Patents Issued in May 12, 2020
  • Patent number: 10650638
    Abstract: When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the gaming machine 1 replaces some of the plurality of reels 61 displayed on the display unit 27 with a special reel 62 having a symbol arrangement different from the reels 61 from when the reels 61 start to spin to when the game result is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Konami Gaming, Incorporated
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10650639
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display and an electronic controller for playing a first game. The electronic controller is configured to randomly determine whether to display one or more bonus symbols in the first game, each bonus symbol being associated with a bonus value award. Where a trigger event occurs during the first game, such as the appearance of a predetermined order of bonus symbols, electronic controller is configured to display an array of the bonus symbols on the display or optionally on another display. Where bonus symbols appear in further plays of the first game or plays of a second game, the bonus symbols are added to the array and bonus symbols present on the array are sequentially transferred to a win meter, which increments by the amount of the associated bonus value award of each transferred bonus symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Ainsworth Game Technology Limited
    Inventor: William George Cormack
  • Patent number: 10650640
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming systems that allow customers to wager, or “trade-in” an object of value or winning situation for a chance to win an even more valuable award. The chance for valuable award may be a bonus game or chance to win a bonus game. Bonus awards are “funded” by the savings achieved from the players trading in their wins in the base game, which would otherwise be paid. Players who do not trade-in see no changes from the base game paytable, while those players who participate in the trade-in bonus have a different gaming experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 10650641
    Abstract: A system and method for hedging the risk of a wager is disclosed. The system comprises a FCS with which multiple SCWSs are in communication, said FCS having access to a stored set of working parameters provided by each of said SCWSs, said parameters being indicative of the extent to which that computer wagering system is capable, currently or at a specific point in time, of financially covering wagers or portions thereof, characterised in that, on receiving an initial wager request at one of said secondary computer systems, said wager request is communicated to the first computer wagering system which calculates, using at least the sets of working parameters for at least two of the other SCWSs, whether and to what extent the initial wager could be apportioned between each of said at least two other computer wagering systems and communicates the result of such calculation to said first computer wagering system which can then either accept or decline the initial wager request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: VIVARO LTD
    Inventor: Vigan Badalyan
  • Patent number: 10650642
    Abstract: A lottery ticket dispenser bin is configured for dispensing interconnected sealed ticket packs, and includes a housing having a front panel with a dispensing slot defined therein and a back panel. The housing has a bottom contour that includes a middle section on which the stack of ticket packs rest in an upright orientation, and a front wall that extends upwards towards the dispensing slot. A hump defines a transition surface between the middle section and the front wall, and an initial contact surface that retains a trailing ticket pack in the middle section as a leading ticket pack is pulled through the dispensing slot. The front wall defines a second contact surface against which the trailing ticket pack is pulled and bent as the leading ticket pack is pulled from the dispensing slot. An insert that defines the bottom contour is also provided for insertion into a ticket bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Martineck, Sr., Timothy Masocol
  • Patent number: 10650643
    Abstract: A system and method for conducting a card game including a player v. dealer arrangement involving a comparison of HI and LO hand values. Players declare a three-card hand as either HI or LO and a dealer forms three-card LO and HI hands using five cards with a shared card being used in both the LO and HI hand. Aces have a value of 1 point when used in a LO hand and 11 when used in a HI hand, face cards have a value of 0 points and cards 2 through 10 have values matching their rank. Match and poker bonus features may also be incorporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventors: James E. Lemanski, Daryl P. Jendraszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 10650644
    Abstract: A computer device and method for moving game components are provided. The computer device comprises: at least one data storage device to store game data for a game; a display device to display at least one three-dimensional game component of the game; at least one data capture device to collect player movement data, wherein the player movement data defines movement of a player of the game, wherein the data capture device includes a camera, a sensor or other data capture electronic hardware; and at least one processor configured to: 1) transform the player movement data into data defining game movement for the at least one game component; and 2) generating movement on the display device of the at least one game component using the data defining game movement; wherein the at least one data capture device is configured to collect player movement data associated with movement of the player's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: IGT CANADA SOLUTIONS ULC
