Patents by Inventor SEAN ZAWICKI

SEAN ZAWICKI 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: 10816944
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for disabling IoT-enabled home devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami
  • Patent number: 10291595
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and programming logic to program an identification device with one or more encryption keys usable to establish encrypted communication with an IoT device; and at least one IoT device interfacing with the identification device following programming of the identification device by the IoT hub; wherein once the identification device is programmed and interfaced with the IoT device, the IoT device uses the one or more keys to establish a secure communication channel with the IoT hub and/or the IoT service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland
  • Publication number: 20180152420
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and programming logic to program an identification device with one or more encryption keys usable to establish encrypted communication with an IoT device; and at least one IoT device interfacing with the identification device following programming of the identification device by the IoT hub; wherein once the identification device is programmed and interfaced with the IoT device, the IoT device uses the one or more keys to establish a secure communication channel with the IoT hub and/or the IoT service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland
  • Patent number: 9894473
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method are described for pairing devices. For example, one embodiment of a system for pairing devices comprises: a first data processing device having a machine-readable optical label associated therewith and including a first wireless communication interface; a second data processing device having a second wireless communication interface and an optical reader for reading identification data from the optical label associated with the first data processing device, the second wireless communication interface including pairing logic to use the identification data to pair with the first data processing device by establishing a secure communication channel between the first and second wireless communication interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AFERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland, Justin Lee
  • Patent number: 9832173
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and programming logic to program an identification device with one or more encryption keys usable to establish encrypted communication with an IoT device; and at least one IoT device interfacing with the identification device following programming of the identification device by the IoT hub; wherein once the identification device is programmed and interfaced with the IoT device, the IoT device uses the one or more keys to establish a secure communication channel with the IoT hub and/or the IoT service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AFERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland
  • Patent number: 9729340
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for detecting that an IoT hub communication channel has become inoperative. For example, one embodiment of an IoT system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; at least one IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a second communication channel; connection monitoring logic to detect when the first communication channel between the IoT service and the IoT hub has become inoperative; notification logic to transmit a notification to a data processing device of a user of the IoT system responsive to the connection monitoring logic detecting that the first communication channel has become inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Afero, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Justin Lee
  • Publication number: 20170208432
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method are described for pairing devices. For example, one embodiment of a system for pairing devices comprises: a first data processing device having a machine-readable optical label associated therewith and including a first wireless communication interface; a second data processing device having a second wireless communication interface and an optical reader for reading identification data from the optical label associated with the first data processing device, the second wireless communication interface including pairing logic to use the identification data to pair with the first data processing device by establishing a secure communication channel between the first and second wireless communication interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland, Justin Lee
  • Patent number: 9641400
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code; a communication interface for coupling the microcontroller to a network; a plurality of input elements communicatively coupled to the microcontroller to detect user input; a slot for receiving a selection card, the selection card comprising a plurality of user-selectable items displayed thereon, wherein each of the input elements are associated with at least one of the user-selectable items displayed on the card when the selection card is inserted in the slot; and wherein upon selection of a particular input element corresponding to a particular item, the microcontroller transmits an identification code for the item to a service over the network, the service identifying the item using the identification code and performing one or more operations responsive to selection of the item by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: AFERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Philip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Joel Black
  • Patent number: 9497572
    Abstract: An Internet of Things system and method are described. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an IoT hub comprising a WAN interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over the WAN, and a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of different types of IoT devices; and at least one IoT device having a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code, wherein the program code includes library program code comprising basic building blocks usable by a developer to implement any IoT device by creating application program code which utilizes the library program code, wherein at least one of the basic building blocks comprises a communication stack to enable communication with the IoT hub, the library program code provided to the developer in a software development kit (SDK) with the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: AFERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami
  • Publication number: 20160197786
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for detecting that an IoT hub communication channel has become inoperative. For example, one embodiment of an IoT system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; at least one IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a second communication channel; connection monitoring logic to detect when the first communication channel between the IoT service and the IoT hub has become inoperative; notification logic to transmit a notification to a data processing device of a user of the IoT system responsive to the connection monitoring logic detecting that the first communication channel has become inoperative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SHIN MATSUMURA, HOUMAN FOROOD, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILLIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI, DAISUKE KUTAMI, JUSTIN LEE
