A system comprising at least one dock and at least one insole is provided for assessing a user's gait or movement during physical activity. The dock is for use with a computer and the insole is for use with an energy storage device, the insole including: circuitry, which includes a memory, a processor, the processor under control of the memory, and a switch, the switch under control of the processor; at least sensor which is at least one of a motion sensor and a pressure sensor, the sensor in electronic communication with the processor; a charger for electrical communication with an energy storage device; and a substrate, which retains the circuitry, the sensor and the charger, wherein when the insole is located on the dock, there is a magnetic field between the insole and the dock and a communication interface between the insole and the dock and when the insole is removed from the dock, the magnetic field is broken.

A device is provided that includes a first platform having a first side, and a second platform having a second side positioned within a predetermined distance to the first side. The device also includes an actuator configured to cause a relative rotation between the first platform and the second platform such that the first side of the first platform remains within the predetermined distance to the second side of the second platform. The device also includes a probe mounted to the first platform, and a plurality of probes mounted to the second platform. The device also includes a signal conditioner coupled to the plurality of probes. The signal conditioner may select one of the plurality of probes based on an orientation of the first platform relative to the second platform. The signal conditioner may then to use the selected probe for wireless communication with the probe on the first platform.

A device is provided that includes a first platform having a first side, and a second platform having a second side positioned within a predetermined distance to the first side. The device also includes an actuator configured to cause a relative rotation between the first platform and the second platform such that the first side of the first platform remains within the predetermined distance to the second side of the second platform. The device also includes a probe mounted to the first platform, and a plurality of probes mounted to the second platform. The device also includes a signal conditioner coupled to the plurality of probes. The signal conditioner may select one of the plurality of probes based on an orientation of the first platform relative to the second platform. The signal conditioner may then to use the selected probe for wireless communication with the probe on the first platform.

A platform that automates providing wireless communication between one or more of a plurality of antennas and a moving vehicle that is traveling along a path. One or more of the plurality of antennas are employed to detect wireless signals communicated by the vehicle and/or wireless devices for the vehicle's passengers. In one or more embodiments, characteristics of the detected wireless signals and the plurality of antennas is employed to select an antenna to provide wireless communication with the vehicle and/or wireless devices for the vehicle's passengers at a current location on the path.

A radiofrequency transmission/reception device includes a first and a second conductive wire element, a first far-field transmission/reception chip and a second near-field transmission/reception chip. The first and the second wire element combine with the characteristic impedance of the second transmission/reception chip in order to form a coupling device associated with the first transmission/reception chip at the operating frequency of the first chip. The first and the second wire element combine with the characteristic impedance of the first transmission/reception chip in order to form a coupling device associated with the second transmission/reception chip at the operating frequency of the second chip.

A radiofrequency transmission/reception device includes a first and a second conductive wire element, a first far-field transmission/reception chip and a second near-field transmission/reception chip. The first and the second wire element combine with the characteristic impedance of the second transmission/reception chip in order to form a coupling device associated with the first transmission/reception chip at the operating frequency of the first chip. The first and the second wire element combine with the characteristic impedance of the first transmission/reception chip in order to form a coupling device associated with the second transmission/reception chip at the operating frequency of the second chip.

A communication system uses multiple communications links that may include a high latency/high bandwidth link using a fiber-optic cable configured to carry large volumes of data but having a high latency. The communications links may include a low latency/low bandwidth link using skywave propagation of radio waves and configured to carry smaller volumes of data with a lower latency. The low latency/low bandwidth link employs a transmitting antenna system where aspects such as antenna height, type of ground, and typography of the surrounding area at the transmitting site are adjusted to optimize the direction and angle of propagation. Controlling these and other aspects increases the predictability and reliability of the wireless link by managing the number of hops and skip distance between the transmitting and receiving antennas. The two communications links may be used together to coordinate various activities such as the buying and selling of financial instruments.

A data communication method and a related apparatus are provided, and the data communication method includes: constructing, by an access device, a beacon frame, where the beacon frame includes a newly added field, and the newly added field represents multiple data guard interval lengths supported by the access device; and broadcasting, by the access device, the beacon frame, so that a terminal selects an available guard interval length matching a data guard interval length supported by the terminal from the beacon frame, and performs data communication with the access device by using the available guard interval length. By using the present invention, data communication between the access device and the terminal can be implemented when the access device supports multiple data guard interval lengths.

A data communication method and a related apparatus are provided, and the data communication method includes: constructing, by an access device, a beacon frame, where the beacon frame includes a newly added field, and the newly added field represents multiple data guard interval lengths supported by the access device; and broadcasting, by the access device, the beacon frame, so that a terminal selects an available guard interval length matching a data guard interval length supported by the terminal from the beacon frame, and performs data communication with the access device by using the available guard interval length. By using the present invention, data communication between the access device and the terminal can be implemented when the access device supports multiple data guard interval lengths.

A multi-channel and multi-zone audio environment is provided. Various inventions are disclosed that allow playback devices on one or more networks to provide an effective multi-channel and a multi-zone audio environment using timing information. According to one example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a low-latency network to provide audio along with a video display. In another example, timing information is used to coordinate playback devices connected over a mesh network to provide audio in one or more zones or zone groups.