Abstract: In one embodiment, a power line communication system network element is provided that provides communications to one or more user devices. The device may also receive data from one or more sensors, such as current sensors, a voltage sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, a barometer, a motion sensor, a level sensor, and/or a vibration sensor. The device may include a controller that receives commands that relate to the collection and transmission of the sensed data via a medium voltage power line.

Abstract: A sensor unit includes at least one sensor configured to measure an ambient condition. The controller can be configured to receive instructions, to report a notice level when the controller determines that data measured by the at least one sensor fails a report threshold test corresponding to a report threshold value. The controller can also be configured to obtain a plurality of calibration measurements from the at least one sensor during a calibration period and to adjust the threshold based on the calibration measurements. The controller can be configured to compute a first threshold level corresponding to background noise and a second threshold level corresponding to sensor noise, and to compute the report threshold value from the second threshold. In one embodiment, the sensor unit adjusts one or more of the thresholds based on ambient temperature.

Abstract: A system and method provide for the immediate transmission of a potential alarm to a remote alarm signal escrow site and from the escrow site to a host station in the event where a control panel or an alarm signaling device is tampered with or destroyed by a disablement tactic, e.g., a “crash and smash intrusion.” A system and method may also send an alarm signal during such an attack by using predictive analysis of real-time events.

Abstract: A video mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly with an electrochromic reflective element having a front portion and a rear portion generally opposite the front portion. The reflective element has an electrochromic medium disposed between a first substrate and a second substrate and has a transflective third-surface mirror reflector that is at least 15 percent transmitting to visible light and that is at least 40 percent reflective to visible light. A video display is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector. The video display is back lit by at least one light source, and the video display is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when the interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing hours of service management. A method is provided that operates to provide advisements to a vehicle operator. The method includes receiving a status message in a transmission from a vehicle, wherein the status message comprises a status parameter, and determining a compliance indicator associated with the status parameter, wherein the compliance indicator is selected from confirmation, violation, and threshold indicators. The method also includes generating an advisement message based on the compliance indicator, and transmitting the advisement message to the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a healthcare monitoring system and method that detects and transmits data. The system can utilize a wearable monitor that detects a variety of data from its wearer. The data can then be transmitted over a network to a centralized location where the data may be analyzed and any appropriate action may be taken.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing storage and display of emergency data and other reference materials on a cellular telephone, electronic telephone, multimedia player or other electronic device. Emergency information, first aid procedures, spiritual guidance, and reference information is embedded or otherwise stored on an electronic device, for later retrieval. Storage on the electronic device prior to the time of needs ensures that the information will be available whether or not a communication signal is available to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for warning an operator of a vehicle of a vehicular task that is being performed beyond a pre-determined time for execution of the task involving incrementally increasing audio and visual warnings as the task continues to be performed past the pre-determined time.

Abstract: An RFID system for determining the location of a vehicle or mobile object that passes thereover is presented. The system comprises a tag arrangement having at least one tag where the arrangement having a width of between approximately 0.5 m and 2 m.

Abstract: The apparatus is a bracelet that can transmit the location of the wearer to a monitoring station using GPS technology to locate the wearer and cellular communication technology to transmit the information. The apparatus can also record and transmit sound and visual information to the monitoring station and receive sound transmissions from the monitoring station. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a two unit version were one unit can detect the distance to the other unit. Once that distance exceeds a certain maximum, an alarm will sound from the first unit. An alarm can also be sent to the monitoring station. Other versions of the apparatus can have a lock to prevent removal of the apparatus invention from a wearer. The lock can be a biometric lock, such as one operated by a fingerprint.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system includes tire-based transmitting and receiving devices and a vehicle body-based transmitting and receiving device having vehicle body-based receiving means, vehicle body-based transmitting means, wherein (2m?1)×(2n?1)?t is satisfied with t, m and n representing the number of the tire-based transmitting and receiving devices, the number of vehicle body-based transmitting groups and the number of vehicle body-based receiving groups respectively, each tire-based transmitting and receiving device receives the transmission request from any one of the vehicle body-based transmitting groups, the information transmitted from the tire-based transmitting and receiving device is received by any one of the vehicle body-based receiving groups, and each tire-based transmitting and receiving device has a different combination of the groups of the vehicle body-based transmitting means and the vehicle body-based receiving means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to wirelessly transmit information within a mobile platform is provided, comprising a local processor, signally connected to a plurality of sensing devices and operative to process input signals from the sensing devices. There is a control module and a wireless communication system, operative to selectively transmit information between the local processor and the control module. Selectively transmitting information comprises assigning a communications priority to each input signal, the communications priority comprising one of a non-event, a first-level event, a second-level event, and a third-level event; and, transmitting the input signals to the control module based upon the communications priority.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying, from a set of geographical areas, a set of target areas that overlap a map view or view port of a map. Target areas are defined as circles having centers and radii, as sets of geographic cells overlaying the areas, or as other polygons of geographic data. Within a view port served or to be served to a user, multiple points are defined and substantially equally spaced within the view port, such that any target area that may significantly overlap the view port (e.g., at least a threshold percentage of the view port) is likely to overlap a minimum number of the points (e.g., one). Some or all target areas are then tested for intersection with some or all of the points, and calculations may be made to determine how much the intersecting areas actually overlap the view port.

