Abstract: A method is implemented at an Internet-connected remote control device for reviewing content channels on an Internet-connected display device that is associated with the remote control device via a user account maintained at a server. In response to receiving a user actuation of a user button, the remote control identifies a first Internet content channel that is currently being displayed on the display device, and obtains a preferred channel list including a sequence of Internet content channels that is associated with the user account and includes the first Internet content channel. The remote control then identifies a second Internet content channel that follows the first Internet content channel in the preferred channel list, and transmits to the server a first channel change message including information of the second Internet content channel to cause the Internet-connected display device to display media content provided by the second content channel.

Abstract: A system and method uses a first device fingerprint for a set-top box (STB) installed within a home theater environment which includes an over-the-top (OTT) device to cause a one a plurality of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) remote control setup procedures to be selected for use to configure an OEM remote control for the STB and the selected one of the plurality of OEM remote control setup procedures uses a second device fingerprint for the OTT device to cause the OEM remote control to be configured to transmit one or more commands to control functional operations of the OTT device.

Abstract: A system for identifying a target object includes a database containing a plurality of unique combinations of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes. Each of the unique combinations of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes is associated with a particular type of target object. A signal generator generates a signal having one of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes applied thereto and directs the signal toward the target object. A transceiver transmits the signal toward the target object and receives a second signal having a unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes reflected from the target object.

Abstract: Methods for a soft universal remote (SUR) controller are performed by systems and apparatuses. Audio/visual (A/V) devices may be controlled by hardware remote controllers that are not configured to control other devices of an audio/visual system. A SUR controller implemented by an A/V device provides consumable control signals to such other devices based on control signals from the A/V device remote controller. A SUR controller determines another device for which a received control function is directed, and transmits a generated consumable control signal for the control function of the received control signal is provided to the other device. User interfaces are provided by SUR controllers for the configuration of SUR controllers and remote controllers, and for control of other A/V devices via the user interfaces.

Abstract: A controller includes a plurality of configurable input ports, a plurality of configurable output ports, and a configuration circuit. The configuration circuit is configured to provide a graphical user interface configured to facilitate a user in inputting an equipment description, determine a controller configuration based on the equipment description, configure the plurality of configurable input ports in accordance with the controller configuration, configure the plurality of configurable output ports in accordance with the controller configuration, and enable a set of control logic based on the controller configuration. The controller also includes an online control circuit configured to receive inputs via the plurality of configurable input ports, generate outputs based on the inputs and the set of control logic, and provide the outputs to building equipment via the plurality of configurable output ports.

Abstract: A remote operation system enables remote operation by an operation terminal of an electronic appliance, which executes a process according to control data from an external apparatus and outputs response data to the external apparatus, via the Internet. The remote operation system includes a first processor connected to the Internet and a second processor locally connected to the electronic appliance and set up for access by the first processor via the Internet. The second processor executes a first process that establishes a first path for reception of transmission data via the Internet from the first processor at any time. The first processor executes a second process that instructs the second processor via the first path to establish a second path for end-to-end communication to enable remote operation of the electronic appliance by the operation terminal via the Internet.

Abstract: A remote-control device for controlling an appliance having a plurality of appliance components is provided. The remote-control device includes a plurality of pushbutton units, each pushbutton unit including at least one physical operating pushbutton configurable to control at least one appliance component. Each of the pushbutton units is provided with a visually detectable distinguishing feature for visually distinguishing one pushbutton unit from another pushbutton unit. The remote-control device also includes a display unit configured to display representations of each controllable appliance component. Each representation of an appliance component includes the same visually detectable distinguishing feature as a corresponding pushbutton unit to which the appliance component is assigned.

Abstract: Handheld electronic devices are provided that have remote control functionality and gesture recognition features. The handheld electronic device may have remote control functionality in addition to cellular telephone, music player, or handheld computer functionality. The handheld electronic devices may have a touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may recognize gestures performed by a user on the touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may generate remote control signals from gestures that the handheld electronic device may recognize. A media system may receive the remote control signals and may take appropriate action. The touch sensitive display screen may be used to present the user with information about the media system such as the current volume.

