Patents by Inventor Walter J. Downey

Walter J. Downey 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).

  • Patent number: 9954796
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then during the plurality of symbol durations, a set of phases of the signal for each symbol duration is obtained, where each phase is a phase of a carrier of the number of carriers. Then a set of phase variances for each carrier of the number of carriers is obtained, where each phase variance is a difference of phases of a carrier in different symbol durations. Then a phase variance value based on the set of phase variances is computed and it is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ECHELON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9681461
    Abstract: A method implemented in a device is disclosed for networking through signals transmitted across a shared medium network. The method starts with monitoring for a first signal on a shared medium of the shared medium network. The first signal is processed after it is received and while the first signal is being processed, a set of one or more signals is received on the shared medium. Then a set of one or more amplitude increases is determined, where each amplitude increase is from an earlier received signal to a later received signal. The set of one or more amplitude increases is compared to a threshold value and at least partially in response to the comparison, the device discards one or more signals from the first signal and the set of one or more signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Philip H. Sutterlin, Glen M. Riley, Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9672009
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for performing Galois multiplication using an enhanced Galois table. Galois multiplication may include converting a first and second multiplicand to exponential forms using a Galois table, adding the exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands, and converting the added exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands to a decimal equivalent binary form using the Galois table to decimal equivalent binary result of the Galois multiplication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9614706
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then a deviation value of the signal is computed, where the deviation value is computed at least partially based on phase differences between some number of carriers in the preamble. The deviation value is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal. In response to the determination that a packet has been detected, a symbol offset is computed optionally, where the symbol offset indicates a number of sample points from a beginning of a symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ECHELON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9413575
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then a deviation value of the signal is computed, where the deviation value is computed at least partially based on phase differences between some number of carriers in the preamble. The deviation value is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal. In response to the determination that a packet has been detected, a symbol offset is computed optionally, where the symbol offset indicates a number of sample points from a beginning of a symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ECHELON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20160218995
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then during the plurality of symbol durations, a set of phases of the signal for each symbol duration is obtained, where each phase is a phase of a carrier of the number of carriers. Then a set of phase variances for each carrier of the number of carriers is obtained, where each phase variance is a difference of phases of a carrier in different symbol durations. Then a phase variance value based on the set of phase variances is computed and it is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9363128
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then during the plurality of symbol durations, a set of phases of the signal for each symbol duration is obtained, where each phase is a phase of a carrier of the number of carriers. Then a set of phase variances for each carrier of the number of carriers is obtained, where each phase variance is a difference of phases of a carrier in different symbol durations. Then a phase variance value based on the set of phase variances is computed and it is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ECHELON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20160157249
    Abstract: A method implemented in a device is disclosed for networking through signals transmitted across a shared medium network. The method starts with monitoring for a first signal on a shared medium of the shared medium network. The first signal is processed after it is received and while the first signal is being processed, a set of one or more signals is received on the shared medium. Then a set of one or more amplitude increases is determined, where each amplitude increase is from an earlier received signal to a later received signal. The set of one or more amplitude increases is compared to a threshold value and at least partially in response to the comparison, the device discards one or more signals from the first signal and the set of one or more signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Philip H. Sutterlin, Glen M. Riley, Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9356854
    Abstract: A method implemented in a device is disclosed for networking through signals transmitted across a shared medium network. The method starts with monitoring for a first signal on a shared medium of the shared medium network. The first signal is processed after it is received and while the first signal is being processed, a set of one or more signals is received on the shared medium. Then a set of one or more amplitude increases is determined, where each amplitude increase is from an earlier received signal to a later received signal. The set of one or more amplitude increases is compared to a threshold value and at least partially in response to the comparison, the device discards one or more signals from the first signal and the set of one or more signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Philip H. Sutterlin, Glen M. Riley, Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20160142240
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then a deviation value of the signal is computed, where the deviation value is computed at least partially based on phase differences between some number of carriers in the preamble. The deviation value is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal. In response to the determination that a packet has been detected, a symbol offset is computed optionally, where the symbol offset indicates a number of sample points from a beginning of a symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20160124717
