Abstract: A wearable safety apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of directional thermal imaging sensors mounted on the housing and facing outwardly away from the housing in a corresponding plurality of different directions towards thermal zones of a heat source. Each sensor detects infrared radiation (IR) intensity and generates an output indicative of a temperature of the detected IR intensity in a respective thermal zone faced by a respective sensor. An interface is mounted on the housing and has a display positioned to be viewable by a user, e.g., a firefighter. A controller processes the outputs generated by the sensors, and displays at a plurality of spaced-apart positions on the display a plurality of positional thermal indicators when the temperature in the respective thermal zone is elevated. The position of each positional thermal indicator corresponds to the thermal zone faced by the respective sensor.

Abstract: Group-based emergency notifications and acknowledgments are managed via a radio controller. A request to transmit an emergency notification with acknowledgment to an identified target group of subscriber devices is received at the radio controller from a requesting device. The radio controller identifies one or more base stations actively serving subscriber devices associated with the identified target group and identifies, for each of the identified one or more base stations, active channels including one or more of a control channel associated with the base station and active voice or data channels associated with the base station. The radio controller causes an emergency notification outbound signaling packet (OSP), requesting individual acknowledgment and identifying the target group of subscriber devices, to be broadcast on the identified active channels at the identified one or more base stations. Acknowledgments are forwarded back to one of the requesting device and a dispatch console.

Abstract: A wearable safety apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of directional thermal imaging sensors mounted on the housing and facing outwardly away from the housing in a corresponding plurality of different directions towards thermal zones of a heat source. Each sensor detects infrared radiation (IR) intensity and generates an output indicative of a temperature of the detected IR intensity in a respective thermal zone faced by a respective sensor. An interface is mounted on the housing and has a display positioned to be viewable by a user, e.g., a firefighter. A controller processes the outputs generated by the sensors, and displays at a plurality of spaced-apart positions on the display a plurality of positional thermal indicators when the temperature in the respective thermal zone is elevated. The position of each positional thermal indicator corresponds to the thermal zone faced by the respective sensor.

Abstract: Group-based emergency notifications and acknowledgments are managed via a radio controller. A request to transmit an emergency notification with acknowledgment to an identified target group of subscriber devices is received at the radio controller from a requesting device. The radio controller identifies one or more base stations actively serving subscriber devices associated with the identified target group and identifies, for each of the identified one or more base stations, active channels including one or more of a control channel associated with the base station and active voice or data channels associated with the base station. The radio controller causes an emergency notification outbound signaling packet (OSP), requesting individual acknowledgment and identifying the target group of subscriber devices, to be broadcast on the identified active channels at the identified one or more base stations. Acknowledgments are forwarded back to one of the requesting device and a dispatch console.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring physiological parameters is useful for remote auscultation of the heart and lungs. The system includes an acoustic sensor (105) that has a stethoscopic cup (305). A membrane (325) is positioned adjacent to a first end of the stethoscopic cup (305), and an impedance matching element (335) is positioned adjacent to the membrane (325). The element (335) provides for acoustic impedance matching with a body such as a human torso. A microphone (315) is positioned near the other end of the stethoscopic cup (305) so as to detect sounds from the body. A signal-conditioning module (110) is then operatively connected to the acoustic sensor (105), and a wireless transceiver (115) is operatively connected to the signal-conditioning module (110). Auscultation can then occur at a remote facility that receives signals sent from the transceiver (115).

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating command of a group determines a present rank protocol associated with users of an ad hoc wireless communication network. The method includes identifying at a first wireless device a second wireless device in operative communication with the first wireless device (step 805). A physical parameter measured at the first wireless device is then compared with a physical parameter measured at the second wireless device and wirelessly received at the first wireless device (step 810). A base rank of a user of the first wireless device is then compared with a base rank of a user of the second wireless device (step 815). A present rank of the user of the first wireless device is then determined relative to a present rank of the user of the second wireless device based on comparisons of the physical parameters and the base ranks (step 820).

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring physiological parameters is useful for remote auscultation of the heart and lungs. The system includes an acoustic sensor (105) that has a stethoscopic cup (305). A membrane (325) is positioned adjacent to a first end of the stethoscopic cup (305), and an impedance matching element (335) is positioned adjacent to the membrane (325). The element (335) provides for acoustic impedance matching with a body such as a human torso. A microphone (315) is positioned near the other end of the stethoscopic cup (305) so as to detect sounds from the body. A signal-conditioning module (110) is then operatively connected to the acoustic sensor (105), and a wireless transceiver (115) is operatively connected to the signal-conditioning module (110). Auscultation can then occur at a remote facility that receives signals sent from the transceiver (115).

Abstract: A first velocity model for a first object (190) and a second velocity model for a second object (195) are established. A spatial relationship between the first object and the second object is established. At least a portion of the first velocity model is adjusted based on at least a portion of the second velocity model and the spatial relationship of the first object to the second object.

Abstract: A set of characteristics of an environment is inferred by obtaining at least a first location estimate of a first device at a first time and a second location estimate of the first device at a second time. A first path traveled (240) by the first device is established based on at least the first location estimate of the first device at the first time and the second location estimate of the first device at the second time. At least one characteristic of the environment is inferred based on the first path traveled by the first device.

Abstract: A first velocity model for a first object (190) and a second velocity model for a second object (195) are established. A spatial relationship between the first object and the second object is established. At least a portion of the first velocity model is adjusted based on at least a portion of the second velocity model and the spatial relationship of the first object to the second object.