Afero, Inc.

Shin Matsumura

Joe Britt

Houman Forood

Scott Zimmerman

Sean Zawicki

Daisuke Kutami

Phillip Myles

Shannon Holland

Omar Fawazhashim Zakaria

Justin Lee

Philip Myles

Joel Black

An IoT-based system and method are described having an IoT hub including an accelerometer. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) service, a plurality of IoT devices, each IoT device comprising a first secure communication module, and an IoT hub in communication with the plurality of IoT devices. The IoT hub comprising: a microcontroller unit to execute application-specific program code, a second secure communication module to establish a first secure communication channel with the IoT service and a plurality of second secure communication channels with the plurality of IoT devices, and a sensor to detect physical movements of the IoT hub and to change an operating mode of the IoT hub from a first operating mode to a second operating mode based on the physical movements.

Internet of things (IOT) apparatuses, systems and methods

Internet of things (IoT) apparatuses, systems and methods

A platform, apparatus and method for disabling IoT-enabled home devices. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and an IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a wireless communication channel; the IoT device comprising a sensor to measure a local condition affected by a local device in a user's home, the local device being potentially hazardous if accidentally left on, the IoT device communicating one or more measurements of the local condition to the IoT hub over the wireless communication channel; control logic on the IoT hub to receive the one or more measurements of the local condition from the sensor and to evaluate the one or more measurements to determine whether the local device has been accidentally left on, the control logic to general a signal to turn off the local device in response to a determination that the local device has been accidentally left on.

System and method for using data collected from internet-of-things (IoT) sensors to disable IoT-enabled home devices

A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a wide area network (WAN), and programming logic to program an identification device with one or more encryption keys usable to establish encrypted communication with an IoT device; and at least one IoT device interfacing with the identification device following programming of the identification device by the IoT hub; wherein once the identification device is programmed and interfaced with the IoT device, the IoT device uses the one or more keys to establish a secure communication channel with the IoT hub and/or the IoT service.

System and method for securely connecting network devices

A system and method are described for Internet of Things (IoT) shelf tags. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: a shelf tag IoT device comprising a local wireless communication interface to establish a local wireless communication link with one or more IoT hubs or client devices, the shelf tag IoT device further comprising a secure communication module to establish a secure communication channel with an IoT service over the Internet using the local wireless communication link; a low power display coupled to the shelf tag IoT device to display product information related to retail products placed on shelves at a retail location; a products database maintained on the IoT service and/or an external retail service, the products database to store an association between each IoT device and each of a plurality of products sold by a retailer; shelf tag management logic executed on the IoT service and/or the external retail service and configured to push pricing updates for products to each respective shelf tag IoT device upon detecting a change in price for the products associated with the shelf tag IoT devices.

Internet of things (IOT) apparatus and method for electronic shelf tags

An apparatus and method are described for an IoT security system. For example, one embodiment of the IoT security system comprises: one or more attachable security devices, each comprising an IoT device to establish local wireless connections with one or more IoT hubs within a location, each attachable security device to be attached to a child registered with the security system and comprising a switch to trigger upon detachment of the attachable security device from the child; a plurality of kiosks, each kiosk comprising: a monitor to provide instructions to parents for registering and de-registering children with the security system; an input device to receive input from the parents during a registration process and a de-registration process to register and de-register the children, respectively; a camera to capture a photo of a child to be registered with the security system; an IoT hub to establish a first set of local wireless communication channels with the IoT devices of the security bracelets, the IoT hub to further provide connectivity among each of the kiosks through a second set of one or more communication channels; the IoT hub to associate the photo of the child with an IoT device of a security bracelet provided to the child, the association being stored in one or more of the kiosks or in a network service; an IoT device of an attachable security device to transmit a first alarm to a first kiosk responsive to the switch triggering upon detachment of the attachable security device; the first kiosk to communicate the first alarm with other kiosks and the plurality of kiosks to display the photo.

Internet of things (IoT) child tracking system

A platform, apparatus and method are described for pairing devices. For example, one embodiment of a system for pairing devices comprises: a first data processing device having a machine-readable optical label associated therewith and including a first wireless communication interface; a second data processing device having a second wireless communication interface and an optical reader for reading identification data from the optical label associated with the first data processing device, the second wireless communication interface including pairing logic to use the identification data to pair with the first data processing device by establishing a secure communication channel between the first and second wireless communication interfaces.

System and method for securely connecting network devices using optical labels

A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations for selecting a cellular carrier. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service through a cellular (cell) carrier, the IoT hub further comprising a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of IoT devices over local communication channels; cell carrier selection logic on the IoT hub to implement a set of rules to select between two or more cell carriers through which to connect the IoT hub to the IoT service, the rules being based, at least in part, on a cost associated with connecting to each of the two or more cell carriers and connectivity data associated with cell connections between the IoT hub and each of the two or more cell carriers.

System and method for selecting a cell carrier to connect an IOT hub

A platform, apparatus and method for collecting and utilizing user behavior data within an IoT system. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service, the IoT hub further comprising a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of IoT devices over local communication channels; the IoT hub comprising logic to collect data from each of the IoT devices and to control the IoT devices responsive to user input from a plurality of different users; user behavior data collection logic to collect user behavior data within the IoT system, the user behavior data collection logic to monitor and record the data accessed by each user from each of the IoT devices and the IoT devices controlled by each user; and user profile generation logic to analyze the user behavior data to determine a profile for each user; and targeted content generation logic to generate targeted content to be transmitted to each user in accordance with each determined profile.

System and method for collecting and utilizing user behavior data within an IoT system

A platform, apparatus and method for detecting that an IoT hub communication channel has become inoperative. For example, one embodiment of an IoT system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; at least one IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a second communication channel; connection monitoring logic to detect when the first communication channel between the IoT service and the IoT hub has become inoperative; notification logic to transmit a notification to a data processing device of a user of the IoT system responsive to the connection monitoring logic detecting that the first communication channel has become inoperative.

System and method for notifying a user of conditions associated with an internet-of-things (IoT) hub

A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code; a communication interface for coupling the microcontroller to a network; a plurality of input elements communicatively coupled to the microcontroller to detect user input; a slot for receiving a selection card, the selection card comprising a plurality of user-selectable items displayed thereon, wherein each of the input elements are associated with at least one of the user-selectable items displayed on the card when the selection card is inserted in the slot; and wherein upon selection of a particular input element corresponding to a particular item, the microcontroller transmits an identification code for the item to a service over the network, the service identifying the item using the identification code and performing one or more operations responsive to selection of the item by the user.

Internet of things device for registering user selections

An Internet of Things system and method are described. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an IoT hub comprising a WAN interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over the WAN, and a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of different types of IoT devices; and at least one IoT device having a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code, wherein the program code includes library program code comprising basic building blocks usable by a developer to implement any IoT device by creating application program code which utilizes the library program code, wherein at least one of the basic building blocks comprises a communication stack to enable communication with the IoT hub, the library program code provided to the developer in a software development kit (SDK) with the microcontroller.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Shin Matsumura