Abstract: A satellite receiver for wireless signals having carrier frequencies in the V or the W band of frequencies is described. The satellite receiver may receive the wireless signals at high elevation angles, such as greater than 62°. This high elevation angle may reduce losses, which may allow the satellite receiver to communicate at a data rate of at least 50 Mbps. In order to accommodate these system requirements, the one or more satellites that provide the wireless signals may have eccentric geosynchronous or near-geosynchronous orbits that are inclined relative to an equatorial plane of the Earth, such as an eccentricity between 0.12 and 0.3. Moreover, the one or more satellites may have ground tracks substantially along one or more continents, and may be in view of dense population regions in the one or more continents with a higher frequency than low-density population regions in the one or more continents.

Abstract: A satellite having a set of antenna elements with predefined directions and beam angles is described. This satellite may dynamically select at least a given antenna element based at least in part on utilization and/or availability of a terrestrial wireless communication network used by an electronic device that communicates with the satellite. Moreover, the satellite may change its attitude based at least in part on the given antenna element, where the changed attitude positions a region in a predefined beam angle of the given antenna element. The satellite may dynamically select the region to which it transmits wireless signals. For example, the region may be selected based at least in part on weather conditions associated with the region and/or priority of content conveyed by the wireless signals. Alternatively, the satellite may receive information specifying the region, the utilization and/or the availability of the terrestrial wireless communication network in the region.

Abstract: A method of documenting services performed for a secured property including: receiving a first actuation request from a service person via a service person computing device, the first actuation request being directed to an access control of the secured property; detecting a first actuation of the access control in response to the first actuation request; receiving service details, the service details describing a service being performed at the secured property associated with the first actuation request; saving the service details in a public ledger; receiving a second actuation request from a potential buyer via a potential buyer computing device, the second actuation request being directed to the access control; detecting a second actuation of the access control in response to the second actuation request; and granting authorization to the potential buyer to view the public ledger via the potential buyer computing device in response to the second actuation.

Abstract: A system and method for using a body-worn camera for virtual conferencing. A method includes connecting a wearable device to at least one of an electronic locking mechanism or a user device, and receiving a signal indicating the electronic locking mechanism is unlocked using a user device. The method can also include capturing video data to start a virtual session between the wearable device and a remote user device responsive to the signal indicating the electronic locking mechanism is unlocked, and transmitting video data to at least one user device or the remote user device.

Abstract: A satellite receiver for wireless signals having carrier frequencies in the V or the W band of frequencies is described. The satellite receiver may receive the wireless signals at high elevation angles, such as greater than 62° . This high elevation angle may reduce losses, which may allow the satellite receiver to communicate at a data rate of at least 50 Mbps. In order to accommodate these system requirements, the one or more satellites that provide the wireless signals may have eccentric geosynchronous or near-geosynchronous orbits that are inclined relative to an equatorial plane of the Earth, such as an eccentricity between 0.12 and 0.3. Moreover, the one or more satellites may have ground tracks substantially along one or more continents, and may be in view of dense population regions in the one or more continents with a higher frequency than low-density population regions in the one or more continents.

Abstract: A satellite receiver with a switchable array of antenna elements for receiving wireless signals from at least a satellite is described. The antenna elements may be dynamically selected based at least in part on a location and motion of the satellite receiver, and a location and a motion of at least the satellite that provides wireless signals. Moreover, the antenna elements may also be dynamically selected based at least in part on utilization and/or availability of a terrestrial wireless communication network that communicates with the satellite receiver. The satellite receiver may predict availability of communication with at least the satellite. Furthermore, the array of antenna elements may provide improved power efficiency, pointing accuracy and/or isotropic gain relative to an array of antenna elements without switched antenna elements, such as for carrier frequencies in the V or the W band of frequencies.

Abstract: A satellite having a set of antenna elements with predefined directions and beam angles is described. This satellite may dynamically select at least a given antenna element based at least in part on utilization and/or availability of a terrestrial wireless communication network used by an electronic device that communicates with the satellite. Moreover, the satellite may change its attitude based at least in part on the given antenna element, where the changed attitude positions a region in a predefined beam angle of the given antenna element. The satellite may dynamically select the region to which it transmits wireless signals. For example, the region may be selected based at least in part on weather conditions associated with the region and/or priority of content conveyed by the wireless signals. Alternatively, the satellite may receive information specifying the region, the utilization and/or the availability of the terrestrial wireless communication network in the region.

