885 results about "Multi unit" patented technology

A method for providing power line communications in a multi-unit building is provided. One embodiment includes determining the quality of a communication link associated with each of a plurality of communication nodes, selecting one of the plurality of communication nodes based, at least in part, on the quality of the communication links associated with the communication nodes; and establishing communications with an external network through the selected one communication node. In addition, in some embodiments at least one of the communication links associated with the plurality of communication nodes includes a non-conductive radio frequency coupled segment.

An improved electronic lock with keyless, cardless digital key system and integrated facilities management and administration system is provided for use in multi-unit buildings, particularly in hospitality industry. The present invention relates generally to a network architecture that integrates a wireless communication network device operating a plurality of electronic locks, and the all-inclusive property administration and management system in a multi-unit facility such as a hotel or a condominium.

An integrated unit controller / human-machine interface is disclosed which incorporates high-speed redundant control, sequence of events, supervisory control and data acquisition, alarm handling, trending & historian, process graphics and "open" communications in a compact form factor enclosure (the front panel less than 5x6 inches). The unit controller is composed of two primary hardware elements: the controller module (single or redundant) and the palm type computers (P / PC)-based human-machine interface (HMI) with touch screen. The controller covers a wide span of applications, from single process unit control to networked multi-unit management.

The invention is directed to a device and a method for carrying out experiments of chemical, biochemical, biological and physical analysis, reaction and assay employing a reaction unit, in a preferred embodiment comprising: a capillarity reaction chamber, non-capillarity zone and bottom structure, which can use capillary action to quantitatively take up by itself and hold liquid in the reaction chamber. A multi-unit plate, which contains a number of reaction units on a plate frame, can be used for parallel experiments in conjunction with reservoir plate, waster pad, and liquid transfer guider.

A new stent-graft is provided with an improved structure design which comprises multiple stent-graft units with / without one or two open stents sutured to combine the uniform prosthesis without a connector bar in the place where flexing required. Each stent-graft unit comprises a stent sutured to a tubular graft. The new stent-graft can bend, provides a smooth inner surface and is stable after placement within an inner lumen of the human body.

A multi-unit automated space management and communication system for use in association with a structure having a plurality of units. The system includes circuitry that monitors various utility related aspects of each of the plurality of units. The system further includes an automated subsystem disposed in each one of the plurality of units. This subsystem includes at least one appliance, at least one communication medium means, at least one interface means for connecting the at least one appliance apparatus into a signal exchanging relationship with the at least one communication medium means, at least one communication source, operably connected to the at least one communication medium means. The system further includes an external communication interface linking the automated subsystem to the monitoring means in a signal-exchanging relationship. The system still further includes data storage circuits.

The application discloses various methods and systems that utilize infrared communication to enhance and manage the security and convenience of occupants and the operation and efficiency of the staff of a multi-unit building.

A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a single or multiple power generating units using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. In one embodiment, a plurality of component optimization systems for optimizing power generating unit components are sequentially coordinated to allow optimized values determined by a first component optimization system to be fed forward for use as an input value to a subsequent component optimization system. A unit optimization system may be provided to determine goals and constraints for the plurality of component optimization systems in accordance with economic data. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-unit optimization system is provided to determine goals and constraints for component optimization systems of different power generating units. Both steady state and dynamic models are used for optimization.

A method of allowing a seller in a multi-unit auction facility to offer buyers the option of buying an offering at a pre-auction seller determined price or using a regular auction process. In one embodiment, the option to buy at the pre-auction seller determined price remains throughout the auction as long as there are units of an item remaining that have not yet been bid on. In another embodiment, the duration of an option of purchasing an item at a pre-auction seller determined prices depends on a configurable threshold, the current auction price in relation to the threshold, and whether the unit has been bid on. In another embodiment, a participant in an auction is allowed to re-bid, but is not allowed to reduce the price in that re-bid, or the quantity in that re-bid, unless that participant is currently not winning any units. In yet another embodiment, purchases during an auction at the pre-auction determined price reduces the quantity of that bidder's previous bid (if there is one), and reduces the quantity available for bid for any later bidders (but does not reduce the quantity of any other bidders who bid before the fixed-price purchase).

A system and a method for allowing an occupant of a single unit of a multi-unit building to select an operating state of the unit which consumes less energy than a normal operating state.

After defining a relevant market area around a selected geographical point, a map is generated using stored geographical map information around a selected geographical point and a geographical area is selected around that point. Multiple bands are formed on the map around the geographical point and market information is gathered from a database for the defined geographical area. The bands are weighted based according to empirical data drawn from within the market area, if available, or from data from a demographically matched location. A net demand model is constructed to perform point studies, comparison studies, area studies, and multi-unit simulations for the selected geographical area.

Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for transferring storage media between storage units comprising an expandable multi-unit storage system. The expandable storage apparatus comprises a first and second storage unit comprising media support locations. The support locations are capable of supporting at least one storage media element. At least one storage device is adapted to store and retrieve data to and from the storage media element associated with at least one of the storage units. At least one robotic system is associated with each of the storage units. A media pass-through transfer device is substantially disposed in the first storage unit and is adapted to transfer the storage element between the first and second storage units wherein the media pass-through transfer device is capable of temporarily extending into the second storage unit. The robotic system is capable of transferring the storage media element between at least the support locations, the storage device and the media pass-through transfer device.

The invention provides a shrimp-fish-shellfish-alga multi-unit culture and aquatic organism regulation system thereof. A shrimp culture zone, a fish culture zone, a shellfish culture zone, a large scale alga cultivation zone, a probiotics and microalga culture zone, a water processing zone and an emergency drainage system are arranged in a closed water circulation culture system, wherein the culture water circulates in different culture and water processing units. As the water circulates in different culture units and is utilized in multiple levels by various aquatic organisms of different trophic level and ecological niche, the system gives the various aquatic organisms full play to the positive bait resource complementarity, prevents the aquatic organisms from directly competing on living space and dissolved oxygen and reduces the mutual damage caused by organic remains and metabolic waste, achieves the 'self-modification' and 'biomanipulation' of the culture environment, enables the environment itself to recover from the pollution in culture process, and decontaminates the seawater culture environment.

The present invention provides multi-unit systems and methods for game augmented interactive marketing or information presentation. A system includes a first advertising unit includes a first processor and a second unit including a second processor both adapted to run an entertainment sequence. The user may restate information provided by the first unit or the second unit. A method for interactive advertising includes soliciting a play move with a first device. The user may respond to a second device. The response may include a product slogan. User information may be communicated between the first unit and the second unit. A method for interactive advertising includes soliciting a play move with a first device, receiving a response to a second device, and storing information on a parent processing unit. Aspects of the invention may also include delivering a token or an information key and recognizing the token or key.

The disclosure describes methods for synthesis of accurate visible speech using transformations of motion-capture data. Methods are provided for synthesis of visible speech in a three-dimensional face. A sequence of visemes, each associated with one or more phonemes, are mapped onto a three-dimensional target face, and concatentated. The sequence may include divisemes corresponding to pairwise sequences of phonemes, wherein the diviseme is comprised of motion trajectories of a set facial points. The sequence may also include multi-units corresponding to words and sequences of words. Various techniques involving mapping and concatenation are also addressed.

A new feedback linearization approach to advanced control of single-unit and multi-unit HVAC systems is described. In accordance with the approach of the invention, this new nonlinear control includes a model-based feedback linearization part to compensate for the nonlinearity in the system dynamics. Therefore, the evaporating temperature and superheat values can be controlled by linear PI control designs to achieve desired system performance and reliability. The main advantages of the new nonlinear control approach include (1) better performance even with large model errors, (2) being able to adapt to indoor unit turn on / off operation, (3) much smaller PI control gains compared to that of current feedback PI controls, (4) much easier design procedures since there is no need for tuning the PI control gains over wide range operation.

A pair of organic rankine cycle systems are connected in series with the geothermal fluid passing first through an evaporator of the first system and then through an evaporator of the second system before returning to a sink. Similarly, the cooling tower is arranged to provide cooling water to pass first through the condenser in one system and then through the condenser of the other system, to reduce the total flow required and the size of associated cooling hardware.

A collapsible structure comprising a collapsible support structure having a flexible covering disposed thereon. The support structure comprises a plurality of pole members that emanate from an upper assembly. The upper assembly has first and second hub members that, when brought into abutting contact with each other, cause the structure to assume a fully constructed configuration but when separated from each other allow the structure to become collapsed. In many embodiments, the structure can be converted from its constructed configuration to its collapsed configuration substantially with the use of a single hand. In some embodiments, 2 or more of the collapsible structures may be joined together to form a multi-unit structure. These collapsible structures may include decorative markings on the flexible cover, especially in embodiments intended for use by or entertainment of children.

A communication system (100) including a portable radio (130) selectively transmitting radio signals, a first vehicular repeater system (110) including a first vehicular repeater (112) adaptable to receive radio signals transmitted by the portable radio (130). A first mobile radio (114) is coupled to the first vehicular repeater (112) and is adaptable to retransmit signals received by the first vehicular repeater (112). The first vehicular repeater (112) has priority repeater status that signifies primary responsibility for repeating the radio signals transmitted by the portable radio (130). The first vehicular repeater (112) is also capable of responding to a notification signal received from a second vehicular repeater system (120) with a priority signal to indicate that it is to remain in priority repeater status such that the second vehicular repeater system (120) monitors to receive the priority signal by the first vehicular repeater (112) in order to determine its priority status.

