Abstract: A mobile cart that holds a bag for receiving solid waste generated during a medical or surgical procedure. The cart includes a sensor that monitors whether or not an object containing metal is placed in the bag. A processor monitors the signal output by the sensor. If the sensor signal indicates that an object with a minimal amount of metal is placed in the bag, the processor momentarily asserts an audible alarm and continuously asserts a light alarm. The light alarm remains asserted until turned off. If, while the light alarm is on, the sensor signal indicates a second object with the minimal amount of waste is placed in the container, the processor again momentarily asserts the audible alarm. This provides notice that it may be necessary to investigate the contents of the bag to determine if not one but two or more objects were inadvertently discarded.

Abstract: To detect side-by-side parked vehicles at night, the present invention discloses a night-detection device and method. The night-detection device comprises a moving-vehicle sensor and a parked-vehicle sensor. It uses the light beam from a passing-by vehicle to extract at least a reflection of at least a head-light or at least a portion of a front bumper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a proximity alert to the operator of a vehicle, such as a vehicle approaching a pedestrian crosswalk. A fixed or mobile controller (beacon) component when activated transmits a signal relating to a potential hazard, and a software application (“app”) installed on a smartphone or other device provides the receiver/notification component. The app delivers an audible, visual, and/or tactile alert to drivers via their smartphones, tablet computers, or mobile devices installed in their vehicles that they are approaching an “activated” pedestrian crosswalk, intersection, railroad crossing, road hazard or work zone, emergency vehicle, or even a bicyclist when they are equipped with a beacon.

Abstract: In some examples, a method includes receiving, first notification data from a first application and second notification data from a second application. The method may include generating, based at least in part on comparing the first notification data to the second notification data, an affinity score that indicates whether content from the first notification data has a relationship to at least a portion of content from the second notification data. The method may include, generating a bundle notification graphical element that includes at least a portion of the content from the first notification data and a graphical indicator that indicates the content from the first and second notification data are related. The method may include outputting a set of notification graphical elements comprising the bundle notification graphical element accompanied by the graphical indicator.

Abstract: A check-in and tethering system for monitoring persons such as released in court-ordered supervised programs and a method for operating such a system is disclosed. The system includes a tethered mobile device that provides a check-in procedure that requires a response from a user of the tethered mobile device in the form of at least one of a device identifier from a monitored tethered device attached to the user, a biometric response, or a performed action by the user. The tethered mobile device determines whether the response is valid and transmits a notification to a monitoring center in response to the determination.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of parking assisting devices. Two variations are disclosed: one that is floor-based and one that is suspended from a support structure. Devices of the inventive subject matter are configured to detect a tilt condition, a contact condition, or both, indicating that a vehicle has contacted the device and is positioned be parked safely. Upon detecting a tilt condition, a contact condition, or both, the device generates an alert to inform the driver that the vehicle should be stopped and parked. These devices can be wirelessly enabled, for example, to be accessed to determine whether a car is in a garage.

Abstract: Security systems and methods configured for use with an item of merchandise for retail display are provided. For example, a security system includes a sensor configured to be electrically connected to an internal power source of an item of merchandise and an alarm module configured to communicate with the sensor. The sensor is configured to receive power from the internal power source for performing one or more security functions, and the alarm module is configured to generate a security signal in response to a security event.

Abstract: A programmable security system and method for protecting an item of merchandise includes a programming station, a programmable key and a security system. The programming station generates a security code and communicates the security code to a memory of the programmable key. The programmable key initially communicates the security code to a memory of the security device and subsequently operates the security device upon a matching of the security code in the memory of the security device with the security code in the memory of the programmable key. The programmable key may also transfer power via electrical contacts or inductive transfer from an internal battery to the security device to operate a lock mechanism. The security code may be communicated by wireless infrared (IR) systems, electrical contacts or inductive transfer. A timer inactivates the programmable key and/or the security device after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An integrated lighting and notification system includes a light fixture connected to an electrical power supply, a camera, a control unit, and a trigger device. The electrical power supply provides electrical power to the light source unit and the camera. The control unit transmits a signal via a network in response to receiving a signal transmitted by the trigger device.

Abstract: An integrated security system that includes a security coprocessor coupled to a conventional security system panel and an interactive security system. The integrated security system enables conventional security system features as well as the consumer-oriented interactive features and functions of an interactive security system without sacrificing reliability or the significant burden and cost associated with frequent software updates associated with conventional security systems. The integrated security system also minimizes or eliminates the need for new battery backup circuitry or larger batteries.

