Abstract: A flare monitoring system that receives real-time data associated with the release of a processing facility's combustible fluids to a flare stack and analyzes the data in conjunction with parameters of the processing facility's flare-through elements such as manual valves, control valves, restriction orifices, flow meters, and the like. The results of the analysis are provided to operators in the form of reports that indicate: whether flaring events are of a routine or non-routine nature; the flared volume; the contribution of the flare-through elements to the flared volume; and so forth. The results can aid operators in reducing combustible fluid losses due to flaring and in mitigating emissions of sulfur, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A SCGP may provide a smart location guide (e.g., via GPS) to help keep the user from wandering off and getting lost. The SCGP may help the user travel independently via bus, car, and on foot. The SCGP may also notify the caregiver if the user wanders off or gets lost and may generate reports (e.g., via text, charts, graphs) showing the caregiver situations in which the user is likely to wander off or get lost. The SCGP may facilitate staying in touch with the user by allowing the caregiver to send the user reminders and important information, and to share pictures, videos, text messages, and voice messages with the user.

Abstract: An environmental movement detection section detects the speed of a vehicle and detects a mobile object in the vicinity of the vehicle. A collision probability prediction section predicts the probability of a prospective collision between the vehicle and the detected vicinity mobile object. On the basis of approach speeds, collision probabilities and sideward passing speeds when passing other mobile objects to sideward that have been determined from standard movements, a movement standard learning section learns relationships between approach speed, collision probability and sideward passing speed. On the basis of learning results at the movement standard learning section, a path characteristic point generation section determines a standard sideward passing speed for when passing the vicinity mobile object to sideward that corresponds with the detected approach speed and the predicted collision probability. Thus, standard mobile object states may be determined efficiently.

Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes evaluating conditions related to a vehicle, selecting a type of haptic alert based on the evaluated conditions, selecting a pattern of haptic actuators to command based on the type of haptic alert and a location of the haptic actuators in a seat of the vehicle, selecting a number of active haptic periods to command based on the type of haptic alert, selecting a duration of the active haptic periods and a duration of inactive haptic periods based on the type of haptic alert, and generating a signal indicating the active haptic periods based on the selected pattern of haptic actuators, the selected number of active haptic periods, and the selected duration of the active and inactive haptic periods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for providing energy system status information. A status indication device may be mounted near an entry door for determining when an individual is about to leave an area. When the status indication device determines that an individual is about to leave an area, it displays an energy status to the individual, so that the individual can decide whether to place energy-consuming devices in a conservation mode of operation.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for making status reporting devices for container handlers, including: providing a micro-controller module, and installing a program system into memory accessed by a computer directing the micro-controller module. The micro-controller module communicatively couples with means for wirelessly communicating and for sensing a state of the container handler. Means for wirelessly communicating may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location. The micro-controller module may be communicatively coupled to a separate means for determining location. An apparatus making the devices may include a second program system directing the invention's method through a second computer, which may control an assembly device in creating the micro-controller, coupled with the means for sensing and for wirelessly communicating.

Abstract: A rearwardly facing vehicle warning system for alerting nearby motorists of a coasting condition on a highway or similar high speed road. The system comprises a light source placed in the rear of a vehicle that illuminates when a motorist is neither applying pressure to the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal. A single light, illuminated in a color other than preexisting vehicle tail light colors, receives communication from an electric circuit or onboard computer that is communicating with a sensor monitoring both the accelerator and brake pedal. When neither is being utilized, the light is illuminated to warn motorists that the vehicle is undergoing a coasting condition and may be decelerating. The system provides notice of vehicle coasting to prevent unnecessary vehicle collisions from the rear due to an un-indicated change in vehicle speed, which may result from failing to maintain speed through constant pressure on the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A system detects presence of particles in the air of guest rooms of facilities such as motels and hotels for example that indicate that guests are engaged in recreational smoking. The system provides an indication to the facility manager of such behavior.

Abstract: Particular embodiments are directed towards a method for communicating time-based data in a power line communication system. The communication system utilized in the method includes: a command center; a collector device; and a plurality of endpoint devices. The method includes communicating, from the collector device, downstream data to the plurality of endpoint devices. This downstream communication utilizes a communication protocol that is relative to a collector network time, and is over a set of power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC). The collector network time uses the local oscillator. The AC zero-crossing event can be used as a time base for other versions of the network time. Conceptually, the AC can be thought of as acting as a reference clock for maintaining these other network times, although the clocking function can be carried out in the digital realm, e.g., using a digital-signal processor (DSP).

