Showing papers on "Smart device published in 2010"
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23 Jul 2010TL;DR: In this article, a smart device is discussed, which is connected to a smart grid to perform a power saving function and includes a power information receiving unit configured to receive power information through the smart grid network, a power-saving control unit, at least one mode switching unit, and a manual mode operational time determining unit.
Abstract: A smart device is discussed, which is connected to a smart grid to perform a power saving function. According to an embodiment, the smart device includes a power information receiving unit configured to receive power information through the smart grid network; a power saving control unit configured to perform the power saving function for at least one apparatus based on the power information in a power saving mode; at least one mode switching unit configured to switch from the power saving mode to a manual mode according to a user command; and a manual mode operational time determining unit configured to determine a manual mode operational time for operating the at least one apparatus in the manual mode, the at least one mode switching unit further configured to switch from the manual mode back to the power saving mode, automatically, when the manual mode operational time expires.
220 citations
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TL;DR: Smart materials, which respond to a stimulus or a change of environment to produce a dynamic and reversible transition in chemical or physical properties, have been well investigated in many devices including cantilever sensors, gene delivery, micropumps, and artifi cial muscles.
Abstract: DOI: 10.1002/adma.201001577 Recently, functionally cooperating systems, which are defi ned as the integration of two or more smart materials or surfaces into one device which then act in an orderly manner for a complex function or a given intention, have gained increasing attention. Since nanomaterials were fi rst demonstrated by Feynmann in 1959, various functional materials have been created, particularly since the 1980s. [ 1 ] Nanomaterials not only lead to signifi cant progress in fundamental research but have also revolutionized technology and the economy. However, most of the research into nanomaterials is focused on passive fi elds. In order to promote materials science from the present passive level to active level materials, a great emphasis has been placed on the area of smart materials. Smart materials, [ 2 ] which respond to a stimulus or a change of environment to produce a dynamic and reversible transition in chemical or physical properties, have been well investigated in many fi elds, [ 3 , 4 ] including cantilever sensors, gene delivery, micropumps, and artifi cial muscles. Based on the above concept, various stimulus for smart materials have been introduced, such as humidity, [ 5 , 6 ] solvent composition, [ 7 ] light, [ 8–11 ] electric fi eld, [ 12 , 13 ] magnetic fi eld, [ 14–17 ] pH value, [ 18 , 19 ] and temperature. [ 20 , 21 ] Ichimura et al. [ 11 ] prepared a photo-responsive surface to realize a light-driven liquid motion. Langer and coworkers [ 12 ]
46 citations
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01 Nov 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for facilitating the use of wireless smart devices to purchase goods or services that are not available at a purchaser's location is provided, which includes providing a smart poster that advertises a good or service and is locatable in an area that is accessible by a potential purchaser.
Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for facilitating the use of wireless smart devices to purchase goods or services that are not available at a purchaser's location are provided. According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a method for facilitating the use of a wireless smart device to purchase goods or services is provided. The method includes providing a smart poster that advertises a good or service and is locatable in an area that is accessible by a potential purchaser of a good or service. The method includes directing, using a mechanism in or on the smart poster, the wireless smart device to access a section of an merchant's website specific to the good or service in response to the wireless smart device interfacing with the smart poster. The method further includes providing, via the wireless smart device, an option for the potential purchaser to purchase the good or service in a manner that bypasses a payment register in a retail location of the merchant.
45 citations
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23 Mar 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, a solar panel monitoring smart device consisting of at least one power source or input, at least a sensor connected to the input, where the sensor is adapted to responsively generate monitoring information on the input with which it is associated, and a processor for receiving the monitoring information regarding the input from each of the sensors, and adapted to forward the received monitoring information.
Abstract: A solar panel monitoring device and method is disclosed. The solar panel monitoring smart device comprises at least one power source or input; at least one sensor connected to the input, where the at least one sensor is adapted to responsively generate monitoring information on the input with which it is associated; a processor for receiving the monitoring information regarding the input from each of the sensors, and adapted to forward the received monitoring information; and a transmission chip for receiving the monitoring information, packetizing the monitoring information, and transmitting to a remote location.
