An alert system for generating a signal indicating at least one aspect of sound within a workspace environment, the system comprising at least a first sensor positioned one of within and proximate a workspace, the at least a first sensor sensing at least one aspect of sound generated within the workspace and generating a signal indicating the at least one aspect, a communication device located within the workspace, the communication device configured to generate a signal perceivable within the workspace and a processor receiving signals from the at least a first sensor and linked to the communication device, the processor programmed to perform the steps of identifying when the at least one aspect exceeds a threshold value and driving the communication device to indicate that the at least one aspect exceeds the threshold value.

A sensor device which is used to provide a control device with at least one operating parameter of an oscillating conveyor, the control device being used to control a drive device for exciting oscillation of an oscillating rail on the basis of the operating parameter, the sensor device including at least one sensor element for recording the operating parameter or at least one measured value from which the operating parameter can be determined, the sensor device including at least one communication device for wirelessly transmitting the operating parameter to the control device and an energy supply device for supplying the sensor device with operating energy, the energy supply device being used to convert a vibration generated by the drive device and/or electromagnetic radiation into the operating energy.

A sensor device which is used to provide a control device with at least one operating parameter of an oscillating conveyor, the control device being used to control a drive device for exciting oscillation of an oscillating rail on the basis of the operating parameter, the sensor device including at least one sensor element for recording the operating parameter or at least one measured value from which the operating parameter can be determined, the sensor device including at least one communication device for wirelessly transmitting the operating parameter to the control device and an energy supply device for supplying the sensor device with operating energy, the energy supply device being used to convert a vibration generated by the drive device and/or electromagnetic radiation into the operating energy.

A computer system measures noise in an urban environment using data records providing a location of a noise, a time stamp associated with the noise, and a noise category. Such data records are sparse with respect to both locations and time. The computer system also accesses other information that defines correlations of among different locations and among different time slots. Such correlation data can include geographic information and historical sample data. By applying this correlated information to the sparse data records about noise, the computer system can derive noise level and noise category information over a larger geographical area. Such information can be provided continually based on received data records about noise, typically in a matter of minutes after receiving the noise data for any given time slot.

A computer system measures noise in an urban environment using data records providing a location of a noise, a time stamp associated with the noise, and a noise category. Such data records are sparse with respect to both locations and time. The computer system also accesses other information that defines correlations of among different locations and among different time slots. Such correlation data can include geographic information and historical sample data. By applying this correlated information to the sparse data records about noise, the computer system can derive noise level and noise category information over a larger geographical area. Such information can be provided continually based on received data records about noise, typically in a matter of minutes after receiving the noise data for any given time slot.

The present invention relates to a card swiping method for determining card swiping of a mobile terminal by using ultrasonic signal strength, comprising: closely contacting, by a mobile terminal, a card reading device, wherein a multi-interface integrated circuit module in the mobile terminal receives a ultrasonic signal transmitted by an ultrasonic wave transmitting module in the card reading device; measuring, by the multi-interface integrated circuit module, strength of the received ultrasonic signal, and comparing the measured strength with an ultrasonic signal strength threshold which allows card swiping; and if the strength of the received ultrasonic signal received by the multi-interface integrated circuit module is greater than the ultrasonic signal strength which allows card swiping, interactively performing card swiping procedures by the multi-interface integrated circuit module and the card reading device.

The present invention relates to a card swiping method for determining card swiping of a mobile terminal by using ultrasonic signal strength, comprising: closely contacting, by a mobile terminal, a card reading device, wherein a multi-interface integrated circuit module in the mobile terminal receives a ultrasonic signal transmitted by an ultrasonic wave transmitting module in the card reading device; measuring, by the multi-interface integrated circuit module, strength of the received ultrasonic signal, and comparing the measured strength with an ultrasonic signal strength threshold which allows card swiping; and if the strength of the received ultrasonic signal received by the multi-interface integrated circuit module is greater than the ultrasonic signal strength which allows card swiping, interactively performing card swiping procedures by the multi-interface integrated circuit module and the card reading device.

A distance-based score approximation having improved computational efficiency is provided. Responsive to receiving a score request, a computing entity identifies an observation point based on a location indicated in the score request and defines a set of annuli comprising a plurality of concentric annuli centered on the observation point and defined by a predetermined maximum radius. The computing entity queries a geographic database for map information corresponding to geometry elements located within the predetermined maximum radius of the observation point and determines an intersection of each geometry element with each annulus. The computing entity determines a contribution for each intersection based at least in part on a size of the intersection, a measure assigned to the corresponding geometry element, and a representative radius of the corresponding annulus. The computing entity aggregates the contribution for each intersection to determine the distance-based score approximation and provides the distance-based score approximation.

Systems and methods are provided for selectively utilizing ultrasound data to quantify a part being scanned. One embodiment is a system that includes an ultrasonic wave generator configured to induce ultrasonic waves at locations along a part being scanned, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the ultrasonic wave generator to collect data points that each indicate amplitude data and time-of-flight data of an ultrasonic wave at the part, to calculate a standard deviation of the time-of-flight data of the data points (σ.sub.tof), to utilize the amplitude data to quantify the part if σ.sub.tof is less than a threshold value, and to flag the data points in memory as including noise if σ.sub.tof is greater than the threshold value.

A system for early detection of onset of oscillatory instabilities in practical devices is described. The system consists of a measuring device (102), an instability detection unit (104) and a control unit (106). The measuring device (102) is configured to generate signals corresponding to the dynamics happening inside the practical device. The instability detection unit (104) along with an amplitude estimation unit (130) is configured to diagnose the stability of the practical device from the signals that are generated by the measuring device (102). Further, the control unit (106) is configured to control various operating parameters in the practical device based on the information obtained from the instability detection unit (104).