Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying the locations of equipment in computing environments such as data centers. For example, a method of identifying a location of at least one computing device in a computing environment, including a plurality of computing devices, includes the following steps. A first representation of temperature conditions associated with the plurality of computing devices is obtained while the at least one computing device is in a first mode. The at least one computing device is placed into a second mode. A second representation of temperature conditions associated with the plurality of computing devices is obtained while the at least one computing device is in the second mode. The location of the at least one computing system is determined using the first representation and the second representation. The first mode may be one of a normal operating mode and an idle mode, and the second mode may be the other of the normal operating mode and the idle mode.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle that includes a movable chassis and an operator station rotatable relative to the chassis. The system includes a sensor, an indicator assembly, and a controller. The sensor can detect an orientation of the operator station relative to the chassis, and generates a signal indicative of the orientation of the operator station. The indicator assembly is disposed on the operator station, and includes a first indicator indicative of the operator station oriented in a first direction, and a second indicator indicative of the operator station oriented in a second direction. The controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the signal indicative of the operator station orientation from the sensor, and further is in communication with the indicator assembly to selectively vary the indicator assembly between the first indicator and the second indicator based on the signal indicative of the operator station orientation.

Abstract: Provided is a method for designing, managing and executing response plans. Specific plan and resources are defined and a defined plan is executed either automatically or manually according to pre-determined or “real-time” parameter definitions. An executed plan notifies, by various user-defined means, actively or pre-defined parties in a near simultaneous fashion of security communications, notifications, directives and/or information. One embodiment of the system includes a component that requires a notified party to acknowledge a particular notification event by responding with a personal identification number (PIN) or calling a specified telephone number and entering the PIN. The system enables parties to be organized into groups based upon member profiles. Individual parties can be assigned to sub-groups, enabling specifically designed communications to go to the parties of any particular sub-group.

Abstract: A fire detection network employs an implicit data backup and recovery system. The implicit data backup system allows fire detection units within a network to be automatically reprogrammed with configuration data. The detection units can store backup data and can access the stored backup data when necessary.

Abstract: A system that monitors various conditions of a plurality of hospital beds located in different rooms of a healthcare facility is provided. Alternatively or additionally, other types of equipment may be monitored by the system. Various configurations of network interface units that are coupleable to or integrated into a hospital bed are also disclosed. The system receives data from the hospital beds and/or other equipment and initiates a communication to a wireless communication device of at least one designated caregiver in response to the received data being indicative of an alarm condition.

Abstract: Emergent information is created and utilized by an array of sensors. Each sensor is programmed with a trigger rule, which describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal, and a relationship rule, which describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors. When a predetermined weighted percentage of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated. An effectuator then takes appropriate steps to address the condition described by the emergent information.

Abstract: A method for recreating known emergent information comprises initially storing data in a database. Multiple data patterns, which are based on known emergent information, are developed. These multiple data patterns are ranked according to each data pattern's historic accuracy in creating the known emergent information. The data is applied to a highest-ranked data pattern to recreate the known emergent information.

Abstract: Emergent information is created and utilized by an array of sensors. Each sensor is programmed with a trigger rule, which describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal, and a relationship rule, which describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors. When a predetermined weighted percentage of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated. An effectuator then takes appropriate steps to address the condition described by the emergent information.

Abstract: Emergent information is created and utilized by an array of sensors. Each sensor is programmed with a trigger rule, which describes a local condition that must be met for the sensor to trigger an event signal, and a relationship rule, which describes a hierarchy of communication control among sensors in the array of sensors. When a predetermined percentage or weighting of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated.

