Abstract: Disclosed herein is a built-in RFID tire tag. The built-in RFID tire tag includes an antenna and a circuit unit. The antenna is mounted in a tire, and is configured to be operated by resonating with radio waves, which are transmitted from an RFID reader and to have a repetitive corrugated shape. The circuit unit is configured to be operated by being supplied with power using the radio waves. The antenna includes a pair of tag radiators. Each of the tag radiators is divided into a first region and a second region. The corrugation density of the second regions, which are close to the circuit unit, is greater than that of the first regions, which are not close to the circuit unit. The first regions, which depend on rotational motion of the tire, adapt flexibly to bending and torsion of the tire by the difference between the corrugation densities.

Abstract: A conductive silicone material for human skin electrode is disclosed. In one embodiment, the conductive silicone material comprises a mixture of silicone and carbon powder such that the mixture has a resistivity of 0.08 to 0.12 ?·m and a Shore A hardness of 50 to 60. In an exemplary embodiment, the mixture comprises 60 to 80 weight percent silicone and 20 to 40 weight percent carbon powder. A sensor for detecting human biological signal using a conductive silicone electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sponsor purchases a prepaid card that can be transmitted to an intended user with increased security. Using a prepaid card dispenser, the sponsor elects an amount for the prepaid card and is prompted for at least one telephone number at which a server platform should contact the sponsor when the intended user wants to authenticate the card. The sponsor may enter additional phone numbers that will be called if the sponsor does not answer the first number when called by the server platform. When an intended user has received the prepaid card, the intended user calls a telephone number associated with the server platform and is connected to the sponsor via a telephone bridge so that the sponsor may authenticate the intended user. The sponsor may then inform the server platform (e.g., via DTMF tones) that the card has been authenticated.

Abstract: A method of transferring value to an electronic wallet includes obtaining a first telephone number from a user, the first telephone number being associated with a mobile telephone of the user; obtaining a PIN from the user, the PIN being associated with a prepaid money transfer card, the prepaid money transfer card having a value associated therewith; obtaining a second telephone number from the user, the second telephone number being associated with a mobile telephone of an intended recipient of at least some of the value associated with the prepaid money transfer card; and transferring the at least some of the value associated with the prepaid money transfer card with an electronic wallet associated with the second telephone number.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-mode wireless communication device. A cellular transceiver communicates over a cellular network in a cellular mode. A wireless transceiver communicates over a wireless network in a wireless mode. A selector makes a selection between operating in the cellular mode and the wireless mode. The selector uses a subscriber profile and other information, such as financial information, to make the selection. The subscriber profile includes information such as a minimally acceptable quality of service acceptable for a communication.

Abstract: A sponsor purchases a prepaid card that can be transmitted to an intended user with increased security. Using a prepaid card dispenser, the sponsor elects an amount for the prepaid card and is prompted for at least one telephone number at which a server platform should contact the sponsor when the intended user wants to authenticate the card. The sponsor may enter additional phone numbers that will be called if the sponsor does not answer the first number when called by the server platform. When an intended user has received the prepaid card, the intended user calls a telephone number associated with the server platform and is connected to the sponsor via a telephone bridge so that the sponsor may authenticate the intended user. The sponsor may then inform the server platform (e.g., via DTMF tones) that the card has been authenticated.

Abstract: A data retrieval apparatus includes a base unit, e.g., a geographic globe having a surface bearing a set of index information, and a pen-like operator separate from and co-operable wirelessly with the globe. The operator has a sensor for sensing the index information when it is brought close to the globe surface, a memory device for storing data information, associated with the index information, for retrieval, based on a reference to the index information sensed by the sensor, a controller for retrieving the data information from the memory device by reference to the index information sensed by the sensor, and a speaker for announcing the data information retrieved by the controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for counting exercise repetitions are provided for counting exercise repetition even when an exerciser attaches the apparatus in different places and along different orientations of his or her body. The apparatus and method utilizes acceleration data along at least three axes and determines that a valid step is taken by the exerciser if at least one of acceleration profiles falls within at least one of pre-defined thresholds. Moreover, a method of identifying an optimal axis for exercise repetition measurement is disclosed by comparing the acceleration profiles of previous steps with amplitude, cycle and rhythm thresholds.

