Abstract: A geographic-locations based network for residential properties enables residential-property centric connectivity among the inhabitants of the properties, and between them and government organizations, retailers, and service providers, and enables efficient digital content transportation and distribution to the inhabitants of such properties. The system provides another layer of networking that is residential-property address-based and location based that can facilitate seamless and timely content distribution and interaction between residential-property inhabitants and between them and other organizations.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A method for notifying a user about traffic including the step of determining an origin of the user. A destination of the user is also determined. Traffic conditions between the origin and the destination are determined. The user is notified of the traffic conditions.

Abstract: A method for notifying a user about traffic including the step of determining an origin of the user. A destination of the user is also determined. Traffic conditions between the origin and the destination are determined. The user is notified of the traffic conditions.

Abstract: Utilizing a spatial calendar device and service, the user can associate an event reminder to a location in space. The location can be fed into the device manually, from the map unit, GIS address book unit, or from the current reading of the GPS unit, as well as any other source of GPS location media. An event reminder can be text and/or audio to remind the user of a specific thing to do or pick once he or she approaches the location. Examples: once at the parking lot of an airport (inside the car or in the vicinity of the car), the user can associate a reminder (text, audio, or visual) to the location of his/her vehicle at the airport. In this case the system will automatically read the GPS location of the car and will prompt the user to enter an audio or text event reminder.

Abstract: A wireless distribution network provides content delivery and data collection to and from portable devices. The network connects a server controlling access to content storage by home nodes, service center nodes and a plurality of wireless nodes. The wireless nodes are disposed at a plurality of locations, such as gas stations (vehicle service stations). The plurality of wireless nodes are connected to the server via the network. Each wireless node is capable of transferring information wirelessly between the node and one of a plurality of portable devices. Each node is capable of detecting and identifying each of the plurality of portable devices. Each node transfers information between the node and the plurality of portable devices based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices. The node also transfers the information between the node and the first computer based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices.

Abstract: This invention is a system and process for determining and verifying the voracity of data gathered for use in recording and tracking vehicle usage. The device operates to verify and detect events that may affect data integrity by sensing a condition indicative of faulty data acquisition or of corruption of data integrity. Data evidencing potential problems are encoded and included with normal data uploaded to a central server. The central server compares the encoded entries against criteria that have been determined to indicate potential data inconsistencies.

Abstract: A vision-based vehicle occupant detection and classification system includes a camera mounted in the vehicle interior to capture low resolution images of the seating area. Image processing algorithms account for lighting, motion, and other phenomena. A spatial-feature matrix numerically describes the content of the image. This descriptor is the result of a number of digital filters being run against a set of sub-images, derived from pre-defined window regions in the original image. This spatial-feature matrix is used as an input to an expert classifier function, which classifies this image as best representing a scenario in which the seat is (i) empty, (ii) occupied by an adult, (iii) occupied by a child, (iv) occupied by a rear-facing infant seat (RFIS), (v) occupied by a front-facing infant seat (FFIS), or (vi) occupied by an undetermined object.

Abstract: A wireless distribution network provides content delivery and data collection to and from portable devices. The network connects a server controlling access to content storage by home nodes, service center nodes and a plurality of wireless nodes. The wireless nodes are disposed at a plurality of locations, such as gas stations (vehicle service stations). The plurality of wireless nodes are connected to the server via the network. Each wireless node is capable of transferring information wirelessly between the node and one of a plurality of portable devices. Each node is capable of detecting and identifying each of the plurality of portable devices. Each node transfers information between the node and the plurality of portable devices based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices. The node also transfers the information between the node and the first computer based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices.

Abstract: A wireless distribution network provides content delivery and data collection to and from portable devices. The network connects a server controlling access to content storage by home nodes, service center nodes and a plurality of wireless nodes. The wireless nodes are disposed at a plurality of locations, such as gas stations (vehicle service stations). The plurality of wireless nodes are connected to the server via the network. Each wireless node is capable of transferring information wirelessly between the node and one of a plurality of portable devices. Each node is capable of detecting and identifying each of the plurality of portable devices. Each node transfers information between the node and the plurality of portable devices based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices. The node also transfers the information between the node and the first computer based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices.

