5244 results about "Control function" patented technology

An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications, home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated.

The Wireless Integrated Network Sensor Next Generation (WINS NG) nodes provide distributed network and Internet access to sensors, controls, and processors that are deeply embedded in equipment, facilities, and the environment. The WINS NG network is a new monitoring and control capability for applications in transportation, manufacturing, health care, environmental monitoring, and safety and security. The WINS NG nodes combine microsensor technology, low power distributed signal processing, low power computation, and low power, low cost wireless and/or wired networking capability in a compact system. The WINS NG networks provide sensing, local control, remote reconfigurability, and embedded intelligent systems in structures, materials, and environments.

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and related methods and computer program products for controlling an aerosol delivery device based on input characteristics. For example, a method may include an aerosol delivery device determining a characteristic of a user input to the aerosol delivery device. The method may further include the aerosol delivery device determining a control function having a defined association with the characteristic. The method may additionally include the aerosol delivery device performing the control function in response to the user input.

The present invention provides control methods, control systems, and control software for microfluidic devices that operate by moving discrete micro-droplets through a sequence of determined configurations. Such microfluidic devices are preferably constructed in a hierarchical and modular fashion which is reflected in the preferred structure of the provided methods and systems. In particular, the methods are structured into low-level device component control functions, middle-level actuator control functions, and high-level micro-droplet control functions. Advantageously, a microfluidic device may thereby be instructed to perform an intended reaction or analysis by invoking micro-droplet control function that perform intuitive tasks like measuring, mixing, heating, and so forth. The systems are preferably programmable and capable of accommodating microfluidic devices controlled by low voltages and constructed in standardized configurations. Advantageously, a single control system can thereby control numerous different reactions in numerous different microfluidic devices simply by loading different easily understood micro-droplet programs.

In a method for scroll bar control on a touchpad, the fingers touching on the touchpad are detected to start up and terminate a scroll bar control function. In the scroll bar control function, the movement of the finger or fingers touching on the touchpad is detected for scrolling on a window, and the vertical distance and the horizontal distance of the movement are evaluated for determining the scrolling amount of a vertical scroll bar or a horizontal scroll bar of the window.

An apparatus, system, and method for controlling functions of a vehicular alarm. The method includes receiving one or more signals including location information, determining a location of the vehicle using the location information, setting one or more functions based on the location information, determining whether an alarm function is activated, and activating the one or more functions according to the setting upon determining that an alarm has been activated. The method may further include using GPS data or signals transmitted from one or more base stations (e.g., from cellular telephone base stations, computer networks, proprietary transmitters, etc.) to determine the position of the apparatus (e.g., installed in the vehicle). The apparatus may also inform a user of regulations relating to an area dependent upon its location.

Methods of applying adaptive social computing systems are disclosed. The social computing systems include capabilities to generate adaptive recommendations and representations of social networks derived, at least in part, from inferences of the preferences and interests of system users based on a plurality of usage behaviors, spanning a plurality of usage behavior categories. The behavioral categories include system navigation behaviors, content referencing behaviors, collaborative behaviors, and the monitoring of physical location and changes in location. Privacy control functions and compensatory functions related to insincere usage behaviors can be applied. Adaptive recommendation delivery can take the form of visual-based or audio-based formats.

Quality of Service (QoS) support is provided by means of a Tiered Contention Multiple Access (TCMA) distributed medium access protocol that schedules transmission of different types of traffic based on their service quality specifications. In one embodiment, a wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a lower QoS priority QoS(A), such as file transfer data. Another wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a higher QoS priority QoS(B), such as voice and video data. Each wireless station can determine the urgency class of its pending packets according to a scheduling algorithm. For example file transfer data is assigned lower urgency class and voice and video data is assigned higher urgency class. There are several urgency classes which indicate the desired ordering. Pending packets in a given urgency class are transmitted before transmitting packets of a lower urgency class by relying on class-differentiated urgency arbitration times (UATs), which are the idle time intervals required before the random backoff counter is decreased. In another embodiment packets are reclassified in real time with a scheduling algorithm that adjusts the class assigned to packets based on observed performance parameters and according to negotiated QoS-based requirements. Further, for packets assigned the same arbitration time, additional differentiation into more urgency classes is achieved in terms of the contention resolution mechanism employed, thus yielding hybrid packet prioritization methods. An Enhanced DCF Parameter Set is contained in a control packet sent by the AP to the associated stations, which contains class differentiated parameter values necessary to support the TCMA. These parameters can be changed based on different algorithms to support call admission and flow control functions and to meet the requirements of service level agreements.

