2773 results about "Two-way communication" patented technology

A method and apparatus for communicating with and monitoring the operation of a device implanted within a patient. A transceiver capable of being implanted within a patient provides a communication interface between an implanted medical device and a monitor external to the patient's body. The external monitor can communicate with a remote monitoring center over a communication network. The external monitor also provides control signals to the implanted device via the transceiver unit. The transceiver apparatus is capable of two-way communication between the implanted device and the external monitor. The transceiver apparatus is also capable of detecting actions performed by the implanted device and physiological signals directly from the patient's body. Thus, the transceiver apparatus provides circuitry for determining whether an implanted medical device is operating properly. The transceiver apparatus provides a way to remotely reprogram one or more implanted medical devices.

A method for operating a doorbell security system. The method may include receiving a doorbell press event signal and sending a doorbell press event notification to at least one mobile computing device. The method may further include receiving an acceptance response from a particular mobile computing device, wherein the acceptance response. The method may include receiving audio from a microphone and video from a camera located in proximity to a doorbell. The method may also include sending the audio from the microphone and the video from the camera to the particular mobile computing device. The method may additionally include receiving a command from the mobile computing device and unlocking, locking, opening, or closing a door.

A wireless battery charging system and method includes a self-structuring antenna system for monitoring a wide area and detecting wireless devices within the area, a transceiver for establishing two-way communication with a wireless device detected within the area, and a computer for adjusting the self-structuring antenna system to focus electromagnetic energy beamed to the wireless device according to information received from the wireless device detected within the area. The wireless battery charging system and method preferably includes a charging cradle that has a self-structuring antenna system that monitors a cradle charging area and detects a wireless device in the cradle, a transceiver for establishing two-way communication with the wireless device in the cradle, and a computer for adjusting the self-structuring antenna system to focus electromagnetic near-field energy to the wireless device in the cradle according to information received from the wireless device in the cradle.

The present invention comprises a fabric-based sensor for monitoring vital signs or other electrical impulses of a subject. The sensor is woven or knitted from conductive fibers and, when in contact with the body, receives signals from the wearer and transmits them to a processing or monitoring device through a data-output terminal. The sensor may be integrated into the fabric of a garment or used independently as a conductive patch. Additionally, the sensor may provide bi-directional communication by both monitoring electrical impulses and sending them.

In an exemplary embodiment, a battery conditioning system monitors battery conditioning and includes a memory for storing data based thereon; for example, data may be stored representative of available battery capacity as measured during a deep discharge cycle. With a microprocessor monitoring battery operation of a portable unit, a measure of remaining battery capacity can be calculated and displayed. Where the microprocessor and battery conditioning system memory are permanently secured to the battery so as to receive operating power therefrom during storage and handling, the performance of a given battery in actual use can be accurately judged since the battery system can itself maintain a count of accumulated hours of use and other relevant parameters. In the case of a nonportable conditioning system, two-way communication may be established with a memory associated with the portable unit so that the portable unit can transmit to the conditioning system information concerning battery parameters (e.g. rated battery capacity) and / or battery usage (e.g. numbers of shallow discharge and recharge cycles), and after a conditioning operation, the conditioning system can transmit to the portable unit a measured value of battery capacity, for example. A battery pack having memory stores battery history and identifying data to be retrieved by a portable battery powered device. Battery status information may be utilized in conjunction with characteristic battery history data in order to optimize charging and discharging functions and to maximize the useful life of a battery pack.

A system for providing interactive television program guide features and other features and information related to a specific user interest or programming category in niche hubs is provided. All of the television programming features provided by user television equipment that relate to a specific user interest or programming category may be accessed from the niche hub. For example, a movie lovers niche hub may provide programming features such as television program listings for movies, video-on-demand listings for movies, pay-per-view listings for movies, web site links related to movies, movie-related merchandise, movie news groups, movie chat groups, movie e-mail clubs, movie contests, movie trivia questions, movie actor interviews, movie reviews, movie channel package ordering, etc. The programming features of the niche hubs may be transmitted from a server, database, or other storage facility via a television distribution facility. User television equipment may be connected via two-way communications paths to transmit messages to each other.

A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and / or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.

