Patents by Inventor Frederick J. Williams

Frederick J. Williams 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: 20240412140
    Abstract: A washroom management system with a sensor to generate operability level data for a washroom component; a controller to modify operation of the washroom component; and a central management system to access the operability level data, communicate with the controller and evaluate the operability data to determine an actionable event type for the washroom component, and the central system further configured to in response to determining the event type is the automated resolution event, put the washroom component into the issue resolution state and then putting the washroom component to one of the normal operation state or disabled state based on evaluating the operability level data after the issue resolution state; and in response to determining the event type is the assisted resolution event, leave the washroom component in the normal operation state or put it into the disabled state and causing a message to be sent to an attendant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Cleary E. Mahaffey, Ricky W. Purcell, Frederick J. Williams, JR., Stephen Becker
  • Publication number: 20240412139
    Abstract: A washroom management system with a sensor to generate operability level data for a washroom component; a controller to modify operation of the washroom component; and a central management system to access the operability level data, communicate with the controller and evaluate the operability data to determine an actionable event type for the washroom component, and the central system further configured to in response to determining the event type is the automated resolution event, put the washroom component into the issue resolution state and then putting the washroom component to one of the normal operation state or disabled state based on evaluating the operability level data after the issue resolution state; and in response to determining the event type is the assisted resolution event, leave the washroom component in the normal operation state or put it into the disabled state and causing a message to be sent to an attendant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Cleary E. Mahaffey, Ricky W. Purcell, Frederick J. Williams, JR., Stephen Becker
  • Patent number: 12099951
    Abstract: A washroom management system with a sensor to generate operability level data for a washroom component: a controller to modify operation of the washroom component; and a central management system to access the operability level data, communicate with the controller and evaluate the operability data to determine an actionable event type for the washroom component, and the central system further configured to in response to determining the event type is the automated resolution event, put the washroom component into the issue resolution state and then putting the washroom component to one of the normal operation state or disabled state based on evaluating the operability level data after the issue resolution state; and in response to determining the event type is the assisted resolution event, leave the washroom component in the normal operation state or put it into the disabled state and causing a message to be sent to an attendant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Cleary E. Mahaffey, Ricky W. Purcell, Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Stephen Becker
  • Patent number: 12042451
    Abstract: A system and method of patient bed communication and bed-to-room association in a healthcare facility having a network with at least one wireless access point (WAP) and a nurse call system is provided. A handheld unit is moved to a position within a pairing distance of a pairing zone of a patient bed so that the handheld unit and the bed are paired using a first wireless communication technology. A second wireless communication technology is used to send bed identification data (ID) to the handheld unit after the pairing operation has been completed. The bed ID is transmitted from the handheld unit to the nurse call system via a wired connection to establish a bed-to-room association between the patient bed and a room in which the patient bed is located. A third wireless communication technology is used to send bed status data and the bed ID to the WAP of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan R. Tallent, Richard J. Schuman, Eric D. Benz, Unnati Ojha, Frederick Collin Davidson, Darren S. Hudgins, Jason M. Williams
  • Patent number: 12008885
    Abstract: A system having a washroom controller configured to communicate with one or more hygiene dispensers in the washroom; a thermal sensor configured detect thermal events at the entrance and communicate data describing the thermal events to the washroom controller; and a data processing apparatus configured to access the data from the washroom controller and analyze the data to determine a number of thermal events over a given time period and a number of dispenses from the at least one of the one or more hygiene dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Reilly Howell, Babak R. Ghazi
  • Patent number: 11759061
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for dynamically adjusting product use reporting schedules for dispensers to increase or decrease the frequency of such reports based on expected product use such as a date the dispenser is expected to be depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Stephen Becker
  • Patent number: 11710086
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas that include a plurality of such dispensers. Via a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount condition of product in each dispenser is detected. Based on the information from the sensors, a visual or audio message is generated and transmitted to the patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or a different service area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak R. Ghazi, Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Stephen Becker
  • Publication number: 20230004881
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas that include a plurality of such dispensers. Via a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount condition of product in each dispenser is detected. Based on the information from the sensors, a visual or audio message is generated and transmitted to the patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or a different service area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Babak R. Ghazi, Frederick J. Williams, Stephen Becker