Abstract: Face-to-face detection by infrared-ray communication is effective in grasping interaction between persons. However the problem here is that infrared rays have a high directivity and detection fails unless the persons face each other right in front. Sensor signals having a high directivity and sensor signals having a low directivity are obtained from a sensor terminal (TR) carried by a person. Firstly, information on relative position is obtained with a sensor (TRIR) of infrared rays or the like having a high directivity and an initial group is formed at an application server (AS). A feature amount such as sound that has a low directivity and can sense surrounding environmental information is extracted from among the terminals (TRs) belonging to the initial group by personal feature extraction (ASIF), correlation with terminals (TRs) not belonging to a group is obtained, and thereby whether or not those terminals (TRs) belong to an identical group is judged.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and analyzing elevated temperatures at a component rack to identify and characterize air recirculation anomalies. In one embodiment, temperatures are sensed in proximity to an air intake of the component rack. Temperature sensors communicate with a workstation having system management software including a thermal management component for analyzing air intake temperatures. Predefined temperature differentials (PTD) are established, corresponding to expected temperature differentials between the selected locations in the absence of any appreciable recirculation. The PTD provides a threshold for comparing with “actual” temperature differentials (ATD) to identify the presence and/or mode of recirculation. If an ATD exceeds a corresponding PTD for a predefined time interval, a signal is output. The mode of recirculation, such as left-side, right-side, or dual-surface recirculation, may be determined using as few as four temperature sensors positioned at a zone of interest (ZOI).

Abstract: Provided is a method for designing, managing and executing response plans. Specific plan and resources are defined and a defined plan is executed either automatically or manually according to pre-determined or “real-time” parameter definitions. An executed plan notifies, by various user-defined means, actively or pre-defined parties in a near simultaneous fashion of security communications, notifications, directives and/or information. One embodiment of the system includes a component that requires a notified party to acknowledge a particular notification event by responding with a personal identification number (PIN) or calling a specified telephone number and entering the PIN. The system enables parties to be organized into groups based upon member profiles. Individual parties can be assigned to sub-groups, enabling specifically designed communications to go to the parties of any particular sub-group.

Abstract: A system including a network of emergency equipment stations is described. The network includes at least one emergency equipment station. The emergency equipment station includes an emergency assistance device, a first sensor configured to detect an object within a vicinity of the emergency equipment station and a second sensor configured to sense at least one selectable predetermined internal condition. The system may further include a central station that is remotely located from the emergency equipment station. The central station is configured to communicate with the emergency equipment station as well as the network and receive data from the first and the second sensors.

Abstract: A mobile security monitoring method and system and an alarm security node in the system for intelligent security system, where said intelligent security system is activated by a breach in a security zone. This breach will start a video monitoring/recording sequence that is sent out via the broadband to an alarm center. The alarm center forwards this alarm information to a user as SMS/MMS information through a mobile network. The user can view and evaluate what is going on at the security zone and can decide what action to initiate. This will minimize a false alarm generation and thus cut down the costs of follow thru of the false alarm (s) by i.e. an alarm security provider. For security and cost reason, the intelligent security system is the only client of the server-side alarm center. The concept is to use existing IT infrastructure at the security zone for user like W-LAN, broadband, GPRS and mobile devices.

Abstract: An emergency response system capable of directing building occupants to a safe location in real-time is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of sensors which detect and monitor an emergency condition, a central processing unit which evaluates the data, calculates accessible evacuation routes, and sends the result to output devices which provide directional information to occupants. By combining an analysis of the flow of evacuees with changes in building structural information and the evolution of an emergency condition the system combines situation-aware data with contextual information to thereby provide the best available evacuation route to evacuees. In this manner, some evacuees may be redirected to alternate evacuation routes during the evacuation process itself, thereby minimizing problems due to congestion, potential panic of the evacuees, and changes in the emergency condition while increasing the probability that evacuees will reach a safe location.

Abstract: The thermal detection and visual alarm unit includes a plurality of first expansion thermal detectors (17) with normally closed contacts that are connected in series with a first lamp (15) to form a first two-terminal circuit (21, 23), a plurality of second expansion thermal detectors (18) with normally open contacts connected in parallel, a second lamp (16) connected in series with the second thermal detectors to form a second two-terminal circuit (22, 24), the first and second thermal detectors forming a plurality of cells (19) each combining a first detector and a second detector having respective contact-opening or contact-closing temperatures that are substantially equal, each of the first and second two-terminal circuits being arranged for connection to the terminals of an electrical power supply (12).

