Thomas Burton Mathews

US Patent:

6549135, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Feb 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/061958

Inventors:

Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME
Neal Starling - Canton GA
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

G08B 1902

US Classification:

340584, 340585, 340588

Abstract:

A system is provided for monitoring the food product of a remote food product retailer. The system includes a management center in communication with the remote food product retailer via a communication network. The communication network is accessible via a user interface that may be located at any of the management center, the remote location or some other location. The management center gathers food product temperature information and uses that information to determine whether the shelved food product is within acceptable food safety and quality limits. If the food product exceeds these limits, an alarm is sounded at either the management center and the remote location. The user interface is operable to monitor the status of the food product via a selection of screens and remotely respond to the alarms.

US Patent:

6609078, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Feb 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/790141

Inventors:

Neal Starling - Canton GA
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA
Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services, Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

G01K 1300

US Classification:

702130

Abstract:

The present invention provides a food quality and safety monitoring system and method for evaluating food characteristic management for improving the safety of perishable food products for human consumption and the shelf life of perishable food product. In a first embodiment, a temperature sample is taken for each product group within a refrigeration case that is used to calculate either a food safety index or a food quality index. Alternatively, the food product temperature for each food product group within a refrigeration case may be continuously monitored to calculate a food characteristic index. The food characteristic index can be monitored over time to evaluate the food characteristic management of a particular store or group of stores.

US Patent:

6668240, Dec 23, 2003

Filed:

Feb 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/084618

Inventors:

Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME
Neal Starling - Canton GA
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

702188, 702182, 702130, 340585, 62175, 236 51

Abstract:

A system is provided for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location. The system includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communications network. The management center receives performance information of the remote location with respect to operational parameters of components of a refrigeration system of the remote location, and temperature data, at which food product has been stored. The management center utilizes software modules to analyze the performance information and provide alarms for scenarios such as food safety and quality issues, failure of a component of the refrigeration system or preventative maintenance for components of the refrigeration system. A third party computer may also communicate with the management center and the remote location for reviewing performance information.

US Patent:

6675591, Jan 13, 2004

Filed:

Apr 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/132663

Inventors:

Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA
Neal Starling - Canton GA
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

G05D 2300

US Classification:

62129, 236 51

Abstract:

A method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at the remote location and employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.

US Patent:

6892546, May 17, 2005

Filed:

Feb 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/061964

Inventors:

Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA, US
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA, US
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME, US
Neal Starling - Canton GA, US

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services, Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

F25B049/02

US Classification:

62127, 62130, 236 51, 340585

Abstract:

A system and method for monitoring the food product and refrigeration system performance of a remote location includes a management center in communication with a remote location through a communication network. The management center receives performance information of the refrigeration system at a remote location. The management center employs software modules to analyze the performance information, diagnose system conditions, and provide alarms for food safety and quality issues, refrigeration system component failure, and indicate maintenance conditions.

US Patent:

6976366, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Oct 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696392

Inventors:

Neal Starling - Canton GA, US
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA, US
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME, US

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

F24F007/00

US Classification:

62126, 700276, 165 111

Abstract:

A method for improving system performance in a building environment according to the invention includes installing a temperature monitoring system for a refrigeration system, and performing a temperature audit on the refrigeration system. Temperature and pressure sensors are calibrated, and operating parameters of the refrigeration system are obtained. Pressure drop and efficiency tests are performed on at least one component of the refrigeration system, and operating pressures of at least one component are adjusted. System stability is tracked. In one embodiment, the building environment further includes an HVAC system and the method includes adjusting the HVAC system according to desired presets. In another embodiment, the building environment includes a lighting system and the method includes adjusting internal lighting levels of the lighting system to desired set points.

US Patent:

6990821, Jan 31, 2006

Filed:

Oct 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/698048

Inventors:

Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA, US
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA, US
Neal Starling - Canton GA, US
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME, US

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

G01K 17/06

US Classification:

62129, 62230, 236 94

Abstract:

A system and method for managing energy consumption of a building system includes a source of actual energy consumption data, a source of actual weather data, and a database correlating discrete weather data values with expected energy consumption values for at least one component of the building system. A computer accesses the actual weather data, actual energy consumption data and database, wherein the computer compares the expected energy consumption values with actual energy consumption data and generates an output based on the comparison. The expected energy consumption values are generated for the discrete weather data values using an energy consumption model that functionally relates discrete weather data values and design information for the building system component.

US Patent:

7024870, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

Sep 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/675137

Inventors:

Abtar Singh - Kennesaw GA, US
Paul Wickberg - Marietta GA, US
Neal Starling - Canton GA, US
Thomas J. Mathews - Fayette ME, US

Assignee:

Emerson Retail Services Inc. - Kennesaw GA

International Classification:

F25B 49/00
G05D 23/00
F22B 37/00
G06F 15/00
G08B 17/00

US Classification:

62126, 236 51, 165 112, 702182, 702188, 340585

Abstract:

A method of managing a refrigeration system includes transmitting energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data from the refrigeration system to a management center; analyzing the energy consumption, maintenance indicator, and food condition data at the management center; and monitoring, diagnosing and prognosing the performance of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The method may also include altering a configuration of the refrigeration system in response to the analysis. The refrigeration system may be located at a retail location and the management center may be located remotely to the retail location.