1482 results about "Short course" patented technology

A robotic navigation system for computerized mobile robot. Typically the robot, which may be in an unknown location, will have an onboard internet web server, a capability of establishing a first connection to a remote web browser on the internet for robotic control purposes, and a capability of establishing a second short range bi-directional digital radio connection to one or more nearby computerized digital radio equipped devices external to the robot. Typically at least some of these nearby digital radio equipped devices will have a known location. The robot can exchange short-range bidirectional digital radio signals with nearby devices that have a known location, and obtain location data to determine it's position. This location information can be used to assist in robotic navigation. The robot can also navigate to other objects, which also may have an unknown location, using a similar technique in which the object with an unknown location exchanges short range bidirectional digital radio signals with either the robot itself, or other digital radio linked devices with a known location (which then relay the object's location to the robot).

A proximity based social marketing tool / device that is free from a physical location and can be used for matching users and broadcasting messages or data to all or selected users in the proximity. These users can be searched by scanning the selected proximity range and / or by defining various keyword criteria's. And it utilizes one or more or a combination of various short-range or long-range wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, TransferJet, Internet, and others. The X-Path device can locate and store user's location details in the X-path server, which can be retrieved and used by users to broadcast messages to a specific category of an audience. It also makes for a great Social networking tool and takes the concept of Social Networking from the Internet out to the real Physical World.

By automatically adjusting the object detection mechanism of a bar code scanner from a long range mode of operation to a short range mode of operation, the scanner will remain capable of detecting and decoding bar codes even if the object detection mechanism repeatedly detects the presence of a background object. The techniques of the present invention commence when the bar code scanner is placed in a position such that the scanner's object detection mechanism repeatedly detects a background object such as a counter top or conveyer belt. The object detection mechanism is set to the long range mode of operation if it is not already so set. In the case of a stand-mounted scanner, a test is performed to ascertain whether or not the scanner is in its stand, and the method will only proceed once the scanner is resting in the stand. Next, the scanner is programmed to wait for a predetermined amount of time, after which the operational mode of the object detection mechanism is changed from the long range mode to the short range mode. At this time, the object detection mechanism no longer detects the presence of the background object. The scanner will now detect any new objects that enter the field of view of the object detection mechanism, and attempt to read any bar codes which may be present

To avoid a fixed assignment of wide-area mobile communication units to components of a container surveillance system for increase of reusability, there is provided a mobile communication device for surveillance of at least one transported unit being carried by a tansporting unit, comprising a short range data communication unit (30) adapted to a short range wireless data exchange with at least one tag attached to the transported unit; a long range data communication unit (32) adapted to a long range wireless data exchange to a transport surveillance system; wherein communication unit the mobile communication unit is fixed to operating equipment of the transported unit or to the transporting unit during surveillance of the transported unit and is detachable from the transported unit or the transporting unit when the transported unit must not be surveyed.

Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring vehicular traffic congestion through the use of inter-vehicle communication and traffic chain counters. Data packets including counter, vehicle identification, direction, location, and speed information are transmitted between vehicles via short-range wireless communications. A receiving vehicle edits a data packet if the data packet reflects that the receiving vehicle has not yet edited the packet and is traveling in substantially the same direction as the vehicle which transmitted the packet to the receiving vehicle. If a receiving vehicle is the last vehicle to edit a packet, the receiving vehicle transmits a reporting packet to a traffic monitoring server via long-range wireless communications.

A short-range transaction system enables a user to conduct transactions with a self-service terminal in a user-friendly environment without using currency. The user carries a portable smart card, which interacts with a mobile phone. After authentication via an RFID connection, the device MAC address and a security key (K) are imprinted in the card. In operation, the user waves the smart card past the self-service terminal and activates an RFID connection. The terminal sends the card a random number. The card returns the MAC address and a result (RES) computed using the hash value and the security key. The terminal using the MAC address and security key establishes a secure connection with the device. The terminal downloads the user's transaction interface from the device and displays the user interface at the self-service terminal. The user completes a transaction at the terminal via the user interface.

