By Computer Patents (Class 342/451)
  • Patent number: 10200882
    Abstract: A system including: a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions, a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, a vehicle including a vehicle system and an antenna system, the vehicle system configured to generate vehicle location data, the antenna system configured to implement the beamforming tactics based on received angle of arrival information so as to create a directed communication link with one or more transceiving devices, a localization data module configured to produce angle of arrival information for one or more select locations; and where the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive vehicle location data communicated from the vehicle; based on the vehicle location data, perform the localization data module to produce angle of arrival information for the one or more select locations; communicate the angle of arrival information for each of the one or more select locations to the vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Praneeth Nelapati, Curtis L. Hay, Steven R. Croyle
  • Patent number: 10200900
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coverage assessment system operable to receive, via a network, coverage parameter data from a user device, where the coverage parameter data includes location data generated by the user device. The coverage assessment system is further operable to generate coverage assessment data based on the coverage parameter data. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Donald J. Barnickel, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Thomas M. Willis, III, Robert Bennett
  • Patent number: 10194269
    Abstract: Estimating the position of a receiver using positioning signals and Doppler frequency measurements. Approaches for estimating the position of a receiver using positioning signals and Doppler frequency shift measurements determine an initial estimate of a receiver's position using ranging signals from a first system, generate Doppler frequency shift measurements using the Doppler positioning signals from a second system, and refine the initial estimate using the Doppler frequency shift measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NextNav, LLC
    Inventors: Jagadish Venkataraman, Chen Meng
  • Patent number: 10185024
    Abstract: A method for locating communicating objects that make up a fleet. An absolute frame of reference is defined in which the coordinates of the positions of the communicating objects are defined. At least three positions by the coordinates thereof in the absolute frame of reference are defined. The previously defined positions are associated with three communicating objects, referred to as reference objects. A reference object detects the other two reference objects and measures the distance to the two other reference objects. The distance from two reference objects to a fourth communicating object is measured. The geometric location of the distant points from a reference object to the object to be located is the orbit of the reference object. The fourth communicating object is located from at least two orbits previously established and at least one distance among the distances that separate the three reference objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SECOND BRIDGE
    Inventors: Jérôme Othily, Karina Cruz Campista
  • Patent number: 10185788
    Abstract: A rule set is used to generate an indoor map of a building from partial map data. In one embodiment, the partial map data is based at least in part on crowd sourced trajectory data. In one embodiment, a probabilistic rule set describes relationships in space usage of the indoor building. Hypothesis testing is performed. A most likely complete layout is determined, based on the partial coverage data and the rule set, which preserves the partial map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason R. Wither, Jasvinder Singh
  • Patent number: 10156853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a localization or position estimation group for a moving target, such as a person or a manual guided vehicle, in a warehouse or in an area to be monitored with at least one automatic guided vehicle, equipped with a unit for controlling the movement of the automatic guided vehicle itself, and at least one moving target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRIC 80 S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefania Monica, Gianluigi Ferrari, Massimiliano Magnani, Fabio Oleari, Francesco De Mola
  • Patent number: 10139239
    Abstract: A method and system for selecting a subset of cloud stored data related to locations within a road network and sending it to a vehicle. A current position of the vehicle is determined. A most probable path of the vehicle is determined as a set of possible paths ahead of the vehicle that the vehicle is most probable to travel along, and a subset of data is selected related to a location that is along this most probable path. Alternatively, a respective inverse most probable path up to each respective location related to a respective subset of data is determined as a respective set of possible paths leading up to each respective location. If the current position of the vehicle is included in an inverse most probable path, the related subset of data selected. The selected subset of data is sent to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Israelsson, Johannes Ohlin
  • Patent number: 10123194
    Abstract: A method comprises: a mobile tag receiving at least one first Bluetooth Low Energy message transmitted from each of at least two fixed tags, each first Bluetooth Low Energy message including at least an identifier corresponding to the respective fixed tag; the mobile tag measuring a radio parameter for each of the received first Bluetooth Low Energy messages; and the mobile tag transmitting a second Bluetooth Low Energy message including the identifiers of each of the fixed tags, the measured radio parameters associated with each of the received first Bluetooth Low Energy messages, and an identifier corresponding to the mobile tag, said second Bluetooth Low Energy message enabling the calculation of a position of the mobile tag by a server apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Kanji Kerai
