Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring occupancy of one or more pre-defined areas. The system has a scanning subsystem for wirelessly scanning a pre-defined area, using a short range wireless communications protocol, to detect a presence of one or more wireless personal electronic devices (PEDs) associated with one or more individuals present in the pre-defined area. Each of the PEDs also use the short range wireless communications protocol to radiate wireless signals that are detected by the scanning subsystem. A data analysis/processing subsystem analyzes data generated by the scanning subsystem relating to detected PEDs in the pre-defined area. A notification subsystem analyzes the information relating to an occupancy level of the pre-defined area.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic caster system for use with a furniture component. The system may have a caster with a body portion, a wheel supported for rolling movement relative to the body portion, and a neck portion. The neck portion may be adapted to be operably coupled to the furniture component to enable swiveling movement of the body portion. A processor may be provided which is supported on the caster. A sensing component may also be included which is carried on the caster for sensing a condition affecting the caster, and generating an output signal in accordance with the sensed condition to the processor.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for inserting stored advertising content into broadcast content being played over an audio system. The system may have a smartphone in wireless communication with the audio system which runs an application relating to a specific broadcast station that is broadcasting the broadcast content. The audio system may have a processing system for detecting breaks in program content that forms part of the broadcast content. The audio system may further be configured to obtain predetermined advertisements and to play back the predetermined advertisements over the audio system during each break in the program content, in place of advertisements contained in the broadcast content.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) is disclosed for interfacing a vehicle electronic component with a smartphone, wherein the vehicle electronic component and the smartphone each make use of a short range wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the other, and wherein the smartphone includes an application running thereon. The API has an interconnect API disposed in the electronic component. The interconnect API also has a software library of command and function definitions that are able to be implemented by the API. A connect library is also used which resides within the smartphone and which is configured to communicate with the application running on the smartphone. The interconnect API and the connect library cooperatively operate as a translation mechanism to implement a plurality of functionalities when communicating with the application, according to the electronic device's capabilities.

Abstract: A vehicle key base station is configured to comprise at least one controller in communication with a key fob and a nomadic device using one or more transceivers. The at least one controller may be configured to receive a security code request from the nomadic device. The at least one controller may be further configured to verify the nomadic device is approved to communicate with vehicle key fob based on a pre-registration configuration. If the nomadic device is approved, the at least one controller may be further configured to transmit the request to the key fob and receive the vehicle security code from the key fob. The at least one controller may be further configured to transmit the vehicle security code to the nomadic device.

Abstract: The present system relates to an exercise system comprising an appliance which acts much like an exercise device able, which is able to be used by an individual to enable repeated movements of one or more limbs, to thus enable the user to achieve a low level aerobic activity (e.g., low level exercise) while performing other non-exercise related tasks. A communication control module communicates with a personal electronic device located at the exercise device. A management subsystem communicates with the communication control module and is configured to track usage of the exercise device by at least one individual, and to implement at least one gamification subsystem. The gamification subsystem uses the tracked usage for the purpose of executing a program to reward usage of the exercise device. The gamification subsystem may also be configured to report information it generates to at least one of the individual or an entity associated with operation of the exercise device.

Abstract: A mobile device may be associated with a vehicle for verification of software updates. The mobile device may be configured to receive a message including an encryption key with which a software update for the vehicle is encrypted, provide a user interface requesting user verification of installation of the software update, and responsive to receipt of the user verification, provide the encryption key to the vehicle to allow the vehicle to decrypt the software update. An update server may be configured to send a software update encrypted using an encryption key to a vehicle, receive a request from the vehicle requesting that the encryption key used to encrypt the software update be provided to a mobile device associated with the vehicle for verification of software updates, and send the encryption key to the mobile device responsive to the request.

