Abstract: A contact and ranging system includes a first device that includes a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and a controller to control the first transceiver and the second transceiver of the first device. The first device is operable to determine a distance between the first device and a second device. The first transceiver is configured to perform a discovery operation. Other devices are discovered and added to a list of paired devices. A ranging schedule for each paired device in the list of paired devices is determined. The second transceiver is configured to perform a ranging operation. The ranging and response transmissions are transmitted and received by a pair of devices, such that a range between the pair of devices is determined based upon a time of flight between the pair of devices. The range between the pair of devices is matched with a timestamp and stored in a database.

Abstract: A latch release assembly for folding furniture is provided for simultaneously releasing a plurality of latchable hinges. A rigid elongate member is connected at each end to a latch release lever of a latchable hinge. The rigid elongate member simultaneously transfers a releasing force to each release lever in order to actuate and open the connected latches to allow the latchable hinges to open and pivot. The latch release assembly may be fitted to a table top and table support frame to provide a latching hinge system for a folding table to allow a user to actuate a table from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation to facilitate compact and space-saving storage.

Abstract: A seating arrangement to be used on a floor includes a support assembly and a seat assembly with a top surface. The support assembly includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a compressible elastic member between the top and bottom plates, and a fastener assembly connecting the top and bottom plates. A diameter of the compressible elastic member is greater than or equal to 40% of a diameter or a length of a diagonal of the top surface of the seat assembly. In response to offset weight placed on the seat assembly, the compressible elastic member selectively compresses causing the seat assembly to axially tilt in substantially any direction such that a plane of the seat assembly tilts downward from a neutral position substantially parallel to the floor, and decompress to the neutral position, in response to the offset weight removed from the seat assembly.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of receiving user input selections at a base station includes distributing a plurality of response units to users. The response units wirelessly communicate with the base station in order to retrieve user responses received by the response units. Each of the response units has a user input device that is configured to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to the user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to the base station and a power supply having a super capacitor. The super capacitor is charged with a wireless-charging circuit and current is supplied from the super capacitor to the controller. Current supplied to the controller is controlled.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of receiving user input selections at a base station includes distributing a plurality of response units to users. The response units wirelessly communicate with the base station in order to retrieve user responses received by the response units. Each of the response units has a user input device that is configured to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to the user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to the base station and a power supply having a super capacitor. The super capacitor is charged with a wireless-charging circuit and current is supplied from the super capacitor to the controller. Current supplied to the controller is controlled.

Abstract: A real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment. The method includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of data to obtain a modulated first signal and transmitting the first signal. The first signal contains the first packet and has a first precision and a first range within the environment. The steps of modulating and transmitting are repeated until a modulated second signal is received within a time period after the step of transmitting. The second signal contains a second packet including a second set of data and has a second precision and a second range within the environment. The second signal is demodulated to obtain the second packet. Location is determined within the environment based on the second packet.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of receiving user input selections at a base station includes distributing a plurality of response units to users. The response units wirelessly communicate with the base station in order to retrieve user responses received by the response units. Each of the response units has a user input device that is configured to receiving user input selections, a controller that is responsive to the user input device to process user inputs and to communicate responses wirelessly to the base station and a power supply having a super capacitor. The super capacitor is charged with a wireless-charging circuit and current is supplied from the super capacitor to the controller. Current supplied to the controller is controlled.

Abstract: A response system and method of receiving remotely entered user input selections at a central location includes providing at least one base unit and a plurality of response units. A user input selection is received with each of the response units. The user input selection is communicated to the at least one base unit utilizing wireless communication. Personality data is received at each of the response units. The at least one base unit communicates with each of the response units according to the personality data of the particular one of the response units to receive a user input selection. The personality data is received by an individual one of the response units communicating with the at least one base unit at close proximity to provide personality data to that response unit.

Abstract: A real-time method and system of determining and validating location of a relocated mobile object or person in a tracking environment in which a plurality of sensors are located are provided. The method includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of data to obtain a modulated first signal. The first signal contains the first packet and has a first precision and a first range within the environment. A modulated second signal is received from at least one of the sensors including the nearest sensor. The second signal contains a second packet including a second set of data and has a second precision and a second range within the environment. The method further includes determining and validating current location of the relocated tag within the environment based on a plurality of second packets.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of retrieving user selections includes providing a plurality of response units, each having a wireless response transceiver and an input device and a plurality of base units, each having a wireless base transceiver. The wireless response transceiver is adapted to transmitting a response transmission in response to receipt of a base transmission. The base transceiver is adapted to transmitting base transmissions and receiving response transmissions from the response units. Each of the base units and each of the response units are assigned communication identification. Base transmissions include a unique base address of the base unit transmitting that base transmission. Response transmission includes the base address of the base transmission to which that response transmission is responding. Each of the base units processes response transmissions having its base address and does not process response transmissions not having its base address.

