Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to methods and systems for autonomous navigation using visual landmark recognition.

Abstract: A method is provided for efficiently managing energy consumption using stored energy. The method accepts input energy (e.g., from a power utility) and maintains a record of energy consumption. An energy consumption peak is predicted in response to analyzing the record of energy consumption, and the input energy is augmented with stored energy during the predicted energy consumption peaks. More explicitly, a peak shaving value is selected based on a fraction of the predicted energy consumption peak, and the stored energy is used when energy consumption exceeds the peak shaving value. In one aspect, after a determination is made to use stored energy, it is simply used while it is available. Otherwise, it is supplied based upon an analysis of a predicted value of the stored energy.

Abstract: A portable neurofeedback device is described. The neurofeedback device includes a wearable fixture. One or more brainwave sensors are attached to the wearable fixture. A processing unit is attached to the wearable fixture. The processing unit receives brainwave signals captured by the one or more brainwave sensors. The processing unit computes one or more user-feedback values that represent current brain activity. A display module is attached to the wearable fixture that displays a visual representation of the one or more user-feedback values.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing a social network of devices. The method provides a non-transitory memory, a network interface, and a social network application. Network-connected local devices create user accounts in the social network and populate a user profile listing device characteristics. Some examples of device characteristics include model and serial number. A central server is then able to access the user profiles in the social network, and cross-reference user profiles to a first device characteristic. The central server sends queries via the social network to selected local devices matching the first device characteristic and receives responses to the queries via the social network from the selected local devices. Further, the central server may maintain a database, stored in a central non-transitory memory, of queries and responses cross-referenced to the local devices. A system is also provided for managing devices using a social networking application.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and engine for defining respiration events in body sensor signals that are highly accurate and compatible with many different classes of respiration monitoring devices. The present method and engine provide improved respiration event definition through the expedients of dynamic thresholding, segment merging and tail identification.

Abstract: A method for image navigation on an electronic device is described. The method includes displaying an image. The method also includes detecting at least one contact with a touch sensor to obtain a first position. The method further includes obtaining an updated position corresponding to a contact movement. The method additionally includes determining a modified position by applying at least one scaling function based on the first position and the updated position. The method also includes moving the image based on the modified position.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the color of an image to be displayed includes receiving an input image having a plurality of pixels where each of the pixels has a plurality of color components. The input image is filtered using a spatial filter in such a manner that the lower frequency content of the input image is enhanced in such a manner that the dynamic range of the lower frequency content is increased. The filtered image is modified such that the higher frequency content of the input image is used to modify the filtered image.

Abstract: A method for constraining a bitstream by an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining a message structure. The message structure includes a parameter structure corresponding to a bitstream partition. The method also includes obtaining a parameter structure index referring to the parameter structure. The method further includes determining whether the parameter structure index is within a parameter structure index valid range. The method additionally includes generating a first indication if the parameter structure index is not within the parameter structure index valid range.

Abstract: A method is provided for an electronics device user interface (UI) to create a rules-validated service request. Initially, a UI device presents a plurality of selections, and accepts a selection command from a user. A UI application sends the selection command to a rules engine. The rules engine compares the selection command to a rules collection cross-referencing selection commands to allowable selection commands, wherein a rule is defined as a relationship between service parameters. In response to the rules engine validating the selection commands, the UI application sends a service request including the selection commands to a service device, and the service device performs a service defined in the service request. In response to the rules engine invalidating the selection command, the UI device may present an explanation of a rule violation associated with the invalid selection command. An associated system is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for invoking object processing web service workflow chains that are rapidly configurable and seamlessly executable. Rapid configuration and seamless execution are facilitated by a catalog of “reusable” object processing web services which adhere to a common service contract and can be integrated into workflow chains for processing objects as plug-and-play building blocks. The services in the workflow chains are provided references to locations of objects being processed (rather being given the objects themselves) to simplify and expedite execution. An exemplary workflow chain is composed of document imaging web services and is configured and executed in an MFP environment.

Abstract: A low overhead voice activity detection technique for a noise-canceling bioacoustic sensor consumes, as inputs, signals generated by a body microphone and an environment microphone and produces, as an output based on these inputs, an indication of whether voice activity is present. The technique applies a novel dual ANC configuration that produces, in addition to the normal noise reduction function, a signal composed of environmental sounds with body sounds attenuated and a signal composed of body sounds projected into the acoustic environment, primarily speech sounds. The technique then applies to these derived signals an algorithm based on the scientific observation that speech intensity, within limits, rises and falls to match environmental sound intensity to provide voice activity detection.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) is described. The UE decodes an uplink/downlink (UL/DL) reconfiguration downlink control information (DCI) with an enhanced interference mitigation with traffic adaptation (eIMTA)-radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The UE also determines if one or more valid UL/DL configurations in the UL/DL reconfiguration DCI with eIMTA-RNTI for all configured eIMTA cells are received. The UE further determines if physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 3 is configured. The UE additionally determines a PUCCH resource for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) reporting based on whether valid UL/DL configurations in the UL/DL reconfiguration DCI with eIMTA-RNTI for all of the configured eIMTA cells corresponding to a subframe for the PUCCH resource are received.