    Inventors: Brian Comeau, Vicky Leblanc
  • Patent number: 10650645
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for converting a control track designed for use with a number and/or type of haptic output devices to be used with other numbers and/or types of haptic output devices. For example, a computing device may convert the control track into another control track that can be applied to other types and/or numbers of haptic output devices. The converted control track may be compatible for use with a smartphone or other system that includes a different number and/or type of haptic feedback devices than the system for which the haptic track was originally designed. In this manner, the user of the smartphone or other system may experience haptic feedback using a device that is different from another haptic feedback system for which the control track was originally designed for use. The conversion may occur locally at the smartphone or other system and/or remotely at another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Jamal Saboune, David M. Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 10650646
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to method of enhancing the three-dimensional detection range of a vision-based, single camera intrusion detection system within a tensile test machine or other materials testing machine. Illumination sources are offset from the camera and provide a cones of illumination which intersect with the conical viewing zone of the camera thereby defining a detection zone. When objects intrude into these conical regions, a shadow is cast. The shadow is detected by the camera. The detection of the intrusion is typically used as a safety function to deactivate at least part of the function of the materials testing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roy Allen, Stephen McMahon, Zachary Harvey
  • Patent number: 10650647
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for monitoring activity in a home environment. In one aspect, a method performed at a voice-assistant device includes: while operating in an assistant mode, receiving an occupant command to operate in a monitoring mode; in response to the command, transitioning to operating in the monitoring mode; while operating in the monitoring mode, detecting a sound; obtaining a determination as to whether the sound meets one or more monitoring criteria; and in accordance with a determination that the sound meets the one or more monitoring criteria: obtaining a classification of the sound; and generating an alert or notification in accordance with the classification of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Bryan Horling
  • Patent number: 10650648
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and system of distributed acoustic sensing, such as in an urban or metropolitan area involving a dedicated and established fibre optic communications network including a data centre. In general, the disclosed method and system includes the steps of (a) selecting an optical fibre cable installation having a path extending across a selected geographical area, the optical fibre cable installation including a bundle of optical fibres and forming part of a fibre-optic communications network, (b) determining characteristics associated with the optical fibre and/or the selected optical fibre installation, (c) transmitting outgoing light in the optical fibre, (d) receiving reflected light back scattered along the optical fibre, and (e) based on the reflected light and the determined characteristics, generating an alert signal representative of an acoustic event. The disclosed method and system is thereby configured to detect acoustic events near or within the selected geographical area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Englund
  • Patent number: 10650649
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a monitoring device and systems utilising one or more such monitoring devices. The monitoring device comprises a protective housing containing: a passive infrared (PIR) sensor; a power supply a microcontroller; and a wireless transceiver. The power supply powers each of said PIR sensor, said microcontroller, and said wireless transceiver. The microcontroller is adapted to send an alert message, via said wireless transceiver, upon receiving a motion detection signal from said PIR sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ATF Services Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Robin Marcus Mysell
  • Patent number: 10650650
    Abstract: Parcel theft deterrence for audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices, such as video doorbells and security cameras. When an A/V recording and communication device captures image data that includes a parcel, a parcel boundary may be created for monitoring the parcel within. In various embodiments, when the parcel is removed from the parcel boundary, a user alert may be generated to notify a user of a client device associated with the A/V recording and communication device that the parcel has been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: A9.Com, Inc.