A computer implemented sales transaction tool and associated method of use is disclosed. This includes at least one processor configured to receive sales transaction information and programmed to provide the following functionality: a series of control functions that can be selectively activated by input to the processor for creating at least one subset of the sales transaction information, a plurality of graphical representations that are generated based on the selected subset of sales transaction information, and displaying at least one graphical representation of the plurality of graphical representations on an electronic display associated with the processor. Graphical representations of sales transaction information may include a slope and scatter diagram of sales transaction information, a waterfall chart, waterfall transactional analysis, a time series chart, a price sensor, a margin sensor, a break-even analysis graph and a bubble chart. There are graphical representations to evaluate opportunity of moving low margin products to average margins of comparable products and determining value for products having a single customer.

A security network for a building using at least one RFID reader to communicate with at least one RFID transponder to provide the radio link between each of a number of openings and a control function capable of causing an alert in the event of an intrusion. A gateway provides an interface between the security network and various external networks. The control function can be located in either or both of the RFID reader and the gateway. The RFID transponder is connected to an intrusion sensor. The gateway can communicate with the RFID reader using active RF communications, power-line communications protocol, or hardwire connection. The RFID transponder can contain an energy store. The RFID reader contains means for transferring power to an RFID transponder for the purpose of charging any energy store. The security network can contain more than one RFID reader.

A secure network appliance for filtering Internet websites checks each request from a user's browser against a whitelist of pre-approved websites and passes it only if it is on the whitelist. Otherwise, the request is replaced with pre-arranged content and returned as a response to the user's web browser. It can also check the port the user's request came through against an approved ports whitelist, and responses sent from the Internet against an approved websites whitelist. The network appliance is encapsulated within a secure container so that only an authorized administrator having a unique key can unlock it and access its control functions. The secure container may be formed as a separate hardware component that is physically interposed between a router and a user's computer, or as secure software that run on or operates with a network server.

A remote control includes an input means, a transmitter, an interface unit, and a control unit. The input means is arranged with a mode selection key, the mode selection key is capable of being actuated to change the remote control between a TV mode for adjusting various setting of the television and an update mode for transmitting an execution game program to the television. The interface unit is capable of being coupled to an external device that stores an updated game program, the updated game program includes an execution program and a key setting program. The control unit extracts the execution program and the key setting program from the game program by actuating the mode selection key to switch the remote control to the update mode, setting corresponding game control function of the input means by processing the key setting program, and controlling the transmitter to transmit the execution program to the television.

A system with parental control features is provided. The system may be switched between single account control and multiple account control. Each account may have a program control code and a purchase control code. A user may set parental control criteria for controlling access to programming for each account. A user may set purchase control criteria for controlling purchasing for each account. The system may remove a block on parentally-controlled activity when an authorized user enters an appropriate purchase or program control code. Every activity that matches any of the parental control criteria may be blocked and authorized user login may be required. The system may provide a selectable bypass locks feature. The system may present targeted advertising based on which code was entered last. The system may track account usage and provide information related to usage.

An interactive television system is provided in which a user may perform playback control functions while watching a broadcast television program. When the user requests such a function, a television distribution facility may transmit an interactive streaming media version of the program to the user's equipment. The user equipment switches the broadcast television program with the interactive streaming media version. The interactive streaming media version, once displayed on the given user's user equipment, may be controlled by the user with playback control functions.

An adaptive recommendation system and a mobile adaptive recommendation system are disclosed. The adaptive recommendation system and the mobile adaptive recommendation system include algorithms for monitoring user usage behaviors across a plurality of usage behavior categories associated with a computer-based system, and generating recommendations based on inferences on user preferences and interests. Privacy control functions and compensatory functions related to insincere usage behaviors can be applied. Adaptive recommendation delivery can take the form of visual-based or audio-based formats.