Abstract: Apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code, the at least one memory and the computer code configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least perform: determining at least one impulse response model pulse train from at least one audio signal; and determining an presence of an object from the at least one impulse model pulse train.

Abstract: A system to provide an always-on embedded anti-theft protection for a platform is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a motion detector to detect movement of the platform, a pairing logic to pair the platform with an other device, the other device reached via a network connection, and an arming logic to arm the platform, when an arming command is received. The system further comprises, in one embodiment, a risk behavior logic to detect a potential problem when the platform is armed, the potential problem differentiated based on the movement of the platform and a proximity of the other device, and a core logic component to provide logic to analyze the potential problem, and to move the platform to a suspecting state, when the potential problem indicates a theft suspicion.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to one or more transcoder devices in communication with an input device such as a remote control device and multiple destination devices in which the transcoder device(s) facilitate communication between the remote control and the various destination devices in the vicinity. The transcoder device(s) can also provide the user with an environmental awareness of conditions and events surrounding the user. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for measuring ambient conditions in venues using a number of real-time signals, including sound, temperature, light, motion, water usage, vibration, infrared signal and others. Ambient signal data is transmitted to a cloud-based application that stores the signal levels in a database and presents the information in a visual format for use by venues and by consumers. The system can, among other things, provide an overall measure of crowd activity in a venue.

Abstract: Locating devices and systems providing haptic tactile feedback are disclosed. In one embodiment, a locator includes a haptic handle configured to provide directional signals through an operator's sense of touch to aid in locating and tracing a buried conductor or other object such as a pipe or cable.

Abstract: Programmable devices and associated methods for alerting pedestrians and vehicle operators are provided.

Abstract: A pressure detection system is provided. The pressure detection system may include an enclosure that houses a pressure sensor, a type selector and a thickness selector. The pressure sensor may be adapted to produce output representative of the pressure on a barrier. The pressure sensor may include a computer electronically connected to the type selector and the thickness selector. The computer may be adapted to determine a threshold pressure that is related to the minimum amount of pressure needed to break a barrier for a given barrier type and a given barrier thickness. The pressure sensor may be adapted to transmit an alarm signal when the output of the pressure sensor may exceed the threshold pressure. A user may install the enclosure on the barrier. The user may then select the given barrier type from a group of predetermined options on the type selector. The user may then select the given barrier thickness from a group of predetermined options on the thickness selector.

Abstract: An asset tracking device includes a mounting bracket and a housing attached to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a magnetic portion, first apertures that receive first fasteners for attaching the mounting bracket to the asset, and second apertures that receive second fasteners. Third apertures in the housing, aligned with the second apertures in the mounting bracket, receive the second fasteners for attaching the housing to the mounting bracket. When the housing is attached to the mounting bracket, the housing makes the fasteners in the mounting bracket inaccessible so that the mounting bracket cannot be removed from the asset. When the housing is removed from the mounting bracket, a magnetic switch changes state and triggers a controller to generate a tamper alert with location information indicating the location of the tracking device. A wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the tamper alert and location information to a central monitoring station.

Abstract: In a sleep posture alerting method or an apparatus therefor, the sleep posture of a person is detected and the person is automatically alerted by an alerting device when the sleep posture is out of a predetermined body posture range. The detection of the sleep posture or at least the alerting of the person, when his/her body posture is out of the predefined body posture range, is deactivated during a sleep-in time period.

Abstract: A method of detecting leakage of a fluid from a tank is disclosed. The method may include determining cumulative commanded fluid consumption of the fluid in the tank over a selected time period, determining an actual change of a volume of the fluid in the tank over the selected time period, and comparing the cumulative commanded fluid consumption to the actual change of volume of the fluid. The method may further include producing a leak warning upon the actual change of volume of the fluid over the selected time period exceeding the cumulative commanded fluid consumption over the selected time period plus a threshold value.

Abstract: Methods for classifying aggregated data in a distributed sensor system are provided and illustrated with a wearable motion sensor network. The classification is operated in a distributed fashion on individual sensor nodes and a base station computer. The method classifies actions using a set of training motion sequences as prior examples and may reject outlying actions that are not in the training categories. Acquired sensor data is processed at the node by taking projections of the data to reduce dimensionality, calculating sparse representations of features using training sequences; validating and classifying local measurements and then transmitting classified measurements to a network base station.