Abstract: Operational status information associated with a process entity in a process plant is received. The operational status information is mapped into one of a plurality of status conditions. Then, an alert message associated with the process entity is generated, where the alert message is indicative of the one status condition of the plurality of status conditions.

Abstract: A room occupancy monitoring system monitors the occupancy status of a plurality of rooms and collects and displays the room occupancy information in real time. The room occupancy monitoring system includes a plurality of room occupancy sensor devices and a server. Each of the room occupancy sensor devices is located in a corresponding one of a plurality of rooms, detects whether the corresponding one of the plurality of rooms is occupied, and generates a first signal indicating whether the corresponding one of the plurality of the rooms is occupied and a second signal indicative of the identity of the corresponding one of the rooms. The server receives the first signal and the second signal from the room occupancy sensor devices through a data communication network and displays room occupancy information of the plurality of the rooms based on the first signal and the second signal on a display device.

Abstract: Enclosure numbering is performed in redundant array of independent disk (RAID) data storage systems. If first, second, and third boards in an enclosure indicate a first enclosure number, the enclosure is indicated as having the first enclosure number. If at least the first and second boards indicate the first enclosure number, the enclosure is indicated as having the first enclosure number. If the first board does not indicate any enclosure number, indicating that the enclosure's enclosure number is unknown.

Abstract: A maintenance data management system uses RFID tags associated with aircraft components to store and manage component attributes such as maintenance and service history, useful in performing aircraft maintenance. A transceiver is used to write data into the tags, read data from the tags and transmit the data to a central database for storage and access by maintenance providers. The data may include the service and maintenance history of the component. Maintenance providers may remotely access the database through the Internet.

Abstract: A system of devices comprises a plurality of sensor devices and a central gateway device. Each sensor device comprises communicating means for communicating with the central gateway device, storage means storing a unique identifier, and display means displaying a location identifier. The central gateway device comprises communicating means for communicating with the plurality of sensor devices, and storage means storing the unique identifiers of the plurality of sensor devices.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of a device of interest is described. The method includes gathering a wireless communications characteristic of the communications between the device of interest and the BAS devices. The method further includes using a processing circuit to determine the location of the device of interest using the gathered wireless communications characteristics and location information regarding the BAS devices.

Abstract: A system for reporting the presence of an adverse condition is described. Adverse conditions include smoke, breaking glass and carbon monoxide. The system includes one or more detectors that sense the adverse condition. The system further includes a central controller that stores a plurality of messages that in turn include a plurality of vocal instructions. A subset of messages is selected based on the detector that sends an indication of the adverse condition to the central controller. The subset of messages is then transmitted to a plurality of audio detectors and audio devices that plays the received vocal instructions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology in display boards such as whiteboards, corkboards, and bulletin boards are disclosed. An RFID tag is affixed to each object that is placed on the display board. Each tag uniquely identifies the object to which it is affixed. RFID readers are placed in proximity to the board so that the position and identity of the tagged objects on the board can be determined. RFID readers can quickly convey this information to a computing device. Optionally, receipt of the position and identity information at the computing device can trigger other events such as the output of notifications.

Abstract: A node is provided for operation in a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or more communications pathways operative to provide control signals from one or more of the master devices to the node. The node includes an electrical device configured to be controlled by one or more of the master devices. The electrical device includes a controller, a communication interface operably coupled to the controller adapted to permit communication between the controller and one or more of the master devices of the control system for controlling an operation of the controller, and an indicator operably coupled to the controller. The communication interface includes a radio frequency communication interface and is adapted to control the operation of the indicator to indicate whether or not the electrical device is operably coupled to a power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus, which is for disaster prevention installed in a facility, includes a radio-frequency identification tag that stores at least one of a first data and a second data. The first data is related to the disaster prevention, and is transmitted by wireless communication. The second data is related to the disaster prevention, and is received by wireless communication.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the control and utilization of multiple sensors within a device. For an example, motion of a device may be detected in response to receipt of a signal from a first sensor disposed in the device, and a power state of a second sensor also disposed in the device may be changed in response to detected motion.