  • Publication number: 20160197769
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for filtering events at an Internet of Things (IoT) hub. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service, the IoT hub further comprising a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of IoT devices over local communication channels; the IoT hub to receive a plurality of different events of different event types from each of the IoT devices, the IoT hub further comprising: an event filter to evaluate each event and responsively determine whether to forward the event to one or more external services over the network interface in accordance with a set of event filtering rules programmed on the IoT hub, the event filtering rules provided by the IoT service and specifying how different event types are to be processed by the IoT hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILLIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI
  • Publication number: 20160198536
    Abstract: A miniature IoT hub is described for coupling IoT devices and an IoT service. For example, one embodiment of a miniature Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a housing having a compact form factor; a first network interface integrated within the housing to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; a second network interface integrated within the housing to couple the IoT hub to at least one IoT device over a second communication channel, the second communication channel being a local wireless communication channel; an alternating current (A/C) input interface to couple the miniature IoT hub to an A/C power outlet; a transformer integrated within the housing to transform the A/C power from the A/C input interface into a lower voltage D/C signal; and at least one light emitting diode (LED) powered by the lower voltage D/C signal, the LED to notify a user of a current status of the IoT hub and additionally configurable as a user-programmable night-light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SHIN MATSUMURA, HOUMAN FOROOD, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILLIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI, DAISUKE KUTAMI, JUSTIN LEE
  • Publication number: 20160195859
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for disabling IoT-enabled home devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SHIN MATSUMURA, HOUMAN FOROOD, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILLIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI, DAISUKE KUTAMI
  • Publication number: 20160182459
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and programming logic to program an identification device with one or more encryption keys usable to establish encrypted communication with an IoT device; and at least one IoT device interfacing with the identification device following programming of the identification device by the IoT hub; wherein once the identification device is programmed and interfaced with the IoT device, the IoT device uses the one or more keys to establish a secure communication channel with the IoT hub and/or the IoT service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Phillip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland
  • Publication number: 20160180100
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method are described for pairing devices. For example, one embodiment of a system for pairing devices comprises: a first data processing device having a machine-readable optical label associated therewith and including a first wireless communication interface; a second data processing device having a second wireless communication interface and an optical reader for reading identification data from the optical label associated with the first data processing device, the second wireless communication interface including pairing logic to use the identification data to pair with the first data processing device by establishing a secure communication channel between the first and second wireless communication interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Joe Britt, Shin Matsumura, Houman Forood, Scott Zimmerman, Philip Myles, Sean Zawicki, Daisuke Kutami, Shannon Holland, Justin Lee
  • Publication number: 20160150021
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises an Internet of Things (IoT) clock hub comprising: a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code; a WAN interface to couple the IoT clock hub to an IoT service over the WAN, and a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of different types of IoT devices; and a display to display a clock indicating a current time, a current temperature, and one or more calendar events retrieved from a user's calendar, wherein the calendar events are provided to the IoT clock hub over the WAN interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SHIN MATSUMURA, HOUMAN FOROOD, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILLIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI, DAISUKE KUTAMI, Justin Lee
  • Publication number: 20160147506
    Abstract: An Internet of Things system and method are described. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an IoT hub comprising a WAN interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over the WAN, and a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of different types of IoT devices; and at least one IoT device having a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code, wherein the program code includes library program code comprising basic building blocks usable by a developer to implement any IoT device by creating application program code which utilizes the library program code, wherein at least one of the basic building blocks comprises a communication stack to enable communication with the IoT hub, the library program code provided to the developer in a software development kit (SDK) with the microcontroller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SHIN MATSUMURA, HOUMAN FOROOD, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI, DAISUKE KUTAMI
  • Publication number: 20160149767
    Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code; a communication interface for coupling the microcontroller to a network; a plurality of input elements communicatively coupled to the microcontroller to detect user input; a slot for receiving a selection card, the selection card comprising a plurality of user-selectable items displayed thereon, wherein each of the input elements are associated with at least one of the user-selectable items displayed on the card when the selection card is inserted in the slot; and wherein upon selection of a particular input element corresponding to a particular item, the microcontroller transmits an identification code for the item to a service over the network, the service identifying the item using the identification code and performing one or more operations responsive to selection of the item by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: JOE BRITT, SHIN MATSUMURA, HOUMAN FOROOD, SCOTT ZIMMERMAN, PHILLIP MYLES, SEAN ZAWICKI, DAISUKE KUTAMI, Joel Black