Abstract: One or more controller may extract voice commands from retrieved web content, format the web content according to vehicle computing system (VCS) specific formatting information, provide the formatted web content for display by the VCS, and update the recognized voice commands of the VCS according to the extracted voice commands. A server may identify whether a received web request for web content is directed to a vehicle sub-domain for providing an in-vehicle-specific version of the content, identify whether the received web request is for presentation of web content via a VCS, and redirect the web request to the vehicle sub-domain when the request is not directed to the vehicle sub-domain and is for presentation via the VCS.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic caster system for use with a furniture component. The system may have a caster with a body portion, a wheel supported for rolling movement relative to the body portion, and a neck portion. The neck portion may be adapted to be operably coupled to the furniture component to enable swiveling movement of the body portion. A processor may be provided which is supported on the caster. A sensing component may also be included which is carried on the caster for sensing a condition affecting the caster, and generating an output signal in accordance with the sensed condition to the processor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for tracking usage, as well as type of usage, location and occupancy, of at least one furniture component, for example a desk, in one or more facilities. The system uses a docking station associated with the desk. The docking station has a Universal Serial Bus (USB) expansion port and at least one of a port or a wireless subsystem for enabling a user to make at least one of a wired or wireless connection with the docking station. The docking station communicates with a network and includes a dongle which is coupled to the USB expansion port. The dongle has programmed information stored therein associated with the desk. An application is used which is stored on a user's personal electronic device. The application reads the programmed information when the user establishes a communication link with the network via the docking station. The system also uses a remote subsystem to track usage of the desk by the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring occupancy of one or more pre-defined areas. The system has a scanning subsystem for wirelessly scanning a pre-defined area, using a short range wireless communications protocol, to detect a presence of one or more wireless personal electronic devices (PEDs) associated with one or more individuals present in the pre-defined area. Each of the PEDs also use the short range wireless communications protocol to radiate wireless signals that are detected by the scanning subsystem. A data analysis/processing subsystem analyzes data generated by the scanning subsystem relating to detected PEDs in the pre-defined area. A notification subsystem analyzes the information relating to an occupancy level of the pre-defined area.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling access to premium content, obtained via a smartphone, to be controlled by using a vehicle as a “key” to unlock the premium content. In one implementation the user of the vehicle uses her/his smartphone to establish a wireless link with the vehicle's radio system. The vehicle's radio system supplies a unique radio identifier to the smartphone, which the smartphone forwards to a remote authorization server. The authorization server determines from an internal database if the radio identifier is permitted access to any premium content. If so the authorization server forwards a code or command to the smartphone that the smartphone uses when accessing a web-based or cloud-based content provider, which enables the user to receive premium content form the content provider.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring use of a work structure at which a user is present, and detecting if any one of one or more sensors of the system are obstructed. The system may have a work structure at which a user may perform a task. A first sensor may be used for detecting a first characteristic of use of the work structure and generating a first signal in accordance therewith. A second sensor may be used for detecting a second characteristic of use of the work structure and generating a second signal in accordance therewith. A computer based processing and monitoring subsystem may be used for analyzing the first and second signals and determining if one or the other of the first and second sensors is at least one of obstructed or malfunctioning.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring usage of a furniture component. The system uses a gateway communications module disposed in an area in proximity to the furniture component. A caster is used to at least partially support the furniture component, and has an electronic component for sensing at least one of weight or motion of the caster. The caster also has a wireless electronic radio for wirelessly communicating with the remote gateway communication module. A remote management system receives information from the gateway communications module, in real time, and uses the information to determine if the furniture component associated with the caster is in use. A central management/monitoring system is in communication with the remote management subsystem, and receives information from the remote management subsystem as to a real time status of use of the furniture component.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing supplemental information to a user receiving a broadcast of audio information. A radio system is used for wirelessly receiving broadcast content. The broadcast content may be provided with a signal component indicating that supplemental information is available for the broadcast content. A smartphone is in communication with the radio system. The radio system and the smartphone communicate to enable supplemental information from the smartphone to be presented to the user, upon a user selection, while the radio system buffers the broadcast content for playback after the supplemental information has concluded.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a furniture height adjustment system. The system has a height adjust system positionable on or adjacent a work surface of a furniture component, wherein the work surface is movable elevationally between lowered and raised positions. The height adjust system has a processor and a height adjust setting control in communication with the processor. The height adjust setting control has user actuatable controls for enabling a user to set and store at least one elevational position for the work surface. The processor monitors movement of the work surface when the user is moving the work surface to a previously stored elevational position and generates a signal when the work surface reaches the stored elevational position.

Abstract: One or more controller may extract voice commands from retrieved web content, format the web content according to vehicle computing system (VCS) specific formatting information, provide the formatted web content for display by the VCS, and update the recognized voice commands of the VCS according to the extracted voice commands. A server may identify whether a received web request for web content is directed to a vehicle sub-domain for providing an in-vehicle-specific version of the content, identify whether the received web request is for presentation of web content via a VCS, and redirect the web request to the vehicle sub-domain when the request is not directed to the vehicle sub-domain and is for presentation via the VCS.

Abstract: A work desk system is disclosed which is integrated into a corporate work environment. The work desk system includes a work desk which can be raised and lowered to promote performing various activities such managing email, carrying out a telecon, participating in a webinar, while standing rather than seated. The system is able to determine from the user's calendar when certain events are upcoming that could be performed while standing, and is able to notify the user with a message on the user's computing device of the opportunity to perform the event while standing. The system is able to monitor whether the user is seated or standing, in one implementation using an intelligent caster associated with a chair present at the work desk. The system also logs the accumulated time that the worker spends standing, and shares the information with other subsystems (health applications, health care provider, corporate entity that employs the user, etc.).

Abstract: A method is disclosed which involves using an identifier which may be stored in an electronic component of a vehicle. A short range, wireless protocol connectivity system of the vehicle may establish a wireless link with a personal electronic device (PED) of a user when the user enters the vehicle with the PED powered on. The link may be used to automatically transmit the identifier to the PED. The PED then transmits the identifier to a remote authorization source which checks if the identifier is valid and, if so, sends an unlock code back to the PED. The PED uses the unlock code to unlock an application on the PED which enables access to the remote content source.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing advertising (AD) content to a radio system of a vehicle. A smartphone may have a stored application thereon related to a specific broadcast station. A utility application may be associated with the radio system (RS) and used to inform the smartphone when the RS is tuned to the specific broadcast station. The RS may have a processor for detecting a start maker and a stop marker in a broadcast signal being received from the specific broadcast station, and to inform the smartphone when the start marker is detected. The start marker and the stop marker define a time interval where at least one advertisement is present in the broadcast signal. The smartphone may provide AD content to the RS which is inserted for playback during the time interval.