Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140235265 | DYNAMIC PROXIMITY CONTROL SYSTEM - An illustrative dynamic proximity control system uses proximity to a mobile user's mobile station as a proxy for predicting which of several remote-controlled targets the mobile user wishes to remote-control via the mobile station or via a centralized controller in communication with the mobile station. The system dynamically sorts, filters, and arranges how the mobile user perceives the remote-controlled targets. The system and method enhance the mobile user's immediate access to targets that are close by, e.g., within the same room as the mobile user, by dynamically tailoring the choices provided to the user on the mobile station's display. Thus, the mobile user is presented with nearby choices that are likely candidates for remote control. Remote targets are filtered out. The system optionally includes location-beacon devices associated with each of the remote-controlled targets. Beacon signals received from the location-beacon devices enable the illustrative system to estimate the location of a respective target and, based on the location estimate, to tailor the choices of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the mobile user in a user interface on the mobile station's display, and to dynamically update the user interface and remotely control the targets based on proximity changes. | 08-21-2014 |
20150105880 | System and Apparatus for Reordering Consumable Goods Associated with Appliances, and Method Thereof - A consumable-goods reordering system in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each smart appliance relevant to the environment being monitored, such as a home. Each appliance monitors a particular physical condition that is related to the appliance's usage of a consumable good, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when an appliance reported a particular state of the monitored condition. By considering the information reported by the multiple smart appliances, as well as by accounting for the states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to continually update a representation of the state of the monitored environment. Having such context awareness enables the system controller to generate intelligently various reorder messages for transmission to the various suppliers of the consumables. | 04-16-2015 |
20150105911 | AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM WITH CONTEXT AWARENESS - An automation system is disclosed in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each sensor device that is relevant to the environment being controlled. Each sensor device monitors a particular physical condition, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition, which is made available to the system controller. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when a sensor device reported a particular state of the condition that the sensor monitors. By considering the information reported by the various and multiple sensor devices, as well as by accounting for the memorized states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to generate and continually update a representation of the state of the controlled environment. Having such context awareness enables the design and implementation of sophisticated reasoning logic and conditional logic. | 04-16-2015 |
20150120943 | Secure mobile access to resources within a private network - A technique is disclosed that provides a secure end-to-end connection between a mobile station in a public network and a resource server in a private network. First, a virtual private network (VPN) connection is established by the resource server within the private network, to a VPN/socket secure (SOCKS) proxy in the public network. Subsequently, the SOCKS proxy receives an access request from the mobile station and, in response, sets up a Hypertext Transport Protocol Secure (HTTPS) connection between the resource server and mobile station. Then, a reverse proxy service operating at the resource server retrieves data packets from a resource device, such as a webcam, and encrypts and pushes the packets to the mobile station. | 04-30-2015 |
20150145655 | Dynamic Proximity Control System - An illustrative dynamic proximity control system uses proximity to a mobile user's mobile station as a proxy for predicting which of several remote-controlled targets the mobile user wishes to remote-control via the mobile station or via a centralized controller in communication with the mobile station. The system dynamically sorts, filters, and arranges how the mobile user perceives the remote-controlled targets. The system and method enhance the mobile user's immediate access to targets that are close by, e.g., within the same room as the mobile user, by dynamically tailoring the choices provided to the user on the mobile station's display. Thus, the mobile user is presented with nearby choices that are likely candidates for remote control. Remote targets are filtered out. The system optionally includes location-beacon devices associated with each of the remote-controlled targets. Beacon signals received from the location-beacon devices enable the illustrative system to estimate the location of a respective target and, based on the location estimate, to tailor the choices of remote-controlled targets that are presented to the mobile user in a user interface on the mobile station's display, and to dynamically update the user interface and remotely control the targets based on proximity changes. | 05-28-2015 |
20150192914 | AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM WITH INFERENCE AND ANTICIPATION - An automation system is disclosed in which a system controller has access to the signals transmitted by each sensor device that is relevant to the environment being controlled. Each sensor device monitors a particular physical condition, senses changes in the condition being monitored, and reports states of the condition, which is made available to the system controller. Meanwhile, the system controller memorizes and maintains the states of various processing events, such as when a sensor device reported a particular state of the condition that the sensor monitors. By considering the information reported by the various and multiple sensor devices, as well as by accounting for the memorized states corresponding to the various events, the system controller is able to generate and continually update a representation of the state of the controlled environment. Having such context awareness enables the design and implementation of sophisticated reasoning logic and conditional logic. | 07-09-2015 |
20150200787 | Automation System Comprising a Monitoring Device and Methods Therefor - A monitoring device for use in an automation system, such as for a home, warehouse, or any type of structure. The monitoring device includes sensors, a processor, and a transmitter. Using its sensors, the monitoring device is capable of acquiring data about itself and/or its environment. That data is used by the monitoring device and/or a central controller to generate a request for an actor, such as lighting, an HVAC system, motorized drapes, a home entertainment system, other home systems, or appliances, to change its state. | 07-16-2015 |
20150234372 | Appliance capable of advertising needs and responding to needs of other appliances and systems - A home automation and control system that enables the coordinated performance of household functions by appliances and of shopping for consumables, including shopping for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and other consumables that are needed and used by appliances and their consumer users. The disclosed system comprises one or more networked “smart” appliances and a controlling device such as a smartphone that executes an application configured to interact with the smart appliances. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the smart appliances are configured to sense various needs as they arise and to broadcast those needs to the system at large. In addition, at least some of the smart appliances are configured to fulfill those needs advertised by the other appliances within the system and to perform household functions. | 08-20-2015 |