    Inventors: James Siminoff, Joshua Roth, John Modestine
  • Patent number: 10650651
    Abstract: A novel method and system for constantly monitoring security-monitoring assets (SMAs) and automatically determining whether security alerts are related to the same security event. The invention improves on existing technology by automatically assessing the geospatial location data of any SMAs responsible for initiating a security alert. The system automatically determines if any of the security alerts are related based on their proximity and the elapsed time between security alerts. If the security alerts occur within the defined proximity (relational zone) and/or relational timeframe, they are automatically grouped together to be processed as a single security event. Depending on the type of security alert, the system may rely solely on proximity or elapsed time. The system is constantly updating to ensure that proper associations are maintained at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SureView Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Roberts
  • Patent number: 10650652
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for an integrated security environment to monitor activities at a commercial facility and a residential facility. In some implementations, a monitoring system monitors a property that includes one or more sensors located at the property and generate sensor data. A monitor control unit receives and analyzes the sensor data. Based on analyzing the sensor data, the monitor control unit determines that an event has likely occurred at the property and generates data indicating that the event has likely occurred at the property. A monitoring server receives the data indicating the event has likely occurred at the property. Based on the data that the event has likely occurred at the property, transmitting, to an additional monitoring system that is configured to monitor an additional property, instructions for the additional monitoring system to perform an action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Noah Robert Weingart, Abraham Joseph Kinney, Fabian Emilio Philipe Camargo, Andrei Aurelian Furtuna, David James Hutz
  • Patent number: 10650653
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking the location of an asset may utilize wireless asset beacons broadcasting asset information/data and powered asset beacons secured relative to movable powered assets. The powered asset beacons may be configured to receive signals transmitted from the asset beacons and to ascertain a relative location between the asset beacon and the powered asset to determine an estimated location of the asset. Moreover, the asset beacons may be selectively activated based on the occurrence of a trigger event, such that the asset beacons do not wireless transmit information/data when it is desirable to limit wireless data transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Tyler, Balakrishna Subramaniam
  • Patent number: 10650654
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed. The method includes determining, by a server, an inventory of tags in communication with a gateway using a first wireless communication mode, and enabling, in response to a first triggering event recognized by a tag, a second wireless communication mode. The method also includes enabling, in response to a second triggering event recognized by the tag, a third wireless communication mode and a location detection capability of the tag. The method further includes determining, by the tag, a geographic location of the tag using a location detection capability, and transmitting, using the third wireless communication mode, to a server the geographic location of the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SekureTrak, Inc.
    Inventors: Parminder K. Batra, Arun Sobti, Rien Heald
  • Patent number: 10650655
    Abstract: A configurable site safety system includes a plurality of wearable signaling devices, each with an array of independently addressable lighting elements, a location receiver and one or more communication interfaces. The system may also include a site safety server to track location information received from at least each of the signaling devices, and to cause, based on a subset of the plurality of signaling devices satisfying defined geographical, event-based or other defined criteria, the lighting array of each of the subset of signaling devices to display a defined lighting scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Illumagear, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Royal, Steve Pridie, Chelsea Jones, Trent Shumay, Graham Cunliffe
  • Patent number: 10650656
    Abstract: A method for security and/or automation systems is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving occupancy data, identifying characteristics of the occupancy data, determining an occupant's location relative to the premises at a predetermined time, and generating a notification based at least in part on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Warren, Matthew J. Eyring, James E. Nye
  • Patent number: 10650657
    Abstract: The present invention is disclosing a smart wearable accessory for rescue and tracking, comprising a belt portion configured to be worn by a wearer using a fastening mechanism. Belt portion comprises one or more sensors configured to generate signals corresponding to detection of one or more events in a facility, a global positioning system (GPS) tracker configured to detect a location of a wearer in facility, and a microprocessor. Microprocessor is configured to determine a severity level of one or more events based on an analysis of generated signals and location of wearer in facility, and generate one or more notifications and/or alert signals for one or more devices, communicably coupled to smart wearable accessory, based on determined severity level of one or more events. Microprocessor further activates a set of output devices positioned on belt portion based on signals received from one or more sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Nancy Curran
  • Patent number: 10650658
    Abstract: As disclosed herein a dynamic geo-fencing method includes receiving a plurality of geo-fence extent factors, a plurality of extents, and a plurality of violation responses for a geo-fence, determining a first geo-fence extent factor of the plurality of geo-fence extent factors, selecting a first extent for the geo-fence corresponding to the first geo-fence extent factor, determining that the geo-fence is violated, and responsive to determining that the geo-fence is violated, performing a violation response, of the plurality of violation responses, corresponding to the first geo-fence extent factor. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bender, Jeremy R. Fox, Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, II
