Abstract: A sensor mechanism in an environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Then, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device determines, based on the sensor data, an alert associated with the environmental condition and/or the external environment. Moreover, an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device provides, based on the alert, a service offer to an electronic device of an entity (such as a user or an owner of the environmental monitoring device, a tenant, a property owner and/or a property manager), where the service offer includes information associated with the environmental condition. Next, the environmental monitoring device receives, via the interface circuit, a response to the service offer from the electronic device, where the response authorizes a service based on the environmental condition.

Abstract: An interface mechanism in a system receives an alert associated with an environment. In response to the alert, a control mechanism in the system identifies an environmental monitoring device within the environment, where the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment. Moreover, the control mechanism: provides, via the interface mechanism, a service offer to an electronic device associated with an entity associated with the environment, where the service offer includes information associated with the environmental condition. After receiving a response from the electronic device that authorizes the service, the control mechanism provides, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, after receiving the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism provides the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.

Abstract: An interface mechanism in a system receives a service request for a service associated with an environment from an electronic device of an entity. In response to the service request, a control mechanism in the system identifies an environmental monitoring device within the environment, where the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment, and the environmental monitoring device is associated with a second entity that is different from the entity and a third entity associated with the system. Moreover, the control mechanism provides, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, in response to the data request, the interface mechanism receives the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device. Then, the control mechanism provides the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.

Abstract: A control mechanism in a system monitors inputs and outputs (such as sensor data representing one or more environmental conditions in one or more environments, sub-services in the services, and/or compensation) exchanged among components in combinations that provide the services in the environments, where the components in a given combination include at least one of: environmental monitoring devices in the environments and one or more of the partner electronic devices in the environments and/or service providers. Moreover, the control mechanism stores the monitored inputs and outputs, and analyzes the monitored inputs and outputs based on quality criteria and historical inputs and outputs exchanged within the combinations. Based on the analysis, the control mechanism identifies an instance in the inputs and the outputs of: incorrect sensor data and/or fraudulent compensation. Furthermore, the control mechanism performs a remedial action based on the identified instance.

Abstract: A sensor mechanism in an environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Then, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device generates subsets of the sensor data based on data privileges of different entities, where the data privileges of at least some of the entities are different from each other, and at least some of the corresponding subsets of the sensor data are different. For example, the data privileges may specify: different spatial extents in the external environment monitored by the sensor mechanism; and/or different types of information associated with the external environment. Next, an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device provides the subsets of the sensor data to electronic devices associated with the entities.

Abstract: A controller electronic device selectively associates one or more monitoring electronic devices and a viewing electronic device, so that the viewing electronic device can selectively access content acquired by the one or more monitoring electronic devices, such as captured images and/or measured acoustic information corresponding to sound in environments. In particular, the controller electronic device may receive messages with timestamps and current locations of a monitoring electronic device that is associated with the viewing electronic device. Based on a duration of time the monitoring electronic device is at a fixed or an approximately fixed location, the controller electronic device may establish the associations. For example, a maximum distance associated with the associations may increase as the duration of time increases.

Abstract: An electronic device executes a program module that sets an operating mode of the electronic device as a monitoring mode or a viewing mode. When the electronic device is in the monitoring mode, the electronic device at least selectively captures images and measures acoustic information corresponding to sound in an environment, and then communicates the images and the acoustic information to a second electronic device. Alternatively, when the electronic device is in the viewing mode, the electronic device at least selectively receives visual information and additional acoustic information from the second electronic device, presents the visual information on a display, and outputs additional sound corresponding to the additional acoustic information using an acoustic transducer. For example, the electronic device may be a previous model and/or may execute a previous version of an operating system.

Abstract: A controller electronic device selectively associates one or more monitoring electronic devices and a viewing electronic device, so that the viewing electronic device can selectively access content acquired by the one or more monitoring electronic devices, such as captured images and/or measured acoustic information corresponding to sound in environments. In particular, the controller electronic device may receive messages with timestamps and current locations of a monitoring electronic device that is associated with the viewing electronic device. Based on a duration of time the monitoring electronic device is at a fixed or an approximately fixed location, the controller electronic device may establish the associations. For example, a maximum distance associated with the associations may increase as the duration of time increases.

