Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices and methods for an anonymized tracking service. In particular, devices and methods are described for a third party system that allows a user to selectively opt-in to wireless location tracking at specific stores. The anonymized tracking service may include a third party, a third party server system, a mobile device, and one or more store computing systems. In one aspect, a third-party (e.g., not associated with a store) mobile application may be downloaded onto a mobile device of a user. The mobile application provides a central control unit that allows the user to select which stores have permission to track the location of the user within a building associated with the store. In some embodiments, the central control unit may also allow a user to select which type or how much additional information the store may collect and save.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a data mapping to be used in a subsequent inventorying process to locate objects within an area. The methods comprise: identifying, by a robot, at least one first marker disposed within the area which should be re-programed; autonomously transforming, by the robot, a first programmed state of the at least one first marker to a second programmed state; and autonomously creating, by the robot, the data mapping specifying a current physical location of the at least one first marker which was re-programed and current physical locations of second markers also disposed within the area.

Abstract: A system for controlling air quality of a building space includes HVAC equipment configured to serve the building space, sensors configured to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the building space, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive data from the sensors, determine a feedforward air quality contribution, determine a feedback air quality contribution based on a measured air quality and an air quality setpoint for the building space, combine the feedforward air quality contribution and the feedback air quality contribution to determine a target amount of ventilation or filtration to be provided to the building space by the HVAC equipment, and control the HVAC equipment to provide the target amount of ventilation or filtration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an inventory. The methods comprise: placing an RFID tag in a first operational mode in which at least one communication operation or device of the RFID tag is disabled or bypassed; performing first operations by the RFID tag to determine when it is time to begin communications in accordance with the time slotted communications scheme; transitioning an operational mode of the RFID tag from the first operational mode to a second operational mode in which the communication operation(s) or device of the RFID tag is enabled or no longer bypassed, in response to a determination that it is time for the RFID tag to begin communications; and transitioning the operational mode of the RFID tag back into the first operational mode when the RFID tag's communications with a remote tag reader for inventory determination purposes are complete or a time slot has expired.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a Unified Security Device (“USD”). The methods comprise: receiving an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) interrogation signal with an antenna of the USD; processing the EAS interrogation signal using a processor unit of the USD; using the processor unit to generate an EAS response signal that emulates a response signal produced by an Acousto-Magnetic (AM) type of EAS security tag, in response to the EAS interrogation signal; and communicating the EAS response signal from the USD.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an inventory. The methods comprise: performing operations by an internal circuit of a light provider to control operations of a light element to produce visible light, where the light provider is coupled to a light fixture installed on a physical structure of a facility; and performing operations by the internal circuit to connect with a network, receive a tag identifier associated with an alert event from at least one external device via the network, read tags, and control the light element to modify at least one characteristic of the visible light produced thereby when information read from one of the tags includes the tag identifier.

Abstract: A method for detecting an event in or around a building. The method includes recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless signal transmitted between devices in or around the building during a baseline time period and recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless signal during a second time period after the baseline time period. An event in or around the building is detected in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic, the event degrading the wireless signal during the second time period. An alarm is triggered in response to detecting the event.

Abstract: A wireless infrastructure component for integration with a building fire system includes a first mounting interface and a wireless communications interface. The first mounting interface is configured to physically couple to a mounting surface and includes a first power connector that is configured to receive power from the building fire system. The wireless communications interface is electrically coupled to the first power connector and is configured to use the power from the building fire system in order to conduct wireless communications with one or more wireless devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) tag. The methods comprise: monitoring a level of Radio Frequency (“RF”) energy being received by the RFID tag; performing operations by a circuit of the RFID tag to compare the level of RF energy in a given frequency band to a first threshold value; and transitioning an operational mode of the RFID tag from a first operational mode in which a receiver is disabled to a second operational mode in which the receiver is enabled, when the level of RF energy exceeds the first threshold value. The RFID tag is able to communicate with a remote tag reader when the RFID tag is in the second operational mode and not when the RFID tag is in the first operational mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a presence of a person, robot or object in a given area using a hybrid Lighting and Inventory (“LI”) system. The methods comprise: maintaining a data store of identifiers for first tags that are readable by an internal circuit of at least one light provider; tracking (a) changes in which of said first tags are read by the at least one light provider's internal circuit during consecutive tag read processes and (b) changes in power levels of tag read signals received at the at least one light provider during the consecutive tag read processes; and using tracked information (a) and (b) to detect the presence of the person, robot or object in the given area.