Abstract: A method of locating a lock box including: obtaining a saved location of the lock box using an application operated via a first cellular telephone, the saved location of the lock box being accurate within a first selected radius; displaying the saved location of the lock box on the first cellular telephone via the application; detecting a Bluetooth advertisement of the lock box using the first cellular telephone; determining a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the Bluetooth advertisement; determining a distance between the first cellular telephone and the lock box in response to the RSSI of the Bluetooth advertisement; and displaying a distance indicator depicting the distance between the first cellular telephone and the lock box on the first cellular telephone via the application.

Abstract: An access control system and a method for operating an access control system are provided. The access control system includes an access control device. The method provides a step for initiating the transmission of the advertising signal by a communication module of the access control device, the advertising signal being received by a mobile device. The method provides a step for automatically receiving an access credential from the mobile device to the communication module of the access control device. The method provides a step for comparing, in an authentication module, the access credential with an authorized access credential (e.g., stored in a memory of the access control device).

Abstract: A telemetry system can be implemented in a pipeline where a smart pig is positioned. The smart pig can have a telemetry module that is configured to change from a first communication connection with a host to a second communication connection with the host in response to a detected pipeline condition. The first communication connection may be different than the second communication connections.

Abstract: A method to provide feedback associated with a real estate property including providing access to a subject real estate property via a system including at least a listing recommendation server that communicates with a real estate feedback application; receiving feedback regarding the subject real estate property from a handheld device operating the real estate feedback application; determining comparable properties in response to the feedback on the subject real estate property.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extracting information corresponding to a user selected area of a displayed web page are described. A user selected region, e.g., rectangular region, of a displayed web page is identified based on received user input. The elements beneath the user selected region are converted to a raster data URL. An HTML5 image element is created with an src attribute set to the raster data URL and with a low image element opacity property. The created HTML5 image element is added to the web page as an overlay. The web browser's built-in copying functionality can now be used to copy the overlying image element to the clipboard as an image as desired, e.g., using a context menu which enables image MIME type data to be placed on the clipboard.

Abstract: The fluid in a vessel can be monitored in real-time by a system that consists of at least a level module positioned proximal a vessel. The level module may be connected to a first sensor and a second sensor that are each attached to the vessel and responsive to changes in fluid within the vessel. The level module can employ a stored log of sensor measurements to provide a real-time volume of fluid within the vessel while fluid is flowing into or out of the vessel.

Abstract: An automation system can employ a security module to increase data and signal integrity. A first device may be connected to a host via a network with the first device having a processor and a security module. The security module can monitor at least one automation activity performed by the first device to generate a first security strategy that is executed as directed by the processor to decrease a risk of a third party attack to the host, first device, and network.

Abstract: A pipeline system may have a pipeline that is connected to at least a pig selector with the pig selector concurrently housing multiple different pigs in separate pig chambers. A pig loader can be positioned proximal the pig selector and configured to load a pig from a pig chamber of the pig selector into a launch pipe connected to the pipeline.

Abstract: A telemetry system can be implemented in a pipeline where a smart pig is positioned. The smart pig can have a telemetry module that is configured to change from a first communication connection with a host to a second communication connection with the host in response to a detected pipeline condition. The first communication connection may be different than the second communication connections.

Abstract: An automation system network can have a host connected to a first device via a network with the first device having a processor that assigns a first address to the first device, imports factory information from a second device connected to the first device via the network, and assigns a second address for the second device. At least one automation activity may be executed with the first device and the first and second addresses are employed to conduct device-to-device communications.

Abstract: An automation system controller may have a host connected to a first device via a network with the first device consisting of a processor. The processor can be configured to identify a newly connected second device to the host and import factory information from the second device in order to generate a unique address for the second device in response to the factory information.

Abstract: An automation system can generate a unique address for a newly connected device to optimize automated capabilities of the system. An automation system can have a first device connected to a host via a network where the first device has a processor. Connection of a second device to the host as part of the automation system prompts factory information from the second device to be imported with the processor r. A unique address is then generated for the second device with an address module of the processor based on the factory information. A first communication may be sent from the host to the second device using the unique address to allow at least one automated activity to be conducted with the second device in response to the first communication.