Patents by Inventor Walter A. Martin

Walter A. Martin 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: 12317156
    Abstract: A student tracking system deploys distributed sensors throughout a school building. The distributed sensors receive identification information broadcast by user devices carried by occupants of the school such as students, teachers and school administrators. The student tracking system tracks the location of the occupants within the building based on which sensors most recently detected the user devices. The system sends the location information for the occupants to tracking devices operated by tracking users such as school administrators, emergency responders and/or parents. The tracking devices also present to the parents image data captured by surveillance cameras depicting the students. Additionally, the distributed sensors detect the presence of unauthorized individuals within the school building by determining whether an individual detected via a proximity or motion detector corresponds to identification information for a registered user device received by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Miguel Galvez, Walter A. Martin, Danny Hyun
  • Patent number: 12314021
    Abstract: Mains-powered components of a building management system can be separated from non-mains powered components, allowing for easier and more affordable installation of the latter. In one embodiment, distributed devices of the building management system include a base module and a secondary module. The base module inductively powers the secondary module, which performs a function of the building management system (e.g. generating sensor data). The secondary module is easily attached to and removed from the base module via an attachment mechanism (e.g. snapfit) without rewiring the device. In another embodiment, a control panel inductively powers one or more input-output blocks, which provide an interface between distributed devices and the control panel. The input-output blocks are easily attached to and removed from the control panel via the attachment mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Walter A. Martin
  • Publication number: 20240373132
    Abstract: A video camera system includes a video capture device and a camera controller. The video capture device includes a sensor that receives light, a shutter that selectively permits the light to be received at the sensor based on a shutter speed, and a frame processor that generates a plurality of video frames based on the light. The camera controller includes a frame parameter calculator that calculates a luminance parameter of the plurality of frames, a frequency domain analyzer that executes a frequency domain analysis based on the luminance parameter to generate a plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to a plurality of frequencies, and a control signal generator that generates a target shutter speed based on the plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to the plurality of frequencies, and transmits a control signal based on the target shutter speed to cause the shutter to operate at the target shutter speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terry Neill
  • Patent number: 12061452
    Abstract: A distributed transaction ledger (e.g. a blockchain) is used to track and validate changes in a building management system such as a building automation system, access control system, or security/surveillance system. The building management system 100 includes a series of distributed devices connected to a peer-to-peer validation network. The distributed devices generate transaction information during normal operation and broadcast the transaction information to the validation network. The validation network maintains a distributed transaction ledger for the building management system, for example, by validating the transaction information and distributing the transaction information across the validation network according to consensus criteria to be stored locally in multiple instances by nodes of the validation network, which can be dedicated computing devices and/or validator distributed devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Miguel Galvez, Walter A. Martin, Danny Hyun
  • Patent number: 12047688
    Abstract: A video camera system includes a video capture device and a camera controller. The video capture device includes a sensor that receives light, a shutter that selectively permits the light to be received at the sensor based on a shutter speed, and a frame processor that generates a plurality of video frames based on the light. The camera controller includes a frame parameter calculator that calculates a luminance parameter of the plurality of frames, a frequency domain analyzer that executes a frequency domain analysis based on the luminance parameter to generate a plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to a plurality of frequencies, and a control signal generator that generates a target shutter speed based on the plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to the plurality of frequencies, and transmits a control signal based on the target shutter speed to cause the shutter to operate at the target shutter speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terry Neill
  • Publication number: 20230379590
    Abstract: A video camera system includes a video capture device and a camera controller. The video capture device includes a sensor that receives light, a shutter that selectively permits the light to be received at the sensor based on a shutter speed, and a frame processor that generates a plurality of video frames based on the light. The camera controller includes a frame parameter calculator that calculates a luminance parameter of the plurality of frames, a frequency domain analyzer that executes a frequency domain analysis based on the luminance parameter to generate a plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to a plurality of frequencies, and a control signal generator that generates a target shutter speed based on the plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to the plurality of frequencies, and transmits a control signal based on the target shutter speed to cause the shutter to operate at the target shutter speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terry Neill
  • Patent number: 11776308
    Abstract: A frictionless access control system and method embodying satellite cameras for facial recognition are disclosed. The cameras capture image data of individuals at an access point such as a door. Preferably, two or more cameras are placed on opposite sides of the access point to increase the likelihood that the individuals are captured in the image data. A facial cropper module extracts facial patches from the image data, and a facial signature module computes facial signatures from the facial patches. A facial recognition module receives the computed facial signatures from the facial signature module, matches the computed facial signatures to stored facial signatures, and sends user identity information of individuals corresponding to the stored facial signatures to the facial signature module when the computed facial signatures match the stored facial signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Peter Alexander Ainsworth, Ian C. Westmacott, Martin J. Donaghy, John McKenna, Derek Boyes, Terry Neill, Frederick Michael McBride, Walter A. Martin
