Including Video Patents (Class 340/539.25)
  • Patent number: 11462104
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring or affecting movement of a vehicle using a traffic device. An event data source may have a processor and/or a transceiver. The event data source may transmit, via the transceiver and to a vehicle and infrastructure computing device, information indicative of an event affecting a portion of road. The vehicle and infrastructure computing device may comprise a vehicle and infrastructure control computer. The vehicle and infrastructure computing device may receive, from the event data source, the information indicative of the event affecting the portion of road. The computing device may determine one or more traffic devices associated with the portion of road and configured to control traffic for the portion of road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventors: Regina Madigan, Timothy W. Gibson, Howard Hayes, Surender Kumar
  • Patent number: 11138444
    Abstract: A system and a method for processing images are provided. The method obtaining a first image of a target scene under a first exposure time, wherein the target scene may be related to a light status of a light; obtaining a second image of the target scene under a second exposure time; and generating a target image by adjusting the light status in the first image based on the light status in the second image. The method may further include operations to determine whether a predefined light effect exists in the obtained image of the light. Such operations may include: obtaining a light status of a light; obtaining an image of the light in the light status; determining, at least based on the obtained light status of the light, whether a predefined light effect exists in the obtained image of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG DAHUA TECHNOLOGY CO, , LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaotao Jiang
  • Patent number: 10748408
    Abstract: A light switch apparatus includes a network communication unit and an output unit. The network communication unit is configured to receive electricity price rate server information from a server, and generate a first high range electricity price output data and a second low range electricity price rate data according to the electricity price rate server information. The output unit is configured to display at least a first output color in response to receiving the first high range electricity price output data from the network communication unit, and a second output color in response to receiving the second low range electricity price rate data from the network communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventor: Andre Ramirez
  • Patent number: 10530991
    Abstract: An “Exposure Controller” provides various techniques for training and applying a deep convolution network to provide real-time automated camera exposure control, as a real-time function of scene semantic context, in a way that improves image quality for a wide range of image subject types in a wide range of real-world lighting conditions. The deep learning approach applied by the Exposure Controller to implement this functionality first uses supervised learning to achieve a good anchor point that mimics integral exposure control for a particular camera model or type, followed by refinement through reinforcement learning. The end-to-end system (e.g., exposure control and image capture) provided by the Exposure Controller provides real-time performance for predicting and setting camera exposure values to improve overall visual quality of the resulting image over a wide range of image capture scenarios (e.g., back-lit scenes, front lighting, rapid changes to lighting conditions, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Baoyuan Wang, Sing Bing Kang
  • Patent number: 10187776
    Abstract: Systems and methods for triggering emergency mass notifications include an EMNS activation service, a plurality of activation premises devices, a plurality of EMNS provider services, and a plurality of event personnel devices. The EMNS activation service includes a universal translator module that receives an event trigger signal relating to an emergency event from one of the activation premises devices. The universal translator module translates the event trigger signal to event-specific EMNS protocols of the EMNS providers. The EMNS activation service communicates the event-specific EMNS protocols to the EMNS providers, and communicates event data to event personnel devices based on a list of event personnel devices to be notified of an emergency event. An activation premises device includes a housing event with trigger controls for creating the event trigger signal, wherein these event trigger controls are inaccessible to users in the absence of an authorized access or an emergency access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Fitzpatrick, Henry Jeff Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 9936252
    Abstract: There are provided an image signal receiving apparatus, a method for setting a receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus, and a display apparatus. The method for setting the receiving channel comprises: storing (101) map information in the image signal receiving apparatus, wherein the map information comprises correspondence relationship between a transmitting channel and the receiving channel at each of different geographical positions; automatically determining (102) a geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located; inquiring (103) the correspondence relationship between the transmitting channel and the receiving channel according to the geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located; and setting (104) the receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus according to result of the inquiry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masakazu Okamura
