay amount, the first device queries (508) a second communication system device (e.g., 121, 161, 122, or 102) for an indication to proceed with a TPN for the call before providing the TPN. Otherwise, the first device provides (512) the TPN without waiting for an indication to proceed with the TPN from the second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20060146702
    Abstract: A system and method transmits a data packet to a target mobile station (202) when the target mobile station is busy. The data packet is received at a packet function (PCF) (206). It is determined whether the target mobile station (202) is actively engaged in a session other than a data session. When the target mobile station (202) is engaged in a session that is something other than a data session, it is determined whether the data packet is small enough to be sent over the traffic channel to the target mobile station (202). The PCF (206) sends the data packet over the traffic channel to the target mobile station (202) when it is determined that the target mobile station (202) is actively engaged in the session other than a data session and the data packet is small enough to be sent over the voice channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Hart, Ronald Crocker, John Harris
  • Publication number: 20060146743
    Abstract: Communications are established between an originating mobile station (104) and a target mobile station (120) in an expedited manner. An initial short packet is transmitted from an originating mobile station (104) and the initial short packet is translated into an Internet Protocol (IP) packet. The IP packet is transmitted to a target Packet Control Unit (PCU) (116). An acknowledgment IP packet is responsively received from the target mobile station (120) via the target PCU (116) and a communication link is established between the originating mobile station (104) and the target mobile station (120).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Ronald Crocker, Rajeev Agrawal, Thomas Hart, Suresh Kalyanasundaram, Jeffrey Smolinske, Stephen Spear
  • Publication number: 20060129673
    Abstract: A presence agent (101) receives a message with a request for a status of one or more entities. The presence agent (101) determines the status of the entities, and transmits a message with the status of the entities. Transmitting the message includes initiating a connection to a communication device (107). A watcher (103) monitors the status of the entities, and provides updated information regarding the status to the users. The watcher (103) receives a request for a status of entities, determines the status of the entities, and transmits, in response to receipt of the request, a response indicating the status. A communication device (107) transmits a message having a request for status of entities. The communication device receives, from a connection initiated by a communication network (105), a message with a status of the entities, and processes the status of the entities, in response thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Ishita Majumdar, Anurag Das, Venkat Gopikanth, Thomas Hart, Peter Lin, Valentin Oprescu-Surcobe
  • Publication number: 20060119882
    Abstract: A server (101) designates and assigns each of a plurality of communication devices to at least one of a plurality of groups. The server (101) prepares a communication having presence information corresponding to a status of the communication devices in the group; determines network infrastructure device(s) serving the group; and transmits, at a pre-determined time, the communication to the network infrastructure device(s). A network infrastructure device (103a-c, 105a-f) receives the communication and transmits, as a common channel signal during the pre-determined time, a signal with the presence information. A communication unit (107a, 107b, 107c) receives an indication of the pre-determined time; transmits, at an interval proximate to the pre-determined time, a signal indicating the communication device's status; and receives, at the pre-determined time, the signal with the presence information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart, Valentin Oprescu-Surcobe
  • Publication number: 20060111128
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing the transmission delay of messages sent through a network from a source mobile unit (112) to a destination mobile unit (114). Portions of a data message are received (202). The portions of the data message are decoded (204) and a type of the data message is determined from the decoded portions. Before the entire data message has been received, processing and service actions are performed as a result of receiving the data message (206) based at least in part upon the type of the data message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20060058044
    Abstract: A system controller (10) having a first mode of operation to repage a wireless mobile station in a multi-zone wireless communication system (11). The system controller (10) accesses a location register (12) to obtain a zone location corresponding to a wireless mobile station. The system controller (10) then uses the transmission resources of the zone location to facilitate sourcing a wireless communication with the wireless mobile station. If the wireless mobile station does not respond, the first mode of operation for repaging the wireless mobile station includes the system controller's (10) accessing the location register (12) to obtain a second zone location and using the transmission resources of only the second zone location to source a wireless communication to the wireless mobile station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Horvath, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20060045043
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described which can provide reduced PTT call setup times and a greater degree of service integration for PTT users. A PTT originator's MSC (171) notifies (205) the PTT server of a PTT session request before the originator (101) has the channel and data connection resources to send a PTT session request itself. This enables the PTT server (161) to trigger (207) the establishment of channel and data connection resources for the PTT target (102) before the originator is able to trigger the same by sending a PTT session request itself. Also, the target's MSC (172) notifies (221) the PTT server after the target responds to a page for the session, enabling the PTT server to indicate PTT session acceptance (223) on behalf of the target before the target has the channel and data connection resources to respond to a PTT session request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Ronald Crocker, John Harris, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20060045129
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need for improved SDB data delivery to mobiles. In general, an MS (101) will determine whether it expects to receive data that would be appropriate for delivery by SDB. If it does, then the MS, via messaging with a serving RAN (e.g., RAN-component BS 121), PCF (131), and PDSN (141), establishes a service instance and a traffic flow template (TFT) to be used to segregate data for delivery to the MS via SDB. The PCF and PDSN establish a tunnel associated with the service instance that will be used in accordance with the TFT for conveying data that is to be delivered to the MS via SDB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Hart, Ronald Crocker, John Harris, Dan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20060025122
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatuses, methods and systems for use in notifying a remote communication device when a local wireless device loses its wireless link. In some embodiments, a method detects when a wireless connection is lost with a first communication device, identifies a second communication device that is communicating with the first device, and notifies the second device of the lost link. In some implementations, the notification of the lost link is supplied while the method provides batch communications. Some embodiments provide voice communications, where a remote device is notified when a local device loses its wireless connection. The second device can be determined by querying a server. The notifying can include forwarding an in-band tone, and/or generating a real time protocol packet. In some embodiments, the loss of the link is detected through a radio access network, a packet control function, and/or a mobile switching center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20050266867
