Abstract: Emergency broadcasting systems and methods are described herein. One system includes an anchor access point configured to detect an emergency event and send a message relating to the emergency event to a number of location tags located within a predetermined area of the anchor access point.

Abstract: Systems and methods of backup battery support for switches and access points in fire detection systems are provided. Methods can include identifying a communications time interval for a plurality of devices, detecting a power failure, identifying a start time for a next scheduled communications time interval for a respective one of the plurality of devices, placing a wireless access point in a low power mode, and, substantially immediately prior to the start time, removing the wireless access point from the low power mode.

Abstract: A tactile-based guidance system incorporating tactors in headgear, such as a hat, helmet, or hood. Tactors may provide tactile sensations at different places about the head to convey information to a person such as direction, bearing, movement, orientation, and the like, of the person wearing the tactors. The system may also include an optional multi-dimensional sound mechanism which provides indications of direction, bearing, and other information. One or more tactors may be resorted to for resolving any ambiguity in the sound indications.

Abstract: A method for occupancy based energy optimization can include determining a size and speed of a number of objects within an area, determining a number of human occupants within the area based on the size and speed of the number of objects within the area, and altering a number of environmental settings for the area based on the determined number of human occupants.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for analyzing a network topology are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include receiving data from a node in a network of nodes with a wearable network topology analyzer, determining, with the wearable network topology analyzer, a coverage associated with the node in the network of nodes based on the received data, and determining whether to perform an operation to adjust the coverage associated with the node in the network of nodes, based on the determined coverage.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for cooperative intrusion detection are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include completing a radar scan with a network of outer perimeter radar nodes, detecting an intrusion event with the network of outer perimeter radar nodes, notifying at least one inner perimeter radar node in a network of inner perimeter radar nodes of the intrusion event, activating the at least one inner perimeter radar node from an idle mode in response to the notification of the intrusion event, and completing a radar scan with the at least one inner perimeter radar node upon activation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to locating systems, and more particularly, to handheld locator systems for locating personnel or other objects in buildings or other environments. In one illustrative embodiment, a tag is attached to an object to be located (e.g. firefighter). The tag may be configured to emit a first signal and a second signal, where the first signal and the second signal having disparate propagation characteristics in the environment. In some cases, the first signal may be an acoustic signal and the second signal may be an RF signal, but this is not required in all embodiments. By using a first signal or set of signals, and then automatically switching to another signal or set of signal(s) when the first signal or set of signals are not received clearly, the tag/receiver system may help mitigate the failure modes/weaknesses of any single technology, and may provide advantages over use of any of the technologies used singly.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described herein. One method can include determining a cross validation model using a user input, estimating a movement of a device from a first location to a second location using the cross validation model and the user input, and determining the second location of the device using the estimated movement of the device.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for producing a model of the interior of a building. The model is capable of receiving and dynamically incorporating input from various sources including, for example, existing static map data, data such as annotations and updates provided by persons on the scene but outside the building, and real-time data from sensors located on mobile persons or assets that are dynamically moving inside the building. In some cases, the moving persons or assets inside the building may carry a unit that emits sound or electromagnetic pulses, which reflect off the immediate surroundings in a particular room or portion of the building, and sense the reflected pulses. The reflections from relatively close features may arrive at the sensor more quickly than those from relatively distant features, so that temporal analysis of the reflected pulse may provide information about features in the building as a function of their distance away from the unit.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for providing a location of an individual are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to concurrently provide a location of an individual at least two different points in time, a time identifier for each of the at least two different points in time, and an uncertainty associated with the location of the individual at each of the at least two different points in time to a user.

Abstract: An acoustic user interface system and method for tracking spatial location data. A location tracking unit provides location information with respect to an object in an environment. The location information may be further employed to synthesize a perception of three-dimensional spatial location data with respect to multiple objects in the environment. The acoustic user interface communicates the three-dimensional spatial location data via an auditory channel to a stereophonic device based on a human stereophonic perception of one or more acoustic signal variable correlated with a relative location of the objects in order to co-ordinate and communicate location information effectively.

Abstract: Emergency broadcasting systems and methods are described herein. One system includes an anchor access point configured to detect an emergency event and send a message relating to the emergency event to a number of location tags located within a predetermined area of the anchor access point.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for an intrusion detection system are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include transmitting a DSSS signal, receiving a reflected DSSS signal from a target, correlating the reflected DSSS signal and the transmitted DSSS signal, and determining a distance to the target based on the correlation between the reflected DSSS signal and the transmitted DSSS signal.

Abstract: A Wi-Fi mesh fire detection system and methods therefor are provided. The system can include a plurality of access points, where each access point in the plurality of access points is wirelessly connected to at least two other access points in the plurality of access points. For example, a first access point can be assigned as a primary parent device to a third access point, and a second access point can be assigned as a secondary parent device to the third access point. The third access point can transmit a message to the secondary parent device when the third access point fails to confirm that the primary parent device successfully received the message transmitted by the third access point.

Abstract: Systems and methods of backup battery support for switches and access points in fire detection systems are provided. Methods can include identifying a communications time interval for a plurality of devices, detecting a power failure, identifying a start time for a next scheduled communications time interval for a respective one of the plurality of devices, placing a wireless access point in a low power mode, and, substantially immediately prior to the start time, removing the wireless access point from the low power mode.

Abstract: A wireless fire detection monitoring system comprises a control unit which includes a wireless transceiver and control software to implement a wireless multi-hop communications protocol. A network of battery powered monitoring devices is provided for monitoring alarm conditions. Each monitoring device includes software to implement the wireless communication protocol with one of, the control unit and at least one other child member of the plurality, or, at least two other members of the plurality where a selected device communicates with at least one child device and at least one parent device. The wireless multi-hop communications protocol comprises a time division multiple access communications protocol with the monitoring devices being time synchronized and the control unit and the monitoring devices are adapted to communicate compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to locating systems, and more particularly, to handheld locator systems for locating personnel or other objects in buildings or other environments. In one illustrative embodiment, a tag is attached to an object to be located (e.g. firefighter). The tag may be configured to emit a first signal and a second signal, where the first signal and the second signal having disparate propagation characteristics in the environment. In some cases, the first signal may be an acoustic signal and the second signal may be an RF signal, but this is not required in all embodiments. By using a first signal or set of signals, and then automatically switching to another signal or set of signal(s) when the first signal or set of signals are not received clearly, the tag/receiver system may help mitigate the failure modes/weaknesses of any single technology, and may provide advantages over use of any of the technologies used singly.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for model based degree-of-angle localization are described herein. One device includes a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to construct a model of a number of signals, where the model includes a number of parameters. The processor executes the executable instructions to estimate the number of parameters and calculate range information of the number of signals. The processor executes the executable instructions to estimate a location of a transmitter transmitting the number of signals.

Abstract: A method for enhanced location sensing based on topology constraints. A potential position value and a corresponding probability value with respect to an observed position data of an object within a structure can be calculated utilizing a normal probability distribution function. Thereafter, an optimal route between adjacent observed time periods may be calculated utilizing a heuristic search algorithm. The potential position value and the optimal route can be calculated by accessing a pre-installed topology data associated with the structure. An optimization problem can then be solved to refine the observed position data. The position between a pair of observed time periods can be interpolated and the position of the object before a next observed time can be predicted by interpolation based on the spatial constraints.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for providing a location of an individual are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to concurrently provide a location of an individual at least two different points in time, a time identifier for each of the at least two different points in time, and an uncertainty associated with the location of the individual at each of the at least two different points in time to a user.