An all-in-one home appliance that performs the preparation, mixing and heating of multiple infant bottles, is herein disclosed. The apparatus comprises a countertop appliance with three (3) reservoirs comprising water, formula, and cereal, respectively. Inside the base of the appliance is a turnstile that holds up to five (5) empty bottles that have been previously sterilized by the user. In operation, the user would select the bottle size and the necessary recipe of water, formula, and cereal, respectively, using an integral control panel. At this point, internal control circuitry dispenses pre-heated water and dry ingredients in proper ratios into a mixing chamber. After mixing of the ingredients, the mixture is delivered into the proper sized bottle. Finally, internal heaters maintain the bottles at a constant selected temperature. An automatic alarm is then sounded when the prepared bottles are ready. This apparatus ensures preparation of baby bottles having consistent ingredients, mixing, and heating.

The large-scale green power, pure chilled, heated water and / or conditioned directed air are produced using wind, heat and vapor of the free humid air in the structured multi-unit space-saving vortex tower providing direct three-phase voltage induction with alternating magnetic whirl formed by pole radial self-orienting magnetic concentrators swirled via all-weather multi-step tornado-like flow supplementary energized, enhanced and controlled by a spatial system of fast directing and accelerating low-temperature steam jets injected through fleshing of recycled, separated and stored condensate slightly heated with any renewable, waste, secondary, or prime source of low-temperature heat, partly via combining with solar pond and heaters or / and geothermal media, or / and waste, secondary or initial heat of large thermal, atomic power plant or intensively energy consuming industry, reducing specific investment, energy and pure water costs, quality requirements, specific pollution and waste heat atmospheric injection, with possibilities of partial local weather corrections through conditioned directed waste tower air; a new sector with various directions can be widened, based on applying of the same principles of energizing, enhancement, control and usage of any kind of fast gaseous confined vortex flow via any kind of supplementary low-temperature steam

A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a single or multiple power generating units using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. In one embodiment, a plurality of component optimization systems for optimizing power generating unit components are sequentially coordinated to allow optimized values determined by a first component optimization system to be fed forward for use as an input value to a subsequent component optimization system. A unit optimization system may be provided to determine goals and constraints for the plurality of component optimization systems in accordance with economic data. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-unit optimization system is provided to determine goals and constraints for component optimization systems of different power generating units. Both steady state and dynamic models are used for optimization.

An automated storage and retrieval system for customers and vendors / service providers to pick up and drop off packages such as parcels, dry-cleaning / laundry, and the like. The present invention may provide a convenient point for users to pick up or drop off items. In varying embodiments, the system may be particularly useful in multi-unit residential buildings, retail stores and other store-fronts, as stand-alone kiosks in popular locations such as department stores, train stations, malls, street corners, and the like.

The present invention implements an auction in which multiple types of goods may be auctioned in a dynamic process. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a system and method for a computer implemented dynamic multi-unit auction in which the price paid or received by bidders tends to be independent of their own bids, in which participants may be provided with information concerning their competitors' bids as the auction progresses, and in which the confidentiality of high values may be maintained. Participants' quantities bid at a given time may be restricted to be less than or equal to the quantities bid at an earlier time. These features provide the advantage of improving economic efficiency of the auction design over the prior art.

The invention discloses a radio remote-controlled intelligent light control system which can be provided with light controlling diagrammatic maps, and comprises a microprocessor, a memory, a radio receiving and transmitting assembly, a touch-screen LCD, a key, an optical inductor and system processing software. The same address of a transmitter and a receiver, as well as the self serial number of a lamp are set, so as to ensure that the transmitter and the receiver are established to form a multi-unit communication system; therefore, the radio remote control of the light or electric apparatus can be realized; the touch-screen LCD on the transmitter displays control results and the light position control diagrammatic maps. The light control system is suitable for use in households, hotels and restaurants, companies, etc.

The invention provides a method for switching hotspots in a wireless local area network (WLAN), comprising the following steps: step 102, detecting the signal intensity of hotspots accessed to a terminal in continuous multi-unit time in real time; step 104, comparing the signal intensity of the accessed hotspots in the continuous multi-unit time, and determining whether the terminal is in the process of departing from the accessed hotspots in accordance with the continuous weakening for the signal intensity of the accessed hotspots in the continuous multi-unit time; step 106, when the condition that the terminal is in the process of departing from the accessed hotspots is determined, comparing the existing signal intensity of the accessed hotspots with a preset threshold value; and step 108, when the existing signal intensity of the accessed hotspots is lower than the preset threshold value, selecting hotspots of which the signal intensity is higher than the threshold value from the hotspots which are scanned by the terminal to re-access to the terminal. The invention also provides the terminal. According to the invention, the hotspots can be automatically selected for the terminal in accordance with the signal intensity so as to access to the terminal, thus ensuring use of the WLAN for users.

Improved apparatus and methods, via an internet website, developed for the efficient implementation of workers' compensation cost containment practices for multi-unit employers, more particularly relating to indemnity (lost wages) and medical costs of workers' compensation claims in each unit. The methods analyze information about the user's current workers' compensation injury handling best practices and provide quantified results, customized recommendations and tools to reduce costs and improve best practices quality control.