Abstract: Systems and methods are described for automatically analyzing and characterizing Internet search results, and removing search results from a search results page according to specific characteristics of operational function type information displayed on each webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Operational function types include one or more of: a composition of information displayed on the webpage; a behavior of the webpage; a style of the webpage; an organization of the webpage; and a purpose of the webpage.

Abstract: Mobile phones, phone systems, and emergency location systems are described with features that assist rescue teams in locating survivors in a disaster situation where a phone user and their mobile phone are buried under rubble. To enable the phone's battery charge to last longer, an emergency power conservation mode (E-mode) is activated by either receiving a command from an external source via RF transmission, or by noticing a rapid reduction in signal strength from a tower without changing the phone's physical location. Transmissions are also made by the phone from time to time indicating the user's health condition including providing an indication of life. Portable RF devices may be deployed at grid positions to locate mobile phones by triangulation based on signals received from mobile phones while battery charge still exists for the mobile phones immediately following the disaster.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video surveillance, communications, and control system for the home is disclosed. The system may include one or more video cameras located in one or more rooms in a home, one or more motion detectors in one or more rooms in a home, one or more lights in the one or more rooms, each of the one or more lights being remotely controllable, and a console. The console may display video images sent from the one or more video cameras. The console may include a split screen capability for viewing one or more images of the one or more rooms, one or more buttons for remotely controlling lights in the one or more rooms, one or more motion indicators describing which of the one or more rooms have motion, and at least one button that enables a user to signal the police or security company.

Abstract: A multi-mode and/or multi-ammunition weapon is described, whereupon being removed from a stored position is always initially in a first mode that is intended to disable or stun a subject. If deadly force is required, the weapon is easily and quickly placed in a second mode that is deadly. When returned to the stored position, the weapon is automatically placed in the first mode. Different mechanisms for disabling and/or stunning a subject are also described. A mechanism is optionally included for recording sequences of attack modes and/or ammunition types fired to provide an un-alterable record of events when the weapon is fired.

Abstract: A portal apparatus for securely controlling passage is described. The apparatus uses a passageway which includes at least two moveable door panels that operate in conjunction with at least two sidewalls including at least one linear sidewall. The apparatus includes position sensors for tracking a position of a subject passing through the passageway and determining a rate of movement of the subject. While the subject is walking through the passageway, each door panels is controlled to move at the determined rate of movement of the subject.

Abstract: Electro-mechanical and electronically controlled access devices are described for controlling access to a building, premises or area in a secure manner such that a subject who is deemed ineligible for access will be barred entry. The devices contain multiple rotatable and moveable door panels. The door panels can be controlled by various drive mechanisms in order to control the passage through the device. The direction of flow through a device according to these embodiments is electronically controlled and may be changed at any point in time. At any instant in time, the flow through the device is unidirectional. Multiple devices can be stacked together to form clusters, which can be controlled according to traffic, time of day, or other factors.

Abstract: System and methods are described to track and warn a person suspected of texting while driving, or alternately to block texting for drivers of moving vehicles. The position and speed of cell phones, and a GPS-enabled telematics system if present, are compared with those of other GPS-enabled devices in the vicinity. If the position and speed of a phone track that of one or more neighboring phones or a telematics system, it is assumed that a cell phone user may under certain conditions be texting while driving. For circumstances where persons suspected to be in the same vehicle utilize different service providers, parameters such any of cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time-stamped and then compared. Texting is detected emanating directly from cell phones, or from a telematics system in a vehicle, or via a WiFi hotspot of a cell phone in the vehicle.

Abstract: A multi-mode and/or multi-ammunition weapon is described, whereupon being removed from a stored position is always initially in a first mode that is intended to disable or stun a subject. If deadly force is required, the weapon is easily and quickly placed in a second mode that is deadly. When returned to the stored position, the weapon is automatically placed in the first mode. Different mechanisms for disabling and/or stunning a subject are also described. A mechanism is optionally included for recording sequences of attack modes and/or ammunition types fired to provide an un-alterable record of events when the weapon is fired.

Abstract: Mobile phones, phone systems, and emergency location systems are described with features that assist rescue teams in locating survivors in a disaster situation where a phone user and their mobile phone are buried under rubble. To enable the phone's battery charge to last longer, an emergency power conservation mode (E-mode) is activated by either receiving a command from an external source via RF transmission, or by noticing a rapid reduction in signal strength from a tower without changing the phone's physical location. Transmissions are also made by the phone from time to time indicating the user's health condition including providing an indication of life. Portable RF devices may be deployed at grid positions to locate mobile phones by triangulation based on signals received from mobile phones while battery charge still exists for the mobile phones immediately following the disaster.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically analyzing and characterizing Internet search results and annotating a search results page according to specific characteristics of each webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Such characteristics include the composition of each search results webpage as well as which search term elements are present in a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result out of those search term elements that were submitted to a search engine to produce the search results webpage. Further, search results are annotated to indicate which search term elements are present in a descendent webpage of a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Search results may also be optionally filtered according to specific characteristics of a webpage located at a search results URL such that certain categories of webpage are excluded from being referenced in the displayed search results.