  • Patent number: 9922259
    Abstract: A traffic light detection device includes: an image capture unit capturing an image of surroundings; a traffic light location estimation unit estimating a location of a traffic light around the vehicle and setting a traffic light search area in which the traffic light is estimated to be present; a traffic light detection unit detecting the traffic light by searching the traffic light search area on the image; and an obstruction estimation unit. When the obstruction estimation unit estimates that a continuous obstruction state where a view of the traffic light is continuously obstructed occurs in the traffic light search area, the traffic light location estimation unit selects the traffic light search area based on the continuous obstruction state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Matsuo, Daiki Yamanoi, Takahiko Oki
  • Patent number: 9438678
    Abstract: A method and system for networking a plurality of appliances. The method and system include providing an appliance on a network, controlling operation of the appliance with a microcontroller, storing on a memory coupled with the microcontroller, computer executable instructions for operating the appliance, sensing the operation of the appliance, displaying information regarding the operation of the appliance, and communicating the operational data on a network. Network connectivity includes communication directly with a network, and with another appliance. A host system is connected to the network and adapted to receive the usage data and to transmit data to the appliance to influence operation of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sears Brands, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas E. DeSalvo, Jeffrey Vance Klimek, Christopher Michael Munoz, Martin Edward Olson, III, Timothy Ray Adkisson, Eva Christiansen
  • Patent number: 9085241
    Abstract: There is provided a power management apparatus including: a managed appliance registering unit carrying out authentication on an electronic appliance connected to a power network and registering an electronic appliance for which the authentication has succeeded as a managed appliance, a control unit controlling operation of the managed appliance and supplying of power to the managed appliance, a managed appliance information acquiring unit acquiring, from the managed appliance, as managed appliance information, at least any of appliance information including identification information that is unique to the electronic appliance, information indicating an operation state of the electronic appliance, information indicating an usage state of the electronic appliance and power information of the electronic appliance, and an appliance state judging unit judging a state of the managed appliance based on the managed appliance information acquired by the managed appliance information acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Asano, Shiho Moriai, Yohei Kawamoto, Masakazu Ukita, Yu Tanaka, Asami Yoshida, Masanobu Katagi, Seiichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9042824
    Abstract: A vehicle computer system comprising a transceiver in a vehicle configured to wirelessly connect with a nomadic device, wherein the nomadic device is capable of running a contextual application which operates at least in part based on vehicle environment data. The vehicle computer system further comprises one or more vehicle modules configured to receive environment data and capable of causing the transceiver to provide the vehicle environment data to the nomadic device for processing by the contextual application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Christopher Peplin
  • Patent number: 8988252
    Abstract: Information on a traffic event, such as a traffic accident, may be provided to a vehicle equipped with a system for performing a wireless data communication with a traffic event center. The system can determine automatically if the vehicle approaches the traffic event by receiving corresponding information in a wireless data transmission, or by a determination based on the vehicle's current position and a location of the traffic event received in a wireless data transmission. If it is determined by the system that the vehicle has approached a traffic event, the system can automatically acquire image data of the vehicle environment, and transmit the acquired image data to the traffic event center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Kay-Ulrich Scholl, Andreas Stiegler, Heiko Oehring
  • Patent number: 8972034
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosis system for detecting a state of emergency during assembly of a fuselage (101) of an airplane is provided, which is adapted for detecting an emergency event and outputting information relating to the actual position of the emergency event. This may provide for a fast error identification during airplane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Kott
  • Patent number: 8963722
    Abstract: An apparatus for at least one of playing and generating audio content for an audience includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors monitoring the audience. The circuitry is configured to analyze said sensor data to identify characteristic movement patterns of one or more members of the audience. The circuitry is configured to select music and generate verbal communication other than music to address the audience, based on the identified characteristic movement patterns. The circuitry is further configured to output said selected music and said verbal communication. A corresponding method for at least one of playing and generating audio content for an audience is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Fritz Hohl
  • Patent number: 8937658
