Patents by Inventor Robert Marten Bultman

Robert Marten Bultman 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: 20140025219
    Abstract: A home energy management system simplifies the process of enabling and executing the Sabbath mode and similar operating modes on household devices. A central location, or central node device, is provided which enables the end user to selectively modify operation of the household devices, e.g., from a normal operating mode to the Sabbath mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Jay Andrew Broniak, Robert Marten Bultman, William Anthony Watts
  • Patent number: 8621097
    Abstract: A premises data management system includes a first communication network configured to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface. Another communication network is configured to access data from and provides data to accessories within the premises management system. A gateway of the system includes a first interface channel and another interface channel. The gateway receives the data from the first communication network, via the first interface channel. The gateway reformats the data from the first communication network for communication to the other communication network via the other interface channel. The gateway also requests data from the accessories via the other interface channel and replies to the user interface via the first interface channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20130332995
    Abstract: A system for using machine readable code to commission a device application includes a controller, an image capturing device, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to receive an image acquired from the image capturing device, wherein the image includes a code, the at least one processor is also programmed to access information from the code, and send the information accessed from the code to the controller, wherein the information enables the controller to commission a device application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Robert Marten Bultman
  • Patent number: 8565928
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20130262741
    Abstract: A system for supporting multiple authentication systems. The system includes a computing device, a host memory for storing a plurality of software stacks, a flash memory configured to be programmed with one of the plurality of software stacks, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is programmed to identify a model of the device, select a software stack from the plurality of software stacks based on a device model of the computing device, and program the selected software stack into the flash memory. The device may be an electrical appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Marten Bultman, Jeff Donald Drake
  • Patent number: 8533153
    Abstract: A system associated with a home energy gateway (HEG) is provided. The system includes a database having a plurality of data entry blocks, each block corresponding to a time interval and an internal database timing device configured to sync with an external real-time time server and maintain accurate time in the database. The home energy gateway is configured to add time-stamped data entries to the database. A homeowner may select a time period for a power outage so that the system sends an alert if the time period power outage is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Marten Bultman, Irena Jozic McDowell, Joshua Blake Huff
  • Publication number: 20130057386
    Abstract: Embodiments of an appliance and method utilize data keys to facilitate the exchange of data and information among devices as part of an energy management system. The data keys contain and/or encode information particular to the appliance. This information helps to distinguish data that originates from one appliance from data that originates from other appliances in the household. In one embodiment, the data keys are stored locally, either on devices (e.g., memory) incorporated into the appliance or on a communication device (e.g., a wireless radio) that can connect to the appliance to permit the exchange of inputs and outputs. Exemplary configuration of the appliance can sense the connection with the communication device and provide an input to the communication device to determine the data key that is associated with the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Robert Marten Bultman, Michael Francis Finch
  • Publication number: 20130035884
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating resource consumption of a household device, e.g., an appliance. The method comprises determining a resource demand profile for a household device for a given time period, the resource demand profile associating, for the given time period, a device state of the household device with a total resource demand for the household. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be incorporated into an energy management system, where the apparatus collects data from each of the appliances in a household as well as from a resource meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: William Jerome Burke, Robert Marten Bultman
  • Publication number: 20130031617
    Abstract: System, method, and computer-readable instructions for use in communicating with an energy management device in a network that comprises one or more energy devices. First search results are created by searching for devices associated with a first energy management device identifier using a first discovery protocol. Second search results are created by searching for devices associated with a second energy management device identifier using a second discovery protocol. The first and second search results are combined to create a collection of candidate devices, and at least one candidate device of the candidate devices is validated to determine whether the candidate device is an energy management device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Myles Caley, Robert Marten Bultman, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Elmer Weston Brown, William Anthony Watts, Edward Robert Melski
  • Publication number: 20130018843
    Abstract: A system associated with a home energy gateway (HEG) is provided. The system includes a database having a plurality of data entry blocks, each block corresponding to a time interval and an internal database timing device configured to sync with an external real-time time server and maintain accurate time in the database. The home energy gateway is configured to add time-stamped data entries to the database. A homeowner may select a time period for a power outage so that the system sends an alert if the time period power outage is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Marten Bultman, Irena Jozic McDowell, Joshua Blake Huff
  • Publication number: 20120323391
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that determines a sleep schedule for reduced function devices on a home network. The devices have various sleep schedules in which to operate in an active state or a reduced function state. The controller determines the different schedules by sending communication messages to each device via a communication module. A timer is used to determine a sleep schedule for reduced function devices (RFDs) on the network. The sleep schedule is used to monitor when the devices are communicating on the network and are no longer able to communicate with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Robert Marten Bultman, William Anthony Watts
  • Patent number: 8295990
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20120171955
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a controller that selects a frequency channel for a communication module joining a network of a home. Each module is assigned by the controller a frequency channel to communicate on that excludes channels already being used by a network of the home. Separate networks of a home are joined without communicating on the same frequency channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Robert Marten Bultman
  • Publication number: 20120116597
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed that includes a central controller that takes energy data available from a power/energy measuring device, such as a “smart” meter that is located on a primary network and makes that data available to devices over a secondary network. The central controller is a home energy gateway that includes two communication modules, one of which is used to bind a meter as a router or end point on the primary network, and one which is used to form a secondary network here the central controller operates as network coordinator. The central controller also operates as an energy service portal for devices on the secondary network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Marten Bultman, Jeff Donald Drake
  • Patent number: 8102080
    Abstract: A control system for determining a magnitude of a voltage and controlling an application of the voltage to at least one load device of an appliance is disclosed. The control system includes a threshold-crossing circuit configured to receive a representation of the voltage and to provide an output signifying the voltage crossing a predetermined voltage threshold; and a processor which receives the output from the threshold-crossing circuit and determine the magnitude of the voltage based on the output and a line frequency based on the period of the output, determines an initial cooking profile from a group of cooking profiles based on a user selected initial setting for controlling the application of the voltage to the at least one load device, and adjusts the application of the voltage to the at least one load device based on the determined magnitude of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julia Fonseca, Robert Marten Bultman, Bobby Hayes
  • Publication number: 20110264296
    Abstract: Provided is a method and system for updating of schedules to a device controlled by an energy management system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Jeff Donald Drake, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, Michael Francis Finch, Jay Andrew Broniak, Christopher Recio, Joseph Mark Brian
  • Publication number: 20110202190
    Abstract: A device configured in a unitary housing which includes a computing device with memory that stores energy information. A power supply and prongs attach to the power supply in the same unitary housing, wherein the prongs are configured to plug into a wall outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202196
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an energy data management and control system has a first communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a user interface, a second communication network to transmit and receive data to and from a Utility company, and a third communication network to access data from and provide data to accessories within a home. The system reformats the data from any of the first, second and third communication networks for communication with another of the first, second and third communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks operate on a protocol different from another one of the communications networks. The data defines various operations of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202783
    Abstract: A device configured in a unitary displayless housing, including a computing device that stores, manipulates and communicates energy data, and the displayless external surface of the unitary housing, including status indicator lights to show the status of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei
  • Publication number: 20110202198
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the operation of accessories in a home energy management system which manages a plurality of communication networks. The schedules are generated by using a central controller and interacting with a user interface found on a device separate from the central controller. The plurality of schedules are stored in the storage of the central controller, and a current schedule is selected from the stored schedules. The selected schedule is loaded onto an accessory through one of the communication channels for controlling the associate accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Michael Francis Finch, Robert Marten Bultman, Timothy Dale Worthington, David C. Bingham, Jeff Donald Drake, William Anthony Watts, Kevin Farrelly Nolan, Cathy Diane Emery, Henry Kobraei