Patents by Inventor James Hollister

James Hollister 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: 8498749
    Abstract: A method of managing energy use of a network device located at a site with a mobile device is provided. The method proceeds by determining a plurality of zones about the site and detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones. The method continues by altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed within the display screen of the mobile device. A map presenting the site location, the plurality of zones disposed about the site location, and the current location of the mobile device is displayed within the GUI along with a distance selector including selectable distance values. The method further includes automatically scaling the plurality of zones and the map in response to changing the selectable distance value using the distance selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20130173027
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller configured to detect a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detect a location of a mobile device associated with a site and alter the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location. Correspondingly, a method includes detecting a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site and altering the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20130167035
    Abstract: A method of managing a site includes monitoring an activation of a proximity detection function of a plurality of sites, with each site having a first zone as a home zone and a second zone having a boundary that is away from the first zone. The method proceeds by displaying an indicator within a web-based GUI enabling each user of each site to activate and deactivate use of the proximity detection function. Each site can include multiple users associated with each respective site. The method proceeds by detecting the multiple users as being home or away using the proximity detection function and then altering an operating condition of a network device located at at least one of the plurality of sites in response to a last user of the multiple users leaving the first zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John F. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 8473109
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller configured to detect a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detect a location of a mobile device associated with a site and alter the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location. Correspondingly, a method includes detecting a current operating window associated with a network device disposed at a site, detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site and altering the current operating window of the network device in response to the detected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 8457797
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a system and method includes a network device disposed at a first site, wherein the network device is capable of being altered, and a network device disposed at a second site, wherein the network device is also capable of being altered. A proximity detection module is configured to initiate altering an operating condition of each of the network devices in response to a proximity detection of a location reporting device associated with each of the sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 8442695
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus includes a processor operable to manage energy use at a site wherein the processor is configured to detect a user interaction with the apparatus and create a personalized schedule automatically in response to the user interaction. The apparatus can also include a first profile accessible to the processor, wherein the first profile includes a first personalized schedule, and a second profile accessible to the processor, wherein the second profile is different from the first profile and includes a second personalized schedule. In addition, the processor can be configured to determine when to use the first profile or the second profile, initiate an outgoing message using the first or second personalized schedule, and update the first or second profile in response to a user interaction with an interface of the apparatus during use of the first or second personalized schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 8412382
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a zone based energy management system includes controlling at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device which may be based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. The network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances. Each of the zones may be associated with a corresponding temperature set-point of the thermostat or other energy consuming device where the temperature set point corresponding to a zone may be different from the temperature set points corresponding with each of the other zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Patent number: 8396602
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management system and method includes managing energy use of a site comprising the steps of: acquiring a network device data from a network device joined to a wireless energy network; translating the network data into device report data comprised of at least one Java based object; detecting an interval to generate a site report of the wireless energy network; translating the device report data into site report data comprised of XML formatted data; and generating the site report including the site report data at the interval. A wireless energy network communication device is configured to communicate with a wireless energy network and a processor is operably coupled to the wireless energy communication device and configured to perform the steps of managing energy use of the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 8396604
    Abstract: A method of managing energy use of a network device located at a site with a mobile device is provided. The method proceeds by determining a plurality of zones about the site and detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones. The method continues by altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed within the display screen of the mobile device. A map presenting the site location, the plurality of zones disposed about the site location, and the current location of the mobile device is displayed within the GUI along with a distance selector including selectable distance values. The method further includes automatically scaling the plurality of zones and the map in response to changing the selectable distance value using the distance selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20130060387
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of managing a site in a mobile environment, which includes detecting an availability of a thermostat wherein the thermostat has an operating condition; detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site; providing a proximity control selector within a user interface of the mobile device to manage a proximity detection module disposed on the thermostat, wherein the proximity control selector has an enabled setting of the proximity detection module and a disabled setting of the proximity detection module; enabling the proximity detection module in response to the enabled setting of the proximity control selector to allow for the modification of the operating condition of the thermostat based on the detected location of the mobile device relative to the site; and disabling the proximity detection module in response to the disabled setting of the proximity control selector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20130054758
