Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the permissiveness of a vehicle designed to operate within an operational design domain (“ODD”) where the vehicle has an autonomous vehicle control system capable of collecting sensor data. The method, which can be incorporated into a system or into instructions placed on storage media, includes partitioning the ODD into subsets (“micro-ODDs”) that relate to different operational situations and creating safety envelopes for those subsets. The safety envelopes are used to keep the vehicle operating safely and can be optimized to improve permissiveness of the vehicular operation.

Abstract: Methods are described for automatically identifying perception weaknesses for training data to be used in improving the performance of perception systems. Deficiencies in simulated data are also identified. The methods, which can be incorporated into a system or into instructions placed on storage media, include comparing perception system results between baseline results and results with augmented inputs and identifying perception weaknesses responsive to that comparison. The perception system is retrained using the relabeled data and is improved thereby.

Abstract: Human supervisor failures in autonomous system operations are detected. Perception sensor data input is obtained from a sensor. A violation of a safety envelope by at least one external object is detected within the perception sensor data input. A response to the violation of the safety envelope is triggered. The safety envelope has predetermined dimensions that are based upon an expected time to mitigate the violation of the safety envelope.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the permissiveness of a vehicle designed to operate within an operational design domain (“ODD”) where the vehicle has an autonomous vehicle control system capable of collecting sensor data. The method, which can be incorporated into a system or into instructions placed on storage media, includes partitioning the ODD into subsets (“micro-ODDs”) that relate to different operational situations and creating safety envelopes for those subsets. The safety envelopes are used to keep the vehicle operating safely and can be optimized to improve permissiveness of the vehicular operation.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a billing rate of a telecommunications connection is disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. The geographic location of a mobile unit (MU) is determined, and compared to a list a predetermined subsidized zones. When the MU initiates or receives a call from within a subsidized zone, and the MU is otherwise responsible for paying a predetermined billing rate associated with the call, the predetermined rate is subsidized for at least the portion of the call made while the MU is located within the subsidized zone.

Abstract: Accurate location information about a mobile telecommunication transceiver is used to generate advertising content responsive to a user approaching the location of a business. This advertising content is tailored to the user's preferences and the particular business involved. Once the advertising content is delivered, the position of the user is monitored to track the effectiveness of the advertisement. If the user enters the business' store and/or makes a purchase, the advertisement is logged as having been successful. If the user does not enter the store within a predetermined period of time or moves away from the store, the advertisement is considered to have been ineffective.

Abstract: A method and system for connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. A user may be connected to one or more other users when they have compatible attributes and when they are located within a predetermined distance of each other. The connection may be established between TUs of two or more users, based on attribute and distance information maintained by a server computer, upon the request of an initiating user's TU.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. Proximately located TUs within a predefined group may be connected when an initiating TU requests a group connection. A predetermined number of group TUs located within a predetermined distance of the initiating TU may be connected together with the initating TU in a single telecommunications connection.

Abstract: A method and system for selectively connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. A first TU may be connected to a second TU when the first and second TUs are within a predetermined distance of each other and when a first user associated with the first TU may be connected to a second user associated with the second TU on a graph representing individual relationships, such as an acquaintance graph or genealogical tree. The connection may further be based on whether the first and second users have a less than a maximum threshold degree of separation within the relationship graph.

Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft system includes programming vehicle identification numbers or a corresponding identifier value into a read-only memory portion of each computer on board the vehicle. The computers are all linked through a multiplex communication system that has a monitoring port. The monitoring port facilitates coupling an external device to the multiplex communication link. The external monitoring device is used to determine the contents of the read only memory portion on each component to determine whether any of the components were stolen from another vehicle, for example.

Abstract: A wireless vehicle door assembly includes a conductive layer sandwiched between two nonconductive layers. An input terminal provides a connection between the conductive layer and a plurality of wires from another portion of the vehicle. A plurality of connectors couple a plurality of loads to the conductive layer. Electrical power and signals are propagated along the conductive layer to control the various loads.

Abstract: An anti-theft system includes a strategy for providing secure communications between a system controller and a remote signaling device. A communications initiator allows the transfer of information or signals between the system controlling and the remote signaling device only under pre-defined conditions. The system controller preferably includes a transmitter portion for transmitting signals or information to the remote device and a receiver portion for receiving signals from the remote device. Similarly, the remote device preferably includes a transceiver so that two-way communication is accomplished between the controller and the remote signalling device.

