Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for monitoring activity in a home environment. In one aspect, a method performed at a voice-assistant device includes: detecting a sound; obtaining a determination as to whether the sound meets one or more monitoring criteria; and in accordance with a determination that the sound meets the one or more monitoring criteria, generating a notification.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature.

Abstract: Proposed is a control method for a home appliance configured to detect a user's knock applied thereto that includes generating vibration detection signals corresponding to vibrations of three axial directions orthogonal to each other, and determining whether a vibration is generated by the user's knock by using a vibration detection signal of a first axial direction corresponding to a direction of the vibration generated by the user's knock.

Abstract: A smart frame for a vehicle registration plate and related system and methods are disclosed. The smart frame may be configured to be mounted proximate to a near-field communication (NFC) tag hosted by a vehicle and associated with its vehicle identification number (VIN) or other identifier. In turn, the smart frame may read and relay an identification (ID) code of the NFC tag to a server via cellular communication. In addition, the smart frame may be configured to receive global navigational satellite system (GNSS) signal(s) including data pertaining to the current geophysical location of the smart frame and to relay that over the cellular connection for use in tracking the smart frame (and vehicle, if any). Furthermore, the smart frame may be configured to communicate with external computing device(s) via Bluetooth communication, which may facilitate location and tracking of the smart frame (and vehicle, if any) in a given space.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an alarm system and method for activating an alarm in the event of an attempt to tamper with and/or remove an automobile's catalytic converter or other mechanical part or item. The alarm system may include a controller, one or more pairs of electrically conductive wires, and an alarm emitter. The controller may be configured to monitor a respective resistance across each pair of electrically conductive wires, and to activate the alarm emitter to emit an alarm when the monitored resistance is greater than a first predetermined value or less than a second predetermined value, wherein the first and second predetermined values are greater and less than the resistance of a respective resistor at the pair of electrically conductive wires, and may be indicative of an open circuit and a short circuit, respectively.

Abstract: A method for managing vehicle access is disclosed. The method may include obtaining a request to access a vehicle from a first user device. The method may further include determining whether the first user device is a user device registered with the vehicle. Responsive to determining that the first user device is unregistered, the method may include transmitting a first authentication request to a second user device. The second user device may be a user device registered with the vehicle. The method may further include obtaining a first authentication response from the second user device in response to first authentication request transmission. The method may additionally include outputting a first control signal to a first vehicle unit based on the first authentication response.

Abstract: One broad aspect of the invention features a shelving facing display. The shelving facing display includes a housing, an electronic display, and multiple product sensors. The housing is mountable to a forward edge of a product shelf. The electronic display is mounted to the housing and arranged to be viewed from in front of the shelf. The electronic display is controllable to present desired images across at least a majority of a width of the shelf. The multiple product sensors are mounted to the housing. Each sensor is arranged to detect product on a respective width of the shelf. The display is configured to alter a displayed image in response to input from the product sensors.

Abstract: A beam detector apparatus (1) comprising: beam emitter apparatus (2); reflector apparatus (3), locatable across a volume to be monitored; and beam receiver apparatus (4). The beam emitter apparatus (2) is capable of creating a first linearly polarised beam of light of first linear polarisation and directing said first linearly polarised beam of light towards the reflector apparatus. The reflector apparatus (3) is capable of either: receiving the first linearly polarised beam of light and modifying such light into a beam having circular polarisation, elliptical polarisation or being unpolarised, and reflecting said circularly polarised, elliptically polarised or unpolarised beam of light towards the beam receiver apparatus; OR receiving the first linearly polarised beam of light and reflecting such light towards the beam receiver, and modifying such light into a beam having circular polarisation, elliptical polarisation or being unpolarised.

Abstract: A system for providing a projected security zone adjacent a vehicle includes an external projector in communication with a system controller and adapted to project a first graphic onto a surface adjacent the vehicle, the first graphic defining a pre-determined security zone, and a plurality of onboard sensors in communication with the system controller and adapted to detect the presence of an individual positioned within the projected security zone, the system controller adapted to provide a warning to the individual.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a haptic control signal of a haptic device are disclosed. The apparatus for providing a haptic control signal of a haptic device comprises: a haptic pattern data determination unit for determining haptic pattern data on the basis of at least one of an audio signal and an additional effect signal; a haptic control signal generation unit for generating a haptic control signal for controlling a vibration operation of the haptic device on the basis of the haptic pattern data; and a transmission unit for transmitting the haptic control signal to the haptic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods to provide a portable alarm are disclosed herein. The portable alarm may be configured to detect relative movement between a closure of an aperture and a wall forming the aperture. The portable alarm may include a detector body and a detection body. The detector body may include a detector body mount, a first sensor, a transducer, a light source, and control electronics. The detection body may include a detection body mount and a second sensor. The control electronics may be configured to control the transducer and/or the light source to generate a first feedback indicating close proximity between the first sensor and the second sensor and to control the transducer and/or the light source to generate a second feedback different from the first feedback, subsequent to provision of the first feedback, responsive to a reduction in proximity between the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a storage that stores first detection object information; and a processor that acquires second detection object information, in which the processor determines whether an undetected object that has not been detected in the first parking is present, based on the first detection object information and the second detection object information, and changes an aspect of the notification when the undetected object is present.

