Abstract: Architecture for enabling continuous operation of a control command issued by a control input (e.g., a control key on a computer keyboard or game controller). For example, for a user of a software application (e.g., a gaming application), an activation modifier is used for enabling continuous operation of the control command. The activation modifier can be a lock key or other type of input used in combination with the control key. During continuous operation of the control command, one or more alternate control inputs (e.g., from alternate control keys) are enabled to concurrently issue alternate control commands to the software application.

Abstract: A system for managing a plurality of wearable devices on a user receives information to be conveyed using haptic effects and determines an intent of the information. The system then determines, for each of the plurality of wearable haptic devices, a location of the wearable haptic device on the user and a haptic capability. The system then maps the information as a haptic effect to one or more of the wearable haptic devices based at least on the determined locations on the user and the haptic capabilities.

Abstract: An alarm device applied to a portable electronic device is provided. The alarm device includes a detection unit and a connecting unit. The detection unit includes a first data transfer pin, and the first transfer pin is preset to a first electric potential. When the portable electronic device is connected to the detection unit via the connecting unit, the first data transfer pin is connected to a second electric potential via the connecting unit. The detection unit is set in a detection mode. In the detection mode, when electric potential of the first data transfer pin is switched from the second electric potential to the first electric potential, the detection unit issues an alarm.

Abstract: A visual aid for landing helicopters includes a plurality of weighted bases and a plurality of lights designed such that they can identify a helicopter landing zone during nighttime or during the bright sunlight. The components of the visual aid are designed to provide rapid identification of the landing zone, whether the pilot of the helicopter is flying with his unaided eye or with typical night vision goggles. The weighted bases have a large surface area and are coated with a highly visible fluorescent paint. The lights are designed to emit light having wavelengths, intensities and beam patterns which will not overwhelm night vision goggles but which will be acceptably visible to pilots flying without night vision goggles. The lights and weighted bases are color-coded such that they identify both the perimeter of the landing zone and the wind direction within the landing zone.

Abstract: An original generator generates a sequence of access values that are stored into a longer range communication device. A short range communication device, which can be the original generator, uses short range communication during a programming process to transmit an identification number to enable subsequence access from the longer range communication device using the sequence of access values.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods for smoke detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of training a classifier for a smoke detector comprises inputting sensor data from a plurality of tests into a processor. The sensor data is processed to generate derived signal data corresponding to the test data for respective tests. The derived signal data is assigned into categories comprising at least one fire group and at least one non-fire group. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) training is performed by the processor. The derived signal data and the assigned categories for the derived signal data are inputs to the LDA training. The output of the LDA training is stored in a computer readable medium, such as in a smoke detector that uses LDA to determine, based on the training, whether present conditions indicate the existence of a fire.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing automobile traffic flow through an intersection by detecting and reducing platoon interference. One method, performed in a computer product, includes steps of identifying a cluster in traffic information of a cycle of a traffic signal, determining that the cluster qualifies as an upstream platoon, calculating properties of the platoon, and generating an Enhanced Purdue Coordination Diagram (EPCD) for the cycle based on the calculated properties of the platoon. Another method includes obtaining, by a computer device, traffic information corresponding to an intersection; determining, by the computer device, platoon properties of the traffic information corresponding to each cycle of a traffic signal; and calculating, by the computer device, a timing change to make to the traffic signal to improve traffic flow through the intersection, the timing change being based on the platoon properties.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an acoustic source for directing acoustic energy to ensonify a container, a sensor to detect acoustic energy from the acoustic source affected by an object in the container without contacting the container, and a processing module to process the detected acoustic energy from the sensor to identify the object in the container.

Abstract: The chin-operated remote control is a housing that is configured to rest against a chest of an end user. The housing includes a retractable cord that extends to a chinstrap. The chinstrap is configured to be mounted on a chin of an end user such that upon moving of the head of said end user, the retractable cord moves left, right, extends, and retracts. The retractable cord relays said movement in order to operate a remote control provided inside of the housing. An antenna and a plurality of buttons are provided on the housing. The remote control is adapted for use with an electronic appliance.

