Including Synchronized Clock Patents (Class 342/31)
  • Patent number: 10530848
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for virtual machine allocation is disclosed. The method includes: responsive to receiving a request to allocate a virtual machine, determining a geophysical location of a host for the virtual machine; determining a geophysical policy for the virtual machine; determining whether the geophysical policy for the virtual machine corresponds to the geophysical location of the host for the virtual machine; and responsive to determining that the geophysical policy for the virtual machine corresponds to the geophysical location of the host, allocating the virtual machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ian J. McCloy
  • Patent number: 10437261
    Abstract: A method for directing formation flying of an aircraft includes sensing a relative position of a leader to a follower aircraft by one or more sensors disposed at the follower aircraft. The relative position is compared to a selected relative position, and a follower velocity of the follower aircraft necessary to move the follower aircraft to the selective relative position is determined via a flight control computer of the follower aircraft. The follower velocity is transformed into flight control inputs and the follower aircraft is moved to the selected relative position via the flight control inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vineet Sahasrabudhe, Stella Jang, Matthew A. White
  • Patent number: 10424206
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a collision warning and avoidance system and method for detecting a collision risk between an interrogating aircraft and at least one interrogated aircraft. Signals received from the at least one interrogated aircraft or by the at least one interrogated aircraft and at least one other interrogating aircraft are used for determining various situation awareness data which is used for determining whether the interrogating aircraft is in a risk of collision. If indeed a collision risk exists a collision warning is generated, the collision warning including data indicative of at least an estimated location of the at least one interrogated aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Uri Shenfeld, Samuel Rosenfeld
  • Patent number: 9846241
    Abstract: In a system for navigating a moving object according to signals received from satellites, a moving object receives mobile base data from a mobile base station, the received mobile base data including satellite measurement data of the mobile base station, the satellite measurement data of the mobile base station including code measurements and carrier phase measurements for the plurality of satellites, and position-related information of the mobile base station. In accordance with the satellite navigation data for the moving object and the received mobile base data, the moving object performing a real-time kinematic (RTK) computation process to resolve carrier phase ambiguities and determine a relative position of the moving object relative to the mobile base station. A signal reporting information corresponding to the relative position is sent via a transmitter of the moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Liwen L. Dai, Yunfeng Shao
  • Patent number: 9824599
    Abstract: A system and method of generating plan information for vehicles in a vehicle traffic or vehicle parking zone, including projecting into space, from a set of grid generators at the vehicle traffic or vehicle parking zone, a set of lines defining a relative navigation grid and encoded with grid data configured to identify predetermined points on the relative navigation grid, and detecting, with a detector module on a vehicle, a location of the vehicle within the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Mark Lawrence Turner
  • Patent number: 9612343
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and mobile station that improves upon a mobile station's ability to determine its location. By a mobile station considering its extent of turning and/or its travel speed, the mobile station may set an operational mode such that the mobile station uses an appropriate location determining mechanism. In the event that the mobile station is turning at a fast rate and/or traveling at a slow speed, a reasonable conclusion is that the mobile station is in a congested environment, and therefore a first operational mode may be set. In the event that the mobile station is turning at a slow rate and/or traveling at fast speed, a reasonable conclusion is that the mobile station is in an open environment, and therefore a second operational mode may be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Geoffrey S. Martin, Michael P. Dougan
  • Patent number: 9014619
    Abstract: A satellite communications system includes a satellite configured to communicate with terminals, a station configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links and a beamformer including an input multi-port hybrid matrix (MPHM) and a complementary output MPHM in a signal path with the plurality of feeder links. The output MPHM is positioned at the satellite and coupled to the input MPHM via the plurality of feeder links. For example, the input MPHM may be positioned at a ground-based satellite gateway. The input and output MPHMs may be configured to implement fully populated signal transformation matrices that collectively provide a substantially diagonal signal transformation matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ATC Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ted Benjamin, Matthew Griffin, William W. Chapman
  • Patent number: 8692705
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial apparatus and method for generating low latency position information from position signals transmitted in a narrow bandwidth channel of a radio frequency are disclosed. An aircraft (i.e., ownship) and each target (e.g., aircraft) of a time-division multiple access (“TDMA”) network receives its respective position derived from its individual source such as a satellite navigation system. A processing module of a communication device installed in ownship and each target generate position signals, and during the allocated time slots of an interface protocol, exchange position information with the others in the network over a narrow bandwidth channel (e.g., bandwidths of 25 KHz or less) of a radio frequency in the VHF range or lower UHF range. The interface protocol may also be comprised of a voice contention time slot for the transmission of messages and an order wire for the administration of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul N. Smith, Timothy E. Snodgrass
  • Patent number: 8264397
    Abstract: A Time Transfer Time Reverse Mirror (TT TRM) method and system includes a radio transceiver for transmitting a series of short pulses repeatedly at a period T and for receiving from a remote node a return signal that is a retransmission of the original signal at the same period T: a clock circuit for inputting a clock signal to the transceiver: and a computer for (i) computing and generating an imaginary time-reversed signal version of the original signal, (ii) comparing the return signal with the imaginary version, (iii) computing a delay between the return signal and the imaginary version that is substantially equal to twice the time difference between the two nodes, and (iv) applying the computed delay to a clock input calibration for a desired signal. The system includes time transfer using the ionospheric reflection (refraction), producing precise synchronization among remote nodes beyond the line-of-sight and thus without necessitating GPS or communication satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eung Gi Paek, Joon Y Choe
  • Patent number: 7756637
