Patents by Inventor William R. Highsmith
William R. Highsmith 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).
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Patent number: 8681693Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the operation of a network of cognitive radios in a dynamic network topology. The systems and methods make use cross-layer communications to input parameters required by network services into a reasoning engine, which in turns processes the parameter the parameter information and reports linguistic results to the network services. The cross-layer communications are leveraged to shift network service functionality to the MAC or PHY Layers. Route discovery functionality is shifted from routing services down to the MAC or PHY Layers. The route discovery functionality is implemented by a process to elect a relay node based on the number of available channels that each of the source node neighbors has available to communicate with other neighbors.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2009Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Inventors: Robert A. Kennedy, William R. Highsmith, Robert J. Lawless, William F. Bernett, Paul G. Greenis
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Patent number: 8340155Abstract: A method of allocation transmission channels of a frequency band to has each of a plurality of remote stations monitor all channels of the frequency band in its area for the presence of transmissions from stations not part of the network. Each remote station transmits its clear channel list to a master station that aggregates the clear channel list into a reservation map, or map of channels that are clear to all stations in the network. The master station then transmits the reservation map to all stations of the network. The individual stations use the channels of the reservation map to transmit information to the master station. Preferably transmission is accomplished using frequency hopping using a set of channels selected from the reservation map.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Investors Life Insurance CorporationInventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, William F. Bernett, William R. Highsmith
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Publication number: 20120264471Abstract: A method of allocation transmission channels of a frequency band to has each of a plurality of remote stations monitor all channels of the frequency band in its area for the presence of transmissions from stations not part of the network. Each remote station transmits its clear channel list to a master station that aggregates the clear channel list into a reservation map, or map of channels that are clear to all stations in the network. The master station then transmits the reservation map to all stations of the network. The individual stations use the channels of the reservation map to transmit information to the master station. Preferably transmission is accomplished using frequency hopping using a set of channels selected from the reservation map.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: Investors Life Insurance CorporationInventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, William F. Bernett, William R. Highsmith
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Publication number: 20110310930Abstract: A bandwidth usage control methodology uses the clear channel detection and frequency agile functionality of a spectral reuse transceiver to effectively ‘aggregate’ disjoint user channels into an overall bandwidth, the spectral extent of which is at least sufficient to meet a high bandwidth requirement (such as, but not limited to the transmission of data/video), that cannot be realized by a conventional, single channel radio.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Edward Carl Gerhardt, Paul G. Greenis, William R. Highsmith
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Publication number: 20110142096Abstract: A network of stations uses bandwidth assigned to primary users on a secondary user basis. The stations having a status of needing to send information indicate a need for transmission access by transmitting, simultaneously with transmissions indicating a need for transmission access from other stations of the network, an indication of status to a master station. Each station indicating need for transmission access transmits that indication of status on a respectively different frequency. The master station then grants access to the transmission bandwidth to the requesting stations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, William F. Bernett, William R. Highsmith
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Patent number: 7920538Abstract: A bandwidth usage control methodology uses the clear channel detection and frequency agile functionality of a spectral reuse transceiver to effectively ‘aggregate’ disjoint user channels into an overall bandwidth, the spectral extent of which is at least sufficient to meet a high bandwidth requirement (such as, but not limited to the transmission of data/video), that cannot be realized by a conventional, single channel radio.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Investors Life Insurance CompanyInventors: Edward Carl Gerhardt, Paul G. Greenis, William R. Highsmith
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Publication number: 20100061299Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the operation of a network of cognitive radios in a dynamic network topology. The systems and methods make use cross-layer communications to input parameters required by network services into a reasoning engine, which in turns processes the parameter the parameter information and reports linguistic results to the network services. The cross-layer communications are leveraged to shift network service functionality to the MAC or PHY Layers. Route discovery functionality is shifted from routing services down to the MAC or PHY Layers. The route discovery functionality is implemented by a process to elect a relay node based on the number of available channels that each of the source node neighbors has available to communicate with other neighbors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2009Publication date: March 11, 2010Applicant: Adapt4, LLCInventors: Robert A. Kennedy, William R. Highsmith, Robert J. Lawless, William F. Bernett, Paul G. Greenis
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Patent number: 7616606Abstract: A ‘smart’ sub-channel hopping control mechanism executes one or more sub-channel selection discriminators to enable the communications controller of a spectral reuse transceiver to delineate on which of a plurality sub-channels the spectral reuse transceiver may transmit, so as to substantially reduce the likelihood of triggering squelch circuits of silent radios of primary (licensed) channel users.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Adapt4, LLCInventors: Edward Carl Gerhardt, Paul G. Greenis, William R. Highsmith
