Abstract: The disclosure describes an animal leash that includes a strap including first and second strap portions stacked one over the other, the strap having a first end and a second end. The leash includes a first coupling link attached to the first end of the strap, and a second coupling link attached to the second end of the strap. Along a middle section of the strap, the first and second strap portions form loops. The first coupling link is operable for attachment to any one of the loops. The disclosure also describes a storage attachment for use with an animal leash.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an animal leash that includes a strap including first and second strap portions stacked one over the other, the strap having a first end and a second end. The leash includes a first coupling link attached to the first end of the strap, and a second coupling link attached to the second end of the strap. Along a middle section of the strap, the first and second strap portions form loops. The first coupling link is operable for attachment to any one of the loops. The disclosure also describes a storage attachment for use with an animal leash.

Abstract: A personal identification, tracking, entertainment and communication system is provided that is sufficiently flexible and intelligent to address a variety of applications and needs. In one embodiment, an electronic accessory such as an electronic bracelet or the like is provided. The electronic accessory may be inexpensive (disposable), and easily provisioned. When an electronic accessory is issued to a person, personal information identifying that person is stored remotely in association with unique identifier of that electronic accessory. A network of base stations provides communications between such electronic accessories and remote servers. The remote servers provide intelligent applications, analytics capabilities, etc. Various vertical market applications may be provided that are customizable, brandable, etc.

Abstract: Method for obtaining range and/or positional information of electronic devices typically rely on a device (A) re-questing that another device (B) supplies a reply message (22), which contains some timing information (T2, T3) on the signals received and sent. Problems that arise in such networks comprise: firstly, some devices (C) may be out of range of the device (A) that initiates the ranging measurements, and secondly, some devices (B, C) may not be allowed to communicate with each other and thus, the distance between these devices cannot be found. This invention discloses that in these cases, eavesdropping on messages (21, 22, 24) passing between other devices (A, B, C) in the system can result in that distances between additional devices are found. Furthermore, by using eavesdropping the number of transmissions, and therefore the potential for collisions, is reduced. Thus, the power consumption of the nodes in the network can be lowered.

Abstract: A performance indicator for wireless digital signal reception is disclosed. In particular, a method for indicating the reception quality of a wireless digital signal at an electronic device is disclosed. The method includes a series of steps, starting with a first step of receiving the wireless digital signal at the electronic device. In the next step, the wireless signal is demodulated. Then, an error rate associated with the digital data portion of the wireless signal is determined. In the next step, a quality level of reception of the wireless signal is indicated. Specifically, the quality level of reception is directly proportional to the error rate of the digital data portion of the signal.

Abstract: A mobile device for communicating with other devices using a frequency hopping wireless interface such as blue-tooth, sends a sequence of messages each on a different frequency, for finding other devices within range, and listens for a response during a subsequent response window, on one or more response frequencies. It receives information such as location information from the other devices without needing to set up a frequency hopping connection. The response window is long enough to receive more than one response. The overall time for short transactions such as a single request and response for device discovery, can be kept short. This in turn leads to low power consumption by mobile devices and low chance of interference between devices. An interval between sequences of the messages can be increased, thus lowering the total amount of packets broadcast.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that uses loosely-coupled client-server architectures to improve the efficiency of communications. The communication system includes client and facilitator applications. The client application is a component of processor-based mobile communication devices. The facilitator application is hosted on one or more servers or other processor-based devices, and communicates with the client application via one or more couplings. The facilitator application can also be distributed among one or more portable processor-based devices including the communication devices hosting the client application.

Abstract: Eddy current inspection of a contoured surface of a workpiece is performed by forming a backing piece of flexible, resiliently yieldable material with a contoured exterior surface conforming in shape to the workpiece contoured surface. The backing piece is preferably cast in place so as to conform to the workpiece contoured surface. A flexible eddy current array probe is attached to the contoured exterior surface of the backing piece such that the probe faces the contoured surface of the workpiece to be inspected when the backing piece is disposed adjacent to the workpiece. The backing piece is then expanded volumetrically by inserting at least one shim into a slot in the backing piece to provide sufficient contact pressure between the probe and the workpiece contoured surface to enable the inspection of the workpiece contoured surface to be performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for wireless communication of a computer with a wireless network or a wireless device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pc card is configured for insertion into a computer pc card slot. Additionally, a sliding assembly is housed within the pc card. This sliding assembly is operable for sliding into a retracted position and a protruded position. When in the retracted position, the sliding assembly is mostly concealed within the pc card. When in the protruded position, the sliding assembly is partly exposed outside of the pc card. Furthermore, an antenna element is fitted inside the sliding assembly. When the sliding assembly is in retracted position, this antenna element enables wireless communication of a computer with a wireless network or a wireless device.

Abstract: An exemplary inspection apparatus for inspecting an article comprises a flexible sensor for sensing a characteristic of the article, which sensor conforms to a surface of the article, a finger cover which fits over a finger of a user, and an attachment device for removably attaching the sensor to the finger cover. The apparatus allows the user to traverse the sensor over a large range of smoothly varying concave or convex inspection surfaces, for example, while providing the user with direct control of the sensor.

Abstract: An exemplary inspection apparatus for inspecting an article comprises a flexible sensor for sensing a characteristic of the article, which sensor conforms to a surface of the article, a finger cover which fits over a finger of a user, and an attachment device for removably attaching the sensor to the finger cover. The apparatus allows the user to traverse the sensor over a large range of smoothly varying concave or convex inspection surfaces, for example, while providing the user with direct control of the sensor.

Abstract: An eddy current probe which can be moved by hand to a surface to be tested. A toroidal-shaped first resilient member contacts the bottom face of a support member. An elastic membrane extends over the bore of the first resilient member, contacts the bottom lateral surface of the first resilient member, and is unattached to the radially-inward-facing surface of the first resilient member. A more elastic, second resilient member is placed in the bore, is unattached to the first resilient member, and contacts the bottom surface of the elastic membrane. A flexible, surface-conformable, eddy current sensing coil overlies a portion of the bottom side of the second resilient member.