Abstract: Operation of a vehicle generally requires that the operator have sufficient range of motion in the upper limbs to 1) steer the vehicle and/or 2) to operate the vehicle's ancillary controls. The presently disclosed technology provides for limiting upper limb movement by requiring a user's upper limbs to be oriented in a way as to limit or prevent the user from being able to operate the vehicle. Cuffs may be secured to a variety of locations on a user's upper limbs. In a predetermined upper limb position, the cuffs are oriented in a specific location and orientation on the user's upper limbs and in a specific proximity and orientation with respect to one another. The user is compliant by maintaining the cuffs in the predetermined upper limb position. To ensure compliance, the cuffs are equipped with a compliance monitor that monitors the cuffs contact, proximity, and/or orientation with one another.

Abstract: A method for estimating a level of damage to perishable cargo during transportation of the cargo using data collected by a portable monitoring device. The method includes measuring vibrational data associated with the cargo. The vibrational data is monitored by a vibration sensor of the portable monitoring device. The method further includes incrementing a counter in the portable monitoring device in response to an amplitude of the measured vibrational data exceeding a predetermined threshold. The method also includes determining if the counter value exceeds a predetermined value, and generating an alert indicating damage to the cargo in response to determining the counter value has exceeded the predetermined value.

Abstract: A sleep inhibition assembly for inhibiting a driver from falling asleep includes a housing that may be manipulated. A vibration unit is coupled to the housing and the vibration unit vibrates the housing. The vibration unit may be placed in a mouth. Thus, the vibration unit may inhibit a driver from falling asleep.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring at least one reciprocating machine having a crankshaft and at least one cylinder, comprising providing at least one sensor for monitoring the at least one cylinder, the sensor being in communication with at least one processor configured to measure at least one signal from the at least one sensor and to thereby determine an angular position of the crankshaft; selecting at least one subset of potential crankshaft angular positions; calculating at least one statistic associated with the at least one subset of possible crankshaft angular positions based at least partially on data from the at least one sensor; and automatically providing a user with at least one warning or automatically shutting down the machine if the at least one statistic exceeds at least one predetermined threshold; wherein, the at least one sensor comprises at least one acoustic emission sensor.

Abstract: There is provided a device for attachment to an object for determining whether the device has been tampered with. The device has a body, removably attachable to an object, and configured to maintain a substantially fixed form or shape when attached to an object. A transducer is provided, connected to the body, configured to detect a change of form of the body. An indicator, connected to the transducer is configured to store the position of the body when attached to an object and indicate if the body has changed position after it has been attached.

Abstract: A security monitoring system includes at least one sensor configured to sense an event condition. A security monitoring system controller communicates with the sensor and an indicator of alarm and trouble conditions. The central security system also detects barometric pressure within a monitored area. The security system controller is configured to receive an event signal indicative of an event from the at least one of the sensors and receive an indication of the barometric pressure from a barometer. When the barometric pressure from the barometer indicates a change in barometric pressure, the security monitoring system controller confirms that the event is present and outputs an indication signal to the indicator based on the confirmed event. When the barometric pressure from the barometer does not indicate a change in barometric pressure, the security monitoring system controller suppresses the output of the indication signal.

Abstract: There is a need to provide an intuitive way for a battery-powered device to send a low battery notification to another device that can properly notify a user that the battery-powered device has a low battery. The user can be notified by the other device even after the battery-powered device has exhausted its battery to the point where it can no longer report its battery state. A second electronic device (e.g., a remote control) can send a low battery notification to a first electronic device (e.g., a set-top box) so that the first electronic device can alert a user that the second electronic device has a low battery.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for authenticating a requester seeking service. In response to a received request, the system selects a random biometric behavior. A request to provide the selected behavior is output by the system. Evaluation circuitry compares a received behavioral response from a requester to information from an authorized user database and determines if the requested service should be provided.

Abstract: A broadcast receiver includes a mode determination unit to determine a current operation mode among a plurality of operation modes, a communication interface to transmit the determined current operation mode to a mobile device through interactive communication, and to receive a control command from the mobile device, and a controller to provide a service of the determined current operation mode according to the control command received from the mobile device. Accordingly, a user controls the broadcast receiver through the mobile device according to the operation mode so that user's convenience is improved.

