Systems and methods to determine open neutral conditions in a poly-phase electrical connection. Voltage measurements of at least two phases of poly-phase electrical power delivered to a customer premises are received from an electrical meter via a communications network providing communications among many electrical meters. The electrical power is delivered with a neutral conductor separate from the at least two phases. A first voltage measurement of a first phase and a second voltage measurement of a second phase of at least two phases are received. Based on determining that a difference between the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement exceeds a phase-to-phase threshold amount, a likely open neutral condition in the neutral conductor is determined. An indication of the likely open neutral condition is sent to a customer service system.

An Integrated Circuit (IC) for an RFID tag includes at least two antenna ports for coupling to at least two antennas. The IC may be configured to determine the port from which it receives an input signal, and provide a first functionality if it receives the input from a first port and a second functionality if it receives the input from a second port. The IC may be configured to determine and/or offer a functionality based on the receiving port.

We describe an animal entry control system, for example for a cat flap, using RFID (radio frequency identification). The system comprises an RFID reader to register the presence and identification number of a transponder (15) injected under the skin of an animal; and a door (8) mounted on a hinge (10) and controlled by the RFID tag reader. The RFID reader comprises a resonant circuit including a tuning circuit to control the RFID reader such that a drive frequency of the RFID reader matches both a resonant frequency of the RFID reader and a resonant frequency of the transponder. Embodiments of the system are thus tolerant to a degree of detuning, for example from a metallic or magnetic material in the vicinity of the antenna.

RFID tags are used for many purpose including tracking RFID interrogators are used to retrieve information from tags. In many applications, RFID interrogators and RFID tags remain stationary during interrogation. Regions of low energy due to interference from either additional antenna or reflections from RFID tags and objects can impede or prohibit the reading of RFID tags residing in such regions. Stirring of the generated electromagnetic field is a method of moving around the regions of low energy, where tags can not be read, during the interrogation process. Mechanical stirring is accomplished by introducing a conductor into the electromagnetic field and moving it about in the field. Solid state stirring is accomplished by introducing a variable conductor into the field and varying the conductivity of the variable conductor. Mathematical stirring is accomplished by use of a plurality of antenna and controlling the phase difference between the antenna in a configuration known as phased antenna arrays.

System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data, particularly between two devices within an electronic apparatus. Data is selectively transmitted as N-phase polarity encoded symbols or as packets on differentially driven connectors. A data transfer method comprises encoding data and control signals in a sequence of symbols to be transmitted on a plurality of connectors, and transmitting the sequence of symbols on the plurality of connectors. Each symbol may be transmitted using a combination of a phase state of a first pair of connectors, a polarity of a second pair of connectors, and a selection of at least one undriven connector. Transmission of each symbol in the sequence of symbols may cause a change of state for at least one of the plurality of connectors.

Methods and apparatus are provided for group-controlling devices. Group information on interoperable devices among a plurality of electronic devices is acquired. The interoperable devices indicated in the group information are controlled as a group.

According to one configuration, a remote controller device wirelessly controls a remote media system. The remote controller device includes multiple selectable control buttons, multiple optical sources, and controller hardware. Each optical source individually back-illuminates a respective selectable control button of the multiple selectable buttons. The controller hardware selectively activates different groupings of the multiple optical sources depending upon a current operational mode of the remote media system. For example, a respective user of the remote controller device selects a particular button of the remote controller device corresponding to the first operational mode. The remote controller device, in turn, transmits a wireless signal to the remote media system to control the remote media system to the first operational mode. Rather than illuminating all buttons, the remote controller device then back-illuminates only a relevant group of multiple selectable control buttons applicable to the first operational mode.

An electronic apparatus, an external apparatus, and a method of controlling a power supply to the external apparatus are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a transceiver configured to wirelessly connect to an external apparatus, a processor configured to control the transceiver to transmit a control packet for turning off the external apparatus to the external apparatus in response to an input corresponding to a power off command of the electronic apparatus being received. The control packet may be generated according to a profile of a short range communication.

In some cases, a method includes receiving first control data from a proxy device at a proxy controller. The first control data is prevented from being received at a remote control signal receiver associated with a media device. The proxy controller may determine second control data associated with recording a multimedia content item at a first digital video recorder associated with the media device and third control data associated with recording the multimedia content item at a second digital video recorder that is accessible to one or more communication devices. The proxy controller may communicate the second control data to the media device via the proxy device.

Systems and methods to determine open neutral conditions in a poly-phase electrical connection. Voltage measurements of at least two phases of poly-phase electrical power delivered to a customer premises are received from an electrical meter via a communications network providing communications among many electrical meters. The electrical power is delivered with a neutral conductor separate from the at least two phases. A first voltage measurement of a first phase and a second voltage measurement of a second phase of at least two phases are received. Based on determining that a difference between the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement exceeds a phase-to-phase threshold amount, a likely open neutral condition in the neutral conductor is determined. An indication of the likely open neutral condition is sent to a customer service system.