Abstract: System for tracking a life cycle of a device, including a server system, a plurality of gateways and the device, the device configured to sense and to transmit sensory data, the device including a sensor and a transmitter, wherein the server system is configured to receive transmissions from the device via any gateway of the plurality of gateways, the transmissions including a device ID of the device, the server system storing a tracking record of the device in association with the device ID, wherein the server system is configured to update the stored tracking record of the device in relation to: (i) production of the device, in response to receiving a respective communication from the device; and (ii) storage or sale of the device, in response to receiving a respective communication from the device; and (iii) usage of the device, in response to receiving a respective communication from the device.

Abstract: A system wherein a data storage server is configured to generate first tokens, to receive a registration from a service provider's server, and to issue first tokens to the service provider's server, and to receive a first token from the service provider's server, wherein the data storage server is configured to receive sensor data from a gateway, the gateway arranged to receive the sensor data from a device registered at the service provider's server, the data storage server configured to issue second tokens to the gateway after receiving the sensor data from the gateway, the data storage server further configured to store the received sensor data on the data storage server or to store the received sensor data on the service provider's server.

Abstract: A system including a data storage server, a service provider's server, and a gateway including a transceiver configured to operate at a power level below 5.0 mW, the data storage server generates first tokens, receives a registration from the service provider's server, and issues first tokens to the service provider's server, and receives a first token from the service provider's server. The data storage server receives sensor data from the gateway, the gateway executes the application to receive the sensor data from sensors, and the data storage server issues second tokens to the gateway after receiving the sensor data from the gateway and stores the received sensor data on the data storage or service provider's server.

Abstract: A system for tracking a plurality of objects, including a server system and gateways, wherein each object includes a battery arranged to power it, a non-transitory storage medium, an object ID stored in the storage medium, a first transceiver and a second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is different to the first transceiver and the first transceiver of each object is arranged to communicate with a first respective gateway, and wherein the second transceiver of each object is arranged to communicate with a second respective gateway. Each object includes at least one sensor and is configured to sense and transmit sensory data. The server system is configured to store a tracking record of each respective object in association with the respective object ID.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system including a portable CO2 measuring device and a mobile device, the mobile device including a processor and a display, the mobile device storing software, the mobile device configured to communicate with the portable CO2 measuring device, the portable CO2 measuring device configured to measure CO2 measurement data, wherein the software is executable on the mobile device to receive the CO2 measurement data from the CO2 measuring device, and to display CO2 measurement results derived from the CO2 measurement data on the display of the mobile device.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes sensors that monitor activity within a designated territory. The sensors include visual sensors that make video recordings. A local processing system located within or proximate to the designated territory receives signals from the sensors. The local processing system processes and analyzes the signals from the sensors to produce messages that describe activity within the designated territory as monitored by the sensors. The messages do not include audio, visual or other direct identifying information that directly reveal identity of persons within the designated territory. A monitoring station outside the designated territory receives the messages produced by the local processing system and makes the messages available to external observers.

Abstract: A system wherein a data storage server is configured to generate first tokens, to receive a registration from a service provider's server, and to issue first tokens to the service provider's server, and to receive a first token from the service provider's server, wherein the data storage server is configured to receive sensor data from a gateway, the gateway arranged to receive the sensor data from a device registered at the service provider's server, the data storage server configured to issue second tokens to the gateway after receiving the sensor data from the gateway, the data storage server further configured to store the received sensor data on the data storage server or to store the received sensor data on the service provider's server.

Abstract: A system including a data storage server, a service provider's server, and a gateway including a transceiver configured to operate at a power level below 5.0 mW, the data storage server generates first tokens, receives a registration from the service provider's server, and issues first tokens to the service provider's server, and receives a first token from the service provider's server. The data storage server receives sensor data from the gateway, the gateway executes the application to receive the sensor data from sensors, and the data storage server issues second tokens to the gateway after receiving the sensor data from the gateway, the data storage server further and stores the received sensor data on the data storage or service provider's server.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus including a backlighting processor unit (BPU), and a colour illumination system which is connectable to the backlighting processor unit, the colour illumination system attachable to a reverse side of a display, wherein the display is positionable facing away from a vertical surface, the backlighting processor unit arranged to receive a display frame and to transmit the display frame to the display, the backlighting processor unit further arranged to process the display frame, and to control the colour illumination system to output a colour, at an intensity, wherein the colour is obtained from the processing of the display frame, the output colour being output at the intensity towards the vertical surface.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes sensors that monitor activity within a designated territory. The sensors include visual sensors that make video recordings. A local processing system located within or proximate to the designated territory receives signals from the sensors. The local processing system processes and analyzes the signals from the sensors to produce messages that describe activity within the designated territory as monitored by the sensors. The messages do not include audio, visual or other direct identifying information that directly reveal identity of persons within the designated territory. A monitoring station outside the designated territory receives the messages produced by the local processing system and makes the messages available to external observers.

