Abstract: Various implementations are disclosed for an instrumented mobility assistance device, such as an instrumented walker. The device includes an attached sensor that is operable to convert an operational action of a user of the mobility assistance device into a sensor signal. A use analyzer is operable to relate the sensor signal to a contact attribute associated with a contact of the user of the mobility assistance device with an underlying surface. The use analyzer is further operable to determine a gait characteristic of the user, based on the contact attribute. The sensor may include a force or moment sensor. The contact attribute may include a foot-initial contact, or a foot-off contact. In this way, gait characteristics of the user may be determined during normal operation of the instrumented device. Also, the sensor may be used to determine a stability measure associated with the device.

Abstract: An inspection system for removably mounting to a platform movable in relation to a generally upright mast for inspection of the mast has a mounting support assembly removably fixable to the platform. The mounting support assembly for scanning the mast carries a detector device and collecting mast scanned information. A power supply is carried by one or more of the mounting support assembly or the detector device and is connected to the detector device. A communications device is carried by one or more of the mounting support assembly or the detector device and is connected to the detector device for receiving and relaying the collected mast scanned information.

Abstract: An inspection system and method for use in conjunction with a movably mounted platform to perform inspections of a generally upright standing structures or underground/subsurface structure. In order to perform these inspections, a technician or user can mount an interface member and the detector on the platform and/or interface member. The platform can be moved along the length of the structure while the inspector/detector module captures data regarding the structure. This data can be transmitted to a destination where it can be recorded and/or analyzed by the technician or given user. A given destination(s) may be local such as at the structure or proximal to the structure, or may be remote from the structure such as short to long distance communication. A controller/processor (e.g., computer program product) is configured having a number of crack or flaw detection algorithms for assessing the status of such cracks or flaws on the structure.

Abstract: To facilitate routing changes, a telecommunications network (10, 10?, 10??) includes a centralized network routing database (28) queried by each ingress switch upon receipt of a call by a calling subscriber (12). In response to the query, the network routing database returns to the querying switch the identity on the next (downstream) switch in the routing path. The querying switch then translates the switch identity to establish the link to that next switch. Because each querying switch makes the necessary translation of the next switch identity to make the link to the next switch, the centralized network database need not concern itself with the particular characteristics of the switch. To make global routing changes, only the network routing database need be updated, not each individual switch.

Abstract: In a cellular communications system comprising a plurality of zones, details of authorized services for each mobile terminal are stored at a central register. The central register is accessed on entry of a visiting mobile terminal into that zone whereby to retrieve the service details for that mobile, the retrieved details are stored at a local register and compared with a set of services capable of being supported within the zone, and providing to the terminal information relating only to those services that are both authorized for use by the terminal and capable of support within the zone. In a preferred embodiment, information relating to a service which cannot be supported in a particular zone is not forwarded to the local register thus avoiding message rejection by the local register.