Abstract: An improved HVAC vent is disclosed. The vent may include an air turbine positioned within a passageway for selectively enabling and preventing airflow. In use, the air turbine is selectively operable between first and second states. In the first state, the air turbine may be freely rotatable, via the airflow, so that the received airflow can move through the passageway. In the second state, rotation of the air turbine is controlled or prevented so that the received airflow is inhibited or substantially inhibited from moving through the passageway. The vent may also include a motor. In use, the motor may act an energy generator and as an active brake so that in the first state, rotation of the air turbine is used to charge a power storage unit, and in the second state, the motor limits rotation of the air turbine.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: Described are techniques that use an autonomous mobile unmanned machine that includes at least one sensor device suitable to verify an alarm condition. Upon assertion of an alarm condition message asserted as a result of a potential alarm condition existing within a facility, the machine receives a location of the alarm condition and is programmed with a route from a current location of the autonomous mobile unmanned machine to the location of the alarm condition. The at least one sensor device carried by the autonomous mobile unmanned machine collects sensor data at least at the location of the alarm condition and the machine sends to a system a message pertaining to status of the alarm condition.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A Safety Cooking Device includes a thermal sensor that detects infrared radiation (IR) to generate thermal images of a cooktop over time, and a controller. The controller uses the thermal images to determine whether the cooktop is unattended. Both wired and wireless embodiments of the cooking safety device are disclosed. In one implementation, the cooking safety device is in communication with and reports to a security panel of a security system.

Abstract: An improved HVAC vent is disclosed. The vent may include an air turbine positioned within a passageway for selectively enabling and preventing airflow. In use, the air turbine is selectively operable between first and second states. In the first state, the air turbine may be freely rotatable, via the airflow, so that the received airflow can move through the passageway. In the second state, rotation of the air turbine is controlled or prevented so that the received airflow is inhibited or substantially inhibited from moving through the passageway. The vent may also include a motor. In use, the motor may act an energy generator and as an active brake so that in the first state, rotation of the air turbine is used to charge a power storage unit, and in the second state, the motor limits rotation of the air turbine.

Abstract: Described are techniques that use an autonomous mobile unmanned machine that includes at least one sensor device suitable to verify an alarm condition. Upon assertion of an alarm condition message asserted as a result of a potential alarm condition existing within a facility, the machine receives a location of the alarm condition and is programmed with a route from a current location of the autonomous mobile unmanned machine to the location of the alarm condition. The at least one sensor device carried by the autonomous mobile unmanned machine collects sensor data at least at the location of the alarm condition and the machine sends to a system a message pertaining to status of the alarm condition.

Abstract: A Safety Cooking Device includes a thermal sensor that detects infrared radiation (IR) to generate thermal images of a cooktop over time, and a controller. The controller uses the thermal images to determine whether the cooktop is unattended. Both wired and wireless embodiments of the cooking safety device are disclosed. In one implementation, the cooking safety device is in communication with and reports to a security panel of a security system.

Abstract: A system and method for processing user speech commands in a voice interactive system is disclosed. Users issue speech phrases on a local device in a premises network, and the local devices first determine if the speech phrases match any commands in a set of local control commands. The control commands, in examples, can activate and deactivate premises devices such as “smart” televisions and simpler lighting devices connected to home automation hubs. In the event of a command match, local actions associated with the commands are executed directly on the premises devices in response. When no match is found on the local device, the speech phrases are sent in messages to a remote server over a network cloud such as the Internet for further processing. This can save on bandwidth and cost as compared to current voice recognition systems.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A unified presence detection and prediction platform that is privacy aware is described. The platform is receives signals from plural sensor devices that are disposed within a premises. The platform produces profiles of entities based on detected characteristics developed from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors, i.e., non-video and non-audio sensor devices. The platform using these profiles and sensor signals from relatively inexpensive and privacy-aware sensors determines specific identification and produces historical patterns. Also described are techniques that allow users (persons), when authorized, to control remote devices/systems generally without direct interaction with such systems merely by the systems detecting and in instances predicting the specific presence of an identified individual in a location within the premises.

Abstract: A system and method for processing user speech commands in a voice interactive system is disclosed. Users issue speech phrases on a local device in a premises network, and the local devices first determine if the speech phrases match any commands in a set of local control commands. The control commands, in examples, can activate and deactivate premises devices such as “smart” televisions and simpler lighting devices connected to home automation hubs. In the event of a command match, local actions associated with the commands are executed directly on the premises devices in response. When no match is found on the local device, the speech phrases are sent in messages to a remote server over a network cloud such as the Internet for further processing. This can save on bandwidth and cost as compared to current voice recognition systems.

Abstract: An alarm system includes two subsystems: a security subsystem that performs critical alarm condition monitoring and reporting; and an auxiliary subsystem that allows execution of other non-critical software components. The security subsystem may monitor the performance of the auxiliary subsystem, and maintain the performance by resetting and/or otherwise controlling the execution of software and use of hardware at the auxiliary subsystem, providing increased overall reliability of the security system, without compromising its ability to monitor security conditions at an associated premises.

Abstract: An alarm system includes two subsystems: a security subsystem that performs critical alarm condition monitoring and reporting; and an auxiliary subsystem that allows execution of other non-critical software components. The security subsystem may monitor the performance of the auxiliary subsystem, and maintain the performance by resetting and/or otherwise controlling the execution of software and use of hardware at the auxiliary subsystem, providing increased overall reliability of the security system, without compromising its ability to monitor security conditions at an associated premises.