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).

  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120072033
    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: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20120064923
    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: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20120046859
    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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: KEVIN R. IMES, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20120023225
    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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Patent number: 8099195
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for an energy management system includes a controller having an application interface configured to use at least a portion of an incoming message communicated using a home energy network at a residential site. The incoming message includes at least a portion of a first user energy management schedule, and the controller is capable of altering use of a resource in response to the first user energy management schedule. A first communication interface is operably coupled to the application interface and configured to communicate with a first network operably associated with the home energy network; and a second communication interface is operably coupled to the application interface and configured to communicate with a second network operably associated with the home energy network, wherein the second network is different than the first network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Allure Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20110312386
    Abstract: A method for communicating media content is disclosed. The method includes receiving in a server a request for a listing of network addresses associated with a playlist for available content, and sending a message having network addresses for different portions of the content. The network addresses allow a requesting device to use one transmission rate for a first part of the content and a different transmission rate for a second part of the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20110307101
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, an energy management system and method includes a method of altering an operating condition of a device located at a site. The method includes the steps of establishing communication with at least one device located at the site and acquiring device data from the device. Subsequently, the device data is communicated to a server disposed remotely from the site and an availability of a control action data is detected at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the device data. The system includes a processor operable to initiate establishing communication with the at least one device and initiate acquiring device data. A communication interface is operable to communicate the device data to the remote server and detect an availability of the control action data at the remote server in conjunction with the communication of the device data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20110258048
    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: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Russell W. White, Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20110246898
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a mobile energy management system and method 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. Various features may be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device including a proximity control feature for enabling and disabling proximity detection, a set location setting for associating the current location of the mobile device with the location of the site, a set travel distance feature enabling the user to enter a travel distance within the graphical user interface, and a map which may present the location of the site, the current location of the mobile device, and the plurality of zones. The network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20110224838
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a zone based energy management system and method 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. Several of the steps of the method may be executed by the proximity detection module of the mobile device including detecting the boundary distances, detecting the zones, calculating the distance of the mobile device relative to the site, and changing the operating condition of the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister
  • Publication number: 20110214060
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a mobile energy management system and method 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. Various features may be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device including a proximity control feature for enabling and disabling proximity detection, a set location setting for associating the current location of the mobile device with the location of the site, a set travel distance feature enabling the user to enter a travel distance within the graphical user interface, and a map which may present the location of the site, the current location of the mobile device, and the plurality of zones. The network device may be a thermostat associated with the HVAC system of the site or other energy consuming appliances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20110202185
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister, John Frederick Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20110172835
    Abstract: A system and method of curtailing energy production within congestive grid operating environments including a method of managing power generation of a power generation site operable to be coupled to a transmission line is disclosed. The method can also include detecting curtailment action data and energy pricing data of the power generation site. Additionally, the method can include analyzing the curtailment action data and the energy pricing data to detect a curtailment probability level and initiate a reduction of the electricity being transmitted from the power generating site to the transmission line in response to the detected curtailment probability level being above a curtailment set level. According to a further aspect of the invention, the electricity being transmitted from the power generating site to the transmission line may be reduced by diverting at least a portion of the electricity being transmitted from the power generating site to a storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Kevin R. Imes
  • Publication number: 20110173542
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Kevin R. Imes, James Hollister