Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for integration of an RF antenna in an appliance. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus includes: a dielectric having a specified length and width defining an area; a ground plane made of conductive material directly adjacent to the dielectric, the ground plane formed from one or more components of a handle or a door of a heating device; an antenna element made of conductive material forming a plane adjacent to the dielectric and parallel to the ground plane, the antenna having a first dimension defining a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupled to the ground plane; and an antenna feed electrically coupled to the antenna element at specified distance from the first end, the distance from the first end selected in accordance with a wavelength of a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for automatically provisioning a new IoT device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for securely providing a User ID and/or password to an IoT device. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: receiving at an Internet of Things (IoT) service a request from a mobile device over a first communication channel to transmit credentials for a particular online service to an IoT device, responsively encrypting the credentials to generate encrypted credentials and transmitting the encrypted credentials to the IoT device over a second communication channel, decrypting the encrypted credentials at the IoT device, and providing the credentials by the IoT device to a computer over a third communication channel, the computer causing the credentials to be provided to the online service to authenticate the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for securely providing a User ID and/or password to an IoT device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for integration of an RF antenna in an appliance. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a dielectric having a specified length and width defining an area; a ground plane comprising conductive material directly adjacent to the dielectric, the ground pane formed from one or more components of a handle or a door of a heating device; an antenna element comprising conductive material forming a plane adjacent to the dielectric and parallel to the ground plane, the antenna having a first dimension defining a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupled to the ground plane; and an antenna feed electrically coupled to the antenna element at specified distance from the first end, the distance from the first end selected in accordance with a wavelength of a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted and/or received by the antenna.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for securing a vehicle or location. One embodiment of a method comprises: periodically transmitting a ping packet from a vehicle or location in a locked or inactive state; resetting a timer or recording a time at which the ping packet was transmitted; receiving a response packet to the ping packet; determining a time between transmitting the ping packet and receiving the response packet based on a current value in the timer when the response packet is received or based on a difference between the time at which the ping packet was transmitted and the time at which the response packet was received; determining whether the time is above a specified threshold; unlocking and/or activating the vehicle or location if the time is below the specified threshold; and maintaining the locked or inactive state if the time is above the specified threshold.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, from a remote communication device and at a server system, information that indicates a unique identifier for a physical item that corresponds to media content, the identifier differing from identifiers for other physical items that correspond to the same content; associating the received information with an account of a first user of a hosted internet service; and subsequently providing, by the hosted internet service, content that matches the content that corresponds to the physical item, based on a determination that the received information authorizes the first user to obtain the content provided by the hosted internet service.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for securely providing a User ID and/or password to an IoT device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate attaching a mobile station to a target wireless network through a physical connection between the mobile station and a supporting wireless network. Uplink and downlink channels between the mobile station and the target wireless network tunnel through the supporting wireless network. The systems and methods described herein thereby enable a mobile station with a single transceiver to become simultaneously attached to multiple wireless networks. The systems and methods described herein further support the handover of a mobile station from a generic access component of a mobile network to a radio access component and the handover of a mobile station from a radio access component of a mobile network to a generic access component of the mobile network thus facilitating rapid transitions from one mobile network air interface to another.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, from a remote communication device and at a server system, information that indicates a unique identifier for a physical item that corresponds to media content, the identifier differing from identifiers for other physical items that correspond to the same content; associating the received information with an account of a first user of a hosted internet service; and subsequently providing, by the hosted internet service, content that matches the content that corresponds to the physical item, based on a determination that the received information authorizes the first user to obtain the content provided by the hosted internet service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate attaching a mobile station to a target wireless network through a physical connection between the mobile station and a supporting wireless network. Uplink and downlink channels between the mobile station and the target wireless network tunnel through the supporting wireless network. The systems and methods described herein thereby enable a mobile station with a single transceiver to become simultaneously attached to multiple wireless networks. The systems and methods described herein further support the handover of a mobile station from a generic access component of a mobile network to a radio access component and the handover of a mobile station from a radio access component of a mobile network to a generic access component of the mobile network thus facilitating rapid transitions from one mobile network air interface to another.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, from a remote communication device and at a server system, information that indicates a unique identifier for a physical item that corresponds to media content, the identifier differing from identifiers for other physical items that correspond to the same content; associating the received information with an account of a first user of a hosted internet service; and subsequently providing, by the hosted internet service, content that matches the content that corresponds to the physical item, based on a determination that the received information authorizes the first user to obtain the content provided by the hosted internet service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein that facilitate attaching a mobile station to a target wireless network through a physical connection between the mobile station and a supporting wireless network. Uplink and downlink channels between the mobile station and the target wireless network tunnel through the supporting wireless network. The systems and methods described herein thereby enable a mobile station with a single transceiver to become simultaneously attached to multiple wireless networks. The systems and methods described herein further support the handover of a mobile station from a generic access component of a mobile network to a radio access component and the handover of a mobile station from a radio access component of a mobile network to a generic access component of the mobile network thus facilitating rapid transitions from one mobile network air interface to another.

Abstract: Systems, device and techniques are disclosed for measuring a parasitic load in an environment. A transmitter may transmit an out of order pulse such that a receiver with synchronous rectification circuitry rejects induced power from the transmitter based on the out of order pulse. The parasitic load is determined by measuring the amount of power induced by the transmitter while the intended receiver rejects the power subtracted by known inherent loss.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.

Abstract: A method and system are provided that synchronize one or more appliances to one or more users' schedules. Sensor data may be obtained from a sensor. The sensor data may indicate a state of a first appliance. A user location may be determined. A first characteristic of the first appliance may be obtained. Based upon the user location and the sensor data, a schedule indicating when the user will desire a state change of the first appliance may be determined. A feature of the first appliance may be dynamically modified to cause the first appliance to operate according to the schedule. A notice may be sent to the user that contains information about the first appliance.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for automatically obtaining data indicating the locations of wireless devices and physical objects within a region are provided. An autonomous mobile platform may survey a region with a wireless signal strength sensor and/or a physical environment sensor. The signal strength data and the spatial data are used to generate a map that indicates the locations of wireless devices within a region such as a home or office. The map may be automatically generated and/or updated in the course of other operations performed by an autonomous mobile platform.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for automatically obtaining data indicating the locations of wireless devices and physical objects within a region are provided. An autonomous mobile platform may survey a region with a wireless signal strength sensor and/or a physical environment sensor. The signal strength data and the spatial data are used to generate a map that indicates the locations of wireless devices within a region such as a home or office. The map may be automatically generated and/or updated in the course of other operations performed by an autonomous mobile platform.