Patents by Inventor Tom L. Gallop

Tom L. Gallop 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).

  • Control unit that manages the usage of electrical devices
    Patent number: 7499832
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hopscotch Technology
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop
  • CONTROL UNIT THAT MANAGES THE USAGE OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20070276518
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop
  • CONTROL UNIT THAT MANAGES THE USAGE OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20070276519
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop
  • CONTROL UNIT THAT MANAGES THE USAGE OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20070276511
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop
  • CONTROL UNIT THAT MANAGES THE USAGE OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20070276517
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop
  • CONTROL UNIT THAT MANAGES THE USAGE OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES
    Publication number: 20070276520
    Abstract: A control unit is disclosed for controlling the usage of an electrical device, such as a television. The control unit maintains a plurality of time accounts for a plurality of users. The control unit, responsive to receiving a request to operate the electrical device from a user, identifies a time account for the user and begins decrementing time from the time account for the user when the electrical device is turned on. The control unit decrements time from the time account based on one or more desired algorithms. The algorithms as disclosed herein cause the control unit to continue decrementing time from the time account of the user even after the electrical device is shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Brian Baker, Tom L. Gallop