Embodiment described herein provide a system for authenticating an identity of a user. The system includes a first device, a second device, a user device, and a remote computing device. The first device, the second device, and the user device are connected to and operable to communicate over the first communications network. The user device is connected to and operable to communicate over a second communications network. The user device is configured to detect the first device or the second device when the first device or the second device is connected the first communications network, and to generate one or more signals related to the detection of the first device or the second device. The remote computing device is configured to receive the one or more signals from the user device and authenticate the identity of the user based on the one or more signals.

A method includes receiving sound by a first audio unit installed in an electrical outlet, routing audio data corresponding to the received sound from the first audio unit to a second audio unit installed in a second electrical outlet, and sending the audio data to a mobile device using a wireless link between the mobile device and the second audio unit. Routing the audio data may include receiving the audio data from the first audio unit by a third audio unit and routing the audio data to the second audio unit by the third audio unit serving as a router. The data may be routed using table driven routing, on-demand routing or some other appropriate routing protocol. The method may also include performing voice recognition on the audio data and detecting a command word and routing command word data to the second audio unit.

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for an internet of things (IoT) device. In some implementations, the IoT device can select an operating role for the first IoT device in a local network. The operating role may be selected from between an endpoint role and a relay role. The operating role may be dynamically selected by the first IoT device based whether the relay role would enhance connectivity for a client device that is within a wireless range of the first IoT device. The IoT device may participate in a self-organizing network (SON) and may coordinate with other devices in the SON to enhance wireless coverage for the client device based on a position of the client device relative to the one or more IoT devices.

A processing operation requesting method and device using associated groups. Specifically, the processing operation requesting method of the present invention includes: receiving an operation request; sending the operation request to a first entity group for processing; determining at least one second entity group associated the first entity group; and sending the operation request to the at least one second entity group for processing.

Gateway apparatus and methods for providing data services (including IoT data services) which leverage existing managed network (e.g., cable network) infrastructure. The disclosed methods and apparatus enable, among other things, delivery of IoT data services in a unified manner via a common portal or IoT gateway (IoTG) which may be both remotely accessed by a user, and remotely controlled/configured by the host network operator (e.g., MSO). In one variant, the premises devices include RF-enabled receivers (enhanced consumer premises equipment, or CPEe) configured to receive (and transmit) OFDM waveforms via a coaxial cable drop to the premises, and interface with the aforementioned IoTG to enable provision of both 5G high-speed data services and lower bandwidth IoT services to the premises, all via a single coaxial cable drop in the exemplary embodiment.

A control system may comprise a plurality of audio output devices (e.g., controllable speakers), and a remote control device having at least one button for selecting a preset, where the preset defines different commands for at least two of the audio output devices. The at least two audio output devices may be configured to be controlled according to the different commands (e.g., starting, pausing, or stopping playback, adjusting volume, etc.) in response to an actuation of the button of the remote control device. The control system may also comprise a load control device, such as a dimmer configured to control an intensity of a lighting load to a predetermined intensity in response to the actuation of the button of the remote control device to select the preset. The audio output device may be configured to play a feedback signal indicating an operational characteristic of the dimmer.

The present application belongs to the technical field of smart appliances, and relates to a control method for equipment, comprising the steps of: acquiring a user instruction and a target position; acquiring the number of connected terminals of each locator beacon, determining target equipment according to the number of connected terminals of the locator beacon, and controlling the target equipment to move to the target position; acquiring position information of the target equipment, and calculating a distance between the target equipment and the target position according to the target position and the position information of the target equipment; and controlling the target equipment to stop moving when the distance between the target equipment and the target position is less than or equal to a set threshold.

A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) having a gateway configured to output signals on over data tunnels for transfer over a cable network to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). Each data tunnel is preferably characterized as a one-way data stream of out-of-band (OOB) messaging signals.

A plurality of WiFi-enabled devices that are physically proximate to one another form an ad hoc mesh network, which is associated with an overlay network, such as a content delivery network. A typical WiFi device is a WiFi router that comprises addressable data storage, together with control software operative to configure the device seamlessly into the WiFi mesh network formed by the device and one or more physically-proximate devices. The addressable data storage across multiple such devices comprises a distributed or “mesh-assisted” cache that is managed by the overly network. The WiFi mesh network thus provides bandwidth that is leveraged by the overlay network to provide distribution of content, e.g., content that has been off-loaded for delivery (by content providers) to the CDN. Other devices that may be leveraged include set-top boxes and IPTV devices.

Systems and methods for backup power sources and controls for Power over Ethernet light sources are provided. In one example embodiment, a lighting system includes one or more light sources configured to receive power over one or more Ethernet cables. The lighting system also includes a battery pack comprising an energy storage medium. The battery pack can be configured to provide power to the one or more light sources over one or more Ethernet cables. The lighting system can also include an output control circuit configured to manage delivery of power from the battery pack to the one or more light sources.