    Abstract: A core network element in a communication system can serve to store information regarding a present communication location of a given communication unit that seeks to facilitate a wireless communication using one kind of wireless communication resource (such as a dedicated voice channel) via another kind of wireless communication resource (such as a shared data channel). Upon receiving an indication from a communication unit regarding a target communication unit, the core network element can also make a determination regarding the likely availability of that target communication unit. A corresponding message that corresponds to this likelihood of availability can then be returned to the communication unit (using, preferably, the previously stored communication location information to essentially target the use of system resources to effect delivery of this message). The communication unit, in turn, can use this preliminary indication to facilitate its own subsequent actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: John Harris, Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart
  • Publication number: 20050169223
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described to address the need for providing substantially reduced PTT call setup times and more efficient wireless bandwidth utilization for PTT sessions utilizing an IP-based protocol. The use of non-IP messaging between an originating MS (101) and PCF (131) and a target MS (102) and PCF (132), the use of IP-based messaging between the PCFs, the use of access channel signaling by the originating MS, and the generation of SIP responses by a target PCF on behalf of the target MS are described. Embodiments incorporating some or all of these protocol changes, can provide either, or both, reduced end-to-end call setup time for PTT as it presently exists in IS-2000 systems or reduced bandwidth consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Crocker, Thomas Hart, Robert Horvath
  • Publication number: 20050122937
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to address the need for providing substantially reduced PTT call setup delays. Modifications to channel assignment request messaging (400), such as an IS-2000 Reconnect Message and an IS-2000 Origination Message, are described. In addition, the use of common control channel signaling (e.g., 201), changes to page response messaging (e.g., 301) and new uses for A9-Short Data Delivery messaging (e.g., 203 and 303) are described. Embodiments incorporating some or all of these protocol changes, can provide reduced end-to-end call setup time for PTT as it presently exists in IS-2000 systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hart, Ronald Crocker
  • Publication number: 20050073969
    Abstract: The present embodiments address the need for a reduced resource dormant state for packet data systems (100) that substantially provides the benefits of current dormant mode operation but without the resource maintenance costs. After a period of MS session inactivity, PCF resources, certain PDSN resources, and the PCF-PDSN tunnel are released in order to enter a new reduced resource dormant state. When data arrives for a reduced-resource-dormant MS (101), PDSN-initiated messaging (303) is used to trigger the re-establish PCF resources, a PDSN-PCF tunnel connection (320), and released PDSN resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Hart, Jay Jayapalan
  • Publication number: 20050009537
    Abstract: The need to facilitate wireless presence-based services more efficiently is addressed by embodiments of the present invention. In general, a wireless presence proxy (WPP) (131) caches presence updates (such as buddy list presence updates) from a presence server (161) for a mobile station (MS) (101). The WPP maintains presence information, which reflects the presence updates received, for transfer to the MS when an update condition exists. Thus, updates are made when, for example, a resource-efficient condition is present, such as the assignment of a traffic channel for other call activity. The WPP also updates the presence server, on behalf of the MS, when the MS presence status changes. In this manner, the embodiments described are able to reduce the system resources required to facilitate wireless presence-based services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Crocker, John Harris, Thomas Hart
  • Patent number: 6552410
    Abstract: A programmable circuit, such as a field programmable gate array, and a dedicated device, such as an ASIC type device, are coupled together with an antifuse based interface on a single integrated circuit. A configurable non-volatile memory that communicates with the dedicated device is also located on the integrated circuit. The platform for the programmable circuit is one half of an existing programmable circuit, which eliminates the need to engineer the programmable circuit. The programmable circuit includes a clock network that receives clock signals from clock terminals as well as from a clock network in the dedicated device. The interface between the dedicated device and programmable circuit includes a number of conductors with buffers with testing circuitry. The testing circuitry includes a PMOS test transistor and a NMOS test transistor which permits testing of the buffers without programming the antifuses coupled to the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: QuickLogic Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Eaton, Ket-Chong Yap, Kevin K. Yee, E. Thomas Hart, Andrew K. Chan, Neal A. Palmer, Michael W. Dini, James Apland, Panawalge S. N. Gunaratna
  • Publication number: 20020116463
    Abstract: A filter mechanism for unwanted e-mail messages uses a downloadable central source (1, 2) of filter rule data. User reports of received unwanted e-mail messages are relayed back to the central source of the filter data and used to automatically update that filter data. An algorithmic approach to identifying characteristics of unwanted e-mail messages may be applied based upon the preponderance of predetermined words within an e-mail message or characteristics of the addressee list. If an e-mail message is identified as suspect, but not definitely unwanted, then it may be encapsulated within a HTML document and sent to its addressee together with buttons (28) allowing the recipient to provide feedback as to whether or not that email message is unwanted. This recipient feedback may be used to establish a new local rule and generate a report back to the central source of the downloadable filter data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Matthew Thomas Hart
  • Patent number: 5987974
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable cylinder contribution tester for an electronic diesel engine, the diesel engine including a plurality of cylinders. The tester comprises a plurality of switches, each of the plurality of switches coupled to and for controlling one of the plurality of cylinders and a case for mounting the plurality of switches. When an abnormal diesel engine operation is detected each of the plurality of switches can be activated. When one of the plurality of switches is activated and the diesel engine does not decrease in performance it is indicated that the associated cylinder is malfunctioning. Existing test equipment for most electronic diesel engines is PC based and available to franchised dealers only, as well as not being portable for drive testing. Through the use of a cylinder contribution tester in accordance with the present invention, these type of repairs could be available to many independently owned non-franchised facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mission Valley Ford Truck Sales, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Lewis, Glen Thomas Hart