Abstract: A system and computer implemented method for identifying an object in a route is disclosed. The method may include capturing a first set of images during a first traversal of a first route. The method may also include capturing a second set of images during a second traversal of the first route. The method may also include identifying, by comparing the first set of images with the second set of images, an object in the second set of images meeting an obstruction criteria. The method may also include providing a notification of the object which was identified as meeting the obstruction criteria.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A system or computer usable program product for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A structure and method of visualizing and evaluating areas of tooth contact between upper and lower teeth when the upper and lower arches of a mouth are in a closed or occluded condition. The method may include performing a plurality of readings of tooth contacts, by a pressure sensing device, during a period of time and determining sensing properties of the tooth contacts based on the plurality of readings, wherein the sensing properties include one or more of: sequence of a first tooth contact relative to at least a second tooth contact, and pressure magnitude of the first tooth contact.

Abstract: A structure and method of visualizing and evaluating areas of tooth contact between upper and lower teeth when the upper and lower arches of a mouth are in a closed or occluded condition. The method may include performing a plurality of readings of tooth contacts, by a pressure sensing device, during a period of time and determining sensing properties of the tooth contacts based on the plurality of readings, wherein the sensing properties include one or more of: sequence of a first tooth contact relative to at least a second tooth contact, and pressure magnitude of the first tooth contact.

Abstract: A system or computer usable program product for providing improved coverage of data acquisition in a crowd sourced data acquisition environment including determining respective locations of mobile devices within an area wherein data acquisition is desired; requesting transmission of desired data captured by sensors in the mobile devices within the area; comparing locations of mobile devices currently transmitting desired data to a desired coverage map of mobile device location to produce a map showing missing coverage; prioritizing acquisition of mobile devices in locations of missing coverage; and aggregating the transmitted desired data and providing the aggregated data to an entity.

Abstract: A method for providing improved coverage of data acquisition in a crowd sourced data acquisition environment including determining respective locations of mobile devices within an area wherein data acquisition is desired; requesting transmission of desired data captured by sensors in the mobile devices within the area; comparing locations of mobile devices currently transmitting desired data to a desired coverage map of mobile device location to produce a map showing missing coverage; prioritizing acquisition of mobile devices in locations of missing coverage; and aggregating the transmitted desired data and providing the aggregated data to an entity.

Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for managing a water heater utilized for heating stored hot water including utilizing an expected user schedule to determine an expected user load for storage in memory, utilizing ambient temperature data to determine a water heating load for storage in memory, utilizing a processor to analyze the expected user load and the water heating load stored in memory to determine a desired temperature for the stored hot water according to a predetermined policy, and utilizing the processor to instruct the water heater to heat the stored hot water to the desired temperature.

Abstract: A method for efficiently acquiring data from a plurality of proximate devices including a mobile ad-hoc network (manet); selecting one of the mobile devices as a harvest node to transmit data to a repository for storing data; responsive to detecting a first data stream and a second data stream from a respective first mobile device and a second mobile device, determining that the data from the first and second data streams have a threshold similarity; utilizing a node in the manet to compress portions of the first data stream and the second data stream to produce a compressed data stream according to a first compression technique, wherein data from the first data stream and the second data stream are present in the compressed data stream; and transmitting the compressed data stream to the repository by the harvest node.

Abstract: A system or computer usable program product for efficiently acquiring data from a plurality of proximate devices including a mobile ad-hoc network (manet); selecting one of the mobile devices as a harvest node to transmit data to a repository for storing data; responsive to detecting a first data stream and a second data stream from a respective first mobile device and a second mobile device, determining that the data from the first and second data streams have a threshold similarity; utilizing a node in the manet to compress portions of the first data stream and the second data stream to produce a compressed data stream according to a first compression technique, wherein data from the first data stream and the second data stream are present in the compressed data stream; and transmitting the compressed data stream to the repository by the harvest node.

Abstract: A method for providing improved coverage of data acquisition in a crowd sourced data acquisition environment including determining respective locations of mobile devices within an area wherein data acquisition is desired; requesting transmission of desired data captured by sensors in the mobile devices within the area; comparing locations of mobile devices currently transmitting desired data to a desired coverage map of mobile device location to produce a map showing missing coverage; prioritizing acquisition of mobile devices in locations of missing coverage; and aggregating the transmitted desired data and providing the aggregated data to an entity.

Abstract: An approach is provided for sampling crowd sourced data. The approach selects an sampling node from a set of crowd nodes. The sampling node receives a data acquisition request from a data collector and receives data from the set of crowd nodes with the data being responsive to the data acquisition request. The received data is processed by the sampling node to reduce redundant data as defined by the data acquisition request. An acquired data message block is generated and transmitted from the sampling node to the data collector.

Abstract: An approach is provided for sampling crowd sourced data. The approach selects an sampling node from a set of crowd nodes. The sampling node receives a data acquisition request from a data collector and receives data from the set of crowd nodes with the data being responsive to the data acquisition request. The received data is processed by the sampling node to reduce redundant data as defined by the data acquisition request. An acquired data message block is generated and transmitted from the sampling node to the data collector.

Abstract: A system or computer usable program product for providing improved coverage of data acquisition in a crowd sourced data acquisition environment including determining respective locations of mobile devices within an area wherein data acquisition is desired; requesting transmission of desired data captured by sensors in the mobile devices within the area; comparing locations of mobile devices currently transmitting desired data to a desired coverage map of mobile device location to produce a map showing missing coverage; prioritizing acquisition of mobile devices in locations of missing coverage; and aggregating the transmitted desired data and providing the aggregated data to an entity.

Abstract: A system and computer implemented method for detecting a change in a home environment for a visually impaired user is disclosed. The method may include monitoring the home environment using a set of sensors configured to collect environment data for a set of areas of the home environment. The method may also include detecting an environmental change in an area of the home environment. The method may also include providing, in response to a triggering event, a notification of the environmental change.

Abstract: A system and computer implemented method for detecting a change in a home environment for a visually impaired user is disclosed. The method may include monitoring the home environment using a set of sensors configured to collect environment data for a set of areas of the home environment. The method may also include detecting an environmental change in an area of the home environment. The method may also include providing, in response to a triggering event, a notification of the environmental change.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A system or computer usable program product for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A system or computer usable program product for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.