Abstract: A system for dispensing, receiving, and tracking towels or other items includes a cabinet structure having first and second interior spaces. An access door provides access to the first interior space, and a return door permits items to be returned to the second interior space. An RFID system conducts read operations to determine how many items having RFID tags are disposed in the first and second interior spaces. The system determines what items have been removed from the first interior space, and associates removed items with specific users. The RFID system conducts read operations as items are returned to the second interior space and credits the user.

Abstract: A secure remote actuation system may comprise a central signal switch and a remote input receptor. The central signal switch may comprise one or more acceptable inputs. The remote input receptor may comprise a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs from a user. The remote input receptor may further comprise a microcontroller for obtaining and comparing the acceptable inputs to the user inputs. In the present invention, the microcontroller obtains the one or more acceptable inputs from the central signal switch after the user begins to use the user interface.

Abstract: A blind aid device designed for non-verbal communication between a blind person and a companion includes a body-worn sensor system to be worn by the companion, a body-worn actuation system to be worn by the blind person and a wireless communication link between the body-worn sensor system and the wearable body-worn actuation system. The body-worn sensor system includes a gyroscope configured to detect and record a velocity of tilting and turning head movements of the companion, an accelerometer configured to detect and record an extent of the tilting head movements of the companion, and a magnetic compass sensor configured to detect and record an extent of the turning head movement of the companion. The wearable body-worn actuation system includes an array of control electronics and actuators configured to translate electronic signals transmitted from the body-worn sensor system into physical movements, in real time.

Abstract: RFID systems are disclosed that include at least one RFID receiver system and a distributed exciter architecture. Exciters can be connected via wired and/or wireless connections to the RFID receiver system, which can control activation of the exciters to detect the presence of RFID tags within interrogation spaces defined by the exciter topology. One embodiment includes an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area, and a plurality of exciters defining a plurality of interrogation spaces within the receive coverage area of the receiver system. The receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the exciters and includes information indicative of an RFID tag interrogation signal, the exciters are configured to receive the control signal, and the exciter identified in the control signal is configured to illuminate an interrogation space with the RFID tag interrogation signal.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system including an RFID reader and a reader proxy authenticates itself to a verification authority. The proxy receives a proxy challenge from a verification authority and determines a proxy response based on the proxy challenge and a proxy key known to the proxy. The proxy response is then sent to the verification authority along with an identifier for the reader. The reader then authenticates an RFID tag by sending a tag response to the verification authority, which determines whether the reader is authentic based on the authenticity of the proxy response.

Abstract: A control method for vehicle anti-theft is provided. The control method includes: identifying whether a smart key matches with a vehicle when a trigger of the vehicle is activated; generating a vehicle location data when the smart key matches with the vehicle; receiving a smart key location data; calculating a distance between the smart key and the vehicle according to the vehicle location data and the smart key location data; determining whether the distance between the smart key and the vehicle is within a predefined distance; and unlocking the vehicle when the distance between the smart key and the vehicle is within the predefined distance.

Abstract: A method for data verification may include: receiving by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag a write command including data to be written; writing by said RFID tag said data to be written into a local storage; reading by said RFID tag data from said local storage; and carrying out by said RFID tag a data verification according to said data read out. Further, a data verification apparatus may include a receiving module for receiving a write command including data to be written; a writing module for writing said data to be written into a first storage module configured for storing said data to be written; a reading module for reading data from said first storage module; and a verifying module for carrying out verification according to the data read out by said reading module. Such method and apparatus may reduce the time of data verification by an RFID tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a transponder is provided. A carrier signal is transmitted by a base station and a transponder transmits a locating signal that is generated through phase modulation and backscattering of the carrier signal sent by the base station when the transponder is within a transmission range of the base station, whereby the transponder is located on the basis of the locating signal.

Abstract: A beacon device includes a control circuitry, a window, and a plurality of sets of illumination sources. The window includes a prismatic structure forming a ring from a planar perspective. The prismatic structure defines an inside surface and an outside surface from the planar perspective. The plurality of sets of illumination sources are coupled to the control circuitry. Each set of illumination sources includes a first illumination source disposed proximal to the inside surface of the prismatic structure and includes a second illumination source disposed proximal to the outside surface of the prismatic structure. The control circuitry is to illuminate a first set of the plurality of sets of illumination sources to transmit a signal in a first direction.

Abstract: An intelligent door lock system is provided with a position sensing device configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of a lock device. The position sensing device senses position of the drive shaft and assists in locking and unlocking a lock of a lock device. An engine is provided with a memory coupled to the positioning sensing device. A circuit is coupled to the engine and an energy source is coupled to the circuit. A device converts energy into mechanical energy and is coupled to the circuit, positioning sensing device and the drive shaft. The device that converts energy is coupled to the energy source to receive energy from the energy source. A wireless communication bridge is in communication with a first wireless communication device that communicates with Network Systems, and a second wireless communication device in communication with the wireless communication bridge.

