Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improved powerline communication (PLC) are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises power down hardware coupled to internal wiring of a premises to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request, and at least one hardware device to transmit a request to the power down hardware to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request and to transmit data using power line communication hardware of the at least one hardware device while the portion of the internal wiring is powered down.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improved powerline communication (PLC) are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises power down hardware coupled to internal wiring of a premises to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request, and at least one hardware device to transmit a request to the power down hardware to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request and to transmit data using power line communication hardware of the at least one hardware device while the portion of the internal wiring is powered down.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improved powerline communication (PLC) are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises power down hardware coupled to internal wiring of a premises to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request, and at least one hardware device to transmit a request to the power down hardware to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request and to transmit data using power line communication hardware of the at least one hardware device while the portion of the internal wiring is powered down.

Abstract: A distributed system is disclosed for mining, correlating and analyzing locally obtained traffic video data. The system comprises a central controller configured to correlate traffic counting meta data gathered at a thoroughfare, to transmit control information to specify one or more traffic counting events to be monitored by at least one video unit located at the thoroughfare and to receive traffic counting meta data from the at least one video unit. The at least one video unit located at the thoroughfare, is configured to process a video stream from a video camera while monitoring the traffic counting events at the thoroughfare specified by the central controller, to analyze and evaluate the traffic counting event, to encode traffic meta data characterizing the analysis, and to transmit the meta data to the central controller. Further meta data can be acquired by mining the meta data history or any captured raw video footage.

Abstract: A system for providing an optical event alert signal to portable devices carried by pedestrians or vehicles, comprises: a video unit located along a thoroughfare, configured to capture sound, and video images of traffic conditions and events, analyze and recognize types of events, and transmit one or more identified event data packets over a communication link to lighting device nodes located around or along the thoroughfare; and one or more lighting device nodes located along a thoroughfare, configured to repeat and cascade event information using propagation control and decode the identified event data packets and modulate an LED array to transmit an optical event signal to portable devices carried by pedestrians and vehicles.

Abstract: A distributed system for traffic monitoring and event detection includes a plurality of video units within viewing distance of a thoroughfare to be monitored. Each video unit processes a video stream while monitoring events at the thoroughfare, identifies and analyzes events, encodes traffic meta data characterizing the analysis, and transmits the meta data to a central controller. The central controller stores a geographic map representing the thoroughfare, correlates the meta data received from the video units, and forms a composite representation of the geographic map and the correlated meta data. The central controller replays previously stored composite representations of the geographic map and the correlated meta data, which were monitored under mutually different event conditions. The central controller is also configured to allow changes to previously stored composite representations of the geographic map and to the correlated meta data for the purpose of understanding the impact of change.

Abstract: A parking management system includes a parking facility management controller configured to allocate parking spaces at a parking facility as at least one of customer reserved spaces, handicap spaces, electric vehicle station spaces, premium spaces or unreserved spaces, the controller further including a communications unit configured to transmit the allocation of parking spaces to at least one video unit located at the parking facility. The video unit located at the parking facility, includes a video camera and video frame processing logic to process a video stream from the video camera while monitoring a parking space allocated by the controller, identify an event occurring at the allocated parking space, and encode a low bandwidth message characterizing the event. The at least one video unit includes a communications unit configured to transmit the low bandwidth message over low bandwidth communication links to the management controller.

Abstract: Example embodiments of an invention to efficiently organize and control a distributed lighting network. A process supports message flows and an interface to facilitate the organization and control a very large array of intelligent lighting nodes. Each newly installed lighting node broadcasts an initial contact message that includes fields specifying requests, such as lighting schedule, intensity, color, aiming direction, flood lighting, etc. A central controller receives the message at a discovery message and provisioning request interface, commissions the lighting node, and processes the provisioning requests.

Abstract: A distributed system is disclosed for mining, correlating and analyzing locally obtained traffic video data. The system comprises a central controller configured to correlate traffic counting meta data gathered at a thoroughfare, to transmit control information to specify one or more traffic counting events to be monitored by at least one video unit located at the thoroughfare and to receive traffic counting meta data from the at least one video unit. The at least one video unit located at the thoroughfare, is configured to process a video stream from a video camera while monitoring the traffic counting events at the thoroughfare specified by the central controller, to analyze and evaluate the traffic counting event, to encode traffic meta data characterizing the analysis, and to transmit the meta data to the central controller. Further meta data can be acquired by mining the meta data history or any captured raw video footage.

