Abstract: A security system comprising a control panel and a plurality of individually-addressable security system modules connected to the control panel on a loop data bus. Each of the security system modules has a reference generating means for generating a variable reference voltage signal, which is controlled by control data received from the control panel. Each module also has means for selecting a loop input signal for analysis from a plurality of available loop input signals, and comparing means for comparing the selected loop input signal to the reference voltage signal. The comparing means generates an output signal when the selected loop input signal exceeds the reference voltage signal. The modules also have means for indicating to the control panel via the loop data bus the state of the reference generating means when the comparing means generates an output signal, whereby the control panel can determine the value of the selected loop input signal.

Abstract: A wireless security system using multiple receivers in which each RF receiver can monitor the messages being sent to the control by the other receivers via constant monitoring of the bi-directional communication between the control and all of the other receivers on the bus. If a message in a first receiver's transmission buffer matches a message that has already been acknowledged by the control from a second receiver, the first receiver can discard its duplicate message. This significantly reduces the number of messages that the control's communication bus needs to handle, especially during the disarmed state of the system as indicated earlier. Coincidently, the amount of processing in the control is also reduced.

Abstract: A device and a method used during installation of a security system that allows the security system control panel to learn the IDs of the wireless transmitters in the security system without receiving an RF transmission from the wireless transmitter. The installation device comprises a power supply means, a first and second interface means, monitoring means for monitoring the current drawn from the power supply means, and processing means for producing a digital signal based on the current monitored. The first interface means connects the power supply means of the installation device to the battery terminal of the transmitter, and the second interface means connects the output of the installation device to the control panel. The monitoring means, comprising a resistor and a comparator, monitors the current drawn from the power supply means, wherein the current drawn corresponds to the data transmitted by transmitter.

Abstract: A wireless intrusion detector that contains a test mode that temporarily overrides the normal inhibit function of the wireless intrusion detector allowing all alarm messages to be transmitted. Wherein the inhibit function lets a single detected event signal to be transmitted upon the detection of an alarm event and inhibits subsequent transmissions during a predetermined inhibit period. The test mode, usually entered after installation of the intrusion detector, is automatically entered when the case of the intrusion detector is closed and is automatically exited when a predetermined number of detected events have been detected by the detector. The duration of the test mode is dependent on the detection of motion a predetermined number of times rather than a predetermined time duration. This allows the installer to perform a complex and time consuming walk test without having to open and close the detector case a number of times.

Abstract: The present invention operates by inputting into the client computer a linkage code (a machine readable code such as a bar code symbol or a human-readable alphanumeric text string) that includes a server identification code and an item identification code. The client computer then extracts the server identification code, and obtains from local cache or from the routing server a URL template associated with the server identification code. The URL template includes the name of an information server and at least one parameter field to be completed by the client computer. The URL template is completed by the client computer by filling in at least the item identification code, and the completed URL template is then sent to the information server named therein as a primary content URL request.

Abstract: A stimulator for stimulating the leg or other parts of the body e.g. the leg in a patient with drop foot is provided, the stimulator being controlled by e.g a foot switch but being reliable in use and therefore commanding acceptance by users. The foot switch has to work in adverse environmental conditions and is subject to repeated use so that its characteristics vary with time. The invention provides a functional electrical stimulator for attachment to the leg that has adaptive characteristics and comprises first and second electrodes for attachment to the leg to apply an electrical stimulus, a foot switch for sensing foot rise or foot strike, a circuit responsive to said foot switch for generating stimulation pulses; and means forming part of said circuit for responding to changes in the resistance characteristics of said switch means by adjusting a corresponding response threshold of said circuit.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing polymers containing a degradant component that increases the rate of polymer degradation. The process involves adding a degradant component to a fluid polymer immediately after the polymer is synthesized and while the polymer is still fluid to form a blend of the fluid polymer component and degradant component and mixing the blend of the fluid polymer component and degradant component to distribute the degradant component substantially homogeneously throughout the fluid polymer component.

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.

Abstract: A wireless security system having a remote indication device, which operates in a low power mode. The remote indication device provides feedback in the form of a display indicating that a command from a remote control device has been successfully performed or to provide status. The user transmits a first radio frequency signal with a remote control device that is received by a first receiver in the remote indication device during a reduced current mode. The remote indication device then switches to normal current mode, which enables a second receiver, a transmitter, a processing unit and optionally disables the first receiver. The transmitter then retransmits the contents of the first radio frequency signal as a second radio frequency signal to a central control unit via a central receiver. The central control unit then transmits a confirmation or status message back to the remote indication device via a central transmitter in the form of a confirmation radio frequency signal.