Patents by Inventor George Horkan Smith

George Horkan Smith 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: 10063641
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a systems and methods for finding wireless signals sufficient for installation of wireless home automation devices. Before such home automation devices are installed, or during the process of installing such home automation devices, the remote-control device of a wireless home automation hub may detect whether a suitable wireless signal is able to be received from the home automation hub or from a wireless repeater device at various locations on the customer premises and indicate that on the remote-control device. The remote control device may continue to display such an indication regarding the signal, or lack thereof, as the user moves about the customer premises with the remote control. In this manner, the user may find what locations on the customer premises are suitable for installation of home automation devices to communicate wirelessly with the home automation hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard A. McCarthy, III, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Allan Richard Bly, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180091598
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a systems and methods for finding wireless signals sufficient for installation of wireless home automation devices. Before such home automation devices are installed, or during the process of installing such home automation devices, the remote-control device of a wireless home automation hub may detect whether a suitable wireless signal is able to be received from the home automation hub or from a wireless repeater device at various locations on the customer premises and indicate that on the remote-control device. The remote control device may continue to display such an indication regarding the signal, or lack thereof, as the user moves about the customer premises with the remote control. In this manner, the user may find what locations on the customer premises are suitable for installation of home automation devices to communicate wirelessly with the home automation hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Bernard A. McCarthy, III, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Allan Richard Bly, JR.
  • Patent number: 9838736
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a plurality of devices in a home automation system may include providing a device proxy for a device connected to the home automation system and setting a new value in a value box of the device proxy, whereby the value box corresponds to at least one of a sensor, control, and metadata of the device. The systems and methods may further include determining one or more rules associated with the device proxy and running the determined one or more rules, whereby the determined one or more rules are indicative of interactive relationships between the device proxy and one or more other device proxies corresponding to one or more other devices connected to the home automation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: George Horkan Smith, Eric Holley
  • Patent number: 9691261
    Abstract: A system includes a computing device programmed to receive an alert signal indicating an issue associated with a customer premises. The computing device is further programmed to transmit a notification signal to a plurality of remote devices, determine whether at least one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification signal, and transmit an update signal to the other of the plurality of remote devices after one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification. The update signal indicates that one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Tuck, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Mark Wayne Lea
  • Publication number: 20170099719
    Abstract: A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: George Horkan SMITH, Bernard Anthony McCARTHY, III
  • Patent number: 9557043
    Abstract: A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: George Horkan Smith, Bernard Anthony McCarthy, III
  • Publication number: 20160364976
    Abstract: A system includes a computing device programmed to receive an alert signal indicating an issue associated with a customer premises. The computing device is further programmed to transmit a notification signal to a plurality of remote devices, determine whether at least one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification signal, and transmit an update signal to the other of the plurality of remote devices after one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification. The update signal indicates that one of the plurality of remote devices has responded to the notification signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Frederick Tuck, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Mark Wayne Lea
  • Publication number: 20160191912
    Abstract: Enabling an end-user to configure or customize a home occupancy simulation mode, which is implemented by a home automation system, via one or more user interfaces, some of which might normally be used to access satellite television-related programming and services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Wayne Lea, George Horkan Smith
  • Patent number: 9247409
    Abstract: A system mobile computing device is at a first geographic location different from a second geographic location of a customer premises. The mobile computing device is configured to receive from the customer premises information including data indicating a status of the customer premises and an identifier for the customer premises. The device is further configured to receive user input to place an emergency call concerning the customer premises, to provide the identifier for the customer premises to a data store as part of a query for a location of the customer premises; to receive a response to the query including the second location, and send a request for a public safety answering point (PSAP) to request emergency services at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Frederick Tuck, Mark Wayne Lea, George Horkan Smith, David B. Lett
  • Publication number: 20150163535
    Abstract: Enabling an end-user to access home automation features or functionality directly from or via one or more interfaces that might normally be used to access satellite television-related programming and services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard Anthony McCarthy, III, George Horkan Smith, David Lett
  • Publication number: 20150160634
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a plurality of devices in a home automation system may include providing a device proxy for a device connected to the home automation system and setting a new value in a value box of the device proxy, whereby the value box corresponds to at least one of a sensor, control, and metadata of the device. The systems and methods may further include determining one or more rules associated with the device proxy and running the determined one or more rules, whereby the determined one or more rules are indicative of interactive relationships between the device proxy and one or more other device proxies corresponding to one or more other devices connected to the home automation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: GEORGE HORKAN SMITH, ERIC HOLLEY
  • Publication number: 20150163651
    Abstract: A system mobile computing device is at a first geographic location different from a second geographic location of a customer premises. The mobile computing device is configured to receive from the customer premises information including data indicating a status of the customer premises and an identifier for the customer premises. The device is further configured to receive user input to place an emergency call concerning the customer premises, to provide the identifier for the customer premises to a data store as part of a query for a location of the customer premises; to receive a response to the query including the second location, and send a request for a public safety answering point (PSAP) to request emergency services at the second location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Frederick Tuck, Mark Wayne Lea, George Horkan Smith
  • Publication number: 20150077021
    Abstract: A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: George Horkan Smith, Bernard Anthony McCarthy, III
  • Patent number: 6922412
    Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of a RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
  • Patent number: 6529517
    Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of a RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
  • Publication number: 20010019557
    Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of a RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc
    Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
  • Patent number: 6249523
    Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
  • Patent number: 6208656
    Abstract: An asymmetrical network for coupling customer-premises Internet hosts such as personal computers to the Internet. The head end of a CATV system has a high-bandwidth connection to the Internet. The down link connecting the personal computers to the Internet is the cables provided by the CATV system; the up link is a telephone connection to the head end. A router is connected to the down link by means of an RF modem, to the up link by means of an analog modem, and to a LAN which is connected to the Pcs. The router routes IP packets for the hosts that are received on the CATV cable to the hosts via the LAN; it routes IP packets from the hosts that are destined for the Internet to the head end via the telephone line. The asymmetrical network conserves IP addresses and addresses on the CATV cable by dynamically allocating the IP addresses for an RF modem's hosts and an address on the CATV cable for the RF modem in response to a request made by the RF modem via the telephone line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith