Bill Hilliard

Bill Hilliard

San Francisco, California, United States
2K followers

About

Driven and deeply curious. I bring a passion for ventures and investments that solve big…

Experience

  • Blue Sky Utility - Powered by Nofar Energy Graphic

    Blue Sky Utility - Powered by Nofar Energy

    Novato, California, United States

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    Bedford Hills, New York

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    Cambridge, Massachusetts

Education

Volunteer Experience

  • MIT Sloan School of Management Graphic

    Non Executive Board Member of Sloan School

    MIT Sloan School of Management

    - Present 11 years

    Education

    Member of Dean's alumni advisory board

  • MIT Sloan School of Management Graphic

    Advisory Board Member / MIT Sloan Sustainablity Initiative

    MIT Sloan School of Management

    - Present 5 years

    Environment

    Alumni advisor to faculty running the sustainability track at MIT Sloan

  • MIT Sloan School of Management Graphic

    Advisory Board Member, Renewable Energy Finance Roundtable

    MIT Sloan School of Management

    - Present 9 years

    Serve on advisory board related to renewable energy finance

  • Private Investor

    Individual Angel Investor

    - Present 20 years

    Recent investments in energy, blockchain/web3, mobile consumer technology, and FinTech/DeFi.

  • Band of Angels Graphic

    Private Investor

    Band of Angels

    - 14 years

Publications

Patents

  • Method and system for improved internet color

    Issued US 8,345,060

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. In particular, the present invention allows multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user when the user's computer and its associated devices are not calibrated and/or characterized, or the calibration and/or characterization data is not available over the network to the image providers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules…

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. In particular, the present invention allows multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user when the user's computer and its associated devices are not calibrated and/or characterized, or the calibration and/or characterization data is not available over the network to the image providers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules requiring an abstract to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure contained herein. This abstract is submitted with the express understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

    See patent
  • Method and system for improved internet color

    Issued US 7,839,415

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. In particular, the present invention allows multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user when the user's computer and its associated devices are not calibrated and/or characterized, or the calibration and/or characterization data is not available over the network to the image providers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules…

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. In particular, the present invention allows multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user when the user's computer and its associated devices are not calibrated and/or characterized, or the calibration and/or characterization data is not available over the network to the image providers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules requiring an abstract to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure contained herein. This abstract is submitted with the express understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

    See patent
  • Meta content distribution network

    Issued US 7,664,864

    A method for responding to a request for a file, comprising receiving a request for a file at a selection server for the selection server to select one of a plurality of content distribution networks based upon predetermined selection criteria, the request by a client system to a file server, the selection server, file server client system, and content distribution networks all connected to an Internet; and responding to the request by providing the file from the selected content distribution…

    A method for responding to a request for a file, comprising receiving a request for a file at a selection server for the selection server to select one of a plurality of content distribution networks based upon predetermined selection criteria, the request by a client system to a file server, the selection server, file server client system, and content distribution networks all connected to an Internet; and responding to the request by providing the file from the selected content distribution network to the client system.

    See patent
  • Method and system for improved internet color

    Issued US 7,339,595

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. In particular, the present invention allows multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user when the user's computer and its associated devices are not calibrated and/or characterized, or the calibration and/or characterization data is not available over the network to the image providers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules…

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. In particular, the present invention allows multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user when the user's computer and its associated devices are not calibrated and/or characterized, or the calibration and/or characterization data is not available over the network to the image providers. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules requiring an abstract to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure contained herein. This abstract is submitted with the express understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

    See patent
  • System and method for providing high fidelity color images

    Issued US 7,177,466

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. The user's computer and its associated devices may be remotely calibrated and or characterized and the data made available over the network to permit multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user. A notification technique is also provided to notify a user when the image or images being displayed is color corrected. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to…

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. The user's computer and its associated devices may be remotely calibrated and or characterized and the data made available over the network to permit multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user. A notification technique is also provided to notify a user when the image or images being displayed is color corrected. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

