Abstract: A notification appliance is disclosed. The notification appliance may be a strobe notification appliance, such as an LED strobe notification appliance. The notification appliance may be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted. Further, the notification appliance may include an optic that is configured to shape the light output from the notification appliance. For example, in a wall-mount, the optic may be mounted off-axis of a plane defined by a back plate of the notification appliance. Further, the notification appliance may be composed of a back plate, a driver board, and a front housing, with the front housing being attached to one or both of the back plate and the driver board. Moreover, the notification appliance may be used with an adapter bracket, which may be used to connect the notification appliance with one or more types of junction boxes.

Abstract: A wireless fire alarm notification system uses wireless repeater devices to annunciate an alarm to slave devices from the control panel. A notification device provides a local synchronization signal via wire to a secondary notification device. A method enables the activation or deactivation of child device without the child device having to query their parent repeater. A circuit to test the integrity of an active battery charger, a battery, and an isolation circuit is also shown. A method for qualifying that an RF signal meets a specified minimum acceptable level is described. A method for wirelessly sending events to avoid RF link overload is provided. A programming checksum method confirms that an annunciator has latest programming information. A method to automatically process messages from new devices without having to hardcode repeaters to support these new devices is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that use mixed reality, e.g., augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to improve analysis of security situations. These techniques merge the physical world embodied in security systems with the virtual world of policies and analytics. Upon receiving an assertion of an alarm condition from a security system that processes sensor signals a server sends messages to determine nearby sensors to turn on and start sending data back to the servers. Further implementations have the servers modify operation of the sensors to collect more relevant sensor data according to the alarm condition. The servers control a mixed reality device on which information such as a video feed is rendered on a display associated with the device, as well as data determined by the servers based on analysis of the received sensor data.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that use mixed reality and/or augmented reality and virtual reality technologies for analysis of retail processes and activity in retail stores. The disclosed techniques use computer implemented techniques that obtain information from various electronic systems/devices in the physical world, which devices are exemplified by security systems, and merge that information into a virtual world of policies and analytics that involve retail systems that generate analytical information regarding customers and their preferences and needs.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that use mixed reality, e.g., augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to improve analysis of retail processes and activity in retail stores. A system is configured to receive a set of social media feeds, filter the social media feeds according to at least one criterion to derive data according to the at least one criterion and from received images in view of a set of physical objects, execute one or more merchandizing algorithms that apply the data derived from the filtered social media feeds to provide as an output data describing one or more social media related values associated with one or more of the physical objects in the view of the set of physical objects.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that use mixed reality, e.g., augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to improve analysis of security situations. The techniques allow a guard (or other user in a facility) to observe persons in a facility and determine merely by looking at such persons through a mixed reality device whether those persons are authorized to be in the facility or not, irrespective of whether those persons are required or not required to publically display some credentials, such as a badge or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that use mixed reality, e.g., augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to improve analysis of retail processes and activity in retail establishments. A server system receives images from a mixed reality device, which images including representations of physical objects and receives voice data from the mixed reality device and executes a cognitive agent to process the voice data received from the mixed reality device that generates a set of virtual objects that include data describing merchandising process concepts regarding the set of physical objects, based on input queries received in the voice data and sending by a server system, the set of virtual objects to the mixed reality device.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that use mixed reality, e.g., augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to improve analysis of security situations as well as retail processes and activity in retail stores. For security these techniques merge the physical world embodied in security systems with the virtual world of policies and analytics. In the retail aspect, these techniques merge the physical world of retail items, displays, and spaces with the virtual world of policies and analytics.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (300) for selective device responsiveness using a plurality of control tags (132) affixed to a plurality of objects (102). The methods involve: receiving, by a plurality of control tags, a reporting command signal sent from an interrogation device via a communications link; and communicating a response to the reporting command signal from only those of the plurality of control tags which are (1) currently being moved, (2) have been moved within a first specified period of time, and/or (3) have a surrounding environment with at least one characteristic that has recently changed.

