Abstract: A telematics service in a motor vehicle is provided by a mobile radio link between a telematics controller in the motor vehicle and an external telematics center. The telematics center is provided with data which identifies the motor vehicle from a first database and with data which identifies the mobile radio link from a second database. The the telematics center uses the data that has been provided to produce the authorization automatically.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying messages on top of a vehicle are disclosed. Although useful in many other areas, the techniques are particularly suitable for taxicab. According to one aspect of these techniques, a display unit is mounted on top of a vehicle. The display unit includes at least two display panels facing outward respectively. The display unit is controlled by a computing device to display various messages. In one embodiment, the vehicle is provided a Global Positioning System (GPS) that determines a location of the vehicle. Coupled to the GPS, the computing device sends the location information of the vehicle to a base station and receives returned information from the base station in accordance with the location information. The returned information, at least some of which are location based, is locally processed for suitable display on the display panels.

Abstract: Systems for reminding a driver when height extending cargo is loaded on a vehicle. The warning systems can include an indicator that is selectively moveable between a warning position and a prevention position. In the warning position, the indicator is in a driver's field of vision. In the prevention position, the indicator at least partially obstructs cargo from being loaded on the vehicle. The indicator can be moved from the warning position to a prevention position by an arm, which can be designed to extend and retract.

Abstract: A low-power shock sensing system includes at least one shock sensor physically coupled to a chemical storage tank to be monitored for impacts, and an RF transmitter which is in a low-power idle state in the absence of a triggering signal. The system includes interference circuitry including or activated by the shock sensor, wherein an output of the interface circuitry is coupled to an input of the RF transmitter. The interface circuitry triggers the RF transmitting with the triggering signal to transmit an alarm message to at least one remote location when the sensor senses a shock greater than a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment the shock sensor is a shock switch which provides an open and a closed state, the open state being a low power idle state.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for generating an alert signal when a fastener for closing and opening a clothing item is open. The apparatus comprises a first unit for detecting that the fastener is open; a second unit for detecting that the clothing item is worn; and an alert mechanism for generating an alert signal when the first unit detects that the fastener is open and the second unit detects that the clothing item is worn.

Abstract: Temperature sensor device that allows changes of temperature (14) to be detected, as the materials that form said device (1) are deformed, that consists of a body formed by two valves (2) and a structure (8) provided in the hollow interior (7), so that they join together with the aid of a number of bolts (5), it having been envisaged that in one of the bolts (5) and in the structure (8) electrical terminals (4) are positioned, separated a distance (12) from each other, so that when an increase in temperature (14) takes place, it causes the deformation of the components of the device (1), allowing contact of the electrical terminals on having reached the critical temperature (14), and producing the activation of a warning device (13) with the aid of a conductive medium (10)

Abstract: There is provided with a wireless tag reader communicating with a plurality of wireless tags each of which retains tag information piece and a bloom filter, the wireless tag reader comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a read request signal simultaneously to the wireless tags to request the wireless tags to read out the bloom filters; a receiver configured to receive bloom filter signals simultaneously from the wireless tags to acquire a colliding bloom filter signal; a decoder configured to decode the colliding bloom filter signal to acquire a composite bloom filter which is equivalent to logic operation OR on the bloom filters; a data storage configured to store tag information pieces; and a filter verifier configured to verify each of tag information pieces in the data storage with the composite bloom filter to detect tag information pieces for which a verification result is positive or negative.

Abstract: A portable terminal comprising a transmission part that transmits to information provision equipment or a server, a signal indicating presence at a prescribed location, presence of a communications counterparty at a prescribed location, a reception part that receives from the information provision equipment or the server, a signal indicating the position of a moving body, a moving body is approaching or is present at the prescribed location, an alarm part that issues an alarm using the moving body in position signal received at the reception part, indicating the moving body is approaching or is present at the prescribed location, a light detection part detecting the degree of brightness, a part deciding whether or not to transmit a present in prescribed location signal that decides, using the brightness as detected by the light detection part, whether or not to send a present in prescribed location signal from the transmission part.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device includes a piezo-electric crystal and a passive magnetic field sensor having magnetostrictive material. The sensor is responsive to a magnetic field to displace piezo-electric material to thereby generate electricity to power the device.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for a vehicle includes an on-vehicle machine including reporting means configured to report by radio an illegal activity affecting the vehicle to a designated opponent to be reported to in a case where the illegal activity is detected; and an external facility, the external facility including obstruction radio wave detection means configured to detect a radio wave obstructing the radio-report by the reporting means; and illegal activity prevention means configured to prevent the illegal activity in a case where the radio wave is detected by the obstruction radio wave detection means.

