Abstract: A system and method for determination the relative location of a mobile object is described that includes building a database of known/expected locations with the exact longitude and latitude for each location. Next, an estimated location for a mobile object is generated using information from the cellular network and an area boundary is defined around the mobile object that defines, with some probability, where the object is actually located. The known locations in the database that fall within the area boundary are then identified and a relative probability is calculated for each known location that indicates its relative likelihood of where the mobile object is actually located. From this information at least the most probable location of the mobile object is determined along with a measure of estimation confidence.

Abstract: A computer can receive an alarm event data that results from detection of an event by an alarm system. The alarm event data comprises an identifier for the alarm system. In response to receiving the alarm event data, the computer can access a service subscription account associated with security services for the alarm system. Based on information maintained in the service subscription account, the computer can determine whether a processing service fee is associated with an action of forwarding the alarm event data to a central monitoring station or a mobile computing device associated with the service subscription account. If a processing service fee is associated with the forwarding action, the computer can record the alarm event data and the processing service fee in a record to support a creation of an invoice and forward the alarm event data to the central monitoring station or the mobile computing device.

Abstract: An alarm system for detecting and reporting “smash and crash” intrusions is described. The alarm system includes a plurality of intrusion sensors and a security alarm panel in communication with each of the plurality of intrusion sensors at the site of the alarm system. An alarm gateway is provided remote from the security alarm panel, the alarm gateway monitoring the status of the security alarm panel for indications of tampering. A central station is in communication with the alarm gateway and monitors the status of the alarm system, where the alarm gateway sends an alarm condition to the central station when tampering at the security alarm panel is detected.

Abstract: An alarm system for monitoring a local premises and multiple remote objects is described. The system includes sensors in the local premises, an alarm panel connected to the sensors in the local premises, and remote objects having alarm systems in communication with the alarm panel. The remote objects are assigned a zone in the alarm panel to represent the remote object, such that an alarm condition at the remote object is reported as an alarm condition in the assigned zone.

Abstract: A system and method for determination the relative location of a mobile object is described that includes building a database of known/expected locations with the exact longitude and latitude for each location. Next, an estimated location for a mobile object is generated using information from the cellular network and an area boundary is defined around the mobile object that defines, with some probability, where the object is actually located. The known locations in the database that fall within the area boundary are then identified and a relative probability is calculated for each known location that indicates its relative likelihood of where the mobile object is actually located. From this information at least the most probable location of the mobile object is determined along with a measure of estimation confidence.

Abstract: An inventory management system is described that includes two or more cameras mounted on a retail display space. The cameras are positioned to capture images showing the presence of items of interest in the retail display space. A hub is in communication with each of the cameras mounted on the retail display space and is operable to aggregate information from the cameras related to the items of interest in the retail display space, and to communicate data regarding the status of the item of interest to an inventory management system operable to receive the data from the hub.

Abstract: A system for sending updates to a large number of remote units is described. The system includes a plurality of remote units, each remote unit comprising one or more sensors and a communications transceiver. A control center is in communication with the remote units and includes an update database reflecting the update status of each of the plurality of remote units. The control center establishes contact with each of the plurality of remote units and sends an update when communication has been established. The update database is periodically updated to reflect the completion of the update for each mobile unit based on a completion message from each of the remote units that has successfully installed the update.

Abstract: A system for providing local access by means of a local data appliance to data collected from remote monitors and sensors is described. The system includes a plurality of remote monitors and sensors, the remote monitors and sensors reporting data over a wide area communications network, and a data collection center receiving the data from the remote monitors and sensors, the data collection center operable to process the data and generate customer defined reports based on the data. A local data appliance placed in the customer's network operates to receive the data from the data collection center, and to process the customer data, generate reports based on the data and send instructions to the remote monitors and sensors. The appliance resides behind the customer's firewall but is separate from the customers network and data center equipment.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring the communications of remote devices is described. The system includes a plurality of remote devices, where each remote device has one or more sensors and a communications transceiver. A control center, which includes a historical usage database reflecting historical usage patterns for each of the plurality of remote units, analyzes the communications for each of the plurality of remote devices against the historical usage patterns for that remote device to determine when that remote device is malfunctioning or approaching a usage threshold. The control center is then operable to take appropriate corrective action in response to the analysis.

Abstract: A system for tracking mobile assets is described. The system includes a plurality of mobile asset tracking devices, where each of the tracking devices has a short range radio transmitter used to transmit identifying information to other nearby tracking devices. A subset of the plurality of mobile asset tracking devices also include location determination modules and wide area network communications transmitters, this subset of mobile asset tracking devices is operable to collect the identifying information of the nearby tracking devices without the wide area network communication transmitter and to transmit the location and identifying information of the nearby tracking devices to a monitoring center to track the plurality of mobile asset tracking devices.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a location of a mobile device is described that attempts to determine the location of the mobile device using a variety of location determination technologies according to a hierarchy of location determination technologies, where the most accurate technologies are attempted before less accurate technologies until a location determination is made for the mobile device. The hierarchy of location determination technologies includes each of: autonomous GPS, assisted GPS, primary carrier network location based services, tri-lateration, secondary carrier network location based services, and serving base station location.

Abstract: A secure document bin is described that includes a bin having a lid that securely affixes to the bin to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the bin, and an electronics module associated with the bin. The electronics module is formed in part by a location detection circuit and status sensors. The status sensors include a sensor to detect movement of the bin, a sensor to detect tampering with the bin, and a sensor to detect a relative fill level of the bin. The location and status of the secure document destruction bin is monitored by a monitoring center using wireless transmissions from the secure document destruction bin.

Abstract: A method for redirecting specific network traffic intended for a target device on a first data network is described. The method inserts a redirector into a first network in front of a target device and intercepting a transmission from the target device. The method then configures the network characteristics of the redirector to use the network addresses of the target device. Once configured the redirector inspects the network traffic on the first network to identify specific services, and sends the network traffic associated with the specific service to a destination device on a second network.

Abstract: A system for air cooling a fluid which has been heated through use in an industrial process in a plant and utilizing the air used for cooling, which has now been heated, for providing heated, make up air within a desired temperature range to that plant.