Abstract: A method for performing maintenance inspection and monitoring of various structures and facilities by arranging a sensor on a moving portion of the facility of a building or a portion where wiring is difficult. The method includes a step of constructing a sensor network in accordance with the identification information on the facility, a step of acquiring the state of the facility by using the sensor network constructed, and a step of performing inspection or monitoring according to the acquired information on the state of the facility.

Abstract: The present invention is a technique for locating and identifying a failed filter/arrester in an underground conveyance such as a fiber optic cable. A sensor is installed in the filter/arrester housing to sense grounding of a cable locating frequency. The sensor will monitor the cable locating signal that is normally on the cable and blocked by the filter arrester to ground. A small radio frequency oscillator (85 to 88 Hz), also installed inside the filter housing, is activated by the sensor. The RF signal is detected above ground with standard cable locating equipment. A warning indicator such as an indicator light may also be installed on the outside of the filter housing. The indicator is also activated by the sensor. In that way, the particular failed filter can be identified if multiple filters are installed at that location. The power that will be required to operate the RF transmitter and indicator will be obtained from the voltage passing through the cable.

Abstract: An interactive training system capable of generating continuous feedback for physical therapy and training applications based on capturing and analyzing the movement of a user on an interactive surface. The training system captures sophisticated input such as the entire areas in contact with the interactive surface, center of gravity, pressure distribution, velocity, acceleration, direction, orientation etc. The training system also captures and/or calculates and/or estimates the position of a body part while in the air, not touching the interactive surface, and also while sensor input is unavailable. The training system can also provide alerts for predefined events such as a fall or the beginning of a fall.

Abstract: A system and method for observing patients in geographically dispersed health care locations. A portable monitoring station is associated with a patient assigned to a health care location. The portable monitoring station comprises monitoring equipment that monitors physiological measures of the patient. A remote command center receives the monitored data elements, accesses patient data elements indicative of a medical condition associated with the patient, and applies a patient-specific rule to selected data elements to determine whether the patient-specific rule has been contravened. The monitored equipment may further comprise video and audio equipment that captures patient video data and patient audio data and provides these data to the central command center.

Abstract: Face-to-face detection by infrared-ray communication is effective in grasping interaction between persons. However the problem here is that infrared rays have a high directivity and detection fails unless the persons face each other right in front. Sensor signals having a high directivity and sensor signals having a low directivity are obtained from a sensor terminal (TR) carried by a person. Firstly, information on relative position is obtained with a sensor (TRIR) of infrared rays or the like having a high directivity and an initial group is formed at an application server (AS). A feature amount such as sound that has a low directivity and can sense surrounding environmental information is extracted from among the terminals (TRs) belonging to the initial group by personal feature extraction (ASIF), correlation with terminals (TRs) not belonging to a group is obtained, and thereby whether or not those terminals (TRs) belong to an identical group is judged.

Abstract: A monitoring system for preventing crime in a home, includes a plurality of terminals for monitoring whether predetermined monitoring points are in a stationary or nonstationary state. Further, the monitoring system includes a central processing device for controlling the setting/canceling of alarm operations of the terminals. The central processing device has a communication unit that receives stationary/nonstationary information from the terminals and transmits predetermined information including commands to the terminals. Each terminal has a communication unit that transmits stationary/nonstationary information to the central processing device and receives the predetermined information from the central processing device. Thus bidirectional communication can be achieved between the central processing device and the terminals.