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. An alarm is detected in a security system. An alarm code is associated to a camera, and video data is retrieved from the camera. An alarm notification address is retrieved and the video data is sent to the IP alarm notification address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Alson Hicks, III, Nicholas S. Huslak, James Aromando, Michael D. Cercena, Francis John Connell, Mark W. Mueller, Deva-Datta Sharma, J. Kirk Shrewsbury
  • Patent number: 8933781
    Abstract: A fingerprint reader comprising a fingerprint sensor adapted to output information relating to a fingerprint of a finger engaging a sensitive surface the sensor, and a stiff element comprising an indentation/cavity or through-hole, the sensor being positioned in the indentation/cavity/through-hole so that the sensitive surface is exposed to the surroundings. The stiff element will prevent breaking of the reader. Also, the stiff element may have one or more electrically conducting surface parts positioned adjacently to the sensitive surface of the sensor and being adapted to be contacted by a finger also contacting the sensor, so that the stiff element forms part of the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cardlab APS
    Inventor: Alexandre Desnoyers
  • Patent number: 8933804
    Abstract: A mobile security system is described herein. A detector communicates with a mobile device if an event has occurred. The event may be various types of events, such as fire or motion. Once the mobile device receives the communication of the event occurrence, the mobile device may, among others, sound an alarm or communicate with a central monitoring system to notify emergency services of the occurrence. The mobile device may also communicate with another communication device, such as another cell phone or a computer, using various forms of communication. The detector may be an integral part of the mobile device, i.e. fixed part of the mobile device, or may be detachable. The detector may also be wholly separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Mark Edward Causey, Scott Andrus, Adrianne Binh Luu, Kevin W. Jones, Coulter C. Henry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8818706
    Abstract: An indoor area may be localized to provide end users with a mobile-accessible map to guide the end user in navigating the indoor area. A preliminary version of a map of the indoor area to be localized is processed to identify different navigable routes within the indoor area. A user may access the processed map and collect sensory data using the mobile device while moving along any of the navigable routes. The different sensory data that is collected at the same moment in time may be associated based on the location of the mobile device when the data is collected. The localized map is then generated with visual indications of the locations of the corresponding sensory data. The end user may then access the localized map on a mobile device to navigate the indoor area and to locate specific points of interest corresponding to the sensory data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Abhijit Ogale, Ehud Rivlin, Scott Ettinger
  • Patent number: 8797155
    Abstract: A method of communicating medical sensing data including receiving, at a patient communication system, medical sensing data collected by a medical sensing device during a medical sensing procedure. The method also includes creating, with the patient communication system, a data message, the data message including at least a portion of the medical sensing data, information about the medical sensing procedure, and information about the medical sensing data and transmitting, with the patient communication system, the data message to a centralized computing device over a data network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: R. Scott Huennekens, David M. Sheehan, Jason Spencer, Rex Kerr, Bill Clark, Richard E. Mansker
  • Patent number: 8791818
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for monitoring a location. For example, the disclosed embodiments may be utilized to monitor a border, such as, but not limited to, the border between the United States and Mexico. In addition, the disclosed embodiments may be utilized to monitor any location including, but not limited to, residential locations, businesses, warehouses, and mass transportation facilities. In one embodiment, a web portal is provided in which the general public may view streaming video and/or still images associated with cameras placed along the monitored location. A user viewing one or more selected cameras is provided with an option to report suspicious activities seen on the one or more selected cameras. The report is sent to one or more local law enforcement agencies associated with the location of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: James Midkiff
  • Patent number: 8750509
    Abstract: A wireless surveillance system and methods of operating same, providing at least one data input capture device (ICDs), including cameras which have the ability to capture video, audio, and/or data from sensors such as temperature and humidity data, while being newly or retrofittably releasably mountable to a track lighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Smartvue Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Renkis
  • Patent number: 8731512
    Abstract: A system for effecting context-cognizant medical reminders for a patient; the system including: (a) at least one sensor unit situated proximately with the patient; the at least one sensor unit sensing and indicating at least one aspect of a personal context of the patient; (b) at least one long-range communication unit configured for wireless communication with a remote patient care monitoring facility via a wireless communication network; and (c) at least one short-range communication unit communicatingly coupled with the at least one sensor unit and with the at least one long-range communication unit; the at least one short-range communication unit and the at least one long-range communication unit cooperating to convey information from the at least one sensor unit to the remote patient care monitoring facility regarding the personal context of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Generationone
