Abstract: A vehicle includes a body providing structural support and defining a fuselage perimeter and including a plurality of bands, a plurality of antennas integrated into the plurality of bands, and a transceiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of antennas. The transceiver is configured to power selected sub-sets of the plurality of antennas to generate a directional antenna beam.

Abstract: A device, system, and method optimizes taxi dispatch requests. The system comprises delivery vehicles located within a dispatch region and a dispatch center processing dispatch requests and receiving data including status information with corresponding timestamps of availability of the delivery vehicles. The method includes receiving a new dispatch request. The method includes determining a dynamic pooling scheme is to be used, the dynamic pooling scheme waiting for the pool of the available delivery vehicles to grow to reach a predetermined pooling size prior to selecting a delivery vehicle for the new dispatch request. The method includes determining a respective overall cost associated with pairing each available delivery vehicle to the new dispatch request. The method includes selecting a pairing based on the respective overall costs. The method includes dispatching a selected available delivery vehicle in the optimal pairing to service the new dispatch request.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a plurality of capacitors each forming a portion of a vehicle structure, and a parallel electrical link between a pair of the plurality of capacitors, such that the pair of capacitors act as an aggregate capacitor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body providing structural support and defining a fuselage perimeter and including a plurality of bands, a plurality of antennas integrated into the plurality of bands, and a transceiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of antennas. The transceiver is configured to power selected sub-sets of the plurality of antennas to generate a directional antenna beam.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a plurality of capacitors each forming a portion of a vehicle structure, and a parallel electrical link between a pair of the plurality of capacitors, such that the pair of capacitors act as an aggregate capacitor.

Abstract: A system comprising a transmitter element creating an interrogation signal and transmitting the interrogation signal and a receiver element receiving a reflection signal of the interrogation signal and combining the reflection signal and a feedback signal to cancel at least a portion of radio frequency echo signals in the reflection signal.

Abstract: A system comprising a transmitter element creating an interrogation signal and transmitting the interrogation signal and a receiver element receiving a reflection signal of the interrogation signal and combining the reflection signal and a feedback signal to cancel at least a portion of radio frequency echo signals in the reflection signal.

Abstract: A dual mode mobile unit is arranged to communicate in either a first or second data communications standard, such as combined Bluetooth and 802.11 operation. An interface unit converts received Bluetooth or 802.11 format signals into 802.11 frame format data signals to be provided to a digital signal processor which is programmed to process signals in either standard. The dual mode mobile unit can operate in the 802.11 standard to reserve a time interval for Bluetooth activity during which other 802.11 units will avoid transmissions to avoid interference.

Abstract: Systems and methods for opportunistically charging a rechargeable power source of a portable electronic unit are provided. The system includes a primary inductance assembly energized by a main power source for inducing an electro-magnetic flux in a secondary coil assembly associated with a power source of the portable unit. Such electro-magnetic flux creates an electric current that is subsequently employed for charging the power source of the portable unit. A controller of the charging system can monitor state of charge, and notify a user when a recharge is required. Scavenging modes may also be employed for recharging the main power source and the rechargeable source of the portable unit.

Abstract: A secure m-commerce system and device. A consumer m-commerce device receives product data via a number of data input techniques. The product data is uploaded to a remote personal agent that requests bids from commercial partners to transact the list. When a bid is selected, the consumer transacts remotely to complete the purchase thereof. The system tracks geographically the device such that the consumer is alerted to a partner location, and may stop by the location for further information. The device may also output a store map to the consumer that locates all products on the shopping list.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a wireless personal area network (WPAN) from an array of intercommunicating personal area network (PAN) devices. The system comprises a location determinator configured to determine a location for each of the PAN devices, a comparator coupled to the determinator for comparing the location of each of the PAN devices with WPAN association criteria to choose a subset meeting the WPAN criteria at least in part, and a communication link coupled to the comparator to transmit identification data of the subset to some or all of the subset of PAN devices. When received, the information causes the subset to form the WPAN, which then intercommunicate substantially ignoring the non-WPAN devices. In a preferred embodiment, the comparator selects the WPAN from those of the plurality of PAN devices that are within a predetermined distance of each other and/or move as a group.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to a wireless networking system using RFID tags is provided. The security system and method uses RFID tags to determine the location of mobile computing device. The security system and method selectively allows access to the wireless networking system based on the determined location of the mobile computing device. For example, the security system and method will permit access to the wireless networking system if the mobile computing device is determined to be in an area of permitted access. Conversely, the security system and method will deny access to the wireless networking system if the mobile computing device is determined to be not within an area of permitted access. Thus, the system and method is able to effectively control access to the wireless networking system by only permitting access to mobile devices within designated areas.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the design parameters of a RFID tag for use with a RFID reader in a RFID system. In the method, a desired frequency band that the RFID tag will operate in is chosen. Additionally, a maximum acceptable cost for the RFID tag, a minimum acceptable data range for the RFID tag and a minimum operating voltage for the RFID tag are chosen. For a given cost, an optimal data rate is calculated by varying a carrier modulation period of an interrogation signal generated by the RFID reader and antenna capacitance of the RFID tag. Next, an optimal range for a given operating voltage is calculated using the optimal data rate.