  • Patent number: 10121014
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented for obfuscating the locations of terrestrial wireless transceivers, including wireless access points and femtocells. According to some embodiments, a method may receive, by a mobile device, data for a terrestrial wireless transceiver, wherein the data includes location coordinates of the terrestrial wireless transceiver, and wherein the location coordinates include an error term. Additionally, the method may include determining the error term based on the data. Furthermore, the method may include determining a corrected location of the terrestrial wireless transceiver by removing the error term from the location coordinates. In some instances, the data can further include a unique identifier associated with the terrestrial wireless transceiver, and wherein the error term is further determined based on the unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen William Edge, Carlos Horacio Aldana
  • Patent number: 10101440
    Abstract: There are provided correlation process units 5-1 (5-2, . . . , and 5-N) for performing a cross-correlation process between replicas of a plurality of mutually orthogonal transmission signals and reception signals of receiving antenna elements 3-1 (3-2, . . . , and 3-N) and outputting a plurality of signals after the cross-correlation process, and a weighting unit 6 for weighting the plurality of signals after the cross-correlation process outputted from the correlation process units 5-1 to 5-N in accordance with the arrangement of transmitting antennas 2-1 to 2-3 and the receiving antenna elements 3-1 to 3-N and an antenna directivity pattern, and a signal combination unit 10 combines the plurality of signals after the cross-correlation process that are weighted by the weighting unit 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Kato, Shigeru Chikaoka, Toru Takahashi, Ryuhei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10078337
    Abstract: A system uses machine models to estimate trip durations or distance. The system trains a historical model to estimate trip duration using characteristics of past trips. The system trains a real-time model to estimate trip duration using characteristics of recently completed trips. The historical and real-time models may use different time windows of training data to predict estimates, and may be trained to predict an adjustment to an initial trip estimate. A selector model is trained to predict whether the historical model, the real-time model, or a combination of the historical and real-time models will more accurately estimate a trip duration, given features associated with a trip duration request, and the system accordingly uses the models to estimate a trip duration. In some embodiments, the real-time model and the selector may be trained using batch machine learning techniques which allow the models to incorporate new trip data as trips complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shijing Yao, Xiao Cai
  • Patent number: 10061011
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for time-of-flight (ToF) location determination with unmanaged WLAN are described herein. Information for ToF measurements may be received. The ToF measurements may be performed with a plurality of WLAN access points (APs), including transmitting an initiator message from the SET (e.g., navigation device) to the plurality of WLAN APs. Results for the ToF measurements may be gathered. The gathered results may be communicated to a position calculator to calculate a position of the SET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Itai Steiner
  • Patent number: 10061012
    Abstract: A ranging and tracking system and method employs a Coherent Array Reconciliation Tomography (CART) approach that benefits from a series of samples gathered from deployed receivers in an area of interest, and applies a sequence of matrix operations and transformations to data defining locations in a Cartesian grid space for summing constructive characteristics in a received waveform for identifying a leading edge indicative of a time of arrival (TOA) from a signal source, and computing a metric based on the distance to the signal source. Sampled waveform information (data) from multiple locations in the area of interest allows computation of a likelihood metric for each location in the grid space of containing the signal source. Rendering of the grid space location having the highest likelihood metric illustrates a position of the signal source, and may be graphically depicted clustering of the locations depicting a high likelihood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Antti E. Koski, David Cyganski, R. James Duckworth
  • Patent number: 10001546
    Abstract: An apparatus and computerized method are provided for monitoring the positions of one or more aircraft. The apparatus comprises a first receiver configured to receive first aircraft position information, over a digital data link, from a first radio frequency source located onboard the aircraft at a first period, via one or more ground stations and a second receiver configured to receive second aircraft position information broadcasted from a second radio frequency source located onboard the aircraft at a second period, via one or more ground stations. The apparatus additionally comprises a third receiver configured to receive electronic geographical mapping data and a processor configured to receive the first and second aircraft position information, to filter the quantity of first and second aircraft position information to smooth the filtered information and then output the smoothed information such that it can be overlaid onto the electronic geographical mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SITA INFORMATION NETWORKING COMPUTING UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Gibson, Yanik Lacroix, Benoit Jean Joseph Vachon