Abstract: A metal detector for control of protected access comprises two oblong shape vertical housings (10, 12), a structure (14) connecting the upper part of the vertical housings (10, 12) and emitting and receiving electrical coils (3, 5) provided in the housings (10, 12). Each of the two housings (10, 12) comprises two separate emitting (3) and/or receiving (5) coils. The coils operate so that each of the two housings (10, 12) comprises one emitting coil (TX) and one receiving coil (RX). The metal detector further comprises a controller for controlling operation of the emitting and receiving coils, so that when an emitting coil (TX1, TX2) provided in a housing (10, 12) is active, the two receiving coils (RX1, RX2) provided respectively in both the two housings are also simultaneously or subsequently active.

Abstract: A comparator is supplied with a hold visit code and a visit guidance message, which are received by a receiver from a broadcasting device via radio waves. Alternatively, the comparator is supplied with a hold visit code and a visit guidance message, which are received by a communicating unit from a server through a public circuit network, a wireless link, a cellular phone unit, and another wireless link. The comparator then compares the supplied HVC with an HVC that is stored in a message table in a storage unit. If the HVCs compared by the comparator agree with each other, then an information output unit resets the HVC stored in the message table, and outputs the visit guidance message to an output unit.

Abstract: A control system includes an enclosure, a control panel, and a plurality of controls, indicators, or both mounted on the control panel or in the enclosure. At least some of the plurality of controls, indicators, or both are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other inside the enclosure, and at least some controls including wirelessly controlled relays are configured to control devices outside the enclosure. Also, the wirelessly configured controls, indicators, or both are further configured to communicate with a plurality of other controls, indicators, or both in the control system.

Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system comprises an interior electrochromic mirror having a transflective mirror reflector and a video screen disposed behind the mirror reflector so that the presence of the video screen is substantially unobservable to a driver of the vehicle until the video screen is actuated to emit light that passes through the electrochromic reflective element to be viewed by the driver of the vehicle. Control circuitry receives a signal indicative of selection of a reverse gear of the vehicle by the driver and actuates the video screen in order to display video images captured by a video imaging device disposed to the rear of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of and external to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system for managing one or more devices includes identifying at least one condition related to one of one or more devices to initiate an instant message communication between one of the one or more devices and one of one or more computing systems. An instant message service is invoked based on the identified condition and an instant message is generated based on the identified condition. The generated instant message is provided at the one of the computing systems in which the instant message communication has been initiated.

Abstract: An information display mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle and having a casing, a mirror support arm and a reflective element. The interior rearview mirror assembly includes an information display screen disposed separate from and independent of and lateral of the reflective element at a portion of the casing closer to a seating location of the vehicle driver or at a portion of the casing further from a seating location of the vehicle driver. The information display screen may be a touch-sensitive information display screen that displays information responsive to the driver of the vehicle at least one of touching its viewing surface and positioning a finger proximate its viewing surface.

Abstract: The invention discloses a locator unit contained within footwear providing a method for GPS position determination and transmission of said location determination data to a central monitoring station which disseminates the data through the use of proprietary software, wireless communications, land based wire systems and the Internet.