Abstract: An unlock system does not use a key that might be copied so that only a correct person can unlock a door and security is enhanced. Unlock records of door-lock are stored in a limited memory capacity in volume. Fingerprint data input to a fingerprint input section 21 disposed outside a door 11 provided on a doorway 10 is detected, and the detected fingerprint data is verified against previously registered fingerprint data. If it was confirmed that the detected fingerprint data coincided with the registered fingerprint data, an unlock signal is output to unlock the door-lock. At the same time, an identification code of the registered fingerprint data that unlocked is stored.

Abstract: The present invention provides a universal remote control with components interconnected by a bus, permitting separate location of the components. During operation, a control input is received from a user. A control signal representing the control input is transmitted through the bus. The control signal is received from the bus at a location remote from where the control input was received. A radio frequency activation signal is transmitted based on the received control signal.

Abstract: Remote appliance activation can be achieved by relaying between radio frequency transmission schemes having different characteristics. A radio receiver receives radio frequency control signals for controlling the appliance. Each existing radio frequency transmitter is specifically designed to transmit wireless radio frequency control signals having receiver characteristics to the radio receiver. A new wireless radio frequency transmitter has transmitter characteristics, at least one of which is different from receiver characteristics. A radio relay learns the receiver characteristics from one of the existing transmitters and learns at least one transmitter characteristic from the new transmitter. Then, when an appliance radio frequency activation command is received from the new transmitter, the radio relay transmits a new radio frequency appliance activation command having the learned receiver characteristics.

Abstract: A memory tag responsive to a signal generated by a reader, the tag comprising a resonant circuit part having a resonant frequency, the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit part being variable in accordance with data to be transmitted being variable to transmit data to the reader.

Abstract: An exemplary method of providing positive power control of an electrical device which uses a toggle power command signal, and apparatus perform the method. This exemplary method uses an apparatus that includes a remote control unit and a signal translator. A positive power command signal is produced by and transmitted from the remote control unit. This positive power command signal is received by the signal translator. A present power condition of the electrical device is determined by the signal translator and compared to the positive power command signal. The toggle power command signal is then produced by and transmitted from the signal translator, if the positive power command signal and the present power condition of the electrical device do not match.

Abstract: A data carrier is configured to monitor the power of a received signal from a base station, and to vary its “Aloha” transmission based on the power of the received signal. The time period, or repetition frequency, associated with the Aloha transmission is controlled based on the received power, such that a higher received power provides a longer time period between transmissions. In this way, transmitters that are farther away from the base station are provided more frequent opportunities to have their transmissions received without collisions than transmitters that are closer to the base station.

Abstract: A system of contactless electromagnetic transmission between a terminal including a series oscillating circuit for generating an electromagnetic field and a transponder including a parallel oscillating circuit, these oscillating circuits being sized so that the coupling coefficient between them rapidly decreases when the distance separating the transponder from the terminal becomes smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A location tracking system for tracking the location of items within a controlled area comprises a plurality of RFID tags located according to the required accuracy of the location determinations. Vehicles configured to transport items being tracked include two RFID interrogators configured to acquire RFID information from the plurality of RFID tags and to transmit the RFID tag information to a location authority. The separation the two RFID interrogators is set based on the spacing of the plurality of RFID tags such that the required accuracy results. The location authority can then simply map the RFID tag information to coordinate information stored for each of the plurality of tags to obtain the location of the vehicle and, therefore, the item being transported.

Abstract: Described herein are wireless interrogation systems and methods that rely on a complementary sensing device and interrogator. The sensing device is disposed to measure a parameter indicative of the health of a structure. A sensor reading from the sensor indicates the level of a parameter being monitored or whether one or more particular physical or chemical events have taken place. Using wireless techniques, the interrogator probes the device to determine its identity and its current sensor reading. This often includes transmission of a wireless signal through portions of the structure. When activated, the device responds with a wireless signal that identifies the device and contains information about the parameter being measured or a particular sensor state corresponding to the parameter. The identity of the device allows it to be distinguished from a number of similar devices.

Abstract: A door lock handle. The door lock handle having a fingerprint recognition module comprises a handle body having an installing groove with a designated size so as to installing the fingerprint recognition module, a handle cover having an exposing groove corresponding to the installing groove so as to expose a fingerprint recognition plate of the fingerprint recognition module installed on the handle body, a switch hole formed by perforating a part of the handle body, and a protruded conductor installed on the switch hole, the conductor serving to sense the grip of the door lock handle of the user. Herein, the conductor is electrically connected to a touch switch circuit mounted on a door lock controlling unit, and the touch switch circuit senses the grip of the door lock handle by the user and provides the sensed signal to the door lock controlling unit.