  • Patent number: 9989649
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and method for power efficient tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BI Incorporated
    Inventors: James J. Buck, Jr., Cady Lyn Brooks, Joseph P. Newell
  • Patent number: 9949082
    Abstract: A mobile terminal device includes: a receiving antenna that repeatedly receives a radio signal including predetermined identification information; a sensor that detects an orientation of the mobile terminal device every time the radio signal is received by the receiving antenna; and a controller that estimates an arrival direction of the radio signal based on radio field intensity of the radio signal which is received by the receiving antenna for each orientation when a plurality of different orientations are detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi Muramatsu, Tomohiro Nakajima, Hisatoshi Yamaoka, Satoshi Matsuyuki, Kohei Kubota
  • Patent number: 9942717
    Abstract: A method of direction-aware device location includes establishing a region of interest comprising a plurality of wireless devices. A reference frame is then determined based on the established region of interest. A plurality of initial positions of the plurality of wireless devices is determined. A plurality of wireless signal strengths is measured as a function of time at each of the plurality of wireless devices. A topology of the plurality of wireless devices is determined as a function of time based on the plurality of measured wireless signal strengths as a function of time and the reference frame for each of the plurality of devices. Location and movement information is then determined as a function of time for each of the plurality of wireless devices based on the determined topology as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Rapid Focus Security, LLC
    Inventor: Rong Chen
  • Patent number: 9937905
    Abstract: A side collision avoidance system and method for a vehicle combines data from radar sensors mounted on front and rear surfaces of the vehicle with data from ultrasonic sensors mounted on side surfaces of the vehicle, and detects obstacles on the basis of the combined data, so as to increase accuracy in the detection of obstacles and predict the probability of collisions with obstacles with high accuracy. The system includes: radar sensors detecting an obstacle around the vehicle; ultrasonic sensors detecting the obstacle around the vehicle; a controller combining sensor data from the radar sensors with sensor data from the ultrasonic sensors to generate combined data, detecting the obstacle on the basis of the combined data, and predicting collision or non-collision with the detected obstacle on the basis of the combined data; and a brake driver braking the vehicle when the collision is predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jun Soo Kim, Jeong Jae Yoo, Jin Ho Park, Hyung Jun Lim
  • Patent number: 9942872
    Abstract: A method of wireless device location determination includes defining a region of interest comprising a plurality of sensors. A reference frame and a grid comprises a plurality of simulation points with locations based on a coordinate system associated with the region of interest. Location coordinates for the plurality of sensors are established. A plurality of simulated wireless signal strengths is determined for each simulation point. A plurality of simulated signal strength matrix is generated using the plurality of simulated wireless signal strengths. A composite matrix is generated based on the plurality of simulated signal strength matrices. Wireless signal strength is measured at each of the plurality of sensors based. A measured wireless signal strength vector is then generated based on the measured wireless signal strength. A location of the intrusive device is then determined based on the measured wireless signal strength vector and the composite matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Rapid Focus Security, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Mossey
  • Patent number: 9924488
    Abstract: A method performed under control of an electronic device may include receiving at least one signal from at least one anchor point; calculating a location of the electronic device based at least in part on the at least one received signal; generating a position proof based at least in part on the at least one received signal; and in response to receiving a position proof request from a server, transmitting the position proof to the server, when the position proof corresponds to the position proof request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, KOREA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORTATION
    Inventor: Jonghyup Lee
  • Patent number: 9903943
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of estimating the distance between two nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaomei Lu, Bin Da, Wei Wang, Linju Yang, Ke Liao
  • Patent number: 9880008
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an indoor positioning method performed by an indoor positioning system installed on an object inside of a building. The indoor positioning system includes a gyroscope, a digital compass, an accelerometer, a distance sensor and a processor; an indoor map of the building is stored in the processor. Dead reckoning is performed to obtain an estimated position of the object on the map. An target area around the estimated position is selected on the map. Several measurements between the object and walls of the building are performed to obtain an actual distance data. The unique point inside the target area which matches the actual distance data is used the actual position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chung-Che Wei
