Patents by Inventor Donald J. Hume

Donald J. Hume 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).

  • Message control protocol in a communications network having repeaters
    Patent number: 7746804
    Abstract: A wireless communications network which provides directed transmissions between components of the network is provided. The components within the wireless communications include a master apparatus, a plurality of remote devices, and a plurality of repeaters. The components within the wireless communications network communicate using messages which have a control field and at least one information field. Information within the control field is used by components to make determinations for retransmitting the message, or transmitting a predefined response to the message, such as a signal strength response. The components within the network use the messages to make a determination of a communications target, which may be used as a primary contact for transmitting information, automatically, and may repeat the determination at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Inovonics Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Shurmantine, Daryl Burkhard, Steven T. Dunbar, Donald J. Hume, Nathan Koonce, Steve Koonce, Preston Pierce
  • Message control protocol in a communications network having repeaters
    Patent number: 7554932
    Abstract: A wireless communications network which provides directed transmissions between components of the network is provided. The components within the wireless communications include a master apparatus, a plurality of remote devices, and a plurality of repeaters. The components within the wireless communications network communicate using messages which have a control field and at least one information field. Information within the control field is used by components to make determinations for retransmitting the message, or transmitting a predefined response to the message, such as a signal strength response. The components within the network use the messages to make a determination of a communications target, which may be used as a primary contact for transmitting information, automatically, and may repeat the determination at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Inovonics Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Shurmantine, Daryl Burkhard, Steven T. Dunbar, Donald J. Hume, Nathan Koonce, Steve Koonce, Preston Pierce
  • Message control protocol in a communications network having repeaters
    Patent number: 7154866
    Abstract: A wireless communications network which provides directed transmissions between components of the network is provided. The components within the wireless communications include a master apparatus, a plurality of remote devices, and a plurality of repeaters. The components within the wireless communications network communicate using messages which have a control field and at least one information field. Information within the control field is used by components to make determinations for retransmitting the message, or transmitting a predefined response to the message, such as a signal strength response. The components within the network use the messages to make a determination of a communications target, which may be used as a primary contact for transmitting information, automatically, and may repeat the determination at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Inovonics Wireless Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Shurmantine, Daryl Burkhart, Steven T. Dunbar, Donald J. Hume, Nathan Koonce, Steve Koonce, Preston Pierce
  • Message control protocol in a communications network having repeaters
    Publication number: 20030179721
    Abstract: A wireless communications network which provides directed transmissions between components of the network is provided. The components within the wireless communications include a master apparatus, a plurality of remote devices, and a plurality of repeaters. The components within the wireless communications network communicate using messages which have a control field and at least one information field. Information within the control field is used by components to make determinations for retransmitting the message, or transmitting a predefined response to the message, such as a signal strength response. The components within the network use the messages to make a determination of a communications target, which may be used as a primary contact for transmitting information, automatically, and may repeat the determination at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Neal Shurmantine, Daryl Burkhard, Steven T. Dunbar, Donald J. Hume, Nathan Koonce, Steve Koonce, Preston Pierce
  • Monitoring steam traps using RF signaling
    Patent number: 6145529
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the status of a plurality of steam traps includes sensing with a monitor at least one process condition in each of a plurality of steam traps, transmitting radio frequency signals responsive to the sensed process condition of each steam trap with transmitters associated with the steam traps, and receiving the signals generated by the transmitters with a receiver. In one embodiment of the invention, the signals from at least some steam traps are received and retransmitted by a repeater positioned between the steam traps and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Armstrong International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Hellman, James F. Washburn, Anthony Sajkowski, Donald J. Hume, Andrew F. Drenick
  • Monitoring steam traps using RF signaling
    Patent number: 5992436
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the status of a plurality of steam traps includes sensing with a monitor at least one process condition in each of a plurality of steam traps, transmitting radio frequency signals responsive to the sensed process condition of each steam trap with transmitters associated with the steam traps, and receiving the signals generated by the transmitters with a receiver. In one embodiment of the invention, the signals from at least some steam traps are received and retransmitted by a repeater positioned between the steam traps and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Armstrong International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Hellman, James F. Washburn, Anthony Sajkowski, Donald J. Hume, Andrew F. Drenick