  • Patent number: 11758281
    Abstract: A video camera system includes a video capture device and a camera controller. The video capture device includes a sensor that receives light, a shutter that selectively permits the light to be received at the sensor based on a shutter speed, and a frame processor that generates a plurality of video frames based on the light. The camera controller includes a frame parameter calculator that calculates a luminance parameter of the plurality of frames, a frequency domain analyzer that executes a frequency domain analysis based on the luminance parameter to generate a plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to a plurality of frequencies, and a control signal generator that generates a target shutter speed based on the plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to the plurality of frequencies, and transmits a control signal based on the target shutter speed to cause the shutter to operate at the target shutter speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terry Neill
  • Patent number: 11688219
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for access control using multi-factor validation. In an example, an access control system is designed to be used in conjunction with a first recognition system, such as facial recognition system, a gait recognition system, or audio recognition system, that uses a confidence level to determine whether individuals are authorized to access a restricted area. When the first recognition system is unable to confidently identify the individual, a second recognition system, such as a mobile device system or access card system, may be used to provide second factor verification. Further, stored recognition data may be updated to include information gathered by the first recognition system in response to use of the second factor verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terence Neill
  • Patent number: 11657616
    Abstract: A system and method for space management monitoring and reporting using video analytics are disclosed. Such a building occupancy monitoring system monitors building resources that include rooms, areas such as work areas, and chairs and desks in the rooms, in examples. These building resources are monitored to determine whether the resources are being used by individuals, and for how long. In more detail, the system includes an image analytics module that tracks individuals in image data from surveillance cameras, relative to the building resources. The system also includes an occupancy report module that generates occupancy information including building resources that are used/unused by the individuals. The occupancy information is then used to program building control systems. Dwell maps and motion maps generated by the system, based on the occupancy information, can also be used to guide individuals to available building resources in a ‘hot desking’ environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Gary McCaughan, Ashish Italiya
  • Patent number: 11585555
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling the environmental conditions of a building in accordance with feedback from the occupants of the building is provided. The method includes detecting, by one or more processors, an occupant within a building space, and transmitting, by the one or more processors, a notification message to an occupant device associated with the occupant. The notification message includes a request to provide occupant feedback. The method includes receiving, by the one or more processors, an occupant feedback message from the occupant device. The occupant feedback message includes one or more quality ratings associated with one or more building conditions. The method includes assigning, by the one or more processors, a weighting factor to the occupant feedback message and performing an action to modify at least one of the building conditions responsive to the weighted occupant feedback message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: Walter A. Martin
  • Publication number: 20220353639
    Abstract: A student tracking system deploys distributed sensors throughout a school building. The distributed sensors receive identification information broadcast by user devices carried by occupants of the school such as students, teachers and school administrators. The student tracking system tracks the location of the occupants within the building based on which sensors most recently detected the user devices. The system sends the location information for the occupants to tracking devices operated by tracking users such as school administrators, emergency responders and/or parents. The tracking devices also present to the parents image data captured by surveillance cameras depicting the students. Additionally, the distributed sensors detect the presence of unauthorized individuals within the school building by determining whether an individual detected via a proximity or motion detector corresponds to identification information for a registered user device received by the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Miguel Galvez, Walter A. Martin, Danny Hyun
  • Publication number: 20220269228
    Abstract: An event automation system controls building management systems (e.g. building automation, access control, and/or security systems of a building) for scheduled events. An occupancy module generates occupancy information for event spaces where events are scheduled via occupancy sensors installed at the event spaces. A building automation module instructs distributed devices of the building management systems to control the environmental settings of the event spaces based on the occupancy information and stored space, attendee, and schedule information. The event automation system also facilitates scheduling the events at event spaces of the building based on configuration information from an event organizer (e.g. invited attendees, start and end times, and activities to be performed at the event), required automation features for the event, location information and exercise preferences for the invited attendees, and/or aggregated usage information for the event spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Miguel GALVEZ, Walter A. MARTIN, Danny HYUN
  • Patent number: 11395099
