Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Miller

Thomas R. Miller 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: 20220103391
    Abstract: A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, thermostats are located in respective rooms at a hospitality establishment. The thermostats are joined in network communication with environmental amenities, such as lights and a thermostat that respectively controls lighting and temperature. The thermostats utilize an unoccupied room profile and an occupied room profile to set the environmental conditions, such as the lighting and the temperature, in the rooms. A guest preference profile may be activated within a room to provide guest-specific environmental conditions in the room associated with a guest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20220103870
    Abstract: A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, the system includes a thermostat located in a room at a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms. The thermostat stores various types of thermostat data and transmits the thermostat data to a server, which may be remote. The server receives and stores the thermostat data. The server may render a map view of the hospitality establishment based on obtained map data. The map view may include a graphical representation of the room and other rooms at the hospitality establishment. The server may annotate the graphical representation of the room with at least a portion of the thermostat data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle, William C. Fang
  • Publication number: 20220103392
    Abstract: A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, thermostats are located in respective rooms at a hospitality establishment. The thermostats are joined in network communication with environmental amenities, such as lights and a thermostat that respectively controls lighting and temperature. The thermostats utilize an unoccupied room profile and an occupied room profile to set the environmental conditions, such as the lighting and the temperature, in the rooms. A guest preference profile may be activated within a room to provide guest-specific environmental conditions in the room associated with a guest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11284120
    Abstract: A system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment are presented. In one embodiment, a vertical and horizontal array of set-top boxes is provided and each set-top box includes an identification corresponding to the room in which the set-top box is placed. Each set-top box includes a wireless transceiver that periodically transmits an identification beacon that is received by a proximate wireless-enabled interactive device. The proximate wireless-enabled interactive device, in turn, broadcasts data packets including an indication of the strength of set-top box identification signals received. The broadcasts are received by a server via an array of wireless routers. The location of the proximate wireless-enabled interactive device is determined based on the signal strength information in the data packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang
  • Patent number: 11284123
    Abstract: A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang
  • Patent number: 11284122
    Abstract: A gateway device and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, multiple wireless transceivers are located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a processor and memory. To improve convenience, the gateway device may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Virtual remote control functionality for various amenities may then be provided. To improve safety, the gateway device may be incorporated into a geolocation and safety network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Raymond S. Horton, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11272244
    Abstract: A set-top box with enhanced behavioral controls and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a signal input, a signal output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door that is room-collocated with the set-top box in a hospitality establishment. The set-top box may then reprogram the electronic door locking apparatus as well as control amenities, such as a display, in response to presence signal from the electronic door locking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle, William C. Fang
  • Publication number: 20220070533
    Abstract: A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, an array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device with transmitted signal strength modeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20220060757
    Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang
  • Publication number: 20220060855
    Abstract: A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device with time of arrival modeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Raymond S. Horton, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20220046289
    Abstract: A set-top box with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box is associated with a room and includes a housing that secures a television input, a television output, a processor, a transceiver, and memory therein in an interconnected bus architecture. The set-top box generates a guest interactive portal as well as a housekeeping interactive portal for a guest and housekeeper, respectively. Each of the portals provides relevant feedback on the condition of the room to a server associated with the hotel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Thomas R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11240537
    Abstract: A set-top box with enhanced features and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The set-top box generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network. The guest configuration profile may further enable the control of in-room amenities, such as temperature control, lighting, shades, and availability, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle, Charles T. Hixon, Craig D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220030295
    Abstract: A television with an interactive portal and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the television, the television is deployed to provide an interactive portal in a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms, such as a hotel. The television is associated with a room and includes a processor, memory, tuner, panel, and audio drive disposed in an interconnected busing architecture. The television generates a default interactive portal as well as a guest-specific interactive portal, which is generated from a guest configuration profile having information including guest identification, a guest channel preference presentation, and a guest service preference presentation with guest account information. The guest configuration profile may also enable the creation of a local area wireless network with substantially the same behavior as the guest's home wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle, Charles Todd Hixon, Craig D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220014797
    Abstract: A hospitality property management tool and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the system, the system includes a set-top box located in a room at a hospitality establishment having multiple rooms. The set-top box stores various types of set-top box data and transmits the set-top box data to a remote server. The remote server receives and stores the set-top box data. The server may render a map view of the hospitality establishment based on obtained map data. The map view may include a graphical representation of the room and other rooms at the hospitality establishment. The server may annotate the graphical representation of the room with at least a portion of the set-top box data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11223823
    Abstract: A set-top box with self-monitoring and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a housing secures a television input, a television output, a processor, memory, and storage therein, which are communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. The memory is accessible to the processor, and the memory includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to detect when the television is not being utilized. Responsive thereto, the instructions cause the processor to scan channels received from the television input and generate a composite TV screen image data that may be resolved to a single TV screen image made from an assemblage of TV screen image captures corresponding to the scanned channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11223872
    Abstract: A set-top box with enhanced functionality and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box system, first and second set-top boxes each include a housing securing a television input, a television output, a processor, a wireless transceiver, memory, and storage communicatively interconnected by a busing architecture. Each of the set-top boxes is connected to a display, such as a television. A syndication profile associated with the set-top boxes enables a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control both displays via each of the set-top boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20210409815
    Abstract: A set-top box with enhanced behavioral controls and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectedly includes a television input, a television output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may pair with an electronic door locking apparatus coupled to a door that is room-collocated with the set-top box in a hospitality establishment. The set-top box may then receive a status signal from the electronic door locking apparatus relative to the open/closed status of the door and locked/unlocked status of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20210368469
    Abstract: A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. The vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices form a mesh network. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals via the mesh network to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal location device with received signal characteristic modeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Raymond S Horton, Thomas R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11178515
    Abstract: A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, a vertical and horizontal array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device with time of arrival modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Raymond S. Horton, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11172255
    Abstract: A geolocationing system and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment of the geolocationing system, an array of gateway devices is provided. Each gateway device includes a gateway device identification providing an accurately-known fixed location within the multi-space environment. Each gateway device includes a wireless transceiver that receives a beacon signal from a proximate wireless-enabled personal locator device. The gateway devices, in turn, send gateway signals to a server, which determines estimated location of the wireless-enabled personal locator device with transmitted signal strength modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang, Vanessa Ogle