    Inventors: Jaime Borras, Don Rosen, Jeffrey A. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8730040
    Abstract: The present invention is a process monitoring method, comprising the steps of capturing sensory data from one or more sensors; storing the sensory data from the one or more sensors in a data storage device; processing the sensory data from the sensors to detect primitive events in the sensory data; correlating two or more primitive events to determine one or more correlated events; and performing one or more actions based on the correlation performed in the correlating step, including sending alerts to recipients in a company's hierarchy. The process monitoring method can be used with a variety of sensors, including temperature, pressure, revolutions per minute, electrical meters, altitude meters, and speedometers, and can accept input from a variety of legacy systems, including financial systems, inventory systems, personnel systems, currency systems, and law enforcement databases. The invention can be used to optimize business processes and ensure safety and security procedures are followed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: KD Secure LLC
    Inventors: John J Donovan, Daniar Hussain
  • Patent number: 8659423
    Abstract: A wireless contextual prompting device provides contextual (context-aware) prompting in the home for applications such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL) monitoring, medication adherence, journaling, social messaging and coaching. The device combines the advantages of a small, wireless, battery-operated sensor that may be easily mounted at critical places in a person's daily routine with a low-power, high-contrast display panel that may be palm sized. The context may be displayed on the display screen as images, icons and/or text such that it is easy to interpret warnings by the young, elderly, or the language-challenged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Kuris, Steven M. Ayer, Frank C. Bomba, Douglas F. Busch
  • Patent number: 8648718
    Abstract: An event detection system includes a processor, an electronic tracking device, and one or more transmitters. Each of the one or more transmitters can be configured to be associated with a particular individual of a group of individuals. The processor can be configured to cluster data from the one or more transmitters, and the processor can be configured to analyze the clustered data to determine a group behavior pattern among the group of individuals. In an embodiment, video data can be combined with the electronic tracking device data in the event detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yunqian Ma, Rand P. Whillock, Bruce W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8624709
    Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating a camera in a surveillance system. The method and system use a mathematical rotation between a first coordinate system and a second coordinate system in order to calibrate a camera with a map of an area. In some embodiments, the calibration can be used to control the camera and/or to display a view cone on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Intergraph Technologies Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Estes, Johnny E. Frederick
  • Patent number: 8576069
    Abstract: Mobile monitoring systems and methods are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a plurality of vehicles and a base communication station that are in communication with each other. Each of the vehicles includes a camera that generates image data, a location device that generates geographic coordinates of the vehicle, a computing device that receives the image data from the camera and the geographic coordinates of the vehicle and forms a processed image signal that includes the image data, the geographic coordinates and a time stamp, and a communication device that receives the processed image signal from the computing device and wireless transmits the processed image signal to the base communication station. The base communication station receives the processed image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Corporation
    Inventors: Tamer M. Nadeem, Michael T. Loiacono
  • Patent number: 8554386
    Abstract: Techniques for providing localized power infrastructure and data infrastructure are disclosed. A transportable system for providing localized power infrastructure and data infrastructure can include: a data network service engine configured to function as a local data network service provider; a power generation engine configured to function as a local power service provider that generates and distributes power locally; a deployment engine configured to assist in deploying one or more components of the transportable system; and a maintenance engine configured to maintain operation and security of the transportable system. In some embodiments, multiple transportable systems can be deployed and then centrally monitored or controlled as a single, utility system and/or a single data delivery infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Serge Rutman
  • Patent number: 8538407
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a building automation system with an FMC cellular device are provided. The FMC cellular device can locally interface with a building automation system via a femtocell base station or a wireless access point, remotely interface with a building automation system over a wide area network via a macrocell base station, or remotely interface with a building automation system via a GAN enabled wireless access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Addy