  • Patent number: 10650659
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method to deliver a reminder message. The method includes a step of triggering a delivery of the reminder message upon detecting or sensing a reminder message required event-or-activity to prevent a person from forgetting or losing a person item. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of sensing the reminder message required event-or-activity includes a step of detecting or sensing an activity when the person preparing to leave a place for a next destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Bo-In Lin
  • Patent number: 10650660
    Abstract: An activity monitor is associated with a container, such as a medication bottle, and includes one or more detectors configured to detect activity associated with the bottle, such as movement, opening and/or closing, and changes in volume and/or mass. The activity monitor may include alerting devices and be programmed with scheduling information. The activity monitor may also, or instead, be part of a system and communicate with one or more remote devices such as a user device or monitoring system, such as to receive programming information from those devices or to output activity information to those devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Sam Johnson
  • Patent number: 10650661
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring adherence to a dosing-regimen for a medication is presented. Systems in accordance with the present invention automatically monitor the medicine content of a blister card based on the state of its lidding film and compare it to the prescribed dosing regimen for the medicine. In some embodiments, the lidding film is imaged using a tomographic imaging technique, such as electrical resistance tomography or electrical impedance tomography. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. Automatic monitoring of the blister card enables the user to be: (1) alerted to non-compliance, (2) alerted to a risk of future non-compliance, and/or (3) to be provided remediation instructions when non-compliance is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: QuantaEd, LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Mehregany
  • Patent number: 10650662
    Abstract: A control apparatus configured for vehicle, a vehicle and a control method of vehicle, may include an emergency call unit configured to generate an emergency rescue signal by recognizing an emergency situation of vehicle, a head unit configured to provide audio information to a user, and a main controller configured to control at least one component contained in the vehicle, wherein the main controller stores a vehicle identification number in advance, the head unit receives the vehicle identification number from the main controller and the emergency call unit receives the vehicle identification number from the head unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoung Hyouck Choi, Sang Gu Kwon
  • Patent number: 10650663
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and method for maintaining an exclusion zone data set in relation to monitoring individuals where the maintenance involves both a user attached monitor device and a user detached monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BI Incorporated
    Inventors: James J. Buck, Jr., Joseph P. Newell, Dustin Pettit, Mike Cooke
  • Patent number: 10650664
    Abstract: A fall detection/fall indicator device (20) that automatically senses when a user (14) of fall protection equipment, such as a fall harness (10), has experienced an arrested fall, the fall harness (10) having an electrical circuit (45) that is a closed circuit (46) in a first state and an open circuit (48) in a second state after an arrested fall, and an alert device (62) that is automatically responsive to the open circuit (48) to emit an alert/alarm to other personnel that an arrested fall has been experienced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Hai Pham, Steve Huseth, Gina Marie Theisen, Steven James McPherson
  • Patent number: 10650665
    Abstract: A community safety system with inter-organizational communication, allowing for members of a first organization to provide alerts when located within a security zone associated with a second organization. A notification management entity, responsible for managing the different safety systems associated with each organization, determines where a user is located and whether the user is associated with any of the organizations responsible for the security zone in which the user is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TITAN HEALTH & SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Vic A. Merjanian, Paul Emil Samra
  • Patent number: 10650666
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a drone to test a sensor. In one aspect, the method includes actions of detecting a message (i) broadcast by the drone and (ii) indicating that the drone is going to administer a test of a sensor, determining, by the monitoring system and based on the message and (i) sensor data generated by the sensor in response to the administration of the test, by the drone, within a predetermined period of time of the message or (ii) a lack of sensor data generated by the sensor in response to the administration of the test, by the drone, within a predetermined period of time of the message, whether the sensor is functioning properly, and in response to a determination that the sensor is not functioning properly, storing data indicating that the sensor is not functioning properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Franklin Bart, Dean Constantine
  • Patent number: 10650667
    Abstract: Implementations of a system for determining the relevancy of a plurality of alarms may include: a plurality of sensors configured to be coupled to a patient, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to gather physiological data, a medical monitoring device coupled to the plurality of sensors through a telecommunication channel, and wherein the medical monitoring device is configured to determine a physiological state of the patient using the physiological data. The medical monitoring device may be further configured to issue a plurality of alarm states, and a processing unit coupled to the medical monitoring device through a telecommunication channel, is then configured to evaluate the plurality of alarm states, determine the relevancy of each alarm state of the plurality of alarm states, and issue one or more alarms corresponding with each relevant alarm state to a computing device associated with a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Fatemeh Afghah, Abolfazl Razi, Kayvan Najarian, Sayedmohammadreza Soroushmehr
  • Patent number: 10650668
    Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TYCO SAFETY PRODUCTS CANADA LTD.
