Patents by Inventor Edward C. Gerhardt

Edward C. Gerhardt 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).

  • Publication number: 20150296502
    Abstract: A radio device includes a radio circuit for establishing radio communications with plural network types. The radio circuit includes a cellular mode for conducting wireless communications with a cellular subscriber network; and a whitespace mode for conducting wireless communications using one or more whitespace channels identified in a current whitespace channel list obtained from a whitespace management database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, Larry W. Koos, William M. Koos
  • Publication number: 20150078361
    Abstract: A farm irrigation network includes an irrigation assembly having a radio, a soil moisture sensor assembly having a radio, and a sub-master site having a first radio and a second radio. The first radio and the radios of the irrigation assembly and the soil moisture assembly form a local network and the second radio is configured to communicate with a backhaul medium to establish communications with a server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: William M. Koos, Larry W. Koos, Edward C. Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 8340155
    Abstract: A method of allocation transmission channels of a frequency band to has each of a plurality of remote stations monitor all channels of the frequency band in its area for the presence of transmissions from stations not part of the network. Each remote station transmits its clear channel list to a master station that aggregates the clear channel list into a reservation map, or map of channels that are clear to all stations in the network. The master station then transmits the reservation map to all stations of the network. The individual stations use the channels of the reservation map to transmit information to the master station. Preferably transmission is accomplished using frequency hopping using a set of channels selected from the reservation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Investors Life Insurance Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, William F. Bernett, William R. Highsmith
  • Publication number: 20120264471
    Abstract: A method of allocation transmission channels of a frequency band to has each of a plurality of remote stations monitor all channels of the frequency band in its area for the presence of transmissions from stations not part of the network. Each remote station transmits its clear channel list to a master station that aggregates the clear channel list into a reservation map, or map of channels that are clear to all stations in the network. The master station then transmits the reservation map to all stations of the network. The individual stations use the channels of the reservation map to transmit information to the master station. Preferably transmission is accomplished using frequency hopping using a set of channels selected from the reservation map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Investors Life Insurance Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, William F. Bernett, William R. Highsmith
  • Patent number: 8228190
    Abstract: A valve malfunctioning detection system for use in a vacuum sewer system including a vacuum pit in fluid communication with a vacuum station is provided. The vacuum pit includes a vacuum sewer valve that is moveable between an opened position and a closed position. The valve malfunctioning detection system may include a radio unit adapted to be carried by the vacuum pit, a gateway radio in communication with the radio unit, a hub radio in communication with the gateway radio to receive a signal transmitted by the gateway radio, and a server in communication with the hub radio. The signal transmitted by the radio unit may include an indication of a status of the vacuum sewer valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Data Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris, R. Brent Saunders, Edward C. Gerhardt
  • Publication number: 20110205055
    Abstract: A valve malfunctioning detection system for use in a vacuum sewer system including a vacuum pit in fluid communication with a vacuum station is provided. The vacuum pit includes a vacuum sewer valve that is moveable between an opened position and a closed position. The valve malfunctioning detection system may include a radio unit adapted to be carried by the vacuum pit, a gateway radio in communication with the radio unit, a hub radio in communication with the gateway radio to receive a signal transmitted by the gateway radio, and a server in communication with the hub radio. The signal transmitted by the radio unit may include an indication of a status of the vacuum sewer valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas F. Smaidris, R. Brent Saunders, Edward C. Gerhardt
  • Publication number: 20110142096
    Abstract: A network of stations uses bandwidth assigned to primary users on a secondary user basis. The stations having a status of needing to send information indicate a need for transmission access by transmitting, simultaneously with transmissions indicating a need for transmission access from other stations of the network, an indication of status to a master station. Each station indicating need for transmission access transmits that indication of status on a respectively different frequency. The master station then grants access to the transmission bandwidth to the requesting stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Edward C. Gerhardt, William F. Bernett, William R. Highsmith
  • Publication number: 20090186611
    Abstract: A broadband wireless system includes a plurality of spaced-apart ground stations for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a respective plurality of aircraft. Each of the plurality of ground stations may include a ground station transceiver including a ground station antenna carried by a mechanically steered platform, a ground station router in communication with the ground station transceiver, and a ground station beacon transceiver in communication with the ground station router. An aircraft transceiver may be carried by each of the plurality of aircraft to be positioned in communication with one of the plurality of ground stations. The aircraft transceiver may include an aircraft antenna mounted to the aircraft, an aircraft transceiver carried by the aircraft and in communication with the aircraft antenna, and an aircraft radio transceiver carried by the aircraft and in communication with the aircraft beacon transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Voyant International Corporation
    Inventors: W. Herschel Stiles, Theodore J. Wolcott, Dana R. Waldman, Edward C. Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 7257107
    Abstract: A system monitors and detects unauthorized wireless LAN access points and wireless devices. The system includes one or more wireless LAN monitoring devices, which detect and report the presence of unauthorized or “rogue” wireless LAN access points or wireless devices within a predetermined area, for example, within the vicinity of a wired LAN, including indoor and/or outdoor areas. Improved range is achieved through the use of preamplification and sectorized antennas. Larger areas may be covered using additional wireless LAN monitoring devices, which operate independently or cooperate together in the detection process. Geolocation is possible using single or multiple, cooperating monitoring devices. Provision can be made for monitoring devices to provide packet filtering on a wired LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Highwall Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Swier, Jr., William R. Highsmith, Edward C. Gerhardt