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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11166049
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang
  • Patent number: 11153608
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle, Charles Todd Hixon, Craig D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210321144
    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 housing that secures a processor, memory, tuner, panel, and audio driver in an interconnected architecture. The television 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: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Thomas R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20210321224
    Abstract: A geolocationing system, personal locator device, and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment, a personal locator device includes a first operational mode that determines an estimated location of the personal locator device by communicating with a server via an array of gateway devices defining an area of coverage. The personal locator device also has a second operational mode that determines the estimated location of the personal locator device by communicating with a server via a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. The second operational mode may be utilized when the personal locator device is out of the area of coverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11146831
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Edward H. Wolfe, Thomas R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11140421
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11128912
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20210266627
    Abstract: A set-top box with interactive features and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box receives various types of set-top box data such as information about display-based interactions with the set-top box, information about a plurality of amenities on a residential property co-located with the set-top box, and information from a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device interacting with the set-top box. The set-top box may render a map view of the property based on obtained map data. The map view may include an interactive graphical representation of the residential property and be annotated with at least a portion of the set-top box data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20210235130
    Abstract: A system and method for providing awareness in a hospitality environment are presented. In one embodiment, a vertical and horizontal array of thermostats is provided and each thermostat includes an identification corresponding to a room in which the thermostat is placed. Each thermostat includes a wireless transceiver that periodically transmits an identification beacon signal that is received by a proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device. The proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device, in turn, broadcasts data packets including an indication of the strength of thermostat identification signals received. The broadcasts are received by a server via an array of wireless routers. A location of the proximate wireless-enabled programmable interactive device is determined based on the signal strength information in the data packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Patent number: 11074558
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed by an access economy payment system includes receiving a request from a consumer to commission an access economy service. The method also includes generating a smart contract based on the requested access economy service and generating a consumer sub-account associated with a consumer financial account and a supplier sub-account associated with a supplier financial account. The method further includes allocating funds to the supplier sub-account and placing a financial hold on the funds allocated to the supplier sub account. The method also includes detecting the initiation of performance of the requested access economy service, monitoring the performance of the initiated access economy service, increasing a financial hold on the funds allocated to the consumer sub-account, and decreasing the financial hold on the funds allocated to the supplier sub-account in real-time based on each of the monitored performance and the terms of the smart contract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventors: Eileen Johnstone, Michael Knorr, Thomas R. Miller, Catherine Wangari Mwangi, Mercedes Roldan-Colon, Jessica A. Weng
  • Patent number: 11057744
    Abstract: A geolocationing system, personal locator device, and method for providing awareness in a multi-space environment, such as a hospitality environment or educational environment, are presented. In one embodiment, a personal locator device includes a first operational mode that determines an estimated location of the personal locator device by communicating with a server via an array of gateway devices defining an area of coverage. The personal locator device also has a second operational mode that determines the estimated location of the personal locator device by communicating with a server via a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device. The second operational mode may be utilized when the personal locator device is out of the area of coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11057647
    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 housing that secures a processor, memory, tuner, panel, and audio driver in an interconnected architecture. The television 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Vanessa Ogle, Edward H. Wolfe, Thomas R. Miller
  • Publication number: 20210160546
    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 location device with trilateration and received signal strength modeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20210144412
    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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Raymond S. Horton, Thomas R. Miller
  • Patent number: 11006170
    Abstract: A set-top box with interactive features and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the set-top box, the set-top box receives various types of set-top box data such as information about display-based interactions with the set-top box, information about a plurality of amenities on a residential property co-located with the set-top box, and information from a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device interacting with the set-top box. The set-top box may render a map view of the property based on obtained map data. The map view may include an interactive graphical representation of the residential property and be annotated with at least a portion of the set-top box data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Fang, Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle
  • Publication number: 20210127143
    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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, Vanessa Ogle, Charles T. Hixon, Craig D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210112285
    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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang
  • Patent number: 10965961
    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: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Enseo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas R. Miller, William C. Fang