Continuously Variable Indicating (e.g., Telemetering) Patents (Class 340/870.01)
  • Patent number: 8212687
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodologies for providing improved functionality of a meter in a 2-way communications arrangement, such as an Advanced Metering System (AMS) or Infrastructure (AMI). More particularly, the present technology relates to methodologies and apparatus for providing load side voltage sensing for utility meters which preferably are operable with remote disconnect features in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) open operational framework. The present subject matter provides enhanced capabilities resulting in improved functionality, increased safety, and greater economy vis-à-vis fraud detection for individual metrology components in an open operational framework. Meters per the present subject matter utilize a detection circuit, which is situated generally downstream of a remote disconnect functionality. Such detection circuit is able to sense whether voltage exists or doesn't exist at such relatively downstream, or load side location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Itron, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Makinson, Andrew Lancaster, Scott Swanson
  • Patent number: 8207865
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of remote metering of energy consumed and/or inputted by a plurality of energy consuming and/or inputting units (4) of a power grid (5) as well as a device for remote metering. Each unit (4) comprises at least one meter (2) and/or a meter box (1) connected with one or more meters (2) and the meter boxes (1) and/or the meters (2) are connected with at least one backend platform (3) via a communication network. At least two of the group of meter boxes (1), meters (2) and backend platforms (3) communicate with each other by means of a generic bi-directional resource management protocol on top of an IP protocol stack via the communication network and thereby encode and decode data transferred via the resource management protocol according to a predefined extensible specification comprising a functional group for meter information and control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Dieter Kopp, Janosch Wagner, Klaus Stocker, Jonathan Vanderick
  • Publication number: 20120154169
    Abstract: Toilet management systems, methods, and techniques are disclosed to provide information about toilet units to visitors and maintainers of toilets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Edo Vincent Hoekstra
  • Patent number: 8198527
    Abstract: A wrapped thermoelectric power source having an inner and an outer insulator is provided within a housing formed, at least partially, by an upper and lower thermal transfer elements. The thermoelectric power source including a plurality of coupled pairs of thin film materials possessing thermoelectric properties, the pairs disposed on a flexible substrate and electrically coupled in any series/parallel combination, with the flexible substrate wrapped around an inner thermal insulator. The thermoelectric power source may be sized such that at least a portion of an electronics module may be disposed at least partly within the inner thermal insulator. The electronics module is electrically coupled to the thermoelectric power source, and includes components for voltage regulation and/or power conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Perpetua Power Source Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Jon Hofmeister, Craig V. Lucas, Paul H. McClelland, Marshall Field, Marcus S. Ward
  • Publication number: 20120139749
    Abstract: An example water usage monitoring system includes at least one sensor communicating at least one parameter relating to water usage. At least one microcontroller represents a location with each microcontroller in communication with at least one of the sensors and having at least one input for selectively receiving said parameters, a counter, an accumulator that utilizes said counter and said parameters received from the at least one input for a discrete count to create a data packet in response to a change in at least one of said parameters, and a transmitter for wirelessly sending said data packet. The system also includes a data collection device configured to receive and combine at least one data packet from the at least one microcontroller into an information set. The data collection device is configured to transmit the information set. A storage device is configured receive the information set from the data collection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Jeff Belz, Craig W. Selover
  • Patent number: 8193929
    Abstract: A mesh-networked sensor platform has a mesh network of nodes that connect with existing electrical infrastructure or are powered through other means such as batteries or energy scavenging. The mesh network forms a self-healing and self-configuring network robust against individual node failures. Wireless mesh networking integrated circuits (ICs), energy monitoring ICs and solid state relays are used to create a low-cost, easy-to-install energy visualization and management system. The system can intelligently control energy usage at the sockets to stop energy from being wasted. Software for a central base station uses energy usage data from each node to create an energy usage profile to automatically detect anomalies in energy usage and take steps to correct them. Other sensors can be easily added for a multitude of applications. Power usage and control of each appliance can be viewed via an internet connected PC or smart phone via a social networking website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David Siu, Ken C. K. Cheung, Joseph M. Cardenas, Luke B. Joseph, Ryan Y. Miyamoto, Donald Harbin
  • Patent number: 8176803
