Abstract: A system and method for implementation of product searches via a search engine over a networked computer system such as the Internet. In particular, a user may execute a search for product offers that are accompanied with reward components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.) and/or those that allow payment in whole or in part with payment components (e.g. reward points, rebates, coupons, etc.).

Abstract: A security system in which wireless transmitting security devices use a hybrid or dual encoding methodology, wherein a first part of a data message is encoded in a return-to-zero (RZ) format and a second part of the data message is encoded in a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) format, thereby increasing error detection and correction. In a first aspect of the invention, status information is included in the first part of the message and redundant status information is included in the second part of the message. In a second aspect of the invention, message sequence information is included in the second part of the message to avoid processing of stale or out-of-sequence messages.

Abstract: A device for opening a locked door or drawer, which device comprises; a) means for facilitating the insertion of a key into a lock; and b) means for rotating said key when inserted.

Abstract: The present invention automatically detects the sabotage of an audio transducer such as a microphone in a security system device. An audio transducer generates an electrical signal, which is analyzed to determine if the electrical signal exhibits a predetermined sabotage characteristic. If the electrical signal does exhibit a predetermined sabotage characteristic, then an alarm device trouble signal is transmitted to an alarm control panel for further processing. If, however, the electrical signal does not exhibit a predetermined sabotage characteristic, then the electrical signal is analyzed to determine if the electrical signal exhibits a predetermined alarm characteristic. If the electrical signal does exhibit a predetermined alarm characteristic, then an alarm signal is transmitted to the alarm control panel for further processing.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the whereabouts of a patient in a house using security system components such as motion detectors and the like, and for providing automated lighting sequences to strategically located light fixtures for use as an aide in the patient walking around the house unattended.

Abstract: A portable wireless device that is adapted to image a machine readable code such as a bar code, decode the bar code, send the bar code data over the Internet to a resolution server that will return an associated URL that will link the portable wireless device to content on an information server. Thus, by taking a picture of a bar code symbol, the portable wireless device will automatically retrieve content from the Internet that has been linked to that bar code via the present invention.

Abstract: A method for separating the motion and stationary video pixels during the video de-interlacing process by adjusting the fields' length in the temporal domain and selecting the configurable patterns in the spatial domain.

Abstract: A helmet having an outer shell formed to substantially enclose the head of a wearer and an inner liner disposed within the outer shell and conforming in shape substantially to the outer shell. An aperture is disposed at a front portion of the inner liner. A first exit port is disposed at a first rear portion of the outer shell, with the first exit port being substantially larger than the aperture. A first acoustic chamber is disposed between the inner liner and the outer shell and extends in a curved fashion from the aperture to the first exit port along a first side of the helmet. As a result, a wearer of the helmet is able to speak into the aperture of the helmet and have his voice carried through the first acoustic chamber and exit via the exit port to be heard by a person behind the wearer. Optionally, a second acoustic chamber is similarly disposed on the opposite side of the first acoustic chamber.

Abstract: A lock position detection device includes a door locking mechanism, a magnetic field sensor such as a reed switch and a wireless transmitter. A magnet enters proximity of the sensor when the actuator is operated to one position and causes the sensor to output a first signal via the RF transmitter, and exits proximity of the sensor when the actuator is operated to another position and causes the sensor to output a second signal. A magnetic field shield is located with respect to the sensor to prevent a magnetic field from outside the door from being detected by the sensor. The magnet is coupled to the door locking mechanism such that the magnet enters and exits proximity of the sensor at an angle generally perpendicular to the sensor when the actuator is operated between positions, substantially along a line that is offset from a centerline of the reed switch.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, an apparatus, and a system for detecting a change in position of a door or a window in an alarm system. The present invention is a singular housing with a magnetometer for monitoring the magnetic field of the earth, and a microprocessor for detecting a change in the position of the singular housing with respect to the magnetic field of the earth. The microprocessor generates an alarm signal upon detecting the change, and causes the alarm signal to be transmitted, by wireless transmission, to a remote receiving station.

Abstract: A security system comprising a plurality of remote wireless units, a central control unit and an adaptive console for translating messages in radio frequency signals into messages in signals suitable for transmission over a wire in order to augment the wireless capability of the system. The adaptive console has a wireless receiver for receiving the radio frequency signal, which includes identification and status information from a wireless remote units. The adaptive console also has a processing unit which translates the identification and status information from the radio frequency signal to corresponding function data derived from a mapping of valid identification and status information to function data, the function data representative of a function to be performed by the security system. The adaptive console also has a transmitter which transmits a signal over a wired connection which includes the corresponding function data to the central control unit or a wired security unit.

