Abstract: A system and method for tracking the location of an item during transport of that item from a mobile location to a fixed location. Wireless links established between the mobile location, the fixed location, and the item to be transported, are utilized to calculate a location parameter of the item to be transported. The calculated location parameter of the item is compared to a secure corridor and security features of the item to be transported may be activated dependent upon the result of that calculation.

Abstract: An interface includes a port that communicates with one of N detectors, where N is an integer greater than 1. A classification module communicates with the port and classifies the detector as one of an analog detector and a digital detector. The classification module selectively generates detector type information based on the classification.

Abstract: The invention provides a receiver 120 having a sensor 114 configured to output a signal representative of temperature variation detected at the sensor 114. A decoder 118 connected to the sensor 114 decodes the signal detected by the sensor 114 and outputs a stream of data which has been encoded in the temperature variation. The receiver 120 may be for use with a microprocessor 202, for example the microprocessor 202 of a memory tag 200 which includes a voltage regulator 210 in power circuitry 206. A system 100 and method 300 for transferring data are also provided.

Abstract: A circuit that employs an anti-tamper sensor includes a circuit element that is responsive to a first input and to a second input. A selective coupling element couples the circuit element to the first input and is responsive to the anti-tamper sensor. The selective coupling element has a first state that allows the circuit element to operate normally when the anti-tamper sensor does not detect a tamper condition and is configured to enter a second state that causes the circuit element to become inoperable when the anti-tamper sensor detects a tamper condition. A decoy coupling element is disposed between the second input and the circuit element and has an appearance corresponding to the selective coupling element. The decoy coupling element will cause the circuit element not to operate normally if the decoy coupling element has a selected physical property of the selective coupling element in the first state.

Abstract: There is provided a system for remote monitoring a plurality of security systems connected to the Internet, the security systems being assigned dynamic IP addresses, each of the security systems comprising a remote monitoring server module, the system comprising a central alarm monitoring service connected to the Internet for periodically communicating with the plurality of security systems and determining a status thereof to generate an alarm signal as a function of the status, the alarm monitoring service storing a current IP address of the plurality of security systems in an IP address database, and a remote monitoring gateway providing authenticated or unauthenticated dynamic domain name service (DDNS) server functionality to connect a given remote monitoring client to a desired one of the security systems, the gateway being connected to the IP address database and to the Internet. There is further provided a method of remote monitoring a security system.

Abstract: A security system and method for use of the same are disclosed that provide for remote surveillance. In one embodiment, a property's entry point such as a doorway is equipped with a video camera, an external microphone, and an external speaker. An individual, such as an owner of the property, is away from the property and equipped with a cellular telephone. When a person arrives at the entry point, a control unit relays audio and visual data captured by the video camera and the external microphone to the individual's cellular telephone. Similarly, the control unit relays audio data from the owner to the person at the entry point.

Abstract: Verbal warning labels and other audible warning systems for use with different devices, containers, products and other things in various environments are disclosed herein. An audible warning system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a device having a standardized textual warning associated therewith, and a sound playback system operably coupled to the device. The sound playback device can be configured to audibly output a verbal warning corresponding to the textual warning. The verbal warning can be provided by at least one of a manufacturer, supplier, distributor or retail vendor of the device, and the verbal warning can supplement or replace the standardized textual warning.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system and method are provided that can utilize impulse radio technology to detect when an intruder has entered a protection zone. In addition, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to determine a location of the intruder within the protection zone and also track the movement of the intruder within the protection zone. Moreover, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to create a specially shaped protection a one before trying to detect when and where the intruder has penetrated and moved within the protection zone.

Abstract: An invention that repels intruders from breaching large outdoor perimeter security systems consisting of an exterior physical barrier such as a fence or wall in combination with electronic sensors that detects the breach attempt and can identify the location of the attempt within a few feet. When detection occurs, the system activates a plumbing distribution and emission system that emits a repellent substance in the specific area or zone of the intrusion. The emission has a repulsive odor and an optional color dye that covers the intruders' clothing causing the intruders to abandon the attempted breach. The emission is neither painful nor dangerous to the health of the intruder but facilitates dog tracking. When activated, the system also normally sends an alarm to a Central Control Center, said alarm including the breach attempt location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing the range of RFID tags are provided. A supplemental RF power source can be provided to energize the tag and increase the distance at which an RFID tag can be read by an RFID reader. In some embodiments, the supplemental power source can be provided at a substantially constant wavelength. In other embodiments, the supplemental power source can be provided by a frequency hopping transmitter or other variable wavelength source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating with goods transported in a container by a carrier. New information to be transmitted is stored in a database of the carrier. When the container is in proximity of a communication node of the carrier, the carrier communication node transmits the new information to the intelligent device of the container. The container intelligent device of the container then communicates the new information to a second intelligent device associated with the transported goods. The second intelligent device then stores the new information and/or transmits it to an RFID tag of the transported goods. The new information may be encrypted for secure communication.