    Abstract: A student tracking system deploys distributed sensors throughout a school building. The distributed sensors receive identification information broadcast by user devices carried by occupants of the school such as students, teachers and school administrators. The student tracking system tracks the location of the occupants within the building based on which sensors most recently detected the user devices. The system sends the location information for the occupants to tracking devices operated by tracking users such as school administrators, emergency responders and/or parents. The tracking devices also present to the parents image data captured by surveillance cameras depicting the students. Additionally, the distributed sensors detect the presence of unauthorized individuals within the school building by determining whether an individual detected via a proximity or motion detector corresponds to identification information for a registered user device received by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Miguel Galvez, Walter A. Martin, Danny Hyun
  • Patent number: 11360445
    Abstract: An event automation system controls building management systems (e.g. building automation, access control, and/or security systems of a building) for scheduled events. An occupancy module generates occupancy information for event spaces where events are scheduled via occupancy sensors installed at the event spaces. A building automation module instructs distributed devices of the building management systems to control the environmental settings of the event spaces based on the occupancy information and stored space, attendee, and schedule information. The event automation system also facilitates scheduling the events at event spaces of the building based on configuration information from an event organizer (e.g. invited attendees, start and end times, and activities to be performed at the event), required automation features for the event, location information and exercise preferences for the invited attendees, and/or aggregated usage information for the event spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Miguel Galvez, Walter A. Martin, Danny Hyun
  • Publication number: 20220086327
    Abstract: A video camera system includes a video capture device and a camera controller. The video capture device includes a sensor that receives light, a shutter that selectively permits the light to be received at the sensor based on a shutter speed, and a frame processor that generates a plurality of video frames based on the light. The camera controller includes a frame parameter calculator that calculates a luminance parameter of the plurality of frames, a frequency domain analyzer that executes a frequency domain analysis based on the luminance parameter to generate a plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to a plurality of frequencies, and a control signal generator that generates a target shutter speed based on the plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to the plurality of frequencies, and transmits a control signal based on the target shutter speed to cause the shutter to operate at the target shutter speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terry Neill
  • Patent number: 11196940
    Abstract: A video camera system includes a video capture device and a camera controller. The video capture device includes a sensor that receives light, a shutter that selectively permits the light to be received at the sensor based on a shutter speed, and a frame processor that generates a plurality of video frames based on the light. The camera controller includes a frame parameter calculator that calculates a luminance parameter of the plurality of frames, a frequency domain analyzer that executes a frequency domain analysis based on the luminance parameter to generate a plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to a plurality of frequencies, and a control signal generator that generates a target shutter speed based on the plurality of luminance amplitude values mapped to the plurality of frequencies, and transmits a control signal based on the target shutter speed to cause the shutter to operate at the target shutter speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, Terry Neill
  • Publication number: 20210327186
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for access control using multi-factor validation. In an example, an access control system is designed to be used in conjunction with a first recognition system, such as facial recognition system, a gait recognition system, or audio recognition system, that uses a confidence level to determine whether individuals are authorized to access a restricted area. When the first recognition system is unable to confidently identify the individual, a second recognition system, such as a mobile device system or access card system, may be used to provide second factor verification. Further, stored recognition data may be updated to include information gathered by the first recognition system in response to use of the second factor verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Walter A. MARTIN, Terence NEILL
  • Patent number: 11030835
    Abstract: A frictionless access control system and method providing ultrasonic user location are disclosed. The access control system authorizes users within proximity of an access point such as a door, based upon user information (e.g. credentials) sent in RF wireless messages from user devices carried by the users. When the users are authorized, the system instructs the user devices to transmit coded acoustic signals. An positioning unit at the access point includes an ultrasonic microphone array, which is located above the access point and detects the acoustic signals. The positioning unit determines an angle of arrival (AoA) of the acoustic signals at microphones of the array, and determines positions of the users relative to the access point from the AoA. In one implementation, pre-authorized users are granted access when the determined positions of the users are within an inner zone of the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Walter A. Martin, John McKenna, Derek Boyes, Terry Neill
  • Publication number: 20210140666
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling the environmental conditions of a building in accordance with feedback from the occupants of the building is provided. The method includes detecting, by one or more processors, an occupant within a building space, and transmitting, by the one or more processors, a notification message to an occupant device associated with the occupant. The notification message includes a request to provide occupant feedback. The method includes receiving, by the one or more processors, an occupant feedback message from the occupant device. The occupant feedback message includes one or more quality ratings associated with one or more building conditions. The method includes assigning, by the one or more processors, a weighting factor to the occupant feedback message and performing an action to modify at least one of the building conditions responsive to the weighted occupant feedback message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Walter A. Martin