Michael J Rourke

US Patent:

6668244, Dec 23, 2003

Filed:

Jul 18, 1996

Appl. No.:

08/683824

Inventors:

Michael Rourke - Tyngsboro MA
Robert Clough - Chelmsford MA
Peter Brackett - Tyngsboro MA

Assignee:

Quartet Technology, Inc. - Tyngsboro MA

International Classification:

G10L 2100

US Classification:

704275, 704270, 704235, 709328, 709238, 709320, 709318, 700 83, 7071041, 707 17, 703 13, 712 35

Abstract:

New method and means for controlling the environment of disabled individuals through their voice, which includes the operation of lights or any number of appliances and a personal computer wherein the keyboard and the mouse are separately controlled by voice commands, without interference with normal application, (including dictation programs), operating within the computer. Effectively the voice control provides parallel mouse and keyboard commands with normal mouse and keyboard commands.

US Patent:

7426585, Sep 16, 2008

Filed:

Jan 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/762896

Inventors:

Michael C. Rourke - Groton MA, US

Assignee:

Quartet Technology, Inc. - Dracut MA

International Classification:

G06F 3/00
G06F 13/00

US Classification:

710 8, 710313

Abstract:

A system for connecting an I/O device to a central system including a cable connector having a memory for storing configuration information such as the type of the I/O device, characteristics of the I/O device, and/or the identity or characteristics of a user associated with the I/O device. Multiple universal slots are each capable of accepting the disclosed cable connector. When the disclosed connector is inserted into one of the slots, the central system operates to automatically detect the presence of the associated I/O device, and to read configuration information from the memory in the connector into memory within the central system. Configuration information read from the connector is used to configure the central system. The central system may use the configuration information from the connector memory to direct data and/or signals between the multiple universal slots and separate internal logic blocks associated with different types of I/O devices. User specific configuration information read by the central system from the connector memory may be used to configure user specific functions, such as, for example, speech recognition.

US Patent:

7436292, Oct 14, 2008

Filed:

Apr 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/379776

Inventors:

Michael C. Rourke - Groton MA, US
James K. Rumsey - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Quartet Technology, Inc. - Dracut MA

International Classification:

G08B 26/00
G08B 25/00
G05B 23/02
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

340505, 340506, 340525, 340 31, 34053919, 700 17, 700 83, 345650, 345156

Abstract:

A system for managing a network of environmental control units (ECUs) enables an ECU user to more easily move from one living environment to another. The system allows an ECU to be conveniently configured based on the contents of an ECU configuration profile database that stores ECU user profiles and living environment profiles, without manual reprogramming of specific user or living environment characteristics. An ECU configuration profile database is maintained that stores user profiles made up of user specific ECU configuration information, and living environment profiles made up of living environment specific ECU configuration information. Each user profile contains user specific characteristics. Each living environment profile contains living environment characteristics. Individual user profiles and living environment profiles are independently stored in and retrieved from the ECU configuration profile database.

US Patent:

7436293, Oct 14, 2008

Filed:

Apr 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/379780

Inventors:

Michael C. Rourke - Groton MA, US
James K. Rumsey - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Quartet Technology, Inc - Dracut MA

International Classification:

G08B 26/00
G08B 25/00
G05B 23/02
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

340505, 340506, 340525, 340 31, 700 17, 700 83, 345650, 345156

Abstract:

A method and system that allow an ECU to be conveniently configured based on the contents of an ECU configuration profile database that stores ECU user profiles and living environment profiles, and that generates a user interface for a selected remote ECU displaying selectable living environment devices, each of which corresponds to a type of living environment device that can be controlled by a user through that ECU. The user interface further displays a representation of a current configuration of the remotely located ECU, and enables the administrator user to move the selectable living environment device representations into the current configuration representation for the remotely located environmental control unit, for example by dragging and dropping the living environment device representations using a mouse user interface device coupled to a computer system on which the administration tool is executing.

US Patent:

7436296, Oct 14, 2008

Filed:

Apr 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/379778

Inventors:

Michael C. Rourke - Groton MA, US
James K. Rumsey - Columbus IN, US

Assignee:

Quartet Technology, Inc - Dracut MA

International Classification:

G08B 1/08
G08B 25/00
G05B 23/02
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

34053911, 340506, 340525, 340 31, 345156, 345650, 700 17, 700 83

Abstract:

An administration tool program generates a user interface displaying selectable living environment devices, each corresponding to a type of living environment device that can be controlled by a user through a remotely located ECU (environmental control unit). The user interface displays a representation of a current configuration of the remotely located ECU, and enables the administrator user to move the selectable living environment device representations into the current configuration representation for the remotely located ECU, for example by dragging and dropping the living environment device representations using a mouse user interface device coupled to a computer system on which the administration tool is executing. The administration tool sends command messages over a computer network to the ECU that indicate that the ECU should perform at least one operation to allow a user to control a living environment device of the type corresponding to the living environment device representation moved into said representation of the current configuration of the ECU.

US Patent:

7796889, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Feb 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/068440

Inventors:

Michael C. Rourke - Groton MA, US

Assignee:

Quartet Technology, Inc - Dracut MA

International Classification:

H04B 10/00

US Classification:

398106

Abstract:

A system for controlling diverse infrared controlled devices, capable of emulating infrared signals provided by diverse infrared remote controls by recording them, and then using information derived from the recorded signals to reproduce the signals. A received infrared signal is sampled, stored, edge trimmed and compressed into a table of entries. Each entry indicates a level and a length of a portion of the associated infrared signal having that level. The compression also eliminates transients from the captured infrared signal. The table fully describes the captured infrared signal. A table header may contain the frequency at which the captured infrared signal was sampled, and the number of table entries used to describe the signal. During playback, a file containing the table for a user selected infrared signal may be opened and read into a dynamic memory. The vector table header information may be used to determine the number of stored vector table entries, and to determine the sampling rate at which the associated infrared signal was captured.