Abstract: A distributed system for traffic monitoring and event detection includes a plurality of video units within viewing distance of a thoroughfare to be monitored. Each video unit processes a video stream while monitoring events at the thoroughfare, identifies and analyzes events, encodes traffic meta data characterizing the analysis, and transmits the meta data to a central controller. The central controller stores a geographic map representing the thoroughfare, correlates the meta data received from the video units, and forms a composite representation of the geographic map and the correlated meta data. The central controller replays previously stored composite representations of the geographic map and the correlated meta data, which were monitored under mutually different event conditions. The central controller is also configured to allow changes to previously stored composite representations of the geographic map and to the correlated meta data for the purpose of understanding the impact of change.

Abstract: A parking management system includes a parking facility management controller configured to allocate parking spaces at a parking facility as at least one of customer reserved spaces, handicap spaces, electric vehicle station spaces, premium spaces or unreserved spaces, the controller further including a communications unit configured to transmit the allocation of parking spaces to at least one video unit located at the parking facility. The video unit located at the parking facility, includes a video camera and video frame processing logic to process a video stream from the video camera while monitoring a parking space allocated by the controller, identify an event occurring at the allocated parking space, and encode a low bandwidth message characterizing the event. The at least one video unit includes a communications unit configured to transmit the low bandwidth message over low bandwidth communication links to the management controller.

Abstract: The combination of LED lighting and particulate detectors are enhanced by exploiting the light degradation/reflection/wavelengths detected, absorbed or frequency shift seen in lighting due to the presence of smoke, gas or other molecules (such as explosives) in the air can be detected. The use of LEDs is expanded well beyond simple lighting and energy savings to include not only smoke and fire detection by also to scan for gases and particulates found based in the usage environment.

Abstract: The combination of LED lighting and particulate detectors are enhanced by exploiting the light degradation/reflection/wavelengths detected, absorbed or frequency shift seen in lighting due to the presence of smoke, gas or other molecules (such as explosives) in the air can be detected. The use of LEDs is expanded well beyond simple lighting and energy savings to include not only smoke and fire detection by also to scan for gases and particulates found based in the usage environment.

Abstract: A distributed lighting network has its lights scheduled based on weather forecast information. A lighting controller stores a lighting schedule for distribution to the distributed lighting network and transmits the lighting schedule to the network. The lighting controller receives from a subscription weather server, short-term or long-term weather forecast datasets. The lighting controller generates lighting control information to modify the lighting schedule, based on the received customized weather forecast datasets, and transmits the lighting control information to the distributed lighting network to modify the lighting schedule, based on the customized weather forecast datasets. The system also enables the lighting schedules to modulate human circadian rhythms if necessary to further promote public health and safety during weather events.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improved powerline communication (PLC) are described. In one embodiment, a system comprises power down hardware coupled to internal wiring of a premises to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request, and at least one hardware device to transmit a request to the power down hardware to selectively power down a portion of the internal wiring on request and to transmit data using power line communication hardware of the at least one hardware device while the portion of the internal wiring is powered down.

Abstract: A scalable cluster system that provides scalable services for client applications is provided with a forwarding list. The scalable services are transparent to the client application. To facilitate this transparent scalability, the system provides a forwarding list. For various operational reasons, such as tuning the system, an operator may change the work distribution weights between nodes of a scalable cluster system. Such a change in work distribution weights may change how packets are assigned to nodes. Forwarding lists are provided so that if the work distribution weights are changed while there are existing connections the forwarding lists allow packets from existing connections to go to the same node as earlier packets from the same connection.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses a destination address of a packet to perform a fast lookup to determine a service that is specified by the destination address. The system initially receives a packet at an interface node in the cluster of nodes. This packet includes a source address specifying a location of a client that the packet originated from, and the destination address specifying a service provided by the cluster of nodes. The system uses the destination address to perform a first lookup into a first lookup structure containing identifiers for scalable services. Note that a scalable service is a service that provides more server node capacity for the scalable service as demand for the scalable service increases. If no identifier for a scalable service is returned during the first lookup, the system sends the packet to a server node in the cluster of nodes that provides a non-scalable service.

Abstract: A scalable cluster system that provides scalable services for client applications is provided with client affinity. The scalable services are transparent to the client application. To facilitate this transparent scalability, the system provides different types of client affinity to different services for the client applications. Services may have no client affinity, so that different packets sent during different connections could be sent to different nodes on the cluster. Services may have single service client affinity, which causes packets for a single service from different connections from the same source to be sent to the same node. Services may have multiple service client affinity, which causes packets for different services from different connections from the same source to be sent to the same node. Services may have wild card client affinity, which causes packets for different destination ports from different connections from the same source to be sent to the same node.