Patents by Inventor Kevin R. Imes

Kevin R. Imes 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: 9800463
    Abstract: A system includes a network device installed at a site, the network device including an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site. The system also includes at least one multi-user configurable geographical boundary capable of being established about the site to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of a user relative to the site and the geographical boundary. A method of managing a site includes detecting a network device installed at a site, the network device having an operating condition configured to be altered by an input initiated external to the site. The method also includes enabling configuration of at least one multi-user configurable geographical boundary capable of being established about the site to alter the operating condition in response to a location based information of a user relative to the site and the geographical boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John F. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 9766645
    Abstract: A wireless thermostat includes a display configured to present an operating condition of the wireless thermostat and an adjustment selector to allow for manual adjustment of the operating condition. The wireless thermostat includes a communication module configured to communicate with at least one mobile device and allow for remote adjustment of the operating condition. The wireless thermostat includes a sensor for detecting a presence in proximity to the thermostat of at least one user and generating a presence signal in response to the detected user presence. The wireless thermostat includes a processor configured to implement changes in the operating condition in response to the manual adjustment at the selector and the remote adjustment at the mobile device. The processor also communicates with the sensor to receive the presence signal and transition the display between an awake state and a sleep state in response to the presence signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20170251037
    Abstract: A system for communicating media is disclosed. Such a system may include, for example, a media broken into a plurality of independent segment files that may represent sequential portions of the media. One of the segment files can be encoded to have a format that is different than the encoded format of another one of the segment files. The formats may be chosen to allow outputting of information in the segments at different rates. A list may include network addresses for the segment files, and a content delivery system may be deployed to distribute media content to remotely located requesting devices by sending the segment files in response to requests for the segment files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20170215053
    Abstract: A wireless communications device (WCD) includes an image processor operable to process information associated with digital images, a storage medium such as random access memory, flash memory, minidisk drive, etc. operable to store digital information associated with digital images. The WCD also includes a wireless communications module, such as a cellular modem, operable to wirelessly communicate with a network operable to communicate with wireless devices. For example, the wireless communications module may configure the information into a formate (i.e. CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc.) such that the information may be wirelessly communicated to a network operable to receive image/information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin R. Imes
  • Patent number: 9716530
    Abstract: A system includes a network device that is disposed at a site and configured to communicate with a wireless network. A controller is disposed at the site and is in communication with the wireless network, and a passive device is disposed at the site and includes a unique identifier disposed thereon. The system further includes a mobile device associated with the site and which includes a communication chip. The communication chip is configured to read the unique identifier when the mobile device is placed in close proximity to the passive device, and a mobile application disposed on the mobile device is configured to transmit the unique identifier to the controller for use in controlling the network device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20170185120
    Abstract: A demand response system includes a mobile application of a mobile device that is configured to initiate altering an operating condition of a network device disposed at a site using location based services. A demand response application interface module is configured to enable access between a utility company and the network device to communicate energy management information therebetween. The network device is configured to be remotely altered by each of the demand response application interface module and the mobile application separately based on the location based services and the energy management information. A method of managing a demand response system includes detecting a user being disposed away from a site, detecting energy management information from a utility company associated with the site, and initiating a reduction in energy use at the site in response to the relative location of the user and the energy management information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 9618946
    Abstract: A method includes presenting a set location setting within a graphical user interface (GUI) of a mobile device, and then detecting a selection of the set-location setting. The method proceeds by detecting at least one on-site network in communication with the mobile device in response to the selection of the set location setting, identifying a network name associated with the at least one on-site network, and associating the network name of the on-site network with an on-site zone of a site associated with the mobile device. The method then 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: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John F. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 9621615
    Abstract: A system for communicating media is disclosed. Such a system may include, for example, a media broken into a plurality of independent segment files that may represent sequential portions of the media. One of the segment files can be encoded to have a format that is different than the encoded format of another one of the segment files. The formats may be chosen to allow outputting of information in the segments at different rates. A list may include network addresses for the segment files, and a content delivery system may be deployed to distribute media content to remotely located requesting devices by sending the segment files in response to requests for the segment files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20160373507
    Abstract: A system for communicating media is disclosed. Such a system may include, for example, a media broken into a plurality of independent segment files that may represent sequential portions of the media. One of the segment files can be encoded to have a format that is different than the encoded format of another one of the segment files. The formats may be chosen to allow outputting of information in the segments at different rates. A list may include network addresses for the segment files, and a content delivery system may be deployed to distribute media content to remotely located requesting devices by sending the segment files in response to requests for the segment files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20160342169