Abstract: A real time location system has a plurality of tag devices. Each tag device has a unique identification code. Each tag device will transmit a location signal when activated. A plurality of location receivers are installed in a fixed location. The location receivers will receive the location signal and calculate a location of the tag device transmitting the location signal. A signal mechanism is coupled to an I/O port of each tag device. The location mechanism provides at least one of an audible signal or visual signal when activated. A location reader is provided. The location reader receives the location data transmitted by the plurality of location receivers to enable a person to locate the tag device transmitting the location signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for handling scheduled lending and self-returning of articles to which RFID tags are attached. The system includes a body. The body includes, on a front surface thereof, a display for displaying a method of using the system, handling processes, and processing results, a speaker, a receipt issuing unit, a manipulational information input unit, an external antenna for transmitting/receiving information to/from the RFID tags, and a plurality of article depositories having respective internal antennas for transmitting/receiving information to/from the RFID tags.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) addressable sensor includes one or more sensor elements, a sensor interface having an analog to digital converter coupled to the one or more sensor elements, at least one antenna, an RF power and communications interface coupled to the at least one antenna and the sensor interface, a controller coupled to the RF power and communications interface and the sensor interface, and a memory coupled to the controller and the sensor interface. The memory is configured to store a tag identification number. The sensor interface includes a memory, which includes a sensor data table. The RF power and communications interface, memory and sensor interface are implemented in one or more integrated circuits.

Abstract: A system tracks vehicles within a terminal and includes at least one tag interrogator mounted on a vehicle to be identified and tracked within the terminal. The tag interrogator is operative for emitting a signal containing data identifying the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one tag transmitter is fixed at a known location within the terminal where vehicles are to be identified and receptive to a tag interrogator on the vehicle when the vehicle passes within proximity to the fixed tag transmitter for transmitting a wireless RF signal having data identifying the tag transmitter and identifying the tag interrogator as an identifier for the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one access point is positioned at the terminal for receiving the RF signal from the tag transmitter for subsequent processing to verify vehicle identity at the known location.

Abstract: An RF tag is disclosed that includes an antenna and an integrated circuit connected to the antenna. The antenna includes a first radiating element, a second radiating element, a feeding part connected in series between the first and second radiating elements, and an impedance control part connected parallel to the feeding part. An auxiliary radiating element connected to one or both of the first and second radiating elements is used for radio communication with the integrated circuit before completion of the RF tag, and is not used for radio communication after the completion of the RF tag.

Abstract: An RF tag to accompany a conductive object is disclosed that includes an antenna and an integrated circuit connected to the antenna. The antenna includes a first radiating element, a second radiating element, a feeding part connected in series between the first and second radiating elements, and an impedance control part connected parallel to the feeding part. The antenna has an effective length shorter than half of a wavelength used in communication.

Abstract: An RFID insert includes a housing of molded plastic construction and an RFID tag captured within the housing. A portion of the housing is permanently frangibly removable from the remainder of the housing to remove the RFID tag from within the housing and thereby disable RFID operation of the insert. The housing preferably includes a center portion connected to a ring-shaped periphery by a plurality of angularly spaced frangible bridges. The center portion of the housing may include a slot or pocket for engagement by a tool to twist the center portion with respect to the periphery and thereby facilitate rupture of the bridges, and/or may include indicia to identify presence of the RFID tag in the insert.

Abstract: An electronic device and transmitter allowing animal owners to locate their animals by a non-verbal audible output signal and a visual output signal. A method for training animals to elicit a desired behavior based upon stimuli emitted from an electronic device. The electronic device and method enable animal owners to quickly find their animals that might not otherwise respond to verbal commands.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to power management and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for mobile device power management. In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile device power management method can be provided. The method can include sensing environmental conditions associated with the proximity of a mobile device to a human ear and determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions. Responsive to determining a period of inactivity from the sensed environmental conditions, the mobile device can be placed in a state of lower power consumption. Optionally, a companion device can be notified of the state of lower power consumption.