42 citations
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TL;DR: This column provides a synopsis of the iPhone and describes key features that have allowed it to redefine what it means to be a modern smart device, put in the context of pervasive computing.
Abstract: This column provides a synopsis of the iPhone and describes key features that have allowed it to redefine what it means to be a modern smart device. In particular, the description is put in the context of pervasive computing, and the author presents a review of his top five iPhone apps. These highlight how the App Store has allowed programmers to test and distribute many concepts originating from pervasive computing research.
41 citations
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03 Sep 2010TL;DR: In this article, a processor is configured to identify one or more associated smart appliances upon activation of a smart device in a network, where the smart device and the associated smart devices are configured to communicate with each other for notification or for executing one or multiple commands.
Abstract: Selective interaction between networked smart devices is disclosed. One embodiment of the present disclosure pertains to an apparatus for interacting with associated smart appliances via a network, where the apparatus comprises a memory; and a processor. The processor is configured to identify one or more associated smart appliances upon activation of a smart device in a network, where the smart device and the associated smart appliances are configured to communicate with each other for notification or for executing one or more commands. The processor is also configured to determine a mode of the smart device upon receiving data from the associated smart appliances, where the mode of the smart device is set through configuring a user experience environment of the smart device. The processor is further configured to selectively process the data from the associated smart appliances based on the mode of the smart device.
37 citations
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14 Apr 2010
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a location-aware payment system, which includes at least two smart devices, the smart devices including: a location sensing mechanism for detecting its location; an identification mechanism for identifying the smart device; and a wireless communication mechanism; a display device having at least one of an indicator light, a printed receipt, and a digital read out.
Abstract: In a first embodiment, a location-aware payment system including: a smart device, the smart device including: a location sensing mechanism for detecting its location; an identification mechanism for identifying the smart device; and a wireless communication mechanism; a display device having at least one of an indicator light, a printed receipt, and a digital read out; and a server, the server including: a wireless communication mechanism communicating with the smart device and display device; and a software program loaded into the server that receives and sends out communications, calculates amounts due between a payor and a payee, issues authorization codes, and performs banking transactions between a payor and a payee. In a second embodiment, the invention is a location-aware payment system including: at least two smart devices, the smart devices including: a location sensing mechanism for detecting its location; an identification mechanism for identifying the smart device; and a wireless communication mechanism; and a server, the server including: a wireless communication mechanism communicating with the smart devices; and a software program loaded into the server that receives and sends out communications, calculates amounts due between a payor and a payee, issues authorization codes, and performs banking transactions between a payor and a payee.
23 citations
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01 Jan 2010TL;DR: This chapter presents some new developments for the security and privacy protection of the future contactless smart devices by creating a private sphere where consumers and citizens will have full control to manage contactless transactions.
Abstract: This chapter presents some new developments for the security and privacy protection of the future contactless smart devices. The main objective is to anticipate the forthcoming expectation from consumers and citizens for high level of trust and confidence about the next contactless nomadic devices by creating a private sphere where they will have full control to manage contactless transactions. The first objective is to build some mechanism and probably associated specific devices to offer to the user the capabilities for privacy management with the awareness of the local RF activity, the avoidance of any digital transaction without the consent of the owner of the data, the control of all the exchanged data with checking through a display, and the personal management of black lists of nonauthorized devices. To raise trust and confidence, these functions would be managed by a specific device, a so-called Contactless Privacy Manager that will be user-centric. The second objective is to secure the contactless link in order to provide a private data exchange with noisy readers.
18 citations
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08 Dec 2010TL;DR: This work presents methods of developing network topologies of smart devices that will enable multi-route discovery in an intelligent power grid through the utilization of software overlays that maintain a digital structure for the physical network and identify new routes in the case of faults.