Abstract: A system for determining the position of a transponder transmitting a signal and moving along a route is disclosed. The route includes a measuring station with at least two measuring points having on each side of the route and along a line generally perpendicular to the route. The measuring station includes a first receiver that receives the signal at one measuring point and a second receiver that receives the signal at the other measuring point. Each receiver provides an output. A circuit measures the phase difference between the outputs of the first and second receivers, and the transponder location along the line between the measuring points is determined based on the measured phase difference.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling remote devices utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag device having a control circuit adapted to render the tag device, and associated objects, permanently inoperable in response to radio-frequency control signals. The control circuit is configured to receive the control signals that can include an enable signal, and in response thereto enable an associated object, such as a weapon; and in response to a disable signal, to disable the tag itself, or, if desired, to disable the associated weapon or both the device and the weapon. Permanent disabling of the tag can be accomplished by several methods, including, but not limited to, fusing a fusable link, breaking an electrically conductive path, permanently altering the modulation or backscattering characteristics of the antenna circuit, and permanently erasing an associated memory.

Abstract: An electronic communication system for a vehicle, including a base station which is accommodated in the vehicle and at least one portable data carrier which is arranged to exchange data signals with the base station. A first coupling link is formed at least partly by the body of a user, whose skin is not required to be in physical contact with the data carrier, so that the body of the user contactlessly conducts displacement currents from the data carrier without contacting the data carrier. This permits the user to unlock a car door, or trunk, and/or start the vehicle, without using a key or having to touch a remote control device. The data carrier can be located in a briefcase and/or purse, and the ability to access the vehicle is not comprised even though there is no physical contact between the user and the data carrier.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an incentive to a customer of a store to return a shopping cart to a cart return location. The system generates a cart return signal. The system determines whether a cart is being removed from or returned to the cart corral. Alternatively, a radio frequency identification system may be used to detect return of a cart. The shopper is credited with points or credits in a frequent shopper or reward program for returning the shopping cart to the cart return location. The cart return system may be readily configured to integrate with a wide range of existing, or new frequent shopper or loyalty programs.

Abstract: A memory card reading/writing apparatus, access method, program and storage medium thereof, that have a psychological security function, or in other words a mild security function and that make it possible to perform various kinds of management of the memory card even when the memory card is lost. In the memory card reading/writing apparatus of this invention, an apparatus-user-information-acquisition unit acquires apparatus-user information from a memory unit that stores apparatus-user information that identifies the user of the memory card reading/writing apparatus. Also, a memory-card-user-information-acquisition unit acquires the main-memory-card-user information from the memory card that identifies the main user of the memory card. A user-information-comparison unit compares the two kinds of information, and outputs a comparison result. An output unit outputs specific output based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A system and method uses an appliance for delivery at a home or business when no one is home or without the need to disturb persons at the delivery site. The appliance is a locked storage container connected to remote computers such that access for particular delivery persons or companies is authorized when the owner of the appliance has placed an order. The appliance communicates, such as via the internet, with a remote delivery system computer having a scheduler that schedules deliveries during particular time intervals. Prior to scheduling the delivery, the delivery system computer compares the dimensions of the order with the available space within the appliance of the customer. After a delivery is made, the appliance communicates via the internet that the delivery has been made and the delivery system computer then charges or debits the customer's account for the cost associated with the delivery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of appliances in a home network, in which each appliance in the network has an associated descriptor comprising information for controlling the appliance. A control device for controlling the plurality of appliances includes a microprocessor for loading and processing descriptors associated with the appliances and a graphics generator for generating a display of markup language pages or page parts based on the descriptor information. The control device uses descriptors of a plurality of appliances to aggregate appliance control functions of the same type for a plurality of appliances in order to display aggregated functions on a single page.

Abstract: In a wireless remote controller for transmitting a control signal to each of plural control target units to control the operation of each of the control target unit, the power of the control signal to be transmitted to a desired one of the control target units is varied (lowered) in accordance with an operation which is expected to be executed by the desired control target unit. The wireless remote controller and the control target unit are associated with each other in an address connected relationship, and only when a control signal for casing the control target unit to perform a specific operation other than normal operations is transmitted to the control target unit, the address connected relationship is set to an address-free state, and the power of the control signal is varied (lowered) so that the control signal affects only the control target unit.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling remotely controlled components of a plurality of vehicles in response to a short range common signal emitted by a transmitter that can operate the components only during specified time periods. A transmitter can be programmed to provide a relatively long range customer signal that can operate the components at any time. The system and method are operative on a mutually exclusive basis wherein the remotely controlled components only respond to the common signal or the customer signal.

Abstract: In a vehicle having a door, the door having a closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position, a system for proximity opening of the door includes a remote transmitter, a controller, an actuator, and a switch. The remote transmitter may be for transmitting a wireless first vehicle access signal. The controller may be for receiving the wireless first vehicle access signal and generating a control signal in response thereto. The actuator may be in communication with the controller, the actuator operative to move the door from the closed position to the partially open position in response to the control signal. The switch may be on the door, the switch exposed by movement of the door from the closed position to the partially open position and configured to present a second vehicle access signal when manually activated, the second vehicle access signal for use in moving the door from the partially open position to the fully open position.