Patents Assigned to Echelon Corporation
  • Patent number: 11353947
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improved powerline communication (PLC) are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises power down hardware coupled to internal wiring of a premises to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request, and at least one hardware device to transmit a request to the power down hardware to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request and to transmit data using power line communication hardware of the at least one hardware device while the portion of the internal wiring is powered down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Waclawsky, Sohrab Modi
  • Patent number: 11068334
    Abstract: An exemplary communications receiver includes an error detector for determining whether a first and second received frame is corrupted, each frame comprising of a plurality of bits. The receiver includes a filter for determining whether the second received corrupted frame should be recovered. The receiver includes a frame generator for generating a recovered frame based on the plurality of bits of the first and second corrupted frame and frame information of the second corrupted frame, in response to the error detector determining that the first and second received frames are corrupted and the filter determining that the second received frame should be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Philip H. Sutterlin
  • Patent number: 10764942
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for network provisioning are described. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a processor to execute instructions stored in memory; a communication interface coupled to the processor to communicate with an external device; and memory to store instructions which when executed by the processor to provide provisioning capabilities for the apparatus, wherein the memory to further store a node information structure including identifiers for each node coupled to the apparatus, an indication of if each node was automatically added by the apparatus, and a timer to indicate how long to maintain a connection to each node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Glen M. Riley, Vijay Dhingra
  • Patent number: 10547512
    Abstract: A system manages the quantity of responses by discoverable lighting devices in a network, in responding to a device discovery request from a lighting control server. Each device includes a random target number accessible via the network, comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged fields, each field including a random target integer selected from a range of integers, based on a position of the field in the sequentially arranged fields of the random target number. The device discovery message includes a request to respond to the message if a specified value in the message compares with a target integer in a specified field of the random target number included in the receiving discoverable device, the specified value and specified field in the request based on an estimated percentage of the devices in the network expected to respond. Each device generates a response to the received request, if there is a successful comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Glen M. Riley
  • Patent number: 10523501
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems, apparatuses, and methods for attempting to wirelessly communicate with a networkable device with a mobile device to retrieve an identifier for the networkable device; receiving the identifier from the networkable device; storing the identifier in the mobile device; and sending a request to a provisioning server to provision the networkable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Glen M. Riley, Robert A. Dolin, Bernd Gauweiler
  • Patent number: 10474906
    Abstract: Fast moving objects may be monitored by a video unit under a variety of lighting conditions. In a bootstrap phase, a model database is established for each of a plurality of sampling points, each model being a combination of color of the video image, respective optimum exposure, and respective lighting condition. Then in an image capture phase the video unit compares captured color and optimum exposure of the sampling point, with the models of color and respective optimum exposure in the model database, to find a best match lighting condition model in the model database. The video unit then adjusts an exposure setting to the most frequently occurring value for exposure among the other sampling points, if lighting conditions for the other sampling points are within a threshold range of the lighting condition of the best match model in the model database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Shalender Singh
  • Patent number: 10474223
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improved powerline communication (PLC) are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises power down hardware coupled to internal wiring of a premises to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request, and at least one hardware device to transmit a request to the power down hardware to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request and to transmit data using power line communication hardware of the at least one hardware device while the portion of the internal wiring is powered down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: John G. Waclawsky, Sohrab Modi
  • Patent number: 10438072
    Abstract: Transient connected regions are tracked in a video sequence, marking them as foreground layer or background layer when the transient regions become stable. A stack of background/foreground Gaussian mixer models is maintained for each pixel. The decision to mark a stable region as background layer or a new or existing foreground layer is done by matching the region with each model in the model stack. If the new region matches an existing model, then the layers above the matched layers are purged, or else the new region is pushed as a new foreground layer with a new model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Shalender Singh
  • Patent number: 10438071
    Abstract: A distributed system is disclosed for mining, correlating and analyzing locally obtained traffic video data. The system comprises a central controller configured to correlate traffic counting meta data gathered at a thoroughfare, to transmit control information to specify one or more traffic counting events to be monitored by at least one video unit located at the thoroughfare and to receive traffic counting meta data from the at least one video unit. The at least one video unit located at the thoroughfare, is configured to process a video stream from a video camera while monitoring the traffic counting events at the thoroughfare specified by the central controller, to analyze and evaluate the traffic counting event, to encode traffic meta data characterizing the analysis, and to transmit the meta data to the central controller. Further meta data can be acquired by mining the meta data history or any captured raw video footage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Sohrab Modi, Shalender Singh
  • Patent number: 10419953
    Abstract: A central management system polls a lighting node in a mesh lighting network, sending a command message for the node to measure a link quality indication (LQI) of the received command message. The node returns a status message, including in its payload the measured LQI. The management system computes from the node's status messages, a statistical characterization of the link quality of the node and compares it with a threshold quality value. If the comparison indicates sufficient degradation in link quality, the management system automatically transmits a disconnect command to the node. In response, the node disconnects and enters a discovery mode to find a better quality link to rejoin the network. In example embodiments, the lighting node may also report its illumination and operational status in the payload of the status message, along with the LQI, enabling the management system to determine whether illumination by the node is failing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Keating, Jwalant Dholakia, Jonathan Lloyd, Glen Riley, John Waclawsky
  • Publication number: 20190197887