Abstract: Verifying shared event information is provided. Communication with a nearby mobile or immobile apparatus is established to generate an event existence proof in response to encountering the nearby mobile or immobile apparatus. Existence of an incident event is verified in response to arriving at a geographic location of the incident event. A verified incident event is published to add to an incident event distributed ledger for managing incident event information corresponding to the incident event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for intrusion detection, including an intrusion detection device configured to send a light source to a retroreflector and receive reflected light from the retroreflector. An alarm is activated if the light source is not detected by the intrusion detection device. The intrusion detection device includes a computing device coupled to a preamplifier, a superregenerative receiver, and a digitizer.

Abstract: A rule-based machine learning system monitors frequency bands to detect transmissions from nearby active transmitters, such as those associated with wireless mobile devices. The system logs unique identifiers (UID) embedded in detected transmissions, recognizes patterns of UID detection over time, and selectively takes action when UIDs are detected and when they are expected but absent.

Abstract: Portable devices include environmental sensors that generate metrics about the environment (e.g., accelerometers detecting impulses and vibration, and GPS receivers detecting position and velocity). Such devices often use environmental metrics to extract user input directed at the device by the user, and status information about the device and the environment. Presented herein are techniques for using environmental metrics to infer physical activities performed by the user while attached to the device. For example, jogging may be inferred from regular, strong impulses and typical jogging speed; walking may be inferred from regular, weak impulses and typical walking speed; and riding in a vehicle may be inferred from low-level vibrations and high speed (optionally identifying the type of vehicle ridden by the user). Based on these inferences, the device may automatically present applications and/or or adjust user interfaces suitable for the user's physical activity, rather than responsive to user input.

Abstract: The key and cable-style lock is an alarm system that is configured for use with a cycle selected from the group consisting of a bicycle or motorcycle. The key and cable-style lock: 1) anchors the cycle to an anchor point to prevent the unauthorized use of the cycle; and, 2) generates a notification to an appropriate authority when the key and cable-style lock is compromised. The key and cable-style lock comprises a lock and a control circuit. The lock anchors the cycle to the selected anchor point.

Abstract: The present invention includes a self-sounding theft prevention tag that issues one of two different sounds, that is, a first alarm or a second alarm in the event of theft, so that an abnormal state where a theft has occurred is detected with sound in a remote location without being interrupted by electromagnetic noise.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a user's intoxication including receiving a set of signals, derived from a set of samples collected from the user at a set of time points; providing a sobriety task to the user proximal to a time point of the set of time points; generating a performance dataset characterizing performance of the sobriety task by the user; receiving a supplementary dataset characterizing a demographic profile of the user and/or a physiological state of the user; determining a set of values of an intoxication metric, derived from the set of signals; generating a predicted temporal profile of the intoxication metric for the user based upon the set of values, the set of time points, and the supplementary dataset; generating an analysis of the user's sobriety based upon the performance dataset and the predicted temporal profile; and providing a notification to the user based upon the analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for managing a location of at least one object. The method includes affixing an RFID tag on an object, providing a communication structure on the RFID tag, providing a device capable of communicating with the communication structure of the RFID tag when the RFID tag is within a range of the device, determining, by the device, whether the object is in the range based on signal levels from the RFID tag and displaying, by the device, a signal strength indicator representing a proximity of the object to the device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for measuring parking duration from anonymized data. The approach involves receiving parking data indicating anonymized park in and park out events from connected vehicles. The approach also involves performing a first filtering of the parking data to remove the park out events that occur within a time interval and before a first park in event occurring within the time interval, and to remove the park in events that occur within the time interval and after a last park out event occurring within the time interval. The approach further involves performing a second filtering of the parking data remaining after the first filtering to remove park in events or park out events so that the numbers of park in and park out events are balanced. The approach then involves calculating parking duration data from the park in and park out events remaining after the second filtering.

Abstract: A collision warning system including a vehicle with a first sensor configured to detect an exit condition, a second sensor configured to detect a collision condition, an external warning signal system configured to emit a warning signal to warn a vehicle occupant about the collision condition, the external warning signal system includes at least one warning device configured to emit the warning signal, and a controller configured to communicate with the first and second sensors and to control the at least one warning device in response to the collision condition.