Abstract: A hub device comprising: a first port, a second port and a hub controller. The first port is configured to be connected to an initiator controller. The second port is configured to be connected to a target device, and wherein the target device has an address. The hub controller is configured to receive the target device address from the initiator controller via the first port, and in response: set a first-port-clock-line of the first port to busy; transmit the received target device address to the second port, to which the target device is connected; enable a bridge between the initiator controller and the target device, via the first port and the second port; release the first-port-clock-line of the first port from busy; communicate an acknowledgement message from the target device to the initiator controller via the bridge; and communicate a data transmission between the initiator controller and the target device via the bridge.

Abstract: A wearable safety apparatus including a body area network (BAN) transceiver for communicating with a user-controlled apparatus is described. The BAN transceiver includes a processor coupled to a BAN antenna. The processor is configured to receive an identification data request from a user-controlled apparatus in response to an action request of a user of the wearable safety apparatus; and to transmit identification data to the user-controlled apparatus in response to the identification data request. The identification data validates the user action by the user-controlled apparatus. The identification data request is only received when the wearable safety apparatus and the user-controlled apparatus are in contact with the user.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor measurement unit is described including a sensor degradation signature unit and a processing unit coupled to the sensor degradation signature unit. The processing unit includes a processor first input configured to be coupled to a sensor output of an electrochemical sensor and a processor first output configured to be coupled to a sensor input of an electrochemical sensor. The processing unit is configured to apply a stimulus signal to the sensor input; receive an electrochemical sensor signal via the sensor output. The processing unit may then determine at least one sensor parameter at one or more time values from the received sensor signal. The processing unit determines a predicted lifetime value corresponding to an expected remaining lifetime of the electrochemical sensor dependent on the sensor degradation signature and the at least one sensor parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for audio stream sharing via a wireless link between an audio source device having an RF transceiver and audio sink devices each having an RF transceiver and a body area network (BAN) transceiver is described. Audio data is wirelessly streamed between an audio source device and an audio sink device via the respective RF transceiver. A user contact is detected on one of the audio sink device and a further audio sink device resulting in a BAN connection between the respective BAN transceivers of the audio sink device and the further audio sink device. In response to determining the user contact, a wireless link is setup between the audio source device and the further audio sink device. Audio data is then wirelessly streamed between the audio source and the further audio sink device via the respective RF transceivers.

Abstract: One example discloses a first wireless network device, including: a far-field transceiver; a near-field transceiver; wherein the first wireless network device is configured to be wirelessly near-field coupled to a second wireless network device that also includes a far-field transceiver and a near-field transceiver; wherein the first wireless network device is further configured to be wirelessly near-field coupled to a set of near-field wireless network devices using only the near-field transceiver; wherein first wireless network device, the second wireless network device, and the set of near-field wireless network devices are configured to be in physical contact with a body; and wherein the first wireless network device is configured to be wirelessly far-field coupled to a third wireless network device only if the second wireless network device is not wirelessly far-field coupled to the third wireless network device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of access control as described. A touch of a touch zone of an access controller including a body area network (BAN) transceiver is detected. In response to detecting the touch, a request from an access controller comprising a BAN transceiver via a body area network is transmitted to a user of a portable device including a BAN transceiver and a biometric sensor. The request is received by the portable device via the BAN network. In response to receiving the request, the portable device transmits a digital key comprising biometric data detected by the biometric sensor and a digital identifier from the portable device to the access controller via the BAN network. The user is authenticated by the access controller using the digital key. The access controller controls and actuator to lock or unlock a door in response to the user being authenticated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for point-to-point wireless communication between a first wireless communication device, the first wireless communication device configured as an on-body device and a second wireless communication device. A distance between the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device by a ranging measurement is determined. In response to the distance being less than a distance threshold value, data of a first data type is transmitted from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device. In response to the distance being greater than the distance threshold value, data of a second data type is transmitted from the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device.

Abstract: A collision prevention system for a vehicle. A collision prevention method for a vehicle. The system includes a first sensor operable to monitor a dimension (e.g. height) of the vehicle. The system also includes a second sensor for detecting a dimension (e.g. height) of an approaching obstacle. The system further includes a controller couplable to the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller is operable to compare the dimension of the vehicle monitored by the first sensor with the dimension of the approaching obstacle detected by the second sensor. The controller is also operable to, in response to a determination that the comparison of the dimension of the vehicle with the dimension of the approaching obstacle indicates a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle is possible, perform a collision prevention action.

Abstract: One example discloses a resource management device, including: an input interface configured to receive a first set of sensor readings corresponding to a user and a second set of sensor readings corresponding to a set of resources; a controller configured to match the user, based on the first set of sensor readings, to a specific resource within the set of resources, based on the second set of sensor readings; wherein the controller is configured to authenticate that the first set of sensor readings originated from the user before the match.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for audio stream sharing via a wireless link between an audio source device having an RF transceiver and audio sink devices each having an RF transceiver and a body area network (BAN) transceiver is described. Audio data is wirelessly streamed between an audio source device and an audio sink device via the respective RF transceiver. A user contact is detected on one of the audio sink device and a further audio sink device resulting in a BAN connection between the respective BAN transceivers of the audio sink device and the further audio sink device. In response to determining the user contact, a wireless link is setup between the audio source device and the further audio sink device. Audio data is then wirelessly streamed between the audio source and the further audio sink device via the respective RF transceivers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of access control as described. A touch of a touch zone of an access controller including a body area network (BAN) transceiver is detected. In response to detecting the touch, a request from an access controller comprising a BAN transceiver via a body area network is transmitted to a user of a portable device including a BAN transceiver and a biometric sensor. The request is received by the portable device via the BAN network. In response to receiving the request, the portable device transmits a digital key comprising biometric data detected by the biometric sensor and a digital identifier from the portable device to the access controller via the BAN network. The user is authenticated by the access controller using the digital key. The access controller controls and actuator to lock or unlock a door in response to the user being authenticated.