  • Patent number: 11443253
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving product usage prior to refill of product dispensers in service areas that include a plurality of such dispensers. Via a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount condition of product in each dispenser is detected. Based on the information from the sensors, a visual or audio message is generated and transmitted to the patron that encourages the patron to use a first product dispenser that has a greater product fill amount as compared to a second product dispenser in the same or a different service area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak R. Ghazi, Frederick J. Williams, Stephen Becker
  • Publication number: 20220254156
    Abstract: A system and method for joining devices to a network by use of any augmented reality installation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, JR., Babak R. Ghazi, Alexandra L. Wilson, Stephen Becker, Andrew J. Thomson
  • Patent number: 11295271
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for maintenance of service areas within a facility by a plurality of attendants, wherein each service area has one or more product dispensers that require periodic refill. Via a sensor configured with each product dispenser and a control system in communication with the sensors, a product level or amount of product in each dispenser is determined. Based on information from the sensors, a respective refill time is computed for refilling each of the dispensers. Location of the attendants is tracked on a continuous or periodic basis. As a function of the computed refill times and location of the various attendants, one of the attendants is selected to service one or more of the product dispensers in a particular service area. An alert message is generated and transmitted to the selected attendant that gives the location of the particular service area within the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Babak R. Ghazi, Stephen Becker
  • Patent number: 11288510
    Abstract: A system and method for joining devices to a network by use of any augmented reality installation device. The installation system described herein includes an installation device, e.g., a smart phone, that includes a camera to capture an image of the device(s) in a facility, e.g., the area in which the devices are mounted or positioned for end user use. Then, through use of image analysis techniques and a graphical user interface (GUI) on the installation device, e.g., dispensers, in the image are individually identified and joined to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Babak R. Ghazi, Alexandra L. Wilson, Stephen Becker, Andrew J. Thomson
  • Publication number: 20220022704
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for dynamically adjusting product use reporting schedules for dispensers to increase or decrease the frequency of such reports based on expected product use such as a date the dispenser is expected to be depleted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, JR., Stephen Becker
  • Patent number: 11140746
    Abstract: A system and method for joining devices to a network according to a protocol that names the joined devices based on a predetermined naming sequence that is common across all devices joined to the network in a given facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Alexandra L. Wilson, Babak R. Ghazi
  • Publication number: 20210280043
    Abstract: A system having a washroom controller configured to communicate with one or more hygiene dispensers in the washroom; a thermal sensor configured detect thermal events at the entrance and communicate data describing the thermal events to the washroom controller; and a data processing apparatus configured to access the data from the washroom controller and analyze the data to determine a number of thermal events over a given time period and a number of dispenses from the at least one of the one or more hygiene dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Reilly Howell, Babak R. Ghazi
  • Patent number: 11109721
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for dynamically adjusting product use reporting schedules for dispensers to increase or decrease the frequency of such reports based on expected product use such as a date the dispenser is expected to be depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Stephen Becker
  • Publication number: 20210232999
    Abstract: A washroom management system with a sensor to generate operability level data for a washroom component; a controller to modify operation of the washroom component; and a central management system to access the operability level data, communicate with the controller and evaluate the operability data to determine an actionable event type for the washroom component, and the central system further configured to in response to determining the event type is the automated resolution event, put the washroom component into the issue resolution state and then putting the washroom component to one of the normal operation state or disabled state based on evaluating the operability level data after the issue resolution state; and in response to determining the event type is the assisted resolution event, leave the washroom component in the normal operation state or put it into the disabled state and causing a message to be sent to an attendant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Cleary E. Mahaffey, Ricky W. Purcell, Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Stephen Becker
  • Publication number: 20210161334
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for determining or identifying the type of product in a dispenser based at least in part on the length of rolled product dispensed and/or the radial measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, JR., Babak R. Ghazi
  • Patent number: 10945566
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for determining or identifying the type of product in a dispenser based at least in part on the length of rolled product dispensed and/or the radial measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Jr., Babak R. Ghazi
  • Patent number: D934883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Williams, Joseph M. Sexton