Abstract: A system and methods for controlling the supply and distribution of backup electrical power determine when backup power is needed and allocates available backup power among connected devices in a power outage. Batteries may be used as an energy storage subsystem, and may backup a home heating plant and other devices based on a dual set of user-established priorities that may change during power blackouts and brownouts as the amount of stored energy decreases.

Abstract: A system and methods for controlling the supply and distribution of backup electrical power determine when backup power is needed and allocates available backup power among connected devices in a power outage. Batteries may be used as an energy storage subsystem, and may backup a home heating plant and other devices based on a dual set of user-established priorities that may change during power blackouts and brownouts as the amount of stored energy decreases.

Abstract: A method and system for interactive education and management that includes storing, by a server including a processor, a plurality of different items of media content. The server receives first user input from at least one first user, associates at least one item of media content of the plurality of different items of media content with at least one second user of a plurality of different second users based at least partly on the first user input, associates at least one other item of media content of the plurality of different items of media content with at least one other second user of the plurality of different second users based at least partly on the first user input, and provides the at least one item of media content to reproduction equipment of the at least one second user for reproducing the at least one item of media content.

Abstract: A system and method for shifting power load on a power distribution network with multiple power loads, each of which draws power from the power distribution network. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to an energy storage system and power load on the power distribution network. The controller is configured to receive a load-shifting signal, determine a load-shifting procedure, and switch one or more of the communicatively coupled power loads from drawing power from the power distribution network to drawing power from the energy storage system according to a load-shifting algorithm.

Abstract: An electronic health care compliance assistance system includes a user device and a host station used by a health care provider. The user device generates voice messages to remind a user when and how to take or refill prescribed medications, to attend to other health matters, and to keep doctors' appointments. Compressed digital speech is used to generate clear and natural sounding voice messages. A health care provider uses the host station to compose messages and to store a database of speech messages and related data. Data are transferred from the host station to the user device to generate a regimen that is customized for the user. A queuing system is provided for messages relating to medications having common dosing times. A parameter is defined to permit adaptive rescheduling of messages when a user does not respond. The user device provides adaptive and interactive audible and visual prompts to alert the user when one or more messages are ready to be played.