Abstract: A load control system may include control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. The control devices may include a load control discovery device capable of sending discovery messages configured to discover control devices within a location. The discovered control devices may be organized by signal strength and may be provided to a network device to enable association of the discovered control devices within a location. The discovery messages may be transmitted within an established discovery range. The discovery range may be adjusted to discover different control devices. Different control devices may be identified as the load control discovery device for discovering different control devices.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a converter device which has a housing that can be installed into a motor vehicle. The converter device is designed to adapt an impedance of an external antenna which can be positioned outside of the housing to an impedance of at least one additional electric device via a conversion path such that a specified impedance is provided at an electric converter output. An antenna device which is independent of the conversion path is integrated into the housing of the converter device, said antenna device providing a Bluetooth and/or WLAN connection to a device, and at least one antenna device connection which is electrically connected to the antenna device is provided on the housing of the converter device as the electric output and/or electric input of the antenna device. The disclosure additionally relates to a motor vehicle comprising a converter device.

Abstract: An electronic device executing an application through communication with a user input apparatus, the electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes: a communication unit that is configured to communicate with the user input apparatus; an information generation unit that generates information about an exclusive controller that controls the application and is executed in the user input apparatus; and a controller that controls the information generation unit to generate the information about the exclusive controller when the electronic device is paired with the user input apparatus, and controls the communication unit to transmit the generated information about the exclusive controller to the user input apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

Abstract: In an aspect, a tire for use with a single wheel, self-balancing vehicle is provided. The tire has a tire body with a tread configured for engagement with a ground surface. The tread has a lateral profile having a central region, a first lateral region tapering towards a first lateral side of the tire, and a second lateral region tapering towards a second lateral side of the tire. The lateral profile is substantially free of discontinuity. The tread has a non-directional tread groove arrangement that is asymmetrical about a central circumference line of the tire. The tire has a hardness selected to substantially prevent deformation of the first profile and the second profile during riding by a rider.

Abstract: A method for a plausibility check of safety-relevant variables, wherein a first safety-relevant variable and a further safety-relevant variable are dependent on one another and are each provided to be raised from a lower safety level to a higher safety level. The plausibility check of the first safety-relevant variable is performed in a first time interval of a cycle of a clock by implementing a first plausibility rule, and upon a successful plausibility check during the first time interval, is raised from the lower safety level to the higher safety level for the safety-relevant variable. The plausibility check of the further safety-relevant variable is performed in a second time interval of the cycle of the clock by implementing a further plausibility rule, and upon a successful plausibility check during the second time interval, is raised from the lower safety level to the higher safety level for the further safety-relevant variable.

Abstract: A method is implemented at an Internet-connected remote control device for reviewing content channels on an Internet-connected display device that is associated with the remote control device via a user account maintained at a server. In response to receiving a user actuation of a user button, the remote control identifies a first Internet content channel that is currently being displayed on the display device, and obtains a preferred channel list including a sequence of Internet content channels that is associated with the user account and includes the first Internet content channel. The remote control then identifies a second Internet content channel that follows the first Internet content channel in the preferred channel list, and transmits to the server a first channel change message including information of the second Internet content channel to cause the Internet-connected display device to display media content provided by the second content channel.

Abstract: A device includes a first interface, and a processor. The first interface connects to a wide area network and communicates with a first electronic device via the wide area network. The processor is configured to initiate transmission of a request while the processor is disconnected from a local area network. The processor is configured to initiate transmission of a second request to a second electronic device via the first interface. The second electronic device is located in a facility remote to the residential gateway. The processor is further configured to receive media content sent from the second electronic device responsive to the second request.

Abstract: In an aspect, a tire for use with a single wheel, self-balancing vehicle is provided. The tire has a tire body with a tread configured for engagement with a ground surface. The tread has a lateral profile having a central region, a first lateral region tapering towards a first lateral side of the tire, and a second lateral region tapering towards a second lateral side of the tire. The lateral profile is substantially free of discontinuity. The tread has a non-directional tread groove arrangement that is asymmetrical about a central circumference line of the tire. The tire has a hardness selected to substantially prevent deformation of the first profile and the second profile during riding by a rider.