  • Patent number: 9864589
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating an executable version of a decision tree by compiling source code into executable code and verifying the executable code by comparing a result of executing the executable code with a result of evaluating the decision tree in interpreted mode. The method further includes replacing the decision tree evaluated in the interpreted mode with the executable code if the executable code is verified or discarding the executable code otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Dunn, Rafael L. Sagula
  • Patent number: 9832749
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of determining a location of a mobile target that processes locations for the target provided by a wireless location technology tracker system to determine moving averages of velocity of the target, determines if the locations are outliers responsive to the moving averages, discards locations that are determined to be outliers, and uses locations determined not to be outliers as locations for the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Benny Schlesinger, Vadim Kuper
  • Patent number: 9829368
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus for imaging a volume of material contained inside a vessel. The apparatus includes a plurality of synchronized acoustic sensors positioned at a periphery of an inner volume of the vessel. A processor combines the outputs of the acoustic sensors to identify at least one ambient noise source of the industrial process generating a noise field that illuminates an internal volume of the vessel and to provide an image of the material by temporal and spatial coherent processing of the transmission and reflection of the noise field generated by the noise source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC., SILIXA LIMITED
    Inventors: Roy Kutlik, Daniel Finfer, Tom Richard Parker, Huping Luo, Mahmoud Farhadiroushan
  • Patent number: 9826360
    Abstract: A reception electric field intensity or a transmission delay time in wireless communication between each of multiple apparatuses connected to one and the same network and a portable terminal device is measured. Degrees of nearness, where a degree of nearness indicates a nearness between each of the multiple apparatuses and the portable terminal device in a numerical value are calculated based on a measurement result. One apparatus is selected from among the multiple apparatuses as a candidate target apparatus based on the degrees of nearness calculated. The candidate target apparatus selected is requested to execute a predetermined. A decision on whether or not to approve the candidate target apparatus selected is received from the user, and the candidate target apparatus is identified as a work-target apparatus intended by the user when the user has approved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Hibara, Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9824591
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring, collecting and aggregating position information from multiple independent data sources to localize a position of an aircraft operating worldwide. The localized position information is provided to one or more end-users or stakeholders in a format for direct integration into one or more mapping and/or situational awareness display applications. Information is collected from a plurality of monitored data sources. Weighted values are applied to certain of the information collected from the plurality of data sources according to known or predictable/determinable static and/or dynamic accuracy errors and latencies of the information provided. A detailed analytic algorithm is applied to provide a probabilistic analysis that results in a resolution of a real-time, or near real-time, aircraft location, as well as an ability to accurately predict an aircraft location along a track at some future time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy K. Ryan, William George Doyen
  • Patent number: 9814016
    Abstract: A system and method of locating a position of a wireless device in range of one or more base stations. Three signals are received that each contain a unique identifier for a base station. An estimate of the distance between the wireless device and each base station is performed. Previously determined locations for each base station are referenced. At least one of the three base stations is capable of communication to remote locations and unavailable to the wireless device for communication to remote locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonid Sheynblat, Mark Leo Moeglein
  • Patent number: 9810761
    Abstract: A method for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device comprises: obtaining visible-station indications identifying base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and/or voice communications with the mobile wireless device; sending, to an almanac processor, an indication of an approximate location of the mobile wireless device that comprises the visible-station indications; receiving an almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the visible-station indications and location indications indicating locations of the base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the visible-station indications; and determining a location of the mobile wireless device using the location indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonid Sheynblat, Mark Leo Moeglein
  • Patent number: 9797753