    Abstract: A method of managing energy use at a site includes opening a session with a first remote server and then communicating with the at least one remote server at a periodic interval. The method proceeds by determining whether energy management information is located at the at least one remote server and then receiving the energy management information at a controller located at the site. The method then includes processing the energy management information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 9444868
    Abstract: A system for communicating media is disclosed. Such a system may include, for example, a media broken into a plurality of independent segment files that may represent sequential portions of the media. One of the segment files can be encoded to have a format that is different than the encoded format of another one of the segment files. The formats may be chosen to allow outputting of information in the segments at different rates. A list may include network addresses for the segment files, and a content delivery system may be deployed to distribute media content to remotely located requesting devices by sending the segment files in response to requests for the segment files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20160258647
    Abstract: A temperature controlling apparatus includes a display configured to present an operating condition of the apparatus, and a communication module configured to communicate with at least one mobile device associated with the apparatus. The apparatus includes a processor in communication with a proximity detection module configured to determine a location of the at least one mobile device relative to the apparatus based on data received and initiate implementation of a home mode or an away mode of the apparatus in response to the determined location of the mobile device. The processor configured to initiate implementation of the away mode of the apparatus in response to a manual input received from a graphical user interface of the at least one mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John F. Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20160238272
    Abstract: A wireless thermostat includes a display configured to present an operating condition of the wireless thermostat and an adjustment selector to allow for manual adjustment of the operating condition. The wireless thermostat includes a communication module configured to communicate with at least one mobile device and allow for remote adjustment of the operating condition. The wireless thermostat includes a sensor for detecting a presence in proximity to the thermostat of at least one user and generating a presence signal in response to the detected user presence. The wireless thermostat includes a processor configured to implement changes in the operating condition in response to the manual adjustment at the selector and the remote adjustment at the mobile device. The processor also communicates with the sensor to receive the presence signal and transition the display between an awake state and a sleep state in response to the presence signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 9405310
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Allure Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 9360874
    Abstract: A method of managing at least one network device at a site includes providing a web-based control selector to manage a detection module to control the at least one network device at the site. The method includes enabling the detection module in response to an enabled setting of the web-based control selector, and initiating a change in an operating condition of the at least one network device at the site in response to the enabled detection module and based on a detected presence of a user at the site. The method proceeds by disabling the detection module in response to the disabled web-based control selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John F. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 9209652
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a mobile energy management system includes controlling at least one network device at a site using the proximity detection of a mobile device based upon the detection of a plurality of zones. Various features may be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device including a map which may present the location of the site, the current location of the mobile device, and the plurality of zones. The graphical user interface may further include a zone size setting presenting selectable distance values enabling the user to set the distance between the site and the boundary of each zone. In response to the selection of a distance value, the mobile device may automatically scale the map to simultaneously present the boundary of each zone and the current location of the mobile device within the display screen of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20150312309
    Abstract: A system for communicating media is disclosed. Such a system may include, for example, a media broken into a plurality of independent segment files that may represent sequential portions of the media. One of the segment files can be encoded to have a format that is different than the encoded format of another one of the segment files. The formats may be chosen to allow outputting of information in the segments at different rates. A list may include network addresses for the segment files, and a content delivery system may be deployed to distribute media content to remotely located requesting devices by sending the segment files in response to requests for the segment files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Patent number: 9164524
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 9094802
    Abstract: A method for targeted advertising is disclosed. The method includes accessing at least one piece of demographic information associated with a user of a portable device, selecting an advertisement to be delivered to the user based at least in part on the demographic information, and initiating communication of a version of the advertisement configured for presentation at the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20150204563
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing including an LCD screen capable of displaying settings information and an energy savings settings icon, and a processor configured to detect multiple inputs with the housing including settings information provided by a user in response to an interaction with the housing. The processor is further configured to initiate a suggestion of a setting resulting in a display of the energy savings settings icon, and process the multiple inputs and determine a schedule and determine whether to display the energy savings settings icon based on the determined schedule. A wireless communication module is configured to access a hosted web service and a mobile device, each of which receive multiple inputs such that the settings information can be provided remotely. The multiple inputs include detecting a presence in proximity to the housing over a period of time and providing a presence status to determine the settings information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: ALLURE ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister