Abstract: In one embodiment a method for suppressing narrowband interference in an RF signal is provided. The method includes providing a block of baseband digital samples of the RF signal and computing n-1 stages of an n stage fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the block of the baseband digital samples to produce a first block of intermediate data points. A final threshold is computed based on values of the intermediate data points. A final stage of the n stage FFT is computed from the first block of intermediate data points to produce a block of output data points, and the output data points that have an energy above the final threshold are attenuated.

Abstract: A mobile computing device includes a first wireless local area network adapter; a wireless wide area network adapter configured to connect to a remote security credential server across a wireless wide area network; an optical scanner or a near field radio communication adapter. The mobile computing device is configured to obtain information regarding security credentials from at least one of an optical scan of an optical tag and a near field radio communication exchange with a near field radio communication tag; obtain the security credentials from the remote security credential server across the wireless wide area network by providing the information regarding the security credentials to the remote security credential server which responds with the security credentials; and use the security credentials to establish a secure wireless network connection between the first wireless local area network adapter and a second wireless local area network adapter of a wireless hub.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting vehicle information from a vehicle to a server across an external network. A vehicle bus connector module is plugged into a vehicle bus through the vehicle's vehicle bus connector. The vehicle bus connector module is also communicatively connected to a personal communications device. Vehicle information is collected from the vehicle bus and combined with information captured by the personal communications device to form a driver log. The driver log is transmitted to the server via the external network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for third party control of a device have been disclosed. By utilizing a third party to control a device, view and control of a device may be separated.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method for suppressing narrowband interference in an RF signal is provided. The method includes providing a block of baseband digital samples of the RF signal and computing n-1 stages of an n stage fast Fourier transform (FFT) on the block of the baseband digital samples to produce a first block of intermediate data points. A final threshold is computed based on values of the intermediate data points. A final stage of the n stage FFT is computed from the first block of intermediate data points to produce a block of output data points, and the output data points that have an energy above the final threshold are attenuated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible.

Abstract: A system and method of communicating with a plurality of different types of devices. A device driver is defined for each type of device. The device driver creates and maintains a set of channels for each device; each channel represents a property of the device. Newly acquired data received from one of the devices is received at the device driver and published to the channel associated with the data. Publishing the newly acquired data to the channel associated with the data includes storing the newly acquired data in a channel database with a time stamp corresponding to the time the data was received. Control information for one of the devices is received at the device driver and associated with one of the channels. The control information is passed to the device being controlled.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method of detecting wideband signals of bandwidth X within a communications system having a coherency time constant of T. A synchronization signal is generated as a function of a chirp signal that sweeps a portion of bandwidth X. The synchronization signal is transmitted and received as a wideband signal at a receiver. The receiver detects the synchronization signal within the wideband signal received at the receiver by generating a detection signal, correlating the received wideband signal with the detection signal and indicating when the synchronization signal is detected within the wideband signal. The detection signal is a complex conjugate of the synchronization signal.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method of measuring and correcting for frequency offset in wideband signals of bandwidth X within a communications system. A synchronization signal is generated and transmitted, wherein generating a synchronization signal includes generating a first chirp signal that sweeps a portion of bandwidth X and generating a second chirp signal to sweep approximately the same portion of bandwidth X but in the opposite direction. The synchronization signal is received at a receiver. The receiver then detects a first offset as a function of the first chirp signal and a second offset as a function of the second chirp signal and calculates the frequency offset as a function of the first and second offsets.

Abstract: A radio frequency communication system. The system includes a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver, wherein the radio frequency transmitter includes a modulation circuit and an RF modulator, wherein the radio frequency transmitter maps each block of K information bits into a block of N transmit symbols, transforms the block of N transmit symbols by using symbol block repetition and spreads the symbol blocks by multiplying the symbol blocks by a predefined chirp signal, and wherein the radio frequency receiver includes a chirp receiver operable to receive, demodulate and digitize a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal to form a digital baseband signal, and to recover a signal modulated using interleaved single carrier chirp spread spectrum modulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible.

Abstract: Distance between two devices is determined by sending a digital signal from a first device to a second device, and receiving a repeated signal from the second device in the first device. The repeated signal includes the digital signal sent from the first device resent by the second device. A time difference between the sent digital signal and the received repeated signal is determined by providing both the sent digital signal and the received repeated signal to a logic gate, the output of the logic gate indicating whether the digital signal and the received repeated signal are at same or different states. The output of the logic gate is evaluated to determine an approximate distance between the first device and the second device.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a method and system for configuring a smart energy network using a link key database. An energy services interface, on the smart energy network, extracts a unique identifier associated with a smart energy device from a communication with the smart energy device. The energy services interface may then use the unique identifier to receive information associated with the smart energy device from the link key database.

Abstract: A set sleep period is coordinated among a plurality of mesh network nodes to conserve power. A neighbor wireless mesh network node in proximity to a second node to be added to the mesh network is actuated, causing the neighbor wireless mesh network to be woke from a sleep state. The second node is added to the wireless mesh network by exchanging data with the neighbor wireless mesh network node to join the network.

Abstract: Distance between two radio frequency devices is estimated by receiving a plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals frequency offset from one another, and evaluating the received plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals for relative phase shifts between the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals. A fine propagation time is derived using the phase shifts between the spread spectrum chirp signals. A frequency domain despreading window is shifted to reduce the influence of time-delayed near multipath signals in receiving the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a quick start packaging mural are provided. In certain embodiments, a package comprises at least one electronic component; a container enclosing the at least one electronic component, wherein the container protects the at least one electronic component when transported to a user; and a packaging mural within the container, the packaging mural having information about the at least one electronic component, wherein the information and the at least one electronic components are simultaneously viewable when the at least one electronic component is accessible within the container.

Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of printed circuit board assembly, can include a balanced configuration comprising a first conductive layer. The first conductive layer can include a first arm having a footprint extending in a first direction and a second arm having a footprint extending in a direction opposite the first direction. The second arm can be sized and shaped to be similar to the footprint of the first arm.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a method for joining a smart energy device to a ZigBee network. The method includes sending, from a ZigBee gateway to a database server, a first extended unique identifier (EUI) for the ZigBee gateway. The also method includes receiving a request from a first smart energy device to join the ZigBee gateway, the request including a second EUI corresponding to the first smart energy device. The second EUI from the first smart energy device is compared with the first one or more EUIs received from the database server. If the second EUI from the first smart energy device matches any of the first one or more EUIs, an install code or link key corresponding to the matched one of the first one or more EUIs is sent to the first smart energy device. Otherwise, an install code is requested from the user.

Abstract: A method of integrating device data into a customer relationship management (CRM) application comprises retrieving configuration data of the CRM application from a data storage device; retrieving device data associated with one or more devices from a device management system; and generating user-selectable options of a workflow configuration for the retrieved device data, the user-selectable workflow configuration options based on the retrieved configuration data of the CRM application. The method also comprises creating the workflow configuration based on user selections of the user-selectable options; and processing device data from the device management system according to the workflow configuration for the retrieved device data.

Abstract: A local area utility network includes a utility, a low-speed backhaul between the utility and a utility provider, and a high-speed broadband network interface module in the utility coupling the utility directly to a broadband network. A plurality of utilities is coupled via a wireless mesh home area utility network. The low-bandwidth backhaul is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events to a utility provider, and the high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.