Patents by Inventor Wen Zhao

Wen Zhao 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: 8148544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds present in, e.g., coffee. Also, the invention relates to the discovery of specific compounds and compositions containing that function as bitter taste blockers and the use thereof as bitter taste blockers or flavor modulators in, e.g., coffee and coffee flavored foods, beverages and medicaments. Also, the present invention relates to the discovery of a compound that antagonizes numerous different human T2Rs and the use thereof in assays and as a bitter taste blocker in compositions for ingestion by humans and animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Senomyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Li, Andrew Patron, Catherine Tachdjian, Hong Xu, Qing Li, Alexey Pronin, Guy Servant, Lan Zhang, Thomas Brady, Vincent Darmohusodo, Melissa Arellano, Victor Selchau, Brett Weylan Ching, Donald S. Karanewsky, Paul Brust, Jing Ling, Wen Zhao, Chad Priest
  • Publication number: 20120069929
    Abstract: It has now been found that in some transmitter implementations which transmit multiple code channels, for example CDMA transmitters, the observed power for each code channel at the output relative to the other code channels is dependent upon the total transmit power due to non-linearities in the transmitter. Methods and apparatus are provided which use pre-set digital gains or digital gain adjustments to compensate for the non-linearities as a function of total transmit power such that at the output, the desired relative powers are observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Wen ZHAO, Qingzhong JIAO
  • Patent number: 8131292
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved timer based registration for a mobile device with a network, the network having a standard slot cycle time for interrupts, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at the mobile device, a system parameter message from the network, the message having a value indicating a frequency for periodic registration; setting a timer value on a timer at the mobile device, the timer value being greater than the standard slot cycle time; setting a counter to count expiration of the timer; starting the timer; upon expiration of the timer, decrementing the counter; upon the counter reaching zero, waiting for a paging slot to communicate with the network; and sending a registration message to the network on the paging slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Qingzhong Jiao, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8121637
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing and maintaining an “always-on” data connection to a wireless network through the use of a back off timer and a service check timer is disclosed. The back off timer is initialized to a determined value when a connection is not established. When the timer expires, a connection attempt is made. As further connection attempts are made, the back off timer is set to ever-increasing values. When the data connection is established, the service check timer is initialized. The data connection status is determined at the expiry of the service check timer. When, at the expiry of the service check timer, the data connection is determined to be lost, the connection method is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Shahid R. Chaudry, T. L. Trevor Plestid, Hao Xue, Grace T. Y. Yeung, Clifford W. Yanoshewski
  • Patent number: 8115682
    Abstract: A multi-band HAC compatible antenna module having a metal shield arranged around the built-in antenna for resonant coupling with the antenna to lower electromagnetic interference and to improves hearing aids compatibility characteristic. When compared with a reference antenna without metal shield, the multi-band HAC compatible antenna module shows 3 dB˜4 dB HAC improvement in GSM850 and GSM900, and 1 dB HAC improvement in DCS and PCS bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Auden Techno Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel Chang, Chia-Lun Tang, Yan-Wen Zhao, Jianliang Shen
  • Patent number: 8090331
    Abstract: It has now been found that in some transmitter implementations which transmit multiple code channels, for example CDMA transmitters, the observed power for each code channel at the output relative to the other code channels is dependent upon the total transmit power due to non-linearities in the transmitter. Methods and apparatus are provided which use pre-set digital gains or digital gain adjustments to compensate for the non-linearities as a function of total transmit power such that at the output, the desired relative powers are observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Ju, Wen Zhao, Qingzhong Jiao
  • Publication number: 20110306342
    Abstract: A cellular communications system may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Kenneth J. Liang, Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20110304552
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for telephony tone signal and character code generation for QWERTY keyboards includes a QWERTY style keyboard, a processor and a keyboard mode control software module. The QWERTY style keyboard has a plurality of letter keys, wherein each letter key is configured to generate a unique input signal. The processor is coupled to the keyboard and is configured to convert each unique input signal generated by the letter keys into a character code and/or a telephony tone signal. The keyboard mode control software module operates on the processor, and controls whether the processor converts the unique input signals from the letter keys into character codes or telephony tone signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Runbo Fu, Xin Jin, Pokin Yeung, Karen A. Rudnitski
  • Publication number: 20110300865
    Abstract: Techniques to dynamically manage wireless connections using feature prioritization are described. For example, a mobile computing device may comprise a connection management module operative to access a list of one or more wireless networks, compare feature set information for the one or more wireless networks, select a wireless network based on the comparison, and initiate a wireless connection using the selected wireless network, wherein the feature set information is contained in the list. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: PALM, INC.
    Inventors: Anand Kashikar, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8064929
    Abstract: In a network comprising mobile data devices having corresponding transceivers, a method and apparatus for temporally spreading network traffic associated with auto-on functionality of the data devices, the method comprising activating transceivers of the data devices independently of corresponding data device activation status in an unsynchronized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Wen Zhao
  • Publication number: 20110269501
    Abstract: A method is performed by a wireless device. The method includes (a) preselecting a set of the base stations; (b) selecting a reverse link cost according to a preselected reverse link cost metric; (c) selecting a base station from the set of base stations; and (d) sending a probe signal at the selected reverse link cost to the selected base station. If a response is not received from the selected base station within a preselected time period and not all the base stations have been sent a probe signal at substantially the selected reverse link cost, then steps (c) through (d) are repeated with a different one of the base stations at substantially the selected reverse link cost. If a response is received from the selected base station within the timeout period, then the responding base station is selected to provide access to the wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Xin Jin
  • Publication number: 20110268000
    Abstract: Various embodiments for providing enhanced power savings in mobile computing devices are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may monitor the battery power level remaining. The mobile computing device may select a wireless connection type for an application based on Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of the application and the amount of battery power remaining. The mobile computing device may switch the application from a higher QoS wireless connection type to a lower QoS wireless connection type when the battery power falls below a threshold. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: PALM, INC.