Abstract: System and methods are described to track and warn a person suspected of texting while driving, or alternately to block texting for drivers of moving vehicles. The position and speed of cell phones, and a GPS-enabled telematics system if present, are compared with those of other GPS-enabled devices in the vicinity. If the position and speed of a phone track that of one or more neighboring phones or a telematics system, it is assumed that a cell phone user may under certain conditions be texting while driving. For circumstances where persons suspected to be in the same vehicle utilize different service providers, parameters such any of cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time-stamped and then compared. Texting is detected emanating directly from cell phones, or from a telematics system in a vehicle, or via a WiFi hotspot of a cell phone in the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking the progress of a trip where a person or persons wish to have a third party automatically informed of a delayed return. For long duration trips and/or trips to distant destinations, people typically make provision for having their pets and/or children watched over. However for short trips, they typically do not, especially with respect to their pets. The disclosed methods provide monitoring of a trip's progress such that if a traveler doesn't return home by a certain time, a third party is notified, thus avoiding a prolonged period of time wherein the pets and/or children are unattended, especially in the event of a catastrophic accident. The third party may be notified if an arrival time is predicted to be delayed, and when an actual arrival occurs. Provision is also included for adjusting the trip duration to delay or advance a designated arrival time.

Abstract: A system and method are described to track and warn a person suspected of texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with those of other cell phone users in the vicinity. If the position and speed of a phone track that of one or more neighboring phones, it is assumed that a user may under certain conditions be texting while driving. For circumstances where persons suspected to be in the same vehicle utilize different service providers, parameters such as for instance cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time stamped and then compared. Cell phone users who are determined likely to be texting while driving based on the disclosed methods may be warned without disabling their texting capability.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe automated/robotic baggage portals as well as their use when synchronized with automated/robotic human security portals. When companion human and baggage portals are synchronized, baggage items belonging to a subject are not passed through to a secure area unless the subject is cleared by a companion human portal for passage. Likewise, unless the subject is cleared for passage by the human portal, baggage items belonging to the subject are not passed through to a secure area unless the subject is cleared by the companion human portal. Variations on synchronization, tracking, and coordination mechanisms and methods are described as well as variations on baggage portal mechanisms including conveyer arrangements and baggage chamber configurations.

Abstract: A system and method are described to track and warn a person suspected of texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with those of other cell phone users in the vicinity. If the position and speed of a phone track that of one or more neighboring phones, it is assumed that a user may under certain conditions be texting while driving. For circumstances where persons suspected to be in the same vehicle utilize different service providers, parameters such as for instance cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel are time stamped and then compared. Cell phone users who are determined likely to be texting while driving based on the disclosed methods may be warned without disabling their texting capability.

Abstract: A portable computer is described including a reverse-mounted touchpad and associated buttons where the touchpad is mounted on the reverse surface of the panel containing the portable computer's display and facing away from the user. One or more associated buttons are mounted on the surface of the display panel facing the user and function as the buttons normally associated with a touchpad, traditionally called the “mouse buttons”. The buttons are mounted in close proximity to the reverse-mounted touchpad such that the user can operate both the touchpad and the buttons simultaneously with a finger and the thumb of the same hand.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking the progress of a trip where a person or persons wish to have a third party automatically informed of a delayed return. For long duration trips and/or trips to distant destinations, people typically make provision for having their pets and/or children watched over. However for short trips, they typically do not, especially with respect to their pets. The disclosed methods provide monitoring of a trip's progress such that if a traveler doesn't return home by a certain time, a third party is notified, thus avoiding a prolonged period of time wherein the pets and/or children are unattended, especially in the event of a catastrophic accident. The third party may be notified if an arrival time is predicted to be delayed, and when an actual arrival occurs. Provision is also included for adjusting the trip duration to delay or advance a designated arrival time.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically analyzing and characterizing Internet search results and annotating a search results page according to specific characteristics of each webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Such characteristics include the composition of each search results webpage as well as which search term elements are present in a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result out of those search term elements that were submitted to a search engine to produce the search results webpage. Further, search results are annotated to indicate which search term elements are present in a descendent webpage of a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Search results may also be optionally filtered according to specific characteristics of a webpage located at a search results URL such that certain categories of webpage are excluded from being referenced in the displayed search results.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to disable texting while driving a moving vehicle. The position and speed of a user's cell phone are compared with that of a registered master phone. If the position and speed track that of the master phone, it is assumed that the user is a passenger and not a driver, and texting is enabled for that user. Texting at speed is disabled for a master phone user who may be an ordinary citizen or may be a professional driver of a mass transit vehicle. The user of a master phone may utilize a different service provider than a passenger. Information parameter measurements such as for example one or more of cell phone position, velocity, and direction of travel, are time stamped and then passed between service providers and a third party.

Abstract: A database of user preference information is extracted and compiled from multiple websites by web-crawling robots without cooperation or specific participation by users. Users who interact with a website are frequently required to register and create a login or userID name that uniquely identifies them. Thereafter, when an individual rates an item, it is often recorded and published under their userID name such that other users can see how a specific individual rated the item. Although there is no requirement that a specific user register on different websites utilizing the identical userID, it is extremely common that this practice occurs and the use of identical userIDs on multiple sites is used herein to expand preference analysis beyond a single site. Once the database exists, users can request or be passively offered suggestions that result from preference associations across multiple websites as performed by a preference analysis and suggestion function.