Abstract: A method of accessing electronic resources via machine readable data embedded on a document which comprises compressing input data with a transmitter adapted to save a first bandwidth using a compression method adapted to minimize utilization of bandwidth by the compressed input data while retaining substantially all information content of the input data and appending a compression flag to the compressed input data indicative of the compression method enabling a receiver to decompress the compressed input data. The compression step further comprises utilizing a compression dictionary adapted to map the elements and strings of the input data to minimized representations having redundancies deleted. The compression dictionary may be appended to the compressed input data (as cleartext or cyphertext) under circumstances where a bandwidth occupied by the appended compression dictionary is less than the bandwidth saved by the step of compressing the input data.

Abstract: A hand held skinner having a handle portion, a base portion and a neck portion connecting the handle portion to the base portion. The base portion has finger portions extending from the neck portion toward a first and second tip respectively. The fingers are angularly spaced apart to define a channel therebetween. A cutting member is mounted so as to transverse the channel.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting the breakage of glass. A glass breakage detector that uses an acoustic transducer, an analog-to-digital converter, and a processing means which uses software algorithms to determine if a signal received by the acoustic transducer is a result of glass breaking. The glass breakage detector also uses amplifiers which have a greater gain response for higher frequency components in the received signal. The glass breakage detector is also able to correct the offset error generated by the amplifiers. The processing means or digital signal processor (DSP) uses a feature extraction software algorithm that extracts characteristics of the received sound using a plurality of filters centered at different frequencies and a rules analysis software algorithm to compare the extracted features to features from glass breakage and false alarms. The DSP is also capable of transmitting the extracted features to an external computing device for further analysis.

Abstract: An interactive video computer system with a light sensitive peripheral device having a photosensitive transducer operating in conjunction with a personal computer platform. The gun or pen-shaped light-sensitive device is connected to a peripheral adapter coupled between the computer and a video monitor. The peripheral adapter captures the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the video adapter card in the computer and sends them to the light sensitive peripheral device so that processing circuitry therein can generate a peripheral position signal indicative of the position of the field of view of the photosensitive transducer relative to the screen. The light sensitive peripheral device also has means for transmitting the peripheral position signal to the computer means for further processing. This allows a light gun or pen to be used with a conventional personal computer without having to modify the computer with additional circuit boards and operating system changes.

Abstract: A multipurpose armored utility vehicle based on a civilian production base vehicle is configured to be used in hostile and dangerous police related missions. The vehicle comprises an armored drivers compartment and a rear mounted armored utility compartment comprising a plurality of view ports, gun ports, entry means and a roof mounted hatch with side protection where the vehicle can be used in rescue, and offensive and defensive modes of operation under fire.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for maximizing transmission power levels in wireless security systems wherein the transmitted power is adjusted depending on the type of signal being transmitted in order to comply with power level restrictions imposed by agency regulations (e.g. Federal Communications Commission). Higher priority control signals messages are transmitted at the maximum permitted or normal output power level and are not compromised by the requirement for transmission of data signals that are transmitted at a reduced power level. In addition, a method and apparatus for reducing a required quantity of data signal transmissions in wireless security systems is provided, wherein data signals are exclusively transmitted at a reduced power level during an installation mode leaving only control signals to be transmitted at normal power during normal operation mode.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a trusted server which controls access to the execution of processes by applying file level extended sensitivity label attributes. The attributes are utilized to restrict execution of processes that are requested by comparing the extended attributes in addition to using standard file permission authorization. The system additionally may be used to provide controlled execution of commercially available software.

Abstract: A method for ensuring that an adequate signal margin exists between an alarm system's central control unit and its wireless devices during normal operation. The wireless devices include a remote dialer, a remote siren, and a user interface device. During installation of the alarm system, the installer locates the central control unit and the wireless device being installed. An alarm condition is simulated, and an alarm message is transmitted by the central control unit's transmitter at a power level lower than the power level during normal operation. The wireless device indicates if it has successfully received the alarm message, or if it has not, it is relocated and the alarm condition is simulated again until the wireless device indicates that it has received the alarm message. The installer knows there will be adequate signal margin between the central control unit and the wireless device during normal operation when the low power alarm message has been received by the wireless device.

Abstract: A modular video game controller device that can be adapted to operate with any of a number of various video game platforms such as a PC-based system or any of the commercially-available dedicated game consoles. The video game controller system of the present invention thus comprises a base unit such as a steering wheel and a plurality of game playing switches for use by the game player, a video game playing platform such as a PC-based platform or a dedicated console, and a video game controller interface adapter for interconnecting the base unit and the video game playing platform in accordance with the specific electrical and physical characteristics of the video game playing platform. A variety of interface adapters are contemplated, each of which interfaces in a standard manner to the base unit, and which interfaces in a dedicated manner to the particular video game playing platform for which it has been designed.