Abstract: An energy management system. The energy management system includes at least one energy monitoring and control device configured to monitor the power usage of one or more electrical devices, and a security system communicatively coupled to at least one energy monitoring and control device and having at least one sensor configured to sense a security event. The security system is configured to receive information about the power usage of the electrical device and to determine an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, on the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system.

Abstract: A method of updating an electronic device. The device has a non-volatile memory divided into at least three non-overlapping sections, a bootstrap image section, a updater image section, and a application image section. The method includes erasing the application image section of the non-volatile memory, receiving a firmware update, writing the firmware update into the application image section, rebooting the electronic device, determining one of an application program and an updater program resides in the application image section, executing the application program when the application program is determined to reside in the application image section, erasing the updater image section of the non-volatile memory when the updater program is determined to reside in the application image section, and moving the updater program from the application image section to the updater image section.

Abstract: An energy management system. The energy management system includes at least one energy monitoring and control device configured to monitor the power usage of one or more electrical devices, and a security system communicatively coupled to at least one energy monitoring and control device and having at least one sensor configured to sense a security event. The security system is configured to receive information about the power usage of the electrical device and to determine an abnormal operation of the electrical device based, at least in part, on the received information about the power usage of the electrical device and a state of the security system.

Abstract: A method of updating an electronic device. The device has a non-volatile memory divided into at least three non-overlapping sections, a bootstrap image section, a updater image section, and a application image section. The method includes erasing the application image section of the non-volatile memory, receiving a firmware update, writing the firmware update into the application image section, rebooting the electronic device, determining one of an application program and an updater program resides in the application image section, executing the application program when the application program is determined to reside in the application image section, erasing the updater image section of the non-volatile memory when the updater program is determined to reside in the application image section, and moving the updater program from the application image section to the updater image section.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a user having a communications device has encountered a perilous situation includes detecting a sound with the communications device and determining whether the sound is indicative of the perilous situation. The method generates a query with the communications device for the user when the sound is determined to be indicative of the perilous situation and waits for a response from the user via the communications device. The response or lack thereof is capable of confirming the perilous situation or a false alarm.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to devices using direct connect protocols includes a network of computers, printers, personal digital assistants and servers. Client devices are programmed to embed one or more access codes in job streams (e.g., a word-processing file to be printed) when requesting services from other devices. A method includes a device (e.g., network printer) parsing a job stream received from a client device (e.g., computer) to find one or more embedded access codes, identifying each embedded access code that matches a stored access code, and authorizing one or more device features associated with each identified matching access code.

Abstract: An optical sensing assembly (20) detects media (32) carried by a traveling mesh or suction belt (34) having material portions (82) that define therebetween open portions (84). An emitter (22) is disposed opposite and spaced apart from the first side of the belt (34). The emitter (22) emits light in a direction from the first side toward the second side of the belt (34). A detector (24) is disposed opposite and spaced apart from the second side of the belt (34) and generally opposite the emitter (22). A portion of the light emitted by the emitter (22) passes through the open portions (84) of the mesh belt (34) and impinges upon the detector (24). The detector (24) issues a detect signal (DET_SIG) indicative of a reduction in the detected portion of light. The detect signal (DET_SIG) is filtered to reject reductions in the detected portion of light that are not due to the presence of media (32) on the belt (34).

Abstract: A system for controlling access to devices using direct connect protocols includes a network of computers, printers, personal digital assistants and servers. Client devices are programmed to embed one or more access codes in job streams (e.g., a word-processing file to be printed) when requesting services from other devices. A method includes a device (e.g., network printer) parsing a job stream received from a client device (e.g., computer) to find one or more embedded access codes, identifying each embedded access code that matches a stored access code, and authorizing one or more device features associated with each identified matching access code.