Patents by Inventor Scott A. Steele

Scott A. Steele 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: 9366702
    Abstract: A method of determining whether an electrical appliance can tolerate variations in supplied electrical energy. In some embodiments, the method may include coupling the electrical appliance to a source of electrical energy, delivering electrical energy to the electrical appliance, wherein the electrical energy is delivered at a first electrical energy level, obtaining a first measurement of current consumed by the electrical appliance at the first electrical energy level, delivering electrical energy to the electrical appliance at a second electrical energy level different than the first electrical energy level, obtaining a second measurement of current consumed by the electrical appliance at the second electrical energy level, and comparing the first measurement of current to the second measurement of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Steele, William P. Alberth, Jr., David K. Hartsfield
  • Publication number: 20160155223
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for mapping components of an automation system. More particularly, the present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for intelligently controlling one or more energy-consuming devices in a structure such as a residential, commercial, or industrial building. One embodiment includes a method of identifying a location of at least one component of an automation system, comprising obtaining an image of the at least one component, the image being captured by a wireless device; determining a location of the wireless device at the time of capturing the image; determining an identity of the at least one component; and associating the identity of the at least one component with the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, JR., Seang Yong Chau, David K. Hartsfield, Scott A. Steele
  • Patent number: 9337663
    Abstract: A building automation system including a controller, at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to one or more electrical devices, at least one sensor for detecting one or more characteristics of the electrical devices, and a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and other components of the system, wherein the controller is configured to control (e.g., interrupt, change, adjust, terminate, increase, and/or meter) the supply of power to the at least one outlet based, in part, on one or more characteristics of the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Seang Yong Chau, David K. Hartsfield, Scott A. Steele
  • Patent number: 9110450
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for dynamically adjusting functions of an automation system. More particularly, the present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for intelligently controlling one or more energy-consuming devices in a structure such as a residential, commercial, or industrial building. One embodiment include determining an identity of a person and/or the direction the person is traveling, and then changing a function of an actuator based on the determination(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Seang Yong Chau, David K. Hartsfield, William Rice, Scott A. Steele
  • Patent number: 9100207
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for mapping components of an automation system. More particularly, the present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for intelligently controlling one or more energy-consuming devices in a structure such as a residential, commercial, or industrial building. One embodiment includes a method of identifying a location of at least one component of an automation system, comprising obtaining an image of the at least one component, the image being captured by a wireless device; determining a location of the wireless device at the time of capturing the image; determining an identity of the at least one component; and associating the identity of the at least one component with the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Seang Yong Chau, David K Hartsfield, Scott A. Steele
  • Publication number: 20150066609
    Abstract: Automation systems and methods of use thereof are generally disclosed. The systems may control devices, and may monitor use of a utility and provide feedback related to the utility usage. More particularly, the present disclosure includes systems including personalized incentives to encourage responsible usage of a utility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Steele, William P. Alberth, JR., David K. Hartsfield, Seang Chau, William D. Rice
  • Publication number: 20150057825
    Abstract: A method of determining whether an electrical appliance can tolerate variations in supplied electrical energy. In some embodiments, the method may include coupling the electrical appliance to a source of electrical energy, delivering electrical energy to the electrical appliance, wherein the electrical energy is delivered at a first electrical energy level, obtaining a first measurement of current consumed by the electrical appliance at the first electrical energy level, delivering electrical energy to the electrical appliance at a second electrical energy level different than the first electrical energy level, obtaining a second measurement of current consumed by the electrical appliance at the second electrical energy level, and comparing the first measurement of current to the second measurement of current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Steele, William P. Alberth, JR., David K. Hartsfield
  • Publication number: 20140266600
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for dynamically adjusting functions of an automation system. More particularly, the present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for intelligently controlling one or more energy-consuming devices in a structure such as a residential, commercial, or industrial building. One embodiment include determining an identity of a person and/or the direction the person is traveling, and then changing a function of an actuator based on the determination(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, JR., Seang Yong Chau, David K. Hartsfield, William Rice, Scott A. Steele
  • Publication number: 20140244040
