Robert F Higgins

US Patent:

6511020, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Jan 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/755655

Inventors:

Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B64G 110

US Classification:

244158R, 244159, 244173

Abstract:

Boeing achieves satellite diversity by having a large discrimination angle for a MEO constellation of communications satellites to limit interference in the Ku-band with GSO communications systems. Each satellite entering an exclusion zone over a GSO ground station terminates all transmissions to provide EPFD within acceptable limits. The Boeing MEO constellation preferably comprises 20 satellites, 5 in each orbit. The four orbits are inclined at about 57Â with respect to the equator. Services include an Integrated Digital Service (IDS) and Backhaul Data Service (BDS) to accommodate the needs of different users.

US Patent:

6726152, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

May 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/153270

Inventors:

Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B64G 100

US Classification:

244158R

Abstract:

Boeing achieves satellite diversity by having a large discrimination angle for a MEO constellation of communications satellites to limit interference in the Ku-band with GSO communications systems. Each satellite entering an exclusion zone over a GSO ground station terminates all transmissions to provide EPFD within acceptable limits. The Boeing MEO constellation preferably comprises 20 satellites, 5 in each orbit. The four orbits are inclined at about 57Â with respect to the equator. Services include an Integrated Digital Service (IDS) and Backhaul Data Service (BDS) to accommodate the needs of different users.

US Patent:

6866231, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

May 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/153272

Inventors:

Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B64G001/22
H04B015/00

US Classification:

244158R, 455427, 455428, 455430

Abstract:

Boeing achieves satellite diversity by having a large discrimination angle for a MEO constellation of communications satellites to limit interference in the Ku-band with GSO communications systems. Each satellite entering an exclusion zone over a GSO ground station terminates all transmissions to provide EPFD within acceptable limits. The Boeing MEO constellation preferably comprises 20 satellites, 5 in each orbit. The four orbits are inclined at about 57 with respect to the equator. Services include an Integrated Digital Service (IDS) and Backhaul Data Service (BDS) to accommodate the needs of different users.

US Patent:

7454037, Nov 18, 2008

Filed:

Oct 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/256012

Inventors:

Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G01C 21/00
H04N 5/225

US Classification:

382103, 701200, 348169

Abstract:

A method for adaptive video processing includes identifying an object in a frame of video data, determining an object confidence value associated with the identified object, and determining if the object confidence value meets a predefined threshold object confidence value. If not, the method can further include repeatedly processing the frame of video data with additional processing algorithms, and again identifying the object, determining an updated object confidence value, and determining if the updated object confidence value meets the predefined threshold object confidence value, until the updated object confidence value meets the predefined threshold object confidence value. Thereafter, an event can be identified based upon the identified object and an object primitive defining a relationship between the identified object and one or more other objects in the frame of video data, where the events can be identified in accordance with a hierarchical event structure.

US Patent:

7688878, Mar 30, 2010

Filed:

Mar 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/308327

Inventors:

Xinyu Wang - Newbury Park CA, US
Marcus R Gahler - Redmond WA, US
Igor Elgorriaga - Los Angeles CA, US
Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US
Paul R. Norris - Issaquah WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04B 1/00

US Classification:

375130, 375228, 375137, 375365, 375340, 455415, 370526

Abstract:

A spread-spectrum preamble synchronization peak detection system performs multiple statistical tests based on instant and time-averaged channel condition measurements to identify the synchronization peak. In a normalized peak-to-average test, a peak-to-average ratio measurement is normalized by a signal-to-noise ratio measurement to form a new statistical measure which effectively eliminates the impact of the wide dynamic range of the signal-to-noise ratio of the received samples. A transition SNR test is used to eliminate potential false alarms caused by spurious PARN peaks during the transition period at the onset of preamble arrival. Code-phase aligned time-averaging is used to estimate the signal and noise levels over a sliding window. The code-phase alignment of samples effectively separates signal and noise samples in the averaging process, and resulting in more accurate signal and noise measurements. In estimating noise levels, the system takes multi-path interference into account by excluding both the peak signal and the side-lobe signals caused by multi-path wireless channels, resulting in more accurate estimation of noise level.

US Patent:

7853195, Dec 14, 2010

Filed:

Aug 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/845962

Inventors:

Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04K 3/00
H04B 15/00

US Classification:

455 1, 455 631, 4551142

Abstract:

An adaptive electromagnetic wave canceling system and method for canceling an electromagnetic interference (EMI) signal generated from an EMI signal source, from a broadband signal being received by a receiver. In one implementation an adaptive canceller subsystem is used that directly receives the EMI signal and a sample of the broadband signal, in which the sample includes an EMI signal component. A time delay stage is incorporated to delay the broadband signal before it is received by the receiver. The adaptive canceller subsystem generates a correction signal that is an inverse of the EMI signal component. The correction signal is applied to the broadband signal to effectively cancel the EMI signal component therefrom before the broadband signal is received by the receiver. In one implementation an automatic gain control is implemented that automatically adjusts the adaptive canceller subsystem to a level of the sample broadband signal, to thus form a closed loop EMI canceling system.

US Patent:

7983450, Jul 19, 2011

Filed:

Mar 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/404831

Inventors:

Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G05D 1/00

US Classification:

382103, 382291, 701 2

Abstract:

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for recognizing a gesture in which one or more relationships are determined between a plurality of body parts and the gesture is then determined based upon these relationships. Each relationship may be determined by determining an angle associated with at least one joint, determining one or more states of a body part based upon the angle associated with at least one joint, and determining a probability of a body part being in each respective state. The gesture may thereafter be determined based upon the one or more states and the probability associated with each state of the body part. Directions may be provided, such as to an unmanned vehicle, based upon the gesture to, for example, control its taxing and parking operations.

US Patent:

8111734, Feb 7, 2012

Filed:

Jan 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/013542

Inventors:

Xinyu Wang - Newbury Park CA, US
Marcus Gahler - Redmond WA, US
Robert P. Higgins - Seattle WA, US
Paul R. Norris - Issaquah WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04B 1/00

US Classification:

375147, 375140

Abstract:

A device for fast transition from preamble synchronization of a received baseband signal to demodulation of the received baseband signal may include a baseband chip tracking loop to generate an offset tracking value to track any initial chip phase offset and Doppler-caused baseband chip frequency drift associated with the received baseband signal. The device may also include a numerical controlled oscillator to correct any Doppler-caused phase rotation associated with the received signal. The device may additionally include a preamble synchronization unit to detect a preamble of the received baseband signal, and to measure a chip phase offset and a baseband Doppler frequency shift associated with the received baseband signal. The chip phase offset may be used to set an initial chip phase offset value of the chip tracking loop so that the chip tracking loop starts with approximately a zero pull-in error. The baseband Doppler frequency shift may be used to set initial frequency offset values in the chip tracking loop and the numerical controlled oscillator so that both start with substantially near-zero offset errors for substantially immediate demodulation of the received signal.