The present invention relates to a wireless home automation system having a controller for controlling a broad variety of functions via two ways communication with a plurality of devices. The controllers and devices of the system comprises means for generating a signal comprising a destination identifier, instructions related to the input / output of the destination or source device, and a repeater identifier. The devices according to the invention are adapted to act as input / output devices and signal repeating devices. The processors of each device comprises means for, upon reception of a signal, processing said information if the destination identifier corresponds to the device identifier of the device, and means for, upon reception of a signal, transmitting a second signal holding at least said destination identifier and said instruction if the repeater identifier corresponds to the device identifier of the device.

A system and method for enhancing the revenue and / or efficiency of a network service is disclosed. The system constructs a graph of a social network in which users are capable of two-way communication with other users, the network service provider, or other entities such as advertisers. Using such methods as social VIP ranking, the system is capable of performing a variety of analyses, the results of which provide the network service provider insights on how to best perform such tasks as monitoring and enhancing campaign effectiveness, identify fraud, optimize resource allocation and ensure the quality of network management.

An infusion system that includes a controller device and a communication system to provide for two-way communication between the controller device and an infusion device that controls delivery of fluids to a user's body. Either the controller device or the infusion device may be integrated with a characteristic determining device in a single housing. The housing, in turn, may include a test-strip receptacle and an illuminator disposed so as to illuminate an area covering the receptacle and a test-strip inserted therein. The illuminator may be configured to be activated automatically when a test strip is inserted into the receptacle, selectively by the user via a button, key, or similar mechanism, and / or when the ambient light level, measured, e.g., with a light sensor, falls below a predetermined intensity. The illuminator may be a LED emitting white light, and may provide illumination at various levels of intensity.

A mobile tracking and positioning system includes a plurality of mobile transmit and receive stations that track a mobile target which emits a radio signal in response to the occurrence of a tracking effort initiation event. The tracking stations have a GPS receiver or like means for determining their position, a radio direction finder responsive to the radio signal that determines the vector to the mobile target, a two-way communications system and a computer. The mobile transmit and receive stations exchange their position and direction to target information via the two-way communications systems, enabling the stations to triangulate the location of the target with their computers.

Method and apparatus for situation-based management of natural and artificial systems using event correlation and a situation manager. Input is provided from multiple sources in the form of a collection of events. A first level of processing performs event correlation over the collection of events and infers new events and new qualities of events. A second level of processing manages situations based on the collection of events, where situations are recognized, maintained, and given a degree of confidence. Situations are periodically updated based on incoming events. The assertion of a situation may call for information from external sources, provide information for external sources, and provide control instructions to external sources. Given a current situation, past, and possible future situations are inferred. Additionally, a method and apparatus for bi-directional communication between the event correlator and situation manager.

A system for long-term non-invasive heart monitoring includes (1) a disposable unit that has built-in electrodes, a built-in wire antenna, a watertight chamber that can be opened and closed, and an adhesive surface for cutaneous mounting; (2) an electronic controller that can acquire, process and store physiological signals, and can be fitted into the disposable unit to establish electrical contact with the built-in electrodes; and (3) a portable communication unit that can wirelessly communicate bi-directionally with the electronic controller, and further communicate bi-directionally with a remote service center.

Methods, devices and systems for automatically generating invoices when medical services are provided to a patient are described. Invoices are automatically generated by the system, for example, when monitoring of certain aspects of the performance of an implantable medical device(IMD) implanted within a body of a patient is initiated by the patient or remotely, or when the delivery of a therapy to the patient through the IMD is initiated locally or remotely. The IMD is capable of bi-directional communication with a communication module, a mobile telephone and / or a Personal Data Assistant (PDA) located outside the patient's body. The system invoicing system may comprise the IMD, the communication module and / or a mobile telephone and / or a PDA, means for generating an invoice, a remote computer system, and a communication system capable of bi-directional communication, where the communication module, the mobile telephone and / or the PDA is capable of receiving information from the IMD or relaying information thereto.