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for associating at least two components of a plurality of components of a building automation system. In one embodiment, the method may include operating a first component of the at least two components in a first mode to issue commands to one of the other components of the automation system and a second component of the at least two components, wherein the first component is a control device and the second component is controlled by the first component. The method may further include operating the first component in a second mode, wherein the second mode facilitates altering a relationship between the first and second components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, JR., Seang Yong Chau, David K. Hartsfield, William Rice, Scott A. Steele
  • Publication number: 20140226851
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for mapping components of an automation system. More particularly, the present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for intelligently controlling one or more energy-consuming devices in a structure such as a residential, commercial, or industrial building. One embodiment includes a method of identifying a location of at least one component of an automation system, comprising obtaining an image of the at least one component, the image being captured by a wireless device; determining a location of the wireless device at the time of capturing the image; determining an identity of the at least one component; and associating the identity of the at least one component with the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, JR., Seang Yong Chau, David K. Hartsfield, Scott A. Steele
  • Patent number: 8639391
    Abstract: A building automation system including a controller, at least one outlet for providing electrical energy to one or more electrical devices, at least one sensor for detecting one or more characteristics of the electrical devices, and a communication link configured to allow communication between the controller and other components of the system, wherein the controller is configured to control (e.g., interrupt, change, adjust, terminate, increase, and/or meter) the supply of power to the at least one outlet based, in part, on one or more characteristics of the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Green Edge Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Seang Yong Chau, David K Hartsfield, Scott A. Steele
  • Patent number: 6758396
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely transferring medical information is provided, which included storing information relating to a medical prescription item on a smart card using an encryption method that provides independent verification as to the source of the information, verifying the source of the information by the provider of the medical prescription item and modifying the stored information relating to the medical prescription item when the prescription is filled, and storing the modified information on the smart card using an encryption method that provides independent verification of the source of the modified information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Jr., Scott A. Steele
  • Publication number: 20040112953
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely transferring medical information is provided, which includes storing information relating to a medical prescription item on a smart card using an encryption method that provides independent verification as to the source of the information, verifying the source of the information by the provider of the medical prescription item and modifying the stored information relating to the medical prescription item when the prescription is filled, and storing the modified information on the smart card using an encryption method that provides independent verification of the source of the modified information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Scott A. Steele
  • Patent number: 6094565
    Abstract: A closeable communication device (102), such as a cellular telephone, has a housing (105), an input device, such as a button (208), carried on the housing (105), and a controller (304) disposed in the housing (105) and coupled to the button (208). The housing (105) is movable between a closed position (200) and an opened position (114). The button (208) is accessible in the closed position (200). The controller (304) is configured to employ one or more features that increase the usability of the device (102) in the closed position (200). For example, the controller (304) answers an incoming call to the device (102) upon opening of the housing (105) and, alternatively, disables answering of the incoming call upon opening of the housing (105) during actuation of the button (208) so as to allow, for example, opening of the device (102) to view caller identification information without answering the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Alberth, Scott A. Steele, Patricia Ozaki
  • Patent number: 6049532
    Abstract: A mobile station (102) has electrical circuitry (301) that operates to reduce power consumption. A synthesizer (318) is tuned so that a receiver (314) receives a home radio frequency (RF) signal during a receive slot (504) of a PCH subframe (209). A controller (310) detects if an upcoming subframe has an uplink requirement and if data from the home RF signal indicates that an idle condition exists. If the upcoming subframe does not have an uplink requirement, synthesizer (318) is tuned during a long idle slot (506) of PCH subframe (209) to measure signal strengths of two peripheral RF signals. If the idle condition does exist, electrical circuitry (301) is placed into a low power mode throughout a transmit slot (508), a receive slot (512), a long idle slot (514), and a transmit slot (516).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Steele, Louis J. Vannatta, Timothy P. Froehling, William P. Alberth, Jr., Joseph F. Cramer, III
  • Patent number: 5867510
    Abstract: A mobile station (104) processes a paging message having information data mapped to a cyclical redundancy check (CRC) error detection code and divided into a plurality of CAC data portions mapped to a plurality of Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) error correction codes. A BCH forward error corrector (FEC) (150) generates a plurality of BCH syndromes (538) to correct single errors that may exist in each of the plurality of CAC data portions (402), and thereby generates a plurality of post-correction CAC data portions (504). A cyclical redundancy check (CRC) error detector (152) detects if an error exists in the plurality of post-correction CAC data portions (504). An error detector (174) detects if BCH syndromes (552-562) corresponding to post-correction CAC data portions (518-528) have values of zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Steele