Abstract: Although GPS has become a standard component of smartphones, providing accurate navigation during the last portion of a trip remains an important but unsolved problem. Despite extensive research on localization, the limited resolution of a map imposes restrictions on the navigation engine in both indoor and outdoor environments. To bridge the gap between the end position obtained from legacy navigation services and the real destination, a “last-mile” navigation system is proposed to enable plug-and-play navigation in indoor and semi-outdoor environments. The system exploits the ubiquitous, stable geomagnetic field and natural walking patterns to navigate the users to the same destination taken by an earlier traveler. Unlike existing localization and navigation systems, the proposed system is infrastructure-free, energy-efficient and cost-saving.

Abstract: An active indoor location sensing technique is presented for smartphones and other types of mobile devices without requiring any additional sensors or pre-installed infrastructure. The main idea is to actively generate acoustic signatures by transmitting a sound signal with a phone's speakers and sensing its reflections with the phone's microphones. This active sensing achieves finer-grained control of the collected signatures than the widely-used passive sensing.

Abstract: Studies have shown that using smartphones while walking increases the probability of pedestrians colliding with obstacles. Techniques are presented for providing real-time warnings to distracted users of smartphones. The techniques are implemented by an application which makes use of sensors commonly found in most smartphone. By estimating distances to nearby objects using acoustic signals, a generalized solution is achieved without requiring any prior knowledge of the user's environment. The process can be enhanced by using images acquired from the phone's rear camera.

Abstract: A real-time frame authentication protocol is presented for in-vehicle networks. A frame identifier is made anonymous to unauthorized entities but identifiable by the authorized entities. Anonymous identifiers are generated on a per-frame basis and embedded into each data frame transmitted by a sending ECU. Receiving ECUs use the anonymous identifiers to filter incoming data frames before verifying data integrity. Invalid data frame are filtered without requiring any additional run-time computations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is proposed for coordinating communication amongst wireless communication devices in a wireless network. The coordination scheme creates a side channel between heterogeneous wireless devices to enhance their cooperation. At the transmitter, the coordination scheme appends a customized preamble to a data payload, where the preamble is comprised of a sequence of energy pulses separated by a gap and the duration of the gap encodes coordination data for the receive device. At the receiver, the coordination scheme detects the preamble of the data packet; extracts the coordination data from the preamble of the data packet; and coordinates communication between the transmit device and the receive device using the coordination data.

Abstract: A method includes estimating, for a given battery cell of a plurality of battery cells, an internal resistance, estimating, for the given battery cell, an open-circuit voltage, determining a target output voltage for the given battery cell, determining a target discharge current for the given battery cell, determining a target internal resistance for the given battery cell based on the estimated open-circuit voltage for the given battery cell, the target output voltage for the given battery cell, and the target discharge current for the given battery cell, determining a target cell temperature for the given battery cell based on the target internal resistance for the given battery cell, and controlling a flow of coolant adjacent to the given battery cell based on the target temperature for the given battery cell.

Abstract: An efficient way of predicting the power requirements of electric vehicles is proposed based on a history of vehicle power consumption, speed and acceleration as well as road information. By using this information and the operator's driving pattern, a model extracts the vehicles history of speed and acceleration, which in turn enables the prediction of the vehicle's future power requirements. That is, the power requirement prediction is achieved by combining a real-time power requirement model and the estimation of vehicle's acceleration and speed.

Abstract: A technique is presented for controlling behavior tracking by mobile apps executing on a mobile computing device. A set of profiles are managed by a privacy manager, where each profile represents a different isolated execution environment on the mobile computing device and defines a set of privacy rules governing an application while executing in an associated execution environment. Prior to launching the app, a user of the app is prompted by the privacy manager to select a profile for the app from the set of profiles. The privacy manager in turn applies the set of privacy rules associated with the selected profile to the app during execution of the app on the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A real-time frame authentication protocol is presented for in-vehicle networks. A frame identifier is made anonymous to unauthorized entities but identifiable by the authorized entities. Anonymous identifiers are generated on a per-frame basis and embedded into each data frame transmitted by a sending ECU. Receiving ECUs use the anonymous identifiers to filter incoming data frames before verifying data integrity. Invalid data frame are filtered without requiring any additional run-time computations.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for reducing power consumption in wireless communication devices. During an idle listening period, the clock rate of the receiver in the device is reduced. Data packets received by the receiver are then sampled at the reduced clock rate. A determination is made as to whether the data packet is intended for the device. The clock rate is restored to the full clock rate when the data packet is intended for the device. On the other hand, the receiver continues to operate at the reduced clock rate when the data packet is not intended for the device.

Abstract: WAN link preferences for subflows of an application flow are determined. The characteristics of WAN links operable to transmit the subflows are also determined. The WAN link preferences are compared to the WAN link characteristics, and the subflows are assigned to the WAN links based on the comparison.