Abstract: A system for receiving and storing unbiased user feedback about user perception of beverage quality, the system including a server, a computer database and a plurality of containers each including a beverage. Each container includes a sealed container containing the beverage, wherein each container has no marking which identifies the beverage to a user. The server is configured to store user account data; receive an order for a first container from a user terminal in communication with the server, in relation to the user account, and to store the order; receive a confirmation of delivery of the first container to the user street address; receive feedback identifying the user's perception of a beverage quality of the first beverage, and store the feedback in the computer database.

Abstract: Multiple digital cameras view a large scene, such as a part of a city. Some of the cameras view different parts of that scene, and video feeds from the cameras are processed at a computer to generate a photo-realistic synthetic 3D model of the scene. This enables the scene to be viewed from any viewing angle, including angles that the original, real cameras do not occupy—i.e. as though viewed from a ‘virtual camera’ that can be positioned in any arbitrary position. The 3D model combines both static elements that do not alter in real-time, and also dynamic elements that do alter in real-time or near real-time.

Abstract: An electronic vaporiser system including a vaporiser (1) and a single piezo-electric pump (6) that both withdraws e-liquid from a cartridge or chamber (3) and also pumps controlled amounts of e-liquid for atomizing in the vaporizer (1).

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer that includes a heating element and further includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the resistance of the heating element and (ii) uses an inference of temperature derived from that resistance as a control input. The temperature of the heating element may be inferred from data stored in the electronics module that has been empirically obtained for a specific heating element design. The electronics module controls the power delivered to the heating element to ensure that it is no higher than approximately 130° C., plus an error tolerance.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer includes a heating element and a microcontroller; the microcontroller monitors or measures electrical characteristics of the heating element and uses that to automatically identify the type of heating element and as a control input. The microcontroller automatically applies different heating parameter controls to the heating element, including optimal and maximum operating temperature, depending on the type of heating element that is identified.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer includes a heating element, an air pressure sensor and a microcontroller; the microcontroller stores, processes or determines the extent of each inhalation using signals from the air pressure sensor. The microcontroller can calculate the approximate e-liquid consumption from the extent of each inhalation or provide data that enables an external processor to calculate approximate e-liquid consumption. The extent of an inhalation is a function of one or more of: duration; peak flow rate; average flow rate.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer includes a heating element, an air pressure sensor and a microcontroller; the microcontroller stores, processes or determines the extent of each inhalation using signals from the air pressure sensor. The microcontroller can calculate the approximate e-liquid consumption from the extent of each inhalation or provide data that enables an external processor to calculate approximate e-liquid consumption. The extent of an inhalation is a function of one or more of: duration; peak flow rate; average flow rate.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer system including a cartridge designed to provide a liquid or other substance for the electronic vaporizer system, the cartridge including a chip that stores data related to the batch number of the substance stored in the cartridge, and the cartridge being adapted to be inserted into or form an integral part of the electronic vaporizer system. The electronic vaporizer system reads the data from the chip and compares that data with stored data and, depending on the result of that comparison, either prevents or permits use of that substance.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer that includes a heating element and further includes or co-operates with an electronics module that (i) detects characteristics of the delivery of power, current or voltage to the heating element and (ii) determines if those characteristics are associated with degradation of the heating element. A characteristic that is associated with degradation of the heating element is an increase or other change in the heating element resistance. The heating element resistance can be established by the electronics module sending a test current through the heating element that is sufficient to enable a measurement of resistance to be made.

Abstract: An electronic cigarette vaporizer includes a heating element for heating an e-liquid and a microcontroller; the microcontroller determines the type and/or characteristics of the e-liquid being used and uses that as an input to automatically control the power delivered to the heating element to heat the e-liquid in a manner suitable for that specific type of e-liquid, or e-liquid with those characteristics. The e-liquid can be supplied from a cartridge and that cartridge then includes a record of the type of e-liquid stored in the cartridge and/or its characteristics and the microcontroller reads that record or is provided data from that record. A variable for the type of e-liquid and/or its characteristics is the water content of the e-liquid.