Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Robertson

Thomas M. Robertson 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: 11119141
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20190195929
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10247765
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9385783
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that uses existing power line infrastructure in a building as a distributed reception antenna capable of receiving signals from very low-power wireless sensors, thus allowing these sensors to be detected at ranges that are otherwise impractical with over-the-air reception. Also disclosed is a wireless sensor platform that is able to be sensed throughout a building with very low current draw. The disclosed technique may also be utilized to extend the range of mid-frequency consumer electronic devices by leveraging the power line as a reception antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation, University of Washington
    Inventors: Erich P. Stuntebeck, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Shwetak N. Patel
  • Publication number: 20160154043
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9250275
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20150174445
    Abstract: An adjustable exercise device includes a removable handle, a extendible stacking pole and a base. The handle can be any of a number of shapes for ergonomic control. The stacking pole is designed to hold typical round weightlifting discs in a stack on the base, which is attached to the bottom of the stacking pole to both restrain the weights and serve as a platform base for the floor. The stacking pole is adjustable in length. The handle can be removed from the stacking pole by pulling a pin, thereby releasing the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas M. Robertson, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150099463
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system that uses existing power line infrastructure in a building as a distributed reception antenna capable of receiving signals from very low-power wireless sensors, thus allowing these sensors to be detected at ranges that are otherwise impractical with over-the-air reception. Also disclosed is a wireless sensor platform that is able to be sensed throughout a building with very low current draw. The disclosed technique may also be utilized to extend the range of mid-frequency consumer electronic devices by leveraging the power line as a reception antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erich P. Stuntebeck, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Shwetak N. Patel
  • Patent number: 8334784
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Belkin International Inc.
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20120092142
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8094034
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20090072985
    Abstract: Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power lines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Shwetak N. Patel, Thomas M. Robertson, Gregory D. Abowd, Matthew S. Reynolds