    Abstract: Rotary encoders suitable for inclusion within small form factor devices (e.g., as input devices to small form factor electronic devices) are disclosed. In one aspect, a light source can illuminate a pattern on a rotatable shaft in order to reflect the pattern onto an array of optical sensors. Each optical sensor from the array of optical sensors can be polled at the same time to yield a snapshot vector. The snapshot vector can be projected onto a subspace spanned by two vectors selected in part on the pattern of the rotatable shaft and the distance separating the shaft and array. The resulting projection can be used to determine error and phase of the reflected pattern across the array of optical sensors. The phase of the reflected pattern can correlate to rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Baboo V. Gowreesunker, Steven P. Hotelling, Wayne C. Westerman
  • Patent number: 9778050
    Abstract: An approach is provided for battery management in route navigation. A battery management module determines a request to calculate at least one navigation route. The battery module then determines battery charging information associated with presenting guidance information via at least one application of at least one device during the at least one navigation route. Further, the battery management module causes, at least in part, a presentation of the battery charging information on at least one user interface of the at least one device. In one embodiment, the charging information can be updated based on selecting one or more segments of the at least one navigation route to hibernate. In yet another embodiment, alternative content that is less battery intensive can be presented during the hibernated segments in place of active navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 9781609
    Abstract: Embodiments for testing a wireless network location by a processor. A collection of candidate wireless network test locations is selected for testing wireless network communication according to defined constraints, conditions, testing parameters, or a combination thereof. A self-directed, mobile wireless access point (WAP) is dispatched to at least one stationary location from the collection. A self-directed, testing receiver may be commanded to progressively move to each candidate test location along a testing route of the collection. The testing attributes relating to wireless network communication performance are measured for each of the candidate test locations along the testing route of the collection. Qualified WAP locations are identified from the candidate test locations based on the measured testing attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachele S. Kurtz, Charles S. Lingafelt, James W. Murray, James T. Swantek
  • Patent number: 9778057
    Abstract: A travel coordination system provides suggestions to providers for where they should go to reduce the wait time between trips. A geographic region is broken down into zones and a score is generated for each zone. A zone score can be generated by determining the estimated wait time for the zone and generating a model for the wait time. A zone score can also be generated using a model for the wait time using factors that likely contribute to the wait time. The zone score for each zone is displayed to the provider on a road map of the geographic region along with the boundaries of each of the zones and the provider's position within the region. The travel coordination system also suggests driving routes. The travel coordination system selects a target zone and generates candidate routes to the zone. A route is selected based on route scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eoin O'Mahony, John Mark Nickels, Brent Goldman, Jeff Holden
  • Patent number: 9772403
    Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are described herein for providing an automated validation of vehicle positioning and corresponding error notification. According to various aspects, a first position of a vehicle may be determined using a first positioning system. A second position of the vehicle may be determined using a second positioning system. An offset between the first and second positions of the vehicle may be determined. If the offset exceeds a threshold offset, a notification may be provided to indicate a potential error in the position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Philip J. Ballou
  • Patent number: 9766078
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to localizing mobile devices. In one example, a first location method associated with a first accuracy value may be used to estimate a location of the mobile device. A confidence circle indicative of a level of confidence in the estimation of the location is calculated. The confidence circle may be displayed on a mobile device. When other location methods become available, the size of the displayed confidence circle may be expanded based on information from an accelerometer of the client device or the accuracy of the other available location methods. This may be especially useful when the mobile device is transitioning between areas which are associated with different location methods that may be more or less accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Sorelle Alaina Friedler, Mohammed Waleed Kadous, Andrew Lookingbill
  • Patent number: 9749780
    Abstract: A method of generating a user?s location using a mobile device. The method comprises, determining a signal snapshot on the mobile device, the signal snapshot describing characteristics of unregulated radio frequency (RF) transmissions detectable by the mobile device. Generating the user?s location on the mobile device using the signal snapshot and at least one additional input from the mobile device. The generating and determining are iteratively repeated. The unregulated RF transmission can comprise WiFi signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ding-Jiu Huang, David Benjamin Millman
  • Patent number: 9749876