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

A musical jukebox is disclosed which provides for: fast archiving of songs; a flexible user interface; easy and convenient entry of, access to and / or display of data relating to songs archived by the jukebox; easy and convenient search and locate capabilities for locating, reviewing, retrieving and / or playing songs stored in the jukebox; and low cost relative to the functionality, features, conveniences and user-friendliness provided by the jukebox. Fast of flush archiving of songs (as well as other data and signals) is accomplished by first saving sets of data without compression, which allows the data to be entered quickly, and then, compressing later at an appropriate time. A unique MP3 bit allocation encoding scheme is used to compress data. A unique memory allocation supports fast data archiving. The user interface employs two-way communication between a remote control and the jukebox. A searchable song database is structured to enable very fast searching by music category, and also by title and artist. The jukebox is provided with an on-board song track database to automatically identify new songs input to the jukebox.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for sequentially treating multiple zones in underground formation in a single trip of the well treatment work string. In the one embodiment, the work string includes composite tubing having electrical conductors embedded within the walls, the conductors enabling power transmission and two way communication between the surface and the sensor or detectors downhole so that real time data can be sensed and communicated. Isolation packers are actuated via electrical signals from the surface communicated to the bottom hole assembly via the conductors. A detector located in the bottom hole assembly may be provided to detect perforations or other anomalies in the casing, such as joints, enabling the surface controller to position packers properly in blank segments of casing so that well intervals can be properly isolated and the adjacent formation effectively treated.

A distributed network method for self-organizing a group of nodes into a bi-directional communication network where initially there is no central coordinator in the prospective network environment. The method involves engaging in the process of determining internodal communication capabilities en route to creating a network topology table, and then using that table as a guide (a) selecting, by nodal election, an appropriate central coordinator, and (b) establishing proxy nodes which enable full network bi-directional communication between all nodes, including otherwise communicatively-compromised hidden nodes.

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

A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and an arrangement for controlling the variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes an auxiliary device operably connected to the arrangement for controlling, and an arrangement for providing two-way communication between the arrangement for controlling and the auxiliary device. The arrangement for controlling is capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the arrangement for providing two-way communication. In one example, the arrangement for controlling is capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameters received. A method for controlling the pumping system is also provided.

A personal and / or institutional health and wellness communications system, which may be used for a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations using two-way communication devices and a bi-directional communication network. In one application two-way pagers are adapted for use in the system. In one application cellular devices are adapted for use in the system. In one application an assisted living response center is established using various embodiments of the present personal and / or institutional communications system. The system provides multiple levels of prioritization, authentication of person (task, step, process or order), and confirmation via interrogation of person, device, or related monitor. One embodiment provides a method for receiving, evaluating and responding to calls received from a subscriber, patient, related party, or health care provider or health care system.

An integrated controller for complete automation with the ability to control electrical devices through both RF transmission and IR transmissions. In one illustrative embodiment, the integrated controller comprises an antenna for two-way communication with stations located throughout a structure. Each station may control the power supply to an attached electrical device. The buttons on the station may control any electrical device on the system through RF transmission with the integrated controller. The integrated controller also may comprise an IR receiver and at least one IR output. The IR receiver may receive signals from a remote and pass them through to a device, such as a device used in a home theater system, with a built in IR receiver via the IR output. In this manner, the integrated controller is capable of providing complete in home automation.

A system and method for creation and automatic deployment of audible personalized, dynamic and interactive services, including information derived from on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems, to a two-way communication device, including electronic mail, two-way pagers, phones, personal digital assistants, and telephones, based on subscriber-specified criteria.

A system that includes low voltage power line subnet coupler that provides bi-directional communications between multiple power line subnets while substantially preventing the flow of power is provided. The system may include a power line communications device coupled to a first LV power line subnet, and a low voltage power line subnet coupler providing a data communications path between the first low voltage power line subnet and a second low voltage power line subnet. Additionally, some embodiments include a low voltage repeater communicatively coupled to the second LV power line subnet.

A computer-implemented platform server and method is provided for energy management operations in a Smart Grid environment. The platform server includes an application module configured to operate any of a plurality of Smart Grid Applications. A consumer-side module is configured for bi-directional communication with a plurality of consumer-side intelligent appliances. An Operations Technology (OT) module is configured for communication with an electrical grid Energy Management System (EMS). A translation module is coupled to, and configured to translate data received from, the application, consumer-side, and OT modules, so that the platform is configured to selectively receive, translate, and transmit data from and among any of said application, consumer-side, and OT modules, to facilitate automated energy management operations in a Smart Grid environment.