Abstract: Systems and methods to generate weather alerts are provided. A particular system includes a weather band radio receiver to receive weather alerts. The system further includes a processor to perform an analysis of the received electromagnetic radiation and to determine based on the analysis whether the electromagnetic radiation indicates rotation in a storm system. The processor initiates an alert when the analysis indicates rotation in the storm system and a weather alert has been received.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring weather includes a sensor system arranged in vehicles for obtaining information about the weather in the vicinity of the vehicle, a communication system arranged in each vehicle and coupled to a respective sensor system for communicating the obtained weather information to a control station or other remote facility, and a transmission system arranged at the control station for transmitting weather conditions in an area in which the vehicles travel based on the information obtained by the vehicles. A positioning system may be arranged on each vehicle to determine its position so that the communication systems transmit the position of each vehicle along with the obtained information. A display may be arranged in each vehicle for displaying the transmitted weather conditions to an occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electric field sensor is provided including an elongated conductor; a circuit including an input and an output connected across the elongated conductor wherein said circuit includes a DC to AC signal converter; wherein said elongated conductor is operative to impose a DC signal on said circuit input in response to being exposed to an electric field and broadcast an AC signal converted from said DC signal in response to said electric field being greater than a threshold level.

Abstract: A method and system of damage prevention from weather occurrences is provided wherein incoming notifications from weather services are used to take action on user specified and configurable powered devices. Threshold levels may be set based on severity of weather occurrences. The threshold levels may be reset or reconfigured by a user of the system. Different threshold levels may be set for different devices in order that different devices may be deactivated at different threshold levels.

Abstract: A sun protection system for a transportation vehicle has plurality of LCD zones laminated into one or more glazings of the vehicle. An occupant sensor detects an expanse of at least one occupant in the vehicle. A navigation system determines a vehicle location, a date and time value, and a heading. External and internal temperature sensors sense outside and inside temperatures. A controller generates respective drive signals for the respective LCD zones in a manual mode and in an automatic mode. The controller compares a temperature difference between the outside temperature and the inside temperature to a temperature threshold. The respective drive signals provide substantially zero attenuation if the temperature difference is less than the temperature threshold while in the automatic mode.

Abstract: A weather information notification apparatus mounted to a vehicle is disclosed. The weather information notification apparatus includes: an acquisition section that cyclically acquires information about weather at a point; a record section that stores the acquired information about weather at the point in an external storage medium unit; and a notification section that causes an external notification unit to notify information about non-latest weather at the point, the information about non-latest weather at the point being a piece of the information about weather at the point stored in the external storage medium unit.

Abstract: A system for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage includes a radio-frequency identification tag and a server. The radio-frequency identification tag, associated with a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, periodically measures a plurality of values of an environmental condition of the bottle. The radio-frequency identification tag stores the plurality of measured values. The server receives the plurality of measured values for analysis. The server provides, via a user interface, a description of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage, the description generated responsive to an analysis of the plurality of measured values.

Abstract: A lightning detection system and method for detecting a lightning strike are provided. The system includes a lightning detector in a structure susceptible to a lightning strike. The lightning detector includes a data logger configured to log data indicative of a time of occurrence of the lightning strike. The system further includes memory to store data collected from a wide-area lightning detection network. The stored data includes at least one characteristic of the lightning strike. A processor may be configured to process data from the data logger relative to data collected from the wide-area lightning detection network to determine correlated data indicative of a lightning strike affecting the structure. In the event correlated data is determined, the processor may be configured to assign the characteristic of the lightning strike to the structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment taught herein, a plurality of road-going vehicles report weather-related data to a weather-determining system. For example, trucks and/or cars having in-vehicle information systems wirelessly transmit one or more items of weather-related data, such that the weather-determining system directly or indirectly receives the transmitted data. In turn, the weather-determining system jointly processes the weather-related data to determine weather information for one or more geographic areas corresponding to reported positions of the road-going vehicles. In one embodiment, the in-vehicle information systems comprise GPS-based position reporting systems installed in on-highway trucks and other fleet vehicles, and the weather-determining system comprises a modified position-tracking system, e.g., a modified network fleet management system.