    Abstract: A system and method of locating a position of a wireless device in range of one or more base stations. Three signals are received that each contain a unique identifier for a base station. An estimate of the distance between the wireless device and each base station is performed. Previously determined locations for each base station are referenced. At least one of the three base stations is capable of communication to remote locations and unavailable to the wireless device for communication to remote locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonid Sheynblat, Mark Leo Moeglein
  • Patent number: 9749787
    Abstract: The invention discloses a ZigBee-based article searching method, device and system. The method includes: receiving article label signal sent by an article label; generating article position information according to intensity of the article label signal and reference label signal intensity corresponding to at least one preset reference label; and sending the article position information to a terminal device of a user. In the technical solutions provided by the invention, article position information is generated according to the article label signal intensity and the reference label signal intensity corresponding to at least one preset reference label, and then the article position information is sent to the terminal device of the user, so that the position information of an article can be obtained in real time by adopting the solutions of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yifei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9699757
    Abstract: A device may initiate a location determination for a user device. The device may receive information identifying a set of base stations for performing the location determination. The device may retrieve, from a data structure and utilizing the information identifying the set of base stations, particular base station information associated with the set of base stations. The particular base station information may include location information for the set of base stations. The device may determine one or more signal strength measurements for one or more signals provided by the set of base stations. The device may determine an approximate location for the user device based on the location information for the set of base stations and the one or more signal strength measurements. The device may provide information associated with the approximate location for the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Yee Sin Chan, Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 9699607
    Abstract: Methods for determining a LOB of one or more user equipment (UE) in a wireless system employing Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) is described. TDOA techniques are based on estimating the difference in the arrival times of reference signals from multiple receivers or from multiple emitters to a receiver. A particular value of the time difference estimate defines a hyperbola between the two receivers on which the handset may exist. When the distance between the receiving antennas is small relative to the distance of the emitter source (the handset) being located, then the TDOA is equivalent to the angle between the baseline of the sensors (receivers antennas) and the incident RF energy from the emitter. If the angle between the baseline and true North is known, then the line of bearing (LOB) and/or angle of arrival (AoA), can be utilized to determine the location of the UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: POLTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Felix Markhovsky, Truman Prevatt
  • Patent number: 9699609
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for determining the geographic location of a user communicating on a communications network such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a provider of a product or service: (a) receives the user's phone number (or other identification for contacting the user's station), and (b) supplies the user's station with a distinctive identifier. The provider of the product or service then supplies a location determining service (or location service provider) with the user's phone number (or other identification). A phone call is made to the phone number by the location determining service (or location service provider) for retrieving the distinctive identifier from the network station having the phone number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis J. Dupray
  • Patent number: 9674655
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detection of venue walk-in events by consumers in possession of wireless mobile devices. Received signal strength indication (RSSI) information is received from a plurality of wireless base stations. The RSSI information relates to mobile devices that communicate with the wireless base stations. Based on the RSSI information, it is determined whether a venue walk-in event has occurred for a particular mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Cinarra Systems
    Inventors: Alexey Dmitriyevich Zinin, Dmitry Korotin
  • Patent number: 9661066
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for identifying a locations of application users based on originating address. Techniques to generate a set of address-to-location mappings include a system configured to receive information about a plurality of location-known requests that originated from an address, wherein the information indicates a plurality of locations for the originating address. The system is further configured to identify a geographical area based, at least in part, on the plurality of distinct locations; map the geographical area to a corresponding geographical locality; and associate the address to the geographical area and the corresponding geographical locality generating an address-to-location mapping. Address-to-location mappings may be further clustered into address-range-to-location mappings and stored as a data pack. Using these techniques, location information may be determined for a received location-unknown request that originated from a particular address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Abhishek Seth, Mahendra Kumar
