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 system that determines types of problems by monitoring connection disruptions and/or available connections is described. During operation, the system monitors communication within the system and with client devices, where the system includes environmental monitoring devices, a data subsystem, and a client subsystem, and where the environmental monitoring devices monitor and communicate information about environmental conditions in external environments that include the environmental monitoring devices. Then, the system determines the type, of problem in the system based on the disruptions in connections and/or the available connections that convey information during the communication within the system and with the client devices.

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: An electronic device that provides thermal feedback to a user is described. In particular, when the user provides a setting via tactile interaction with a surface of a user-interface device in the electronic device, a thermal mechanism in the electronic device establishes a temperature gradient on the surface based on the setting. For example, the thermal mechanism may include a heat source that increases a temperature of the portion of the user-interface device and/or a heat sink that decreases a temperature of another portion of the user-interface device. Moreover, the thermal mechanism may dynamically modify the temperature gradient based on the tactile interaction and an environmental condition (such as the temperature) in an external environment that includes the electronic device. Note that the tactile interaction with the user may occur with a physical control object (such as a knob) and/or with a virtual icon displayed on a multi-touch display.

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: 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: 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: 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 sensor data from environmental monitoring devices in environments, where the sensor data represent environmental conditions in the environments. Then, a control mechanism in the system analyzes the sensor data to determine a probability of an environmental condition occurring during a time interval in at least one of the environments. Moreover, the control mechanism calculates a price-duration range of a service in the environment necessary for profitability of the service based on the determined probability and an estimated cost associated with the service. Next, the interface mechanism provides a service offer for the service associated with the environmental condition to an electronic device of an entity, where the service offer includes at least a price and a duration based on the calculated price-duration range, and the entity is associated with the environment.

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.

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.