    See patent
  • Remote color characterization for delivery of high fidelity images

    Issued US 7,092,008

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. The user's computer and its associated devices may be remotely calibrated and or characterized and the data made available over the network to permit multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user. A notification technique is also provided to notify a user when the image or images being displayed is color corrected. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to…

    The present invention provides a technique for providing color corrected images to a user over a network. The user's computer and its associated devices may be remotely calibrated and or characterized and the data made available over the network to permit multiple image providers to provide color corrected images to a user. A notification technique is also provided to notify a user when the image or images being displayed is color corrected. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

    See patent
  • Method and system for fast image correction

    Issued US 6,963,668

    Compressed image files are partially preprocessed to expedite color correction and delivery of color corrected images. Color correction may be accomplished by processing only the luminance channel, only the color channels, or a combination of the luminance and color channels. A method for adjusting characteristics of a compressed image file including compressed characteristics elements and compressed image elements, includes: in the compressed image file, separating the compressed…

    Compressed image files are partially preprocessed to expedite color correction and delivery of color corrected images. Color correction may be accomplished by processing only the luminance channel, only the color channels, or a combination of the luminance and color channels. A method for adjusting characteristics of a compressed image file including compressed characteristics elements and compressed image elements, includes: in the compressed image file, separating the compressed characteristics elements and the compressed image elements; decompressing one or more of the compressed characteristics elements; and adjusting the decompressed characteristics elements.

    See patent
  • Method and apparatus for distributing color corrected images across a network using distributed caching

    Issued US 6,895,113

    Color corrected images are stored at one or more caching servers on a computer network. A client computer requests a color corrected image from a caching server, which attempts to select an image in response to the image request. If no images are available at the caching server to fulfill the image request, the image request is forwarded to a color server where an image is selected and, optionally, corrected in response to the image request. The color corrected selected image is returned to the…

    Color corrected images are stored at one or more caching servers on a computer network. A client computer requests a color corrected image from a caching server, which attempts to select an image in response to the image request. If no images are available at the caching server to fulfill the image request, the image request is forwarded to a color server where an image is selected and, optionally, corrected in response to the image request. The color corrected selected image is returned to the caching server to be stored and to further be provided to the client computer. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

    See patent
  • Method and system for characterizing color display monitor output

    Issued US 6,847,376

    The present invention provides a technique for modeling the tone reproduction curve of a flat panel screen such as an LCD. The technique employs a second order function to predict the luminance output as a function of the input voltage based upon two known input values. This abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the rules requiring an abstract to allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure contained herein.

    See patent
  • High fidelity image delivery with color correction notification

    Issued US 6,744,448

    A system and method for providing critical end user feedback as to the color correction status of imagery shown on a client display, thus notifying the user that the color image being viewed is color accurate. In particular, the invention includes server and or client based applets which automatically informs viewers and/or other receivers of digital images as to the state of color correction for a particular digital image, thus notifying a viewer of the visual integrity of the digital image…

    A system and method for providing critical end user feedback as to the color correction status of imagery shown on a client display, thus notifying the user that the color image being viewed is color accurate. In particular, the invention includes server and or client based applets which automatically informs viewers and/or other receivers of digital images as to the state of color correction for a particular digital image, thus notifying a viewer of the visual integrity of the digital image being displayed. The notification may be an icon that provides users with a visible indication about the integrity of color imagery currently being viewed by the client at a specific web site. It does this by briefly flashing the cursor for a fraction of a second to indicate if whether or not the page is being viewed utilizing calibrated color. This icon can be implemented in addition, or instead, in the OS, in a web-enabled application, or in a browser (when implemented on as a client-side application); or it can be implemented as an image, tag, program, or watermark embedded within a web page by the web server or by any of the links between server and client within the network infrastructure.