Abstract: The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter has at least one electromechanical transducer with a rectifier circuit connected downstream and with a voltage converter circuit. A logic circuit configuration is connected to the voltage converter circuit. The logic circuit configuration has a sequence controller a memory in which an identification code is stored. The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter also has a radiofrequency transmission stage that is connected to the logic circuit configuration and a transmission antenna.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to persistently identifying a user interacting with a computing device. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method comprising receiving biometric data regarding the user, determining a determined identity of the user based on the biometric data, outputting a notification of the determined identity of the user, and providing a mechanism to receive feedback regarding a correctness of the determined identity of from the user.

Abstract: A handheld electronic apparatus, a remote control method, a home appliance system and a home appliance apparatus are disclosed. The handheld electronic apparatus comprises a network module, an orientation sensor, a touch display and a processor. The network module receives a broadcast packet, which comprises a home appliance orientation and a controllable function of the home appliance apparatus and is outputted from the home appliance apparatus. The orientation sensor provides the remote control orientation of the handheld electronic apparatus. The processor relates the controllable function to a touch gesture of the touch display, and determines whether the home appliance apparatus is a controlled apparatus according to the home appliance orientation and the remote control orientation. When the home appliance apparatus is the controlled apparatus, and the touch display receives the touch gesture, the remote control home appliance apparatus executes the controllable function.

Abstract: A dynamic access server engine on a server may be configured to receive a request for access to a restricted area during a specific time period. If there is no scheduling conflict the engine can schedule the access period. Additionally, the request may be associated with one or more invitees. For each invitee, the engine determines whether the invitee is authorized to temporarily access the restricted area. If authorized, the engine automatically grants to the invitee temporary access to the restricted area during the scheduled period.

Abstract: A security system (100) protects a secured item by a lock which is under the control of a lock control unit (108). Predetermined parameters associated with various users and user equipment are stored in the lock control unit (108). The predetermined parameters are weighted to provide different levels of lock access. When a user (116) makes contact with the secured item through a BAN device, a user configuration database is transmitted from a user's PAN device to the controller for comparison with the predetermined parameters. Lock (104) access can be modified for different authorized users.

Abstract: An approach is provided in which an RFID reader receives a response signal from an RFID tag affixed to an object. The RFID reader determines a tag charging time of the RFID tag based upon a first point in time that the RFID reader sent a request signal to the RFID tag and a second point in time that the response signal was received by the RFID reader. In turn, the RFID reader identifies a location of the object based on the tag charging time and generates a notification that includes the location of the object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a menu is semi-transparently overlaid upon a portion of a video being shown on a television coupled to a programmable multimedia controller. The menu has a plurality of selectable options and a selection cursor disposed on one of the plurality of selectable options. Input is received from a user on the remote control unit indicating a direction. In response to the input indicating the direction, the selection cursor is moved in a corresponding direction within the semi-transparently overlaid menu to bring the selection cursor to be disposed on a designated selectable option to permit selection of the designated selectable option. In response to selection of the designated selectable option, the programmable multimedia controller issues one or more control commands to a lighting system, a heating ventilation and air/conditioning (HVAC) system, and/or to an automatic shade system, to control operation of lighting, HVAC or window shades.

Abstract: A method provides for real-time asset location tracking. An asset in a wide area network, be it a utilities network or a communication network, registers itself with a network management center. The registration process includes identification of a physical location of the asset usable for mapping and tracking the asset.

Abstract: An electronic window covering control system automatically controls the position and orientation of a window covering. A window covering controller interfaces with a light intensity sensor, a temperature sensor, and an electronic window covering configured to raise and lower the covering and tilt the slats. The window covering controller sends sensor data to a local receiver and receives window covering commands from the local receiver. The local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network and sends the sensor data to the hub. The hub applies a rule set to make operation decisions based on sensor data and user preferences, and sends messages comprising commands to operate the window covering through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the window covering commands to the window covering controller to automatically control the electronic window covering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a function in a mobile device are disclosed. A media sound from a sound output device external to the mobile device is captured and a sound feature is extracted from the captured media sound. A function to be performed in the mobile device is determined by identifying at least one reference sound feature in a set of reference sound features based on the extracted sound feature, each reference sound feature in the set of reference sound features being associated with at least one of a plurality of media sounds and at least one of a plurality of functions. Further, the determined function is performed in the mobile device.