Abstract: An automatic product dispenser determines if the roll loaded into the dispenser is approved for use with the dispenser. The core of a roll receives a plug that engages a hub within the dispenser. The plug has a feature that alters an electromagnetic field created proximate the hub. The alteration of the electromagnetic field may then be used to determine if the plug, and thus the roll, is usable with the dispenser.

Abstract: Systems and methods that permit a wireless device to received data wirelessly via an infrastructure wireless network, without physically connecting the wireless device to a computer in order to configure it, and without having a have an existing infrastructure wireless network for the wireless device to connect to. A remote server hosts a website that permits a user of the wireless device to input via a computer credential data for at least one infrastructure wireless network. The content access point transmits the credential data for the at least one infrastructure wireless network to the wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network, such that, upon receipt of the credential data for the at least one infrastructure wireless network, the wireless device is configured to connect to the at least one infrastructure wireless network.

Abstract: Wireless-enabled loudspeaker includes a wooden capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise at least one electroacoustic transducer, a processor in communication with the at least one electroacoustic transducer, and a wooden exterior surface comprising a capacitive touch user interface that allows a user to control operation of the loudspeaker. The wooden exterior surface acts a dielectric for the capacitive touch user interface. The loudspeaker may comprise a wireless transceiver circuit for receiving and transmitting wireless communication signals via a wireless network. The wireless transceiver circuit may receive wirelessly audio content from streaming audio content servers that are connected to the Internet. The capacitive touch user interface comprises a plurality of user control icons etched in the wooden exterior surface, and a plurality of capacitive sense electrodes located under the wooden exterior surface.

Abstract: A system comprising a wireless earphone set and a client computing device, both of which are communicable with a host server via the Internet. The host server stores configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set that are transmittable to the wireless earphone set via the Internet, and that are configurable by an authenticated user of the client computing device via the host server to generate updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set. The updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the wireless earphone set via the Internet.

Abstract: A system and method for performing hand hygiene compliance. The method includes receiving a notification that an individual has entered a physical location. The notification is received by a node in a wireless mesh network that includes a plurality of nodes corresponding to objects in the physical location. A hand hygiene protocol is identified for the individual. It is determined that the individual has not followed the hand hygiene protocol. The determining is performed by software executing on the nodes in the wireless mesh network and responsive to a previous and a current location of the individual relative to the objects in the physical location. The individual is notified in response to determining that the individual has not followed the hand hygiene protocol.

Abstract: A microphone assembly that captures audio/voice recordings and wirelessly transmits them to different desired network destinations based on an operating mode specified by the user. The microphone assembly may comprise a non-graphical-display user interface tap detection circuit, through which a user of the microphone assembly controls operation of the microphone assembly. For example, the user may tap the user interface tap detection circuit, and different tap sequences may correspond to different operating modes for the microphone assembly. The microphone assembly may also comprise a clip for clipping the microphone assembly to a garment of the user.

Abstract: A wireless video camera that permits bookmarking of objects in the surrounding environment of the camera. When a remote user selects to see (via streaming video) a previously bookmarked object, the camera determines the appropriate camera viewing parameter to replicate the bookmarked view of the object. To account for an intervening change in position of the camera, the camera may compute any change in position of the camera, and adjust the camera viewing parameters for the bookmarked view to compensate for the camera's updated position so that the original bookmarked view of the object can be replicated. Also, in a streaming video mode where the camera is streaming video to the remote user, the remote user can use a still image from the camera to control the remote camera.

Abstract: A microphone assembly that captures audio/voice recordings and wirelessly transmits them to different desired network destinations based on an operating mode specified by the user. The microphone assembly may comprise a non-graphical-display user interface tap detection circuit, through which a user of the microphone assembly controls operation of the microphone assembly. For example, the user may tap the user interface tap detection circuit, and different tap sequences may correspond to different operating modes for the microphone assembly. The microphone assembly may also comprise a clip for clipping the microphone assembly to a garment of the user.

Abstract: An assembly for holding a personal speaker relative to a user's ear. A headband assembly can include a band, a sleeve attached to an end of the band, and an arm moveably secured to the sleeve. The sleeve can include a pair of laterally opposed detent channels, and the arm can include a pair of spring-loaded bearings. Each spring-loaded bearing can engage one of the laterally opposed detent channels. The headband assembly can be adjusted by moving the arm relative to the sleeve. An arm of the headband assembly can be pivotally secured to a yoke by a magnetic pivot arrangement. The magnetic pivot arrangement can include a groove, a protrusion, and magnetic elements. A yoke can be pivotally secured to a housing by housing pivot arrangement. The housing pivot arrangement can include a pin extending from the yoke and a collar retained in the housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods that permit a wireless device to received data wirelessly via an infrastructure wireless network, without physically connecting the wireless device to a computer in order to configure it, and without having a have an existing infrastructure wireless network for the wireless device to connect to. A remote server hosts a website that permits a user of the wireless device to input via a computer credential data for at least one infrastructure wireless network. The content access point transmits the credential data for the at least one infrastructure wireless network to the wireless device via the ad hoc wireless network, such that, upon receipt of the credential data for the at least one infrastructure wireless network, the wireless device is configured to connect to the at least one infrastructure wireless network.