  • Patent number: 8516514
    Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor a person in a residence are provided. A particular method includes receiving data from a set-top box (STB) device at a monitoring service. The data includes location information from a location system in a residence that monitors a location of a person in the residence. The data includes usage information regarding usage of a plurality of devices in the residence. The data also includes a time stamp associated with the location information and the usage information. The method includes analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method also includes sending a notification when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Belz, James Pratt, Paul Van Vleck
  • Patent number: 8504103
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved security system comprised of video cameras and microphones to remotely monitor a home using a cellular telephone. An activation button is mounted as a doorbell button and interconnected with the security system to trigger the audio and video transmissions. The security system will automatically call the homeowner and allow two-way conversation and video using a streaming transmission. In response to a wireless distress signal sent to the security system using the homeowner's cellular telephone establishes a wireless connection with the security system and a security service or local authorities allowing the third-party to monitor and assess the situation. The homeowner is contemporaneously receiving the audio and video signals from the home using his cellular telephone and is capable of communicating directly with the security service. The distress signal is a secret code consisting of an array of numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Dale Ficquette
  • Patent number: 8410927
    Abstract: The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image into a database. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target that the user does not recall its current location. The user's commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items that the user needs to find.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: TrackThings LLC
    Inventor: Constance Gabara
  • Publication number: 20130063260
    Abstract: A personal thermal monitor, comprising a thermally activated circuit configured to provide a first signal when an ambient temperature is greater than a first temperature, a switch in communication with said thermally activated circuit, a controller in communication with said switch and comprising an audible alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: David M. Davis, Debra A. Davis, Kyle S. Davis
  • Patent number: 8378808
    Abstract: A dual intercom-camera-interfaced smoke/fire detection system and method includes, inter alia, an interactive panoramic camera communication system operatively responsive to real-time emergency signals. The interactive camera service provider communications network independently and communicatively couples panoramic cameras in real-time to authorized peripheral electronic devices (APEDs) such that an emergency event is independently transmitted and directly viewed in real-time at the APEDs. The interactive camera service provider communications network is independently operable from a real-time emergency signal transmitting mechanism and a real-time emergency signal simultaneous transmitting mechanism, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Torrain Gwaltney
  • Patent number: 8354926
    Abstract: The present invention is a method to ensure business processes are followed, comprising the steps of capturing sensory data from one or more sensors; storing the sensory data from the one or more sensors in a data storage device; processing the sensory data from the sensors to detect primitive events in the sensory data using a computer processor; correlating two or more primitive events, weighted by attribute data representing information about the sensors used to sense the primitive events, to determine one or more correlated events using the computer processor; and performing one or more actions to ensure business processes are followed based on the correlation performed in the correlating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: KD Secure LLC
    Inventors: John J Donovan, Daniar Hussain
  • Patent number: 8334763
    Abstract: An automated self-monitored alarm verification solution including at least a premises portion, a server portion, and an end user device portion. Alarm verification includes capturing by an image capture device at least one image in response to a detection event, and transmitting a first data signal including the image to a local signal processing device. The signal processing device transmits a second signal including at least a portion of the image to a remote hosted server according to at least a first set of predetermined parameters. After receiving the second signal, the server transmits a third signal including at least a portion of the image from the hosted server to a user device. Using the user device, a user views the image and indicates a validity status of the alarm based at least in part on the content of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Cernium Corporation
    Inventor: Randall R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8325020
