Abstract: A frame or the like incorporating a removable device for placement on a wallbox. The frame may be attached to a conventional wallbox without modification to the wallbox. The device may be mounted to, in or on the frame. A memory for the device may be situated on or embedded in the frame. If the device fails, it may be easily removed from the frame and replaced with a new or other working device without frame removal from the wallbox. The replacement device may be configured with information in the memory that contained the configuration for the failed device. The memory or the frame holding it may also be replaced if it fails; however, memory failure is rare compared to device failure. Thus, expense may be spared with just a replacement device and an available configuration in the remaining memory. The memory may have a secure trusted platform.

Abstract: A system or arrangement of room control with a mobile device by a guest at a hotel, motel, or the like. When a reservation system assigns a guest to a room in, for instance a hotel, the reservation system may request a security certificate from a server that manages a control system in the room. The certificate may be transmitted to the guestroom control equipment and room reservation system. The certificate may be pushed to a mobile device of the guest. Also a key credential may be pushed to the mobile device for room access. The certificate may indicate the date/time period where the certificate is valid and functional aspects that the certificate can support relative to the room. When a guest goes to the room, the mobile device may link up with the control equipment in the room. Both entities having the same certificate can mutually authenticate each other.

Abstract: A frame or the like incorporating a removable device for placement on a wallbox. The frame may be attached to a conventional wallbox without modification to the wallbox. The device may be mounted to, in or on the frame. A memory for the device may be situated on or embedded in the frame. If the device fails, it may be easily removed from the frame and replaced with a new or other working device without frame removal from the wallbox. The replacement device may be configured with information in the memory that contained the configuration for the failed device. The memory or the frame holding it may also be replaced if it fails; however, memory failure is rare compared to device failure. Thus, expense may be spared with just a replacement device and an available configuration in the remaining memory. The memory may have a secure trusted platform.

Abstract: A leveraged positioning system for installation of devices within campuses and buildings. A mobile device may have a position indicator associated with it. A campus or building information model may be available for reference relative to a location of the mobile device as noted by the position indicator. A location name may be derived from the model and used for an installed device since the mobile device is at the position of the installed device during placement of the installed device. A physical address may be assigned to the installed device. The physical address and the location name may be stored as a pair in memory for the device. Additional devices for installation may be treated similarly.

Abstract: A frame or the like incorporating a removable device for placement on a wallbox. The frame may be attached to a conventional wallbox without modification to the wallbox. The device may be mounted to, in or on the frame. A memory for the device may be situated on or embedded in the frame. If the device fails, it may be easily removed from the frame and replaced with a new or other working device without frame removal from the wallbox. The replacement device may be configured with information in the memory that contained the configuration for the failed device. The memory or the frame holding it may also be replaced if it fails; however, memory failure is rare compared to device failure. Thus, expense may be spared with just a replacement device and an available configuration in the remaining memory. The memory may have a secure trusted platform.

Abstract: A system or arrangement of room control with a mobile device by a guest at a hotel, motel, or the like. When a reservation system assigns a guest to a room in, for instance a hotel, the reservation system may request a security certificate from a server that manages a control system in the room. The certificate may be transmitted to the guestroom control equipment and room reservation system. The certificate may be pushed to a mobile device of the guest. Also a key credential may be pushed to the mobile device for room access. The certificate may indicate the date/time period where the certificate is valid and functional aspects that the certificate can support relative to the room. When a guest goes to the room, the mobile device may link up with the control equipment in the room. Both entities having the same certificate can mutually authenticate each other.

Abstract: A system and approach having security assurance for a controller relative to outside connections such as internet. The controller may have locked and exposed modes. A locked mode may mean that the system is correctly configured in that security related settings meet minimum standards. For example, the controller is protected through sufficiently strong user accounts and passwords whether entered or by default. Also, there may be an entity, such as person or organization that has responsibility for securing the controller against undesired intrusions. In the exposed mode, where the system may be incorrectly configured, the controller may shut down some or all of the functionality that has relevance to remote access. In the exposed mode, a built-in web server may show one or more screens that allow one to access the controller. There may be security indicators, such as lights that indicate whether the controller is exposed or locked.

Abstract: An interface component for insertion in a certain-sized connection box placed for another component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The interface component may bring in new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the removed component. The box need not be removed, or if the boxed is removed the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring is necessarily needed. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to rooms of hotels, motels, and other similar facilities. Neither time nor expense of redoing structure to hold a larger box or provide more space or wiring is needed. In many cases, there is not adequate space to add components for providing additional capabilities to a room.

Abstract: An observed space having energy consuming devices with conservation mechanisms, algorithms, techniques, or applications. The devices having their conservation applications engaged may be a normal mode. When the conservation applications are disengaged, the devices may be in a reference mode. An amount of energy consumption by the devices in the normal mode may be compared with an amount of energy consumption by the devices in the reference mode to determine an energy conservation effectiveness of the devices in the observed space.

Abstract: A fluid flow detecting system and approach incorporating a collar configured to be clamped to a fluid conveyance mechanism, a temperature probe held within temperature sensing range of the fluid conveyance mechanism with the collar, an ambient temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the temperature probe and the ambient temperature sensor. The controller may incorporate a data analytics module to determine fluid flow starts, characteristics of fluid flows and fluid stops from temperatures received from the temperature probe and the ambient temperature sensor. The system may further incorporate a heater in contact with the fluid conveyance mechanism to increase speed and accuracy of determinations of fluid flow starts, characteristics of fluid flows and fluid stops by the data analytics module.