    Abstract: The present invention is a sensor interface or network of interfaces that utilizes high-temperature electronics to operate at elevated temperatures for applications that include but are not limited to aircraft and automobile engines, vehicle frames, refineries, nuclear and chemical production plants, and in downhole drilling for petroleum and natural gas. The interface or network provide connectors for a variety of sensors with analog and digital outputs, and can in turn provide data to an automated electronic control system or a monitor. Because the sensor interface may be placed in so-called “hot zones” nearer to the sensors being monitored than other systems that use conventional electronics, the sensor interface can increase noise immunity, increase reliability, decrease cost, reduce weight, and increase space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Orbital Research Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Willett, Greg S. Shaw
  • Publication number: 20120105248
    Abstract: Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a system for obtaining, processing and managing data from an implanted sensor. In some embodiments, a patient or other persons can use a flexible antenna to obtain data from the implanted sensor. The flexible antenna includes at least one transmit loop and at least one receive loop. The transmit loop is adapted to propagate energizing signals to the implanted sensor. The receive loop is adapted to detect a response signal from the implanted sensor. The transmit loop includes a capacitor formed by a discontinuous area. The capacitor is adapted to allow the loop to be tuned. The flexible antenna can communicate with a patient device that collects the data from the implanted sensor, creates a data file and transmits the data file to a remote server over a network. A physician or other authorized person may access the remote server using an access device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: CardioMEMS, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Miller, Kim Rutkowski, Jason Kroh, Shawn Michael Brogdon, Erik Moore
  • Patent number: 8161191
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a network and routing protocol for utility services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a utility device (for example, a constant powered meter) sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered and the device listens for advertised routes for one or more networks from the neighbors. The device is then registered with one or more utility networks, receiving a unique address for each network registration. Also illustrated in this invention disclosure is how each device of a class of devices (for example, battery powered meter) finds and associates itself with another device (for example, constant powered meter). The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility networks. The constant powered meter registers itself with the access points and the upstream nodes in the path out of each network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: George Flammer, Sterling Hughes, Daniel McKernan, Raj Vaswani
  • Publication number: 20120075115
    Abstract: A system for measuring polar substances includes a measurement module, a transfer module, a display module and a store module. The measurement module includes a measurement unit and a transmitter. The measurement unit measures the polar substances and produces a data-related signal. The transmitter transmits the data-related signal. The transfer module includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver receives the data-related signal. The transmitter of the transfer module receives the data-related signal from the receiver and transmits the data-related signal. The display module receives the data-related signal from the transmitter of the transfer module and shows the data-related signal. The store module receives the data-related signal from the transmitter of the transfer module and stores the data-related signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Armaments, Bureau, Ministry of National Defense
    Inventors: Ming-Town Lee, Jen-Chi Liao, Tung-Jung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8138934
    Abstract: When a metering coupled to a network loses its primary power source and has a secondary power source, such as a super-capacitor, it recognizes and reports a power outage. In this case, the head end server may verify the power outage report by querying through the downstream nodes coupled to the network about the power outage. When a node loses its primary power source and has no secondary power source, it will fail to make a regularly scheduled report at the appropriate time. Consequently, the head end server verify the power outage by polling downstream nodes coupled to the HAN about the power outage to deduce whether a power outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Trilliant Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Veillette, Kevin House
  • Publication number: 20120062734
    Abstract: A coordinator module comprising flash memory, a processor and a transceiver capable of performing a plurality of functions for a variety of electronic devices. A video server system comprising a coordinator module, a digital video camera and a cellular antenna is described herein. A remote monitoring system comprising a coordinator module, a metering instrument and a cellular antenna is also provided herein. Further described is a related method of controlling a metering instrument comprising providing a metering instrument, a coordinator module and a cellular antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Sergei Y. Mironichev, Christopher D. Mechling
  • Publication number: 20120056752
    Abstract: Content signaturing is provided by a display receiver device comprising one or more source inputs, where each source input is configured to receive a content signal from a corresponding content source. The display receiver device further comprises a content identification module to send sample information derived from each received content signal to a signature processor and to receive from the signature processor content information for each corresponding content source, the content information for a particular content source indicating a content item embodied by the content signal received from that particular content source. The display receiver device further comprises an association module to associate the content item corresponding to the particular content source with one or more associated content items not corresponding to the particular content source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Baldwin, Dennis George Cronin, Ron Morris, David Sloo
