Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing authenticated firmware updates of a fog or IoT device, which happens concurrent with a field update of a component coupled to the device, such as a battery.

Abstract: An Internet of Things (IoT) network composite object includes a device owner with name server and sub-object list, sub-objects, and a blockchain recording the sub-objects. An IoT network composite object includes a device owner with composite object type name server, and blockchain. An IoT network coalition group includes coalition group name server, coalition group member list, and blockchain. An IoT network apparatus includes device identity generator, message publisher, network applier, device describer, and packer sender. An IoT network apparatus includes a device registrar to register device to first network through a portal to second network, device joiner, token requester, and authentication request sender. An IoT network apparatus includes an identity verifier to verify the identity of an authentication request, and an authentication request response returner.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, method includes: receiving neural data responsive to a listener's auditory attention; receiving an acoustic signal responsive to a plurality of acoustic sources; for each of the plurality of acoustic sources: generating, from the received acoustic signal, audio data comprising one or more features of the acoustic source, forming combined data representative of the neural data and the audio data, and providing the combined data to a classification network configured to calculate a similarity score between the neural data and the acoustic source using one or more similarity metrics; and using the similarity scores calculated for each of the acoustic sources to identify, from the plurality of acoustic sources, an acoustic source associated with the listener's auditory attention.

Abstract: The Internet can be configured to provide communications to a large number of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. Devices can be designed to address the need for network layers, from central servers, through gateways, down to edge devices, to grow unhindered, to discover and make accessible connected resources, and to support the ability to hide and compartmentalize connected resources. Network protocols can be part of the fabric supporting human accessible services that operate regardless of location, time, or space. Innovations can include service delivery and associated infrastructure, such as hardware and software. Services may be provided in accordance with specified Quality of Service (QoS) terms. The use of IoT devices and networks can be included in a heterogeneous network of connectivity including wired and wireless technologies.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an IoT device may provide selective reporting of collected data measurements. The IoT device may report the data via a network connection to an aggregator device. The IoT device may detect when the network connection has been interrupted, during which messages containing measurements may be cached. Later, when the network connection has been restored, the IoT device may “replay” the cached messages. The IoT device may selectively report cached messages based on an entropy analysis which may detect which measurements exhibit a higher entropy. The entropy analysis may determine which measurements show a higher rate of change or which have a value outside of a set of thresholds. The IoT device may select measurements based on a history of measurements obtained by the IoT device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: A container is provided, including a tubular body having an open first end and a second end defining a receptacle to receive an elongate storage unit; and a retaining frame within the receptacle to receive and retain the unit, movable between a first configuration to engage a retaining surface of the unit to retain it within the receptacle, and a second configuration in which it is released from engagement with the frame for removal from the container, the frame including a supporting rim circumscribing the first end; and a flexible tab depending from the rim and projecting radially into the receptacle, such that in the first configuration a distal end of the tab is configured to engage the retaining surface, and when the frame is moved from the first to the second configuration, the tab is bent towards a peripheral wall of the body and away from the retaining surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to improve accuracy of a fog/edge-based classifier system are disclosed.

Abstract: A charging system (10) for an aerosol-generating device (12) includes a charging unit (14). The charging unit includes a body (20) at least partially defining a receiving volume (22). The receiving volume is sized to receive the elongate aerosol-generating device through an open top end in a plurality of orientations. A charging interface is coupled to the body and includes a biasing element and an electrical contact. The biasing element is configured to apply a force on the aerosol-generating device that causes an electrical contact of the aerosol-generating device to electrically engage the electrical contact of the charging interface when the aerosol-generating device rests on the charging unit.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to facilitate information exchange using publish-subscribe with blockchain. An example apparatus includes a broker including a processor and a distributed ledger module. The example distributed ledger module stores a message to be relayed by the broker from a publisher to a subscriber. The example processor is to at least compute, triggered by receipt of the message by the broker, a proof-of-work (PoW) function. The example processor is to at least verify the computation of the PoW function. The example processor is to at least transmit, upon verifying the computation of the PoW function, the message to the subscriber. The example processor is to at least process feedback received by the broker to update the PoW function.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for decentralized data storage and processing for IoT devices are disclosed. An example apparatus includes memory; and a processor to cause storage of a contract in an off-chain datastore; generate a hash value of the contract; cause storage of the hash value on a blockchain to be accessible to multiple nodes in an IoT network; and cause storage of a transaction on the blockchain, the transaction corresponding to an objective of the contract based on data sensed by an IoT device in the IoT network.