    Inventors: Rajmy Sayavong, Gregory W. Hill, David J. LeBlanc, Samuel D. Rosewell, Jr., Gerald M. Bluhm, Michael DeRose, IV, Rob Vandervecht
  • Patent number: 10650669
    Abstract: A system and method used for monitoring conditions in a space through characterizing detected occupants with properties in accordance with time, location and tracked traversal path. The intruder as a detected occupant is distinguished from the tenant, property management staff, and visitor. The system triggers an alert indicative of a condition by sending signals and messages to selected devices or systems as receiving nodes. A condition, such as collected sensor data incompliant to a threshold, is detected and an alert is triggered. A user carried mobile device such as the cellular phone, elevator control system operative in a building are possible receiving nodes of a triggered alert for a detected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Kit Jiun Chan
  • Patent number: 10650670
    Abstract: An approach is provided for publishing a road event message according to a hysteresis. For example, the approach involves processing a road report to determine a road event associated with a geographic location and a confidence metric of the road event. The approach also involves initiating a publishing of a road event message to indicate the road event for the geographic location based on determining that the confidence metric is greater than an upper threshold of a hysteresis. The approach further involves processing one or more other road reports to update the confidence metric of the road event. The approach further involves initiating a cancelling of the road event message based on determining that the updated confidence metric is less than a lower threshold of the hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Camp, Leon Stenneth
  • Patent number: 10650671
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable program product are disclosed for traffic intersection distance signaling. In an embodiment, the method comprises determining a distance between a first vehicle and a traffic intersection, said first vehicle being on a first side of the intersection; using this determined distance to determine if a pre-defined distance is available between the first vehicle and the intersection; and when this pre-defined distance is available between the first vehicle and the intersection, signaling to a second vehicle, on a second side of the intersection, that space is available for the second vehicle on the first side of the intersection. In embodiments of the invention, the method further comprises measuring a specified length of the second vehicle, and the pre-defined distance is based on this measured specified length. In an embodiment, the predefined distance is equal to or greater than this measured specified length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Marshall Barker
  • Patent number: 10650672
    Abstract: An adaptive stop sign, includes an octagonal stop sign plate with at least one multicolor light indicator; a traffic signal control system (TSCS) and/or a signal receiver and controller (SRC) to control a state of the adaptive stop sign including an on state, an off state, an active state or an inactive state, and the at least one multicolor light indicator. In the active state, the adaptive stop sign works as a traffic control signal and the TSCS and/or SRC switches on the at least one multicolor light indicator according to a traffic control signal. In the inactive state the adaptive stop sign works as a normal stop sign and the TSCS and/or SRC switches off the at least one multicolor light indicator, and only a word STOP is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Greg Douglas Shuff
  • Patent number: 10650673
    Abstract: A virtual preemption system for emergency and non-emergency vehicles to provide a priority safe route for an emergency vehicle, wherein the in-vehicle software can predict the predefined upcoming intersections on the priority route based on the heading of the emergency vehicle and the segment orientation. Therefore, the emergency vehicle knows the latitude/longitude of the upcoming intersections ahead of time to calculate a threshold start time associated with each one of the predefined upcoming intersections and transmit them to all vehicles approaching any of the predefined intersections on the priority route to start a safe transition of traffic signal phases associated with each one of these intersections just before the arrival of the emergency vehicle. Also to allow all vehicles on the priority route to slow down and pull over to the side of the road just before meeting the emergency vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Mohamed Roshdy Elsheemy
  • Patent number: 10650674
    Abstract: In a method for associating a transmitter which transmits at least one communication information in a car-to-car communication with an object in a receiving motor vehicle, wherein the object is described by environmental data from at least one environmental sensor, wherein the association occurs based on comparing environmental data from at least one environmental sensor of the motor vehicle having the transmitter with corresponding environmental data of the receiving motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: Audi AG, Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Engel, Michael Botsch, Hendrik Rössler