    See patent
  • Method and apparatus for displaying notification that a color corrected image is being viewed

    Issued US 6,693,647

    A system and method for providing critical end user feedback as to the color correction status of imagery shown on a client display, thus notifying the user that the color image being viewed is color accurate. In particular, the invention includes server and or client based applets which automatically informs viewers and/or other receivers of digital images as to the state of color correction for a particular digital image, thus notifying a viewer of the visual integrity of the digital image…

    A system and method for providing critical end user feedback as to the color correction status of imagery shown on a client display, thus notifying the user that the color image being viewed is color accurate. In particular, the invention includes server and or client based applets which automatically informs viewers and/or other receivers of digital images as to the state of color correction for a particular digital image, thus notifying a viewer of the visual integrity of the digital image being displayed. The notification may be an icon that provides users with a visible indication about the integrity of color imagery currently being viewed by the client at a specific web site. It does this by briefly flashing the cursor for a fraction of a second to indicate if whether or not the page is being viewed utilizing calibrated color. This icon can be implemented in addition, or instead, in the OS, in a web-enabled application, or in a browser (when implemented on as a client-side application); or it can be implemented as an image, tag, program, or watermark embedded within a web page by the web server or by any of the links between server and client within the network infrastructure.

    See patent
  • Charactering and calibrating an image capture device

    Issued US 6,654,493

    A method and system for calibrating and characterizing an image capture device is disclosed. Using a calibrated display of known colorimetric properties, a feedback loop method and system is disclosed such that the image capture device capture device can be calibrated.

    See patent
  • Method and apparatus for characterizing an optimal viewing angle of flat display

    Issued US 6,392,657

    A method for determining the optimal viewing angle of display, input, or output devices with limited viewing, output and/or sensing angle characteristics including a test pattern displayed on a display screen. Test pattern is displayed on display screen and includes one or more test elements having levels of gray different from the gray shown in background. Once initiated, viewer evaluates test pattern to determine if display screen is positioned at an optical viewing angle to the viewer. In…

    A method for determining the optimal viewing angle of display, input, or output devices with limited viewing, output and/or sensing angle characteristics including a test pattern displayed on a display screen. Test pattern is displayed on display screen and includes one or more test elements having levels of gray different from the gray shown in background. Once initiated, viewer evaluates test pattern to determine if display screen is positioned at an optical viewing angle to the viewer. In particular, one set of test elements has a luminance just below background and the other set of test elements has a luminance just above background. To determine the optimal viewing angle, a viewer evaluates test pattern determine the difference in gray levels between test elements against background. The viewer then adjusts the position of display screen until test elements either blend in with background or provide the largest contrast with background. Where a very low luminance or a very high luminance background is utilized, the optimal viewing angle is determined by adjusting display screen until test elements blend in with the background i.e., have the same luminance as the gray shading in background. Where a medium luminance background is utilized, the optimal viewing angle is determined when test elements appear to provide the largest contrast against background i.e., have a luminance maximally different from the gray shading in the background.

    See patent
  • Interactive method and system for color characterization and calibration of display device

    Issued US 5,638,117

    A system and method of characterizing the colors displayed on a display device and calibrating the display device is disclosed. A series of images are displayed to the user, and the user selects portions of the image that match other portions, that match characteristics of a matching card juxtaposed to the display device or that meet other criteria.

    See patent

Honors & Awards

  • A 2021 Policy Proposal was Nominated as One of the "Top Ideas" in Climate Finance

    The CLEEN Project Public Policy Thinktank (www.thecleenproject.org)

    My policy recommendation "Accelerated Elimination of Tax Equity Recapture Based Upon Job Creation" directly ties tax credits to job creation in a manner that can be counted and audited.

    See: https://airtable.com/shrdvYmwLpZlOvQwH/tblSpBPlC9AjLGwJL/viw94vHJXA07UIUGR/recmOX2I2xuO2xGi9/fld4vlnjLntJvkwij/attnQWxNZmZIWnDRJ

  • Also, in 2010, I briefed the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation about Solar Energy Technology

    Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation

    I was invited to brief the Joint Committee regarding the personal and real property aspects of solar energy equipment and installations.

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