Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a device including a processor, a location determining device to determine a geographical location of the device and a communication device to wirelessly transmit data. In at least one embodiment, the processor is arranged to determine when the device is located in a vehicle which has vacated a parking place and, in response, to transmit a message via the communication device indicating a location of the parking place.

Abstract: A method and device for leak detection and localization in at least a portion of a of fluid distribution system. At each of two or more locations, a position locator determines the location of the device and a vibration sensor generates a signal indicative of vibrations detected by the vibration sensor at the location. A processor calculates a parameter of the signal indicative of an average power of the signal at the location over a predetermined time period. For each location, the processor stores in a memory the location of the device and the value of calculated parameter, and then determines a location in the fluid distribution system where the calculated parameter has a maximum value satisfying a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the inventory of a medical storage container that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and take an inventory of a tray or other container of medical articles each of which has an RFID tag. The enclosure having a size smaller than the size needed for a resonant frequency at the RFID frequency of operation of the tags. An injection device is used to create a robust electromagnetic field standing wave of constructive interference in the enclosure and a program compares the scanned present inventory of the tray to the required inventory database and indicates any differences. Expired and recalled articles are identified.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling indicator lights in a device is described. The apparatus includes a first visual indicator that indicates a status of a first activity, a second visual indicator that indicate a status of a second activity, and a control circuit adjusting an intensity for the first visual indicator when the first visual indicator is illuminated in response to the status of the first activity and adjusting an intensity for the second visual indicator when the second visual indicator is illuminated in response to the status of the second activity. The method includes providing a first signal to a first indicator light indicating a status for a first activity, providing a second signal to a second indicator light indicating a status for a second activity, and providing a third signal to the first and second indicator lights that adjusts the brightness of the lights.

Abstract: Methods, systems and media are provided for managing personal security of a user of a vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a plurality of active sensors. One method includes receiving a first remote request at the vehicle to activate a first level of security. The first level of security activates a first active sensor. The method includes recording an area proximate to vehicle in response to activating the first level of security. The recording produces a media file. The method includes transmitting the media file to Internet storage associated with an account of the user of the vehicle. The method includes setting indicators, such as lighting in and around the vehicle to identify a security level of the vehicle. The lighting can be color illumination, that indicates to a user before the user fully approaches the vehicle if the vehicle has a particular security level, based on prior monitored activity.

Abstract: A method of obtaining data from a subsea control module of an underwater well facility is provided. The method comprises: providing a tag which stores data relating to the module, the tag being operable to wirelessly transmit the data to a reader device; locating the tag at the module; providing a reader device; and interrogating the tag using the reader device, such that the tag is caused to wirelessly transmit the data to the reader device, wherein the tag is communicatively connected to a subsea electronics module for receiving information therefrom.

Abstract: Power models may be used to identify devices in a building or state changes of devices in a building by processing a power monitoring signal with the power models. A power model for a device may be trained using examples of power monitoring signals corresponding to that device, and network monitoring may be used to identify training data for training power models for that device. Network monitoring may include receiving information about network packets transmitted by devices in the building and processing the information about the network packets to determine information about a state change of a first device in the building at a first time. A portion of the power monitoring signal that includes the first time may then be used to train a power model for the first device. The trained power model for the first device may then be deployed to a building where it used to perform power monitoring of the first device.

Abstract: Described are gas flow disruption alarms. The alarms can include a gas inlet; a gas outlet configured to couple to a gas delivery device; and a vibration member between the gas inlet and the gas outlet configured to produce an audible sound when a gas delivery device is removed from the gas outlet.

Abstract: One computer readable medium embodiment includes computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a device to perform a method of environmental data collection. The method can include receiving environmental data and associated time data. The method can also include aggregating time data into categories of environmental data within, above, and below a range. The method can further include outputting the aggregated and categorized time data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a digital display device, at least one gate coupled to the housing, and an analytical unit comprising a controller, the analytical unit coupled to the digital display device and the controller. The analytical unit includes logic to operate environmental sensors to identify demographic attributes of a proximate person to the digital display device and to locate digital content associated with the demographic attributes and to cause display of the digital content on the digital display device.

Abstract: A method for providing an alert to a person to unplug an electrical power cord of an electrical device or equipment includes an alarm device that is activated upon separation of a first portion from a second portion. The first and second portions of the alarm device are secured proximate opposite sides of a loop provided in the power cord. The first and second portions, when engaged, maintain a switch of an electrical circuit in an open position. If the equipment is moved prior to unplugging the power cord, the loop will be straightened, causing the first and second portions to separate. The switch closes, completing the electrical circuit and activating the alarm device. The alarm alerts the person to unplug the power cord. A first alternate method includes the alarm device as a part of newly manufactured equipment. A second alternate method includes a motion detector or sensor in the alarm device of the newly manufactured equipment.