An autonomous multi-platform robot system (100, 1100) for performing at least one functional task in an environment is provided. The system includes at least one navigator platform (110, 1110) providing mapping, localization, planning and control functions for itself and at least one other platform within the environment and at least one functional robot platform (120, 1120) in communication with one or more navigator platforms for performing one or more functional tasks. In one embodiment, one or more navigator platforms (1110) are stationary and include sensors (202) for sensing information about the environment. In another embodiment, one or more functional robot platforms (1120) include sensors (304) for sending information about the environment. In still another embodiment, the system includes one or more stationary platforms (124) with sensors (310) for sensing information about the environment.

A method for providing an active engine stop of the engine of a hybrid electric vehicle. The method utilizes the electric machine to oppose the and rapidly stop the rotation of the engine at a controlled rate. The method includes the calculation of an input speed reduction trajectory using the engine speed when the active engine stop request is made and a predetermined speed reduction interval. The predetermined speed reduction interval is preferably less than a time from the active stop request to the shutoff command to the electric machine. The method provides rapid deceleration of the engine, particularly through the powertrain resonance speed, thereby reducing the amount of vibration energy dissipated through the powertrain and vehicle chassis. The method also removes the electric machine torques from the engine prior to achieving zero engine speed in order to avoid imparting a negative engine speed or counter-rotation of the engine. The method preferably comprises a complementary series of software control functions that allow the vehicle to actively stop the engine.

A multi-level automation control architecture, methods, and systems are disclosed, which provide enhanced scalability, functionality, and cost effectiveness for energy, access, and control. The systems include various combinations of automation controllers, remote controllers and peripheral devices that are used to provide monitoring and control functionality over the various systems in a structure, such as HVAC, water, lighting, etc. In various embodiments, the automation controller and various peripheral devices are implemented to provide an integrated energy management system for the structure. The system allows the user to manage energy based on the day, time, the presence of people, and the availability of natural lighting and heating, as well as prioritize and participate in demand-response program. The system can be implemented using a remote controller and expanded through the addition of automation controllers, remote controllers, and peripheral devices to enable the system to be tailored to specific user requirements.

The input method defined with initial position and moving direction has one control module to distinguish different gestures in the touch controller to generate different control signal for subsequent control function in the system unit. The first touch position of the touch controller is set as the initial position, which is matched with different moving directions to define compared parameter data set, corresponding gesture is then searched, and the searched gesture is finally compared with the defined parameter data set in the control module and the comparison result is fed to the system unit.

The Invention is a control system for a compound aircraft. A compound aircraft has features of both a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft and provides redundant control options. The control system allows an authorized person to select any of plurality of control biases each which is designed to achieve an overall operational objective. The control system applies the selected control bias in allocating the control function among the redundant control options.

A hand-held personal vaporizer including a cylindrical housing and a vaporizer module disposed within the cylindrical housing. The vaporizer includes a vaporizer control module functionally coupled to the vaporizer and configured to control function of the vaporizer. The vaporizer control module automatically restrict use of the vaporizer after a predefined script is executed. The vaporizer includes a fingerprint scanner functionally coupled to a push button and configured to scan a fingerprint. The hand-held personal vaporizer includes a locking module in communication with the vaporizer control module, and functionally coupled to the fingerprint scanner. The locking module is configured to securely lock the vaporizer from use if an authorized fingerprint is not detected through the fingerprint scanner.

An OLED device and control circuit, comprising: a) an OLED responsive to a drive signal; b) a drive circuit connected to the OLED responsive to a charge signal for controlling the drive signal; c) one or more variable charge storage capacitors providing the charge signal; d) a deposition circuit for depositing variable charge in the one or more variable charge storage capacitors; and e) a modulation circuit responsive to an external modulation signal for removing charge from the one or more variable charge storage capacitors.

An apparatus having a programmable processor and a memory for performing a plurality of user-selectable control functions includes a database for storing a plurality of items associated with each of the control functions. The items include, for each function, at least one procedure for performing an action associated with the control function and a specification of at least one state associated with the control function. The apparatus further includes software routines stored on the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor that facilitate selection of a procedure in the database, that access the database and cause performance of the selected procedure to achieve the state specified therein, and that monitor at least one resource associated with the action of the procedure and, based thereon, determine whether the specified state has been achieved.

