Abstract: A base for engaging a drone includes a collar defined above a landing plane sized to support the drone. The base further includes a plurality of drone guides arrayed about a centerline centered on the collar. Each of the plurality of drone guides includes a substantially conical guide including an open base positioned adjacent to the collar and narrowing towards the landing plane, and a landing pad defined as part of the landing plane, wherein the landing pad is adjacent to a narrowed end of the substantially conical guide, and wherein at the landing pad is radially aligned relative to the collar.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a drone-based system comprises: a base station, wherein the base station is configured to provide drone control and power; a drone; a tether connecting the base station to the drone and configured to provide the drone with the power from the base station; and a lighting system, operably attached to the drone via the tether, configured to generate illumination of a ground area, wherein the illumination of the ground area is controllable by modifying least one of an intensity of the illumination and a height of the drone above the ground area.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for site management that includes launching, from a mobile drone base unit, a drone including a sensor package and an illumination source; tethering, by a tether coupling the drone to the mobile drone base unit, the drone to provide power and maintain communications between the drone and the mobile drone base unit; receiving, from the sensor package of the drone, data related to a construction site; comparing the received data related to the construction site to blueprint data related to the construction site; and in response to identifying a deviation between the received data and the blueprint data, moving the mobile drone base unit to a position allowing the drone to highlight the deviation.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a drone-based system comprises: a base station, wherein the base station is configured to provide drone control and power; a drone; a tether connecting the base station to the drone and configured to provide the drone with the power from the base station; and a lighting system, operably attached to the drone via the tether, configured to generate illumination of a ground area, wherein the illumination of the ground area is controllable by modifying least one of an intensity of the illumination and a height of the drone above the ground area.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a drone-based system comprises: a base station, wherein the base station is configured to provide drone control and power; a drone; a tether connecting the base station to the drone and configured to provide the drone with the power from the base station; and a lighting system, operably attached to the drone via the tether, configured to generate illumination of a ground area, wherein the illumination of the ground area is controllable by modifying least one of an intensity of the illumination and a height of the drone above the ground area.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a drone-based system comprises: a base station, wherein the base station is configured to provide drone control and power; a drone; a tether connecting the base station to the drone and configured to provide the drone with the power from the base station; and a lighting system, operably attached to the drone via the tether, configured to generate illumination of a ground area, wherein the illumination of the ground area is controllable by modifying least one of an intensity of the illumination and a height of the drone above the ground area.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a drone-based system comprises: a base station, wherein the base station is configured to provide drone control and power, a drone; a tether connecting the base station to the drone and configured to provide the drone with the power from the base station; and a lighting system, operably attached to the drone via the tether, configured to generate illumination of a ground area, wherein the illumination of the ground area is controllable by modifying least one of an intensity of the illumination and a height of the drone above the ground area.

Abstract: A control device for a motor vehicle. In the event of an interruption of an external voltage supply, limited functionality can continue to be maintained. For this purpose, it is provided to deactivate some functional modules of the control device in the event of an interruption of the external supply voltage and to use electrical energy stored in the deactivated functional modules for the voltage supply of further functional modules.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a drone-based system comprises: a base station, wherein the base station is configured to provide drone control and power, a drone; a tether connecting the base station to the drone and configured to provide the drone with the power from the base station; and a lighting system, operably attached to the drone via the tether, configured to generate illumination of a ground area, wherein the illumination of the ground area is controllable by modifying least one of an intensity of the illumination and a height of the drone above the ground area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed that identify date elements for a client, determine whether the identified date elements are excluded based on client profile information, determine whether the identified date elements are excluded based on respective profile information of two or more of the members of the client, and provide to the client one or more of the identified date elements that are consistent with the client profile information or the profile information of the two or more of the members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system configured to process content to enable tracing of at least one of a multitude of subsequent uses of content by at least one user. The system provides for: making markable content from content, iteratively marking the markable content with information such as use information; and later extracting at least one of the iteratively applied marks.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a system and method of distributing content. Authorization information is encoded with the content. When received and decoded, if a particular device output is authorized by the authorization information, then the content is output. By encoding the authorization information along with the content, unauthorized display of the content is reduced.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a system for identifying an unauthorized display of content. The system includes a preprocessor, an inserter, an observation device, and a subscriber information device. The preprocessor device preprocesses the content for subsequent insertion of semi-visible information. The inserter device inserts a semi-visible watermark into the content as having been preprocessed by the preprocessor device. The semi-visible watermark corresponds to a subscriber identifier. The observation device executes processing, including receiving an input from an observer that observes a display of the content that includes the semi-visible watermark. The input corresponds to the semi visible watermark. The processing further includes processing the input to generate an input result. The subscriber information device stores subscriber identifiers and identifies a particular subscriber by comparing the input result and the subscriber identifiers.

Abstract: A video processor for replacement based watermarking may include a video content input channel; a video content preprocessor; a replacement based watermarking (RBW) metadata creator; and a video content encoder. To output the encoded video content, the video processor may have a dual or single output channel. For a dual output channel, the video processor includes an encoded video content output channel and an RBW metadata output channel for outputting encoded video content and RBW metadata as separate streams for further processing and distribution. For a single output channel, the video processor includes a video content output channel for outputting encoded video content combined with RBW metadata as a single output stream for further processing and distribution.

Abstract: A content distribution system and method which prevents unauthorized access to secured content such as movies and music. The system includes a source, a receiver, an authorized security device such as a conditional access module (CAM) for decrypting authorized content and an output device for outputting content. The system can also include a backend for managing accounts and system operations. One aspect of this invention is that the content data is derived from the Internet. The system allows for the verification of authorization to play secured content, the addition of watermarks to the secured content, the conversion of the secured content to a displayable form and the means for preventing output of the secured content.

Abstract: A visual copyright protection system is disclosed, including input content, a disruption processor, and output content. The disruption processor inserts disruptive content to the input content creating output content that impedes the ability of optical recording devices to make useful copies of output content.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system configured to process content to enable tracing of at least one of a multitude of subsequent uses of content by at least one user. The system provides for: making markable content from content, iteratively marking the markable content with information such as use information; and later extracting at least one of the iteratively applied marks.

Abstract: A visual copyright protection system is disclosed, including input content, a disruption processor, and output content. The disruption processor inserts disruptive content to the input content creating output content that impedes the ability of optical recording devices to make useful copies of output content.

Abstract: A safety mailbox system including a mailbox container integrated with at least one decontaminating mechanism is disclosed. Contaminants may include chemical and biological agents.