Patents by Inventor Allen Houston

Allen Houston has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11769381
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for managing building pathway information. A building and/or security management system can detect, based on receiving input from multiple sensor devices, a possible safety issue in a first pathway to an egress of a building, determine, based on detecting the possible safety issue and based on information regarding other pathways in the building, a second pathway to the egress of the building, and indicate at least the second pathway to another system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Jason Ouellette, James Bauerle, Allen Houston, Peter Lawrence, Kapang Lam
  • Patent number: 11734981
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for granting entry through a checkpoint. The implementations include receiving a request for entry of a person through a checkpoint. The implementations include estimating, via a thermal sensor, a body surface temperature of the person, and generating, via a user interface, a notification that prompts the person to answer at least one verification question. The implementations include receiving, via the user interface, at least one user response to the at least one verification question. The implementations include determining whether the at least one user response and the body surface temperature match criteria for gaining entry through the checkpoint. Additionally, the implementations include granting the request for entry in response to determining that the at least one user response and the body surface temperature match the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Jason M. Ouellette, Allen Houston, David S. Pinney, Lipphei Adam
  • Publication number: 20230050055
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling access to a restricted area by an access control device includes obtaining a first image using a first sensor mounted at a first location. A second image is obtained using a second sensor mounted at a location different from a location of the first sensor. The second image is processed, using the second sensor, to obtain information regarding the detected objects in the second image. The information regarding the detected objects is sent from the second sensor to the first sensor. The first sensor compares the received information with a number of objects detected using the first image. A tailgating event is identified, in response to determining that the number of objects detected using the first image does not match the information regarding the number of objects detected using the second image. A tailgating notification is outputted, by the first sensor, indicating a tailgating event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Allen HOUSTON, Peter LAWRENCE, Terence NEILL
  • Publication number: 20230024877
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for managing building pathway information. A building and/or security management system can detect, based on receiving input from multiple sensor devices, a possible safety issue in a first pathway to an egress of a building, determine, based on detecting the possible safety issue and based on information regarding other pathways in the building, a second pathway to the egress of the building, and indicate at least the second pathway to another system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Jason OUELLETTE, James BAUERLE, Allen HOUSTON, Peter LAWRENCE, Kapang LAM
  • Publication number: 20220068070
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for granting entry through a checkpoint. The implementations include receiving a request for entry of a person through a checkpoint. The implementations include estimating, via a thermal sensor, a body surface temperature of the person, and generating, via a user interface, a notification that prompts the person to answer at least one verification question. The implementations include receiving, via the user interface, at least one user response to the at least one verification question. The implementations include determining whether the at least one user response and the body surface temperature match criteria for gaining entry through the checkpoint. Additionally, the implementations include granting the request for entry in response to determining that the at least one user response and the body surface temperature match the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jason M. OUELLETTE, Allen HOUSTON, David S. PINNEY, Lipphei ADAM
  • Patent number: 11204281
    Abstract: Example implementations include a method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for determining a set of temperature readings of a person attempting to proceed beyond an area. The implementations further include detecting the person entering the area and detecting a facial area of the person. The implementations further include sending location information of the facial area to a sensing device. The implementations further include generating a thermal image of the person and determining a first set of temperature readings. The implementations further include determining a first set of temperature differences comprising one or more temperature differences between the temperature readings in the first set. The implementations further include determining whether one or more of the temperature differences in the first set does not satisfy a threshold and generating a notification in response to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SENSORMATIC ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Jason M. Ouellette, Allen Houston
  • Patent number: 7349427
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, the invention provides a modified Shortest Path First routing algorithm for use in a heterogeneous network. The routing algorithm is modified to include predetermined heterogeneous characteristics of the network nodes and to take these characteristics into account when calculating the shortest paths. For example, information may be included in the algorithm which identifies heterogeneous network nodes as it calculates shortest paths. Once a node has been identified as heterogeneous, i.e., capable of supporting at least two protocol sets, this information is carried over into subsequent path entries created by the routing algorithm. The algorithm then uses the encapsulation capability identifier in the calculation of the shortest paths by including the cost of auto-tunneling between heterogeneous nodes to be taken into account when determining the short path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Terence Canning, Derek Gilmore, Allen Houston
  • Patent number: 6778541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to data tunnelling and in one embodiment to the tunnelling of IP (Internet Protocol) data across an OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) network. In the preferred embodiment, network elements include both an OSI stack and an IP stack, and a respective directory of OSI addresses and corresponding IP subnets. Each network element generates a routing data packet, conveniently a Link State Packet (LSP), which includes the OSI address and IP subnet(s) associated with that network element. The LSPs are distributed across the network in normal manner. Upon receipt of an LSP from another network element, each network element updates its respective directory in respect of said other network element. Thus, each directory is automatically updated to reflect changes in the network, particularly in respect of IP subnets. This arrangement significantly reduces the need for manual tunnel configuration in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Allen Houston, Paul Fee, Christopher Murton, Ewart Tempest, Philip Christian
  • Publication number: 20030126284
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, the invention provides a modified Shortest Path First routing algorithm for use in a heterogeneous network. The muting algorithm is modified to identify bi-lingual network nodes as it calculates shortest paths. Once a node has been identified as bi-lingual, this information is carried over into subsequent path entries created by the routing algorithm. This arrangement reduces the computational burden on the routing algorithm when identifying bi-lingual routers. The algorithm may be modified to enable the use of an encapsulation capability identifier to indicate the encapsulation capability of bi-lingual routers, and the algorithm may be modified to use the encapsulation capability identifier in the calculation of the shortest paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Allen Houston, Terence Canning, Nuala Sheerin
  • Publication number: 20030120804
    Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, the invention provides a modified Shortest Path First routing algorithm for use in a heterogeneous network. The routing algorithm is modified to identify bi-lingual network nodes as it calculates shortest paths. Once a node has been identified as bi-lingual, this information is carried over into subsequent path entries created by the routing algorithm. This arrangement reduces the computational burden on the routing algorithm when identifying bi-lingual routers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Allen Houston, Terence Canning, Nuala Sheerin
  • Publication number: 20020067731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to data tunnelling and in one embodiment to the tunnelling of IP (Internet Protocol) data across an OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) network. In the preferred embodiment, network elements include both an OSI stack and an IP stack, and a respective directory of OSI addresses and corresponding IP subnets. Each network element generates a routing data packet, conveniently a Link State Packet (LSP), which includes the OSI address and IP subnet(s) associated with that network element. The LSPs are distributed across the network in normal manner. Upon receipt of an LSP from another network element, each network element updates its respective directory in respect of said other network element. Thus, each directory is automatically updated to reflect changes in the network, particularly in respect of IP subnets. This arrangement significantly reduces the need for manual tunnel configuration in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Allen Houston, Paul Fee, Christopher Murton, Ewart Tempest, Philip Christian
  • Patent number: 6149371
    Abstract: A refuse handling assembly for use with a vehicle, including a receptacle for receiving refuse the receptacle having a delivery inlet opening at the forward end of the receptacle and a discharge outlet opening at the rearward end of the receptacle. The receptacle is operatively mounted to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a pivot mounting at or near the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement between a lowered position and a tilted position. There is further provided a compactor at the delivery inlet opening having a sweep blade which has its pivot axis laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Garwood International Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Peter De Vries, Michael Allen Houston, Leslie James McHugh, David John Horrocks, Barry John Ommundson