Abstract: Multi-tier system for digital radio communication. The multi-tier system has a first-tier base station with relatively long-range radio and has a second-tier base station with relatively short-range, low power and cheaper radios. The system can be more versatilely configured to meet demands of various applications. The application may include data capture using bar code readers, radio frequency readers and other automatic data capture devices. The system may also be used to control hotel door locks, individual room temperature control, remote video monitoring—all without having to wire and with much flexibility given the two types of radios employed.

Abstract: A video imager processor and two radio frequency transceivers are supported on a common support having a predetermined form factor, such as that of a Compact Flash card commonly utilized in mobile computers. Common digital processing circuitry is used for processing the baseband signal from the RF transceivers, making a highly integrated and compact arrangement.

Abstract: A system is provided for communication and sensory monitoring. The system comprises a plurality of nodes installed as a network in a structure. Each of the plurality of nodes comprises an internode transceiver for wireless communication between nodes, a wireless network transceiver for wireless communication with one or more wireless devices, one or more sensors for monitoring the environment of the structure and a processor coupled to the internode transceiver, the wireless network transceiver and the one or more sensors to exchange data with the internode transceiver, the wireless network transceiver and the one or more sensors devices coupled to the processor and process the data. The system also includes a wide area network bridge coupled to the plurality of network nodes. The network bridge receives data from the plurality of network nodes and passes the information to a computer network for processing.

Abstract: A portable/handheld device is provided having a processing module configured to selectively operate a reading mode selected from a far-field mode and a near-field mode, and a directional antenna array coupled to the processing module. The directional antenna array includes a first antenna element configured to radiate electromagnetic (EM) radiation in a far-field, and a second antenna element coupled to the first antenna element. The second antenna element is configured to radiate EM radiation in a near-field. The second antenna element includes an antenna transducer configured to selectively cancel far-field EM radiation from the first antenna element. A method of reading inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is also provided having the steps of scanning at least one frequency band to detect a RFID tag, and selectively radiating one of a near-field electromagnetic (EM) field and a far-field EM field based on the detected RFID tag.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to locate a terminal within a workspace. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are provided in known locations, preferably in, on or adjacent the light fixtures or other workspace infrastructure. The terminal comprises an RFID tag interrogation transceiver, processor and memory. The transceiver interrogates the tags which respond with information correlatable with their unique locations. The terminal determines its locations relative to the known locations of responding tags by, for example, varying its transmit power and/or receiver sensitivity and/or by trilateration using, for example, phase or time difference of arrival measurements on the tag response signals. Once it has determined its own location it may transmit or otherwise announce its location as desired by the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically and autonomously forming a wireless personal area network (WPAN) from an array of intercommunicating personal area network (PAN) devices. The devices comprise first communicators associated with primary functions of the devices and second communicators coupled to the first communicators for determining a subset of the devices meeting predetermined association criteria, from which subset the first communicators form the WPAN. In a preferred embodiment, the second communicators include range measuring transceivers and processors coupled to the transceivers that cooperate to determine range and relative motion of elements within communication range of the first communicators for comparison to range and relative motion association criteria stored in one or more of the devices. Memory is desirably included for storing the association criteria.

Abstract: A dual mode mobile unit is arranged to communicate in either a first or second data communications standard, such as combined Bluetooth and 802.11 operation. An interface unit converts received Bluetooth or 802.11 format signals into 802.11 frame format data signals to be provided to a digital signal processor which is programmed to process signals in either standard. The dual mode mobile unit can operate in the 802.11 standard to reserve a time interval for Bluetooth activity during which other 802.11 units will avoid transmissions to avoid interference.