  • Patent number: 8130101
    Abstract: Semiconductor sensor chips are assembled with semiconductor communication chips to form sensor nodes which are wired together and placed in a tube preform which is sealed to form a tube containing an array of sensor nodes. The tube, resembling a wire in appearance, can then be assembled with power conductors to form a power delivery cable to allow monitoring of conditions within the cable at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the cable so that the cable can be operated near or at its actual current carrying capacity which may be altered by ambient conditions and allowing management of risk of failure of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Alain Pellen
  • Publication number: 20120050064
    Abstract: A local area utility network includes a utility, a low-speed backhaul between the utility and a utility provider, and a high-speed broadband network interface module in the utility coupling the utility directly to a broadband network. A plurality of utilities is coupled via a wireless mesh home area utility network. The low-bandwidth backhaul is operable to communicate at least one of billing, pricing, and load control events to a utility provider, and the high-speed broadband network connection to a home automation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Digi International Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Husney
  • Publication number: 20120026119
    Abstract: A system includes a local patient monitor and a plurality of remote patient monitors. The local patient monitor may display a plurality of physiological parameters for a local patient. The local patient monitor may further display a remote monitoring interface with the local patient's physiological parameters. The remote monitoring interface may include a plurality of status icons respectively representing the plurality of remote patient monitors. In one embodiment, the local patient monitor receives alarm information from a first remote patient monitor indicating that one or more physiological parameters for a remote patient are outside of a determined range. The alarm information may include, for example, location information for the remote patient and an alarm condition indicated by the one or more physiological parameters. The local patient monitor may display the alarm information within the remote monitoring interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MINDRAY DS USA, INC.
    Inventors: John Judy, Joe Petruzzelli, Cadathur Rajagopalan, Scott Eaton, Sondra Kaufman, Susan Hebert
  • Publication number: 20120013483
    Abstract: A GIS-based computerized system is provided for maintaining a water supply system having a pipe network and a plurality of measuring sensors. The maintenance system includes a transmitter that receives information from the measuring sensors, and transmits the information, a collector that collects the information transmitted by the transmitter, an information analyzer that analyzes the collected information and decides prescribed status variables for the maintenance system, a storage that stores information provided by the collector and the information analyzer, an alarm device that generates an alarm when the information analyzer decides a leak expectation, a sensor error or an abnormal operation, a pipe network analyzer that analyzes the pipe network base on the collected information. The pipe network analyzer analyzes the information stored by the storage based on a pipe network scheme that is constructed with space data of the water supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Sungeun Jung, Yoonrak Hwang, Dong Seop Lee, Sang Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 8098169
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods for monitoring a plurality of worksites at a facility, the methods including transporting a central monitoring station package to the facility, seating a transport container, stationing worksite monitoring equipment packages at the worksites, connecting communication links from the worksite monitoring equipment packages to central monitoring station equipment, transmitting remote transmissions from worksite monitoring equipment packages to central monitoring station equipment, displaying worksite monitoring information for a monitoring technician, and responding when remote monitoring information received from a worksite meets a response threshold criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: Remo Thomas Abraham, III, Robert P. Luke
  • Patent number: 8089372
    Abstract: In a method for transmitting data in an HVDCT system to a control system for HVDCT systems, measured values are transmitted from measuring units of the HVDCT system to preprocessing units connected to one another in series. The preprocessing units use the received measured values to generate measured value data. The measured value data are transmitted as part of a data record composed of data words, and the data words are subdivided, during transmission, into a temporal sequence of individual bit groups. A first bit group contains identification data for the preprocessing unit and information on the number of further bit groups that are to be transmitted by the preprocessing unit. A downstream preprocessing unit uses the information on the number of bit groups to be transmitted by a preprocessing unit connected upstream of it to determine a time for transmitting the data word of the downstream preprocessing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludwig Hügelschäfer, Jürgen Sperber, Werner Stecher
  • Patent number: 8073384
    Abstract: Techniques for optimization of redundancy and throughput in an automated meter data collection system using a wireless network are disclosed herein. The wireless network comprises a central node, a plurality of bi-directional nodes, and a plurality of transmit-only meters. Each of the bi-directional nodes is in bi-directional wireless communication with the central node and has a wireless communication path to the central node that is either a direct path or an indirect path through one or more intermediate bi-directional nodes serving as relay nodes. The transmit-only meters wirelessly transmit meter data that is then relayed by one or more bi-directional nodes to the central node. Each of the bi-directional nodes is assigned one or more authorized transmit-only meters, and each of the bi-directional nodes is configured to relay meter data only from its authorized transmit-only meters, thereby providing an optimum level of redundancy and throughput in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Elster Electricity, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Shuey, Andrew J. Borleske