Abstract: A system utilizing motion derivation and coding for scaling video is described. The system may include an electronic device configured to receive a first layer bitstream and a second enhancement layer bitstream corresponding to the first layer bitstream. The electronic device may be configured to derive a motion vector at the second layer representation from the first layer representation.

Abstract: A virtual thermostat system and method are provided. The method accepts commands via a virtual thermostat interface for establishing temperature set points for a plurality of zones. Energy consumption information is also accepted from a plurality of energy consumption units. Each unit consumes energy at an associated peak power to supply a controlled temperature medium to a corresponding zone. The method also accepts temperature measurements for each zone. Then, consumption commands are sent to each energy consumption unit in response to associated zone temperature set points, while insuring that a combined peak power of the energy consumption units is less than a maximum peak power threshold. In one aspect, the virtual thermostat accepts temperature measurements from a plurality of physical thermostats, each associated with an energy consumption unit. Then, consumption commands are relayed to the energy consumption units via associated physical thermostats.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) for sending Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE determines a primary cell (PCell) configuration. The UE also determines a secondary cell (SCell) configuration. The UE further determines whether the PCell configuration specifies uplink (UL) and the SCell configuration specifies downlink (DL) for a subframe or whether the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The UE additionally determines a HARQ Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) reporting subframe based on the PCell configuration if the PCell configuration specifies DL and the SCell configuration specifies DL for the subframe. The UE also sends SCell Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) HARQ-ACK information in the HARQ-ACK reporting subframe.

Abstract: A method and system for firmware updating for one or more electronic devices connected on a user network. A management gateway may be connected on the network, configured to control all firmware update activity for the one or more electronic devices. In an exemplary application, the electronic devices may be multifunction peripheral devices. An electronically accessible firmware repository for storing firmware updates is maintained. The management gateway may establish a firmware update activity schedule for each electronic device.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a circuit-on-wire (CoW) assembly. The method forms a flexible line with a plurality of periodic alignment marks used as a guide to place CoW devices overlying a surface of the flexible line. The CoW devices may be LEDs, capacitors, diodes, photodiodes, resistors, thin-film transistors, or combinations of the above-listed elements. The flexible line may be a conductive material, such as a metal wire, and the periodic alignment marks may be vias formed through the wire. If the flexible line is electrically conductive, an electrically conductive adhesive may be applied to the electrically conductive line, so that an electrical connection is formed between the CoW devices and the electrically conductive line. Subsequent to placing the CON devices, processes may be formed on the flexible line and CoW devices such as lithographic etching and thin-film deposition. An active matrix array using CoW devices is also presented.

Abstract: A circuit-on-wire (CoW) is provided that is made from a flexible metal wire with an outer surface, and a plurality of discrete electrical control devices formed in series along the metal wire outer surface. Each control device may have an electrical contact accessible through the metal wire. In one aspect, the control device may have a via through the metal wire from the top surface to the bottom surface with a second electrical contact accessible through the via. In addition, the control devices may have a top surface with an accessible third electrical contact. For example, the control device may be a first thin-film transistor (TFT), with a gate electrode accessible through the metal wire, wherein the second electrical contact is a first source/drain (S/D) electrode, and wherein the third electrical contact is a second S/D electrode. Using the above-described CoW, a woven active matrix array can be fabricated.

Abstract: A transition metal hexacyanoferrate (TMH) cathode battery is provided. The battery has a AxMn[Fe(CN)6]y.zH2O cathode, where the A cations are either alkali or alkaline-earth cations, such as sodium or potassium, where x is in the range of 1 to 2, where y is in the range of 0.5 to 1, and where z is in the range of 0 to 3.5. The AxMn[Fe(CN)6]y.zH2O has a rhombohedral crystal structure with Mn2+/3+ and Fe2+3+ having the same reduction/oxidation potential. The battery also has an electrolyte, and anode made of an A metal, an A composite, or a material that can host A atoms. The battery has a single plateau charging curve, where a single plateau charging curve is defined as a constant charging voltage slope between 15% and 85% battery charge capacity. Fabrication methods are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining a skew angle associated with a document image. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a rotation vector may be estimated for at least one layer in a vertical-edge buffer and a horizontal-edge buffer. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rotation vector may be estimated directly from the vertical-edge buffer and the horizontal-edge buffer using a fixed-sized, progressively constrained histogram.