    Inventors: Anand Kashikar, Vivek Shah, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8050207
    Abstract: Techniques for managing power consumption are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include a first network interface module, a second network interface module, and a power management module. The first network interface module may communicate with wireless networks of a first network type, and the second network interface module may communicate with wireless networks of a second network type. Examples of first and second network types are EVDO and CDMA2000, respectively. The power management module may suspend one or more operations of the first network interface module when a number of first network type outages exceeds a predetermined outage threshold within a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Isabel Mahe
  • Publication number: 20110263253
    Abstract: A cellular communications system may include at least one base station selectively denying attempts to establish wireless communications links therewith, and wirelessly transmitting denial messages for denied attempts. The system may further include at least one mobile cellular communications device including a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with the at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith. If a denial message is received, the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Yet, if the wireless communications link cannot be established with the desired QoS level, and if no denial message is received, then the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second attempt rate different than the first attempt rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Kenneth J. Liang, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8041376
    Abstract: In one illustrative example of the present application, a mobile communication device has one or more processors, a wireless transceiver adapted to provide communications through a wireless communication network, and a buffer memory for use in buffering a Push-To-Talk (PTT) communication from the mobile communication device. The one or more processors are operative to produce a mobile device indication message which indicates the mobile device's support for buffering of the PTT communication. This message is transmitted by the wireless transceiver to a PTT service entity through the wireless network. The one or more processors may be further operative to receive, from the PTT service entity through the wireless network, a network indication message which instructs the mobile device whether to use buffering for the PTT communication. The mobile device may use the buffer memory for the buffering of the PTT communication based on the network indication message from the PTT service entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Allen, Xin Jin, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8036683
    Abstract: Techniques involving the coordination of wireless activities are disclosed. For example, an apparatus may include two or more transceivers. These transceivers may include a first transceiver to communicate wirelessly across cellular links, and a second transceiver to communicate wirelessly across wireless data networking links. The apparatus may also include controllers, each controlling wireless communications of a corresponding transceiver. Information may be exchanged with each other regarding operation of the transceivers. Through the exchange of such information, activity (e.g., transmission and reception of wireless signals) may be coordinated among the transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jerome Tu, Jianxiong Shi, Olivier Boireau, Isabel Mahe, Alexander Fertelmeister, Yury Fomin, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8023983
    Abstract: In one illustrative example, methods and apparatus for use in buffering PTT voice communications are described. A mobile station sends a PTT voice communication request in a wireless communication network. Prior to receiving a floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request, the mobile station receives voice input signals and buffers digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals, where the digital voice data is produced by encoding and compressing the voice input signals. The mobile station receives the floor grant in response to the PTT voice communication request. Upon receipt of the floor grant, the mobile station retrieves the buffered digital voice data and continues to buffer digital voice data corresponding to the voice input signals, until all of the buffered digital voice data has been sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Wen Zhao
  • Patent number: 8023943
    Abstract: A cellular communications system may include at least one base station and at least one mobile cellular communications device. More particularly, the at least one mobile cellular communications device may include a controller, at least one user input device connected to the controller, and a wireless transceiver cooperating with the controller for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station, and if the wireless communications link cannot be established, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Moreover, if a user provides a request to access the at least one base station via the at least one user input device, then the controller may continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link based upon a second attempt rate greater than the first attempt rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Kenneth J. Liang, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8010123
    Abstract: A cellular communications system may include at least one base station selectively denying attempts to establish wireless communications links therewith, and wirelessly transmitting denial messages for denied attempts. The system may further include at least one mobile cellular communications device including a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with the at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith. If a denial message is received, the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Yet, if the wireless communications link cannot be established with the desired QoS level, and if no denial message is received, then the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second attempt rate different than the first attempt rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Wen Zhao, Kenneth J. Liang, Jin Kim
  • Publication number: 20110207937
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds present in, e.g., coffee. Also, the invention relates to the discovery of specific compounds and compositions containing that function as bitter taste blockers and the use thereof as bitter taste blockers or flavor modulators in, e.g., coffee and coffee flavored foods, beverages and medicaments. Also, the present invention relates to the discovery of a compound that antagonizes numerous different human T2Rs and the use thereof in assays and as a bitter taste blocker in compositions for ingestion by humans and animals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Senomyx, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong LI, Andrew Patron, Catherine Tachdjian, Hong Xu, Qing Li, Alexey Pronin, Guy Servant, Lan Zhang, Thomas Brady, Vincent Darmohusodo, Melissa Arellano, Victor Selchau, Brett Weylan Ching, Donald S. Karanewsky, Paul Brust, Jing Ling, Wen Zhao, Chad Priest