  • Patent number: 8058998
    Abstract: An RFID antenna comprising an elongated structure existing along an axis that is long compared to the signal wavelength and including twin ribbon-like feed lines of electrically conductive material, the feed lines being in a common plane and being uniformly laterally spaced from one another, and a plurality of radiating perturbations associated with the feed lines at a plurality of locations spaced along the feed lines, at each location each feed line has its own individual perturbation or portion of a perturbation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: Wistron NeWeb Corporation, Ohio State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Walter D. Burnside, Robert J. Burkholder, Feng-Chi Eddie Tsai
  • Publication number: 20110273304
    Abstract: An apparatus for receiving information at a location and communicating at least a subset of said information to a second location comprising an energy module; a communications module; and a data module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: James Matthew Pryor, Anthony Kahl, Stephen Wallace, Gino Garbellini, Simon Holmes A Court
  • Patent number: 8031053
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for radio frequency identification (RFID) label time synchronization. A method includes, in a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator having an antenna, transceiver, a clock, a memory and a central processing unit (CPU), initializing a RFID tag with a label start time and a time to record data, the label start time representing an actual start time indicated by the clock, receiving a label stop time, a label time and logged data from an interrogation of the RFID tag, and compensating the label time for a drift between the label stop time and an actual stop time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: Roy Edgar Greeff
  • Publication number: 20110227754
    Abstract: The present application is generally directed to mediums, methods, and systems for providing a data aggregator and reporting engine for utilities data. Exemplary embodiments provide procedures for aggregating and reporting data. According to exemplary embodiments, a base configuration for a data aggregator is provided. A variety of characteristics and functionality are built into the base configuration of the aggregator. Each characteristic may include a plurality of built-in options. By selecting one or more relevant options for each characteristic, a utility provider can build an aggregator that applies a custom profile to aggregate and report utilities data. The options may be selected prior to run-time, or may be selected at run-time. A dynamic reporting framework is also provided. The dynamic reporting framework allows for data aggregations to be calculated during the aggregation process without requiring that either the aggregator or the reporting framework be rebuilt or redesigned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Entegrity LLC
    Inventor: David Gordon HILL
  • Patent number: 8013732
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. Such a system may be configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sipco, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas David Petite, Richard M Huff
  • Publication number: 20110205081
    Abstract: A method of wireless communication includes transmitting configuration information to a tactile pressure sensor apparatus, receiving pressure sensor data from the tactile pressure sensor apparatus based on the configuration information, and providing the received tactile pressure sensor data to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: An M. Chen, Jack Steenstra
  • Publication number: 20110201383
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a portable electronic device and a sensor unit. The portable electronic device includes a signal processing unit, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and an outputting unit. The sensor unit is adapted to electrically connecting with the portable electronic device by a USB interface. The sensor unit is adapted for sensing a physical and/or chemical parameter of a target object and generating a digital signal. The signal processing unit is capable of receiving the digital signal via the USB interface and then transmitting the digital signal to the transmitting unit. The transmitting unit transmits the digital signal to a server. The server processes the digital signal for obtaining a result. The receiving unit is capable of receiving the result from the server. The outputting unit is electrically connected with the receiving unit and adapted to output the result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Middleland Sensing Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Hsiung HSIAO
  • Publication number: 20110201382
    Abstract: An exemplary portable sensor apparatus with detachable and interchangeable sensor unit(s) connected through USB interface. The portable electronic device and the sensor unit(s) have pairing USB port and USB plug respectively, for facilitating digital signal transmission between the sensor unit(s) and the portable electronic device. The sensor unit(s) includes a sensor probe for real-time measuring or monitoring physical and/or chemical parameters of a target object, and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to convert the signals into digital ones. The portable electronic device includes a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit is for storing multiple programs and data for different sensing applications. The processing unit is for receiving digital signals, selecting an appropriate program from the storage unit, analyzing the digital signals by the selected program and thereby acquiring data from the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: Hsiung HSIAO