Abstract: A medical alert message handling method for a medical communication device is disclosed. The medical alert message handling method includes receiving a shift, a medical alert message classification configuration and a medical alert message priority configuration, receiving at least one medical alert message, filtering the medical alert message according to the shift to generate a personal alert message, displaying the personal alert message, filtering the medical alert message according to the medical alert message classification configuration and the medical alert message priority configuration, receiving a selection command to select one of the medical alert message, and noting a handling status and a handling problem of the selected medical alert message.

Abstract: There is provided a method of responding to a detected fall, the method comprising determining which one or two or more actions to perform in response to detecting a fall by a user based on a user profile and/or user preference and/or the context of the detected fall; and performing the determined action.

Abstract: Example systems and methods for closed-loop control for haptic feedback are disclosed. One example method includes the steps of outputting a first signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output a haptic effect to a surface; determining one or more first velocities of a surface of an object attracted towards the surface in response to the haptic effect; in response to the first velocities decreasing to approximately zero, discontinuing output of the first signal; determining one or more second velocities of a surface of an object rebounding away from the surface in response to the discontinuing output of the first signal; in response to the second velocities decreasing to approximately zero, determining a responsiveness of the surface of the object to the haptic effect; and outputting a second signal based on the responsiveness.

Abstract: An access control system provides authentication and notification. A visitor to a facility, for example, authenticates to the access control system. Once an identity of the visitor is confirmed, the access control system sends a notification to a host, such as an employee. The notification informs the host of the arrival of the visitor.

Abstract: A communication light visualization structure includes a duplex LC communication light visualization adapter including an opening portion connected to a first light extraction space and a second light extraction space, and a guide groove formed in the opening portion; and a duplex LC communication light detector including a base portion that has the same cross-sectional shape as the opening portion, a first light receiver that receives first leakage light, a second light receiver that receives second leakage light, a light blocking wall that shields the first light extraction space and the second light extraction space from each other, and a display portion that individually displays a communication status of a first communication path and a second communication path. The guide groove is formed at a position such that cross sections of the opening portion and the base portion fit together in only one direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authentication are disclosed.

Abstract: An audio processing system may selectively identify certain environmental sounds and playing back these sounds, or a representation of these sounds, in the vehicle's cabin. The audio processing system may filter the environmental sounds to identify a particular sound that matches an event such as a bouncing ball, squealing tires, footsteps, and the like. The audio processing system may then provide an audio alert to an occupant in the vehicle. For example, the system may process the identified sound (e.g., amplify and/or isolate the sound) and use a speaker to output the processed sound into the interior of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the audio processing system may use environmental sounds as an audio masking sound for creating privacy zones within the vehicle. The audio processing system may filter the environmental sounds to identify a continuous sound which is then output to generate the privacy zones.

Abstract: A novel tracking system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a long-range tracking device is incorporated into a removable footwear insole and a short-range tracking device is incorporated into another removable footwear insole. The long-range tracking device includes a location determining device, a wireless communication device, and a power source. In a more particular embodiment, the location determining device is a GPS receiver, and the communication device is a cellular modem.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing fire alarm systems allows for the remote resetting of a fire alarm system without being present proximal to a fire alarm control panel (FACP). The apparatus may also be used to test one or multiple notification appliances. The apparatus includes a portable control unit that is connected to the wiring of multiple notification appliances through a plurality of notification appliance circuit (NAC) connection terminals on the FACP or directly to a single notification appliance. An actuator for resetting a fire alarm system reset switch may be mounted to the FACP through an adjustable bracket. The length of the adjustable bracket may be adjusted in order to increase the versatility of the apparatus. A transmitter and a receiver may be utilized to remotely activate the fire alarm system reset switch as well as to activate one or multiple notification appliances during testing.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and at least one coil carried by the housing. The electronic device may include a field member that includes a magnetic body having a shaft-receiving passageway therein, and at least one bearing within the shaft-receiving passageway. A shaft extends through the at least one bearing and coupled to the housing to permit reciprocal movement of the field member along the shaft and within the housing responsive to the at least one coil. A controller may be capable of powering the at least one coil to move the field member after a threshold period of non-movement.

Abstract: A problem is to provide a portable terminal, an information display system, an information display method, and a multi-tag in which two sheets of two-dimensional bar code for download and for individual information data reading need not be installed and hence an installation space can be reduced and a user need not select which bar code is to be read. A processing section (11) of a portable terminal (1) sets a transfer destination for a message of a read-out multi-tag to be a different destination depending on whether a tag reading application (113) has been installed in the own terminal (1).