Abstract: An Internet of Things (IoT) network includes an orchestrator to issue service management requests, a service coordinator to identify components to participate in the service, and a component to perform a network service element. An IoT network includes an IoT device with service enumerator, contract enumerator, and join contract function. An IoT network apparatus includes permissions guide drafter for discovered peers, and permissions guide action executor. An IoT network apparatus includes floating service permissions guide drafter for discovered hosts, host hardware selector, floating service permissions guide executor, and service wallet value transferor. An IoT network apparatus includes permissions guide drafter for first and second discovered peers, parameter weight calculator, permissions guide term generator, and permissions guide action executor.

Abstract: A trusted communications environment includes a primary participant with a group creator and a distributed ledger, and a secondary participant with communication credentials. An Internet of Things (IoT) network includes a trusted execution environment with a chain history for a blockchain, a root-of-trust for chaining, and a root-of-trust for archives. An IoT network includes an IoT device with a communication system, an onboarding tool, a device discoverer, a trust builder, a shared domain creator, and a shared resource directory. An IoT network includes an IoT device with a communication system, a policy decision engine, a policy repository, a policy enforcement engine, and a peer monitor. An IoT network includes an IoT device with a host environment and a trusted reliability engine to apply a failover action if the host environment fails. An IoT network includes an IoT server including secure booter/measurer, trust anchor, authenticator, key manager, and key generator.

Abstract: The Internet can be configured to provide communications to a large number of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. Devices can be designed to address the need for network layers, from central servers, through gateways, down to edge devices, to grow unhindered, to discover and make accessible connected resources, and to support the ability to hide and compartmentalize connected resources. Network protocols can be part of the fabric supporting human accessible services that operate regardless of location, time, or space. Innovations can include service delivery and associated infrastructure, such as hardware and software. Services may be provided in accordance with specified Quality of Service (QoS) terms. The use of IoT devices and networks can be included in a heterogeneous network of connectivity including wired and wireless technologies.

Abstract: An Internet of Things (IoT) network composite object includes a device owner with name server and sub-object list, sub-objects, and a blockchain recording the sub-objects. An IoT network composite object includes a device owner with composite object type name server, and blockchain. An IoT network coalition group includes coalition group name server, coalition group member list, and blockchain. An IoT network apparatus includes device identity generator, message publisher, network applier, device describer, and packer sender. An IoT network apparatus includes a device registrar to register device to first network through a portal to second network, device joiner, token requester, and authentication request sender. An IoT network apparatus includes an identity verifier to verify the identity of an authentication request, and an authentication request response returner.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for securing distributed shares of an electronic wallet. An example method includes provisioning a plurality of devices each hosting an e-wallet share with enhanced privacy identification (EPID) private keys for the e-wallet share. A signature is posted for the e-wallet share to a blockchain. A determination is made as to whether the e-wallet share is compromised, and, if so, posting a revocation list comprising the signature for the e-wallet share to a blockchain.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform remote monitoring are disclosed. Some example methods include adjusting an image capture rate at which an image sensor captures images based on a difference image containing differences between a first image of a first set of objects and a second image of a second set of objects. Example methods also include reducing a file size of the difference image using an edge detection technique and prioritizing one or more of a set of frames based on an amount of information contained in the frames. The frames are subdivisions of the image. In further example methods, the first image is taken at a first time and the second image is taken at a second, later time, and the method includes subtracting the first image from the second image to generate the difference image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a contextual authentication of an electronic wallet (e-wallet). An example apparatus includes a wallet application configured to confirm a context for use of an e-wallet, wherein the context is defined by a multifactor authentication (MFA) policy. A multifactor authentication application is configured to access a context sensor to provide input to the wallet application for the MFA policy.