  • Patent number: 8000913
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for processing utility data of a power grid is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a datamart comprised of a plurality of physical databases storing utility data, a plurality of applications comprising an automated meter application configured to process power usage data from a plurality of automated meters, a power outage application configured to identify a location of a power outage, and a power restoration application configured to identify a location of a power restoration. The system may include an analysis engine comprising a plurality of analysis objects with each analysis object configured to process data to provide a specific analysis, wherein said analysis engine is accessible via one or more of the plurality of applications, and the system may include a report module configured to receive an output from the analysis engine and to output a report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Current Communications Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Kreiss, Daniel S. Brancaccio
  • Patent number: 7994886
    Abstract: A contactless switch module, which is actuatable between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position, a plurality of magnetic field sensing sensors, and a plurality of magnets. The switch also includes a multi-channel switch controller. Each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing sensors is communicatively coupled to an input channel of the multi-channel switch controller. The multi-channel switch controller is configured to determine a switch state based at least upon the respective states of its input channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Korry Electronics Co.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Clark Bedell
  • Patent number: 7996031
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a network protocol for utility services are disclosed are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises discovering a utility network, wherein a constant powered meter sends network discovery messages to find the utility network. Neighboring meters are discovered, wherein the constant powered meter sends hello messages periodically. The constant powered meter is registered with the utility network. Further, the battery powered meter finds and associates itself with a constant powered meter. The constant powered meter also registers its associate battery powered meter with the utility network. The constant powered meter sends a node registration message to the gateway of the utility network. The constant powered meter can sense outage problems with the gateway and the neighbors of its network, and search and migrate to an alternate network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Marko Kiiskila, Padmasheela Rayala, William San Filippo, III
  • Patent number: 7991556
    Abstract: A method for analyzing formation data includes decomposing the formation data into simple components that can be used to reconstruct the formation data, wherein the decomposing is performed at a first location and includes a process to minimize an overlap between the simple components; and transmitting parameters representing the simple components to a second location for reconstructing the formation data. A system for analyzing formation data that includes a processor and a memory that stores a program having instructions for decomposing the formation data into simple components that can be used to reconstruct the formation data, wherein the decomposing is performed at a first location and includes a process to minimize an overlap between the simple components; and transmitting parameters representing the simple components to a second location for reconstructing the formation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jaideva C. Goswami, Denis Heliot
  • Publication number: 20110181437
    Abstract: An advanced metering infrastructure comprises intermediate nodes. The intermediate nodes receive data from child nodes and relay a subset of the data that is not according to an expected value. The expected value may be determined based on a forecasting function computed based on past data. The expected value may be a spatial shape in an n-dimension space. A data not within the spatial shape may be considered not in accordance with the expected value. In some case, the spatial shape is defined by a centroid and a radius. The spatial shape may shift over time based on a consumption profile, such as low consumption at noon, and high consumption at evening. The consumption profiles may be determined in a learning phase, as well as shifting of spatial shapes of each group over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gidon Gershinsky, Liane Lewin-Eytan, Yossi Richter, Konstantin Shagin, Elad Yom-Tov
  • Publication number: 20110172687
    Abstract: An implantable restriction device is configured to provide a restriction in a patient. A pressure sensor implanted in the patient is configured to sense pressure associated with the restriction device. A remote input device is configured to wirelessly receive pressure measurements from the pressure sensor and transmit the pressure measurements to a display device. The display device is configured to plot the pressure measurements as a function of time. The remote input device also includes buttons that may be used to annotate the pressure measurements, such as to indicate physical events associated with the patient (e.g., coughing, sneezing, etc.). The display device is also configured to display the annotations on or near the plot of pressure measurements. A viewer may thus take the annotations into account when evaluating the pressure measurements, such as by ignoring pressure measurements associated with certain types of annotations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Scott A. Woodruff, Amy L. Marcotte
  • Patent number: 7978095
