Patents by Inventor Andrew Burks

Andrew Burks 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: 11831770
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. McLaughlin, Andrew Burks, Matthew C. Lucas, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Anush G. Nadathur
  • Publication number: 20230127500
    Abstract: Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. A group of accessories can be organized into an accessory network that can facilitate coordinated control of multiple accessories. The accessory network can be organized according to an environment model that can include a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where accessories are present. The environment model can be synchronized across different controllers that have access to the accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Burks, Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Joe Abuan, Harlan Haskins
  • Publication number: 20230023775
    Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Abuan, Bob Bradley, Craig Dooley, Gregg Golembeski, JR., Andrew Burks, Srinivas Rama, Arun Mathias, Anush Nadathur, Kevin P. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20220166700
    Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Abuan, Bob Bradley, Craig Dooley, Gregg Golembeski, JR., Andrew Burks, Srinivas Rama, Arun Mathias, Anush Nadathur, Kevin P. McLaughlin
  • Publication number: 20210273802
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin P. McLaughlin, Andrew Burks, Matthew C. Lucas, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Anush G. Nadathur
  • Patent number: 11018862
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Matthew C. Lucas, Andrew Burks
  • Patent number: 10454783
    Abstract: Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. A group of accessories can be organized into an accessory network that can facilitate coordinated control of multiple accessories. The accessory network can be organized according to an environment model that can include a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where accessories are present. The environment model can be synchronized across different controllers that have access to the accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Burks, Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Joe Abuan, Harlan Haskins
  • Patent number: 10305770
    Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. McLaughlin, Andrew Burks, Srinivas Rama, Anush Nadathur, Joe Abuan, Bob Bradley, Craig Dooley, Gregg Golembeski, Jr., Arun Mathias
  • Publication number: 20190068371
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Matthew C. Lucas, Andrew Burks
  • Patent number: 10177933
    Abstract: Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. Controllers with access to a particular accessory (or group of accessories) can be organized into a controller network to facilitate control. The controller network can include various proxy devices including bridge and tunnel proxies that can relay messages to and from accessories, perform protocol translations, and/or provide communication security. Some proxy devices can include decision logic to enable coordinated control over one or more accessories by the controllers in the controller network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Burks, Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Joe Abuan, Dennis Mathews, Matthew C. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10057062
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Matthew C. Lucas, Andrew Burks
  • Publication number: 20180176112
    Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. McLaughlin, Andrew Burks, Srinivas Rama, Anush Nadathur, Joe Abuan, Bob Bradley, Craig Dooley, Gregg Golembeski, JR., Arun Mathias
  • Patent number: 9979625
    Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. McLaughlin, Andrew Burks, Srinivas Rama, Anush Nadathur, Joe Abuan, Bob Bradley, Craig Dooley, Gregg Golembeski, Jr., Arun Mathias
  • Publication number: 20170346630
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Matthew C. Lucas, Andrew Burks
  • Patent number: 9680646
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Matthew C. Lucas, Andrew Burks
  • Publication number: 20160359629
    Abstract: A relay service can relay messages between controllers and electronically controllable accessory devices that may be located remotely from the controllers. Relaying of messages by the relay service can be decoupled from any knowledge of the functionality of the accessory or the content of the messages. Device identification and relaying of messages can be managed using “relay aliases” that are meaningful only to the relay service and the endpoint devices (the controller and accessory). The endpoint devices can implement end-to-end security for messages transported by the relay service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Gokul P. Thirumalai, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Matthew C. Lucas, Andrew Burks
  • Publication number: 20150350031
    Abstract: Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. A group of accessories can be organized into an accessory network that can facilitate coordinated control of multiple accessories. The accessory network can be organized according to an environment model that can include a hierarchical representation of a physical environment where accessories are present. The environment model can be synchronized across different controllers that have access to the accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Burks, Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Joe Abuan, Harlan Haskins
  • Publication number: 20150351145
    Abstract: Controllers can be used to control the operation of various accessories. Controllers with access to a particular accessory (or group of accessories) can be organized into a controller network to facilitate control. The controller network can include various proxy devices including bridge and tunnel proxies that can relay messages to and from accessories, perform protocol translations, and/or provide communication security. Some proxy devices can include decision logic to enable coordinated control over one or more accessories by the controllers in the controller network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Burks, Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Joe Abuan, Dennis Mathews, Matthew C. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20150222517
    Abstract: A uniform protocol can facilitate secure, authenticated communication between a controller device and an accessory device that is controlled by the controller. An accessory and a controller can establish a pairing, the existence of which can be verified at a later time and used to create a secure communication session. The accessory can provide an accessory definition record that defines the accessory as a collection of services, each service having one or more characteristics. Within a secure communication session, the controller can interrogate the characteristics to determine accessory state and/or modify the characteristics to instruct the accessory to change its state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin P. McLaughlin, Andrew Burks, Srinivas Rama, Anush Nadathur, Joe Abuan, Bob Bradley, Craig Dooley, Gregg Golembeski, JR., Arun Mathias