Abstract: Effective scheduling of battery charge and discharge activities, by making the most of battery characteristics, can extend the battery pack's operation-time and lifetime. A system and method for scheduling battery activities is disclosed. This framework dynamically adapts battery activities to load demands and to the condition of individual battery cells, thereby extending the battery pack's operation-time and making them robust to anomalous voltage imbalances. The scheduling framework includes two components. An adaptive filter estimates the upcoming load demand. Based on the estimated load demand, a scheduler can determine the number of parallel-connected battery cells to be discharged. The scheduler also effectively partitions the battery cells in a pack, allowing the battery cells to be simultaneously charged and discharged in coordination with a reconfigurable battery circuit.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable battery framework for management of a large-scale battery system systems is provided. The framework monitors, reconfigures, and controls large-scale battery systems online. The framework is built upon a topology-based bypassing mechanism that provides a set of rules for changing the battery-pack configuration, and a semantic bypassing mechanism by which the battery-cell connectivity is reconfigured to recover from a battery-cell failure. More specifically, the semantic bypassing mechanism implements a constant-voltage-keeping policy and a dynamic-voltage-allowing policy. The former policy is effective in preventing unavoidable voltage drops during the battery lifetime, while the latter policy is effective in supplying different amounts of power to meet a wide-range of application requirements.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable battery framework for management of a large-scale battery system systems is provided. The framework monitors, reconfigures, and controls large-scale battery systems online. The framework is built upon a topology-based bypassing mechanism that provides a set of rules for changing the battery-pack configuration, and a semantic bypassing mechanism by which the battery-cell connectivity is reconfigured to recover from a battery-cell failure. More specifically, the semantic bypassing mechanism implements a constant-voltage-keeping policy and a dynamic-voltage-allowing policy. The former policy is effective in preventing unavoidable voltage drops during the battery lifetime, while the latter policy is effective in supplying different amounts of power to meet a wide-range of application requirements.

Abstract: A system is presented for detecting malware applications residing on a mobile device powered by a battery. The system includes a power monitoring module, a data analysis module and a data store that stores a plurality of known power signatures signifying a power consumption anomaly. The power monitoring module measures power drawn from the battery and the data analysis module extracts a power history signature from the power measures. The data analysis module then compares the power history signature with the plurality of known power signatures and initiates a protective operation if the power history signature is closely correlated to one or more of the known power signatures.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable battery framework for management of a large-scale battery system systems is provided. The framework monitors, reconfigures, and controls large-scale battery systems online. The framework is built upon a topology-based bypassing mechanism that provides a set of rules for changing the battery-pack configuration, and a semantic bypassing mechanism by which the battery-cell connectivity is reconfigured to recover from a battery-cell failure. More specifically, the semantic bypassing mechanism implements a constant-voltage-keeping policy and a dynamic-voltage-allowing policy. The former policy is effective in preventing unavoidable voltage drops during the battery lifetime, while the latter policy is effective in supplying different amounts of power to meet a wide-range of application requirements.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable framework is provided for a large-scale battery system. The framework is comprised of a plurality of battery circuits arranged adjacent to each other to form a battery-cell array that is coupled to an application load. A given battery circuit includes: a battery cell with an input terminal and an output terminal; a first switch connected between the load and an input terminal of the battery cell; a second switch is connected between an input terminal of the battery cell and an output terminal of a battery cell in an immediately adjacent battery circuit; and a third switch connected between the output terminal of the battery cell and the output terminal of the battery cell in the adjacent battery circuit. The battery-cell array also includes a local controller that selectively controls the switches in the plurality of battery circuits.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for reducing power consumption in wireless communication devices. During an idle listening period, the clock rate of the receiver in the device is reduced. Data packets received by the receiver are then sampled at the reduced clock rate. A determination is made as to whether the data packet is intended for the device. The clock rate is restored to the full clock rate when the data packet is intended for the device. On the other hand, the receiver continues to operate at the reduced clock rate when the data packet is not intended for the device.

Abstract: Effective scheduling of battery charge and discharge activities, by making the most of battery characteristics, can extend the battery pack's operation-time and lifetime. A system and method for scheduling battery activities is disclosed. This framework dynamically adapts battery activities to load demands and to the condition of individual battery cells, thereby extending the battery pack's operation-time and making them robust to anomalous voltage imbalances. The scheduling framework includes two components. An adaptive filter estimates the upcoming load demand. Based on the estimated load demand, a scheduler can determine the number of parallel-connected battery cells to be discharged. The scheduler also effectively partitions the battery cells in a pack, allowing the battery cells to be simultaneously charged and discharged in coordination with a reconfigurable battery circuit.

Abstract: A system is presented for detecting malware applications residing on a mobile device powered by a battery. The system includes a power monitoring module, a data analysis module and a data store that stores a plurality of known power signatures signifying a power consumption anomaly. The power monitoring module measures power drawn from the battery and the data analysis module extracts a power history signature from the power measures. The data analysis module then compares the power history signature with the plurality of known power signatures and initiates a protective operation if the power history signature is closely correlated to one or more of the known power signatures.