375results about "Automatically-operated arrangements" patented technology

A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.

A portable communication device (100) includes at least one sensing circuit (101) and a processor (104), and operates in accordance with a corresponding method of operation. The sensing circuit detects (205) either a characteristic of an external environment containing the portable communication device (e.g., a chemical in the air or acceleration of the device) or a characteristic of the portable communication device user (e.g., heart rate or blood sugar content), and generates a signal (207) representative of a feature of the sensed characteristic. The processor receives the signal and initiates an event based at least on the feature of the sensed characteristic as represented by the signal. Events include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: alerting the device user, transmitting a signal (e.g., an emergency call) to a remote communication device, re-sensing the characteristic or sensing another characteristic, and modifying a setting or profile of the device.

A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.

A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and / or control external devices.

A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to advance the vehicle in a first direction. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter. A traction control of the vehicle is responsive to a receipt of the first type signal by the receiver to cause the vehicle to advance.

A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and / or control external devices.

An apparatus comprising a movable barrier operator for controlling the movable barrier; and a network interface electronically connected to the movable barrier operator for connecting the movable barrier to a network; wherein the network board sends a status of the movable barrier over the network to a requesting device.

A machine vision process monitors and controls safe working practice in a production area by capturing and processing image data relative to personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by individuals, movement of various articles, and movement-related conformations of individuals and other objects in the production area. The data is analyzed to determine whether there is a violation of a predetermined minimum threshold image, movement, or conformation value for a predetermined threshold period of time. The determination of a safety violation triggers computer activation of a safety control device. The process is carried out using a system including an image data capturing device, a computer and computer-readable program code, and a safety control device.

Disclosed herein is a network-based robot control system. The network-based robot control system includes robot terminals, communication modules, and a service server. The service server receives sensing values from sensors of each of the robot terminals through each of the communication modules, generates downstream packets so that synchronous motion control data, voice data or image data is included in a single packet, and transmits the downstream packets to the robot terminal through the communication module. The robot terminal receives the transmitted downstream packets, sequentially stores the downstream packets in a downstream buffer, reads the downstream packets stored in the downstream buffer, and performs a motion or plays voice or images according to the read downstream packets.

In an apparatus (200) arranged to control a home electronics system, the apparatus being managed independently of a user, the apparatus includes a data processing unit (CPU (204), Program ROM (208) and RAM (210)), a first communications port (202) operable to receive a command, a second communications port (216) operable to receive a signal indicating an operative component in the system, and a third communications port (218) operable to output a substitute command to a component in the system. On receiving a command, the data processing unit may produce at least one substitute command in dependence on the operative component, this substitute command then being communicated to a component in the system.

A supplemental control system for a materials handling vehicle comprises a wearable control device, and a corresponding receiver on the materials handling vehicle. The wearable control device is donned by an operator interacting with the materials handling vehicle, and comprises a wireless transmitter and a travel control communicably coupled to the wireless transmitter. Actuation of the travel control causes the wireless transmitter to transmit a first type signal designating a request to advance the vehicle in a first direction. The receiver is supported by the vehicle for receiving transmissions from the wireless transmitter. A traction control of the vehicle is responsive to a receipt of the first type signal by the receiver to cause the vehicle to advance.

A remote control apparatus and method are provided. The remote control apparatus includes a user interface (UI) server which transmits a UI having a multimedia data format, and a UI client which displays the UI, receives a user command and controls the UI server according to the received user command. The remote control method includes enabling a UI server to transmit a UI having a multimedia data format to a UI client, enabling the UI client to display the UI, and enabling the UI client to control the UI server by transmitting a user command received through the UI to the UI server.

A mobile terminal includes a wireless communication unit for collecting external information or transmitting recommended operation information to a home appliance, and a controller for generating the recommended operation information for the home appliance based on the collected external information. The mobile terminal may provide customized recommended operation information for each home appliance without separately including a device for controlling one or more home appliances provided in a home.

An improved monitoring system for use with motor vehicles having a plurality of sensors for measuring the performance of the vehicle and a memory for storing information specifying data derived from the sensors. The invention includes a wireless communication link for transmitting the information to a terminal that is proximate to the vehicle. The terminal communicates information processed by the terminal to the operator of the vehicle. The present invention can be implemented by installing a connector into the standard scanner port on the vehicle. The connector includes a wireless link that emulates a connection to a conventional vehicle scanner by generating control signals on the appropriate conductors on the scanner port.

A communication medium with fewer limitations on the directivity or available communication range, such as an IP network, is used to perform a remote control operation. Since two-way communication can be carried out between a remote controller and a device to be operated, it is possible to provide more reliable communication by means of a delivery confirmation, to handle a GUI-based complex command scheme, and to provide large-volume data transmission, such as moving-image streaming, using relatively broad bands. A television receiver to be operated by the remote controller distributes moving-image data, such as a child view, to an IP remote controller through an IP network so that the data can be viewed on the IP remote controller.

A device is disclosed for facilitating communication with a remote apparatus. The remote apparatus has control functionality and is located within a wireless network. The device comprises a terminal unit having means for transmitting a signal and receiving a signal. The transmitted signal includes an identification of the terminal unit. Additionally, the device includes a control interface operatively connected between the terminal unit and the apparatus. The control interface interfaces signals of the terminal unit with the control functionality of the apparatus.< / PTEXT>

In some embodiments, the invention involves parental or master control of a child or subordinate mobile phone without service provider intervention. An embodiment of the invention is a system and method relating to master control of the subordinate smart phone using features on the smart phones, and independent of features provided by the phone service providers. Communication between the master and subordinate phones may be initiated using SMS messaging, near field communication, Bluetooth, direct connect to a PC, or by other secure wireless or wired connections. Once initiated, desired communication events are captured by the parental control application to effect control policies on the subordinate phone. Communication between the phones may be encrypted to prevent malicious intervention of message traffic Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An apparatus comprising a movable barrier operator for controlling the movable barrier; and a network interface electronically connected to the movable barrier operator for connecting the movable barrier to a network; wherein the network board sends a status of the movable barrier over the network to a requesting device.