Abstract: Security tag and method of using same facilitates authorized removal of items from a controlled area where the items have been marked with an item identification code. The method involves providing a transaction software application to facilitate use of a PMCD to obtain the item identification code and participate in a wireless communication session with a transaction server to receive an authorization for release of the item from the controlled area. The application uses the PMCD to access from the security tag certain security tag information available from the security tag. The security tag information is used at the PMCD to determine an unlock code for the security tag. The PMCD is then used to wirelessly communicate the unlock code to the security tag after the authorization for release has been received.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a detacher. The detacher includes a field source. The field source is arranged to provide a first magnetic field when power is applied to the field source. The detacher further includes a magnet arranged to provide a second magnetic field. The magnet is movable from a non-detach position to a detach position when exposed to the first magnetic field. The second magnetic field is arranged to unlock a security tag when the magnet is at the detach location. The system further includes an activation device. The activation device includes a processor configured to trigger power to be supplied to the field source.

Abstract: A surveillance system includes one or more camera systems at least some of the camera systems including a camera element comprising optical components to capture and process light to produce images, camera processing circuitry that receives the light and processes the into electrical signals and encodes the signals into a defined format, power management circuitry to power the camera system, the power management system including first and second power interfaces and first and second video output interfaces.

Abstract: The system includes an active unit, such as a detector unit, which has a processor, a network port for connection to a central control unit, and an optical data input port. The processor is arranged to enable the optical data input port on receipt of an enable signal received by the active unit from the central control unit via a network.

Abstract: System and method for establishing configuration parameters for a comprehensive user interface of an alarm system. An exemplary embodiment of a configuration system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a plurality of alarm system workstations, each alarm system workstation having a set of configuration parameters associated therewith, a client workstation, and a user interface broker operatively connected to each of the alarm system workstations and the client workstation, wherein the user interface broker is configured to aggregate data from the alarm system workstations and to present such aggregated data at the client workstation using the comprehensive user interface. The user interface broker is further configured to facilitate designation of one of the alarm system workstations as a main workstation, whereupon the configuration parameters of the designated main workstation are applied to the comprehensive user interface.

Abstract: A damping control system disposed at a location of an antenna resonant circuit detects an exciter signal produced by a remotely located EAS transmitter. The damping control system generates a switch control signal in response to the detection of an EAS exciter signal burst. The switch control signal is used to reduce a Q factor of the antenna resonant circuit by selectively controlling at least one switching element connected to the antenna resonant circuit. The damping control system controls a timing of the switch control signal so as to reduce the Q factor at a predetermined time selected to reduce ringing at a trailing edge of each periodic burst.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an RFID tag. The methods comprise: inducing current through a magnetic loop or solenoid disposed within the RFID tag that is caused by a inductive field, a magnetic field or an RF field being generated within a surrounding environment; using the current which is induced through the magnetic loop or solenoid to charge a capacitor disposed within the RFID tag; decreasing the amount of current induced through the magnetic loop or solenoid; receiving a detaching signal at the RFID tag; electrically connecting the capacitor to a detaching unit disposed within the RFID tag in response to the detaching signal; and activating the detaching unit by supplying current from the capacitor to the detaching unit, whereby the RFID tag can be detached from an article.

Abstract: A method for operating a Wearable Access Sensor (“WAS”). The methods comprise: capturing RF energy by the WAS, where the RF energy is emitted within a surrounding environment from equipment disposed at an access point of a restricted area; passing the RF energy through a switch that is normally in a position which provides an electrical connection between an antenna of the WAS and a full wave rectifier of the WAS; performing operations by the WAS to convert the RF energy into direct current for generating electric power; supplying the electric power to an energy storage device of the WAS for charging the energy storage device to a pre-determined voltage level; and supplying power from the energy storage device to a controller of the WAS when a voltage level of the energy storage device is equal to or greater than the pre-determined voltage level.

Abstract: A sensor guard and method of using the sensor guard to protect a sensor element of a fire sensor. The sensor guard includes one or more legs that extend in a direction that is oblique to a central axis of the fire sensor. The fire sensor includes a housing and the sensor element, extending from the housing, for detecting an indication of fire. The sensor guard is mounted on the housing for protecting the sensor element.

Abstract: A number of different approaches are described for minimizing or preventing false alarms. In one case, override panels are used such as locally near or in the protected space or remotely at a security desk, for example. These override panels are used to deactivate or block the generation of a fire alarm signal in the case where the occupants or a management personnel recognizes that the fire alarm signal should not be generated. In this way, an alarm verification step is included. In another aspect, additional, contextual information is used to characterize or adjust when fire alarm signals are generated. This contextual information can be generated from sources that are not typically used in the generation of the fire alarm signal but instead are based on other sources of the information concerning the protected space.