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).
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Patent number: 10063641Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International CorporationInventors: Bernard A. McCarthy, III, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Allan Richard Bly, Jr.
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Publication number: 20180091598Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Bernard A. McCarthy, III, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Allan Richard Bly, JR.
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Patent number: 9838736Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: George Horkan Smith, Eric Holley
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Patent number: 9691261Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International CorporationInventors: Frederick Tuck, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Mark Wayne Lea
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Publication number: 20170099719Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: George Horkan SMITH, Bernard Anthony McCARTHY, III
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Patent number: 9557043Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.Inventors: George Horkan Smith, Bernard Anthony McCarthy, III
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Publication number: 20160364976Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Frederick Tuck, David B. Lett, George Horkan Smith, Mark Wayne Lea
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Publication number: 20160191912Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Mark Wayne Lea, George Horkan Smith
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Patent number: 9247409Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Frederick Tuck, Mark Wayne Lea, George Horkan Smith, David B. Lett
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Publication number: 20150163535Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Bernard Anthony McCarthy, III, George Horkan Smith, David Lett
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Publication number: 20150160634Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: GEORGE HORKAN SMITH, ERIC HOLLEY
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Publication number: 20150163651Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: Frederick Tuck, Mark Wayne Lea, George Horkan Smith
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Publication number: 20150077021Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: Echostar Technologies L.L.C.Inventors: George Horkan Smith, Bernard Anthony McCarthy, III
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Patent number: 6922412Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
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Patent number: 6529517Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
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Publication number: 20010019557Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Applicant: Scientific-Atlanta, IncInventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
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Patent number: 6249523Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith
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Patent number: 6208656Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Scott E. Hrastar, George Horkan Smith