Abstract: A frequency agile wireless response system and method of retrieving user response data from a plurality of users includes providing a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units, each communicating with the base unit over a wireless communication link using a frequency agile communication protocol. Base signals are sent with the base unit to the response units over the wireless communication link. Response signals are sent from the response units to the base unit over the wireless communication link. The base signals include a master transmission and at least occasionally include an extension transmission. The master transmission includes information establishing a time mark for the response units. The master transmission also includes information enabling the response units to receive any extension transmission associated with that base signal.

Abstract: A real-time method and system for locating a mobile object or person in a tracking environment in which a plurality of sensors are located are provided. The method includes providing a tracking tag wearable by the person or attachable to the object. The method further includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of data to obtain a modulated first signal. The method still further includes transmitting from the tag to a sensor nearest the tag the first signal, the first signal containing the first packet and having a first precision and a first range within the environment. The method further includes repeating the steps of modulating and transmitting until a modulated second signal is received at the tag from the nearest sensor within a time period after the step of transmitting. The second signal contains a second packet including a second set of data and has a second precision and a second range within the environment.

Abstract: A real-time method and system of determining and validating location of a relocated mobile object or person in a tracking environment in which a plurality of sensors are located are provided. The method includes providing a tracking tag having storage and wearable by the person or attachable to the object. The method further includes storing a set of data related to a prior location of a relocated tag in the tracking environment in the storage. The method still further includes modulating a first carrier signal with a first packet including a first set of data to obtain a modulated first signal. The method further includes transmitting from the tag to a sensor nearest the relocated tag the first signal. The first signal contains the first packet and has a first precision and a first range within the environment. The method still further includes receiving a modulated second signal at the tag from at least one of the sensors including the nearest sensor.

Abstract: A response system and method of retrieving user responses from a plurality of users includes providing a plurality of base units and a plurality of response units, each of the response units adapted to receive a user input selection and to communicate that user input selection with at least one base unit utilizing wireless communication. Personality data is provided for the response units. The personality data facilitates communication with a particular base unit. The personality data of a particular one of the response units is changed in order to change which of the base units that response unit communicates. This allows a response unit to become grouped with a particular base unit at a particular time and become grouped with another base unit at another particular time. The personality data may be obtained from a database.

Abstract: A wireless response system and method of receiving user responses from a plurality of users at a base unit includes providing a base unit having a base transceiver that is adapted to wireless signal transmitting and wireless signal receiving and providing a plurality of response units. Each of the response units includes a response unit transceiver and a user input device. The response unit transceiver is adapted to wireless signal transmitting and wireless signal receiving. User input selections are received with the user input device. A response user transmission is transmitted with the response unit transceiver in response to the user input device receiving a user input selection. A base transmission is transmitted with the base unit transceiver. The user response transmissions are asynchronously transmitted after receipt of a base transmission.

Abstract: An audio interrupt system includes multiple audio players—such as a computer, compact disc player, cassette player, stereo, cell-phone, or MP3 player—that generate electrical audio signals and transmit the electrical audio signals to an associated transducer—such as a headphone or a speaker—that converts the electrical audio signals into aural signals that may be heard by a listener. Multiple audio controllers are provided that alter the transmission of the electrical audio signals from at least one of the audio players to the audio player's associate transducer. A hub transmits a control signal to the audio controllers that causes the audio controllers to alter the transmission of the electrical audio signals from the audio players to the associated transducer. The alteration may involve terminating the electrical audio signals or reducing an amplitude of them.

Abstract: An audience response unit may be coupled to a host electronic device, such as a computer, whereby the audience response unit enables information, such as user selections, to be entered via the host electronic device and transmitted by the audience response unit to a base station. The audience response unit can thereby utilize the user-input features and/or the display features of the host electronic device, which may provide greater flexibility of data entry, as well as ease of inputting the information. The use of a host electronic device may also allow reduced sizes and more simplified constructions of the audience response unit to be achieved. The response unit may be incorporated into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle, or other device. The unit effectively turns the host electronic device into a virtual keyboard/audience participation device. Multiple of such units may be incorporated into a system.

Abstract: A frequency agile wireless response system and method of retrieving user response data from a plurality of users includes providing a base unit and a plurality of handheld response units, each communicating with the base unit over a wireless communication link using a frequency agile communication protocol. Base signals are sent with the base unit to the response units over the wireless communication link. Response signals are sent from the response units to the base unit over the wireless communication link. The base signals include a master transmission and at least occasionally include an extension transmission. The master transmission includes information establishing a time mark for the response units. The master transmission also includes information enabling the response units to receive any extension transmission associated with that base signal.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method includes providing at least one master unit and a plurality of slave units communicating with the at least one master unit over at least one wireless communication link. The at least one master unit sends polling signals to the slave units over the at least one wireless communication link. The slave units send data to the at least one master unit over the at least one communication link in response to one of the polling signals. The communication link is made up of at least one master transceiver at the at least one master unit and a plurality of slave transceivers each at one of the slave units. The at least one master transceiver and the slave transceivers communicate with a spread-spectrum hopping protocol.