Patents by Inventor Nathan E. Carroll

Nathan E. Carroll 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: 20220006662
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Publication number: 20210341889
    Abstract: Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Lucas, Anush G. Nadathur, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 11088862
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Publication number: 20210184881
    Abstract: A triggered action set for a first device can be defined by the first device. Instructions for executing the triggered action set can be provided by the first device to a second device. Subsequent to providing the instructions, the first device can monitor the status of the second device; if the delegate device enters a state in which it is presumed to be unavailable to execute the trigger, the first device can monitor for a triggering event associated with the triggered action set and send a control message to an accessory device in response to detecting the triggering event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 11003148
    Abstract: Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Lucas, Anush G. Nadathur, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 10985937
    Abstract: A triggered action set for a first device can be defined by the first device. Instructions for executing the triggered action set can be provided by the first device to a second device. Subsequent to providing the instructions, the first device can monitor the status of the second device; if the delegate device enters a state in which it is presumed to be unavailable to execute the trigger, the first device can monitor for a triggering event associated with the triggered action set and send a control message to an accessory device in response to detecting the triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Publication number: 20200228362
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Patent number: 10630500
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Publication number: 20190229942
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Patent number: 10270610
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Publication number: 20190025778
    Abstract: Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Lucas, Anush G. Nadathur, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 10012967
    Abstract: Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Lucas, Anush G. Nadathur, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Publication number: 20170357226
    Abstract: Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Lucas, Anush G. Nadathur, Nathan E. Carroll
  • Publication number: 20170359190
    Abstract: An automated environment can include multiple controller devices capable of communicating with multiple accessory devices. The controller devices can automatically elect one of their number as a coordinator device for the environment and can automatically perform a new election if an incumbent coordinator becomes unavailable or resigns. The election processes can be transparent to any users. An elected coordinator can perform various operations to facilitate management of the automated environment, including routing of communications between controllers and accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Srinivas Rama, Matthew C. Lucas, Nathan E. Carroll, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Thomas A. Dilligan, Arun G. Mathias
  • Publication number: 20170033944
    Abstract: Execution of a trigger (or triggered action set) can be delegated by an owner device to a delegate device. The delegate device can assume responsibility for executing the trigger without further communication from the owner device. The owner device can monitor the status of the delegate device; if the delegate device enters a state in which it is presumed to be unavailable to execute the trigger, the owner device can resume the responsibility for executing the trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anush G. Nadathur, Kevin P. McLaughlin, Nathan E. Carroll