Abstract: A method for generating multiple biometric profiles for a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method may include (1) receiving data from a user, the data comprising biometric data for a user and device specifications for the electronic device; (2) at least one computer processor retrieving at least one existing user profile; (3) the at least one computer processor determining whether the data is consistent with at least one of the existing profiles; and (4) the at least one computer processor updating at least one existing profile if the data is consistent with the existing profile.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system, a relay communication device, a combination of the relay communication device and the electromagnetic induction communication device, an electromagnetic induction communication device, an information storage medium, and an information storage medium manufacturing method, in which a communication system communicating through electromagnetic induction can be implemented at low cost. A relay automatic ticket gate system provides the following. An IC card 40 includes an IC chip capable of communicating through electromagnetic induction, and a pair of conductive plates. A relay communication device includes a relay loop antenna, and a pair of conductive rails. An electromagnetic induction ticket gate communicates through electromagnetic induction between a ticket gate loop antenna communicating with a relay loop antenna through electromagnetic induction, and a relay communication device.

Abstract: A system for communicating data over power utility lines includes a plurality of endpoint devices. The endpoint devices can have modulation circuits configured and arranged to modulate data using multiple-orthogonal frequency sub-channels. The endpoint devices can also have a power line interface circuit configured and arranged to transmit the modulated data over a power utility line. A detection module can be configured and arranged to detect undesirable post modulation of a communication from one of the plurality of endpoint devices and to generate a signal responsive to the detected post modulation. The endpoint devices can then set a spacing between the multiple orthogonal frequency sub-channels in response to the signal responsive to the detected post modulation.

Abstract: An illustrative seismic while drilling system includes a drill string having at least one seismic sensor that can be employed to detect seismic signals during pauses in the drilling process, e.g., when extending the length of the drill string. An embedded processor digitizes a signal from the seismic sensor to obtain a digital waveform and processes the digital waveform to derive a compressed waveform representation for storage or transmission. Compression is provided by adaptively reducing the sampling rate and quantization resolution subject to one or more quality constraints including, e.g., error in first break timing, error in first break sign, mean square error, and bit count. Reasonably good representations of the received acoustic waveforms can be achieve with less than 200 bits.

Abstract: Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for at least one RFID tag and a device, to communicate with each other using direct connections, wherein the at least one RFID tag and the device are configured to mate and directly exchange identification information. A message comprising a tag identification may be sent directly from the RFID tag to the device, and the RFID tag may receive a first acknowledgement from the device if the first tag identification was correctly received. A connection may be detected between the RFID tag and the device prior to directly exchanging information. The exchange of information may include sending data from the device to the RFID tag.

Abstract: Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for two or more RFID tags to communicate with each other and a device using direct connections. A disclosed system includes a first RFID tag, a second RFID tag, and a device. The first and second RFID tags are configured to mate to each other and directly exchange information. The second RFID tag is further configured to directly exchange information with the device such that information received directly at the second RFID tag from the first RFID tag may then be directly exchanged with the device. The first RFID tag may send a first tag identification directly from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag. The second RFID tag may then send a first acknowledgement to the first RFID tag if the first tag identification was correctly received by the second RFID tag.

Abstract: In a method for identifying a user in a network of broadcast communication receivers, a physical characteristic of a user is analyzed in association with the user accessing a first of the receivers. First biometric information based on the characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the first receiver is generated. Data associated with use of the first receiver by the user is also generated and associated with the first biometric information. The physical characteristic of the user is then analyzed in association with the user accessing a second receiver. Second biometric information based on the physical characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the second receiver is generated. The first and second biometric information are then compared. If the first and second biometric information indicate the physical characteristic of the same user, the data is employed in conjunction with the user accessing the second receiver.

Abstract: Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for two or more RFID tags to communicate with each other using direct connections, wherein the two or more RFID tags are configured to mate and directly exchange identification information. A disclosed method includes detecting that a first RFID tag is connected to a second RFID tag. A first message comprising a first tag identification is sent directly from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag, and the first RFID tag receives a first acknowledgement from the second RFID tag if the first tag identification was correctly received. A second message comprising a second tag identification may be sent directly from the second RFID tag to the first RFID tag and a second acknowledgement may be received from the first RFID tag if the second tag identification was correctly received.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining whether individuals seeking access to a facility site are authorized to enter. The system identifies a license plate of a vehicle approaching a controlled entrance of the facility site. If the vehicle is found in a database of enrolled entrants, then an enrolled entrant is loaded into a quick access memory. Iris scans of passengers the passengers are taken and compared against records of the enrolled entrants, beginning with the expected passengers identified as being associated with the license of the vehicle approaching the facility site.