Abstract: A vehicle approach notification apparatus includes a first sounding signal generation portion that generates a first sounding signal based on a first sound source data; a second sounding signal generation portion that generates a second sounding signal based on a second sound source data; and a combination portion that combines the first sounding signal with the second sounding signal to generate a notice sound signal. The first sounding signal generation portion changes a frequency and an output level of the first sounding signal depending on a speed of the vehicle. The second sounding signal generation portion changes an output level of the second sounding signal depending on the speed of the vehicle while holding a frequency of the second sounding signal to be constant.

Abstract: A wireless vibration sensor suitable for connection to a distributed industrial control system arranged with a wireless network for communication of process data or control information. The wireless vibration sensor includes at least one sensor, a wireless radio transmitter, and a base part for mounting it firmly on equipment or a structure. The wireless sensor is arranged with a battery and a power storage device. A method for powering up the wireless sensor during active cycles is also described.

Abstract: A facility comprising systems, methods, and techniques for collecting data indicative of energy consumption and/or energy production by energy systems and devices and providing the data to interested users and devices in real-time is described. The facility may comprise an energy gateway device coupled to one or more monitored devices, one or more energy data extraction servers, and one or more client computers. The energy gateway devices and energy data extraction servers are coupled to a network and are configured to collect energy consumption and/or energy production data from one or more devices and provide an indication of the collected data in real-time or near real-time. The facility may collect current energy consumption or production rates, predicted energy consumption or production levels over a future period of time, and/or amounts of energy that has been consumed or produced by the device over a previous period of time.

Abstract: An RFID tag includes a tag-type identifier. This tag-type identifier can represent data encoder-relevant tag-type information and/or printer-relevant tag-type information as desired. This identifier can comprise an optical or electronic code such as a numeric, binary, or hexadecimal code. This code can be stored within the RFID tag's integrated circuit (for example, within the integrated circuit's stored EPC field). These teachings also provide for recovering from an unassigned RFID tag its tag-type identifier and using that tag-type identifier to facilitate automatically processing the RFID tag when assigning the RFID tag to a corresponding item. This can comprise utilizing the tag-type identifier to determine corresponding assignment-facilitation information to use when assigning the RFID tag. Examples in these regards, include, for example, an RFID tag encoder power setting or position, a printer setting, or a label layout.

Abstract: Techniques are presented herein to provide human mobility pattern based modeling and tracking of a group of network enabled user devices associated with the same person. An association is made, at a tracking device, between a plurality of user devices and a user. Location information for each of the plurality of user devices is derived through network activity of the plurality of user devices. Locations for the plurality of user devices are derived from the location information. One or more predetermined user mobility pattern rules are applied to the plurality of user devices. User anomalies are detected when the tracked locations indicate that one or more of the plurality of user devices has violated one or more the predetermined user mobility rules.

Abstract: A multi-tenant, RFID system that may be Cloud based or run on a local area network (LAN) for distributed RFID devices and RFID applications. The RFID system a central abstraction and translation layer between RFID devices installed in geographically diverse locations and applications. RFID devices initiate communication to a Cloud or LAN network over to send events and receive commands. RFID applications can receive RFID tag data, device health, and requested and derived events from the RFID system to automatically run processes based on the provided data. Applications manage RFID devices and settings in the RFID system using command and configuration interfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smartcard receiving device, comprising a contact interface (11) for communicating with the received smartcard (2); a remote communication interface (13) for communicating with a first remote device (3); a protocol bridge (12) designed to establish a transaction with the received smartcard (2) through the contact interface (11). The smartcard receiving device further comprises a communicating device detector (14, 15) adapted to detect a second remote device (5) communicating according to a remote communication protocol different from the communication protocol used by said remote communication interface (13). The protocol bridge (12) interrupts the transaction with the received smartcard (2) when the second remote device (5) communicating according to said different remote communication protocol is detected.

Abstract: In one aspect, this disclosure is directed to an activity tracking device having a size and shape adapted for physical coupling with a user. The activity tracking device may include one or more sensors to generate sensor data. For example, the sensor data can include activity and/or biometric sensor data related to the user and/or environmental sensor data related to an environment around the user. The activity tracking device may also include an identification tag including identification data that includes information about actions and/or operations associated with the particular activity tracking device. The activity tracking device also can include an identification tag transmitter, electrically coupled with the identification tag, to wirelessly transmit the identification data, according to a communication protocol, to a wireless reader responsive to coming within a proximity of the wireless reader. The wireless reader can perform, or cause a processing device to perform, the actions and/or operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reading Radio Frequency Identified (RFID) tags. In an embodiment, an enclosure having, within it, an antenna and processor is provided. The processor may be configured to record tag observations for tag identifiers received by the antenna from RFID tags. For one or more time intervals, tag observations may be identified which satisfy a tag filter, and a confidence that RFID tags satisfying the tag filter were in the field of view of the antenna during the time interval may be computed based on the identified tag observations. According to an embodiment, reports for tag filters may be then generated using the computed confidences, and these reports may be transmitted to an external system over a network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with recovering orphaned utility meters are described. In one embodiment, a method includes selecting, from an electronic database, a plurality of candidate meters that are located proximate to an orphaned meter as determined based, at least in part, on ping information received from the orphaned meter. The orphaned meter is a utility meter that is actively transmitting the ping information to a utility company and is not associated with a customer account. The example method may also include evaluating the plurality of candidate meters according to the ping information to generate comparative metrics that define similarities between the orphaned meter and each of the plurality of candidate meters to identify whether one or more of the plurality of candidate meters correlate with the orphaned meter. The method also includes generating an electronic output based, at least in part, on the comparative metrics.