Abstract: An interface component for insertion in a certain-sized connection box placed for another component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The interface component may bring in new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the removed component. The box need not be removed, or if the boxed is removed the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring is necessarily needed. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to rooms of hotels, motels, and other similar facilities. Neither time nor expense of redoing structure to hold a larger box or provide more space or wiring is needed. In many cases, there is not adequate space to add components for providing additional capabilities to a room.

Abstract: An automation system is provided for deployment in a building with rooms and includes computing resources which are receptive of contextual information and an electronic device cluster in each room. Each electronic device cluster includes electronic devices at least one of which gathers environmental information within the room and at least one of which communicates the environmental information to the computing resources. Descriptors of one or more electronic devices of a portion of the electronic device clusters are undefined at an initial time. The computing resources are configured to compare the contextual and environmental information from at least one electronic device cluster, identify a location and a use of the one or more electronic devices of the portion of the electronic device clusters based on comparison results and assign descriptors to the one or more electronic devices accordingly and communicate with the one or more electronic devices using the descriptors.

Abstract: An automation system for deployment in a building with rooms is provided. The automation system includes a server and an electronic device cluster in each room. Each electronic device cluster includes electronic devices of which at least one is configured to sense a condition within the room and at least one is configured to report sensing results to the server. Room locations of the electronic device clusters are undefined for the server at an initial time. The server is receptive of the sensing results from the at least one electronic device in each electronic device cluster in each room and external information. The server is configured to compare the received sensing results with the external information, iteratively determine the room locations of one or more of the electronic device clusters from comparison results and communicate with at least one of the electronic devices of the one or more of the electronic device clusters based on iteratively determined room locations.

Abstract: An automation system is provided for deployment in a building with rooms and includes computing resources which are receptive of contextual information and an electronic device cluster in each room. Each electronic device cluster includes electronic devices at least one of which gathers environmental information within the room and at least one of which communicates the environmental information to the computing resources. Descriptors of one or more electronic devices of a portion of the electronic device clusters are undefined at an initial time. The computing resources are configured to compare the contextual and environmental information from at least one electronic device cluster, identify a location and a use of the one or more electronic devices of the portion of the electronic device clusters based on comparison results and assign descriptors to the one or more electronic devices accordingly and communicate with the one or more electronic devices using the descriptors.

Abstract: An automation system for deployment in a building with rooms is provided. The automation system includes a server and an electronic device cluster in each room. Each electronic device cluster includes electronic devices of which at least one is configured to sense a condition within the room and at least one is configured to report sensing results to the server. Room locations of the electronic device clusters are undefined for the server at an initial time. The server is receptive of the sensing results from the at least one electronic device in each electronic device cluster in each room and external information. The server is configured to compare the received sensing results with the external information, iteratively determine the room locations of one or more of the electronic device clusters from comparison results and communicate with at least one of the electronic devices of the one or more of the electronic device clusters based on iteratively determined room locations.

Abstract: A control component for insertion in a standard size connection box of a conventional component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The control component may have new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the conventional component. The connection box need not be removed, or if the box is removed then the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring for is necessarily needed for connecting the control component. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to many rooms of hotels, motels, and other facilities. Neither time nor expense of modifications to the connection box, wiring and/or the room is necessarily needed. In many cases, a room or space cannot necessarily be modified to add a larger or an additional component having additional capabilities, such as a component having an air quality controlled device for operating a ventilation fan in a room.

Abstract: A system and method for securing personal articles, including a lockable enclosure, an image acquisition device disposed to capture an image of an interior of the lockable enclosure, a storage element configured to store the image, a data transmission element configured to transfer the image to a network, and a controller configured to grant access to the image only upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition, where the image acquisition device, the storage element, the data transmission element, and the controller are disposed in communication with one another and with the network.

Abstract: A system and approach having security assurance for a controller relative to outside connections such as internet. The controller may have locked and exposed modes. A locked mode may mean that the system is correctly configured in that security related settings meet minimum standards. For example, the controller is protected through sufficiently strong user accounts and passwords whether entered or by default. Also, there may be an entity, such as person or organization that has responsibility for securing the controller against undesired intrusions. In the exposed mode, where the system may be incorrectly configured, the controller may shut down some or all of the functionality that has relevance to remote access. In the exposed mode, a built-in web server may show one or more screens that allow one to access the controller. There may be security indicators, such as lights that indicate whether the controller is exposed or locked.

Abstract: A system and approach having security assurance for a controller relative to outside connections such as internet. The controller may have locked and exposed modes. A locked mode may mean that the system is correctly configured in that security related settings meet minimum standards. For example, the controller is protected through sufficiently strong user accounts and passwords whether entered or by default. Also, there may be an entity, such as person or organization that has responsibility for securing the controller against undesired intrusions. In the exposed mode, where the system may be incorrectly configured, the controller may shut down some or all of the functionality that has relevance to remote access. In the exposed mode, a built-in web server may show one or more screens that allow one to access the controller. There may be security indicators, such as lights that indicate whether the controller is exposed or locked.

Abstract: A fluid flow detecting system and approach incorporating a collar configured to be clamped to a fluid conveyance mechanism, a temperature probe held within temperature sensing range of the fluid conveyance mechanism with the collar, an ambient temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the temperature probe and the ambient temperature sensor. The controller may incorporate a data analytics module to determine fluid flow starts, characteristics of fluid flows and fluid stops from temperatures received from the temperature probe and the ambient temperature sensor. The system may further incorporate a heater in contact with the fluid conveyance mechanism to increase speed and accuracy of determinations of fluid flow starts, characteristics of fluid flows and fluid stops by the data analytics module.