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying wireless devices in close physical proximity are described. When two wireless devices are brought into close proximity, one of the devices displays an optical indicator, such as a light pattern. This device then sends messages to other devices which are within wireless range to cause them to use any light sensor to detect a signal. In an embodiment, the light sensor is a camera and the detected signal is an image captured by the camera. Each device then sends data identifying what was detected back to the device displaying the pattern. By analyzing this data, the first device can determine which other device detected the indicator that it displayed and therefore determine that this device is within close physical proximity. In an example, the first device is an interactive surface arranged to identify the wireless addresses of devices which are placed on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shahram Izadi, Malcolm Hall, Stephen Hodges, William A. S. Buxton, David Alexander Butler
  • Patent number: 8264344
    Abstract: A mobile surveillance appliance receives sensed data over a wireless link from a remote sensing post which monitors a remotely monitored space having a predefined spatial location and transmits the sensed data. The mobile surveillance appliance provides a display of the sensed data from monitored space and an intervention controller which, when activated responsive to an event perceived on the display, encodes the predefined spatial location and an event melioration onto a remote intervention request, and transmits the intervention request to a remote intervener. The remote sensing post, mobile surveillance appliance, and remote intervener may communicate using SIP messaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shze Chew Lee, Andrew M. Gutman
  • Patent number: 8212668
    Abstract: The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image into a database. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target that the user does not recall its current location. The user's commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items that the user needs to find.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: TrackThings LLC
    Inventor: Constance Marie Gabara
  • Patent number: 8191915
    Abstract: An automatic docking system for docking a towing vehicle with a towed vehicle includes a sensing device, a controller, an automatic steering system, an automatic braking system, and a plurality of targets. The sensing device detects the plurality of targets located on a hitch of the towed vehicle. The controller determines the location of the towing vehicle relative to the towed vehicle based on the detection of the plurality of targets. The controller automatically steers the towing vehicle towards the towed vehicle to assist in the docking of the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle. The controller engages the automatic braking system to slow or stop the towing vehicle as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Freese, V, Brent D. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 8193909
    Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating a camera in a surveillance system. The method and system use a mathematical rotation between a first coordinate system and a second coordinate system in order to calibrate a camera with a map of an area. In some embodiments, the calibration can be used to control the camera and/or to display a view cone on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Intergraph Technologies Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Estes, Johnny E. Frederick
  • Patent number: 8183994
    Abstract: A surveillance architecture having applications in a wide variety of surveillance-related applications is disclosed. This architecture can be used in various surveillance scenarios, including, but not limited to, chemical, biological, radiological surveillance and physical security, is highly scalable and allows for rapid, plug-and-play field data/sample acquisition and local and remote sharing of system resources. By design, the architecture also fosters fault tolerance and allows users to quickly deploy and establish ad hoc, semi-permanent, and permanent surveillance systems. Furthermore, the architecture's service-oriented approach allows for rapid, on-the-fly, plug-and-play integration and dynamic harvesting of heterogeneous surveillance technologies (e.g., sensors, handheld data acquisition devices, analytical instrumentation, and so forth).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Torsten Albert Staab
  • Patent number: 8184001
    Abstract: A wireless contextual prompting device provides contextual (context-aware) prompting in the home for applications such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL) monitoring, medication adherence, journaling, social messaging and coaching. The device combines the advantages of a small, wireless, battery-operated sensor that may be easily mounted at critical places in a person's daily routine with a low-power, high-contrast display panel that may be palm sized. The context may be displayed on the display screen as images, icons and/or text such that it is easy to interpret warnings by the young, elderly, or the language-challenged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Kuris, Steven M. Ayer, Frank C. Bomba, Doug F. Busch
  • Patent number: 8130098
    Abstract: The present invention is a safety and business productivity system having the following components. One or more cameras capture video data having attribute data, the attribute data representing importance of the cameras. One or more video analytics devices process the video data from one or more of the cameras and detect primitive video events in the video data. A correlation engine correlates two or more primitive video events from the video analytics devices weighted by the attribute data of the cameras used to capture the video data. An alerting engine generates one or more alerts and performs one or more actions based on the correlation performed by the correlation engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: KD Secure LLC