Abstract: A telecommunications device for use by a telecommunications user is disclosed. The telecommunications device includes a housing having located therein a wireless telephone for receiving an incoming call and a receiver unit for receiving an emergency alert broadcast. The wireless telephone includes a first receiver and a processor in communication therewith, and the receiver unit includes a second receiver in communication with the processor of the wireless telephone.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating environmental element predictions at a point location includes a receiver for collecting broadcast environmental element prediction data. A processor generates at least one environmental element prediction for the point location.

Abstract: A telescoping tower comprising a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition, a processor for comparing the monitored environmental condition to a predetermined value, and an actuator for automatically retracting the telescoping tower if the environmental condition is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for generating emergency plans for a facility are provided. In embodiments, an emergency plan is generated for a designated area of a facility. An alert is received that includes an alert type. The alert type is identified and a plurality of emergency plans associated with the alert type are provided. The plurality of emergency plans includes a primary emergency plan and an alternate emergency plan. A determination is made whether any factors that affect the primary emergency plan are present. If no factors that affect the primary emergency plan are present, the primary emergency plan is displayed to a user. If factors that affect the primary emergency plan are present, the alternate emergency plan is displayed to the user.

Abstract: In a vehicular navigation system, a control circuit acquires weather information and displays (i) a map containing a present position and (ii) weather information relative to a position outside a display range of the map, among the acquired weather information.

Abstract: A real-time, multi-sensor local-area lightning detection network system. The system uses waveform indicative of electrostatic field changes with respect to time is generated at each of N locations due to a cloud-to-ground lightning strike occurring in the vicinity of the N locations. Each waveform is integrated to generate a corresponding electric field associated with a corresponding one of the locations. A mathematical relationship is used to determine a ground surface location of the lightning strike, height of the lightning strike, and charge per unit length of the lightning strike using each electric field generated during integration of the waveforms.

Abstract: A weather alert manager is used to provide real-time, site specific information to a user regarding weather and possibly other hazards. The weather alert manager compares meteorological data, a user profile including information on points of interest to the user, and geographical data to determine if weather will impact one or more of the user's points of interest. The user's points of interest include at least one mobile point of interest, which periodically transmits its location. The weather alert manager transmits a user alert message if one is needed, and a remote receiver notifies the user that a message has been received.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electric field sensor is provided including an elongated conductor; a circuit including an input and an output connected across the elongated conductor wherein said circuit includes a DC to AC signal converter; wherein said elongated conductor is operative to impose a DC signal on said circuit input in response to being exposed to an electric field and broadcast an AC signal converted from said DC signal in response to said electric field being greater than a threshold level.

Abstract: The disaster information system according to the invention includes a disaster noticing server and a disaster reporting terminal. The disaster noticing server calculates the expected time of arrival at which the natural disaster will arrive at the current location of the disaster reporting terminal, and transmits the calculated expected time of arrival to the disaster reporting terminal. The disaster reporting terminal, when it receives the expected time of arrival from the disaster noticing server, acquires the current time measured at the disaster reporting terminal, and calculates the time remaining until the natural disaster will arrive at the disaster reporting terminal from the expected time of arrival and the current time.

Abstract: A portable device includes a plurality of interface modules and a processing module. The processing module is operably coupled to detect a user input and determine a user interface mode of operation. When the user interface mode of operation is in a first mode, the processing module enables a first one of the plurality of user interface modules to process data corresponding to the user input as the first type of human sensory data and enables a second one of the plurality of user interface modules to process the data corresponding to the user input as the second type of human sensory data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a weather information display and decision system that incorporates weather depiction charts together with other graphs and diagrams generated via a computing device on-board a vehicle (for example, a water, air and land based vehicle) as an integrated system to aid safe and comfortable vehicle navigation and handling, and provide data of immediate comprehension and use to the vehicle operator including data points on a geographic route at an applicable future time of vehicle presence and data presented from the operator's chosen perspective, using the operator's chosen frame of reference.