Abstract: A method of detecting a defeat device includes: determining turbo operation when a turbocharger of a vehicle is operated; determining flow rate of the air to be applied to an intake manifold wherein it is determined whether which flow rate out of a first flow rate of the air passing through a throttle valve and a second flow rate of the air measured by a hot-film air mass flow (HFM) sensor is used as the flow rate of the intake manifold; determining whether pressure in the intake manifold is in a normal range based on the flow rate of the intake manifold; and determining that the defeat device is installed if it is determined that the pressure in the intake manifold is not in the normal range and storing information of the defeat device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprogramming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprogramming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.

Abstract: A non-intrusive system which monitors a data center by detecting electromagnetic waves alleviates a resource burden on components and is inexpensive to deploy and scale within a data center. The system detects waves using omnidirectional antennas positioned throughout the data center, thus alleviating the need to physically attach directional antennas to components. The system performs a learning phase wherein representations of detected waves are mapped to occurrence of events within the data center. Once the learning phase is complete, operation of existing network monitoring tools, such as agents and probes, may cease, and the system may begin monitoring for events based on the detected waves. The system may also analyze wave data prior to the occurrence of events to identify event prediction indicators, e.g. distinctive wave values or patterns, which may be used to predict the occurrence of an event.

Abstract: A control device is provided. The control device includes a user interface unit in which information of a broadcast receiver controlled through unidirectional wireless communication is entered, a searching unit which searches an infrared (IR) code set corresponding the broadcast receiver based on the entered information, a managing unit which registers the broadcast receiver as a controllable broadcast receiver within a home network based on the searched IR code set, and a first communication interface unit which, if a control signal for the registered broadcast receiver is received, transmits an IR code corresponding to the control signal from the IR code set corresponding to the registered broadcast receiver to the registered broadcasting receiver.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a systems and methods for finding wireless signals sufficient for installation of wireless home automation devices. Before such home automation devices are installed, or during the process of installing such home automation devices, the remote-control device of a wireless home automation hub may detect whether a suitable wireless signal is able to be received from the home automation hub or from a wireless repeater device at various locations on the customer premises and indicate that on the remote-control device. The remote control device may continue to display such an indication regarding the signal, or lack thereof, as the user moves about the customer premises with the remote control. In this manner, the user may find what locations on the customer premises are suitable for installation of home automation devices to communicate wirelessly with the home automation hub.

Abstract: Provided is a device management system including plural situation grasping devices that are provided in an office room, each of which grasps surrounding situations, and an image forming apparatus that is provided in the office room, includes a storage unit storing information on the plural situation grasping devices, and forms an image on a recording material.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided with a seat cushion adapted to be mounted for translation. A seat back is adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the seat cushion. At least one actuator is operably connected to at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back for adjustment of at least one of a plurality of settings of the seat assembly. A controller is in electrical communication with the at least one actuator and configured to: receive a data input indicative of occupant anthropometry data, receive a mode selection input indicative of a selected seat positioning mode, compare the data input with predetermined data ranges for the selected seat positioning mode, and adjust at least one of the plurality of settings of the at least one actuator to a predetermined setting based on the predetermined data range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling one or more appliances are provided. One or more appliances (150), each having one or more unique identifiers and one or more first network adapters can be in communication with one or more first networks (140). One or more network adapter devices (120) capable of bi-directional communication on the first network (140) and on one or more second networks (160) can be disposed on the first network (140). One or more appliance databases can be disposed in, on, or about the one or more second networks (160). One or more handheld controllers (110) can be in communication with the one or more network adapter devices (120) and the one or more appliances (150).

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a vehicle information acquiring unit 10 to obtain the vehicle information about a vehicle state of its own vehicle; a cloud communication unit 11 to transmit the vehicle information obtained by the vehicle information acquiring unit 10 to a cloud server 2, and to receive the communication establishment information transmitted from the cloud server 2; an intervehicle communication unit 13 to carry out intervehicle communication; and a controller 12 to instruct the intervehicle communication unit 13 to perform the intervehicle communication and to establish communication in accordance with the communication establishment information the cloud communication unit 11 receives.

Abstract: Apparatus, a method and a computer program product periodically determine one or more temperature thresholds and configuration settings attributable to one or more user equipment coupled to a vehicle. The one or more determined temperature thresholds and configuration settings are sent to the one or more user equipment in a thermal management scheme message. The one or more user equipment are adapted to adjust an operational threshold in response to the received thermal management scheme message.