A power system for an electric motor drive such as may be used in an electrically propelled vehicle incorporates the combination of a high power density battery and a high energy density battery to provide an optimal combination of high energy and high power, i.e., a hybrid battery system. The hybrid battery system in one form includes components which prevent electrical recharge energy from being applied to the high energy density battery while capturing regenerative energy in the high power density battery so as to increase an electric vehicle's range for a given amount of stored energy. A dynamic retarding function for absorbing electrical regenerative energy is used during significant vehicle deceleration and while holding speed on down-hill grades, to minimize mechanical brake wear and limit excessive voltage on the battery and power electronic control devices. The high energy density battery coupled in circuit with a boost converter, a high power density battery, a dynamic retarder, and an AC motor drive circuit. The hybrid battery system is controlled by a hybrid power source controller which receives signals from a vehicle system controller using current and voltage sensors to provide feedback parameters for the closed-loop hybrid battery control functions.

Systems and methods for managing a system of heterogeneous workloads are provided. Work that enters the system is separated into a plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of high-level quality of service goals is gathered. At least one of the plurality of high-level quality of service goals corresponds to each of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of control functions are determined that are provided by virtualizations on one or more containers in which one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads run. An expected utility of a plurality of settings of at least one of the plurality of control functions is determined in response to the plurality of high-level quality of service goals. At least one of the plurality of control functions is exercised in response to the expected utility to effect changes in the behavior of the system.

A computer system for allowing proprietary forwarding elements to interoperate with standard control elements in an open network architecture. The computer system comprises a forwarding element that is adapted to perform data forwarding functions in a computer network. A control element is adapted to perform network signaling and control functions in the computer network. The control element is adapted to generate a standardized data set for configuring the forwarding element. An interconnecting element operatively connects the forwarding element to the control element. A forwarding element plugin is integrated with the control element for receiving the standardized data set from the control element, translating the standardized data set into a specialized data set, and transmitting the specialized data set to the forwarding element to configure the forwarding element. The forwarding element utilizes the specialized data set to configure the forwarding element for performing data forwarding in the computer network.

Circuits of a TAF-DPS clock generator implemented on programmable logic chip comprise: 1) a base time unit generator created from configurable blocks, or on-chip PLL, or on-chip DLL, said base time unit generator produces a plurality of phase-evenly-spaced-signals; 2) a TAF-DPS frequency synthesizer created by configuring configurable blocks of said programmable logic chip, said TAF-DPS frequency synthesizer takes said plurality of phase-evenly-spaced-signals as its input. Methods of creating flexible clock signal to drive application comprise: 1) selecting one or more strategic areas in said programmable logic chip; 2) creating one or more TAF-DPS clock generator for each said area by using the configurable resource in said area; 3) creating control function to control the frequency and duty-cycle of the TAF-DPS clock generator output, said control function can be circuit created from configuring configurable blocks, said control function can also be achieved by software; 4) driving the circuits in application by the flexible clock generated from said TAF-DPS clock generator.

A sensor device integrates ZigBee® technology into power switch device to provide monitoring and control of power usage, as well as operational control of connected devices. The sensor device uses a power line communication (PLC) network to transfer collected data and to provide remote control capability to connected appliances. The sensor device, in conjunction with a master switch device, a communication enabled switching device, and the power switch device, provides an integrated home environment for communication, streaming media, monitoring, and remote control of power usage, as well as remote operational monitoring and control of connected appliances in the home.

The disclosure is directed to controlling of Internet of Things (IoT) devices based on detecting a device and obtaining control information and associated rules for controlling the device. The control functions available to a smart controller can vary based on the condition of the various rules and/or the interaction of the various devices detected.

A telephone device such as a speaker phone or message recording device is remotely controlled either as a standalone device or as part of a security system. The telephone device can be controlled by a key fob or other user-operated transmitter that a user actuates to answer a call by speaker phone, end a call, place a call, or control functions of the message recording device such as playing back messages. The key fob transmits a wireless signal that is received and processed by a security system. In response, the security system controls the telephone device. The key fob may control security functions as well. In another approach, the key fob may control the telephone device directly without intervention of a security system. Or, the key fob may control the telephone device via a home automation network.