Abstract: A flame detecting method and device are provided to improve the accuracy of flame detection and reduce the possibilities of the false fire alarm. The flame detecting method and device capture a plurality of images of a monitored area; determines whether a moving area image exists in the plurality of images; analyzes at least one of a color model and a flickering frequency of the moving area image to generate a first analyzed result and compares the first analyzed result with a feature of a reference flame image; analyzes at least one of a variation of a location and an area of the moving area image to generate a second analyzed result and compares the second analyzed result with a predetermined threshold; and determines whether the moving area image is a flame image based on results of the comparing steps.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for communicating pattern data is presented. A graphical event pattern is sent to an interconnected array of intelligent sensors. When intelligent sensors in the interconnected array determine that an event has occurred, the graphical event pattern is sent to a user. Thereafter, any data that supports the graphical event pattern is sent to the user. Thus, this supporting data is transmitted according to the graphical event pattern, rather than a header address.

Abstract: A lightning detection system is presented. The lightning detection system includes a plurality of sensing devices configured to generate sensor signals representative of one or more working state parameters of an object. The lightning detection system further includes a lightning signal processing subsystem configured to combine the sensor signals representative of the one or more working state parameters received from the plurality of sensing devices to generate a composite signal, extract noise signals from the composite signal, and compare the extracted noise signals with one or more lightning signal profiles to determine existence of lightning noise signals in the extracted noise signals, wherein the lightning noise signals are induced in the sensor signals in response to a lightning strike on the object.

Abstract: A weather information display device displays on its display device a section, for which weather information is acquired, in a display mode corresponding to the weather information. An icon indicating the weather information is displayed on the section of the weather information. When a relatively wide area map is displayed, a plurality of icons for a plurality of sections may have to be displayed in overlapped manner. If the icons indicate the same weather information, only one icon is displayed as a representative of the same icons. If the icons indicate the different weather information, an icon having higher display priority is displayed as being overlapped over icons of lower display priority. If one of the different overlapped icons is touched, only the touched icon and the corresponding weather information are displayed.

Abstract: For improved reliability and relevancy of reporting of atmospheric condition data, faster access to the data, and more geographically granular collection of data, data pertaining to atmospheric conditions is measured at network towers, collected, managed, distributed and presented according to a requested service. Weather data is measured and collected at a granularity greater than previously existing systems by communicatively coupling and generally co-locating weather or atmospheric measuring instruments to existing mobile network towers, and collecting and distributing the data as part of enhanced services for end users. Accordingly, when weather data is collected from the measuring instruments placed on network towers according to the present invention, and aggregated at one or more servers, the weather data may be distributed to end users of the communications networks with greater relevancy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for the reporting of an environmental condition to vehicles prior to encountering the environmental condition. According to various embodiments described herein, local environment data corresponding to the environmental condition is collected from sensors on a vehicle. The local environment data is used to determine that the environmental condition exists at the current location of the vehicle. A notification that includes the geographic location of the environmental condition is created and provided to one or more other vehicles in the vicinity of the environmental condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predictive, context-aware, and networked exposure time monitoring. The method may include storing (320), in a memory, personal information including skin phototype and sun protection factor information, obtaining (330) context related information including an activity, a location, and a time of day, and retrieving (340) environmental conditions that affect ultraviolet exposure. The environmental conditions can include weather conditions retrieved from a network. The method can also include predicting (350) ultraviolet exposure time based on the personal information, the context related information, and the environmental conditions and outputting (360) information corresponding to the ultraviolet exposure time.

Abstract: A lightning detection system (100) includes at least one lightning detector (101-103). The said lightning detector (101-103) includes at least one x-ray detector (110) for providing x-ray data responsive to x-rays received, and an electric field or magnetic field detector (115) for providing electric field or magnetic field data responsive to electric field or magnetic field received. At least one signal processor (122) is coupled to the x-ray detector and the electric field or magnetic field detector. The processor (122) determines whether lightning will strike or has struck proximate to the lightning detector(s) (101-103) based on the x-ray data and electric field or magnetic field data, and can provide a strike point indication having an accuracy of generally better than (100) m.

Abstract: A severe weather alarm configured for actuation by the occurrence of a single type of weather phenomena is disclosed. In one embodiment an alarm includes a portable housing; an audio siren configured to actuate upon an occurrence of a predetermined event; a receiver to receive signals and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) messages at one or more National Weather Service (NWS) weather radio frequencies; a digital decoder coupled to the receiver and configured to filter out all SAME messages except for a single weather warning message event code and a Required Weekly Test (RWT) code; a processor coupled to the receiver and the digital decoder to control the receiver and decoder and to actuate the audio siren upon the occurrence of the predetermined event; a power source; and a memory for storing signal values, frequencies, message values, and geographical codes.