Abstract: An arrangement for managing bi-directional wireless communication between a controller and a plurality of controllable-devices wherein each controllable-device is able to provide operable function specific instructions to the controller as to how it would like to be operated by the controller and wherein a proximity mechanism means provides bidirectional communications over a distance of a few centimeters between the controller and the or each controllable-device.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for processing viewer profiles and program metadata from a number of sources to provide viewing suggestions and recommendations to one or more viewers.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

Abstract: An apparatus for augmenting associations between places and fingerprints includes a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including detecting fingerprint data from a beacon device(s), as the apparatus traverses one or more physical places. The fingerprint data corresponds to generated summaries of radio information corresponding to the physical places. The computer code may cause the apparatus to compare fingerprint data detected from a subset of beacon devices with canonical fingerprint data, including initial fingerprint data, corresponding to physical places to determine a closest match. The computer code may cause the apparatus to determine a location of the apparatus in the physical place based on determining fingerprint data, detected from the subset of beacon devices in the physical place, that most accurately resembles canonical fingerprint data corresponding to one of the physical places.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for selecting a television function on a channel control system through a mobile device. A request to select the television function is received. The request may be generated in response to activating a link or element in an application configured on a computing device. The television function associated with the request is to select a television broadcast channel showing a particular television program. A channel showing the particular television program is determined. An infrared code comprising an instruction to select the television function associated with the determined channel is received. The system and method allow a user to access broadcast television programs from an online interface.

Abstract: A media player device includes a first, a second, and a third interface, and a processor. The first interface communicates with a residential gateway via a wide area network and/or a local area network, and the residential gateway is coupled to a plurality of electronic devices. The second interface communicates directly with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. The third interface communicates with one or more electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices via the local area network. The processor is configured to selectively transmit a request via the second interface when the media player device is proximate to the first electronic device, via the third interface when the media player device is not proximate to the first electronic device and is within range of the local area network, and via the first interface when the media player device is outside the range.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing interaction between devices are described. At a first device, an application is executed. The application operates interactively with a remote control application executing on a second device. One or more information items are transmitted to the second device for display as one or more selectable display items. Each respective information item is associated with an action definition. The action definition includes a command to be sent by the second device to the first device in response to a user selection of the respective information item. A command is received from the second device in response to a selection of a first one of the selectable display items by the user. A predefined action is performed in response to receiving the command.

Abstract: An appliance wirelessly receives any of a plurality of different signals that comprise control instructions from a transmitter for a second appliance other than the appliance and of a different class of appliance. The appliance then provides, in the absence of learning, any of a plurality of different control instructions to be used by the appliance as a function of that received signal. By one approach those wirelessly-received control instructions relate to controllable functions for the second appliance. Pursuant to these teachings, the receiving appliance effectively converts a received control instruction that relates to one kind of functionality for a given kind of appliance into a control instruction that relates to a different kind of functionality and that is usable by a different kind of appliance.

Abstract: A control unit (101), such as a remote control device, includes a profile selector (104). The profile selector (104), which may be a single profile selector button integrated into the side or top of a remote control, allows quick and simple selection of an operating mode or user profile. The control unit (101) includes an indicator (107) that provides indicia of the currently selected mode or profile. Examples of indicators include multicolored lights and display devices. Where multicolored lights are used as the indicator (107), actuation of the profile selector (104) causes the indicator (107) to change from a first color to a second color.

Abstract: A technique of using a remote control device to identify a source for transferring content on a home network, a renderer for rendering the content and a pathway within a home network to couple the source to the renderer to transfer the content. The remote control device then transmits control information to the source to set a control parameter value within the source to send the content and transmits control information to the renderer to set a control parameter value within the renderer to receive the content. The commands from the remote configure parameter values associated with a media layer in the source and/or the renderer to initiate a hand-shake to effect the content transfer, so that the source and the renderer need not initiate the hand-shake between themselves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control method of a communication system including at least one sensor that a user wears, a wireless communication apparatus and a coordinator.

