Patents by Inventor William T Frantz
William T Frantz 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: 9955414Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a wireless device to select a network. The wireless device receives a request from a user to access a network site. The wireless device then selects a network based upon a predefined weighted criteria setting that was previously selected by the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: William T. Frantz, Shriram Ganesh, Timothy K. Kerssen, Siddharth Mohan
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Publication number: 20160302139Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a wireless device to select a network. The wireless device receives a request from a user to access a network site. The wireless device then selects a network based upon a predefined weighted criteria setting that was previously selected by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: William T. FRANTZ, Shriram GANESH, Timoth K. KERSSEN, Siddhath MOHAN
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Patent number: 9398525Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a wireless device to select a network. The wireless device receives a request from a user to access a network site. The wireless device then selects a network based upon a predefined weighted criteria setting that was previously selected by the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: William T. Frantz, Shriram Ganesh, Timothy K. Kerssen, Siddharth Mohan
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Patent number: 9277401Abstract: Disclosed is a device that receives an optical signal having an authorization code that allows the device to utilize an access point to obtain access to the Internet and other networks. The device may include: a modem; a light sensor; and a processor. The light sensor may receive an optical signal from a light source. The processor may execute operations including: processing the received optical signal to identify an authorization code and to connect the device through the modem to the access point based upon the authorization code such that the device may obtain access to the Internet and other networks.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Shriram Ganesh, Jose R. Menendez, William T. Frantz
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Patent number: 9146595Abstract: A battery system for monitoring a battery-operated electronic device includes one or more battery cells for operating the electronic device, an electronic processor for monitoring electrical activity of the one or more battery cells; and a wireless communication module for communicating with a remote electronic device via a network based on the electrical activity. Registration information, including a unique identity of the battery system, may be received at the remote electronic device. A first signal, including the unique identity, may be received at the remote electronic device during use of the battery system. A second signal may be transmitted from the remote electronic device to a communication device in response to receiving the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Babak Forutanpour, Larissa Dantsker, William T. Frantz
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Patent number: 9071330Abstract: Apparatus and methods for pairing communication devices are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes at least one sensor to produce a data signal responsive to sensing physical characteristics of an environment of the communication device, and a capture component to capture portions of the data signal to generate local data indicative of the physical characteristics. A peer interface component receives, via the wireless transceiver, remote data from at least one other communication device that is indicative of physical characteristics of an environment of the other communication device. A data correlation component compares the local data with the remote data and initiates, when the comparison indicates the communication device and the other communication device are sensing the same physical characteristics, a pairing of the communication device with the other communication devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.Inventor: William T. Frantz
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Patent number: 8996767Abstract: A mobile device uses sensor data related to the type of surface in contact with the mobile device to determine an action to perform. The sensors, by way of example, may be one or more of a microphone and noise generator, a light based proximity sensor, and pressure sensors, such as dielectric elastomers, configured to detect a texture of the surface, and/or pressure waves produced by setting the mobile device down or by a noise generator and reflected by the surface. The mobile device may identify the type of surface and perform the action based on the type of surface. The mobile device may further determine its location based on the sensor data and use that location to identify the action to be performed. The location may be determined using additional data, e.g., data not related to determining the type of surface with which the mobile device is in contact.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: John D. Eaton, Hung-Hsin Wu, Jose R. Menendez, William T. Frantz
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Patent number: 8867991Abstract: Various arrangements for selecting data for transmission from a mobile device are presented. Proximity data indicating proximity between one or more proximity sensors and a triggering entity may be collected by the mobile device. A type of near-field communication (NFC) transaction may be determined by the mobile device. Using the proximity data and the type of the NFC transaction, data to transmit to a remote NFC device may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Qualcomm IncorporatedInventors: Babak Forutanpour, Dimosthenis Kaleas, William T. Frantz
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Publication number: 20140269495Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a wireless device to select a network. The wireless device receives a request from a user to access a network site. The wireless device then selects a network based upon a predefined weighted criteria setting that was previously selected by the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: William T. Frantz, Shriram Ganesh, Timothy K. Kerssen, Siddharth Mohan
