William T Harper

US Patent:

20020069258, Jun 6, 2002

Filed:

Nov 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/006438

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

G06F015/16

US Classification:

709/217000

Abstract:

A distributed object for use in a networked computer system including a host computer and a remote computer, where the remote computer is in electronic communication with a device, is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a first member component implemented and stored on the host computer, and a second member component implemented and stored on the host computer. The second member component is in electronic communication with the remote computer, and the second member component functions to access data on the remote computer. The distributed object may be part of an object hierarchy. The object hierarchy includes a base class having member data and functions common to a set of remote computers, where the base class is implemented and stored on the host computer. The object hierarchy may also include a first subclass derived from the base class. The first subclass may be implemented and stored on the host computer. This first subclass includes the second member component in electronic communication with the remote computer. The object hierarchy may also include a second subclass that alters the function of the object.

US Patent:

20020196124, Dec 26, 2002

Filed:

Jun 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/887626

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

G08B005/22

US Classification:

340/007100, 379/102050

Abstract:

A curtailment module is disclosed for enabling an energy provider to send a request to curtail energy use to a user. The curtailment module includes an interface for electronic communications with a temperature control device. A paging module is used to receive the request from the energy provider through a paging network. The curtailment module also includes a processor in electronic communication with the paging module for receiving the request from the paging module. Memory is also included and is in electronic communication with the processor.

US Patent:

20030016659, Jan 23, 2003

Filed:

Jul 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/911152

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US
Stephen Coffin - Layton UT, US

International Classification:

H04L012/66

US Classification:

370/352000, 370/400000

Abstract:

A telephone network interface is disclosed for facilitating communications through use of a telephone with an embedded device through a gateway and for facilitating communications between a remote service provider and the gateway. The telephone network interface includes a telephone interface for electronic communication with a telephone. The telephone network also includes a gateway interface for electronic communications with a gateway. An external telephone network interface is included for connecting the telephone network interface to an external telephone network. In addition, connection control is also provided. Connection control causes the telephone to be selectively in electronic communication with the external telephone network for telephone calls. The connection control also selectively causes the telephone to be in electronic communication with the gateway for communicating with an embedded device such that device requests from the telephone are communicated to the gateway. The gateway is in electronic communication with the embedded device. The connection control further selectively causes the gateway to be in electronic communication with the external telephone network to enable electronic communications between a control service provider and the gateway.

US Patent:

20030027593, Feb 6, 2003

Filed:

Aug 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/922813

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

H04M001/00

US Classification:

455/557000, 455/567000, 455/412000, 455/445000

Abstract:

A communications module is disclosed for facilitating wireless electronic communications with an electronic device. The communications module includes a processor and a wireless module in electronic communication with the processor for wireless communications with the electronic device. A paging module is also included that is in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with a computer through a paging network. The communications module also includes a modem in electronic communication with the processor for communicating with the computer through a communications network. Further, memory is in electronic communication with the processor for storing data.

US Patent:

20030045968, Mar 6, 2003

Filed:

Sep 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/946080

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US
Todd Rytting - West Valley City UT, US

International Classification:

G01M001/38
G05B013/00
G05B015/00
G05B021/00
G05D023/00

US Classification:

700/276000, 700/277000, 700/278000

Abstract:

A curtailment module is disclosed for enabling an energy provider to send a request to curtail energy use to a user. The curtailment module includes an interface for electronic communications with a temperature control device. A paging module is used to receive the request from the energy provider through a paging network. The curtailment module also includes a processor in electronic communication with the paging module for receiving the request from the paging module. Memory is also included and is in electronic communication with the processor for storing a curtailment message and history data. The curtailment module also includes a sound component in electronic communication with the processor for outputting an audio verification. A code generator is stored in the memory and executable by the processor to generate a verification code using the curtailment message and the history data as inputs. The code generator also generates the audio verification based on the verification code to verify whether the request was followed.

US Patent:

20030169862, Sep 11, 2003

Filed:

Mar 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/092415

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US
Todd Rytting - West Valley City UT, US

International Classification:

H04M011/00

US Classification:

379/102020, 379/102010

Abstract:

An embedded device configured to provide an audio status output is disclosed. The embedded device includes a processor, an input button in electronic communication with the processor and a speaker in electronic communication with the processor for outputting an audio output. Memory is used for storing data. An audio output generator is stored in the memory and operates to generate the audio status output. The audio generator receives a generate audio command initiated by a user through use of the input button. The generator then operates to convert the status data to audio output data through use of an audio generation table. The audio output data includes multiple distinct audio signals that are machine-decipherable and that correspond to individual data elements of the status data. The audio output data is provided to the speaker such that the audio output based on the audio output data is generated.

US Patent:

20040006620, Jan 8, 2004

Filed:

May 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/431906

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

G06F015/173

US Classification:

709/224000

Abstract:

A service provider for embedded devices is disclosed for controlling, monitoring and/or updating embedded devices. The service provider includes a computer having communications hardware for communicating over a computer network. The computer also includes a storage device and a processor. The service provider further includes a database of embedded device information that contains information relating to a number of embedded devices. An embedded device communications module is used by the service provider to communicate with a number of embedded devices. The service provider further includes a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network. In addition, the service provider has a database interface module for accessing the information in the embedded device information database. The service provider may also include an information collection manager for searching the computer network and for accessing and obtaining updated information from the computer network relating to the embedded devices. Certain information in the embedded device information database is linked to certain updated information. A system that is used in combination with the service provider for embedded devices includes a plurality of service providers in electronic communication with a central provider to coordinate communications between embedded devices and service providers for embedded devices.

US Patent:

20040042488, Mar 4, 2004

Filed:

Aug 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/229823

Inventors:

Michael Howard - Sandy UT, US
William Harper - Salt Lake City UT, US
Bryant Eastham - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

H04J003/16
G06F015/173

US Classification:

370/468000, 709/226000

Abstract:

A system for optimizing network bandwidth based on subscription rates from a plurality of requestors is disclosed as including a provider that provides provider data. The system also includes a first requestor that has requested the provider data at a first subscription rate and a second requestor that has requested the provider data at a second subscription rate. The second subscription rate is higher than the first subscription rate. The system further includes a plurality of intervening access nodes. Each intervening access node includes request information specifying any provider data being sent through the intervening access node and a corresponding subscription rate. The plurality of intervening access nodes are configured to decrease the rate to an adjacent node when a requestor decreases a requester subscription rate such that all the rates along a common transmit path from the provider to an end requestor are optimized to maximize available bandwidth.