Abstract: A method for notifying a user about traffic including the step of determining an origin of the user. A destination of the user is also determined. Traffic conditions between the origin and the destination are determined. The user is notified of the traffic conditions.

Abstract: A system for recording, transmitting and compiling information indicative of actual vehicle operation and usage includes a device installed within a vehicle. Sensors communicate with the device to provide information relating to operation of the vehicle. A location module utilizes satellite signals to determine the current location of a vehicle. A data extraction module sends data to a central process server. The central processor compiles and summarizes the information from the device for determination of vehicle usage for use in determining an insurance premium.

Abstract: A roof-mounted sensor includes two rows of intersecting electrodes that are placed across an area of the vehicle's roof and a method to determine the position and motion of an occupant. This is accomplished by measuring physical values, which depend on the distance between the highest point of an occupant's body to each electrode in the row. Analysis of the physical values is used to derive an occupant's position relative to each row and the distance between the highest point of an occupant's body and the vehicle's roof. By analyzing the change in distances with respect to time, the occupant's motion can be tracked.

Abstract: A microwave system is capable of inspecting a medium, especially capable of inspecting food products transferred by a conveyer belt in real time. The microwave system includes a transmitter for transmitting continuous microwave; a receiver for receiving the microwave passing through the medium; a scanner for electrically directing a microwave beam along a linear path, especially, across the conveyer belt; a waveform extractor for extracting the informational parts of the received signal outputted by the receiver; and a cpu for analyzing the data outputted by waveform extracting means.

Abstract: An ultrasound system determines the presence of a foreign object in a container of fluid by measuring echo signals from the outer surface of the container and the inner surface of the container. The amplitude of the echo signals are compared to determine the presence of an object in the container. The system also determines viscosity of the contained fluid by measuring a through-transmission time through the container and the fluid, measuring an outer echo transmission time of an outer echo signal from the outer surface of the container and an inner echo transmission time of an inner echo signal from the inner surface of the container, and determining a time difference between the outer echo transmission time and the inner surface transmission time.

Abstract: The disclosed invention uses two sensors to capture the heartbeat and environmental noises of an occupant of a vehicle or hospital bed. One of the sensors is placed on a seat or bed frame adjacent the occupant. A second sensor is placed remotely from the occupant, on a vehicle floor, or remote portion of the bed frame. A signal conditioning module is attached to the first and second sensors for detecting the heartbeat signal. Specialized software is used for processing the signal and decision making based upon the extracted heartbeat signal. The invention is capable of operating despite environmental noise and vibrations.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to sense the presence of a seated occupant in a vehicle such as an automobile, plane, train or bus, or in a room or location where it is desirable to detect if seats are occupied. The occupant presence detection device consists of a single seat-mounted electrode, an oscillator circuit, a bridge circuit, a detection circuit and a circuit for processing the detected signals. The oscillator circuit excites the electrode. If an occupant is present on the seat, additional capacitance from the human body is introduced into the bridge via the electrode. This created differences in the voltage and phase of the waveform in each arm of the bridge circuit which are amplified by a differential amplifier. The signal is then converted to a DC voltage that, when above a predetermined threshold, causes the device to outputs a signal that indicates the presence of an occupant.

Abstract: An ultrasound system determines the presence of a foreign object in a container of fluid by measuring echo signals from the outer surface of the container and the inner surface of the container. The amplitude of the echo signals are compared to determine the presence of an object in the container. The system also determines viscosity of the contained fluid by measuring a through-transmission time through the container and the fluid, measuring an outer echo transmission time of an outer echo signal from the outer surface of the container and an inner echo transmission time of an inner echo signal from the inner surface of the container, and determining a time difference between the outer echo transmission time and the inner surface transmission time.