Abstract: An electronic device executes a program module that determines whether a power supply in the electronic device provides power from an external power source or an internal power source. When the power supply provides power from the external power source, the electronic device may remain in a monitoring mode without transitioning to a power-saving mode when the electronic device is inactive. Note that in the monitoring mode the electronic device at least selectively captures images and measures acoustic information corresponding to sound in an environment, and then communicates the images and the acoustic information to a second electronic device. Alternatively, when the power supply provides power from the internal power source, the electronic device selectively provides an activity signal that keeps the electronic device in the monitoring mode without transitioning to the power-saving mode when the electronic device is inactive.

Abstract: An illumination device for use with a firearm and a method of using the same are disclosed. The illumination device can include a gun grip cover configured to attach to a gun grip. The illumination device can have a first illumination element extending to the left of the gun grip cover and a second illumination element extending to the right of the gun grip cover. The illumination elements can deliver a spread of light to illuminate a large area. The illumination elements can be laterally adjacent to the barrel. The illumination elements can be controlled by a control switch positioned below the trigger.

Abstract: A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.

Abstract: A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled to the second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on the one or more measurements.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes an acoustic sensor is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the acoustic sensor provides acoustic data based on measurements of sound in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Based on the acoustic data and predefined characterization of the external environment, a control mechanism determines if an alarm device, which is separate from the environmental monitoring device, is activated. For example, the predefined characterization may include a location of the alarm device. This location may be specified by: an image of the external environment, a positioning system, a communication network, and/or an acoustic latency in the external environment. Alternatively, the predefined characterization may include an acoustic transfer function of the external environment proximate to the alarm device and the environmental monitoring device.

Abstract: A robotic system that can have a body and four flippers is described. Any or all of the flippers can be rotated. The flippers can have self-cleaning tracks. The tracks can be driven or passive. The robotic system can be controlled by, and send audio and/or video to and/or from, a remote operator control module. The methods of using and making the robotic system are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for transferring data, goods, information, and items of value between users, partners, and service providers. The data can be collected by a plurality of sensors installed in a space. Payments, rebates, and incentives can be provided in response to analysis of the collected data. The collected data can be analyzed to provide a monitoring system in a home or other environment.

Abstract: An interface mechanism in a system receives sensor data from at least one environmental monitoring device that represent an environmental condition in an environment. Then, a control mechanism in the system identifies, based on the sensor data, a combination that provides a service related to the environment, where the combination includes one or more environmental monitoring devices in the environment and one or more: partner electronic devices in the environment and/or service providers. Note that the one or more of the environmental monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner electronic devices and the service providers may be associated with different entities. Next, an interface mechanism in the system communicates configuration information specifying the combination and functions in the service to the one or more of the environmental monitoring devices and the one or more of the partner electronic devices and/or service-provider electronic devices.

Abstract: An interface mechanism in a system receives an alert associated with an environment. In response to the alert, a control mechanism in the system identifies an environmental monitoring device within the environment, where the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in the environment. Moreover, the control mechanism: provides, via the interface mechanism, a service offer to an electronic device associated with an entity associated with the environment, where the service offer includes information associated with the environmental condition. After receiving a response from the electronic device that authorizes the service, the control mechanism provides, via the interface mechanism, a data request for the sensor data to the environmental monitoring device. Furthermore, after receiving the sensor data from the environmental monitoring device, the control mechanism provides the service to the entity based on the environmental condition.

Abstract: A control mechanism in a system monitors inputs and outputs (such as sensor data representing one or more environmental conditions in one or more environments, sub-services in the services, and/or compensation) exchanged among components in combinations that provide the services in the environments, where the components in a given combination include at least one of: environmental monitoring devices in the environments and one or more of the partner electronic devices in the environments and/or service providers. Moreover, the control mechanism stores the monitored inputs and outputs, and analyzes the monitored inputs and outputs based on quality criteria and historical inputs and outputs exchanged within the combinations. Based on the analysis, the control mechanism identifies an instance in the inputs and the outputs of: incorrect sensor data and/or fraudulent compensation. Furthermore, the control mechanism performs a remedial action based on the identified instance.

Abstract: A control mechanism in a system monitors inputs and outputs exchanged among components in combinations that provide services in environments, where the components in a given combination include at least one of: environmental monitoring devices in the environments and one or more of the partner electronic devices in the environments and/or service providers. Note that the inputs and the outputs from a given component in the given combination include: sensor data representing one or more environmental conditions in one or more of the environments, sub-services in the services, and/or compensation within the given combination for the sensor data and the sub-services. Moreover, the control mechanism stores the monitored inputs and outputs, and analyzes the monitored inputs and outputs to determine: sensor-data patterns, suggested services, and/or suggested sensor-data sub-contracting during the services and the suggested services.