Abstract: A broadcasting receiver may include a host controller, a memory and an application manager. The host controller generates and transmits an EAS signal on the basis of information included in an emergency alert message which is received and parsed. The memory stores an operating system (OS) program and an execution management application. The application manager includes an application platform for executing the executing management application. The executing management application registers an EAS handler, receives the EAS signal transmitted from the host controller via the registered EAS handler, and controls the host in the EAS state according to the received EAS signal.

Abstract: A recordable smoke detector configured to record a message to be played in an alarm condition. The recordable smoke detector includes a testing system configured to play the recorded message to determine whether one or more quantifiable characteristics of the recorded message meets a predetermined threshold, thereby signifying that the recorded message is operable at a safe sound intensity capable of waking a sleeping person.

Abstract: A smoke detector simultaneously processes signals from a detector and signals from an image capture unit through using a power frequency carrier device. Thus, an early alarm can be made by the detector. Nevertheless, the detector can be easily installed at any p lace without a complex wiring.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a built-in battery whose residual amount of the electrical energy can be detected accurately. The semiconductor device has a battery, a demodulation circuit, a control circuit which generates a signal having information about the residual amount of the electrical energy stored in the battery, and a transmission medium which displays the residual amount of the electrical energy in accordance with the signal. The demodulation circuit demodulates a signal input from an antenna which requests display of the residual amount of the electrical energy. Based on the demodulated signal, the control circuit starts to generate a signal having information about the residual amount of the electrical energy in the battery.

Abstract: An alarm device of a twisting bending spanner comprises: a body having an indication light; a handle at one end of the body; a bending tube at another end of the body; a strain gauge being installed in the bending tube; the strain gauge being electrically connected to the indication light of the body. When the force of the spanner applied to an object to be locked or released has achieved to a preset value, the indication light will light up to alert a user. An alarm light is further installed; when the force of the spanner applied to the object is achieved to an alarm value, the alarm light will light up. The body is a hollow body; the handle is soft and a front end of the handle is a toggle; the indication light and alarm light are received in the toggle.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations arranged in a generally two-dimensional array including an illuminator, disposed adjacent a first edge of the two-dimensional array and generating radiation which illuminates a generally planar imaginary curtain disposed in front of the plural adjacent item locations, at least one detector, disposed adjacent the first edge of the array and sensing the radiation reflected from a hand traversing the imaginary curtain generally at any location on the curtain and location determination circuitry responsive to at least one output of the at least one detector for associating a sensed position of the hand with respect to one of the plural adjacent item locations.

Abstract: An earthquake alert system using wireless terminals and a method for providing an earthquake alert are provided. The system includes at least one wireless terminal for detecting vibration greater than a predetermined amount and transmitting vibration information generated based on the vibration, and a mobile communication network for transmitting the vibration information to an emergency management agency, and if it is notified by the emergency management agency that the vibration information is caused by an earthquake, determining a propagation direction of the earthquake and transmitting an earthquake alert message to wireless terminals located in the earthquake propagation direction.

Abstract: An ambient condition detector outputs an alarm comprising a tonal pattern comprising at least two distinctly different pitch tones in one embodiment of the invention. Another embodiment comprises a detector whereby a user can select a pitch tone to be output within a tonal pattern alarm when the detector senses an ambient condition. Options include verbal output to indicate the type of ambient condition sensed and/or the location of the detector sensing the ambient condition.

Abstract: Provided is an optical sensor module including a printed circuit board (PCB) having a pad with a perforated portion formed in the central portion thereof; a lens disposed on the top surface of the pad so as to cover the perforated portion; one or more light sources disposed around the lens; an image sensor closely attached to the bottom surface of the pad; and a housing mounted to surround the outer periphery of the image sensor, the housing having the same height as that of the image sensor and the same size as that of the pad.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for using visual separators to indicate additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device.

Abstract: A data input arrangement for a mobile device which includes a first group of input keys, a second group of input keys and a break. The first group defines a first typing surface on the mobile device. The first typing surface defines a first shape. The second group defines a second typing surface on the mobile device. The second typing surface defines a second shape different from the first shape. The break is situated between the first and second groups to separate the first and second groups from one another.

Abstract: A sensor device (100) and method (300) for touchless finger signing and recognition is provided. The method can include detecting (304) a first pause of a finger in a touchless sensory space (101), tracking (306) a movement (140) of the finger, detecting (308) a second pause of the finger, creating (310) a trace (145) of the finger movement from the tracking, and recognizing (312) a pattern (146) from the trace. The pattern can be an alphanumeric character or a finger gesture. A user can accept or reject the recognized pattern via touchless finger control.

Abstract: A method of mapping a traditional touchtone telephone keypad on a handheld electronic device having a disambiguation function, and an associated apparatus comprises outputting a representation of a remapped character layout and generating a disambiguated interpretation of an input.

Abstract: A key switch matrix circuit includes key switches arranged in rows and columns, each row having a scan line, each column having a sense line. Each key switch is operable to couple a scan line to a sense line. A scan signal delivery circuit supplies scan signals to the scan lines, the scan signals delivering a scan pulse to each row of the key switch matrix circuit in turn. A key switch detection circuit outputs a first signal if a key switch is operated and a scan pulse detection circuit outputs a second signal if a scan pulse is coupled to a sense line. The scan signal delivery circuit begins supplying scan signals in response to the first signal and stops supplying scan signals in response to the second signal. In one embodiment, a processor reads the sense lines in response to the second signal.

Abstract: This computer Chinese character input method mainly includes: Select 10 elements corresponding to the 10 simplified Chinese character strokes, which are and Select 46 elements corresponding to the 46 stroke combination sets, whose representative visual representations are: Assign the above 10 elements and 46 elements to keys on a computer keyboard; Determine desired characters based on the elements input by a user using the keyboard mentioned above or other apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting a capacitance measured on a sensor element to a digital code. The apparatus may include a switching capacitor as a sensor element of a sensing device, and a sigma-delta modulator coupled to the sensor element to convert a capacitance measured on the sensor element to a digital code. The switching capacitor is in a feedback loop of the sigma-delta modulator. The method may include measuring a capacitance on a sensor element of a sensing device using a sigma-delta modulator, and converting the capacitance measured on the sensor element to a digital code.

Abstract: A serial data receiving circuit and a serial data receiving method are provided which are capable of performing interconversion on bit sequences of data bit groups, between LSB first and MSB first, in serial data transmitted serially in successive data bit groups. Conversion parts C1 through C8 receive 8 different bit strings BS1 through BS8 having a 32-bit bit length and in which a start position of a head bit is shifted by one bit at a time. Conversion parts C1 through C8 perform a conversion operation to reverse a bit sequence of the bit strings BS1 through BS8 every 8 bits starting from a head bit. Coincidence detection circuits D1 through D8 perform coincidence detection on the bit strings BS1 through BS8 to detect coincidence with a synchronization pattern RS. A selector circuit 60 extracts any of upper bit strings HCBS1 through HCBS8 from the bit strings on which coincidence detection was performed, and outputs the result as detection data FD.

Abstract: Generating and using a high-speed, scalable, and easily updateable data structure are described. The proposed data structure provides minimal perfect hashing functionality while intrinsically supporting low-cost set-membership queries. In other words, in some embodiments, it provides at most one match candidate in a set of known arbitrary-length bit strings that is used to match the query.

Abstract: A receiving device is provided. A pulse width is measured, it is selected whether a determination process is performed for a pulse width having the length of one bit in accordance with the measured value of the pulse width or a pulse width having the length of ½ bit, it is discriminated whether a current pulse edge is a pulse edge at the center of the bit or a pulse edge at the boundary between bits while considering the bit data right before the determined bit, and when it is determined that the current pulse edge is the pulse edge at the center of the bit, the bit data is determined by the rising edge or the falling edge of the pulse edge.

Abstract: A string matching system includes a text string, a plurality of patterns, an m-byte search window and a plurality of Bloom filters, wherein the m-byte search window stands for an m-byte sub-string in the text string under inspection. Every Bloom filter comprises sub-strings of a plurality of patterns. These Bloom filters are queried for membership of the rightmost block in the search window to determine the shift length. The acceleration efficiency of matching many bytes can be achieved simultaneously by shifting the search window for many bytes. Meanwhile, the patterns are stored into an embedded memory through a memory-efficient mechanism-the Bloom filter.

Abstract: An entropy encoder includes an apparatus for producing a data stream which comprises two reference points, of code words of variable lengths, the apparatus comprising a first device for writing at least a part of a code word into the data stream in a first direction of writing, starting from a first reference point, and a second device for writing at least a part of a code word into the data stream in a second direction of writing, which is opposite to the first direction of writing, starting from the other reference point. In particular, when a raster having a plurality of segments is used to write the code words of variable lengths into the data stream, the number of the code words which can be written starting at raster points is doubled, in the best case, such that the data stream of code words of variable lengths is robust toward a propagation of sequence errors.

Abstract: A cycle time to digital converter comprises a dual delay lock loop, multi phase sampling detector and VDL sampling detector. The dual delay lock loop generates the first voltage corresponding to the first delay time and the second voltage corresponding to the second delay time. The multi phase sampling detector receives first start signal, first stop signal and first voltage to detect a coarse delay time, generates the first group signals according to the coarse delay time, delays the first stop signal by a common delay time to generate the second stop signal, and delays the first start signal by the coarse delay time and the common delay time to generate the second start signal. The VDL sampling detector receives first voltage, second voltage, second start signal and second stop signal for detecting a fine delay time and generates the second group signals according to the fine delay time.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to techniques for memory efficient and low complexity adaptive variable length coding (VLC) of data for a variety of applications, such as coding of digital video, image, audio, or speech data. In some aspects, the techniques may exploit properties of particular sets of codewords to support very compact data structures. In other aspects, the techniques may support low-complexity, adaptive encoding and decoding of binary sequences produced by memoryless sources.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to techniques for memory efficient and low complexity adaptive variable length coding (VLC) of data for a variety of applications, such as coding of digital video, image, audio, or speech data. In some aspects, the techniques may exploit properties of particular sets of codewords to support very compact data structures. In other aspects, the techniques may support low-complexity, adaptive encoding and decoding of binary sequences produced by memoryless sources.

Abstract: A reference signal and a feedback signal are written to memory and the state of a power value of a reference signal is used for judging whether the current signal is in a normal state, burst state, non-modulation state or no-wave transmission state. If the state is judged to be the burst state or no-wave transmission state, a DC offset correction is performed by selecting a feedback signal type DC offset correction method in which a DC offset is corrected by using only a feedback signal. If the state is judged to be the normal state or non-modulation state, a DC offset correction is performed by selecting a reference signal type DC offset correction method in which a DC offset is corrected by using a differential signal between the reference signal and feedback signal.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an over-sampling method and corresponding over-sampling circuit efficiently generate an over-sampled signal by determining sampling phases in the over-sampled signal that are unused by downstream processing of the over-sampled signal, and skipping the generation of output values for the over-sampled signal that correspond to the unused sampling phases. In a communication receiver embodiment, determining the unused sampling phases comprises, with respect to currently estimated multipath delays of a received communication signal from which the over-sampled signal is derived, determining which sampling phases in the over-sampled signal will not be used by a downstream processing circuit having known processing delay assignment constraints. The known delay assignment constraints comprise Rake finger placement constraints or channel equalizer tap placement constraints, for example.

Abstract: A sigma-delta modulator and an output rate reduction method are disclosed. The sigma-delta modulator comprises an integrator, an analog-to-digital converter, and a controller. An input signal is received by the integrator to generate an integrated signal. The integrated signal is then converted by the analog-to-digital converter into a digital modulation signal. The input signal is received by the controller to calculate an input signal power. The analog-to-digital converter can be controlled by the controller based on a predetermined power value and a sum of the input signal power and a total quantization error power. By the way mentioned above, the out rate of the sigma-delta modulator is reduced.

Abstract: A network for generating a set of intermediate voltages comprising two input ports for feeding two reference voltages. The intermediate voltages are generated by a number of self calibration units that correspond to the number of intermediate voltages to be generated. Each self calibration unit receives the voltages of the neighboring calibration units or the voltage of one neighboring calibration unit and one of the reference voltages.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for key mapping. The method for key mapping setting in a Bluetooth device includes determining a key of another Bluetooth device that is to be mapped and a predetermined function with respect to the key, setting the function of the key to the predetermined function, and storing information on the key and the predetermined function. Accordingly, functions of an existing Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) controller can be mapped onto predetermined functions when the Bluetooth device does not include the AVRCP controller that provides predetermined functions.

Abstract: A digital missile warning system comprising a distributed pulse doppler radar having a plurality of antennas, each being coupled to a transmit/receive (T/R) module located adjacent to the antenna, and parallel signal processing channels including an A/D converter, FFT processor and a range/velocity track file processor in each channel for each antenna resulting in enhanced detection range, reduced False Alarm Rate (FAR), faster response time, reduced size, weight and installation requirements, improved reliability and reduced acquisition and life cycle costs. An optional optical missile warning system can provide azimuth and elevation data to the track file processors which enables a three (3) dimensional track of a missile, with azimuth and elevation angles provided by the optical system and range, velocity and acceleration data provided by the pulse doppler radar. The combination of Pulse Doppler Radar MWS and the Optical MWS produces close to a zero False Alarm Rate (FAR).