Abstract: A civil defense air powered siren includes an air powered tone generator, a compressed air tank, an air compressor, an air line with a control valve connecting between the compressed air tank and the tone generator. A pressure switch communicates with the compressor and the compressed air tank. The pressure switch activates the compressor to charge the compressed air tank when air pressure in the tank falls below a pre-selected limit. The control valve is remotely controlled preferably by a radio signal to cause the control valve to open the air line and supply the tone generator with air in order to cause a civil defense warning tone to be generated when it is appropriate to do so.

Abstract: A method for detecting and conveying an alarm signal, when an absorbent article is unfastened or, completely removed from the body of the wearer. The method is intended to be used in parallel with a method for detecting wetness in the absorbent article and further relates to an integrated detection-and-alarm method for detecting unfastening and/or wetness in an absorbent article. A system for detecting and conveying an alarm signal when an absorbent article is unfastened or removed from the body of the wearer and/or when the article is wet. The system includes (a) and absorbent article having at least one absorbent layer, the object to be displaced, such as a fastening system, one or more sensoring devices, one or more transmitting devices, and (b) a remote receiver. Furthermore, the system relates to the use of the system in the care of children and adults suffering from incontinence and/or psychological illnesses.

Abstract: A system detecting emerging risks in various systems and relating a detected risk to its relative impact on a system or product. A server receives and stores risk information from geographically distributed computerized data sources via a communication network. The risk information includes an identification and rating of a specific risk, and information associating the specific risk with a geographical area. Utilizing the risk information and area attributes, such as correlation factors and spreading patterns, a specific risk emerging in a first geographical area and spreading to one or more second geographical areas is detected. Emerging risks can be detected in geographical areas for which no risk information has been received, allowing to set up, maintain, and operate a risk detection system with a simplified technical infrastructure since it is not necessary to measure, transmit, and store risk indicators for all geographical areas for which emerging risks are detected.

Abstract: The inventive device comprises telecommunications transceiver interacting with a network for data exchange and a user interface interacting with the telecommunications transceiver for displaying information extracted from received data, wherein telecommunications transceiver is arranged for receiving meteorological data from which a display for the user interface is extracted. Telecommunications transceiver is connected for spontaneously interacting with a station for defining a geographic area and for accessing, in a substantially uniform manner, to a data set containing forecast pluvial/duration pairs which are valid for the geographic area for consecutive periods, the data set being dated by a time marker. The user interface is provided with a range of ordinate display segments, each of which is provided with several display states.

Abstract: A digital notification and response system utilizes an administrator interface to transmit a message from an administrator to user contact devices having an advertising module and a customer module with translation abilities. The system comprises a dynamic information database that includes user contact data, priority information, and response data. The administrator initiates distribution of the message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry standard protocols simultaneously to groups of user contact devices based upon priority information. Once the message is received by the user contact device, the user contact device transmits a response through the industry standard protocols back to the dynamic information database.

Abstract: A method of collecting weather data includes determining probable occurrences of weather events. Contact information corresponding to a plurality of users is maintained. Weather collection devices are sent to the plurality of users prior to the occurrence of the probable weather event. Data is collected by the weather collection devices upon the actual occurrence of the probable weather event.

