Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is an apparatus for a mobile communication network, which includes a mobile telecommunications device, with a graphical user interface and a memory. The apparatus also includes a mobile radio device, communicatively coupled to the mobile telecommunications device, thereby creating a pair of communicatively coupled mobile devices. The mobile radio device includes a plurality of lights functioning as a secondary user interface and, in conjunction with the graphical user interface provides a unified user interface. The mobile radio device also includes a memory, a GPS chip and an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope. The plurality of lights communicate an operational mode and status to a user. The operational mode is at least one of: a battery level indicator mode, a signal strength indicator mode, a compass indicator mode, a tracking mode, a path saving mode, a waypoint mode, and a disaster mode.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the invention is an apparatus for a mobile communication network, which includes a mobile telecommunications device, with a graphical user interface and a memory. The apparatus also includes a mobile radio device, communicatively coupled to the mobile telecommunications device, thereby creating a pair of communicatively coupled mobile devices. The mobile radio device includes a plurality of lights functioning as a secondary user interface and, in conjunction with the graphical user interface provides a unified user interface. The mobile radio device also includes a memory, a GPS chip and an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope. The plurality of lights communicate an operational mode and status to a user. The operational mode is at least one of: a battery level indicator mode, a signal strength indicator mode, a compass indicator mode, a tracking mode, a path saving mode, a waypoint mode, and a disaster mode.

Abstract: A compact inflator is described herein. The inflator may include a rotatable drum, an air pump disposed within the drum, a fixed securing mechanism that provides structural support to, and enables rotation of, the drum, a power supply, and an electric power transmission mechanism. The drum may draw in and let out a hose. The hose may have a first end and a second end, the first end having a connection mechanism that connects the hose to an inflatable object. The air pump may be connected to the second end of the hose. The power supply may provide power to the motor, and may be coupled to the pump or the power supply. The power transmission mechanism may include a slip ring assembly or a pair of parallel inductors, one which rotates with the drum about the other.

Abstract: An apparatus is described herein that may generally include an air pump, a rotatable drum, a flexible hose, and first and second housings. The drum may draw in and let out the flexible hose. The pump may be connected to the flexible hose. The first housing may enclose in inner portion of the drum, and may include a first air intake. The pump may be disposed within the first housing. The second housing may surround the drum and may include a second air intake. The flexible hose may pass through the second air intake. The first intake may be aligned perpendicular to the second air intake. Alternatively, the first intake may be aligned parallel to the second air intake on a side of the drum opposite the second air intake. Sound emitted from the pump may pass over, and be absorbed by, the flexible hose within the second housing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered wireless switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, and one or more tactile control buttons. Additionally, the switch includes one or more docking prongs. Each docking prong is contained within a groove in a switch back, with pivot pins through one end of each docking prong perpendicular to a prong longitudinal axis and parallel to the switch back. The switch also includes flexible strips coupled to the same end of each docking prong as the pivot pins, and a prong extender button coupled to the flexible strips. The dock includes one or more docking prong slots, where the number of slots matches the number of prongs. The prongs fit in the slots to mount the switch to the dock.

Abstract: An apparatus is described herein that may generally include an air pump, a rotatable drum, a flexible hose, and first and second housings. The drum may draw in and let out the flexible hose. The pump may be connected to the flexible hose. The first housing may enclose in inner portion of the drum, and may include a first air intake. The pump may be disposed within the first housing. The second housing may surround the drum and may include a second air intake. The flexible hose may pass through the second air intake. The first intake may be aligned perpendicular to the second air intake. Alternatively, the first intake may be aligned parallel to the second air intake on a side of the drum opposite the second air intake. Sound emitted from the pump may pass over, and be absorbed by, the flexible hose within the second housing.