  • Patent number: 9648457
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to the provision and use of geometric location based security systems that use multiple beacons for determining a location. A beacon transmitted from an ultrasound broadcast as well as one or more different wireless broadcasts can be used to geo-locate a device and provide access controls based on the geo-location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ned M. Smith, Micah J. Sheller, Nathan Heldt-Sheller
  • Patent number: 9635500
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates geolocation of a user. The system includes a server and an electronic device. First, the server receives a location of the user from an electronic device of the user and determines a window around the location. Next, the server transmits the window and one or more geofences within the window to the electronic device. The electronic device then obtains one or more precision buffers associated with one or more levels of accuracy for detecting the location of the user near the one or more geofences. Finally, the electronic device facilitates use of the one or more geofences by varying a geolocation technique for tracking the location of the user based on the one or more precision buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: INTUIT INC
    Inventors: Richard J. Becker, Gregory K. Coulombe, Daniel L. Moise
  • Patent number: 9615172
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to determine a subset of D microphones in a set of N microphones on a perimeter of a space to monitor a target location. The space is divided into L interference locations. An equation is solved to determine microphone weights for the N microphones by minimizing the maximum gain for signals related to the target location and interference locations, further optimized over an l1 penalty by applying a Lagrange multiplier to an l1 norm of the microphone weights in a manner that determines a set of D non-zero microphones weights and a set of (N-D) microphone weights that are zero or close to zero. Microphone weights are determined for at least 2 different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, University of Maryland
    Inventors: Justinian Rosca, Heiko Claussen, Radu Victor Balan, Yenming Lai
  • Patent number: 9606215
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed aggregate a plurality of crowdsourced measurement sets for antennas received from a plurality of Mobile Stations (MS) with a Base Station Almanac (BSA), based on a measurement location estimate and a measurement location uncertainty estimate associated with each measurement set. A map comprising a plurality of map layers may be obtained, where each map layer associates locations in the BSA with spatially variable Forward Link Calibration (FLC) values for the antenna derived from the updated BSA data, wherein each spatially variable FLC value is associated with a corresponding location in the updated BSA data. Map layers, which may also include multipath map and/or received signal strength layers, may be provided to MS? as location assistance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Grant Alexander Marshall, Mark Leo Moeglein
  • Patent number: 9557401
    Abstract: An approach is provided for providing location information of user devices based on signal frequencies of transmitters. The positioning platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more signals, from one or more transmitters, captured at one or more user devices to determine one or more frequencies of the one or more signals. Next, the positioning platform determines device location information of the one or more user devices based, at least in part, on the one or more frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Sailesh Kumar Sathish, Jussi Leppanen
  • Patent number: 9552094
    Abstract: An electronic device with a touch screen display that includes capacitive sensing to determine the point of contact between the display and an input device. The device also includes a graphics circuit for rendering images on the touch screen display. The graphics circuit may be inactivated when not in use. The inactive mode provides a variety of advantages, such as a lower power drain on the power source. The device is further configured to sense the approach of an input device in proximity to the display. The device is configured to start activating the graphics circuit upon sensing the approach of the input device prior to contact with the display. The timing of the activation improves responsiveness of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: OPTIS CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Lars Persson
  • Patent number: 9538498
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for generating enhanced location information on or about a mobile device may include improved dead reckoning solutions in which the mobile device performs location determination calculations with the aid of network components or global positioning systems (GPS). The network aided location information may be provided to the processor and utilized in measuring the accuracy of sensor based location calculations. The mobile device may utilize local sensors to obtain a set of combined sensor output location information, which may seed execution of dead reckoning To ensure that most accurate location information is provide to the enhanced location based service, the dead reckoning location information may be compared to a current best estimate. Results of the comparison may be passed to the enhanced location based service and the methods, systems, and devices may reiterate the location determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: RIVADA RESEARCH, LLC.
    Inventors: Clint Smith, Alan Joseph J. Caceres, Cesar Alfonso Aguilar, Purnima Surampudi