Abstract: A security system that is useful for protecting vehicles from theft and buildings from unauthorized entry, for example, includes utilizing random numbers within remotely transmitted signals. A remote signaling device transmits a signal to a system controller with instructions for a desired operation of the system. The invention prevents a potential thief from capturing one or more transmitted signals and later mimicking or predicting a subsequent signal by including or utilizing a random number when generating the transmitted signal. The random number is incorporated into the transmitted signal in one of several ways according to this invention. Single-use or limited re-use of random numbers enhances the security and integrity of the system.

Abstract: A vehicle security system combines anti-driveaway protection with vehicle entry signalling. Either a remote signalling device is used to generate a remote signal or an input device, mounted on the vehicle, is used to generate an access signal. An entry control unit receives and interprets the remote signal or the access signal and unlocks the vehicle doors when appropriate. At the same time, the entry control unit communicates with an engine controller that an appropriate signal has been received. In response, the engine controller enables the vehicle engine to be started so that the vehicle can be driven in a conventional manner.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of generating a secret identification number from a random digital data stream. The method comprises the step of initially selecting a first and a second group of bytes from the random digital data stream, wherein the first and second groups of bytes have a first and second numerical value. Subsequently, a first maximal length LFSR feedback term is looked up from a list in response to said first numerical value, while a second maximal length LFSR feedback term is looked up from the list in response to said second numerical value. The method additionally comprises the step of generating a cyclic redundancy code feedback term in response to executing a cyclic redundancy code check on a third group of bytes selected from the random digital data stream.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of generating a plurality of random numbers is disclosed. The method comprises the initial step of generating chaotic noise. Subsequently, the chaotic noise is sampled such that a plurality of samples are created. Each sample of the plurality of samples is then converted into digital data such that each converted sample corresponds with a random number of the plurality of random numbers.

Abstract: An elevator position determination system for determining the position of an elevator car disposed in the elevator hoistway includes a transceiver disposed on the elevator car for generating a query signal and a transponder disposed in the elevator hoistway for providing an identification signal in response to the query signal, wherein, the elevator position determination system determines the elevator car position in response to the identification signal.

Abstract: An emitter and a plurality of sensors and are used to detect the relative positions between an elevator platform and landing sill. The emitters radiate energy through a reflection duct formed between the elevator platform and the landing sill. The plurality of sensors monitor the reflection duct so that radiated energy is detected. The sensors provide level signals in response to the radiated energy. A means responsive to the level signals determines when the platform is level with respect to the landing sill.

Abstract: An automobile door lock receiver module (30) and a plurality of keychain fob transmitter units (16) contain identification numbers, secret initial values, and secret feedback masks so as to authenticate encrypted messages from any of the assigned fobs, indicative of commands registered by closing switches on the fob. Each fob is synchronized with the receiving module by means of a truly random number concatenated with a secret initial value and encrypted, through a linear feedback shift register or other operations. A second secret initial value is encrypted and command bits are exclusive ORed into the low order bit positions; the two encrypted numbers are concatenated and encrypted to form a key word which is transmitted with the fob ID. Synchronization includes decrypting to recover the truly random number and the secret initial value concatenated therewith; the truly random number is compared with previously received random numbers in order to avoid copying of recently transmitted synchronization commands.

Abstract: An automobile door receiver module (30) and a plurality of keychain fob transmitter units (16) contain identification numbers, secret initial values, and secret feedback masks so as to authenticate encrypted messages from any of the assigned fobs, indicative of commands registered by closing switches on the fob. Each fob is synchronized with the receiving module by means of a truly random number concatenated with a secret initial value and encrypted, through a linear feedback shift register or other operations. A second secret initial value is encrypted and command bits are exclusive ORed into the low order bit positions; the two encrypted numbers are concatenated and encrypted to form a key word which is transmitted with the fob ID. Synchronization includes decrypting to recover the truly random number and the secret initial value concatenated therewith; the truly random number is compared with previously received random numbers in order to avoid copying of recently transmitted synchronization commands.