Abstract: A compact inflator is described herein. The inflator may include a rotatable drum, an air pump disposed within the drum, a fixed securing mechanism that provides structural support to, and enables rotation of, the drum, a power supply, and an electric power transmission mechanism. The drum may draw in and let out a hose. The hose may have a first end and a second end, the first end having a connection mechanism that connects the hose to an inflatable object. The air pump may be connected to the second end of the hose. The power supply may provide power to the motor, and may be coupled to the pump or the power supply. The power transmission mechanism may include a slip ring assembly or a pair of parallel inductors, one which rotates with the drum about the other.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and one or more magnetic prongs. The magnetic prongs are contained within prong slots in a switch body. The prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs when the prongs extend outwards from the switch body. The dock includes one or more metallic holes, where the number of holes matches the number of prongs. The prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the holes when brought near enough to the holes that the holes exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A cable is incorporated into the line to transport at least one of power and data along the line to an object or device at the end of the line. In certain embodiments, the cable is configured to support all or a portion of the load. In other embodiments, the line includes a load-bearing wire separate from the cable which is configured to support all or a portion of the load.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A tracking module tracks an actual amount of line let out from the drum. A servo control unit receives the actual amount, compares the actual amount to a desired amount of line to let out from the drum, and generates an error signal reflecting a difference between the actual amount and the desired amount. A modulation module generates, from the error signal, a control signal to control the motor, thereby bringing the actual amount into better alignment with the desired amount.

Abstract: A wirelessly controlled inflator is described herein that includes a pump, a hose, a programmable switch, and a wireless transceiver. The hose is fluidically coupled to the pump. The programmable switch is electrically coupled to the pump and stores instructions that, when executed, activate the pump until a desired pressure setting is reached. The wireless transceiver is electrically coupled to the programmable switch and relays pump operation information to the programmable switch. The inflator may be remotely controlled by one or more networked devices, such as directly or via a cloud-based network.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered wireless switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, and one or more tactile control buttons. Additionally, the switch includes one or more docking prongs. Each docking prong is contained within a groove in a switch back, with pivot pins through one end of each docking prong perpendicular to a prong longitudinal axis and parallel to the switch back. The switch also includes flexible strips coupled to the same end of each docking prong as the pivot pins, and a prong extender button coupled to the flexible strips. The dock includes one or more docking prong slots, where the number of slots matches the number of prongs. The prongs fit in the slots to mount the switch to the dock.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and one or more magnetic prongs. The magnetic prongs are contained within prong slots in a switch body. The prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs when the prongs extend outwards from the switch body. The dock includes one or more metallic holes, where the number of holes matches the number of prongs. The prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the holes when brought near enough to the holes that the holes exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-operated switch magnetically mounted to a switch holder. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short-range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and a switch magnet. The switch holder includes a magnetic plate, a front face having a front height and front width, a back plane having a back height and a back width, and a depth spanning from the front face to the back plane. The switch holder also includes a switch depression in the front face spanning at least a portion of the depth. The switch depression has a shape that correlates to a switch shape, and the switch depression has dimensions that correlate to switch dimensions. The switch is magnetically mounted to the magnetic holder in the switch body depression by the switch magnet and the magnetic plate.

Abstract: A system includes multiple lifting devices, where each lifting device includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A grouping module is provided to group the lifting devices for synchronized operation. A synchronization module monitors an amount of line that is drawn in or let out from each of the lifting devices and, based on the amount, adjusts operating parameters (e.g., position, speed, etc.) of one or more of the lifting devices in the group to substantially synchronize the amount of line drawn in or let out with other lifting devices in the group.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A tracking module tracks an actual amount of line let out from the drum. A servo control unit receives the actual amount, compares the actual amount to a desired amount of line to let out from the drum, and generates an error signal reflecting a difference between the actual amount and the desired amount. A modulation module generates, from the error signal, a control signal to control the motor, thereby bringing the actual amount into better alignment with the desired amount.

Abstract: A system includes multiple lifting devices, where each lifting device includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A grouping module groups the lifting devices for synchronized operation in lifting a shared load. A load distribution management module monitors an amount of weight carried by each of the grouped lifting devices and provides feedback to a user to enable more optimal distribution of the shared load amongst the grouped lifting devices.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. In certain embodiments, the motor and transmission are substantially entirely contained within the drum. In the same or other embodiments, a bearing may provide support for both the transmission and the drum.

Abstract: A system includes multiple lifting devices, where each lifting device includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A grouping module is provided to group the lifting devices for synchronized operation. A synchronization module monitors an amount of line that is drawn in or let out from each of the lifting devices and, based on the amount, adjusts operating parameters (e.g., position, speed, etc.) of one or more of the lifting devices in the group to substantially synchronize the amount of line drawn in or let out with other lifting devices in the group.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drum to draw in or let out a line and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A cable is incorporated into the line to transport at least one of power and data along the line to an object or device at the end of the line. In certain embodiments, the cable is configured to support all or a portion of the load. In other embodiments, the line includes a load-bearing wire separate from the cable which is configured to support all or a portion of the load.