An electric power meter (102) includes a temperature sensor (114) and a controller (112). The controller (112) is operable, based on the temperature reported from the temperature sensor (114), to generate alarm(s) when the temperature exceeds certain alarm threshold(s) (307, 507, 508) and to activate a power disconnect switch (104), thereby shutting off power to a customer premises, when the temperature exceeds a shut off threshold (309, 509). The controller (112) is operable to activate the power disconnect switch (104) for non-payment of electricity cost, subject to secondary criteria based on regulatory requirements. A customer terminal (103) may be used to notify a customer of an alarm condition, to provide information regarding electrical power usage or to provide information regarding disconnection of electrical power.

In one embodiment, a method is disclosed in which the signal strength of a wireless connection is evaluated to determine a proximity of a portable electronic device relative to a vehicle. Based on the determined proximity of the portable electronic device, one or more doors of the vehicle are unlocked. A push button ignition of the vehicle is also enabled based on a determination that the portable electronic device is located within the vehicle.

In a control method and a system for the automatic pre-processing of device malfunctions, first data about a device malfunction are sent to a central control device by means of first terminal equipment. On the basis of the first data and on the basis of stored second data, the central control device automatically selects a group of second terminal equipment that are allocated to various service technicians. A malfunction incident signal and at least a part of the data are then sent to the selected terminal equipment and output thereat. The terminal equipment respectively acquires preliminary diagnosis data relating to the malfunction and availability data from the respective service technician. These data are communicated to the central control device, which automatically evaluates the existing data, selects a specific second terminal equipment from the group and communicates an assignment signal to the selected second terminal equipment.

A revenue meter includes electronics for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit, a display and a cover. The electronics includes at least transducers, an analog to digital converter and logic. A meter cover encloses the revenue meter. Communications of data to and from the revenue meter may be done via a fiber optic communications link.

An apparatus and method for providing a user interface that enables a user to select a menu having the same position or direction as a position selected by a remote control. The apparatus includes an interface storing unit which stores items of menus and information about functions provided by the menus, an output unit which outputs items of a first menu stored in the interface storing unit on the circumference of a figure, a receiving unit which receives an input signal from the remote control, and a control unit which, when the input signal received by the receiving unit includes a position selected by the remote control, selects an item of the first menu located at a position of the figure corresponding to the position selected by the remote control and executes a function corresponding to the selected item of the first menu.

A revenue meter includes electronics for measuring the delivery of electrical energy from an energy supplier to a consumer through an electric circuit, a display and a cover. The electronics includes at least transducers, an analog to digital converter and logic. A meter cover encloses the revenue meter. Communications of data to and from the revenue meter may be done via a fiber optic communications link.

Apparatus and method for controlling devices within a home network, and a home network system employing the same. The apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices connected in the home network includes a batch processing portion for generating a batch command for a certain service of services provided by the plurality of devices, to process the certain service as one job, and a control portion for controlling when a batch command is selected, the control portion for controlling a certain device that is designated by the selected batch command operates in accordance with the selected batch command. Accordingly, operations of the devices within the home network for providing the service can be processed as one job.

An integrated remote control device and method using multi-modal inputs are provided. The integrated remote control device may include an input module that receives inputs of at least two modalities from a user, a first modality recognition module that recognizes and interprets an input of a first modality received from the input module, a second modality recognition module that recognizes and interprets an input of a second modality received from the input module, a command database (DB) that stores commands, a control module that interprets a user command by synthesizing information about the inputs interpreted by the first and second modality recognition modules, and extracts a control command that corresponds to the interpreted user command from the command DB, and an output module that outputs the control command extracted by the control module.

An electric power meter (102) includes a temperature sensor (114) and a controller (112). The controller (112) is operable, based on the temperature reported from the temperature sensor (114), to generate alarm(s) when the temperature exceeds certain alarm threshold(s) (307, 507, 508) and to activate a power disconnect switch (104), thereby shutting off power to a customer premises, when the temperature exceeds a shut off threshold (309, 509). The controller (112) is operable to activate the power disconnect switch (104) for non-payment of electricity cost, subject to secondary criteria based on regulatory requirements. A customer terminal (103) may be used to notify a customer of an alarm condition, to provide information regarding electrical power usage or to provide information regarding disconnection of electrical power.

A remote start controller is mounted on a vehicle, which includes a keyless entry device for controlling a locking action of doors of the vehicle in response to a user's operation with respect to a lock button of a transmitter. The remote start controller includes a CPU. Upon detecting that the lock button of the transmitter is operated in a first predetermined way, the CPU causes an engine of the vehicle to start.

An apparatus to provide an always-on monitor, alert, control, and share (MACS) device comprising a connection to receive intermittent updates from a real sensor device, the always-on virtual MACS device corresponding to the real sensor device, and a presentation layer to enable a user to interface with the always-on virtual MACS device, the always-on virtual MACS device providing data regardless of the status of the real sensor device.

A remote control system for a user to operate at least one device using a remote controller includes device specification means for specifying a device located in front of the user who is holding the remote controller via a first communication medium under a constraint on at least one of directivity and a transmittable distance, and remote control means for transmitting a remote control request from the remote controller to the specified device via a second communication medium under less constraint on the directivity and the transmittable distance in accordance with an instruction input from the user.