A system and method employing a combination of long-range and short-range asset location systems, preferable a GPS-based system combined with an RFID-based system. The short-range system regularly activates itself, or is remotely polled, to determine if the asset is within range of the short-range transceivers, and the long-range system is activated to determine the location of the asset when it is outside the range of the short-range transceivers. In at least some embodiments, the asset is an automobile equipped with both RFID and GPS-based transceivers.

A technique for communicating with a local area network (LAN) via a wireless connection determines whether a first short-range, high-speed, wireless communication path is available and connects to the LAN using a longer range, lower speed wireless communication path if the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path is not available. The low-range, high-speed wireless communication path is a wireless LAN connection such as an IEEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN and the long-range, low-speed wireless communication mode is a cellular CDMA-type connection. Determining whether the first IEEE 802.11 mode is available can be done by detecting a beacon signal, or by transmitting a probe request message and detecting a probe response message in response to the probe request, indicating the presence or availability of the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path. Alternatively, the availability of short-range, high-speed wireless communication path can be detected by simply detecting activity on it.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to an adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle, comprising a long-range sensor configured to determine a location of objects positioned ahead of the host vehicle, at least one short-range sensor configured to determine the location of objects in close proximity ahead of the host vehicle, and a controller configured to receive information from the long-range sensor and from the at least one short-range sensor and to control the speed of the host vehicle based at least in part thereon, wherein the controller is configured to operate the at least one short-range sensor in a plurality of operating modes, and to select a short-range sensor operating mode at least in part in response to the location of any objects detected by the long-range sensor.

Methods and systems are provided for a universal key that enables a user to have access to any type of secured portal, both physical and electronic, in a wireless, hands-free, distance-independent manner without requiring contact or line of sight access between the key and the secured portal. The universal key is not distance-dependent, and each secured portal can be provided with its own prescribed activation range, if desired. Some portals may be provided with long range activation, such as 50 feet, while other portals may be provided with short range activation of a few feet or less. The type of portal being secured and the range of activation may be selected by the user and is not limited by the universal key. In addition, the universal key will provide access to the secured portals in a hands-free fashion so that the user need not push any buttons or take any other action in order to obtain access to the portal. The user need only carry the universal key somewhere on their person in order to access the portal.

A system for interacting with a physical entity includes a user-wearable terminal and a mobile station. The user-wearable terminal is capable of automatically receiving a selection of a physical entity as at least a portion of a user wearing the terminal moves into proximity with the entity thereby moving the terminal into proximity with the entity. The terminal includes a first short-range communication element for receiving information from the entity at least partially over an air interface. In addition, the terminal includes a second short-range communication element for transferring input data to the mobile station at least partially over an air interface, where the input data is based upon the information related to the entity. The mobile station, upon receiving the input data, is capable of performing at least one action based upon the input data.

A RF-ID based wireless terminal has shortened session set-up and user identification time for conducting transactions with interactive service applications. The wireless terminal includes a terminal identification number and a user identification as a RF-ID tag. A RF-ID reader transmits a RF field for detecting the RF-ID tag in the terminal and provides an output signal when the terminal is within the reader field. The output signal establishes a connectionless communication to an access point or other terminal which initiates a wireless paging operation, in lieu of conducting a terminal discovery process, based upon the content of the RF-ID tag. The terminal initiates a wireless session between the terminal and the access point or terminal for conducting transactions with a service application linked to the access point or terminal.

A novel and useful apparatus for and method of automatically establishing a secondary communications link (e.g., short range wireless connection such as WLAN, Bluetooth, etc.) between two communications devices utilizing an already established primary communications connection (e.g., cellular phone connection). The invention eliminates the need for both sides of a connection to manually initiate and configure their communication devices in order to establish a wireless connection. Connection parameters required to establish the link are configured on only one communication device (e.g., cellular phone), without the need to also configure them on the communication device on the other end of the connection. Messages containing the connection parameters are sent from the requesting (or initiating) side over the established primary connection to the target or destination side of the connection.

A method and system for combining short range communication and long range communication for traffic related applications is presented. In one example, a central server is equipped and configured to receive information via long range communication from one or more individual traffic objects, analyze the received information to determine the short range communication needs, if any, between an identified subset of traffic objects and then initiate short range communication between the traffic objects in the identified subset of traffic objects.

