Abstract: The use of user equipment, or distracting features thereof are restricted or prohibited to improve vehicle operation safety. The presence of user equipment within the operator's or driver's operational area is detected. The distracting features are then restricted either immediately or based on other conditions such as vehicle speed, motion, engine state, etc. When the conditions have been eliminated and/or the user equipment is vacated from the operator's operational area, the restrictions can be removed or removed after a threshold period of time.

Abstract: The use of user equipment, or distracting features thereof are restricted or prohibited to improve vehicle operation safety. The presence of user equipment within the operator's or driver's operational area is detected. The distracting features are then restricted either immediately or based on other conditions such as vehicle speed, motion, engine state, etc. When the conditions have been eliminated and/or the user equipment is vacated from the operator's operational area, the restrictions can be removed or removed after a threshold period of time.

Abstract: Microprocessor technology is used to detect routine sounds in a substantially enclosed environment to determine normal or abnormal activity or noise within the environment (i.e., habitual behavior of an individual) A device is situated in a substantially enclosed environment with audio input device similar to a microphone and an optional visual display for interaction with the local users. The device has the ability to be controlled locally via key-pad or USB port connected to a local laptop computer, or remotely via a phone line or Ethernet connection to internet. The device further performs audio pattern recognition using waveform matching scheme to detect the occurrence of pre-programmed sounds representing routine activities. The microprocessor counts the number occurrence of each recognizable sound for a particular interval and over a length of a day or other duration and reports to a remote server. The remote server performs tracking and trending analysis to a web-based caregiver client.

Abstract: Microprocessor technology is used to detect routine sounds in a substantially enclosed environment to determine normal or abnormal activity or noise within the environment (i.e., habitual behavior of an individual) A device is situated in a substantially enclosed environment with audio input device similar to a microphone and an optional visual display for interaction with the local users. The device has the ability to be controlled locally via key-pad or USB port connected to a local laptop computer, or remotely via a phone line or Ethernet connection to internet. The device further performs audio pattern recognition using waveform matching scheme to detect the occurrence of pre-programmed sounds representing routine activities. The microprocessor counts the number occurrence of each recognizable sound for a particular interval and over a length of a day or other duration and reports to a remote server. The remote server performs tracking and trending analysis to a web-based caregiver client.

Abstract: A remote wellness monitoring system with universally accessible interface consists of an apparatus or home appliance unit running an embedded software program connected to a server computer via a phone line or high-speed internet. At home, the apparatus communicates with an optional set of medical health monitoring devices using wired or wireless communications methods in order to perform wellness measurements. Embodiments of the invention provide a novel user interface on the home appliance to make the system accessible to people with disabilities. The simple user interface is designed to be accessible to people who are blind or deaf or people who cannot use their hands and require an alternative interface device such as a sip & puff controller. The home unit can further monitor wellness activity of the care recipient by pegging the number of times the care recipient passes by an infra-red motion sensor.

Abstract: A beverage distribution system is offered for the purpose of self-service beverage dispensing, capable of providing customers real-time feedback on beverage consumption levels. The system includes a network of control stations and patron stations which are in constant communication via a wired or wireless network. The system is capable of detecting low beverage levels in beverage containers when or before they occur and can inform wait staff of such events. Furthermore, wait staff is provided with the tools to perform intelligent control of the self-service consumption according to local laws as well as paying visits to patrons at the appropriate time resulting in a very efficient system. A novel valve control scheme is also offered that is energy efficient, that does not generate undesirable heat in the presence of cooled beverages. Also, a generic flow control for beverage distribution is presented.

Abstract: The invention consists of a medication docking station that will accept pre-sorted medication array packages (a.k.a “blister packs”). The docking station will use digital image processing schemes to determine the state of each medication chamber. The digital image processing algorithm uses color content of a given cell (chamber) as a means to determine the state of that cell. If the color content matches that of a known empty cell, then the cell will be reported as empty, otherwise it will be determined as non-empty. The method can detect partial removal of medication pills. Also the information regarding the med-pack can be transmitted via wired or wireless means to a custom server or personal computer for further processing or forwarding to a user-client on the internet interested in adherence of a patient or care-recipient in taking medication.

Abstract: This embodiment of the invention consists of an apparatus or home appliance unit embodied in a hardware entity running an embedded software program connected to a server computer via a phone line or high-speed internet. At home, the apparatus communicates with an optional set of medical health monitoring devices such as but not limited to, blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters, and pulse oximeters using wired or wireless communications methods in order to perform wellness measurement. The illustrated embodiments of the invention provide a novel user interface on the home appliance to make the system accessible to people with disabilities. The simple user interface is designed to be accessible to people who are blind or deaf or people who cannot use their hands and require an alternative interface device such as a sip & puff controller. For the hearing impaired, the interface duplicates all speech and informational sounds with text or graphic cues.

Abstract: Microprocessor technology is used to detect routine sounds in a substantially enclosed environment to determine normal or abnormal activity or noise within the environment (i.e., habitual behavior of an individual) A device is situated in a substantially enclosed environment with audio input device similar to a microphone and an optional visual display for interaction with the local users. The device has the ability to be controlled locally via key-pad or USB port connected to a local laptop computer, or remotely via a phone line or Ethernet connection to internet. The device further performs audio pattern recognition using waveform matching scheme to detect the occurrence of pre-programmed sounds representing routine activities. The microprocessor counts the number occurrence of each recognizable sound for a particular interval and over a length of a day or other duration and reports to a remote server. The remote server performs tracking and trending analysis to a web-based caregiver client.

Abstract: A cable television system (100) includes forward and reverse paths. Reverse path circuitry within an optical node (400) of the system (100) receives reverse analog electrical signals from subscriber equipment (140) and generates therefrom a multiplexed reverse digital optical signal. The reverse digital optical signal is transmitted over a fiber optic cable 420 to a cable television hub (430), the reverse path portion of which includes no active circuitry. The hub (430) multiplexes the reverse digital optical signal with other reverse digital optical signals from other nodes to generate one or more forwarded digital optical signals at a hub output, wherein generation of the one or more forwarded digital optical signals requires only passive devices in the reverse path of the hub (430).

Abstract: A communications system includes forward and reverse paths. Reverse path circuitry within an optical node of the system receives reverse analog electrical signals from subscriber equipment and generates therefrom a multiplexed reverse digital optical signal. A coupling node combines digital optical signals and/or RF signals from an optical node or from coaxial cable, respectively. The combined digital optical signal is transmitted over a fiber optic cable to a cable television hub, the reverse path portion of which includes no active circuitry. The hub multiplexes the digital optical signal with other digital optical signals from other nodes to generate one or more forwarded digital optical signals at a hub output, wherein generation of the one or more forwarded digital optical signals requires only passive devices in the reverse path of the hub.