Abstract: This disclosure describes novel schemes and utilities that promote sustainable usage of smartphones. It describes apparatus and methods to prevent phone loss, prevent overheating problems, decrease energy waste of the battery, prevent overcharging, decrease packaging waste, and encourage sustainable behavior among users to increase the life of the electronic product. In addition, this application characterize mechanism for localization of people and objects. The apparatus and methods may be applied to promote sustainable usage of other electronic devices such as tablets, laptops, pocket PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-readers, wearable devices, and etc. In addition, a framework has been presented which can be applied to promote sustainable behavior for any consumer electronics products including smartphones. In addition, novel localization apparatus and methods is presented in this application that can be applied for general localization/tracking purposes.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for hygiene monitoring in hospitals and drug stores. One sub-system use a combination of radio frequency tags attached to the staff, RF tag readers and infrared/proximity/motion/microphone/touch sensors installed over the faucet and dispenser to monitor if the staff wash their hands properly after going to the restroom. The forth sub-system automatically generate drug expiring label for opened drug container based on RF tag worn by the staff or attached to the container. The system generate and print the label whenever the staff gesture their RF tags in front of them and potentially scan the container bar code or select it from a drop-down menu on its touch screen. The last sub-system can also monitor the inventory of drug/medicine container in the refrigerator and provide a report or alert when they the time gets close to expiration date.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for hygiene monitoring in chain restaurants and grocery superstores. Four sub-systems are introduced to take care of different aspects of hygiene in restaurants. One sub-system uses contactless and in-contact temperature sensors installed on appliances to constantly monitor the temperature of working appliances to be in pre-defined range and use an Internet of Things gateways to transmit the data to remote control unit. The system generate an alert or report if the temperature of the appliances falls beyond the predefined range for more than a specific period of time. Another sub-system use a combination of temperature, humidity, UV and gas detectors to monitor the environment to be unsuitable for growth of fungus and bacteria and alert in case of exposure to harmful material and sun radiation. This sub-system also use an Internet of Things gateways to transmit the data to remote control unit.

Abstract: This disclosure describes novel schemes and utilities that promote sustainable usage of smartphones. It describes apparatus and methods to prevent phone loss, prevent overheating problems, decrease energy waste of the battery, prevent overcharging, decrease packaging waste, and encourage sustainable behavior among users to increase the life of the electronic product. In addition, this application characterize mechanism for localization of people and objects. The apparatus and methods may be applied to promote sustainable usage of other electronic devices such as tablets, laptops, pocket PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-readers, wearable devices, and etc. In addition, a framework has been presented which can be applied to promote sustainable behavior for any consumer electronics products including smartphones. In addition, novel localization apparatus and methods is presented in this application that can be applied for general localization/tracking purposes.

Abstract: This disclosure describes novel schemes and utilities that promote sustainable usage of smartphones. It describes apparatus and methods to prevent phone loss, prevent overheating problems, decrease energy waste of the battery, prevent overcharging, decrease packaging waste, and encourage sustainable behavior among users to increase the life of the electronic product. In addition, this application characterize mechanism for localization of people and objects. The apparatus and methods may be applied to promote sustainable usage of other electronic devices such as tablets, laptops, pocket PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-readers, wearable devices, and etc. In addition, a framework has been presented which can be applied to promote sustainable behavior for any consumer electronics products including smartphones. In addition, novel localization apparatus and methods is presented in this application that can be applied for general localization/tracking purposes.

Abstract: This disclosure describes novel schemes and utilities that promote sustainable usage of smartphones. It describes apparatus and methods to prevent phone loss, prevent overheating problems, decrease energy waste of the battery, prevent overcharging, decrease packaging waste, and encourage sustainable behavior among users to increase the life of the electronic product. In addition, this application characterize mechanism for localization of people and objects. The apparatus and methods may be applied to promote sustainable usage of other electronic devices such as tablets, laptops, pocket PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-readers, wearable devices, and etc. In addition, a framework has been presented which can be applied to promote sustainable behavior for any consumer electronics products including smartphones. In addition, novel localization apparatus and methods is presented in this application that can be applied for general localization/tracking purposes.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus sustainable battery charging. In one of the embodiments, a charger and plugging mechanism is presented to prevent overcharging of the battery. The plug will automatically detach the power cord from the device when the battery is fully charged. Other feedback controlled detaching mechanisms has also been disclosed such as the one disconnects the charger cord when the internal temperature of the device gets hotter than a preset threshold.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus to promote sustainable usage of smartphones such as preventing phone loss, preventing overheating and overcharging, and decreasing packaging waste. A method and apparatus to prevent phone loss is disclosed. Radio frequency beacons (or tags) attached to the owner transmit signals to the smartphone. The distance of the owner from the smartphone is estimated based on the quality of the received radio frequency signals in the smartphone. The system alerts user whenever the distance gets farther than a preset value. A method and apparatus to prevent overcharging of the battery is also disclosed. A plugging mechanism is presented that will be automatically detached from the smart phone when the battery is fully charged. Moreover, an alerting system is disclosed that alerts the user to stop using the device when the internal temperature of the device gets hotter than a preset threshold.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus sustainable battery charging. In one of the embodiments, a charger and plugging mechanism is presented to prevent overcharging of the battery. The plug will automatically detach the power cord from the device when the battery is fully charged. Other feedback controlled detaching mechanisms has also been disclosed such as the one disconnects the charger cord when the internal temperature of the device gets hotter than a preset threshold.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for hygiene monitoring in chain restaurants and grocery superstores. Four sub-systems are introduced to take care of different aspects of hygiene in restaurants. One sub-system uses contactless and in-contact temperature sensors installed on appliances to constantly monitor the temperature of working appliances to be in pre-defined range and use an Internet of Things gateways to transmit the data to remote control unit. The system generate an alert or report if the temperature of the appliances falls beyond the predefined range for more than a specific period of time. Another sub-system use a combination of temperature, humidity, UV and gas detectors to monitor the environment to be unsuitable for growth of fungus and bacteria and alert in case of exposure to harmful material and sun radiation. This sub-system also use an Internet of Things gateways to transmit the data to remote control unit.

Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus to promote sustainable usage of smartphones such as preventing phone loss, preventing overheating and overcharging, and decreasing packaging waste. A method and apparatus to prevent phone loss is disclosed. Radio frequency beacons (or tags) attached to the owner transmit signals to the smartphone. The distance of the owner from the smartphone is estimated based on the quality of the received radio frequency signals in the smartphone. The system alerts user whenever the distance gets farther than a preset value. A method and apparatus to prevent overcharging of the battery is also disclosed. A plugging mechanism is presented that will be automatically detached from the smart phone when the battery is fully charged. Moreover, an alerting system is disclosed that alerts the user to stop using the device when the internal temperature of the device gets hotter than a preset threshold.