626results about "Audible advertising" patented technology

Location-Based Addressing (LBA) is a method of controlling and commissioning networked lighting devices. The lighting devices communicate over a wireless network using radio frequency communication protocols. The lighting devices are commissioned or grouped based on their respective locations in a building floor plan or a building architecture. The lighting devices are commissioned to respond to radio frequency communications that correspond to their respective locations. This imposed location-based architecture reduces the amount of transmitted data required to control the lighting devices and, thus, reduces the radio bandwidth required to control the lighting devices. In other words, controlling devices “multicast” instructions and controlled devices “listen” for instructions and act only upon instructions that correspond to their respective location. Hand shaking or two-way communication between the controlling devices and the controlled devices is not required.

A vehicle status device and system for remotely updating and monitoring the status of a vehicle. The vehicle status device is located in a vehicle and reports status information for the vehicle and an owner to an interrogating unit. The device includes a database of status information for the vehicle and owner. An update receiver in the device receives updated information from a wide area paging network for storage in the database. An interrogation receiver receives an interrogation signal from the interrogating unit, and a response transmitter transmits encoded status information, including a vehicle identification (VID), to the interrogating unit in response. The updating and monitoring system also includes an interrogating unit which includes an interrogation transmitter for transmitting the interrogation signal to the vehicle status device, and a response receiver for receiving the encoded status information from the vehicle status device. A processor decodes the encoded status information and translates it into plain language for presentation to an operator. The system may be implemented as a ticket-less toll system by providing a database of subscribers in which VIDs are matched to subscriber identities, credit card information, and current status as valid subscribers.

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. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system is 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.

A security system comprising a plurality of security subsystems each of the security subsystems being discretely located, typically in separate buildings. The security subsystems are interconnected by a system communications bus to enable bi-directional communication between the security subsystems. Each of the security subsystems comprises a user interface, a control panel, a plurality of security devices, a local communications bus, and a panel linking gateway. The panel linking gateway allows data on the local communications bus of each security subsystem to be transmitted to and received from the system communications bus. The security system allows a keypad or other user interface from one security subsystem to access and control a second remote security subsystem.

A portable device-interoperable home network system includes a home server controls data transmission and reception of an internal network to which a plurality of home appliances are connected in a home. An image server outputs information regarding at least one image in the home to the home server. A portable device server receives the image information from the image server via the home server and transfers it to a portable electronic device. Therefore, a user can recognize a situation in the home through the portable electronic device from anywhere outside of the home, resulting in an increase in convenience of use.

A curtailment module is disclosed for enabling an energy provider to send a request to curtail energy use to a user. The curtailment module includes an interface for electronic communications with a temperature control device. A paging module is used to receive the request from the energy provider through a paging network. The curtailment module also includes a processor in electronic communication with the paging module for receiving the request from the paging module. Memory is also included and is in electronic communication with the processor for storing a curtailment message and history data. The curtailment module also includes a sound component in electronic communication with the processor for outputting an audio verification. A code generator is stored in the memory and executable by the processor to generate a verification code using the curtailment message and the history data as inputs. The code generator also generates the audio verification based on the verification code to verify whether the request was followed.

A vehicle status device and system for remotely updating and locally indicating the status of a vehicle. The vehicle status device is located in a vehicle and indicates status information for the vehicle on a vehicle-status indicator on the vehicle when the device is interrogated by an interrogating unit. The device includes a database of status information for the vehicle and owner. An update receiver in the device receives encoded updated information from a wide area paging network for storage in the database. An interrogation receiver receives an interrogation signal from the interrogating unit, and a processor decodes the status information and sends it to the status indicator in response. The system also includes an interrogating unit which includes a police radar transmitter or a laser transmitter for transmitting the interrogation signal to the vehicle status device. The status indicator includes a set of summary status lights and may also include an LCD display for detailed status information. In an alternative embodiment, the device uses a wireless Internet access device to access external databases and download the vehicle status information either periodically or on demand. The information may be passed directly to the status indicator without the need for an internal database.

