Abstract: A smart key box includes a key holding element, a housing, a power assembly, sensing units, an authentication module, and a control module. The housing is configured to contain the key holding element. The power assembly is disposed in the housing and configured to drive the key holding element to leave the housing or enter the housing along an access direction. The sensing units are disposed in the housing. When the key holding element leaves the housing or enters the housing, the key holding element is configured to trigger at least one of the sensing units. The authentication module is disposed at the housing. The control module is disposed in the housing and electrically connected with the power assembly, the sensing units, and the authentication module, and is configured to control the power assembly according to the at least one of the sensing units which is triggered.

Abstract: A smart key box includes a key holding element, a housing, a power assembly, sensing units, an authentication module, and a control module. The housing is configured to contain the key holding element. The power assembly is disposed in the housing and configured to drive the key holding element to leave the housing or enter the housing along an access direction. The sensing units are disposed in the housing. When the key holding element leaves the housing or enters the housing, the key holding element is configured to trigger at least one of the sensing units. The authentication module is disposed at the housing. The control module is disposed in the housing and electrically connected with the power assembly, the sensing units, and the authentication module, and is configured to control the power assembly according to the at least one of the sensing units which is triggered.

Abstract: An authentication method and an authentication system are provided. The authentication system includes a display device and an authentication device. In the authentication method, at first, two-dimensional (2D) barcodes and a time sequence of the two-dimensional barcodes are provided in accordance with an authentication code. Then, the two-dimensional barcodes are displayed in accordance with the time sequence by using the display device. Thereafter, the two-dimensional barcodes displayed on the display device are captured by the authentication device. Then, a decoding process is performed in accordance with the two-dimensional barcodes and the time sequence to obtain the authentication code. Thereafter, an authentication process is performed by using the authentication code.

Abstract: A system for controlling key access using a phone and internet-connected key box device. The key box device hangs or mounts on a fixture and controls key access to visitors. Visitors may unlock a chamber in a key device for key access by calling the phone number on the key box device display and passing an authentication process during a scheduled time. The key box device owner may monitor and remotely control access to the key box and its key chamber via a software application on cloud computing services that interfaces with operations programmed into a circuit board in the key box device.

Abstract: A system for controlling key access using a phone and internet-connected key box device. The key box device hangs or mounts on a fixture and controls key access to visitors. Visitors may unlock a chamber in a key device for key access by calling the phone number on the key box device display and passing an authentication process during a scheduled time. The key box device owner may monitor and remotely control access to the key box and its key chamber via a software application on cloud computing services that interfaces with operations programmed into a circuit board in the key box device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing wake-up control are provided, where the method is applied to an electronic device, and the method may include the steps of: detecting whether a predetermined wake-up action is input into the electronic device, wherein the predetermined wake-up action is a user action for wake-up control; and when it is detected that the predetermined wake-up action is input into the electronic device, sending a wake-up packet carrying predetermined wake-up information to allow an internal circuit of another electronic device to be woken up in response to detection of the predetermined wake-up information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing wake-up control are provided, where the method is applied to an electronic device, and the method may include the steps of: detecting whether a predetermined wake-up action is input into the electronic device, wherein the predetermined wake-up action is a user action for wake-up control; and when it is detected that the predetermined wake-up action is input into the electronic device, sending a wake-up packet carrying predetermined wake-up information to allow an internal circuit of another electronic device to be woken up in response to detection of the predetermined wake-up information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable electronic device including an antenna having a major planar cross-section, and a power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the coil plane extending to the perimeter of the power transfer coil. The antenna and the power transfer coil are arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane if a line directed perpendicularly from the coil plane intersects the major planar cross-section. An associated method of assembling a portable electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: The Present Invention Provides an Antenna Network for Passively or Actively enhancing signal transmission or reception of one or more portable transceiver devices. The antenna network includes one or more antennas, each having a coupling portion and a radiating portion, the coupling portion being distributed across a coupling area and the radiating portion being located away from the coupling area, whereby signal transmission or reception of the one or more portable transceiver devices can occur through the radiating portion when the one or more portable transceiver devices are located within the coupling area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power transfer device for charging a wireless communication device having a communication bandwidth, and an associated method of transferring power. The device and method of the invention use a spread-spectrum technique to reduce or minimize interference signals within the communication bandwidth and within the power transfer device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controlling the output phase of a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator). The apparatus has a phase locked loop 20 having a first input 21 for receiving a reference signal and a second input 22 for receiving a feedback signal and the output for controlling of a VCO. A phase shifter 50 is provided on the feedback path between the VCO and the second input of the phase locked loop. The phase shifter is arranged for shifting the phase for feedback signal by controlled amount. The phase shifter may be a variable phase shifter for controlling and varying the amount by which the phase feedback signal is shifted.