Abstract: A method and system detects and diagnoses faults in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Internal state variables of the HVAC equipment are measured under external driving conditions. Expected internal state variables are predicted for the HVAC equipment operating under the external driving conditions using a locally weighted regression model. Features are determined of the HVAC based on differences between the measured and predicted state variables. The features are classified to determine a condition of the HVAC equipment.

Abstract: A portable device for facilitating adjustment of the area in which communication with a controller is enabled. The portable device performs wireless communication with an in-vehicle device, which controls a door lock driver or an engine starter of a vehicle, to remotely control the in-vehicle device. The portable device includes a receiver for receiving a request signal from the in-vehicle device and a control unit for lowering or raising the signal receiving sensitivity of the receiver by predetermined levels to adjust the signal receiving sensitivity.

Abstract: A mount sheet having a plurality of radio tags attached at an interval to it is run over a radio communicating section. The radio communicating section has a metal member providing a conveying surface with a slit formed therein. A dielectric member is arranged on a lower surface of the metal member with a projecting section inserted into the slit and, by doing so, the top surface of the projecting section is set flush with the top surface of the metal member. An antenna of the radio communicating section is located beneath the projecting section of the dielectric member and this antenna is held within the metal case. When any radio tag being an object of a radio communication is located over the slit, the radio communicating section positively makes radio communication with the radio tag through the antenna.

Abstract: A drinkware is provided to provide information to a receiver. The drinkware is a RF device coupled to a handheld drinking container. The RF device can receive and send RF signals and communicate with a sensory device. A transmitter can send a signal to the communication device, which then activates sensory device. The RF device can communicate with the transmitter to control a fountain machine.

Abstract: A hand tool with at least two alarm devices comprises a flat handle with having a rectangular shape which is formed by has two first parallel surfaces and two second parallel narrow surfaces connected between the two first surfaces; at least one end of the handle being formed with a driving head; an output device having a sensing unit; the sensing unit being electrically connected to a strain gauge installed at a predetermined position of the handle; and the output device having an alarm unit; the alarm unit of the output device being installed at the connection of the handle and the driving head. An auxiliary alarm unit is installed at one surface of the handle, or the auxiliary alarm unit is installed at an inclined recess between two adjacent surfaces of the handle or the auxiliary alarm unit is arranged across two adjacent surfaces of the handle.

Abstract: A flat tire alert system for detecting flat tires on trailers. The system includes: a plurality of sensor modules coupleable to an axle, and configured to sense deflation of a tire. Each sensor includes: a coupling mechanism, a retention spring, a first arm, a joint mechanism, a second arm, and a roller. The system also includes: an indicator module, in communication with the sensor modules, and configured to indicate a response when the sensor module senses a deflation of a tire; and an alert module in the form of a horn, in communication with the indicator module, and configured to provide an alert when the indicator module indicates a deflation of a tire. Further, there is a control module having an On/Off switch, in communication with the indicator module, and configured to control the indicator module.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the self-testing of an auxiliary generator provides an alarm signal if the generator does not start and operate within a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A portable communication device is provided and includes a display. At least one remote control soft button is presented at the display and an electronic device control command is associated with each remote control soft button. Further, the electronic device control command is enabled in response to a code received at the portable communication device from a service provider. The portable communication device also includes a keypad that can be used to select the remote control soft button. Further, the electronic device control command is selected from the group consisting of: play, stop, pause, volume up, volume down, record, channel up, channel down, fast forward, and rewind. Additionally, the portable communication device includes a text input field and a send button that are presented at the display. The portable communication device selectively can control a selected remote electronic device using the at least one electronic device control command.

Abstract: A method for installing an RFID tag on shipping articles includes applying a strip of conductive material to the surface of the article and providing an RFID chip having a body, a first bottom conductive point, a second bottom conductive point and a nonconductive fin between the first bottom conductive point and the second bottom conductive point. The fin is received in the shipping article. The RFID chip is attached to the shipping article by inserting the chip onto the strip of conductive material on the shipping article such that the fin severs the strip into a first strip and a second strip. The first bottom conductive point is electrically attached to the first strip and the second bottom conductive point is electrically attached to the second strip.

Abstract: Systems, software, devices, and methods are described for an RFID reader system to communicate with RFID tags. RF energy encountered in conjunction with using a selected channel is detected. The RF energy can be a signal from another RFID reader. The detected signal is used to adjust a waveform shaping parameter. RF waves can be transmitted from the reader to the RFID tags and RF waves can be backscattered from the RFID tags. At least some of the RF waves transmitted to or backscattered from the RFID tags have a waveform with a shape according to the adjusted waveform shaping parameter.