Abstract: A shock-activated switch device comprises a piezoelectric buzzer having a body for receiving a mechanical shock and a terminal for outputting an electrical output signal when the body receives a mechanical shock, and an output circuit connected to the terminal for converting the output signal into a logic signal for controlling an electronic circuit to execute a specific programmable function, such as alarm snooze.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement and reminder system comprising a blood pressure measuring unit, a reminder unit, and an input unit is disclosed. The system is configured to transmit reminder signal(s) noticeable to its users for alerting them to take blood pressure measurement within a pre-determined measurement time schedule, and send confirmation signal(s) to the reminder unit to switch off the reminder state once the user has successfully taken a blood pressure measurement.

Abstract: A buffer includes a plurality of serial inputs, a plurality of de-serializers, each coupled to a respective input, a plurality n of buffers and a media access controller having inputs coupled to the plurality of de-serializers, data outputs coupled to the buffers, and two control outputs coupled to respective buffers for buffering input data at a clock rate one-nth that of the input data. Preferably the buffer is a bifurcate buffer. In operation, serial packets are received on a port. They must be converted to parallel data for processing by conventional CMOS logic, however there are limits serial to parallel conversion ratio. This buffer describe circumvents theses limits.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a built-in RFID tire tag. The built-in RFID tire tag includes an antenna and a circuit unit. The antenna is mounted in a tire, and is configured to be operated by resonating with radio waves, which are transmitted from an RFID reader and to have a repetitive corrugated shape. The circuit unit is configured to be operated by being supplied with power using the radio waves. The antenna includes a pair of tag radiators. Each of the tag radiators is divided into a first region and a second region. The corrugation density of the second regions, which are close to the circuit unit, is greater than that of the first regions, which are not close to the circuit unit. The first regions, which depend on rotational motion of the tire, adapt flexibly to bending and torsion of the tire by the difference between the corrugation densities.

Abstract: A lap counter for use by a swimmer, has a case for attaching to the swimmer, and a compass sensor housed in the case for providing an output signal which changes between opposite directions along which the swimmer swims back and forth. An operating circuit includes a processor programmed to distinguish the change in the output signal of the compass sensor between the opposite directions to identify a reversal in direction of swimming by the swimmer and to count laps, each lap being based on two successive reversals in direction. The processor may also be programmed to distinguish the change in the compass sensor output signal to detect a rise above an upper threshold and a subsequent fall below a lower threshold, or vice versa, to identify, a wave in the output signal that represents a swimming stroke of the swimmer and to count the strokes.

Abstract: Exercise data apparatus for use on the body of a user during exercise, includes an electrocardiogram detector for detecting electrocardiogram data of the user during exercise; an attachment device for attaching the electrocardiogram detector onto the chest of the user; a motion detector for detecting body motion data indicative of steps of the user during exercise; a processor for calculating exercise data based on the electrocardiogram data detected by the electrocardiogram detector and the body motion data detected by the motion detector, the exercise data including at least one of heart rate, speed and distance, and calorie consumption of the user; and an output device for informing the user of the exercise data calculated.

Abstract: A weather station has an MCU for evaluating weather information relating to an atmospheric parameter, a sensor for sensing the parameter for subsequent processing by the MCU, and an LCD display. The LCD display has a multi-layered structure including front and rear glass plates, liquid crystal material located between the plates in a pattern having a number of parts, a foremost transmissive polarizer, and a transflective polarizer behind the rear glass plate. There is also a color backing behind the rear polarizer, which has a number of regions in different colors and cover the liquid crystal pattern parts, so that the color regions are selectively revealed through the parts of the pattern as the parts of the pattern of the liquid crystal material are activated, thereby displaying the weather information in color.

Abstract: A method of routing calls through a network (5) includes: receiving an incoming call at a signaling transfer point (STP); transferring information related to the incoming call to a routing engine by decoding ISUP signaling information related to the incoming call; determining an optimized route based at least in part on the transferred information; and signaling the STP to a destination number based on the optimized route.