Abstract: A method of event-based power management for seismic sensors is disclosed. The method comprises measuring seismic activity with a seismic sensor and comparing the measured seismic activity from the seismic sensor against at least one criteria. When the measured seismic activity does not satisfy the at least one criteria, a signal processing circuit is maintained in a deactivated state. When the measured seismic activity satisfies the at least one criteria, the signal processing circuit is activated to analyze the measured seismic activity. The signal processing circuit enters a functional mode based on analyzing the measured seismic activity.

Abstract: A method for wireless communication in a seismic sensor network is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first acoustic device having at least one seismic sensor with communication and control data to communicate over an acoustic energy wave on a first communications channel. The first acoustic device generates the acoustic energy wave with a first wave intensity. The first acoustic device is configured to receive a reflection of the generated wave at a prescribed signal sensitivity level based on a network configuration. If the first wave intensity is below the prescribed signal sensitivity level, the first wave intensity of the acoustic energy wave is tuned to the prescribed signal sensitivity level to interpret the communication and control data provided by the first communications channel.

Abstract: A method for tracking motion using an audio compass is disclosed. The method comprises receiving motion sensor data indicating seismic activity recorded by at least two seismic sensors, and converting the received motion sensor data into audio signals for interpretation at an audio compass. The method uses the audio compass to determine a current distance to the seismic activity based on an interpreted signal intensity of the audio signals. The method further uses the audio compass to identify a current position of the audio compass relative to the seismic activity.

Abstract: A multi-function system comprising a plurality of peripherals having different levels of susceptibility to environmental events, at least one event detector configured to detect environmental events, a controller coupled to receive an event detected signal from the at least one event detector, a communication interface communicatively coupling the controller and each peripheral that includes an internal central processing unit, and a dedicated control interface communicatively coupling the controller and the plurality of peripherals. The controller is configured to control circumvention procedures of each peripheral via the dedicated control interface based on the detected event and the level of susceptibility of the peripheral.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a communication bus having a physical layer for interacting with a peripheral device. The physical layer is configured to be adjacent to a link layer on the peripheral device. The electronic device further includes a connector at a junction of the physical layer and the link layer. Communication through the communication bus is maintained through the physical layer when the link layer of the peripheral device is disconnected from the physical layer at the connector.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for communicating data with a seismic sensor are provided. The method comprises identifying data to be transmitted and one or more seismic events that correspond to the data to be transmitted. One or more seismic events are created that are distinguishable into binary code from one or more seismic sensors within the array. Seismic events can be distinguished by their pattern or frequency. A first frequency can be assigned as a first binary code and a second frequency can be assigned as a second binary code. Likewise, different patterns of acoustic energy can designate different binary codes. Combinations of patterns and frequencies can be used together to create distinct distinguishable seismic events.

Abstract: A memory system that disperses memory addresses of strings of data throughout a memory is provided. The memory system includes a memory, a central processing unit (CPU) and an address randomizer. The memory is configured to store strings of data. The CPU is configured to direct the storing and retrieving of the strings of data from the memory at select memory addresses. The address randomizer is coupled between the CPU and the memory. Moreover, the address randomizer is configured to disburse the strings of data throughout locations of the memory by changing the select memory addresses directed by the CPU.

Abstract: An environmentally hardened architecture comprises a hybrid processor, a high speed bus having environmentally-sensitive interfaces, an environmentally hardened bus having environmentally-hardened interfaces, and an environmentally-hardened processor communicatively coupled to an environmentally-sensitive interface of the high speed bus and communicatively coupled to an environmentally-hardened interface of the environmentally hardened bus. The hybrid processor includes an environmentally-hardened processing section and an environmentally-sensitive processing section. At least one environmentally-sensitive interface is configured to pass data to and from the environmentally-sensitive processing section and another environmentally-sensitive interface is configured to pass data to and from the environmentally-hardened processing section of the hybrid processor. An environmentally-hardened interface is configured to pass data to and from the environmentally-hardened processing section of the hybrid processor.

Abstract: A network system for inter-component communications in an electronic device is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of components for an electronic device, where each of the components communicates with at least one other component over a communications medium for a wireless mesh network. Each of the components comprises a communications transceiver operable to determine network traffic load levels for an exchange of communication data between the components, and allocate the network traffic between at least one pair of the components over a plurality of wireless links within the wireless mesh network based on potential-field based measurements at each of the components. In addition, each of the communications transceivers share the exchange of the communication data between the components based on a prescribed priority level for allocation of the network traffic.