Abstract: Cooperative RFID devices are provided that are aware of other RFID devices in their near vicinity (field range), and their operational pattern depends on presence of these other devices. If a cooperative RFID device is alone in the RF field of a reader terminal, it will allow operation of a first type (e.g. not allowing complex communication, but only allowing responses to requests for non-sensitive data or completely concealing its presence by not allowing any transmission at all) and when another defined and known RFID device is detected in the same RF field, operation of a second type is allowed (e.g. allowing any data transfer, responding to requests for any data, including sensitive data, etc.).

Abstract: Various prison services are rendered more efficient by providing inmates access to portable electronic devices in a controlled and regulated manner. A dispenser is employed to control and monitor the checking out and return of portable electronic devices and to communicate with such devices during use by inmates to monitor inmate use and ensure the portable electronic devices are only used by inmates as authorized.

Abstract: An efficiency gauge from a vehicle information display may incorporate vehicle range information in addition to an efficiency indicator. The range information may be displayed as an area on the efficiency gauge indicating a safe operating region for average driving in order for the vehicle to reach a target destination entered by a driver before an on-board energy source is depleted. By maintaining a vehicle's average trip efficiency within the safe operating region through driving behavior, the display may convey that the vehicle will be able to make it to the target destination. Over the course of a trip, the safe operating region may be constantly updated to reflect the current state of the battery and the remaining distance to the target destination. If no target information is received, a default target distance value based on an initial distance to empty estimation may be used.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a processor, a memory, an embedded element storing information, and a short-range radio controller. The embedded element is readable by an external reader. The short-range radio controller is configured to receive a radio communication. If the short-range radio controller is being powered by a primary battery that powers the processor, the short-range radio controller is configured to route the radio communication to the embedded element if the radio communication is for accessing the embedded element, or route the radio communication to a component of the electronic device different from the embedded element if the radio communication is not for accessing the embedded element. If the short-range radio controller is not being powered by the primary battery, the short-range radio controller is configured to route the radio communication to the embedded element.

Abstract: A system and method of performing identity verification based on the use of mobile phones or mobile computing devices in conjunction with a secure identity authority; said method to be used as an alternative to conventional identity verification using paper-based documents such as driver's licenses and passports. The new method improves speed, accuracy, cost, and reliability of identity verification for entities that need to verify identity, as well as convenience for end-users.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling and monitoring vehicle parking meter systems wherein a plurality of programmable single space parking meters enable the resetting of time upon a vehicle departure and the occurrence of any other operational parameter; multiple low power microprocessors for monitoring and initiating changes in the logic for all the devices monitoring the parking meter spaces; a plurality of specialized microprocessors for monitoring the system to assure reliable operation thereof; a master operational microprocessor connected to each of the additional low power microprocessors for monitoring of and control of any changes in the logic to establish new operating parameters for the low power microprocessors; a centralized operational controller accessible to parking personnel to monitor and control the space monitoring units from a remote location; a pass-through radio frequency communication device for passing messages from the centralized operational controller to and from each space monitoring unit by

Abstract: A method for determining a status of a user of an electronic device. The method includes a computer processor determining information associated with a first user of an electronic device. The method further includes identifying a plurality of electronic devices that are within a range of wireless communications to the electronic device. The method further includes defining an area monitored by the electronic device. The method further includes monitoring a group of the identified plurality of electronic devices that are within the defined area. The method further includes calculating a first safe-threshold value for the electronic device based on information associated with a first user of an electronic device and monitored information from the group of the identified plurality of electronic devices. The method further includes determining a status for the first user based, at least in part, on the calculated first safe-threshold value for the electronic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically powered hand tool which comprises a device for providing tactile feedback to an operator of the tool. The tool further comprises a user-operated trigger for activating the working member of the tool. The tactile feedback provided by the tool alerts the operator about the activation status of the tool. More specifically, the operator is provided with an indication that the power to the tool is ON. The tactile feedback is provided at least from the time when the power to the tool is turned ON to the point in time when the trigger is pulled to activate the working member of the tool.

Abstract: A dispenser use monitor provides a housing configured to be removably attached to a portable dispenser, such as a soap dispenser. The housing includes a controller that stores one or more reference ID codes that match the tag ID codes associated with each of one or more data tags. The data tags are used to identify predetermined areas in which the portable dispenser is to be used. Thus, as the use monitor is brought into proximity with each data tag, indicating that the portable dispenser has been used in the associated area, the use monitor validates the reference ID codes if it matches the tag ID code of the particular data tag. In addition, an indicator displays the remaining number of reference ID codes that have not been validated, thereby providing a reminder to the user of the portable dispenser of the progress of their job completion.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of lock devices, systems, and methods. A lock of the application can include an internal mechanism to permit backdriven operation and lost motion operation. In one form the lock can be made from an assembly of parts that have locating features that require one way installation/assembly. The lock can include an internal power source capable of driving electronics used to determine handedness of a door.