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output pad, an alarm output pad, and a test mode output pad. A first multi-bit register is programmable to store programmable data such as data that identifies a customer for whom the integrated circuit has been manufactured. A second multi-bit register is programmable to store customer specified threshold data. A first circuit selectively couples the first and second multi-bit registers to the output pad. The first circuit is operable responsive to the integrated circuit being placed into a test mode to perform parallel-to-serial conversion of either the customer identification data stored in the first multi-bit register or the customer specified threshold data stored in the second multi-bit register and drive the converted data for output through the output pad. The integrated circuit further includes a tamper detection circuit operable responsive to the customer specified threshold data to generate a tamper alarm signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. McClure, Sooping Saw, Robert Wadsworth
  • Patent number: 7978059
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. Such a system may be configured to monitor utility meters in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters, wherein each wireless transmitter is integrated into a sensor adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer on a network. The dedicated computer, collects, compiles, and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal, the system further including means for applying the control signal at a designated actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hunt Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Petite, Richard M. Huff
  • Patent number: 7974744
    Abstract: A system and method for parsing a set of archived telemetry streams for the purpose of reconstructing the data contained within the set of archived telemetry streams into a newly constructed set of telemetry streams. The newly constructed set of telemetry streams are used as a set of test driver data to evaluate performance in variety of ground based systems. The availability of test drivers produced by the preferred embodiment of the invention shortens the system development time line by allowing an evaluation of hardware and software changes ahead of the actual delivery of vehicle telemetry components, resulting in a reduction of overall program costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Hai Doan
  • Patent number: 7969300
    Abstract: A wireless sensor network includes a controller connected with multiple antennas for sending out a beacon signal at different instants into different directions and for receiving a sensor signal. Furthermore, the wireless sensor network comprises a sensor having a receiver connected with a sensor antenna for receiving the beacon signal, a transmitter connected with the sensor antenna for sending out the sensor signal, and a control unit which takes care that the sensor signal is transmitted after the beacon signal has been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro E. Coronel, Simeon Furrer, Wolfgang H. Schott
  • Patent number: 7969348
    Abstract: A wide area location and telemetry system may include a wide area location and telemetry system server that is configured to determine wide area location and telemetry system data about an object when the object is located within the coverage area of the wide area location and telemetry system. The wide area location and telemetry system server may also be configured to receive localized location and telemetry system data about the object when the object is located within the coverage area of a localized location and telemetry system. The wide area location and telemetry system may also include a database and a database manager. The database manager may be configured to store the wide area location and telemetry system data and the localized location and telemetry system data in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Recon Dynamics, LLC
    Inventors: James R. Baker, Sy Prestwich, Scott Bevan
  • Publication number: 20110148657
    Abstract: A telematics system in an asset network is provided. The telematics system includes one or more sensors configured to acquire data from multiple assets at different locations in the asset network. The telematics system also includes a transceiver configured to receive the data acquired from the one or more sensors. The telematics system further includes a data analysis system. The data analysis system includes a central data server configured to receive the data transmitted from the transceiver. The data analysis system also includes a processing circuitry configured to combine data, analyze combined data to detect trends, generate value added services based on the detected trends and distribute the value added services to multiple end users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patricia Denise Mackenzie, John William Carbone, Charles Burton Theurer, Joseph James Salvo, Joseph Edward Jesson
  • Patent number: 7953216
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for preventing unauthorized persons from using an electronic device within a facility. In such an embodiment, the system may include a plurality of RFID tags each having unique identification information associated with a wearer of one of the RFID tags. This system may also include an RFID reader associated with the electronic device and having an RFID coverage zone for detecting RFID tags within the coverage zone. A device management system may be connected to the reader and configured to determine whether wearers in the coverage zone are authorized to use the electronic device based at least in part on detected RFID tags' unique identification information. In such an embodiment, the device management system is configured to activate the electronic device if it determines only authorized wearers are detected in the coverage zone, and to deactivate the electronic device if it determines an unauthorized wearer is detected in the coverage zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: 3V Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: John D. Profanchik, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20110121988