Abstract: Control decisions of intelligent devices in critical infrastructure can have a significant impact on human life and the environment. Ensuring that the appropriate data is available is crucial for making informed decisions. Such considerations are becoming increasingly important in today's cyber-physical systems that combine computational decision making on the cyber side with physical control on the device side. The job of ensuring the timely arrival of data falls onto the network that connects these intelligent devices. This network needs to be fault tolerant. When nodes, devices or communication links fail along a default route of a message from A to B, the underlying hardware and software layers should ensure that this message will actually be delivered as long as alternative routes exist. Existence and discovery of multi-route pathways is essential in ensuring delivery of critical data. In this work, we present methods of developing network topologies of smart devices that will enable multi-route discovery in an intelligent power grid. This will be accomplished through the utilization of software overlays that (1) maintain a digital structure for the physical network and (2) identify new routes in the case of faults.
16 citations
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14 Apr 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a location-aware payment system, which includes at least two smart devices, the smart devices including: a location sensing mechanism for detecting its location; an identification mechanism for identifying the smart device; and a wireless communication mechanism; a display device having at least one of an indicator light, a printed receipt, and a digital read out.
Abstract: In a first embodiment, a location-aware payment system including: a smart device, the smart device including: a location sensing mechanism for detecting its location; an identification mechanism for identifying the smart device; and a wireless communication mechanism; a display device having at least one of an indicator light, a printed receipt, and a digital read out; and a server, the server including: a wireless communication mechanism communicating with the smart device and display device; and a software program loaded into the server that receives and sends out communications, calculates amounts due between a payor and a payee, issues authorization codes, and performs banking transactions between a payor and a payee. In a second embodiment, the invention is a location-aware payment system including: at least two smart devices, the smart devices including: a location sensing mechanism for detecting its location; an identification mechanism for identifying the smart device; and a wireless communication mechanism; and a server, the server including: a wireless communication mechanism communicating with the smart devices; and a software program loaded into the server that receives and sends out communications, calculates amounts due between a payor and a payee, issues authorization codes, and performs banking transactions between a payor and a payee.
11 citations
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TL;DR: The design of an intuitive user interface is outlined, which can be used for smart device control and entertainment applications, of specific interest to users, and the technical challenges are appraised.
Abstract: A Brain Computer Interface (BCI) provides direct communi-cation from the brain to a computer or electronic device. In order for BCIs to become practical assistive devices it is nec-essary to develop robust systems, which can be used outside of the laboratory. This paper appraises the technical challenges, and outlines the design of an intuitive user interface, which can be used for smart device control and entertainment appli-cations, of specific interest to users. We adopted a user-centred approach, surveying two groups of participants: fif-teen volunteers who could use BCI as an additional technol-ogy and six users with complex communication and assistive technology needs. Interaction is based on a four way choice, parsing a hierarchical menu structure which allows selection of room location and then device (e.g. light, television) within a smart home. The interface promotes ease of use which aim to improve the BCI communication rate.
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19 Mar 2010
TL;DR: In this article, a talking toy with sayings, audible messages, sayings or sounds in response to user selection on the application is presented. But the toy will reproduce audible messages or sounds only in response of user selection.
Abstract: This invention relates to talking toys (toys with sayings, audible messages, or sounds) and, more particularly, to toys that will be derived from motion pictures (toyetics) and have unlimited ability to talk, make sounds, play music, deliver movie catch phrases or repeat human speech in a toy characters voice or voice of user. This invention embeds Bluetooth speaker(s) inside of toys and then via a smart device; (Apple iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Computer) has an application (application is the storage device and can thus store or create unlimited sounds or audible messages) which is a repository for sounds, sayings, music, movie catch phrases etc. When the Bluetooth speaker is paired with the smart device—audible messages, sayings, sounds will be heard over the speaker in stereo. The toy will reproduce audible messages, sayings or sounds in response to user selection on the application.