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for performing Galois multiplication using an enhanced Galois table. Galois multiplication may include converting a first and second multiplicand to exponential forms using a Galois table, adding the exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands, and converting the added exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands to a decimal equivalent binary form using the Galois table to decimal equivalent binary result of the Galois multiplication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9250862
    Abstract: Embodiments of an improved Galois multiplication route are described. In some embodiments, the Galois multiplication routine looks up and retrieves a first value corresponding to an address in the Galois table, exclusive ORs the retrieved value with a data value from a data set to generate an intermediate address for the Galois table, wherein the data value is at a location associated with an index, and looks up and retrieves a second value in the Galois table by the intermediate address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9246787
    Abstract: A method implemented in a device is disclosed for networking through signals transmitted across a shared medium network. The method starts with monitoring for a first signal on a shared medium of the shared medium network. The first signal is processed after it is received and while the first signal is being processed, a set of one or more signals is received on the shared medium. Then a set of one or more amplitude increases is determined, where each amplitude increase is from an earlier received signal to a later received signal. The set of one or more amplitude increases is compared to a threshold value and at least partially in response to the comparison, the device discards one or more signals from the first signal and the set of one or more signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Philip H. Sutterlin, Glen M. Riley, Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9246733
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then during the plurality of symbol durations, a set of phases of the signal for each symbol duration is obtained, where each phase is a phase of a carrier of the number of carriers. Then a set of phase variances for each carrier of the number of carriers is obtained, where each phase variance is a difference of phases of a carrier in different symbol durations. Then a phase variance value based on the set of phase variances is computed and it is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9246726
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then a deviation value of the signal is computed, where the deviation value is computed at least partially based on phase differences between some number of carriers in the preamble. The deviation value is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal. In response to the determination that a packet has been detected, a symbol offset is computed optionally, where the symbol offset indicates a number of sample points from a beginning of a symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ECHELON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Patent number: 9235554
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus for performing Galois multiplication using an enhanced Galois table. Galois multiplication may include converting a first and second multiplicand to exponential forms using a Galois table, adding the exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands, and converting the added exponential forms of the first and second multiplicands to a decimal equivalent binary form using the Galois table to decimal equivalent binary result of the Galois multiplication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20140269948
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then a deviation value of the signal is computed, where the deviation value is computed at least partially based on phase differences between some number of carriers in the preamble. The deviation value is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal. In response to the determination that a packet has been detected, a symbol offset is computed optionally, where the symbol offset indicates a number of sample points from a beginning of a symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20140280423
    Abstract: Embodiments of an improved Galois multiplication route are described. In some embodiments, the Galois multiplication routine looks up and retrieves a first value corresponding to an address in the Galois table, exclusive ORs the retrieved value with a data value from a data set to generate an intermediate address for the Galois table, wherein the data value is at a location associated with an index, and looks up and retrieves a second value in the Galois table by the intermediate address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20140269758
    Abstract: A method implemented in a device is disclosed for networking through signals transmitted across a shared medium network. The method starts with monitoring for a first signal on a shared medium of the shared medium network. The first signal is processed after it is received and while the first signal is being processed, a set of one or more signals is received on the shared medium. Then a set of one or more amplitude increases is determined, where each amplitude increase is from an earlier received signal to a later received signal. The set of one or more amplitude increases is compared to a threshold value and at least partially in response to the comparison, the device discards one or more signals from the first signal and the set of one or more signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Philip H. Sutterlin, Glen M. Riley, Walter J. Downey
  • Publication number: 20140269949
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting packet at a receiving system in a Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM) system. The method starts with receiving a signal at the receiving system. Then during the plurality of symbol durations, a set of phases of the signal for each symbol duration is obtained, where each phase is a phase of a carrier of the number of carriers. Then a set of phase variances for each carrier of the number of carriers is obtained, where each phase variance is a difference of phases of a carrier in different symbol durations. Then a phase variance value based on the set of phase variances is computed and it is compared with a threshold to determine whether a packet has been detected from the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter J. Downey