    Abstract: A method and a system for recognizing the statuses of electric appliances are provided. In the present method, a loop is taking as a unit for recognition, and a power consumption factor sensor which is capable of measuring a single power consumption factor is used such that the current status of each electric appliance in the loop can be recognized by comparing the probability distribution of the power consumption factor. Since it is not needed to dispose an extra measuring device on each electric appliance, the cost of recognizing the statuses of the electric appliances is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRY
    Inventors: Chi-Cheng Chuang, Ray-I Chang, Hung-Ren Lai
  • Patent number: 7948373
    Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption of sensors (2) within a sensor network (1), wherein a central controller (3) calculates a transmission schedule for said sensors (2) on the basis of a correlation between sensor data transmitted from said sensors (2) to the central controller (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Nikolaus Bauer, John G. Rooney, Paolo Scotton
  • Publication number: 20110115640
    Abstract: An automated remote water quality monitoring system with wireless communication capability and the method thereof is provided. A water quality monitoring system is provided, including: a plurality of monitoring apparatuses, each of which has a radio communication module transmitting at least one environmental parameter; a server receiving the at least one environmental parameter via a base station; and a gateway being one selected from a group consisting of the plurality of monitoring apparatuses, being geographically the closest one to the base station, receiving the at least one environmental parameter and transmitting the at least one environmental parameter to the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: JOE-AIR JIANG, Jyh-Cherng Shieh, En-Cheng Yang, Fu-Ming Lu, Kuo-Chi Liao, Chih-Hung Hung, Tzu-Yun Lai, Jiing-Yi Wang, Chang-Wang Liu, Tzu-Shiang Lin, Chia-Pang Chen, Yi-Jing Chu
  • Publication number: 20110109471
    Abstract: Provided are a sensor node and method for a preamble sampling, and an apparatus and method for computing a preamble interval. A transceiver may verify a number of neighboring nodes positioned in a sensor network, and a sampling unit may perform the preamble sampling using a sampling duration that is set based on the number of neighboring nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Noseong Park, Yoonmee Doh, Jong-Arm Jun
  • Publication number: 20110084849
    Abstract: A two-way vehicle communication system has been developed that includes at least one vehicle, at least one vehicle data collection point, at least one operations data supply system, and at least one data communication system, wherein the data communication system is operatively coupled to the at least one vehicle, the at least one vehicle data collection point, the at least one operations data supply system or a combination thereof. A method of monitoring a vehicle using a two-way vehicle communication system has been developed that includes: providing at least one vehicle, providing at least one vehicle data collection point, providing at least one operations data supply system, and providing at least one data communication system, wherein the data communication system is operatively coupled to and communicates with the at least one vehicle, the at least one vehicle data collection point, the at least one operations data supply system or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Neil Young, Larry Johnson, Ben Johnson, Paul Perrone
  • Publication number: 20110084850
    Abstract: A bio-information monitoring system is provided. The bio-information monitoring system comprises a wireless sensor and a first wireless network node. The wireless sensor senses at least a bio-information. The first wireless network node collects the bio-information, wherein the bio-information is monitored in response to a command from a second wireless network node to the first wireless network node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Joe-Air Jiang, Ta-Te Lin, Wen-Dien Chang, Yung-Cheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20110080301
    Abstract: A powerline network system having data relay function includes a plurality of power monitoring zones mutually connected with a powerline network and at least one repeater. Each of the power monitoring zones has at least one power monitoring device. The repeater is connected with each power monitoring device in two adjacent power monitoring zones through powerlines and has a first and a second relay units. The first and second relay units employ two different sets of transmitting and receiving bands to fetch data contained in powerline signals transmitted by each power monitor in adjacent power monitoring zones. The data are received by a relay unit are modulated with different transmitting band and then transmitted to powerlines of another power monitoring zone. The repeaters are not required to be serially connected to the powerlines, and incorrect data read can be also eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Che-Cheng Chang, Hao-Jan Chiang, Chih-Pin Shih
  • Publication number: 20110074598
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for transmitting data related to utility conditions between monitoring locations and a central and/or data collection facility using a meter reading system. Collection of both corrected and uncorrected data from meters is achieved to thereby provide backup data in case of corrector failure. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for the collection of telemetry data and alarms from correctors and recorders over a meter reading system. Two-way communications over a meter reading system is also provided to permit data transmission to selected endpoint devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ITRON, INC.
    Inventors: Mark K. Cornwall, James P. Ogle
  • Publication number: 20110068946
    Abstract: The system frequency can be effectively and efficiently regulated within a permissive range by using a power load control system capable of matching a high frequency component of a total generated power to a variation of total power consumption of power equipments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Koichi SATO