Abstract: An adjustable, dual speaker element earphone. One of the speaker elements is sized to fit into the cavum concha of the listeners ear and the other element is not. A hinged joint may allow the larger speaker element may be rotated about a vertical axis of the hinged joint so that the larger speaker element can be rotated towards or away from the listener's ear. The speaker elements may be connected such that sounds produced by both speaker elements emanate from different respective sound openings defined in a surface of the smaller speaker element. Also, one or both of the speaker elements may be operably connected to a hanger bar that is sized and configured to rest on an upper portion of the listener's ear.

Abstract: An assembly for holding a personal speaker relative to a user's ear. A headband assembly can include a band, a sleeve attached to an end of the band, and an arm moveably secured to the sleeve. The sleeve can include a pair of laterally opposed detent channels, and the arm can include a pair of spring-loaded bearings. Each spring-loaded bearing can engage one of the laterally opposed detent channels. The headband assembly can be adjusted by moving the arm relative to the sleeve. An arm of the headband assembly can be pivotally secured to a yoke by a magnetic pivot arrangement. The magnetic pivot arrangement can include a groove, a protrusion, and magnetic elements. A yoke can be pivotally secured to a housing by housing pivot arrangement. The housing pivot arrangement can include a pin extending from the yoke and a collar retained in the housing.

Abstract: An earphone set that comprises a paired set of earphones to be worn simultaneously by a user is disclosed. Each earphone in the paired set comprises at least one acoustic transducer for producing sound to be heard by the user. At least one of the earphones in the pair set comprises a transceiver circuit and at least one button. The transceiver circuit is for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals via a wireless network. The at least one button is accessible to the user at an exterior of the at least one earphone. Upon activation of the at least one button by the user, an indication for a song played by the pair of earphones is caused to be transmitted wirelessly, by the transceiver circuit via the wireless network, to a remote server connected to the Internet. The song played by the pair of earphones may be streamed from a digital audio content server connected to the Internet.

Abstract: A system comprising a wireless network adapter and a pair of earphone. The wireless network adapter is external to a digital audio player and configured to connect to the digital audio player via an audio jack of the digital audio player. The wireless network adapter is for encoding analog audio received from the digital audio player into digital format and wirelessly transmitting the digitally-formatted audio. The pair of earphones is in direct wireless communication with the wireless network adapter and are configured to be worn simultaneously by a user. Each earphone in the pair of earphones comprises: (i) a transceiver that is for receiving the digitally-formatted audio from the wireless network adapter via the wireless network, and converting the digitally-formatted audio received via the wireless network to analog audio signals; and (ii) at least one acoustic transducer connected to the transceiver, wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is for outputting the analog audio signals.

Abstract: A system comprising a wireless earphone set and a client computing device, both of which are communicable with a host server via the Internet. The host server stores configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set that are transmittable to the wireless earphone set via the Internet, and that are configurable by an authenticated user of the client computing device via the host server to generate updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set. The updated configuration parameters for the wireless earphone set are transmitted by the host server to the wireless earphone set via the Internet.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an adjustable ear insert, such as an earbud style earphone, that may be inserted in a user's ear canal in a compact configuration and adjusted by a user to expand and fit snugly against the ear canal.

Abstract: A system comprising a wireless network adapter and a pair of earphone. The wireless network adapter is external to a digital audio player and configured to connect to the digital audio player via an audio jack of the digital audio player. The wireless network adapter is for encoding analog audio received from the digital audio player into digital format and wirelessly transmitting the digitally-formatted audio. The pair of earphones is in direct wireless communication with the wireless network adapter and are configured to be worn simultaneously by a user. Each earphone in the pair of earphones comprises: (i) a transceiver that is for receiving the digitally-formatted audio from the wireless network adapter via the wireless network, and converting the digitally-formatted audio received via the wireless network to analog audio signals; and (ii) at least one acoustic transducer connected to the transceiver, wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is for outputting the analog audio signals.

Abstract: A wireless earphone that comprises a transceiver circuit for receiving streaming audio from a data source over a local ad hoc wireless network. When the data source and the earphone are out of range, they transition automatically to an infrastructure wireless network. If there is no common infrastructure wireless network for both the data source and the speakerphone set, the earphone connects to a host server via an available wireless network.

Abstract: An automatic product dispenser determines if the roll loaded into the dispenser is approved for use with the dispenser. The core of a roll receives a plug that engages a hub within the dispenser. The plug has a feature that alters an electromagnetic field created proximate the hub. The alteration of the electromagnetic field may then be used to determine if the plug, and thus the roll, is usable with the dispenser.