Patents by Inventor Thomas Bernard Breen

Thomas Bernard Breen 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: 7685307
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding a first wireless communication unit installed on a first asset and a second wireless communication unit installed on a second asset, wherein the first asset is connected to the second asset by electrical power lines. The method and system can be used for binding a wireless communication unit of a tractor and a wireless communication unit on a trailer. The method monitors the current in the auxiliary power connection between the assets. By transmitting and detecting power pulses through the auxiliary power line, the wireless communication units can ensure that the two assets are attached and therefore it would be proper to establish a wireless connection between the two wireless communication units. The number of power pulses can be used to identify differing devices. Such method can also be used to detect an open fuse or circuit breaker. In the case of an open fuse, voltages can be used in place of power pulses to complete the binding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Asset Intelligence, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Bernard Breen
  • Patent number: 7546477
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adjusting a wake interval in a telematics device having a charge sensor. The telematics device cyclically provides full power from a power supply during a wake duration, and limited power from the power supply during the wake interval. A charge level for a battery of the power supply is determined using the charge sensor. The wake interval is adjusted based on the charge level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Bernard Breen, James Daniel Phelan
  • Publication number: 20080162034
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating a set of geo-fences to be used by a telematics device mounted on a mobile asset in tracking the mobile asset traveling from a starting location to and ending location, wherein the set of geo-fences is selected from a library of geo-fences based an expected route of travel between the starting location and the ending location and one or more criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Bernard Breen
  • Publication number: 20080163231
    Abstract: Provided are a method and system for providing a resource to a geolocated asset in need of the resource, comprising providing data of one or more providers of the resource including the location of the providers; determining that the asset needs the resource; locating the asset using the telematics device; correlating the asset location with the resource provider locations to determine a select resource provider; arranging for the asset to rendezvous with the select resource provider; and providing the resource to the asset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Bernard Breen, James Daniel Phelan
  • Publication number: 20080162968
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adjusting a wake interval in a telematics device having a charge sensor. The telematics device cyclically provides full power from a power supply during a wake duration, and limited power from the power supply during the wake interval. A charge level for a battery of the power supply is determined using the charge sensor. The wake interval is adjusted based on the charge level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Bernard Breen, James Daniel Phelan
  • Publication number: 20080157944
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding a first wireless communication unit installed on a first asset and a second wireless communication unit installed on a second asset, wherein the first asset is connected to the second asset by electrical power lines. The method and system can be used for binding a wireless communication unit of a tractor and a wireless communication unit on a trailer. The method monitors the current in the auxiliary power connection between the assets. By transmitting and detecting power pulses through the auxiliary power line, the wireless communication units can ensure that the two assets are attached and therefore it would be proper to establish a wireless connection between the two wireless communication units. The number of power pulses can be used to identify differing devices. Such method can also be used to detect an open fuse or circuit breaker. In the case of an open fuse, voltages can be used in place of power pulses to complete the binding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Bernard Breen
  • Patent number: 6310330
    Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling the temperature of a resistance heater in a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system is disclosed. The control circuit and method includes three separate thermostats per heater leg and are designed to trip at three, sequential pre-selected temperatures to address certain issues associated with prior art designs for thermal overload protection. One of the thermostats is of an automatically resettable type wherein the remaining two are of a “one-shot” design and will remain open until there is human intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Transport International Pool, Inc.
    Inventors: Ljubisa Dragoljub Stevanovic, Ahmed Elasser, Thomas Bernard Breen, Wayne William Mihailov, Rollie Richard Herzog