Patents by Inventor Walter Barnum

Walter Barnum 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: 8364085
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for device discovery and channel selection in a wireless networking environment are described. As part of an automatic network configuration process, a super node sequentially traverses the available channels, broadcasting discovery messages including the channel switching schedule. Wireless nodes that receive those broadcast messages switch channels in lock step with the super node, sending discovery replies on those channels over which the broadcast discovery messages are successfully received. An association is generated identifying accessible nodes and the channels through which those nodes may be accessed. An optimum channel may then be selected based on this association information. Sub-nodes may repeat the broadcast discovery messages, and relay any discovery replies to the super node. The super node may then identify sub-nodes that may be used as proxies to access nodes that would otherwise be inaccessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Barnum
  • Patent number: 8116285
    Abstract: A method or system of enabling a wireless client device to select an access point based on at least two performance related parameters. A performance related parameter is a measurement of how efficiently a particular access point transfers data. By selecting an access point based on more than one performance related parameter, a wireless client device is more likely communicate with the most efficient access point. In addition, the wireless network as a whole will be more balanced and have a greater capacity if each of the wireless client devices is connected to the access point that provides the most efficient communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Walter Barnum
  • Publication number: 20100214953
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for device discovery and channel selection in a wireless networking environment are described. As part of an automatic network configuration process, a super node sequentially traverses the available channels, broadcasting discovery messages including the channel switching schedule. Wireless nodes that receive those broadcast messages switch channels in lock step with the super node, sending discovery replies on those channels over which the broadcast discovery messages are successfully received. An association is generated identifying accessible nodes and the channels through which those nodes may be accessed. An optimum channel may then be selected based on this association information. Sub-nodes may repeat the broadcast discovery messages, and relay any discovery replies to the super node. The super node may then identify sub-nodes that may be used as proxies to access nodes that would otherwise be inaccessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Walter BARNUM
  • Patent number: 7701900
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for device discovery and channel selection in a wireless networking environment are described. As part of an automatic network configuration process, a super node sequentially traverses the available channels, broadcasting discovery messages including the channel switching schedule. Wireless nodes that receive those broadcast messages switch channels in lock step with the super node, sending discovery replies on those channels over which the broadcast discovery messages are successfully received. An association is generated identifying accessible nodes and the channels through which those nodes may be accessed. An optimum channel may then be selected based on this association information. Sub-nodes may repeat the broadcast discovery messages, and relay any discovery replies to the super node. The super node may then identify sub-nodes that may be used as proxies to access nodes that would otherwise be inaccessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventor: Walter Barnum
  • Patent number: 7336463
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting and configuring a solid state dimmer when wired in series or parallel with a load powered by an alternating current (AC) input. The device can comprise a microcontroller configured to be powered by the AC input. A zero-cross detector in communication with the microcontroller is capable of detecting when an AC waveform crosses zero and generating a corresponding pulse signal when the AC waveform crosses zero. A pulse analyzer can be included and configured to determine when the zero-cross detector is generating pulses exceeding a pre-determined time length threshold that represents a serial wiring configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Control4 Corporation
    Inventors: James K. Russell, Walter Barnum
  • Publication number: 20070057641
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting and configuring a solid state dimmer when wired in series or parallel with a load powered by an alternating current (AC) input. The device can comprise a microcontroller configured to be powered by the AC input. A zero-cross detector in communication with the microcontroller is capable of detecting when an AC waveform crosses zero and generating a corresponding pulse signal when the AC waveform crosses zero. A pulse analyzer can be included and configured to determine when the zero-cross detector is generating pulses exceeding a pre-determined time length threshold that represents a serial wiring configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: James Russell, Walter Barnum
  • Publication number: 20060171332
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for device discovery and channel selection in a wireless networking environment are described. As part of an automatic network configuration process, a super node sequentially traverses the available channels, broadcasting discovery messages including the channel switching schedule. Wireless nodes that receive those broadcast messages switch channels in lock step with the super node, sending discovery replies on those channels over which the broadcast discovery messages are successfully received. An association is generated identifying accessible nodes and the channels through which those nodes may be accessed. An optimum channel may then be selected based on this association information. Sub-nodes may repeat the broadcast discovery messages, and relay any discovery replies to the super node. The super node may then identify sub-nodes that may be used as proxies to access nodes that would otherwise be inaccessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
    Inventor: Walter Barnum