Abstract: A system to locate seat controls and belt buckles includes a vehicle having at least one seat. A seat belt system is provided with the at least one seat having a seat belt, a belt latch and a seat belt buckle. A haptic device is provided with the seat belt system, the haptic device generating a haptic signal.

Abstract: A method for provision image recordings in a vehicle. The method include: ascertaining a first image recording of a first image sensor of the vehicle and at least one further image recording of at least one further image sensor of the vehicle; carrying out a merging of the first image recording and the at least one further image recording for a reduction of an amount of data for providing the relevant information, the merging taking place based on a selection from the surrounding regions, whereby at least one merged image recording is obtained; initiating at least one transmission of the merged image recording within the vehicle and at least to a central control device of the vehicle, whereby the merged image recording is supplied to a processing for performing the vehicle function.

Abstract: A vehicular parking assistance system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and capturing image data. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera. The parking assistance system, responsive to an input, determines a direction of travel for an automated parking maneuver. The parking assistance system, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines a boundary of a free space in the direction of travel for the automated parking maneuver. The free space at least partially bounds an area where the vehicle can maneuver without colliding with a detected object. The parking assistance system, while driving the vehicle in the direction of travel, laterally adjusts a path of the vehicle based on the determined boundary of free space to avoid the detected object.

Abstract: An inventory control system is described that includes a tool storage device including a drawer or a tray providing a pallet, wherein the pallet includes storage locations for objects; a sensing device configured to form an image of the storage locations; and a data processor configured to determine presence or absence of the pallet and presence or absence of objects within the storage locations of the pallet using the information from the image.

Abstract: An in-vehicle electronic system is mounted to a vehicle. The in-vehicle electronic system includes one or more sensors used to determine a security state of the vehicle, an alarm apparatus configured to issue an alarm when the security state is abnormal, and a first ECU directly connected to the sensor and the alarm apparatus without the intermediation of another ECU and also connected to a plurality of other ECUs, in which the first ECU includes a processor configured to determine a security state based on at least information received from the sensor, and cause the alarm apparatus to operate when it is determined that the security state is abnormal.

Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring an environment including a detector component configured to detect at least one analyte signature data and environment information related to an environment, a location device configured to record a detection location of the detector component at a time of detection of the at least one analyte signature data and the environment information, a first memory device configured to receive and record data comprising operating status of the detector component and, at the time of detection, the detected at least one analyte signature data and the environment information, at least one communication device configured to wirelessly transmit the recorded data to an associated receiver, wherein the associated receiver is configured to receive and process the recorded data and wherein the detector component and the communication circuitry are a printed component and wherein the at least one detector component includes at least one nano sensor.

Abstract: A wireless medical room control arrangement includes a wireless controller having a wireless router. A room identifier and a device identifier are stored in the controller. A communication interface sends commands to and receives commands from the wireless controller. In response to commands from the interface, the wireless controller sends wireless control signals to operate medical devices in the room. A room monitor adjacent a doorway provides room identifiers to medical devices and wireless controllers entering the room and provides dummy identifiers to medical devices and controllers exiting the room. The room monitors may connect to a global network processor that determines the location of the medical devices in a medical facility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prompting navigation information. The method includes: acquiring, when a user is in an underground vehicle area, traffic behavior statuses of an underground vehicle at stops on a preset navigation route; determining, in response to the traffic behavior status of each stop of adjacent stops on the navigation route being consistent with a first preset traffic behavior status, a base station corresponding to a latter stop in the adjacent stops as a reference station; determining a location of a preset stop on the navigation route, based on a location of the reference station and locations of base stations provided at the stops; and outputting, in response to the traffic behavior status of the underground vehicle at the preset stop being consistent with a second preset traffic behavior status, prompt information for getting off.