Abstract: A safety system for a truck doorway such as a loading dock with an elevated platform provides an alarm that warns of a falling hazard that may exist due to the dock door being open while a truck is not present at the dock. In cases where a dock's open doorway is protected by a barrier that can be opened or closed, the alarm can be de-activated by closing the barrier. In some embodiments, the safety system includes a remote body sensor that detects when someone or something is near the doorway. In response to the body sensor, a second, more pronounced alarm can warn of more imminent danger where someone on the platform may be too close to an open doorway when a truck is not present.

Abstract: A control unit for use in a surveillance system is provided. The control unit is configured to access or retrieve surveillance data. The control is further configured to issue commands for control of a sensor device.

Abstract: A patient activity monitoring system that allows caregivers of multiple patients to work more efficiently and with reduced cost, while increasing the quality and level of patient care. The system includes a plurality of remote monitoring subsystems, a plurality of user notification units, and a central monitoring unit with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) communicably coupled between the remote monitoring and user notification units. Each remote monitoring subsystem includes a remote monitoring unit, and a sensor device associated with a respective patient that detects one or more activity and/or physiological parameters of the patient. A simplified user interface including the GUI and the user notification units provides indications of the type and level of assistance required by one or more patients to caregivers at centralized and remote locations.

Abstract: A monitoring system for use in a building, such as a hospital provides an audible and/or visual alarm. The monitoring system includes a control unit, with a plurality of medical condition monitoring units, such as ventilators, connected thereto. A plurality of speakers and/or light sources are connected to the control unit, and are located at various different spaced-apart areas within the building. An abnormal condition, sensed at one of the plurality of medical condition monitoring units, is reported to the control unit, which in turn causes the plurality of speakers and/or light sources to issue an audible/visual alarm. An adaptor can connect a medical condition monitoring unit to the control unit. The adapter may include circuitry to render an alarm output of the medical condition monitoring unit compatible with the control unit, and to suppress an alarm output for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A digital verification control, which is incorporated with an alarm system, includes a first timer device for presetting a single zone verification time in the control panel and second timer device for presetting a multiple zone verification time in the control panel. The single zone verification time is a single detector time delay and arranged when one of the sensors detects at least two triggered signals in the respective detecting area within the single zone verification time, the local warning system is activated for producing a local warning signal. The multiple zone verification time, which is longer than the single zone verification time, is a multiple detector time delay and arranged when the two sensors detect two triggered signals in the detecting areas respectively within the multiple zone verification time, the local warning system is activated for producing the local warning signal.

Abstract: A combined doorbell and smoke detection device includes a housing that has monolithically formed sides. One side includes openings formed adjacent to the housing top corners for receiving fasteners therethrough. Nested within the housing are a door bell chime, a first control unit, a carbon monoxide smoke detector, and an ionization smoke detector. A second control unit is coupled to the carbon monoxide and ionization smoke detectors, and includes an amplifier. A power interrupt diverting switch is disposed within the housing and is mated to an external power source. An internal power supply source is nested within the housing and is coupled to the power interrupt diverting switch. A transformer is coupled to the power interrupt diverting switch, and the first and second control units for converting a first voltage level to a second voltage level transmitted to the first and second control units respectively.

Abstract: A system that monitors various conditions of a plurality of hospital beds located in different rooms of a healthcare facility is provided. Alternatively or additionally, other types of equipment may be monitored by the system. Various configurations of network interface units that are coupleable to or integrated into a hospital bed are also disclosed. The system receives data from the hospital beds and/or other equipment and initiates a communication to a wireless communication device of at least one designated caregiver in response to the received data being indicative of an alarm condition.