Abstract: In one aspect, when a user directs a remote controller (13) toward a television set (11), causing the remote controller (13) and the television set (11) to enter the wireless communication region of each other, the remote controller (13) and the television set (11) establish a wireless link to each other. When the user directs the remote controller (13) toward an air conditioner (12), causing the remote controller (13) and the air conditioner (12) to enter the wireless communication region of each other, the remote controller (13) and the air conditioner (12) establish a wireless link to each other. The remote controller (13) and the television set (11) are out of the wireless communication region of each other at this point, and the wireless link between the two is thus disconnected.

Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remote's. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a remote control to command the operation of appliances, to capture demographic data, and to provide services, such as automated warranty registration, instructions, viewing guides, etc., relevant to the appliances is provided. The system includes a database and associated server that are located remotely from the remote control and accessible via a network connection. Command codes, graphical user interface elements, and services are accessed and downloaded to the remote control, as appropriate, using data supplied to the server that identifies the appliances and/or functional capabilities of the appliances. This data can be supplied by the appliances directly or can be obtained from other sources such as barcode labels, network devices, etc.

Abstract: An operation communication system is provided including a server, a mobile device, and a reader device. The server and the reader device communicate data with one another via the mobile device. The mobile device may communicates with the reader device via Bluetooth, for example. The mobile device may communicate with the server via the Internet, for example. Associated methods, devices and apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: An enhanced tag management system is disclosed comprising a networked resource/asset prefetch feature. In some examples, the tag management system comprises a recommendation system, a collection system, a non-volatile data store, a user computing device with cache memory, and/or other components. The enhanced tag management system permits prefetching of resource/assets, such as images, videos, widgets, etc., while avoiding the skewing of analytical results. As a result, a user computing device may enjoy enhanced performance and reduced latency without sacrificing the reliability of collected analytics data.

Abstract: An aircraft-based infrared image recognition device for a ground moving target, including an infrared non-uniformity correction module, an image rotation module, an image registration module, a multi-level filtering module, a connected domain labeling module, a target detection and feature recognition module, a process control module, and a FPGA-based interconnection module. The invention uses an ASIC/SoC chip for image processing and target recognition, the DSP processor and the FPGA processor, it is possible to enable a multi-level image processing and target recognition algorithm, to improve system parallel, and to facilitate an aircraft-based infrared image recognition method for a ground moving target. Meanwhile, embodiments of the invention effectively reduce power consumption of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for switching channels to reduce channel zapping time, which use channel information generated prior to channel switching and generates audio and video data of a switched channel, thereby skipping a process of calculating channel information of a channel to be switched at the time of channel switching.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a remote control to command the operation of appliances, to capture demographic data, and to provide services, such as automated warranty registration, instructions, viewing guides, etc., relevant to the appliances is provided. The system includes a database and associated server that are located remotely from the remote control and accessible via a network connection. Command codes, graphical user interface elements, and services are accessed and downloaded to the remote control, as appropriate, using data supplied to the server that identifies the appliances and/or functional capabilities of the appliances. This data can be supplied by the appliances directly or can be obtained from other sources such as barcode labels, network devices, etc.

Abstract: The disclosure recites a device, system and method for provisioning resources from a server in a network to a mobile electronic device. The method comprising at the server: after receiving a network registration request from the device, accessing a device registry; if the device is in the device registry, determining whether a resource is may be provisioned to the device from the server, otherwise, if not, awaiting a request from the device for the resource; determining whether the resource has already been provisioned to the device or the device has been designated to be provisioned with the resource from an alternative source, and if so, not approving the resource to be provisioned to the device, otherwise providing a data transmission to the device from the server containing text and a link to the resource that can be extracted by the device.

Abstract: A system and Method to create and control a software appliance across a wired or wireless connection, such method allowing users to select and store app packages containing control apps and Appliance apps the latter of which are deployed and launched on a selected Software Appliance. The resulting approach provides for improved personalization of the App experience when deployed between a mobile device and a Software Appliance that is installed on a device that is traditionally a shared resource such as a Television.

Abstract: A first remote control application is configured to cause a smart device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of a controllable appliance in response to a user interface element of the smart device being activated while a second remote control application of a bridge device is configured to cause the bridge device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of the controllable appliance in response to receiving at the bridge device the at least one command transmitted from the smart device. The at least one command is transmitted from the smart device using a first transmission protocol and the at least one command is transmitted from the bridge device using a transmission protocol recognized by the controllable appliance.