  • Patent number: 10650675
    Abstract: A display system and an in-vehicle system include a display device provided at a vehicle and configured to display a person image indicating a person at a position visible from the outside of the vehicle; and a controller configured to acquire surrounding status information indicating a surrounding status of the vehicle and control the display device based on the acquired surrounding status information, thereby the executing external display processing of displaying the person image. As a result, the display system and the in-vehicle system provide an advantageous effect that easily-understandable displaying can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Saito, Shinichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10650676
    Abstract: Systems and methods for alerting a driver to a status of a traffic signal are disclosed. A computer-implemented method includes: detecting, by a computing device, that a vehicle is stopped at an intersection with a traffic signal; determining, by the computing device, an attention focus area of a driver of the vehicle; determining, by the computing device, a target display device based on the determined attention focus area; and causing, by the computing device, the determined target display device to display information to alert the driver of a status of the traffic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gautam K. Bhat, Gregory J. Boss, Kevin C. McConnell, Minh Q. Pham
  • Patent number: 10650677
    Abstract: The technology relates to detecting and responding to emergency vehicles. This may include using a plurality of microphones to detect a siren noise corresponding to an emergency vehicle and to estimate a bearing of the emergency vehicle. This estimated bearing is compared to map information to identify a portion of roadway on which the emergency vehicle is traveling. In addition, information identifying a set of objects in the vehicle's environment as well as characteristics of those objects is received from a perception system is used to determine whether one of the set of objects corresponds to the emergency vehicle. How to respond to the emergency vehicle is determined based on the estimated bearing and identified road segments and the determination of whether one of the set of objects corresponds to the emergency vehicle. This determined response is then used to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David Harrison Silver, Angus Leigh, Benjamin Ingram, Jennifer Taylor, Vaibhav Nangia
  • Patent number: 10650678
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products providing traffic light status notifications to drivers are provided. Aspects include determining that a first vehicle, operated by the driver, is approaching a traffic light and receiving, by the first vehicle, traffic light status data from one or more second vehicles in a vicinity of the traffic light via vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Aspects also include obtaining a traffic light pattern for the traffic light from a traffic light pattern database and determining a predicted status of the traffic light at a time when the first vehicle will reach the traffic light based on a speed of the first vehicle, the traffic light status data, and the traffic light pattern. Aspects further include notifying the driver of the predicted status of the traffic light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John S. Werner, Kavita Sehgal, Sneha M. Varghese, Sarah Wu, Diane M. Stamboni, Nicholas G. Danyluk
  • Patent number: 10650679
    Abstract: A parking navigation method, device and system are provided. The parking navigation method comprises: acquiring initial location information of a vehicle; acquiring a target planned path based on a preset rule according to the initial location information and target parking location information; and sequentially turning on lighting devices on the target planned path, to guide the vehicle to travel to a target parking location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BOE OPTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wei Xie
  • Patent number: 10650680
    Abstract: A parking lot mapping system includes a server. The server is remote from a plurality of vehicles, and includes a receiver, an electronic controller and a storage device. The receiver is configured to receive data transmitted from the vehicles, the data including a route traveled and a stopping position of each of the vehicles. The electronic controller is configured to determine that each vehicle has entered a parking lot, and form a map of the parking lot including parking lot routes and parking spots based on accumulation of the data including the stopping position of each vehicle and the route traveled by each of the vehicles after determination that each vehicle vehicles has entered the parking lot. The storage device is configured to store the map of the parking lot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mauro Della Penna, Naoki Kojo, Daisuke Saito