Abstract: An RFID aggregate storage stores a radio-frequency ID aggregate structure. The RFID aggregate structure is an aggregated data structure of a plurality of RFIDs, in which each RFID is associated with a location and time read out from a RFID tag, and RFID related information, hierarchically constructed by classifying RFIDs based on the readout location and further by classifying them based on the readout time. A proximity evaluator evaluates the proximity between the first user's RF ID aggregate and the second user's RFID aggregate. A user classifier classifies the first user and the second user in one group when the proximity is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A battery management system and a battery pack are disclosed. The battery management system determines that a battery is in a non-use state, and thereafter, detects a battery voltage of the battery. If the battery voltage is less than an over-discharge reference voltage, the system generates a warning signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods of securing chattels are provided. Motion of a first container can be measured by a sensor over an interval of time and compared to motion of a second container. A relative difference between the motion of the first container and the motion of the second container over the interval of time can be calculated by a data processing circuit. A determination can be made by the data processing circuit that the relative difference in motion of the containers exceeds a predetermined threshold. An alert that the threshold has been exceeded can be transmitted by a transmitting circuit to a remote server. A SIM card and a modem can be associated with a container. Information corresponding to the location and identification of the SIM card can be received by the modem. The location and identification information can be transmitted by the modem to a remote server.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning appliance, wherein in order to access same, an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required, the appliance including two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations stored thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, and a detection unit for detecting the access authorization of an authorization carrier, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to the access authorization can be provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance. In order to provide such a cleaning appliance which is more user-friendly in operation, it is proposed that each authorization carrier comprises an identification device for providing an identifier which is associated with the particular authorization profile of the authorization carrier and which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ, wherein identifiers associated with different authorization profiles are different from one another.

Abstract: A glass keyboard includes a patterned glass sheet having a plurality of glass keys arranged in a keyboard layout. Each of the glass keys includes one or more cantilevered glass tabs integrally formed in the patterned glass sheet. Each glass tab is deflectable from a plane of the patterned glass sheet. A conductive layer is arranged in opposing and spaced-apart relation to the patterned glass sheet. The conductive layer has a plurality of contact pads in positions corresponding to the glass tabs. A plurality of pressure pads is disposed between the cantilevered glass tabs and the contact pads and configured to selectively transfer contact pressure from the cantilevered glass tabs to the contact pads when the cantilevered glass tabs are selectively deflected from the plane of the patterned glass sheet.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for radiosonde power control based on position estimation, including a radiosonde system including a radiosonde that may collect weather information, receive Global Positioning System (GPS) information, and transmit a signal including the collected weather information, and a receiver that may receive the signal, and the radiosonde may also recognize a current position based on the GPS information and control a transmission power based on a distance between the current position and a position of the receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication apparatus comprising: a communication section which performs communication in an ASK modulation format with an RFID tag; and a control section which sets a modulation degree of the ASK modulation of the communication section to a large degree when polling of the RFID tag is performed by the communication section and which sets the modulation degree to a small degree when response information is received from the RFID tag through the communication section.

Abstract: A barrier and system for the protection of a crowd from terrorists, by evaluating each individual for any concealed prohibited items. Each individual is exposed to one or more screening mechanisms, controlled by a monitoring unit, while passing in an organized fashion through an enclosed walkway containing the screening mechanism, and exiting on the other side. When a prohibited object is detected, response is provided and the smart door device is locked to detain and isolate the suspected individual in the device structure's interior. The structure of the invention is also configured to deflect the blast created by a potential explosion and prevent harm to other individuals and structures nearby.

Abstract: A vehicle turn signaling apparatus includes a light source that is powered by a turn signal circuit of the vehicle. The light source is configured to project a low divergence visible line onto a driving lane adjacent to the vehicle in response to activation of the turn signal circuit to visibly warn other drivers where a driver of the vehicle may intend to move the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing biometric authentication of a user uses a registration process in which a reference data sample representative of a biometric attribute of a reference user is used to train a statistical classifier such as a neural network to achieve a target output. The set of parameters of the statistical classifier, e.g. the weights that achieve this in the neural network, are stored on a user's device as a first data set. For subsequent authentication of a user to be tested at an access point, the first data set is retrieved from the user device and a second data set representative of the biometric attribute of the test user is generated directly from the test user. The first data set is used as a set of parameters in a statistical classifier, e.g. as weights in an artificial neural network, to generate a trained classifier or neural network and the second data set is then used as input to the trained classifier or neural network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transferring alarm information by sending an alarm message containing information about an alarm. The alarm message includes an alarm counter indicator that indicates whether an alarm status has changed from a previous alarm message. The alarm message also includes one or more indications of alarm conditions indicating an alarm state or an alarm source. Furthermore, the alarm message includes an alarm length that indicates a number of alarm conditions included in the alarm message.