Patents by Inventor William Michael MacDonald

William Michael MacDonald 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: 20170132665
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, mobile user devices that are located within a common geographic area are identified, and location-based service information is delivered to the identified mobile user devices over a broadcast channel shared by those mobile user devices. A response to the location-based service information may be received from at least a given one of the mobile user devices, and at least one message may be controllably delivered to the given one of the mobile user devices based on the response to the location-based service information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: IDPA HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Patent number: 9443243
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, mobile user devices that are located within a common geographic area are identified, and location-based service information is delivered to the identified mobile user devices over a broadcast channel shared by those mobile user devices. A response to the location-based service information maybe received from at least a given one of the mobile user devices, and at least one message maybe controllably delivered to the given one of the mobile user devices based on the response to the location-based service information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: IDPA Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Patent number: 8565715
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, profile information is obtained for users associated with respective mobile user devices, and location information is obtained for the mobile user devices. At least one message is controllably delivered to a given one of the mobile user devices based on the location information and the profile information. The location information is obtained for respective ones of the mobile user devices responsive to location determinations initiated by those devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Patent number: 8463291
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to mobile localization, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to tracking mobile devices. Embodiments include methods that consider probability kernels with distance-like metrics between distributions. Also described are probabilistic kernels that can be used for a regression of location, which can achieve up to about inn accuracy in an office environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Piotr Mirowski, Harald Steck, Philip A. Whiting, Ravishankar Palaniappan, William Michael MacDonald, Tin Kam Ho
  • Publication number: 20130065605
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to mobile localization, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to tracking mobile devices. Embodiments include methods that consider probability kernels with distance-like metrics between distributions. Also described are probabilistic kernels that can be used for a regression of location, which can achieve up to about inn accuracy in an office environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Piotr Mirowski, Harald Steck, Philip A. Whiting, Ravishankar Palaniappan, William Michael MacDonald, Tin Kam Ho
  • Patent number: 8265611
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, mobile user devices that are candidates for a location-based service are identified and the identified mobile user devices are monitored to determine when one or more of said mobile user devices becomes currently active on a traffic channel of the wireless network. Location information is automatically obtained for the one or more mobile user devices that are currently active on the traffic channel, and delivery of at least one message to a given one of those mobile user devices is controlled based on the location information. Generation of location queries involving respective ones of the mobile user devices is thereby synchronized with the traffic channel activity of those devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Publication number: 20110124347
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for user equipment positioning in networks. An example method includes computing a location of a user equipment (UE). The computing includes joint scheduling of UL subframes and receiving a Up Link Positioning Reference Signal (UL-PRS). The computing is performed by a network equipment that serves at least one cell site. The UL-PRS is received in a known subframe. The computing may also include estimating an arrival time the UL-PRS from the UE for a plurality of cell sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Byron Hua Chen, Jung Ah Lee, William Michael MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7840222
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, particular ones of a plurality of mobile user devices associated with a wireless network are identified for which sufficient location-indicative information is available from which a general location of said devices can be inferred without performing actual location measurements for said devices. The delivery of location queries to the identified mobile user devices is prevented, such that a number of location queries required for provision of a given location-based service is reduced relative to a number of location queries which would otherwise be required without the delivery prevention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Publication number: 20070270133
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, profile information is obtained for users associated with respective mobile user devices, and location information is obtained for the mobile user devices. At least one message is controllably delivered to a given one of the mobile user devices based on the location information and the profile information. The location information is obtained for respective ones of the mobile user devices responsive to location determinations initiated by those devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Publication number: 20070270161
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, mobile user devices that are located within a common geographic area are identified, and location-based service information is delivered to the identified mobile user devices over a broadcast channel shared by those mobile user devices. A response to the location-based service information maybe received from at least a given one of the mobile user devices, and at least one message maybe controllably delivered to the given one of the mobile user devices based on the response to the location-based service information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Publication number: 20070270166
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, users associated with respective mobile user devices are separated into at least a first group of users of a first benefit class of a location-based service and a second group of users of a second benefit class of the location-based service. Location information is obtained for the mobile user devices, with the location information being obtained more frequently for the mobile user devices of users in the first group than for the mobile user devices of users in the second group. At least one message is controllably delivered to a given one of the mobile user devices based on the location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Nachi K. Nithi, Viswanath Poosala
  • Publication number: 20070270160
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, mobile user devices that are candidates for a location-based service are identified and the identified mobile user devices are monitored to determine when one or more of said mobile user devices becomes currently active on a traffic channel of the wireless network. Location information is automatically obtained for the one or more mobile user devices that are currently active on the traffic channel, and delivery of at least one message to a given one of those mobile user devices is controlled based on the location information. Generation of location queries involving respective ones of the mobile user devices is thereby synchronized with the traffic channel activity of those devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Publication number: 20070270162
    Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. In one aspect of the invention, particular ones of a plurality of mobile user devices associated with a wireless network are identified for which sufficient location-indicative information is available from which a general location of said devices can be inferred without performing actual location measurements for said devices. The delivery of location queries to the identified mobile user devices is prevented, such that a number of location queries required for provision of a given location-based service is reduced relative to a number of location queries which would otherwise be required without the delivery prevention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Karl Georg Hampel, William Michael MacDonald, Viswanath Poosala
  • Patent number: 5911021
    Abstract: A subassembly for coupling a laser to an optical fiber comprises a substrate having an asymmetrical, pyramidal cavity, a spherical lens located in the cavity, and a semiconductor laser positioned on the substrate. The output face of the laser is located along an edge of the cavity (without overhanging the edge), and its active region is aligned with the center of the lens along the optic axis of the subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: William Michael MacDonald, Yiu-Huen Wong
  • Patent number: 5881193
    Abstract: There is disclosed, an optical subassembly includes a platform on which a laser and photodiode are mounted. The laser has a rear facet through which passes a small portion of the light emitted by the laser. The photodiode is mounted on the surface of the platform with a light admitting facet for receiving a portion of the light emitted from the rear facet of the laser being substantially perpendicular to the light emitting facet of the laser. The surface of the platform may include a channel. The channel may be tapered from a narrower end near the laser to a wider end near the photodiode, and may be coated with a light-reflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Anigbo, Mindaugas Fernand Dautartas, William Michael MacDonald, Edward A. Pitman, David Andrew Ramsey, Dominic Paul Rinaudo, Yiu-Huen Wong