A portable entertainment machine (1) is used for storing, displaying and swapping digital objects such as virtual swap cards or tokens, video clips, or game features relating to a game that can be played on the machine. The machine has a selected article window display (8) in which the user can display digital objects, or icons (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) corresponding to digital objects, that have been selected by the machine user as being potentially available for swapping with another machine. The machine is provided with a short-range wireless transceiver (7) and when the machine comes within range of another such machine, the possibility arises of a digital object swap transaction. Articles offered for swap by the second machine (1'), FIG. 2, are displayed in a reciprocal display portion (10) of the display 3 of the first machine, and the content of the selected article display (8) of the first machine is displayed to the user of the second machine in the reciprocal display portion (10) of the second machine (1'). The user of the first machine can indicate a proposed swap in the linking indicator display portion (9). If both machine users agree on a proposed swap then the swap is executed. Additional digital objects may be acquired by purchase from a static digital object vending machine, FIG. 6, by means of short-range wireless communication.

A method and system for anonymously and opportunistically tracking the location of a portable device in a wireless infrastructure is described. The system comprises an installed infrastructure (12) in for example a shopping mall, the infrastructure having short range radio stations (14a,14b) primarily installed as wireless information access points. Standard communication between a users device (10a) and a station (14a) is according to a short range radio protocol such as ZigBee in which devices are assigned unique identifiers. In an exchange, the identifier is correlated with location, time and date data and uploaded via a backchannel connection (16) to a database (20) which a user may connect with at a later time. The user, knowing his objects identifier, can therefore access the data to determine where his object last interacted with a station.

A system, and method of use thereof, for enabling short range intercommunication and the exchange of logistical information between and among a plurality of authorized agricultural machines that are designed to be operable in conjunction with one another to effect, as a specific identified group, a given agricultural operation, including a plurality of individual agricultural machines each of which has a communications control portion operable to transmit and receive short distance communications signals and each of which also has authentication credentials associated therewith establishing such machine's entitlement to share in the logistical information and to be considered and treated as a member of the specific identified group involved in the performance of the given agricultural operation, with such individual agricultural machines, when positioned in range of the short distance communications signals of the individual agricultural machines, forming a peer-to-peer network in which such individual agricultural machines are joined as group members and are operable to effect the distribution over a wireless bus of the peer-to-peer network of logistical information of a group member of such network.

A system and method for communications between a plurality of shipping containers using a short range or local area wireless communication device is provided. The system also contains a cellular communications device, a satellite communications device, or both, which are used to transmit information to, and receive commands from remote central monitoring station. The system includes a method which creates dynamic links between the containers using the short range channel. Containers are organized in networks and sub networks, and have built in redundancy features.

Short-range commercial messaging and advertising systems and mobile devices for use therein allow merchants to deliver advertising over wireless networks to mobile devices operated by roaming consumers who are in the vicinity of the merchant. A distinguishing feature of the systems and mobile devices is that they eliminate traditional advertising intermediaries, such as television, radio and Internet networks, allowing businesses to advertise directly to consumers at dramatically lower costs relative to traditional advertising.

A system and method for location-dependent services for mobile stations using short range wireless technology such as Bluetooth. In an advantageous embodiment, the location-based service is a suggested profile change for a mobile station. A suggested profile may be a mode of operation for the mobile station's current location (e.g., silence in a meeting room) and may be accompanied by the period of time that the profile is valid and a timer value for a forced change to the suggested profile in the absence of user interaction. In response to a prompt from a mobile station that has received a suggested profile, a user may either accept or cancel the suggested profile. Various mechanisms are disclosed for ensuring that services such as a suggested profile change is sent to mobile stations having more than a passing association with the access point's coverage area.

A system and method employing a combination of long-range and short-range asset location systems, preferable a GPS-based system combined with an RFID-based system. The short-range system regularly activates itself, or is remotely polled, to determine if the asset is within range of the short-range transceivers, and the long-range system is activated to determine the location of the asset when it is outside the range of the short-range transceivers. In at least some embodiments, the asset is an automobile equipped with both RFID and GPS-based transceivers.