    Abstract: A system for providing an optical event alert signal to portable devices carried by pedestrians or vehicles, comprises: a video unit located along a thoroughfare, configured to capture sound, and video images of traffic conditions and events, analyze and recognize types of events, and transmit one or more identified event data packets over a communication link to lighting device nodes located around or along the thoroughfare; and one or more lighting device nodes located along a thoroughfare, configured to repeat and cascade event information using propagation control and decode the identified event data packets and modulate an LED array to transmit an optical event signal to portable devices carried by pedestrians and vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Sohrab MODI, John G. WACLAWSKY
  • Publication number: 20190174329
    Abstract: A central management system polls a lighting node in a mesh lighting network, sending a command message for the node to measure a link quality indication (LQI) of the received command message. The node returns a status message, including in its payload the measured LQI. The management system computes from the node's status messages, a statistical characterization of the link quality of the node and compares it with a threshold quality value. If the comparison indicates sufficient degradation in link quality, the management system automatically transmits a disconnect command to the node. In response, the node disconnects and enters a discovery mode to find a better quality link to rejoin the network. In example embodiments, the lighting node may also report its illumination and operational status in the payload of the status message, along with the LQI, enabling the management system to determine whether illumination by the node is failing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark KEATING, Jonathan DHOLAKIA, Jonathan LLOYD, Glen RILEY, John WACLAWSKY
  • Patent number: 10223911
    Abstract: A distributed system for traffic monitoring and event detection includes a plurality of video units within viewing distance of a thoroughfare to be monitored. Each video unit processes a video stream while monitoring events at the thoroughfare, identifies and analyzes events, encodes traffic meta data characterizing the analysis, and transmits the meta data to a central controller. The central controller stores a geographic map representing the thoroughfare, correlates the meta data received from the video units, and forms a composite representation of the geographic map and the correlated meta data. The central controller replays previously stored composite representations of the geographic map and the correlated meta data, which were monitored under mutually different event conditions. The central controller is also configured to allow changes to previously stored composite representations of the geographic map and to the correlated meta data for the purpose of understanding the impact of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Sohrab Modi, Shalender Singh
  • Patent number: 10217359
    Abstract: A parking management system includes a parking facility management controller configured to allocate parking spaces at a parking facility as at least one of customer reserved spaces, handicap spaces, electric vehicle station spaces, premium spaces or unreserved spaces, the controller further including a communications unit configured to transmit the allocation of parking spaces to at least one video unit located at the parking facility. The video unit located at the parking facility, includes a video camera and video frame processing logic to process a video stream from the video camera while monitoring a parking space allocated by the controller, identify an event occurring at the allocated parking space, and encode a low bandwidth message characterizing the event. The at least one video unit includes a communications unit configured to transmit the low bandwidth message over low bandwidth communication links to the management controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Shalender Singh, Sohrab Modi
  • Patent number: 10182357
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the invention efficiently organize, control and prioritize a distributed lighting network. A mesh lighting network is organized from the bottom up into groups of lighting devices with control signal repeaters fanning out control signals to each group. Each lighting device is capable of forwarding control signals to additional lighting devices. During build-out of the mesh network, as new lighting devices are installed, the control network automatically selects a device whose repeater function will provide the most reliable and efficient distribution of control signals to the new group of devices being installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Keating, Jwalant Dholakia, Jonathan Lloyd
  • Publication number: 20190008017
    Abstract: Example embodiments of an invention to efficiently organize and control a distributed lighting network. A process supports message flows and an interface to facilitate the organization and control a very large array of intelligent lighting nodes. Each newly installed lighting node broadcasts an initial contact message that includes fields specifying requests, such as lighting schedule, intensity, color, aiming direction, flood lighting, etc. A central controller receives the message at a discovery message and provisioning request interface, commissions the lighting node, and processes the provisioning requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventors: Sohrab MODI, Mark KEATING, Glen M. RILEY, Jonathan LLOYD, Jwalant DHOLAKIA, John G. WACLAWSKY
  • Patent number: 10135467
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for applying an interleaver that better distributes signal errors to be used in devices operating on low voltage power grids. One embodiment of a method comprises: determining a frequency cycle of the communication medium; setting an interleaver block size based on the frequency cycle of the communication medium; re-arranging bits in a data packet based on the interleaver block size; transmitting the re-arranged data packet over the communication medium to a receiver. Specifically, according to an embodiment, the interleaver block size is set to one-half of the frequency cycle of the communication medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Downey
  • Patent number: 10101987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatuses, and systems for processing an image update in a networkable node. An exemplary method comprises initiating an image update process with a node, transmitting an update image to the node, transmitting a confirmation request to determine the node received the update image, upon receiving confirmation the node received the update image, transmitting a switchover command to the node to cause the node to switch from its primary image to the update image, and confirming the switching of the image of the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Glen M. Riley
  • Publication number: 20180276482
    Abstract: Fast moving objects may be monitored by a video unit under a variety of lighting conditions. In a bootstrap phase, a model database is established for each of a plurality of sampling points, each model being a combination of color of the video image, respective optimum exposure, and respective lighting condition. Then in an image capture phase the video unit compares captured color and optimum exposure of the sampling point, with the models of color and respective optimum exposure in the model database, to find a best match lighting condition model in the model database. The video unit then adjusts an exposure setting to the most frequently occurring value for exposure among the other sampling points, if lighting conditions for the other sampling points are within a threshold range of the lighting condition of the best match model in the model database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Shalender SINGH
  • Publication number: 20180247136
    Abstract: Transient connected regions are tracked in a video sequence, marking them as foreground layer or background layer when the transient regions become stable. A stack of background/foreground Gaussian mixer models is maintained for each pixel. The decision to mark a stable region as background layer or a new or existing foreground layer is done by matching the region with each model in the model stack. If the new region matches an existing model, then the layers above the matched layers are purged, or else the new region is pushed as a new foreground layer with a new model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Echelon Corporation
    Inventor: Shalender SINGH