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Publication number: 20140208387Abstract: Disclosed is a device that receives an optical signal having an authorization code that allows the device to utilize an access point to obtain access to the Internet and other networks. The device may include: a modem; a light sensor; and a processor. The light sensor may receive an optical signal from a light source. The processor may execute operations including: processing the received optical signal to identify an authorization code and to connect the device through the modem to the access point based upon the authorization code such that the device may obtain access to the Internet and other networks.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Shriram Ganesh, Jose R. Menendez, William T. Frantz
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Publication number: 20140073245Abstract: Apparatus and methods for pairing communication devices are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes at least one sensor to produce a data signal responsive to sensing physical characteristics of an environment of the communication device, and a capture component to capture portions of the data signal to generate local data indicative of the physical characteristics. A peer interface component receives, via the wireless transceiver, remote data from at least one other communication device that is indicative of physical characteristics of an environment of the other communication device. A data correlation component compares the local data with the remote data and initiates, when the comparison indicates the communication device and the other communication device are sensing the same physical characteristics, a pairing of the communication device with the other communication devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: QUALCOMM INNOVATION CENTER, INC.Inventor: William T. Frantz
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Publication number: 20130297926Abstract: A mobile device uses sensor data related to the type of surface in contact with the mobile device to determine an action to perform. The sensors, by way of example, may be one or more of a microphone and noise generator, a light based proximity sensor, and pressure sensors, such as dielectric elastomers, configured to detect a texture of the surface, and/or pressure waves produced by setting the mobile device down or by a noise generator and reflected by the surface. The mobile device may identify the type of surface and perform the action based on the type of surface. The mobile device may further determine its location based on the sensor data and use that location to identify the action to be performed. The location may be determined using additional data, e.g., data not related to determining the type of surface with which the mobile device is in contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: John D. Eaton, Hung-Hsin Wu, Jose R. Menendez, William T. Frantz
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Publication number: 20130244575Abstract: Various arrangements for selecting data for transmission from a mobile device are presented. Proximity data indicating proximity between one or more proximity sensors and a triggering entity may be collected by the mobile device. A type of near-field communication (NFC) transaction may be determined by the mobile device. Using the proximity data and the type of the NFC transaction, data to transmit to a remote NFC device may be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Babak Forutanpour, Dimosthenis Kaleas, William T. Frantz
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Publication number: 20130148283Abstract: A battery system for monitoring a battery-operated electronic device includes one or more battery cells for operating the electronic device, an electronic processor for monitoring electrical activity of the one or more battery cells; and a wireless communication module for communicating with a remote electronic device via a network based on the electrical activity. Registration information, including a unique identity of the battery system, may be received at the remote electronic device. A first signal, including the unique identity, may be received at the remote electronic device during use of the battery system. A second signal may be transmitted from the remote electronic device to a communication device in response to receiving the first signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Babak Forutanpour, Larissa Dantsker, William T. Frantz
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Patent number: 6518720Abstract: A mechanism by which a single switch can either unlock one or more doors or release the trunk or hatch of an automotive vehicle. The switch can be mechanically or electrically associated with a door unlock button mounted on the door the automotive vehicle. Depressing the unlock button causes the switch to become active, and the door can be unlocked if switch is active for a time T1. The trunk can be opened if the switch is held in the active position for a predetermined period of time T2, provided the car is in park and the door associated with the switch is open.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: William T Frantz
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Patent number: 6373379Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a remote control configured to transmit a first signal upon a first activation of the remote control and configured to transmit a second signal upon a second activation of the remote control. A controller of the apparatus is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal transmitted by the remote control and also configured to enter a vehicle location state upon receipt of the first signal and automatically transition to a panic alert state after a predetermined period unless the second signal is received by the controller before expiration of the predetermined period. The apparatus also includes an attention device operatively coupled to the controller, which is configured to produce vehicle location effects during the vehicle location state panic alert effects during the panic alert state of said controller.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: William T Frantz