Abstract: A danger warning system includes a central station and modules connected via at least one series connection. A mechanism in the central stations determines the distance between the central station and the modules. The modules are triggered by the central station, such that an energy store is charged in the central station, and the mechanism for determining the distance evaluates the charging time of the energy store.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced perception lighting (EPL) system for providing enhanced perception of a user's physical environment. The EPL system comprises a sensor module for detecting and sampling a physical aspect from at least one point in a physical environment and for generating an observation signal based on the physical aspect; a processor module coupled with the sensor module for receiving the observation signal, processing the observation signal, and generating an output signal based on the observation signal; and a projection display module located proximate the sensor module and communicatively connected with the processor module for projecting a display onto the at least one point in the physical environment based upon the output signal. The system allows a user to gather information from the physical environment and project that information onto the physical environment to provide the user with an enhanced perception of the physical environment.

Abstract: A method for data connectivity in a room with a robotic device. In the method, at least one condition is detected with a plurality of sensors and the detected at least one condition is communicated from the sensors to associated access points. One or more of the access points are selected and the robotic device is maneuvered to a location in a vicinity of one or more of the selected access points. The detected at least one condition is communicated from one or more of the selected access points to the robotic device. In addition, the robotic device is maneuvered to a location in a vicinity of a base station and the detected at least one condition is communicated from the robotic device to the base station.

Abstract: An improved system and method for building security and occupant safety wherein a digital image of plan view of a selected floor of a building is prepared from a physical drawing. The digital image shows the substantial architectural features of the building, including external walls (10) and internal walls (12). In the digital image, the building floor is divided into several zones (14) and each of the zones is broken into segments (16). Each of the segments (16) is identified by alpha/numeric characters or other symbols by which emergency responders or other building occupants can navigate the building.

Abstract: An adaptive evacuation system and method for providing a safety route to evacuees. Active smoke and heat detector information can be obtained from a fire panel. Routes and exits in proximity to the active detectors are assumed to be unsafe and closed for use in evacuation. Evacuation planning is accomplished with the remaining “safe” routes. The progression of fire and smoke and the time-dependent degradation of evacuation route safety associated with progression of fire and smoke can be predicted and initial classification and signaling of route safety can be performed. As the fire progresses, the initial time-dependent classifications are updated and initially safe routes are reclassified as unsafe and then evacuation directions are modified.

Abstract: A system and a method of establishing direction and velocity of fire development in a region. A fire profile based on a time sequence of alarming detectors provides both direction and velocity information. Future directions of development can be estimated by analogizing fire progression to a ball bouncing off of a rigid wall.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical alarms includes an alarm messenger for receiving an alarm signal from monitored equipment. The alarm signal includes information to enable determination of the location of the monitored equipment. The alarm messenger outputs an alarm messenger signal including the information. A database includes a master association table stored in the database. A central server receives the alarm signal, utilizes the information from the alarm signal to access the master association table to determine alarm information and, in response to the alarm information, notifies the appropriate staff of an alarm condition.

Abstract: The concept herein is focused on a portable structure, generally in the form of a portable mat or other similar member, that can be moved or transported from place to place to be used in a temporary manner and placed on the ground for use in the process of facilitating the implementation of field exercise tests of individuals who are suspected of criminal or other activity such as driving under the influence of alcohol, such mat comprising in general a flat flexible mat-like member that can be placed flush against the ground for temporary use, such mat having an upper surface with demarcations thereon for guiding a person walking over the upper surface of the mat.

Abstract: A security device includes a plurality of security detectors intercommunicating with each other. Each of the security detectors includes a first device for verifying a single zone verification time of the respective security detector and a second device for verifying a multiple zone verification time with another security detector corresponding to a distance between two security detectors at two different detecting areas. When one of the security detectors detects at least two triggered signals in the respective detecting area within the single zone verification time, the respective security detector activates the local warning system to produce a local warning signal. When two security detectors are intercommunicated with each other to detect two triggered signals in the detecting areas respectively within the multiple zone verification time, at least one of the security detectors activates the local warning system to produce the local warning signal.

Abstract: A sensor unit for use in a surveillance system is provided. The sensor unit interfaces with a sensor device to receive sensor data from the sensor device. The sensor unit is configured to generate an event record based upon received sensor data. The event record is of a predetermined format and is output to a data unit.