Abstract: A posture measurement apparatus and method is described. The posture measurement system includes a wearable sensor leader node comprising a UWB transceiver coupled to at least two antennas and one or more wearable sensor follower nodes each comprising a UWB transceiver coupled to one antenna. A first UWB signal is transmitted from the wearable sensor leader node to the one or more wearable follower sensor nodes. A second UWB signal is received by the wearable sensor leader node from each follower sensor node in response to receiving the first UWB signal. A time-of-flight value of a signal transmitted between the wearable leader sensor node and the wearable follower sensor node is determined from the first UWB signal and the second UWB signal. An angle of arrival value is determined from the second UWB signal. The body posture can be determined from the time-of-flight and angle-of-arrival value.

Abstract: A wearable safety apparatus including a body area network (BAN) transceiver for communicating with a user-controlled apparatus is described. The BAN transceiver includes a processor coupled to a BAN antenna. The processor is configured to receive an identification data request from a user-controlled apparatus in response to an action request of a user of the wearable safety apparatus; and to transmit identification data to the user-controlled apparatus in response to the identification data request. The identification data validates the user action by the user-controlled apparatus. The identification data request is only received when the wearable safety apparatus and the user-controlled apparatus are in contact with the user.

Abstract: A system includes a drone for monitoring a second vehicle moving along a route. The drone includes a processing unit, a speed control unit, a sensor system, and a communication module. The processing unit determines a braking distance for the second vehicle in response to a current speed of the second vehicle and determines a leading distance for the drone based on the braking distance. The speed control unit adjusts a guide speed and a position of the unmanned vehicle such that the drone travels ahead of the second vehicle by at least the leading distance. The sensor system detects a hazardous condition along the route ahead of the unmanned vehicle, and the communication module enables a wireless communication link between the drone and the second vehicle for notifying the second vehicle of the hazardous condition.

Abstract: A system includes a first communication module for receiving a user message, a processing unit for converting the user message to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) message, and a second communication module. The first communication module, the processing unit, and the second communication modules are implemented in a first vehicle. The second communication module is configured to transmit the V2X message from the first vehicle via a wireless communication link. The first vehicle may be a drone configured to communicate with a user device positioned on or near a user, and the user message may be an audible message or user gestures. Alternatively, the first vehicle may be inhabited by the user, with the user message being an audible message. The system may enable communication with an autonomous vehicle or another device equipped with V2X capability.

Abstract: A system includes an electronic device for placement on a target. The electronic device includes first and second wearable structures physically displaced away from one another and having corresponding first and second communication modules. The system further includes a drone for monitoring motion of the target. The drone includes a third communication module. The first and third communication modules enable a first wireless communication link between the first wearable structure and the drone, and the second and third communication modules enable a second wireless communication link between the second wearable structure and the drone. The drone further includes a processing unit for determining a current location of the drone relative to the target in response to the first and second wireless communication links and a drive control unit for adjusting a speed and a position of the drone relative to the target.

Abstract: A system includes a drone for monitoring a second vehicle moving along a route. The drone includes a processing unit, a speed control unit, a sensor system, and a communication module. The processing unit determines a braking distance for the second vehicle in response to a current speed of the second vehicle and determines a leading distance for the drone based on the braking distance. The speed control unit adjusts a guide speed and a position of the unmanned vehicle such that the drone travels ahead of the second vehicle by at least the leading distance. The sensor system detects a hazardous condition along the route ahead of the unmanned vehicle, and the communication module enables a wireless communication link between the drone and the second vehicle for notifying the second vehicle of the hazardous condition.

Abstract: A mobile hearable device for communicating with a vehicle control system is described. The mobile hearable device includes a microphone, and a wireless transceiver configured as one of a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) transceiver and a near field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) transceiver. The mobile hearable device includes a processor coupled to the transceiver and the microphone. The processor receives a location identifier via the transceiver from a location identification transmitter located in a vehicle, the location identification transmitter is configured as one of a NFMI transmitter and a NFEMI transmitter. If the processor receives a speech signal from a user of the mobile hearable device, it determines whether the speech signal includes an actuator control command and generates a control instruction comprising the actuator control command and the location identifier.

Abstract: An audio controller for generating a signal for alleviating motion sickness is described. The audio controller comprises a sensor input module, a user control input and a processor comprising a machine learning model corresponding to a desired audio stimulation profile. The machine learning model is coupled to the sensor input module and the user control input. The machine learning model is configured to receive a sensor signal comprising at least one user attribute and at least one context attribute from the sensor input module. The audio controller includes a stimulus generator coupled to the machine learning model. The machine learning model controls the stimulus generator to generate a reference signal for alleviating motion sickness and adapts the reference signal dependent on at least one of the user control input and the sensor signal.