  • Patent number: 10650681
    Abstract: A parking position identification method includes acquiring input data as an image that is generated by photographing a parking region by a camera which is installed in a target vehicle, and identifying a parking position of the target vehicle in the photographed parking region by inputting the input data to a learning model that indicates a relationship between the parking region which has a width in which parking of at least one vehicle is feasible and a parking position for one vehicle in the parking region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Toru Tanigawa, Yukie Shoda, Tetsuji Fuchikami
  • Patent number: 10650682
    Abstract: The invention relates to a communication system for a vehicle, which device includes a sensor device, wherein the sensor device is arranged to capture sensor data when the sensor device moves. A receiving device receives reference data from an external management system and a processing device determines a difference between the captured sensor data and the corresponding reference data, wherein the determined difference between the captured sensor and the corresponding reference data is transmitted to the external management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Grewe
  • Patent number: 10650683
    Abstract: An aviation system to identify and avoid airborne drones presenting a flight risk to piloted aircraft. Hazardous drones are identified through piloted aircraft airborne sensors and combined with any available knowledge of anticipated drone activity to provide a safety warning to the piloted aircraft. The safety warning and real-time identification of hazardous drones may be shared among multiple piloted aircraft, to include aircraft unequipped with airborne sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Drone Traffic, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Eric Zelenka
  • Patent number: 10650684
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method to guide and manage vehicles. These operations in total or partial absence of human intervention. The system developed through mobile radio systems appropriately specialized that oversee the operations with some appropriate control and safety features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Francesco Ricci
  • Patent number: 10650685
    Abstract: A method for autonomous controlling of a remote controlled aerial vehicle, wherein a flight operator commands the aerial vehicle, comprising the steps of: initializing a data link between the aerial vehicle and a ground segment; determining an operation condition of the data link during use of the data link; and issuing at least one autonomous controlling command, if, as a result of the determining, a loss of the data link is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Thiele, Winfried Lohmiller, Lars Schoepfer, Hugo Heusinger, Werner Kleih
  • Patent number: 10650686
    Abstract: A device can receive information that identifies an airspace voxel that represents a three-dimensional portion of airspace during a particular time period. The device can associate one or more airspace parameters with the airspace voxel. The one or more airspace parameters can represent one or more conditions that relate to flight through the airspace voxel during the particular time period. The device can receive one or more flight parameters regarding a potential flight plan of an aircraft through a plurality of airspace voxels, including the airspace voxel, during the particular time period. The device can analyze the one or more flight parameters and a plurality of airspace parameters, associated with the plurality of airspace voxels, using one or more airspace rules. The device can output a recommendation regarding the potential flight plan based on analyzing the one or more flight parameters and the plurality of airspace parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Evans, Dana Maher, Tariq Rashid
  • Patent number: 10650687
    Abstract: In one implementation, a pair of messages are received from one or more space-based receivers that each received the pair of messages. The pair of messages comprise encoded position information of a transmitter, and a plurality of candidate locations for the transmitter is determined therefrom. A location of the transmitter is determined by eliminating candidate locations until only one remains. In particular, each candidate location that is not within a coverage area of each of the space-based receivers is eliminated, and each candidate location that is not within a predetermined distance of at least one previous candidate location is eliminated. In addition, it is determined that the remaining candidate location is within the coverage area of each of the space-based receivers as well as within the predetermined distance of at least one previous candidate location. Upon determining the location of the transmitter, it is transmitted to a subscriber system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Aireon LLC
    Inventors: John Dolan, Andrew Hoag, Michael A. Garcia