Abstract: A system, device, and computer program product is provided for the centralized or distributed warning of existing or developing significant events and/or threats to users of the device within their locale, while reporting the location of all users of the system to existing command and control systems. A pager-like user warning and positioning device, worn by or carried by the individual user, or mounted in a vehicle or vessel, having a geographical positioning means therein, periodically transmits the geographical location of the individual user, vehicle or vessel, and listens for warning/notification event messages transmitted by a network bridge or central station. When an event/threat warning is received by the device, the device alerts the user via indicia relative to the event/situation, including audible spoken warnings and instructions on how to react, and may retransmit the event/threat warning to other nodes in the network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention present an apparatus coupled to an internal bus for monitoring environmental factors in a computer system including: an embedded controller having a processor; an environmental sensor that provides data related to environmental conditions; a reset generator; and a power source. A LAN interface may be configured to remotely access and control the embedded controller. Further, the internal bus may be selected from any of the following: a PCI bus, an ISA bus, a DIMM slot, a SIMM slot, a PCMCIA slot, or a server blade slot. Still further, the environmental sensor may be selected from any of the following: a DC electrical sensor; an AC electrical sensor; a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; a force monitor sensor; a signal monitor sensor; an electrostatic discharge sensor; an activity sensor; an optical particulate sensor; a Hall Effect sensor; a global positioning sensor; or a whisker detection sensor.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a multi-hop time division multiple access communication system to link a control unit wirelessly and redundantly with a plurality of modules. Communications to modules occur during predetermined time slots in a first portion of a selected frame. Communications from the modules occur during corresponding time slots during a second portion of the frame.

Abstract: A disaster warning system including a weather radio, a tornado acoustic signature detector combined with a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector. The disaster warning system includes a central control unit and peripheral alarm unit, which report the alarm signals generated by the control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of a seawall in that movie and audio signals of a draining floodgate are transmitted to a remote place through a communication network and each device can be remotely controlled in the remote place through two-way communications. The remote monitor and control system for draining floodgate of a seawall according to the present invention includes a spot control means, a control means, and a remote control means.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electric field sensor is provided including an elongated conductor; a circuit including an input and an output connected across the elongated conductor wherein said circuit includes a DC to AC signal converter; wherein said elongated conductor is operative to impose a DC signal on said circuit input in response to being exposed to an electric field and broadcast an AC signal converted from said DC signal in response to said electric field being greater than a threshold level.

Abstract: Natural-phenomenological information is personalized to the unique requirements of a subscriber and distributed to the subscriber. Natural-phenomenological data is gathered from a variety of sources, such as current ground observations, forecast conditions, satellite images, and radar data. Personal preferences of the subscribers are also gathered and stored, such as activities of the subscriber, geographic locations of the activities, sensitivities of the subscriber to natural-phenomenological conditions, calendar information of the subscriber, and modes of delivery. The personal preferences of the subscriber are used as a filter to identify the natural-phenomenological data that is particularly useful to the subscriber, and the resulting information is delivered to the subscriber. The subscriber identifies the destination device that the information is delivered to. The invention is extensible to support new sources of natural-phenomenological information and new output devices.

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 percentage or weighting of the sensors trigger event signals, emergent information that describes conditions at the array location is generated.

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 of tracking seismic activity through monitoring sunspots and sun disturbances and correlating them with a developed model in order to map out specific locations where an earthquake will consequently appear is provided (FP). The method of comprises mapping coordinates of electromagnetic disturbances on the sun, calculating the coordinates while taking into consideration Earth/sun geometry and relative positions (FP). These coordinates are consequently mapped to a location and time on earth wherein the location and time predicts the location and approximate time of the earthquake, which will consequently occur on earth.

Abstract: A method and system of damage prevention from weather occurrences is provided wherein incoming notifications from weather services are used to take action on user specified and configurable powered devices. Threshold levels may be set based on severity of weather occurrences. The threshold levels may be reset or reconfigured by a user of the system. Different threshold levels may be set for different devices in order that different devices may be deactivated at different threshold levels.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting control system is disclosed that includes a weather detecting device for detecting a weather condition and a degree thereof. The lighting control system also includes a control device for controlling the light emitting apparatus based on the weather condition and the degree of the weather condition.

Abstract: A moisture detection sensor is used in a building structure to detect moisture penetration. The sensor is a flat adhesive tape of a substrate of dielectric, hydrophobic material. Three or four elongate, parallel, conductors are secured to the top surface and a protective layer of non-hygroscopic, water pervious material is secured over two of the conductors so that they are exposed to surface moisture. One or two of the conductors are covered by an insulating layer to prevent moisture access. Pairs of moisture probes along the length of the tape penetrate the insulating layer, the respective conductors and the substrate and to extend into a building component to which the substrate has been adhered. A diode guide arrangement allows a monitoring unit to monitor the exposed conductors for surface moisture and the penetrated conductors for moisture in the component by reversing polarity of the voltage across the conductors.