A mobile station with a short-range radio function includes a radio section which communicates with a base station and a short-range radio section for performing short-range radio communication independently of the radio section. This mobile station further includes a control section for shifting the short-range radio function of the short-range radio section to a low power consumption mode in accordance with the state of short-range radio communication.

In a configuration according to a short-range radar of the present invention and a method of controlling the same, the timing at which a variable-period pulse output from a variable-period pulse generator including a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) has shifted in level first since reception of a search instruction is used as a reference timing, so that a signal that shifts in level at the reference timing or a fixed lapse of time later than the reference timing is generated and output as a transmission trigger signal, and a signal that shifts in level at a timing delayed by half a period of the variable-period pulse or its integral multiple from the timing at which the transmission trigger signal is output is generated and output as a reception trigger signal. With this, by varying beforehand frequency data of the DDS based on the relationship between the frequency data and delay time between transmission and reception stored in a memory, it is possible to vary delay time between the transmission trigger signal and the reception trigger signal. It is thus possible to arbitrarily vary the delay time between transmission and reception at a high time resolution by using a simple configuration and low power dissipation.

A system and method for enabling the communication to and establishment among a plurality of generally like and like-purpose agricultural machines designed to perform generally similar agricultural operations within a given area generally like performance parameters, especially based upon the performance parameters of a particular agricultural machine that is considered or deemed to be the expert or exemplar machine, which system and method employ short range communications systems included in or associated with the operating systems of the individual agricultural machines to effect the distribution of the exemplar performance parameters to the plurality of agricultural machines, through a peer-to-peer wireless network between and among the plurality of agricultural machines for point-to-point communications, for use by the individual agricultural machines in controlling and performing the agricultural operation.

A communications system for a motor vehicle in which the hands-free device for a mobile phone is integrated into an audio or information system of the motor vehicle such as a car radio. The voice and / or data transmission between the mobile phone and the hands-free device takes place over an additional short-range radio link. A transceiver for this short-range radio link is contained both in the car radio and in the mobile phone. The need to install additional connection interfaces is thus eliminated. In addition, the need to couple the mobile phone to the hands-free device using a cable is eliminated. This has the advantage that the mobile phone can remain, for example, in the driver's pocket. The coupling between the mobile phone and car radio occurs automatically if the mobile phone moves into the range of the short-range radio link of the car radio.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus that features initiating a device discovery process for attempting to establish a connection between two or more devices via short range communications technology, wherein at least one of the two or more devices having an existing link to another wireless network; and suspending the link to the other wireless network before starting the device discovery. One of the devices may be a node, point or terminal, including a station or access point. The wireless network may include a wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth® (BT), ultra wide band (UWB), wireless USB or other suitable wireless network either now known or later developed in the future. The short range communications technology may include Bluetooth®, as well as other short range communications technology either now known or later developed in the future.

Disclosed is a management system for public facilities. The management system of public facilities comprises a tag unit which transmits identification information of a target resource to be managed through a first network, an intermediate managing unit which has intrinsic position information thereof, processes the identification information received through the first network, and transmits the identification information through a second network, and a host unit which creates state information comprising a movement state of the target resource based on the intrinsic position information of the intermediate managing unit and the identification information of the target resource received through the second network. The public facilities used by many persons can be easily monitored and effectively managed through short range wireless technologies.

A wireless system aimed to assist in vehicle care and operation is described. The system is based on wireless mesh networking technology, integrating in-vehicle (mobile) and in-location (stationary) wireless intranets. Each intranet comprises a short range wireless networking between a plurality of intranet points unit (IPU), each tied to an electronic data input / output device (EDD), and a network hub point. Each IPU obtains data from respective attached EDD to be locally processed and stored for transmission to the associated network hub point on request. A network hub point collects data from respective IPUs, communicates with other intranets, and provides system user interface functions for user interaction.

The present invention discloses a communication system and method for determining and recording the geographical location of an object attached with a short range wireless device, over a wide area, in a vicinity of a radio beacon that can be located by a remote control station, upon establishing or interrupting a wireless connection between said wireless device and said radio beacon. One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for search and rescue of a man overboard (person overboard), a quite frequent and fatal accident at sea.