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09 Apr 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, a monitoring system useful in behavioral analytics comprising of a wireless smart device; an application running continuously in the background on the smart device, wherein the said application captures, stores and periodically transmits information at least (a) pertaining to usage of the smart devices; (b) related to the device parameters, or (c) stored on said smart devices, and processing system to process, aggregate and analyze the captured information to generate behavioral statistics.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring system useful in behavioral analytics comprising of (i) a wireless smart device; (ii) an application running continuously in the background on the smart device, wherein the said application captures, stores and periodically transmits information at least (a) pertaining to usage of the smart device; (b) related to the device parameters of the smart device; or (c) stored on said smart device; and (iii) processing system to process, aggregate and analyze the captured information to generate behavioral statistics.
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18 Jul 2010TL;DR: The concept of embedded self-aware profiles for smart devices that can be used to gain a deeper contextual understanding of their use are discussed and the emergence of a general model of Ambient Intelligence that is based on the collective existence and behavior of such smart devices is discussed.
Abstract: Intelligent Environments on varying scales and for different purposes are slowly becoming a reality. In the near future, global smart world infrastructures will become a commodity that will support various activities of daily life at different degrees of realism. Such infrastructures have the potential to offer dedicated, context- and situation-aware information and services by simultaneously providing the next-generation of data collection, execution and service provisioning layers. One key aspect of this vision is the correct monitoring and understanding of how people interact with their environment; how they can actually benefit from the added intelligence; and finally how future services can be improved or better personalized to enhance human environment interaction as a whole. This level of intelligence is of particular relevance in the health and social care domain where person-centric services can be deployed to assist or even enable a person in performing activities of daily living. This paper discusses the concept of embedded self-aware profiles for smart devices that can be used to gain a deeper contextual understanding of their use and also discusses the emergence of a general model of Ambient Intelligence that is based on the collective existence and behavior of such smart devices. Although generic in principle, the proposed concepts have been exemplified by a distinct use case, namely a smart kettle.
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14 Sep 2010TL;DR: This paper developed a test environment which automates the generation of test data, their execution and interpretation of the results, and uses advanced modelling and simulation techniques to predict all the likely interpretations and check whether any of them is observed at the smart device output.
Abstract: This paper presents a case study in "black-box" assessment of a "smart" device where, based only on the user manuals and the instrument itself, we try to build confidence in smart device reliability To perform the black-box assessment, we developed a test environment which automates the generation of test data, their execution and interpretation of the results The assessment was made more complex by the inherent non-determinism of the device For example, non-determinism can arise due to inaccuracy in an analogue measurement made by the device when two alternative actions are possible depending on the measured value This non-determinism makes it difficult to predict the output values that are expected from a test sequence of analogue input values The paper presents two approaches to dealing with this difficulty: (1) based on avoidance of test values that could have multiple responses, (2) based on consideration of all possible interpretations of input data To support the second approach we use advanced modelling and simulation techniques to predict all the likely interpretations and check whether any of them is observed at the smart device output
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28 Jun 2010TL;DR: The implementation of a BCI-aware pervasive system that enables users to control the XBMC media center to play music or videos and an architecture for the development of BCI -aware pervasive systems to control multimedia devices is presented.
Abstract: Assistive technologies have a major impact in the life of people with severe neuromuscular diseases in order to provide or extend functional abilities of people with special needs. Such technologies promote independent life, social inclusion and improve quality of life of disabled people. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a recent technology that allows the direct communication between the brain and the environment. The development of systems that integrates BCI, smart devices and pervasive services enables motor disabled people to control devices anytime and anywhere. This paper presents an architecture for the development of BCI-aware pervasive systems to control multimedia devices. The user needs an electroencephalography (EEG) device and a smart device to interact with any multimedia device. This paper brings the implementation of a BCI-aware pervasive system that enables users to control the XBMC media center to play music or videos.
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01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: Smart phone devices are more popular than ever and because of their processing power able to deal with almost any kind of multimedia content, i.e., videos, audio, images, and text documents.
Abstract: Smart phone devices are more popular than ever and becauseof their processing power able to deal with almost any kind of multimedia content, i.e., videos, audio, images,and text documents. Files ar ...
