Patents by Inventor Christopher Hett

Christopher Hett 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: 11916683
    Abstract: A node includes a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver and a memory. The memory includes instructions that can cause the processor to store a broadcast channel hopping timing interval and a broadcast channel hopping sequence, as well as, channel hopping timings and channel hopping sequences for tracked neighbor nodes. The instructions can also cause the processor to determine whether a destination node for a unicast message corresponds to tracked neighbor nodes. Based on a determination that the destination node does not correspond to any tracked neighbor nodes, the processor can determine (i) a broadcast dwell interval based on the broadcast channel hopping timing interval and (ii) a next broadcast channel based on the broadcast channel hopping sequence. Additionally, instructions can cause the processor to transmit the unicast message to the destination node during the broadcast dwell interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley
  • Patent number: 11800437
    Abstract: A deployed node may automatically switch from one configuration to another configuration. The node includes a first firmware image that corresponds to a first configuration and a second firmware image that corresponds to a second configuration. The node executes the first firmware image to run the first configuration. At some point, the node determines that a switch to the second configuration is appropriate and switches to the second configuration by activating the second firmware image. The switch does not require intervention by a central system or any manual intervention. In some instances, the configurations are associated with different communication protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley, Chris Calvert
  • Patent number: 11647431
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating communications in heterogeneous networks that include different data networks. A gateway device is configured to communicate with a first network using a TSCH protocol and with a second network using a channel hopping CSMA protocol. The gateway device can determine, during a first part of a TSCH timeslot, whether a message is received from the first network. If no message is received, the gateway device switches to the second network during a second part of the timeslot. If the gateway device receives a message from the second network, the gateway device may continue to receive the message. The receipt of the message in the second network may continue into a subsequent TSCH timeslot or may be interrupted if certain conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LANDIS+GYR INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley
  • Publication number: 20220337358
    Abstract: A node includes a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver and a memory. The memory includes instructions that can cause the processor to store a broadcast channel hopping timing interval and a broadcast channel hopping sequence, as well as, channel hopping timings and channel hopping sequences for tracked neighbor nodes. The instructions can also cause the processor to determine whether a destination node for a unicast message corresponds to tracked neighbor nodes. Based on a determination that the destination node does not correspond to any tracked neighbor nodes, the processor can determine (i) a broadcast dwell interval based on the broadcast channel hopping timing interval and (ii) a next broadcast channel based on the broadcast channel hopping sequence. Additionally, instructions can cause the processor to transmit the unicast message to the destination node during the broadcast dwell interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley
  • Publication number: 20220240164
    Abstract: A deployed node may automatically switch from one configuration to another configuration. The node includes a first firmware image that corresponds to a first configuration and a second firmware image that corresponds to a second configuration. The node executes the first firmware image to run the first configuration. At some point, the node determines that a switch to the second configuration is appropriate and switches to the second configuration by activating the second firmware image. The switch does not require intervention by a central system or any manual intervention. In some instances, the configurations are associated with different communication protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley, Chris Calvert
  • Publication number: 20210368402
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating communications in heterogeneous networks that include different data networks. A gateway device is configured to communicate with a first network using a TSCH protocol and with a second network using a channel hopping CSMA protocol. The gateway device can determine, during a first part of a TSCH timeslot, whether a message is received from the first network. If no message is received, the gateway device switches to the second network during a second part of the timeslot. If the gateway device receives a message from the second network, the gateway device may continue to receive the message. The receipt of the message in the second network may continue into a subsequent TSCH timeslot or may be interrupted if certain conditions are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley
  • Patent number: 11115881
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating communications in heterogeneous networks that include different data networks. A gateway device is configured to communicate with a first network using a TSCH protocol and with a second network using a channel hopping CSMA protocol. The gateway device can determine, during a first part of a TSCH timeslot, whether a message is received from the first network. If no message is received, the gateway device switches to the second network during a second part of the timeslot. If the gateway device receives a message from the second network, the gateway device may continue to receive the message. The receipt of the message in the second network may continue into a subsequent TSCH timeslot or may be interrupted if certain conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley
  • Publication number: 20210045024
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating communications in heterogeneous networks that include different data networks. A gateway device is configured to communicate with a first network using a TSCH protocol and with a second network using a channel hopping CSMA protocol. The gateway device can determine, during a first part of a TSCH timeslot, whether a message is received from the first network. If no message is received, the gateway device switches to the second network during a second part of the timeslot. If the gateway device receives a message from the second network, the gateway device may continue to receive the message. The receipt of the message in the second network may continue into a subsequent TSCH timeslot or may be interrupted if certain conditions are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Hett, James Patrick Hanley
  • Patent number: 9838525
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, the code includes instructions to receive an indication to communicatively couple a utility meter to an auxiliary device via a mobile electronic device, and capture a visual representation of a unique identifier of the utility meter via the mobile electronic device. The unique identifier includes an authentication mechanism configured to establish a first authentication and a second authentication of a user of the mobile electronic device. The code includes instructions to receive an acknowledgement to communicatively couple the mobile electronic device to the utility meter when the first authentication and the second authentication are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Lee Bietz, Jesus Acosta-Cazaubon, Christopher Hett
  • Publication number: 20150195394
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, the code includes instructions to receive an indication to communicatively couple a utility meter to an auxiliary device via a mobile electronic device, and capture a visual representation of a unique identifier of the utility meter via the mobile electronic device. The unique identifier includes an authentication mechanism configured to establish a first authentication and a second authentication of a user of the mobile electronic device. The code includes instructions to receive an acknowledgement to communicatively couple the mobile electronic device to the utility meter when the first authentication and the second authentication are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Lee Bietz, Jesus Acosta-Cazaubon, Christopher Hett