Abstract: A method of locating an acoustic source, the method comprising sampling said acoustic source at a plurality of acoustic receivers having different locations, each acoustic receiver time-stamping a respective received acoustic sample using a system time, each acoustic receiver sending said time-stamped acoustic sample to a central controller, the central controller determining the location of the acoustic source in response to receiving the time-stamped sound source samples from the plurality of receivers.

Abstract: A method of locating an acoustic source, the method comprising sampling said acoustic source at a plurality of acoustic receivers having different locations, each acoustic receiver time-stamping a respective received acoustic sample using a system time, each acoustic receiver sending said time-stamped acoustic sample to a central controller, the central controller determining the location of the acoustic source in response to receiving the time-stamped sound source samples from the plurality of receivers.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying metadata in a measurement processing system is described. Each combination of metadata is associated with a key, and the keys are used to verify that operations performed using the measurements are valid based on the metadata of the respective measurements. Embodiments allow metadata verification to be made prior to operating on measurements. Embodiments also minimize the processing that results from making such checks redundantly causing slowdown in the measurement processing. This additionally makes metadata verification feasible for devices with limited CPU resources, such as, for example, mobile devices.

Abstract: By equipping receiving devices in a network with synchronizable clocks it is possible to periodically send an “impulse” signal that is received by all of the clocks at the same (or relatively the same) instant of time. The accuracy of the impulse clock need not be high, only that its signal reach all the clocks approximately at the same time. In one embodiment, a transmitting device, upon receipt of the synchronizing impulse signal, sends a packet of data bearing the sending device's epoch time-stamp to a receiving device. The data packet makes its way through the network element to the receiving device and the time-stamp is used by the receiving device to calculate the difference between the epoch time of the receiver and the epoch time of the sender. Effectively, this procedure removes the unknown network element transit times from the equation and allows the devices to operate in a synchronized manner.

Abstract: Power data is obtained from a power meter that utilizes a rotatable element (e.g., a disk) by illuminating a spot on the rotatable element, capturing image information from the surface of the rotatable element, processing the image information to track movement of the rotatable element, and converting the movement information to digital power data. Movement of the rotatable element is tracked by capturing successive frames of image information and correlating common features in the image frames to determine the magnitude of movement of the common features.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method is arranged so that less expensive probes are designed for simple installation. Since both probe cost and installation cost are reduced more probes can be deployed thereby improving wireless measurements across a system. In one embodiment, a self-contained probe is designed using internally generated power and vehicle speed information thereby eliminating the need for connecting into a vehicle's power. The low-cost design of each probe allows the electronics to be externally mounted in a quick and easy manner. The resulting large number of deployed probes then allows for different measurements being sent from different probes thereby further reducing the cost per probe.

Abstract: A measurement device having a configurable measurement interface that enables the dynamic allocation of responsibilities among front-end and back-end subsystems of a measurement device. A measurement device according to the present teachings includes a front-end subsystem for performing an interaction with a physical environment and back-end subsystem having a set of resources for supporting the front-end subsystem. The front-end and back-end subsystems are coupled to and communicate through a measurement interface. The front-end subsystem transfers a set of bootstrap information via the measurement interface to the back-end subsystem and in response the back-end subsystem configures the resources to support the front-end subsystem.

Abstract: A probe management system is disclosed having a central location for developing experiments and measurement requests for the particular probe system. Instead of issues detailed measurement requests to each of the smart probes in the system, each smart probe determines the measurements to be taken based on the experiment and measurement request. Furthermore, prior to participating in such an experiment the smart probe determines its capabilities to participate and configures itself for such participation if the smart decides to actually participate in the experiment or measurement request.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for managing bandwidth in a wireless probe measurement system that may include receiving an indicator at the wireless probe to begin taking measurements of one or more variables, measuring the one or more variables, calculating a set of statistical values at the wireless probe using the measured one or more variables, and transmitting the set of statistical values to a central station.