    Abstract: A system for managing a customer engagement portal associated with a site includes a media manager associated with the site and at least one network device associated with the site. The network device and the media manager are in communication to wirelessly transfer streams of media. The network device is configured to output streams of media. The site also has a mobile device associated therewith that is configured to initiate a change in an operating condition of the at least one network device for a location remote from the site. The network device is configured to output the streams of media simultaneously with the operating condition of the network deceive being changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, Jarod Addison
  • Publication number: 20130054863
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a resource management platform, system and method of communicating resource management information for smart energy and media resources is provided. A resource management platform can include an interface configured to communicate media management information and energy management information. The resource management platform also includes a processor configured to detect an incoming communication to alter an operating condition in response to receiving the media management information or the energy management information. The processor can further be configured to initiate an output of media content in response to detecting media management information, and initiate altering an operating status of a device in response to detecting the energy management information. The processor can also initiate storing at least a portion of the media content and the energy management information within a memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Cottell, Jarod Addison, Xiyin Yao, Colby White
  • Publication number: 20120324119
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a provisioning system for a network includes a first device associated with a site. The first device includes an RFID reader associated therewith. The system also includes a second device including a device identifier associated therewith. The device identifier includes information about the second device to assist in joining it to the network. The RFID reader is configured to read the device identifier on the second device to obtain information about the second device. Based on the information about the second device it can then be joined to the network by the first device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20120252430
    Abstract: A method includes presenting a set location setting capable of being selected by a user within a graphical user interface (GUI) of a mobile device. The method proceeds by detecting on-site location information of the mobile device in response to a selection of the set location setting and detecting at least one on-site 802.11 based network in communication with the mobile device in response to a selection of the set location setting. The method proceeds by identifying an on-site IP address associated with the at least one on-site 802.11 based network, and then associating both the on-site location information and the on-site IP address with an on-site zone of a site associated with the mobile device. The method proceeds by altering an operating condition of a network device located at the site in response to a location of the mobile device relative to the on-site zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20120221718
    Abstract: An energy management system includes a controller disposed at a site. The controller is in communication with a gateway with the gateway being capable of establishing a broadband connection with a first communication network. The gateway is configured to communicate with at least one remote server for receiving energy management information located at the at least one remote server. The controller is configured to initiate communication with the at least one remote server at a first periodic interval to request receipt of the energy management information over the first communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20120215725
    Abstract: An energy management system includes a controller located at a site and configured to establish at least one network capable of communicating with at least one of a smart meter and at least one device disposed at the site. The controller is also configured to receive energy information of the site from the smart meter and receive energy information of the at least one device from the at least one network. The controller is also configured to communicate the energy information of the site and the at least one device to a display device associated with the site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20120135759
    Abstract: A method of managing energy use of a network device located at a site with a mobile device is provided. The method proceeds by determining a plurality of zones about the site and detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones. The method continues by altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed within the display screen of the mobile device. A map presenting the site location, the plurality of zones disposed about the site location, and the current location of the mobile device is displayed within the GUI along with a distance selector including selectable distance values. The method further includes automatically scaling the plurality of zones and the map in response to changing the selectable distance value using the distance selector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Patent number: 8174381
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management apparatus for a mobile energy management system and method includes detecting an availability of at least one network device at a site, displaying a proximity control selector within a graphical user interface of a mobile device associated with the site that can be toggled to enable and disable proximity detection using the mobile device, detecting a distance of the mobile device relative to the site in response to enabling proximity detection on the mobile device, and initiating a change to the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting a change in the distance of the mobile device relative to the site and the setting of the proximity control selector. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20120101637
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a processor is configured to detect a location of a mobile device associated with the site, detect a current zone from a plurality of zones operably associated with the site using the location, detect an updated operating condition associated with the current zone and alter a current operating condition of a network device at the site using the updated operating condition. A method of alerting an operating condition includes detecting a current operating condition of a network device disposed at a site, detecting a location of a mobile device associated with the site, detecting a current zone from a plurality of zones operably associated with the site using the location, detecting an updated operating condition associated with the current zone; and altering the current operating condition of the network device using the updated operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20120093141
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a controller is disposed at a site and includes a communication device capable of establishing a WIFI network to communicate with a mobile device. The controller is further configured to detect the mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network, alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection and alter an operating condition at the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection. A method of proximity control using a WIFI connection includes detecting a mobile device establishing or losing a WIFI connection with a WIFI network, altering an operating condition of a site in response to detecting the mobile device establishing the WIFI connection and altering an operating condition of the site in response to detecting the mobile device losing the WIFI connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister