Predetermined Rate Of Occurrence Patents (Class 340/526)
  • Patent number: 11315394
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing an integrated doorbell device are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving doorbell data indicating activation of a doorbell of a property. The actions further include receiving device data from one or more devices associated with a monitoring system within the property. The actions further include determining a security status associated with the monitoring system. The actions further include based on the doorbell data indicating activation of the doorbell of the property, the device data from the one or more devices associated with the monitoring system, and the security status associated with the monitoring system, determining a response action for execution by the monitoring system. The actions further include performing, by the monitoring system, the response action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Kelly Franklin Jackson, Daniel Todd Kerzner, Benjamin Asher Berg
  • Patent number: 11195406
    Abstract: A vaporized aerosol detection system is presented herein. The system can include a motion sensor that is configured to detect movement in a predetermined or desired area. Further, the motion sensor can be configured to generate a detection signal in response to one or more detected objects in the area. The system can also include a particle sensor electronically coupled to the motion sensor. The particle sensor can be configured to detect a particle count of the area when the objects are detected by the motion sensor. Further, the system can include a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the motion sensor and particle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Zeptive, Inc.
    Inventors: Loucinda C. Bistany, William D. Hargett, Stephen S. Milt
  • Patent number: 11132892
    Abstract: In some implementations, techniques are described for detecting abnormal installations in a property monitored by a monitoring (e.g., security) system. For instance, an aberration engine may be used to detect an abnormal sensor or system installation within a property based on comparing detected installation data against local installation patterns of local providers within a certain proximity to the property. In some examples, the attributes (e.g., installation time, components used, number of tests performed, etc.) of a monitoring system installation, including installation of components of the monitoring system, may be compared to average installation times of other nearby installations to detect abnormalities in the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen Scott Trundle
  • Patent number: 11044114
    Abstract: A method including determining an occupancy state of a building relating to a user, detecting a condition of a component of the security and/or automation system associated with the home, displaying, based at least in part on the determined occupancy state of the user and the detected condition of the component, a message related to the user on a graphical conversational user interface (“G-CUI”). The message include a request for permission from the user to initiate a change associated with the component of the system. The method may include receiving, via the G-CUI, a response from the user including an instruction whether to grant permission to initiate the change based at least in part on the displaying, and generating a rule associated with the component and a future occupancy state of the home relating to the user based at least in part on the received response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Allen Rawlins, Victoria Marie Thomas, Nic Brunson, Wes Robert Hotchkiss, Matthew Christopher Mahar, Gavin Scott Jensen
  • Patent number: 10996662
    Abstract: A manufacturing equipment diagnosis support system includes: a data collector which collects and records respective data in plural apparatuses to be monitored provided in manufacturing equipment; a data analysis device; and a display. The data analysis device includes: a data analysis range setting unit which sets an analysis range of data, by an item of data and time period; a data grouping unit which classifies the data into a category based on specification and use condition of the apparatus to be monitored, and a category based on a physical quantity which the data shows, to group the data; a feature extracting unit which extracts a feature in each of the data items; an unusual phenomenon specifying unit which specifies an unusual phenomenon candidate item; and a testing unit which tests whether there is a significant difference or not between the unusual phenomenon candidate item and an other data item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Imanari, Kazuhiro Ohara
  • Patent number: 10820732
    Abstract: A smart beverage apparatus for monitoring consumption is disclosed, comprising a vessel receiving port for receiving a supplement vessel, said supplement vessel stores one or more supplements, and a scanning unit for scanning a vessel data storage unit to obtain supplement data related to supplements contained in the supplement vessel. The beverage apparatus comprises a display unit to display data to a user. A method for monitoring consumption of a user using a smart beverage apparatus is also disclosed, the method comprising: receiving an indication that a supplement vessel has been inserted into the smart beverage apparatus scanning a vessel data storage unit to obtain supplement data related to supplements stored within the supplement vessel, analyzing the obtained supplement data, generating instructions for the user based on the analysis, and displaying the generated instructions to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FITTO LTD
    Inventors: Yaniv Lavi, Liran Golan
  • Patent number: 10571899
    Abstract: An operating state acquisition apparatus 20a includes a detector 21a retrofitted to be mounted on a production equipment 31 disposed on a manufacturing line L1, or retrofitted to be disposed in a vicinity of the production equipment 31, the detector outputting a detection signal indicating an operating state of the production equipment. The operating state acquisition apparatus 20a includes a transmitter 21a configured to transmit a detection signal to a management apparatus 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: I SMART TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuya Kimura
  • Patent number: 10573147
    Abstract: Technologies for managing safety at an industrial site include a method. The method includes receiving, by a compute device in a cloud data center, condition data indicative of a sensed or determined condition at the industrial site. The condition data was produced at least in part by an edge device at the industrial site. The method also includes analyzing, by the compute device and with a model that associates conditions with corresponding safety statuses, the received condition data to determine a corresponding safety status associated with the industrial site. Further, the method includes determining, by the compute device and as a function of the determined safety status, whether a responsive action is to be performed at the industrial site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Mirrasoul J. Mousavi, Mithun P. Acharya, Brian D. Barr
  • Patent number: 10332059
    Abstract: This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Maxime Veron, Shigefumi Honjo, Isabel Guenette, Mark Rajan Malhotra
  • Patent number: 9998236
    Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation includes a beam splitter and a transceiver. The beam splitter is configured to separate an optical pulse into a pump pulse and a probe pulse. The transceiver may include a transmitter switch and a receiver switch. The pump pulse is directed toward the transmitter switch and the probe pulse is directed towards the receiver switch. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the transceiver when the pump pulse strikes the transmitter switch. The electromagnetic radiation may be terahertz radiation in either a pulsed or continuous wave form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PICOMETRIX, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Strong, Gregory Stuk, Steven Williamson
  • Patent number: 9953542
    Abstract: Systems and methods that continuously adapt aspects of a continuous monitoring device based on collected information to provide an individually tailored configuration are described. The adaptations may include adapting the user interface, the alerting, the motivational messages, the training, and the like. Such adaptation can allow a patient to more readily identify and understand the information provided by/via the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Mayou, Naresh C. Bhavaraju, Leif N. Bowman, Alexandra Lynn Carlton, Laura J. Dunn, Katherine Yerre Koehler, Aarthi Mahalingam, Eli Reihman, Peter C. Simpson
  • Patent number: 9940846
    Abstract: Systems and methods that continuously adapt aspects of a continuous monitoring device based on collected information to provide an individually tailored configuration are described. The adaptations may include adapting the user interface, the alerting, the motivational messages, the training, and the like. Such adaptation can allow a patient to more readily identify and understand the information provided by/via the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Mayou, Naresh C. Bhavaraju, Leif N. Bowman, Alexandra Lynn Carlton, Laura J. Dunn, Katherine Yerre Koehler, Aarthi Mahalingam, Eli Reihman, Peter C. Simpson
  • Patent number: 9851461
    Abstract: A system for analyzing a plurality of channels of data received from a sensor array. The system includes a data acquisition system that receives and independently processes each channel. A low-level processing section receives each channel of processed data and identifies signals of interest in one channel. Signals of interest are stored in an event database. A high-level processing section analyzes data occurring over a preset duration of time and across multiple channels of data and communicates with an operator machine interface. The operator machine interface provides analysis to an operator. Further aspects of the system characterize the data in order to indicate the data source and alert the operator to signals having certain predefined characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
    Inventors: Phillip L. Ainsleigh, George D. Anderson, Stephen G. Greineder, Brian F. Harrison, Paul A. L'Etoile, Ian C. McIntosh, Raymond J. Rowland, Robert J. Stahl, Jason R. McKenna
  • Patent number: 9024765
    Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for providing alerts of inefficiency of an environmental conditioning system including, responsive to a cycle initiation by the environmental conditioning system, measuring a difference between an intake temperature and an outlet temperature after a predetermined period of time, and responsive to the difference being below a minimum level, generating an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Hoesl
  • Patent number: 8970342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method with at least one presence detector, wherein the presence detector has a radio transmitter. The system further comprises at least one radio receiver that is constructed in such a manner as to receive and evaluate signals of the presence detector transmitted via radio. The radio receiver further comprises at least one device that acts on downstream units as a function of the evaluation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Schmidt, Armin Anders, Christian Bach
  • Publication number: 20150015393
    Abstract: A method of securing an access point comprises transitioning to a first alarm state in response to: receiving an indication that the access point is open, sounding a first audible alarm in response to the open access point, silencing the first audible alarm and returning to the armed state in response to a disarming action by a user, transitioning to a first disarmed state in response to receiving an indication of the disarming action by the user, initiating a countdown from a first predetermined time period in response to the disarming action by the user, returning to the armed state upon the expiration of the first predetermined time period, transitioning to a second disarmed state in response to receiving an indication of a closed access point, and initiating a countdown from a second predetermined time period in response to a remaining first predetermined time period being greater than the second predetermined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Rolland Safe and Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Frank Keith McCuen, Mengxiao Yuan
  • Patent number: 8786425
    Abstract: An aberration engine that collects data sensed by a monitoring system that monitors a property of a user and aggregates the collected data over a period of a time. The aberration engine detects, within the aggregated data, patterns of recurring events and, based on detecting the patterns of recurring events within the aggregated data, takes action related to the monitoring system based on the detected patterns of recurring events within the aggregated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventor: David James Hutz
  • Patent number: 8736434
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for recording events in a vehicle based on driver status of a driver is provided. The apparatus comprises a vehicle interface device. The device is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver. The device is further configured to receive at least one vehicle event signal corresponding to vehicle events in response to the driver status signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver and to store the at least one vehicle event signal to record the vehicle events. The device is further configured to generate a report indicating the recorded vehicle events for transmission to at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Scott Alan Watkins, Brian Bennie
  • Patent number: 8736440
    Abstract: An early alert system and a method for livestock disease detection are disclosed. An activity measurement zone (AMZ) is defined near an incentive device (e.g. food or water dispensing system) with an RFID tag reader and/or an RFID antenna. An animal's access into the AMZ is tracked and counted with an RFID tag attached to the animal. If the animals' activity relative to the AMZ drops to an alarmingly low level (e.g. dropping below an alert trigger point) over time, then a user of the alert system is informed of a potential health problem of the animal and may also be encouraged to inspect the animal in person for further determination of its current health and potential medical issues. The early alert system may be powered by hybrid alternative energy sources for rural or remote areas, which may have inconvenient or expensive access to conventional electrical power lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hana Micron America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Bok Kwak, Yong Hyun Lee, Toan Tran, Sungryol Jin, Songtao Jin
  • Patent number: 8598494
    Abstract: A method for controlling power supply to the liquid contents of a cooking vessel or the like, particularly for controlling the electrical power supply in an induction heating system, wherein a predetermined thermodynamic state is detected and the user is alerted, comprises maintaining a predetermined high power condition after reaching the predetermined thermodynamic state for a predetermined time and then reducing the power supply to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianpiero Santacatterina, Jurij Paderno, Francesco Del Bello
  • Patent number: 8459066
    Abstract: An input device of a washing machine and a control method of the same are disclosed. An input device of a washing machine includes an operation part generating a plurality of identical signals for washing course designation, a control part controlling one of a plurality of preset washing courses to be designated sequentially according to a predetermined order if the signal is generated by the operation part and a display part displaying the washing course designated by the control part. A control method of an input device of a washing machine for washing course selection includes generating a plurality of identical signals by a user's operation, designating one of a plurality of preset washing courses separately according to a predetermined order whenever the signal is generate, and displaying the designated washing course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Shik Kim, Jong Hee Han, Ho Il Jeon
  • Publication number: 20130099917
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for limiting processing resources incurred due to refreshing a user interface. In various embodiments, an event is received, and it is determined whether a delay time period has elapsed. A length of the delay time period is based on a timing of receipt of one or more previous events. If the delay time period has not elapsed, refreshing of the user interface is postponed. When the delay time period elapses, the user interface is refreshed to display an indication of the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Microsoft Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130093586
    Abstract: An input device of a washing machine and a control method of the same are disclosed. An input device of a washing machine includes an operation part generating a plurality of identical signals for washing course designation, a control part controlling one of a plurality of preset washing courses to be designated sequentially according to a predetermined order if the signal is generated by the operation part and a display part displaying the washing course designated by the control part. A control method of an input device of a washing machine for washing course selection includes generating a plurality of identical signals by a user's operation, designating one of a plurality of preset washing courses separately according to a predetermined order whenever the signal is generate, and displaying the designated washing course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Myung Shik KIM, Jong Hee HAN, Ho Il JEON
  • Patent number: 8368547
    Abstract: Systems and methods for indicating the unsafe service handling temperature of an information handling system component are disclosed. A method may include sensing a surface temperature of the component and comparing the surface temperature to a first and second threshold temperatures. The method may further include displaying various temperature warning by multiple temperature indicators if the surface temperature is above or below the threshold temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Stuart Allen Berke, Shawn P. Hoss
  • Publication number: 20120200410
    Abstract: Methods and Devices to monitor the level of at least one analyte are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Marc B. Taub, Jolyon R. Bugler, Thomas A. Peyser
  • Patent number: 8160900
    Abstract: Methods and Devices to monitor the level of at least one analyte are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Marc B. Taub, Jolyon R. Bugler, Thomas A. Peyser
  • Patent number: 8085144
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for identifying monitoring and evaluating hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions. The system may be worn by safety personnel to detect equipment conditions such as low power supply, environmental conditions such as ambient temperature and/or physiological conditions such as heart rate of a wearer. The system may further include a control unit having electronics operable to communicate signals associated with equipment, environmental and physiological conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company
    Inventors: Daren R. Appelt, Kevin K. Brunson
  • Patent number: 8077046
    Abstract: A fire detector and method of using it generate a fire alarm through use of a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector once the smoke detector detects a threshold level of light obscuration for greater than a first pre-selected time period or a reduced threshold level of light obscuration for greater than a second pre-selected time period or the CO detector detects a rate of increase in CO concentration which exceeds a first preselected CO rate for a third pre-selected time period and the smoke detector detects the reduced threshold level of light obscuration or the rate of increase in CO concentration exceeds a second preselected CO rate for a fourth pre-selected time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Airware, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Wong
  • Publication number: 20110215920
    Abstract: An alarm processing method, device, and system are provided. Reported alarm information is received, alike alarm duration accumulation information in an appointed period is obtained from the reported alarm information, and an alarm notification is sent when the alike alarm duration accumulation information satisfies a report condition, so the method, device, and system can adapt to a failure mode with a characteristic of changing with time, filter valuable alarm information correctly and timely, and ensure stable operation of a communication equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian Zhu, Kai Li
  • Patent number: 8009041
    Abstract: An access monitoring and control system is provided. The access monitoring and control system includes a sensing device configured to collect data points regarding at least one of movement of a person through an access portal and a state of the access portal and a processing unit configured to receive the data points from the sensing device and to form activity clusters from the data points based upon similar patterns of inactive or active behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Catherine Mary Graichen
  • Patent number: 7970175
    Abstract: The head pose of a motor vehicle driver with respect to a vehicle frame of reference is assessed with a relative motion sensor positioned rearward of the driver's head, such as in or on the headrest of the driver's seat. The relative motion sensor detects changes in the position of the driver's head, and the detected changes are used to determine the driver's head pose, and specifically, whether the head pose is forward-looking (i.e., with the driver paying attention to the forward field-of-view) or non-forward-looking. The determined head pose is assumed to be initially forward-looking, and is thereafter biased toward forward-looking whenever driver behavior characteristic of a forward-looking head pose is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip V. Malawey, Matthew R. Smith, Gerald J. Witt
  • Patent number: 7890483
    Abstract: A method of outputting an alert indicating that an unauthorized event has occurred. The method includes obtaining a status from a sensor and retrieving personnel information from a database, the personnel information relating to the sensor. The method also includes generating the alert, applying a filter to determine whether to modify a severity of the alert, and outputting the alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Aaron, Robert E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20090115598
    Abstract: A device for stimulating scheduled use of a consumable substance. The device includes a sensor and an indicator, the indicator having a state which is dependent upon time elapsed since occurrence of a consumption event detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Carlson, JR.
  • Patent number: 7493224
    Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for generating trace data. In response to detecting a trace event, a determination is made as to whether identifiers for the trace event match recorded identifiers for a record in a set of previously recorded trace events. Location information for the record is placed in the trace data if a match between identifiers for the trace event and recorded identifiers for the record in the set of previously recorded trace events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Eliot Levine, Milena Milenkovic, Robert J. Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20080180240
    Abstract: Methods, systems, gateways, and servers are provided for by-exception notification to a user when an event does not occur at a premises. An interface is provided through which a user can define a time window and an event capable of being sensed by a device at the premises. A server records the first event and the first time window and communicates these to a gateway at the premises. A gateway sets up an automation to detect the first event during the first time window. Devices detect if the first event occurs during the first time window. If the first event does not occur during the time window, the gateway indicates to the server the non-occurrence of the first event. The server sends notification to the user of the by-exception event. Methods, systems, gateways, and servers combine event notification upon the occurrence of an event with by-exception event notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: iControl Networks
    Inventors: Reza Raji, Gerald Gutt
  • Patent number: 7248157
    Abstract: In one aspect, a phone-interface device determines whether a problem has occurred at a control panel by determining whether a signal from the control panel has been received, and when a signal has not been received within a period of time, the phone-interface device transmits an error message to a monitoring station. In another aspect, the control panel determines whether a problem has occurred at the phone-interface device by determining whether a signal from the phone-interface device has been received, and when a signal has not been received within a period of time, the control panel transmits an error message to a user. In another aspect, the phone-interface device contains memory to buffer data transferred between the control panel and a monitoring station. In this way, a high-speed connection between the phone-interface and the monitoring station can be accommodated while using a lower-speed connection between the phone-interface device and the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Interactive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Todd Bergman, Kurt Hasselfeldt, Thomas Anthony Lee, Eric W. Lofstad, Brian Karl Seemann
  • Patent number: 7180429
    Abstract: Searching through a series of images such as video images for slowly-moving objects such as enemy snipers, using pattern matching, color matching, brightness matching, or the like. Multiple search speeds facilitate finding objects moving at different velocities through the visual field. Search speeds can be determined as, e.g. every Nth frame, or a frame from every Nth period of time. Background motion, such as bushes blowing in the wind, do not trigger false positives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Richard C. Calderwood
  • Patent number: 7154399
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring whether a resident is away from home or inactive within the home. A sensor, which includes a transmitter, a processor, a timer, and a detector, watches for motion to occur within a home. Upon sensing motion, the sensor sends a first signal indicative of the motion if the timer is not currently running and waits for the motion to end. If the timer already is running, the timer is restarted at zero. Upon expiration of a predetermined timing period, the sensor transmits a second signal indicative of inactivity. By comparing the timing of the second signal and the predetermined timing period, with a third signal sent by an exterior door sensor, a determination can be made whether the resident has left the home or is inactive within the home. The system includes a database, a CPU and State Model for determining the activity state of a home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Edward Cuddihy, Meena Ganesh, Jenny Marie Weisenberg, Catherine Mary Graichen, Vrinda Rajiv, Mark Mitchell Kornfein
  • Patent number: 7002464
    Abstract: A remote sensing system operable to collect sensor timing data comprising a central data hub for detecting the occurrence of an event and processing information about the detected event, the remote sensing system comprising a central data hub, at least one sensor having a simple clock operable to sense an event and transmit data to central data hub. By way of calculating the data transmitted by the at least one sensor, the central data hub can determine the time at which each event occurred and place a plurality of sensed events in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Home Data Source, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Bruemmer, Rich McGillicuddy, Ryan Nicoletti
  • Patent number: 6975226
    Abstract: A unified docking apparatus is provided. It includes a single set of controls to operate a vehicle restraint, a dock door, a barrier device, a dock seal, and a loading light. Some optional embodiments include selector switch to select which apparatus the single set of controls will control. Other optional embodiments automatically select the apparatus to be controlled by the single set of controls. A method of operating a docking apparatus using a single set of controls is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: SPX Dock Products Inc.
    Inventors: Terence Reynard, James C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6924730
    Abstract: A fire door control system permits user input during regular use and during alarm conditions. The system utilizes primary and secondary power sources and incorporates a variety of preventive safeguards assuring that functionality of the fire door control system will not be lost. The system utilizes primary power when possible in all alarm conditions. However, during alarm conditions when primary power is lost or when a hand crank hoist remains dangerously engaged, the system is bumplessly connected to a secondary power source and a fire door of the system is closed with the aid of a clutch that directly connects the drive input with an axle that supports the fire door. The clutch pulses on and off to control the descent of the door. The system includes an electronic controller for coordinating the operation of elements of the system and for implementing a method of controlling a fire door system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Rob Jason Evans
  • Patent number: 6909995
    Abstract: For the purpose of providing timely and efficient maintenance services even when a system includes machines that are not covered by maintenance services, in a system comprising a center server (202) for customer management and a client terminal (104) owned by a customer, communicatably connected to each other via a network (50), the client terminal (104) stores management information including lease contract information (S2) and issues an event to the center server (202) in accordance with the content of the collected management information (S14). The center server (202) analyzes the content of the event received from the client terminal (104) (S22) and makes a notice of the content of the analyzed event (S24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Toshihito Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6879253
    Abstract: The signals of a danger detector that has at least one sensor (2, 3, 4) for monitoring danger parameters and an electronic evaluation system (1) assigned to the at least one sensor (2, 3, 4) are compared with specified parameters. In addition, the signals are analysed with regard to whether they occur increasingly frequently or regularly, and signals that occur increasingly frequently or regularly are classified as interference signals. The classification of signals as interference signals triggers an appropriate adjustment of the parameters. If interference signals occur, the validity of the result of the analysis of the signals of the at least one sensor (2, 3, 4) is checked prior to the adjustment of the parameters, and the parameters are adjusted as a function of the result of said validity test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies AG
    Inventor: Marc Pierre Thuillard
  • Patent number: 6813549
    Abstract: A system and methods to allow multiple stations in geographically dispersed locations to monitor and track vehicle repair record and service status information in a coordinated fashion. In a service area comprised of a number of geographically-bounded service regions, at least one regional communications terminal is provided in communication with a plurality of local communications terminals. Each local communications terminal and regional communications terminal communicates with a vehicle service status database. Vehicle service events are entered into a vehicle tracking system and maintained using the vehicle status database. Database files are exchanged between local communications terminals and regional communications terminals and with a central equipment manager in order to provide timely and accurate dissemination of service status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: U-Haul International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Good
  • Patent number: 6812827
    Abstract: A system and method for testing and maintaining a predetermined bit rate on a line connection between a transmission assembly and at least one terminal, where initiation of a drop below the predetermined bit rate triggers at least one corrective measure for increasing the bit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Laskowsky, Franz Schmoeller
  • Patent number: 6690274
    Abstract: The disclosed alarm analysis tools cope with insufficiently understood process characteristics. The configuration of the alarms and their associated displays are governed by generalized display policies applicable to groups of alarms rather than by detailed configuration of individual alarm action. To aid an operation in the configuration process, another aspect of the invention concerns an alarm selection method and apparatus operating on a computer, which comprises an application window displaying a main alarm list, a selection means to select the alarm indications displayed in the alarm list, and an operations means producing a main alarm list subset having characteristics of the selected alarm indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edgar H. Bristol
  • Patent number: 6642843
    Abstract: A management system is provided with a sensor control means located in each region of a multiple occupancy building and a management apparatus connected to and able to communicate with the sensor control means. The sensor control means are connected with sensors for detecting the state in each area and send to the management apparatus detection information output by the sensors along with mounting location information of the sensors. Also, the management apparatus correlates and manages the detection information and mounting location information received from the sensor control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Allied Telesis K.K.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Satoh
  • Patent number: 6525658
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for event detection utilizing data from a multiplicity of sensors is provided. In a first step, actual detections from a plurality of sensors identified with predetermined sensor sequences, each indicative of an event, are compared with the predetermined sensor sequence to determine whether the times between the actual detections match the times allocated between detections for any predetermined sensor sequence. If a match occurs, the event indicated by the matching predetermined sensor sequence is provided. If no match occurs, a second step is initiated wherein the actual detections are compared to a predetermined script file which defines criteria for a plurality of events. If this criteria is matched, the event for which the criteria is provided is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ensco, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven S. Streetman, Matthew W. McGarvey
  • Patent number: 6472999
    Abstract: An apparatus (14) and an associated method determine signal strength of a received electromagnetic signal (18) that is comprised of a plurality of pulses that convey a remote convenience function request, and which causes performance of the requested function. A comparator (82) has a first input for receiving an electrical signal (78) with a voltage that varies to convey the remote convenience function request. A second input of the comparator (82) receives a threshold voltage value reference signal (86). An output of the comparator (82) provides an output signal (46) that indicates the occurrence of the voltage of the electrical signal (78) exceeding the threshold value of the reference signal (86). A microprocessor (100) and a threshold change trigger (122) of a controller portion (48) adjust the threshold voltage value of the reference signal (86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Xing Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 6288640
    Abstract: An intrusion detection system comprises a plurality of sensors (2A . . . 2X) and a corresponding plurality of receivers (3A. . . 3X). Each receiver receives, via the associated sensor, radio frequency signals comprising a multiplicity of transmissions at different frequencies within a predetermined frequency spectrum. The receiver detects the radio frequency signals and computes, for each of a plurality of successive time intervals and for each of the transmission frequencies, a measurement of signal amplitude over the time interval; compares such signal amplitude measurement with at least one threshold and, if the amplitude exceeds the threshold for a predetermined time period, generates a potential alarm signal. A processor (4) compares potential alarm signals from a plurality of sensors and determines that an intrusion has occurred if the potential alarm signal for a particular station does not coincide with a potential alarm signal for a neighboring sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: André Gagnon