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09 Aug 2010
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a design methodology that enables commercial success for one variety of smart devices, the Ambient Intelligence Node (AIN), by combining commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) design tools allowing a Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) approach via custom middleware to form an end-to-end design flow for rapid prototyping and commercialization.
Abstract: The market for smart devices was identified years ago, and yet commercial progress into this field has not made significant progress. The reason such devices are so painfully slow to market is that the gap between the technologically possible and the market capitalizable is too vast. In order for inventions to succeed commercially, they must bridge the gap to tomorrow''s technology with marketability today. This thesis demonstrates a design methodology that enables such commercial success for one variety of smart device, the Ambient Intelligence Node (AIN). Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) design tools allowing a Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) approach are combined via custom middleware to form an end-to-end design flow for rapid prototyping and commercialization. A walkthrough of this design methodology demonstrates its effectiveness in the creation of Global Network Academic Test (GNAT), a sample AIN. It is shown how designers are given the flexibility to incorporate IP Blocks available in the Global Economy to reduce Time-To-Market and cost. Finally, new kinds of products and solutions built on the higher levels of design abstraction permitted by MDA design methods are explored.
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13 Dec 2010TL;DR: The suggested service model offers an editing UI based on a context-aware workflow model to develop smart services and users can easily uses real data from USN/RFID in various smart spaces as contexts for smart services according to a pre-designed ontology.
Abstract: Recently, in smart places or ubiquitous computing environments, there are many researches for smart services using smart devices with sensors, interactive I/O, and convenient UI. This paper propose an smart service model based on smart devices, especially smart phones, in various smart spaces, including urban computing and ubiquitous computing environments. The suggested service model offers an editing UI based on a context-aware workflow model to develop smart services. And, with the suggested model, users can easily uses real data from USN/RFID in various smart spaces as contexts for smart services according to a pre-designed ontology. So, in the smart spaces, anyone who is with smart devices can easily make a smart service or application by using the suggested service model.
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15 Sep 2010TL;DR: The suggested service model includes a context-aware and personalized service scenario development environment that can instantly describe user’s u-service demand or situation information with smart devices and an infrastructure with sensors and WSN/USN.
Abstract: In urban computing environments, all of services should be based on the interaction between humans and environments around them, which frequently and ordinarily in home and office. This paper propose an u-service model based on a smart phone for urban computing environments. The suggested service model includes a context-aware and personalized service scenario development environment that can instantly describe user’s u-service demand or situation information with smart devices. To do this, the architecture of the suggested service model consists of a graphical service editing environment for smart devices, an u-service platform, and an infrastructure with sensors and WSN/USN. The graphic editor expresses contexts as execution conditions of a new service through a context model based on ontology. The service platform deals with the service scenario according to contexts. With the suggested service model, an user in urban computing environments can quickly and easily make u-service or new service using smart devices.
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18 Jun 2010TL;DR: In this article, a method for verifying the integrity of a computer application stored on a smart device and to be run on a second device is presented, which consists of sending a checking program to the second device, and then verifying the correctness of the application using the electronic resources of that second device.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for verifying the integrity of a computer application stored on a smart device and to be run on a second device. The invention consists of sending a checking program, the integrity of which is guaranteed, to the second device, said checking program then verifying the integrity of the application using the electronic resources of the second device.
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25 Apr 2010
TL;DR: A software framework called OVERSEER for multiple robot use and management including; integrated smart device access which can be used for automated, in-field request support is described.
Abstract: The use of advanced robotic platforms for solar system exploration continues to grow and become a mainstream exploration activity. Over time robot deployments will stretch beyond single agent activities and will also include human robot and robot-robot interaction. Given the complexity of the robot-terrain/environment interactions and constrained communication options (latencies, non real-time and low-bandwidth such missions require more sophisticated tool support for planning and monitoring including 3D visualization. These tools will also need to deal with different phases of deployment from remote through to long-term exploration with human teams in-situ. This paper describes a software framework called OVERSEER for multiple robot use and management including; integrated smart device access which can be used for automated, in-field request support.