Abstract: A method and system classify respiratory phases in a single channel acoustic signal as inspiratory and expiratory using explicit labeling with label verification. In the method and system, a subject explicitly indicates through a user input the start of a respiratory cycle (i.e. start of inspiration). The phase indication is applied to provisionally label several consecutive phases of a single channel acoustic signal as inspiratory and expiratory. A provisional phase rule set is then generated based on characteristic differences between the inspiratory and expiratory phases. The phase indication, provisional labeling and provisional rule set generation steps are then repeated. The two generated provisional rule sets are then compared for a match to verify the accuracy of the subject's phase indications and the ability to automatically recover phase in the event of signal loss.

Abstract: A heath monitoring method and system estimate a patient's respiratory rate and heart rate using different frequency components of a shared acoustic signal. Use of a common acoustic signal to estimate the patient's respiratory rate and heart rate permit more economical and simplified heath monitoring.

Abstract: Methods and systems for particle characterization using a light fluctuation component of an optical sensor output signal. The use of the light fluctuation component enables particle characterization (e.g. provision of information on particle size, type and confidence) without requiring measurements at multiple wavelengths or multiple angles and using relatively lightweight calculations. The methods and systems allow integration of real-time airborne particle characterization into portable monitors. The methods and systems in some embodiments also use the output signal to further characterize particles through determination of particle density information.

Abstract: A personal environmental monitoring method and system and a portable monitor for use therein permit real-time mobile monitoring of environmental conditions in the immediate vicinity to ensure compatibility with the particular environmental sensitivities of a person being monitored. The portable monitor may be a fully integrated mobile device that provides real-time mobile monitoring of immediate environmental conditions without network connectivity.

Abstract: A respiratory signal detection and time domain signal processing method and system classifies respiratory phases and determines respiratory time data useful in respiratory health determinations. The method and system analyze respiratory signals collected at multiple detection points at least one of which ensures that respiratory phases can be properly classified. Moreover, the method and system employ a time domain signal processing approach that facilitates determination of respiratory time data while realizing savings in computing power relative to frequency domain processing approaches.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, devices, and systems enabling a central coordinator to manage hidden stations via a proxy central coordinator, where a hidden station is discovered based on beacons and made known to other networked devices via transmitted lists.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for communicating between stations in a network are presented. The method includes providing repeated beacon transmissions from a coordinator station for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations; transmitting from a first station to a second station during a time slot assigned to the first station by at least one of the beacon transmissions; and transmitting from the first station information that grants permission to the second station to transmit during at least a portion of a time slot assigned to the first station.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, devices, and systems enabling a central coordinator to manage hidden stations via a proxy central coordinator, where a hidden station is discovered based on beacons and made known to other networked devices via transmitted lists.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for managing and allocating bandwidth in a communication medium. Some aspects relate to the determination of bit usage patterns for use in allocating bandwidth. Some aspects relate to the further determination of a derived usage pattern from the bit usage patterns and allocation of tone-slots within the derived usage pattern.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing the health status of a patient, such as the asthma status of a patient, provides an asthma status score and a confidence rating indicative of the score's reliability using continuous real-time data. In some embodiments, the assessment comprises a multidimensional analysis in which asthma status scores and respective confidence ratings are generated for multiple individual asthma health dimensions as well as a summary asthma health dimension indicative of overall asthma health. In some embodiments, the individual dimensions include an environmental trigger dimension based on sensor-based environmental data, a physiological burden dimension based on sensor-based physiological data, a medication adherence dimension based on patient diary data and a perceived symptom dimension based on patient diary data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for managing and allocating bandwidth in a communication medium.

Abstract: Methods to and devices capable of transmitting data in a centralized network are disclosed. A central coordinator receives data from a source device to be relayed to at least one destination device. The central coordinator acknowledges reception of the data from the source device and transmits data to at least one destination device. The central coordinator then waits for an acknowledgement of data reception from each destination device to which the data was sent.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and devices for improving network management in a centralized network, which typically includes a central coordinator (CCO) that manages and schedules activities within the network. The embodiments of the invention provide a manner of selecting a CCO, including a backup CCO, best suited to manage the network based on a set of rules. Furthermore, the embodiments provide a manner of transferring the current CCO functions to a new CCO, e.g., via message exchanges. Moreover, a process of a backup CCO assuming the function of an unavailable CCO is also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for coordination of interfering network devices.

Abstract: There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. The central coordinator is configurable to transmit a beacon at an interval based on a phase of a powerline cycle. The interval of the beacon can be substantially equal to two periods of the powerline cycle. The interval of the beacon includes a reserved region including a persistent allocation region and a non-persistent allocation region. The beacon also includes a broadcast message including a persistent schedule and a non-persistent schedule. The persistent schedule is valid for a current beacon period and a number of subsequent beacon periods as indicated by the beacon, while the non-persistent schedule is valid for a single beacon period. The persistent allocation region and the non-persistent allocation region are determined based on the persistent schedule and the non-persistent schedule, respectively.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided wherein connections are requested with a connection specification that is based on whether the request is between a higher layer entity and a lower layer entity, between two stations, or between a station and a central coordinator. The connection specification may include QOS parameters and MAC parameters.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, devices, and systems that automatically provide quality of service to one or more packets, typically by determining whether packets are connection-worthy and accordingly providing connection specifications.

Abstract: There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. The central coordinator includes a system clock and a network timer and is configurable to transmit a number of network timer values. Each of the network timer values can be transmitted by the central coordinator in one of a number of beacons. Each of the other stations is configurable to utilize the network timer values and a corresponding number of local timer values to estimate a frequency error between the system clock and a local clock and an offset between the network timer and a local timer. Each of the other stations is further configurable to utilize the frequency error and the offset to synchronize the local timer to the network timer.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism to synchronize centralized networks. Each centralized network includes a central coordinator controlling and managing network activities. The embodiments provide a way of allocating beacon slots, such that one of the beacon slots is synchronized to the alternating current line cycle and thus functions as a master timing sequence. In some embodiments, methods, devices, and systems are provided for detecting transmissions of non-coordinating networks.

Abstract: There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. Each of the stations is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with each of the other stations in the powerline network. Each tone map includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between two of the stations. Each tone map further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone. Each of the stations is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with each of the other stations, where the default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle. Each of the stations is further configurable to monitor its bandwidth needs and to request additional bandwidth from the central coordinator.