Abstract: A system for controlling air quality of a building space includes HVAC equipment configured to serve the building space, sensors configured to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the building space, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive data from the sensors, determine a feedforward air quality contribution, determine a feedback air quality contribution based on a measured air quality and an air quality setpoint for the building space, combine the feedforward air quality contribution and the feedback air quality contribution to determine a target amount of ventilation or filtration to be provided to the building space by the HVAC equipment, and control the HVAC equipment to provide the target amount of ventilation or filtration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a pedestal of an Electronic Article Surveillance (“EAS”) system. The methods comprise: capturing at least one first image or video by a camera coupled to the pedestal; analyzing the at least one first image or video to detect a person's presence and determine the person's location relative to the camera; determining a first beam pointing direction for the pedestal based on results of the analysis of the at least one first image or video; and steering a read beam of the pedestal in accordance with the first beam pointing direction so that a main lobe of the pedestal's antenna field pattern covers a first area of an interrogation zone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a tag reader. The methods comprise: performing tag read operations by the tag reader to read tags; processing first information received from the read tags to identify which tags are newly detected tags; adding entries for the newly detected tags in a local list stored in a local memory of the tag reader; communicating second information at least identifying the newly detected tags from the tag reader to a remote computing device; receiving, by the tag reader, feedback information generated by the remote computing device which specifies at least a count of entries added to a remote list stored in a remote datastore based on the second information; and selectively outputting a notification from the tag reader based on the value of the count.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a tag. The method comprising: causing motion of a spherical permanent magnet which is disposed and freely movable in a three dimensional internal space of a non-magnetic hollow sphere located within the tag; using the spherical permanent magnet's motion to cause a change in a magnetic flux in a wire wrapped around at least a portion of the non-magnetic hollow sphere, where the change in the magnetic flux induces a current in the wire; and supplying the current to at least one device of the tag's internal electronic devices that is configured to facilitate at least one of an inventory count and an inventory security.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-checkout using an RFID tag. The methods include: detecting motion of the RFID tag using a motion sensor local to the RFID tag; enabling at least one communication operation of the RFID tag in response to the detection of the RFID tag's motion; performing operations by the RFID tag to communicate first information to an enterprise system; using the first information by the enterprise system to associate the RFID tag with an individual of a plurality of individuals present in a given facility; and dynamically changing displayed content of a display device to include information about an object to which the RFID tag is coupled, the display device being in proximity to the individual, in the possession of the individual or being worn by the individual.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices and methods for an anonymized tracking service. In particular, devices and methods are described for a third party system that allows a user to selectively opt-in to wireless location tracking at specific stores. The anonymized tracking service may include a third party, a third party server system, a mobile device, and one or more store computing systems. In one aspect, a third-party (e.g., not associated with a store) mobile application may be downloaded onto a mobile device of a user. The mobile application provides a central control unit that allows the user to select which stores have permission to track the location of the user within a building associated with the store. In some embodiments, the central control unit may also allow a user to select which type or how much additional information the store may collect and save.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature of a building space includes HVAC equipment configured to serve the building space, a plurality of sensors configured to measure a plurality of parameters relating to the building space, and a control system. The control system is configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, generate a plurality of disturbance heat flow estimates for the building space based on the data from the plurality of sensors, determine a feedforward heat flow contribution based on the disturbance heat flow estimates, determine a feedback heat flow contribution based on a measured temperature of the building space and a temperature setpoint for the building space, combine the feedforward heat flow contribution and the feedback heat flow contribution to determine a rate of heat flow to be provided to the building space by the HVAC equipment, and control the HVAC equipment to provide the rate of heat flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a tag reader. The methods comprise: performing tag read operations by the tag reader to read tags; processing first information received from the read tags to identify which tags are newly detected tags; adding entries for the newly detected tags in a local list stored in a local memory of the tag reader; communicating second information at least identifying the newly detected tags from the tag reader to a remote computing device; receiving, by the tag reader, feedback information generated by the remote computing device which specifies at least a count of entries added to a remote list stored in a remote datastore based on the second information; and selectively outputting a notification from the tag reader based on the value of the count.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a presence of a person, robot or object in a given area using a hybrid Lighting and Inventory (“LI”) system. The methods comprise: maintaining a data store of identifiers for first tags that are readable by an internal circuit of at least one light provider; tracking (a) changes in which of said first tags are read by the at least one light provider's internal circuit during consecutive tag read processes and (b) changes in power levels of tag read signals received at the at least one light provider during the consecutive tag read processes; and using tracked information (a) and (b) to detect the presence of the person, robot or object in the given area.

Abstract: A method for detecting an event in or around a building. The method includes recording a baseline signal characteristic that characterizes a wireless signal transmitted between devices in or around the building during a baseline time period and recording a second signal characteristic that characterizes the wireless signal during a second time period after the baseline time period. An event in or around the building is detected in response to a determination that the second signal characteristic is abnormal relative to the baseline signal characteristic, the event degrading the wireless signal during the second time period. An alarm is triggered in response to detecting the event.