Abstract: A source of radiation comprises a first low frequency oscillator 200 for providing a reference signal and a plurality of phase shifters 210a, 210b, 210c coupled to the first oscillator. In addition there are a plurality of phase locked loops 230a, 230b, 230c, each phase locked loop having a respective Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) 240a, 240b, 240c for outputting a signal. Each phased locked loop is coupled to a respective one of the phase shifters, so that in use each VCO is phase locked to a reference signal which has been phase shifted by a respective one of the phase shifters. In this way the phase of the radiation output by each VCO may be controlled indirectly by controlling the phase shift of the reference signal. In a preferred embodiment the phase shifters are adjustable to shift the phase by an adjustable amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power transfer device for charging a wireless communication device having a communication bandwidth, and an associated method of transferring power. The device and method of the invention use a spread-spectrum technique to reduce or minimize interference signals within the communication bandwidth and within the power transfer device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable electronic device including an antenna having a major planar cross-section, and a power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the coil plane extending to the perimeter of the power transfer coil. The antenna and the power transfer coil are arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane if a line directed perpendicularly from the coil plane intersects the major planar cross-section. An associated method of assembling a portable electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: A reference signal is split and input to first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20. The first and second variable phase shifters output to first and second inputs 31, 32 respectively of a phase comparator 30. Initially, the first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20 are preferably set to the same phase. The first and second phase shifters are then aligned, e.g. by adjusting the calibration of one or both of the phase shifters so that the phase comparator 30 indicates that they output the same phase. The phase of the first phase shifter 10 is then adjusted by one step and a phase delay section 60 is placed between the output of the second phase shifter 20 and the second input 32 of the phase comparator 30. The first and second phase shifters 10, 20 are then aligned again.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antenna network for passively or actively enhancing signal transmission or reception of one or more portable transceiver devices. The antenna network includes one or more antennas, each having a coupling portion and a radiating portion, the coupling portion being distributed across a coupling area and the radiating portion being located away from the coupling area, whereby signal transmission or reception of the one or more portable transceiver devices can occur through the radiating portion when the one or more portable transceiver devices are located within the coupling area.

Abstract: A reference signal is split and input to first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20. The first and second variable phase shifters output to first and second inputs 31, 32 respectively of a phase comparator 30. Initially, the first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20 are preferably set to the same phase. The first and second phase shifters are then aligned, e.g. by adjusting the calibration of one or both of the phase shifters so that the phase comparator 30 indicates that they output the same phase. The phase of the first phase shifter 10 is then adjusted by one step and a phase delay section 60 is placed between the output of the second phase shifter 20 and the second input 32 of the phase comparator 30. The first and second phase shifters 10, 20 are then aligned again.

Abstract: A method and apparatus controlling the output phase of a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator). The apparatus has a phase locked loop 20 having a first input 21 for receiving a reference signal and a second input 22 for receiving a feedback signal and the output for controlling of a VCO. A phase shifter 50 is provided on the feedback path between the VCO and the second input of the phase locked loop. The phase shifter is arranged for shifting the phase for feedback signal by controlled amount. The phase shifter may be a variable phase shifter for controlling and varying the amount by which the phase feedback signal is shifted.

Abstract: A source of radiation comprises a first low frequency oscillator 200 for providing a reference signal and a plurality of phase shifters 210a, 210b, 210c coupled to the first oscillator. In addition there are a plurality of phase locked loops 230a, 230b, 230c, each phase locked loop having a respective Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) 240a, 240b, 240c for outputting a signal. Each phased locked loop is coupled to a respective one of the phase shifters, so that in use each VCO is phase locked to a reference signal which has been phase shifted by a respective one of the phase shifters. In this way the phase of the radiation output by each VCO may be controlled indirectly by controlling the phase shift of the reference signal. In a preferred embodiment the phase shifters are adjustable to shift the phase by an adjustable amount.

Abstract: A method of processing a multimedia message is provided. The multimedia message comprises an original payload. The original payload is divided into at least two sub-messages. A sub-message header for each sub-message is then generated. The sub-message header may include an identification code of the multimedia message, a total number of the sub-messages, and a serial number of the sub-message. The method further appends the sub-message header to each sub-message. Therefore, the sub-messages can be assembled to reconstruct back to the multimedia message according to the sub-message headers.