A method and a system for emergency evacuation of building occupants and to a method for modernization of an existing building with the evacuation system. The system is used in a multi-story building having a plurality of floors and with at least one elevator positionable at selected landings of the floors. A first device is provided for measuring the number of persons in the building and a second device is provided for detecting an emergency condition in the building. At least one control unit is provided for determining or for estimating a number of building occupants in the building. The control unit defines at least one evacuation zone in the building during the emergency condition. Based on this information, the control unit defines at least one designated floor in the building during the emergency condition. Then the system evacuates the building occupants with the elevator car and / or a stairway from the evacuation zone to the designated floor.

A network includes a smart coupler having a processor, a memory with software, and a power source to energize the processor and the memory, and an appliance configured to perform an operation on a physical article. The appliance is one that consumes at least some of a resource in performing the operation. The network also includes a source of information about the resource. The smart coupler is in communication with the appliance and the source, and the processor and memory operate to request a change to the operation of the appliance in response to a resource parameter or a request communicated by the source.

Provided is a sensing system for use in conjunction with a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home, the system including a transmitter adapted to be used with an absorbent article having a sensor, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the sensor and directly with the home automation network. Also provided is a physiological event notification system including an absorbent article including a physiological event sensor; a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home; and a transmitter associable with the absorbent article and in signal communication with the physiological event sensor and with the home automation network.

A method and a system for data transmission between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is in a sleep mode. Transmission of data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device occurs while a microprocessor in the second device is in sleep mode and the wireless transceiver is in a wake mode. The first electronic device transmits data signals and the second electronic device detects the transmitted signal. A base band processor in the second electronic device optionally determines if the signal is from a known source. If the first electronic device is a known electronic device, an interrupt signal is generated to wake up the microprocessor in the second electronic device. The wakened microprocessor opens a communication port and disables the wake-up interrupt. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the data receive line is directly coupled to a line that triggers an interrupt when a signal is detected. The received message is then stored in memory for subsequent use.

This is a method for use in automated screening of tickets for plant protection based on negative feedback from past performance. In particular this invention provides an automated screening process that takes a dig ticket address from a ticket request and correlates it to known cable locations to determine which ticket dig addresses are too close to the buried fiber. This is done using a method that balances the risk of extra labor charges due to a Type I error with the risk of costs associated with a cable cut due to a Type II error.

Systems and methods for associating a remote controller with a device are provided. The systems and methods generally relate to receiving a request from a remote controller to pair the remote controller to a device at several devices and determining at each of the several devices the strength of the wireless pairing request signal received by that device. If a device determines that its received signal is the strongest, the device may be paired with the remote controller. If instead a device determines that its received signal is not the strongest, it may ignore subsequent communications received from the remote controller.

The present invention relates to coupler device, processing apparatus and method of processing a plurality of body-coupled communication signals which have been detected by using an electrode arrangement with a plurality of electrodes or electrode segments (40, 42; 40, 43). Respective transmission parameters of the body-coupled communication signals are estimated and at least one of a selecting and weighting processing is applied to the detected body-coupled communication signals based on the estimated transmission parameters. Then, the processed body-coupled communication signals are combined to generate a diversity output signal. Thereby, robustness against coupler misplacement and user convenience is increased in body-coupled or body-based communication systems.

A wireless terminal comprising a radio transceiver for communicating with a base station, an infrared transceiver for communicating with another wireless terminal, a congestion control unit for detecting whether radio communication with the base station is in a collision-free state, and a communication control unit for performing radio communication with the base station by the radio transceiver after detecting unoccupied state in the radio channel by the congestion control unit and transmitting identification information to another wireless terminal by the infrared transceiver when the radio communication with the base station is completed.

A collection of software scripts, programs and web pages that capture, organize, and store wireless and digital device data and images of customer / lot vehicles for use in vehicle dealerships, service, and repair locations. Reports and views of the collected, organized data in real-time are provided.

A greeting device is adapted for presenting audio message and visual images. The record switch is pressed to activate the audio memory member. The user may direct his voice toward the microphone in order to record audio message into the audio memory member. A play switch is pressed for the user to listen to the audio message. A permanent recording function is activated to preserve the audio message without being erased and overwritten by future recordings. Finally, a photograph is inserted into a receiving pocket, so that the photograph together with the audio message constitutes audio / visual presentation of information.