Abstract: A method of event-based power management for seismic sensors is disclosed. The method comprises measuring seismic activity with a seismic sensor and comparing the measured seismic activity from the seismic sensor against at least one criteria. When the measured seismic activity does not satisfy the at least one criteria, a signal processing circuit is maintained in a deactivated state. When the measured seismic activity satisfies the at least one criteria, the signal processing circuit is activated to analyze the measured seismic activity. The signal processing circuit enters a functional mode based on analyzing the measured seismic activity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tamper resistant memory devices are provided. In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a memory cell for storing digital data, the memory cell having a plurality of memory addresses accessible for read and write operations through a memory interface; and a tamper detection circuit coupled to the memory cell, the tamper detection circuit comprising: a communications decoder coupled to the memory interface, wherein the communications decoder observes sequences of memory access operations to the memory cell; at least one timer for counting a duration of time; a tamper detect state machine responsive to the communications decoder and the at least one timer; and a data destruct engine responsive to the tamper detection state machine, wherein upon receiving an activation signal from the tamper diction state machine, the data destruct engine overwrites digital data stored in the memory cell.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving frequency estimation without increasing digital counter resolution. An example system mixes and filters a known carrier signal with the signal containing the frequency of interest, in order to bring the frequency domain image closer to baseband, and then performs the frequency estimation. This allows much better resolution without the need to increase the counter frequency.

Abstract: A method of implementing a circumvention and recovery system comprising conveying peripheral identifiers to a controller, and determining a level of susceptibility of a peripheral to select events based on the peripheral identifier. The method further includes controlling each peripheral based on the level of susceptibility of the peripheral during detection of a select event.

Abstract: A system of circumvention and recovery in a multi-function system. The system includes a plurality of peripherals, at least one event detector and a controller. The plurality of peripherals have different levels of susceptibility to environmental events. The at least one event detector is configured to detect environmental events. The controller is coupled to receive an event detected signal from the at least one event detector. The controller is further configured to control circumvention procedures of each peripheral based on the detected event and the level of susceptibility of the peripheral.

Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting and predicting a segmentation threshold is provided. The method comprises calculating a threshold factor, calculating an actual average image pixel intensity for an entire image frame, and predicting a future average image pixel intensity for future time t, wherein the predicted future average image pixel intensity is based on past actual average image pixel intensities. The method also comprises combining the predicted future average image pixel intensity with the threshold factor to provide an adaptive threshold that adapts to changes in pixel intensity due to movement of an object in the image frame.

Abstract: A system for secure communication of collected data is provided. The system comprises a data dissemination subsystem, the data dissemination subsystem operable to store and disseminate collected data. The system also comprises a transmitter subsystem coupled to said data dissemination subsystem, said transmitter subsystem operable to encrypt said disseminated collected data, encode said encrypted data to form a plurality of ultra wideband signals, spectrum spread said plurality of ultra wideband signals with a direct sequence spectrum spreading code, and transmit said spread plurality of ultra wideband signals.

Abstract: system and method for secure communication of collected amphibious data is disclosed, which uses direct-sequence, spread spectrum, ultra wideband (DS-SS UWB) communications to enhance the security of the collected amphibious data during transmission over a wireless communication link. The UWB technique used transmits the collected data using very short pulses with low duty cycles. Thus, the power of the transmitted signals can be distributed evenly over a large bandwidth, and buried within the environmental noise (below the noise floor) to produce “stealth” transmissions. The transmitted signals can also be encrypted, which provides a wireless data communication transmission that is immune from jamming and masked from eavesdropping attempts. As one example, a system for secure communication of collected amphibious data is disclosed, which includes a DS-SS UWB transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A network and method for non-disruptively disconnecting communication devices are disclosed. The network includes a primary network unit including a first logical layer, and a plurality of secondary network units. Each secondary network unit of the plurality of secondary network units includes the first logical layer, a second logical layer, and a connector arranged at a junction of the first logical layer and the second logical layer. The network also includes a plurality of electrically conductive links, wherein an electrically conductive link of the plurality of electrically conductive links is connected to the first logical layer of a first network unit at a first end, and to the first logical layer of a second network unit at a second end.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connectivity in networks configured for non-disruptive disconnection of one or more peripheral devices are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first logical layer associated with a first peripheral device, the first peripheral device arranged in a network configured for non-disruptive disconnection of at least one peripheral device, at least a second logical layer associated with at least a second peripheral device, the at least a second peripheral device arranged in the network configured for non-disruptive disconnection of at least one peripheral device, at least one power source associated with the first logical layer and the at least a second logical layer, and a first electrically conductive link coupled to the first logical layer, the at least a second logical layer, and the at least one power source associated with the first logical layer and the at least a second logical layer.

Abstract: A method for tracking motion using an audio compass is disclosed. The method comprises receiving motion sensor data indicating seismic activity recorded by at least two seismic sensors, and converting the received motion sensor data into audio signals for interpretation at an audio compass. The method uses the audio compass to determine a current distance to the seismic activity based on an interpreted signal intensity of the audio signals. The method further uses the audio compass to identify a current position of the audio compass relative to the seismic activity.