Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor and document that proper hygienic procedures are followed by food service providers consisting of a camera, a processor controlling the camera, and software to accomplish the hand washing monitoring. The criteria for identifying the start and end of a hand washing event by monitoring activity is selected areas is presented. A record is created of the wash event including a sequence of photograph during the event and additional related data such as start time, duration, location, and any employee identification. This record is available for recording or downloading to a server for further manipulation, including washer identification and statistical analysis.

Abstract: A system for providing protection to a processor system from the problems associated with power failures in the middle of processor operations is described. On detection of a power failure in the main power source, the processor power is maintained by means of a short-term secondary power source. Either immediately or after a momentary pause to override glitches, if power remains off the processor is notified that power will soon be removed and that an orderly shutdown is to take place. Once the protected system has completed its orderly shutdown, or after a length of time indicating that the orderly shutdown is improbable, power is removed from the system for a defined period and the system removes power from the protected processor system for at least a defined period of time, providing an assured hard restart. When external power is restored a normal running state is resumed after any power up sequencing. The orderly shutdown and hard reset can take place by command from the protected processor or system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor and document movement of bodies along or through selected regions is described for the directional counting of such bodies. The reduction of the consideration to selected regions avoids excessive calculation and allows the use of an inexpensive image acquisition and processor. Methods for the determining the direction of movement are described. A record is created for counting events for recording or downloading to a server for further manipulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to monitor and document that proper hygienic procedures are followed by food service providers consisting of a camera, a processor controlling the camera, and software to accomplish the hand washing monitoring. The criteria for identifying the start and end of a hand washing event by monitoring activity is selected areas is presented. A record is created of the wash event including a sequence of photograph during the event and additional related data such as start time, duration, location, and any employee identification. This record is available for recording or downloading to a server for further manipulation, including washer identification and statistical analysis.