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Publication number: 20090069008Abstract: A situational or flexible bandwidth management system which enables management applications to control the allocation of bandwidth in a cellular network of spectral reuse transceivers based on network conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: William R. Highsmith, Paul G. Greenis
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Patent number: 7457295Abstract: A spectral reuse transceiver-based communication system conducts communications between a master site and a plurality of remote sites using a selected portion of a communication bandwidth containing a plurality of sub-bandwidth channels. Each remote site transceiver monitors the communication bandwidth for activity on the sub-bandwidth channels, and informs a master site transceiver which sub-bandwidth communication channels are absent communication activity and therefore constitute clear channels. The master site transceiver compiles an aggregate list of clear channels from all the remote sites and then broadcasts the aggregate list to the remote sites. The master site and a remote site then conduct communications therebetween by frequency-hopping and/or orthogonal frequency multiplexing among the clear channels using an a priori known PN sequence.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Adapt4 LLCInventors: R. Brent Saunders, Thomas F. Smaidris, Edward Carl Gerhardt, William R. Highsmith, Gregory M. Powell, David M. Odom, Larry W. Koos
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Patent number: 7257107Abstract: A system monitors and detects unauthorized wireless LAN access points and wireless devices. The system includes one or more wireless LAN monitoring devices, which detect and report the presence of unauthorized or “rogue” wireless LAN access points or wireless devices within a predetermined area, for example, within the vicinity of a wired LAN, including indoor and/or outdoor areas. Improved range is achieved through the use of preamplification and sectorized antennas. Larger areas may be covered using additional wireless LAN monitoring devices, which operate independently or cooperate together in the detection process. Geolocation is possible using single or multiple, cooperating monitoring devices. Provision can be made for monitoring devices to provide packet filtering on a wired LAN.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Highwall Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard M. Swier, Jr., William R. Highsmith, Edward C. Gerhardt
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Publication number: 20040142696Abstract: A spectral reuse transceiver-based communication system conducts communications between a master site and a plurality of remote sites using a selected portion of a communication bandwidth containing a plurality of sub-bandwidth channels. Each remote site transceiver monitors the communication bandwidth for activity on the sub-bandwidth channels, and informs a master site transceiver which sub-bandwidth communication channels are absent communication activity and therefore constitute clear channels. The master site transceiver compiles an aggregate list of clear channels from all the remote sites and then broadcasts the aggregate list to the remote sites. The master site and a remote site then conduct communications therebetween by frequency-hopping and/or orthogonal frequency multiplexing among the clear channels using an a priori known PN sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Applicant: Data Flow Systems, Inc.Inventors: R. Brent Saunders, Thomas F. Smaidris, Edward Carl Gerhardt, William R. Highsmith, Gregory M. Powell, David M. Odom, Larry W. Koos
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Publication number: 20020167954Abstract: A communication system includes a plurality of network nodes and communication links that link the network nodes to form a high bandwidth backbone network. At least one of the communication links forms a point-to-multipoint communications link between two network nodes. At least one of the network nodes has a point-to-multipoint remote device at one end the point-to-multipoint communications link. At least one of the network nodes has a point-to-multipoint sector transceiver at the other end of the communications link for transmitting in a sectored point-to-multipoint downstream communications link with remote devices, including the linked point-to-multipoint remote device at the network node and receiving data from the point-to-multipoint remote device at the network node in a point-to-multipoint upstream communications link.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2002Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: P-COM, Inc.Inventors: William R. Highsmith, John R. Wood
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Patent number: 5121387Abstract: A link utilization control mechanism for a demand assignment satellite communication network employs a modified point-to-point communications protocol (X.25) in order to simulate point-to-point communication ports and thereby interface what is effectively a multidrop network with point-to-point landlink communication resources. Through an acknowledgement reservation mechanism the return link channel is subdivided into interleaved data and (preassigned) acknowledgement time slots, in order to substantially obviate overhead and throughput penalties encountered in the use of large data packets to transmit reduced size acknowledgement messages. In addition, the normal contention mode of operation of the return link is augmented with a data time slot reservation mechanism through which, during periods of increased message input density at a remote station, transmission throughput is facilitated, so that congestion at the remote station is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1991Date of Patent: June 9, 1992Assignee: Scientific AtlantaInventors: Ed Gerhardt, William R. Highsmith, Michael Kutchan
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Patent number: 5003534Abstract: A link utilization control mechanism for a demand assignment satellite communication network employs a modified point-to-point communications protocol (X.25) in order to simulate point-to-point communication ports and thereby interface what is effectively a multidrop network with point-to-point landlink communication resources. Through an acknowledgement reservation mecahsnism the return link channel is subdivided into interleaved data and (preassigned) acknowledgement time slots, in order to substantially obviate ovrhead and throughput penalties encountered in the use of large data packets to transmit reduced size acknowledgement messages. In addition, the normal contention mode of operation of the return link is augmented with a data time slot reservation mechanism through which, during periods of increased message input density at a remote station, transmission throughput is facilitated, so that congestion at the remote station is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1988Date of Patent: March 26, 1991Assignee: Scientific AtlantaInventors: Ed Gerhardt, William R. Highsmith, Michael Kutchan