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a position indicating display system for an aircraft are provided. The system includes a map display unit configured to display a map representative of an area being traversed by the aircraft, and an overlay comprising an own ship depiction, said overlay displayed on the map for a period of time in response to an input from at least one of a user and an aircraft sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick Ralf Wipplinger, Richard William Ellerbrock
  • Patent number: 7356618
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a novel method and system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first node records a first node local time of receiving a wirelessly transmitted packet, the first node local time recorded with a monotonically increasing clock of the first node. The first node wirelessly transmits the recorded local time to at least a second node. The second node records a second node local time of receiving the wirelessly transmitted packet and records the first node local time of receiving the wirelessly transmitted packet. The second node updates a second node timing model to synchronize with the first node, the updating based on the second node local time of receiving the wirelessly transmitted packet and the first node local time of receiving the wirelessly transmitted packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Rainer W. Lienhart, Igor V. Kozintsev, Dmitry N. Budnikov, Igor V. Chikalov, Sergey A. Egorychev
  • Patent number: 6771981
    Abstract: A changeable cover for an electronic device and method of using same in a payment system is provided. The cover has a transponder responsive to interrogation by an electric field. The cover provides an electronic identification number and other information in response to the interrogation signal. Also provided is a system for making payments, comprising at least one mobile station (4) which has an associated cover (100) for providing local data transfer. The system also comprises at least one point of sale terminal or the like, which has a second transceiver for providing data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Zalewski, Michael C Pennington, Randall C. Roberts, Steven A. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6211811
    Abstract: The surveillance system provides a means to measure Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and decode identification of signal source transmissions. TDOA and identification information received from a minimum of two receiving means is used to supplement non-cooperative surveillance systems (e.g., primary radar, acoustic sensors) with target identification. The system uses a Line Of Position technique to determine position. The system can be implemented as a standalone multilateration surveillance system, which provides signal source position determination when reception is available from a minimum of two receiving means. The system provides position aiding when implemented to supplement non-cooperative surveillance systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Rannoch Corporation
    Inventor: Carl A. Evers
  • Patent number: 5999116
    Abstract: The surveillance system provides a means to measure Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) and decode identification of signal source transmissions. TDOA and identification information received from a minimum of two receiving means is used to supplement non-cooperative surveillance systems (e.g., primary radar, acoustic sensors) with target identification. The system uses a Line Of Position technique to determine position. The system can be implemented as a standalone multilateration surveillance system, which provides signal source position determination when reception is available from a minimum of two receiving means. The system provides position aiding when implemented to supplement non-cooperative surveillance systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Rannoch Corporation
    Inventor: Carl A. Evers
  • Patent number: 5696514
    Abstract: A coherent signal generated at a precise frequency determined by an atomic clock is transmitted by a moveable object. A receiver station compares the frequency of the coherent signal received from the moving object with a second coherent signal generated at the same precise frequency by an atomic clock in the receiver to determine the radial component of the velocity of the moveable object relative to the receiver as a function of the doppler shift of the transmitted signal. Low cost, low power, miniature atomic clocks with an accuracy of 10.sup.-11 make possible accurate measurements of velocities of only centimeters per second. Such velocity measurement can be used to enhance radar tracking in air traffic control and collision avoidance systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey C. Nathanson, Charles W. Einolf, Jr., James L. McShane, Elbert L. Cole, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5453748
    Abstract: A transponder receives a stable reference frequency transmitted from an interrogator and compares the stable reference frequency to a local oscillator frequency that has short term stability. A comparison signal is provided to a synchronous oscillator for providing a locked signal that briefly locks onto the comparison signal and "remembers" its phase and frequency characteristics. The locked signal, which is inherently locked to the stable reference signal of the interrogator, is then combined with the short-term stable local oscillator frequency, and the combined signal is used in the up-converted reply back to the interrogator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Norden Systems
    Inventor: Kevin W. Lindell
  • Patent number: 5363109
    Abstract: Conventional secondary radar systems use mechanically rotating antennas to radiate a concentrated beam that rotates in a horizontal plane. Data exchange between ground stations and airborne transponders can only take place if the aircraft is struck by the antenna lobe. The distance from the aircraft to the ground station is determined from the signal transit time. Directional information is derived from the antenna position. The secondary radar system according to the invention uses an omnidirectional antenna, so that data can be exchanged between ground station and aircraft at any time. To determine the position of the aircraft, interrogation signals are transmitted by a single active ground station such that the reply signal from a transponder falls within the common system time frame of the ground station. The times of arrival of the reply signals at different ground stations are then directly proportional to the distances from the aircraft to these ground stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Alcatel Sel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gunter Hofgen, Rudiger Zeitz
  • Patent number: 5043903
    Abstract: A system for aiding the movement of moving units (aircraft such as helicopters) when flying in formation. Every unit transmits information to every other unit so that bidirectional communication links are established between all units in the formation. Information indicative of the relative position between units is exchanged via the bidirectional communication links such that every unit has redundant position information pertaining to the position of every other unit. By a "data fusion" process performed on the redundant information, every unit accurately determines the position of every unit in the formation. One of the units (the "leader") then transmits "commands" to the other units (the "slaves"). Each command determines the position of a slave within the formation. Utilizing the command transmitted to it by the leader, and utilizing predetermined laws of pilotability, each slave then generates "piloting orders" for directing itself to the position commanded by the leader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Thomson CSF
    Inventor: Claude Constant