Patents by Inventor Brian Keith Seal

Brian Keith Seal 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: 8634406
    Abstract: Systems and methods for routing packets using node virtual locations are disclosed. Such a virtual location may be determined, for example, by determining a geographic location that is central to other nodes with which the node can communicate. In certain embodiments, a node's virtual location may more accurately represent an approximate center point of a node's communication range. In one exemplary embodiment, a node's virtual location is an average of the geographic locations of radio nodes with which the node is in communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Keith Seal
  • Patent number: 8402455
    Abstract: Systems and methods for over-the-air firmware distribution to battery-powered devices are disclosed. Such over-the-air distribution is accomplished, for example, using a non-battery-powered device as a buffer, for example, to reduce or eliminate the delay time of the over-the-air network. The firmware can be sent to and stored on a nearby, non-battery-powered device and then sent from there to the battery-powered endpoint device. The distribution of firmware to battery-powered devices may be implemented in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, a mesh network, a multi-channel radio network, or any other environment in which firmware distribution is desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, John Bettendorff
  • Patent number: 7961554
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing accurate time-keeping on battery-powered communication devices used in AMI systems, mesh networks, and multi-channel radio networks. One embodiment allows the use of low power (and low cost) crystals in battery-powered endpoints by periodically correcting the poor timing of these crystals using communications with a nearby, non-battery-powered device. Such communications allow the battery-powered devices to align their timing with that of their non-battery neighbors, among other things.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Cellnet Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, John Bettendorff
  • Publication number: 20100002709
    Abstract: Systems and methods for routing packets using node virtual locations are disclosed. Such a virtual location may be determined, for example, by determining a geographic location that is central to other nodes with which the node can communicate. In certain embodiments, a node's virtual location may more accurately represent an approximate center point of a node's communication range. In one exemplary embodiment, a node's virtual location is an average of the geographic locations of radio nodes with which the node is in communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Cellnet Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Keith Seal
  • Publication number: 20090235246
    Abstract: Systems and methods for over-the-air firmware distribution to battery-powered devices are disclosed. Such over-the-air distribution is accomplished, for example, using a non-battery-powered device as a buffer, for example, to reduce or eliminate the delay time of the over-the-air network. The firmware can be sent to and stored on a nearby, non-battery-powered device and then sent from there to the battery-powered endpoint device. The distribution of firmware to battery-powered devices may be implemented in an AMI system, a mesh network, a multi-channel radio network, or any other environment in which firmware distribution is desirable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Cellnet Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, John Bettendorff
  • Publication number: 20090179771
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing accurate time-keeping on battery-powered communication devices used in AMI systems, mesh networks, and multi-channel radio networks. One embodiment allows the use of low power (and low cost) crystals in battery-powered endpoints by periodically correcting the poor timing of these crystals using communications with a nearby, non-battery-powered device. Such communications allow the battery-powered devices to align their timing with that of their non-battery neighbors, among other things.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Cellnet Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, John Bettendorff
  • Patent number: 7495555
    Abstract: The present technology involves a method and apparatus for detecting and reporting magnetic fields in the proximity of a utility meter as an approach to determining tampering of such meter. The sensitivity level of the magnetic field sensors may be adjustable allowing either remote or local sensitivity adjustments to a magnetic field sensor to compensate for variations in the electromagnetic environments of different meter installation sites. Alternatively, the output of each magnetic field sensor may be connected to the input of an adjustable threshold circuit. When the output voltage of the magnetic field exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a magnetic event signal is generated. Threshold adjustments to the adjustable threshold circuit may be performed locally at the meter site or remotely from a station. The output of each magnetic field sensor may be monitored by a locally or remotely programmable magnetic sensor output monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, Brent Martin
  • Patent number: 7218223
    Abstract: The present technology involves a method and apparatus for detecting and reporting magnetic fields in the proximity of a utility meter as an approach to determining tampering of such meter. The sensitivity level of the magnetic field sensors may be adjustable allowing either remote or local sensitivity adjustments to a magnetic field sensor to compensate for variations in the electromagnetic environments of different meter installation sites. Alternatively, the output of each magnetic field sensor may be connected to the input of an adjustable threshold circuit. When the output voltage of the magnetic field exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a magnetic event signal is generated. Threshold adjustments to the adjustable threshold circuit may be performed locally at the meter site or remotely from a station. The output of each magnetic field sensor may be monitored by a locally or remotely programmable magnetic sensor output monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, Brent Martin
  • Patent number: 6885302
    Abstract: The present technology involves a method and apparatus for detecting and reporting magnetic fields in the proximity of a utility meter as an approach to determining tampering of such meter. The sensitivity level of the magnetic field sensors may be adjustable allowing either remote or local sensitivity adjustments to a magnetic field sensor to compensate for variations in the electromagnetic environments of different meter installation sites. Alternatively, the output of each magnetic field sensor may be connected to the input of an adjustable threshold circuit. When the output voltage of the magnetic field exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a magnetic event signal is generated. Threshold adjustments to the adjustable threshold circuit may be performed locally at the meter site or remotely from a station. The output of each magnetic field sensor may be monitored by a locally or remotely programmable magnetic sensor output monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Itron Electricity Metering, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, Brent Martin
  • Publication number: 20040021568
    Abstract: The present technology involves a method and apparatus for detecting and reporting magnetic fields in the proximity of a utility meter as an approach to determining tampering of such meter. The sensitivity level of the magnetic field sensors may be adjustable allowing either remote or local sensitivity adjustments to a magnetic field sensor to compensate for variations in the electromagnetic environments of different meter installation sites. Alternatively, the output of each magnetic field sensor may be connected to the input of an adjustable threshold circuit. When the output voltage of the magnetic field exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, a magnetic event signal is generated. Threshold adjustments to the adjustable threshold circuit may be performed locally at the meter site or remotely from a station. The output of each magnetic field sensor may be monitored by a locally or remotely programmable magnetic sensor output monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: SchlumbergerSema Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Seal, Brent Martin