A low cost, robust, wireless sensor system that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The system includes one or more intelligent sensor units and a base unit that can communicate with a large number of sensors. When one or more of the sensors detects an anomalous condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The base unit can contact a supervisor or other responsible person by a plurality of techniques, such as, telephone, pager, cellular telephone, Internet, etc. In one embodiment, one or more wireless repeaters are used between the sensors and the base unit to extend the range of the system and to allow the base unit to communicate with a larger number of sensors.

A remotely monitored and controlled building automation system is disclosed providing efficient offsite use of BAS personnel to monitor and control such systems while utilizing relatively inexpensive alarm monitoring services to advice of system emergencies. In a first preferred embodiment, the building automation system transmits a simplified BAS / energy alarm (including only building identity information) via a specially adapted and configured local security panel to an offsite monitoring center. Thereafter, the alarm is re-transmitted to a BAS web server and on to a BAS website. The BAS website provides notification of the energy alarm to trained BAS technicians located at a remote dealer and enables such personnel, via the website to maintain two-way communication with the building automation system from which the alarm originated. Such personnel are thereby enabled to fully analyze and properly respond to the circumstances which resulted in the alarm. In a second preferred embodiment, the building automation system transmits the simplified BAS alarm directly to a security monitoring center. A BAS controller is disclosed, especially configured and adapted to generate an “energy alarm” upon reception of sensor data indicating the existence of conditions beyond programmed parameters and to provide two way communication of detailed BAS data between the controller and an offsite location. In addition, an especially configured and adapted security panel is disclosed, including a specially coded sensor position, whereby reception of a simplified BAS alarm by the security panel is recognized and re-transmitted to a monitoring center as an energy alarm.

A digital communication system is disclosed, that allows a display of override content to interrupt a display of ongoing content on one or more display units. Ongoing content, such as advertisements, news, entertainment, or other relevant information, is provided on the display units until an urgent or security-related alert is required, and display of override content becomes necessary. Override content can include information relevant to the security of a passenger or passer-by viewing the display. Override content can relate to security threats such as accidents, major delays, fire, missing children, terrorist activity, or other content deemed adequately pertinent to warrant interrupting the display of ongoing content.

A remotely controlled system for the preparation of a user-defined food product or beverage including an input module on a remote device configured to input user-specified parameters associated with the preparation of the user-defined food product or beverage. A user profile module on one or more servers is configured to store one or more of the user-specified parameters, predetermined alerts, and nutritional information associated with the user-specified parameters and send one or more of the user-specified parameters, predetermined alerts and nutritional information for display on the input module. A local controlling computer subsystem is responsive to the input module controlling computer subsystem and is configured to prepare the user-defined food product or beverage based on the one or more commands and interactive instructions from the user.

A system including LED assemblies, which system can efficiently and consistently provide a desired color output. The system includes a network and a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) assemblies connected to the network. Each LED assembly includes a unique address. Further, a control unit is connected to the network and is configured to send light control signals to the LED assemblies individually. The light control signals include color information in a universal color coordinate system. The universal color coordinate system can be the CIE color coordinate system and the network can utilize an Ethernet communication protocol.

A smart coupler for connecting two networks has a processor, a memory, a means to connect to a first network, a means to connect to a second network, and a power source. The first network has a client, and the memory has information which must be transferred to the client to enable the client to be usefully operable relative to the second network.

The invention provides a guide system, which comprises a mobile terminal, a mobile communication network and a background data and resource management system. The mobile terminal comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a camera, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a gyroscope and an augmented reality (AR) software module, wherein the GPS module is used for acquiring current geographic coordinate data of the mobile terminal; the gyroscope is used for acquiring specific direction data of the camera of the mobile terminal; the AR software module is used for superposing scenery spot and surrounding service facility information to a screen of the mobile terminal; the background data and resource management system is used for supplying the scenery spot and surrounding service facility information to the mobile terminal; and the mobile communication network is used for realizing data transmission between the mobile terminal and the background data and resource management system. By combining the system and the direction, specific direction and all scenery spot and surrounding service facility information in a certain range are supplied to users, the positions of scenery spots are easily positioned, points of interest are found faster, and better experience is brought to the users.