Abstract: A load measurement system for a mixer comprising a mixing drum configured to contain and mix concrete, a cradle adjacent to the mixing drum and configured to receive the mixing drum, and a load measurement device adjacent to the cradle and configured to determine the changes to a material property of the cradle due to the force exerted on the cradle by the load in the mixing drum. The load measurement system determines the amount of the load of concrete in the mixing drum based on the measured change to the material property of the cradle, which may include one or more of a material deformation, displacement, stress, strain, or the vibration of the cradle.

Abstract: A drone docking system (10) for multicopter drone (50) comprises a docking station (20) having a receiver (26). The CT receiver (26) is adapted to connect to a docking formation (52) mounted atop the drone (50) such that when the drone (50) is docked with the docking station (20), the drone (50) is suspended from and below the docking station (20). A fail-safe mechanical connection (56, 32) is provided to connect the docking formation (52) to the receiver (26). One or more electromagnets (34, 58) may be used to NI connect the docking formation (52) to the receiver (26), which electromagnets (34, 58) are suitably controllable to provide a smooth transition between docked and free-flight states of the drone (50) and optionally to guide the docking formation (52) into alignment with the receiver (26). The drone (50) suitably has a payload rendering it useful for surveillance and crime prevention/detection purposes.

Abstract: A download booth comprising a local file server operatively connected to a removable disk drive containing, in use, multimedia content, the local file server further comprising a network interface operatively connected to a plurality of wireless access points and a wireless connection manager, wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to authenticate incoming connection requests from a plurality of wireless devices and upon authentication, to temporarily connect each authenticated wireless device to its own access point for the duration of a connection session. The end of the connection session may be determined by an estimated download time for a particular multimedia file, or upon detection of completion of a download from the download booth to the wireless device.

Abstract: A system (10) for optimizing wireless data downloads is described. An embodiment of the system is manifest as a file server (18) comprising: a data storage device (22) adapted to store multimedia content; and a wireless access point (36) adapted to wirelessly interconnect, via a wireless data signal, the data storage device (22) to a wireless device (52), the file server (18) being configured to wirelessly transmit selected portions of the stored multimedia content to the wireless device (52), and being characterized by: a directional signal strength gauge (60) configured to determine the strength of the wireless data signal at the wireless device and to determine a direction (72) from the wireless device to the wireless access point.

Abstract: A network system includes a master wireless access point (mAP) connected to one or more slave access points (sAPs), the mAP configured to configure the wireless access password of the sAP(s) and including an open user interface wirelessly accessible by a wireless device, a security gateway and a secure user interface wirelessly accessible by the wireless device. The wireless device connects to the mAP via the open user interface and exchanges security credentials to bypass the security gateway to gain access to the secure user interface. The wireless device is connected to the secure user interface, the mAP is configured to: configure an SSID and/or wireless access password for a sAP and to share the SSID and/or wireless access password with the wireless device, whereupon, the wireless device disconnects from the mAP and re-connects to the network via the sAP using the wireless access password configured by the mAP.

Abstract: A network system includes a master wireless access point (mAP) connected to one or more slave access points (sAPs), the mAP configured to configure the wireless access password of the sAP(s) and including an open user interface wirelessly accessible by a wireless device, a security gateway and a secure user interface wirelessly accessible by the wireless device. The wireless device connects to the mAP via the open user interface and exchanges security credentials to bypass the security gateway to gain access to the secure user interface. The wireless device is connected to the secure user interface, the mAP is configured to: configure an SSID and/or wireless access password for a sAP and to share the SSID and/or wireless access password with the wireless device, whereupon, the wireless device disconnects from the mAP and re-connects to the network via the sAP using the wireless access password configured by the mAP.

Abstract: A download booth comprising a local file server operatively connected to a removable disk drive containing, in use, multimedia content, the local file server further comprising a network interface operatively connected to a plurality of wireless access points and a wireless connection manager, wherein the wireless connection manager is configured to authenticate incoming connection requests from a plurality of wireless devices and upon authentication, to temporarily connect each authenticated wireless device to its own access point for the duration of a connection session. The end of the connection session may be determined by an estimated download time for a particular multimedia file, or upon detection of completion of a download from the download booth to the wireless device.

Abstract: A system (10) for optimising wireless data downloads is described. An embodiment of the system is manifest as a file server (18) comprising: a data storage device (22) adapted to store multimedia content; and a wireless access point (36) adapted to wirelessly interconnect, via a wireless data signal, the data storage device (22) to a wireless device (52), the file server (18) being configured to wirelessly transmit selected portions of the stored multimedia content to the wireless device (52), and being characterised by: a directional signal strength gauge (60) configured to determine the strength of the wireless data signal at the wireless device and to determine a direction (72) from the wireless device to the wireless access point.