    Inventors: John J Donovan, Daniar Hussain
  • Patent number: 8125334
    Abstract: A method for detecting an event. A number of video data streams is generated for an environment around a platform. The number of video data streams is received from a video camera system associated with platform. The event is detected at the platform using a sensor system. Information is generated about a location of the event in response to detecting the event. A portion of the number of video data streams is identified by a computer system corresponding to a time and a location of the event using the information about the location of the event. The portion of the number of video data streams is presented by the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brian Jacob Loyal, Michael S. Thielker, Andrew Michael Rittgers
  • Patent number: 8081073
    Abstract: Security systems and methods are implemented using a variety of devices and methods. According to one such implementation, a security system uses a controller to communicate with security-monitoring devices and has an integrated image-capture device with a circuit board structure with an angle-setting support article, a circuit board with a nonadjustable surface, and data-communicating conductors. A camera is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a first angle relative to the nonadjustable surface. A motion detector is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a second angle relative to the nonadjustable surface of the circuit board. The support article sets the first angle relative to the second angle for capturing both images and motion in a target area. A data-communication circuit communicates data from the camera and the motion detector and wirelessly communicates the data to the controller. A solar circuit provides power to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: RSI Video Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Reibel, Keith Jentoft
  • Patent number: 8077029
    Abstract: A portable alarm video recording and transmitting device includes first and second component units in wireless communications with each other, the first component unit includes illuminating apparatus for providing lighting and is in communication with audiovisual recording apparatus for capturing and recording pictorial images and audio generating recorded video images that are converted to an electronic signal that is transmitted to the second component unit's communicating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: F3M3 Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Daniel, Hortencia Daniel, Antonio Alfonso
  • Patent number: 8054164
    Abstract: Transmitter for distributing data signals, characterised in that it is provided with receiving means for collecting one or several data signals, a control unit (5) and a transmitting unit (3) connected thereto for transmitting an above-mentioned data signal via a network to one or several addressable receivers (6) from a series of pre-selected users, after the above-mentioned control unit (5) has received a starting signal to this end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Option NV
    Inventors: Koenraad Karl Celest Faes, Paul Frans Marta Mortelmans
  • Patent number: 8026804
    Abstract: The apparatus is applicable to a communications network, wherein, via an information processing platform of a network server end, the system is connected to a network surveillance device installed in a monitored environment, in which the information processing platform processes and saves event message about the environment acquired by the network surveillance device, and generates corresponding notification messages. Via a browsing authorization certification mechanism, the system allows a user having been identified as a certified user to connect to the information processing platform via a communication terminal device for monitoring message information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Huang Wu, Show-Ling Wu, Jhao-Siang Sun, Lun-Hsing Yeh, Shu-Fang Xiao, Yu-Huan Wang
  • Patent number: 8013738
    Abstract: The present invention is a video surveillance, storage, and alerting system having the following components. One or more surveillance cameras capture video data having attribute data, the attribute data representing importance of the surveillance cameras. One or more video analytics devices process the video data from one or more of the surveillance cameras and detect primitive video events in the video data. A network management module monitors network status of the surveillance cameras, and the video analytics devices, and generates network events reflective of the network status of all subsystems. A correlation engine correlates two or more primitive video events from the video analytics devices weighted by the attribute data of the surveillance cameras used to capture the video data, and network events from the network management module weighted by attribute data of device corresponding to the network event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: KD Secure, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Donovan, Daniar Hussain
  • Patent number: 8009020
    Abstract: Remote monitoring and inspection of measurement devices, emergency equipment, parking spaces, and other items is accomplished by using a digital image sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to capture a digital image containing information about the monitored item. A signal containing information about the digital image (e.g., data representing the captured digital image or data indicating the state of the captured digital image) is transmitted to a remote central station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: en-Gauge, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrance Riedel, Brendan T. McSheffrey