1. A pedestrian call station, comprising:
a pedestrian call switch operable by a pedestrian; and
a pedestrian station processor coupled to the pedestrian call switch and configured to communicate a traffic control request to a pedestrian management unit in response to activation of the pedestrian call switch by the pedestrian and to receive an acknowledgment of the traffic control request from the pedestrian management unit, wherein the traffic control request is associated with controlling at least one traffic signal so as to allow or deny movement of vehicular traffic.
2. The pedestrian call station of claim 1, further comprising a network interface configured to communicate with the pedestrian station processor, wherein the network interface is coupled to receive the acknowledgment of the traffic control request from the pedestrian management unit and communicate the traffic control request from the pedestrian station processor to a traffic controller associated with controlling the at least one traffic signal.
3. The pedestrian call station of claim 1, further comprising a memory, wherein the pedestrian station processor is configured to retrieve at least one audio message from the memory and communicate an identifier associated with the retrieved audio message to the pedestrian management unit.
4. The pedestrian call station of claim 3, wherein the pedestrian station processor is configured to communicate an identifier associated with an audio message volume to the pedestrian management unit.
5. The pedestrian call station of claim 1, wherein the pedestrian station processor is configured to store an audio message received in a memory.
6. The pedestrian call station of claim 1, wherein the pedestrian station processor is operable to adjust an audio message volume based on a time of day.
7. The pedestrian call station of claim 1, further comprising a memory coupled to the pedestrian station processor and operable to store audio messages associated with WALK, WAIT, DON’T WALK, and a beacon destination.
8. The pedestrian call station of claim 7, wherein the pedestrian station processor is operable to set an audio message volume.
9. A pedestrian service request system, comprising:
a pedestrian management processor; and
a network interface coupled to the pedestrian management processor, wherein the network interface is operable to receive a request for a traffic control service from at least one pedestrian call station of a plurality of pedestrian call stations and to transmit a traffic control request acknowledgment to the at least one pedestrian call station of the plurality of pedestrian call stations, wherein the at least one pedestrian call station of the plurality of pedestrian call stations includes a network interface operable to transmit a signal identifier to the pedestrian management processor.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the pedestrian management processor is operable to determine a traffic control status associated with at least one traffic control device.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the network interface is operable to communicate traffic control system parameters to the pedestrian management processor.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the network interface is operable to communicate audio message parameters to the pedestrian management processor.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the network interface is operable to receive a digital audio message, and the pedestrian management processor includes a memory configured to store the digital audio message.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the network interface is operable to transmit an audio message identifier to the pedestrian management processor.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein the pedestrian management processor is operable to send a communication to a second pedestrian call station via the network interface in response to the request for traffic control service, the communication including an instruction to play an audible beacon message.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A multi-sleeve power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with variably sized input ports of electronic devices, the multi-sleeve power tip comprising:
a housing;
a first device interface having a first size and shape, the first device interface at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to electrically couple a power adaptor to a first input port of a first electronic device;
a first extension mechanism for extending and retracting the first device interface;
a second device interface having a second size and shape, the second device interface at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to electrically couple the power adaptor to a second input port of a second electronic device; and
a second extension mechanism for extending and retracting the second device interface,
wherein the second size and shape is different than the first size and shape, and
wherein the first device interface and the second device interface share a common axis.
2. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, wherein the first and second extension mechanisms comprise slidable tabs.
3. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, wherein the first and second extension mechanisms comprise springs.
4. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, wherein the first size and shape comprises a cylinder.
5. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, wherein the second size and shape comprises a cylinder.
6. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first device interface and the second device interface comprises deformable members.
7. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 6, wherein the first size and shape is configured to create a frictional engagement between the first device interface and a plurality of variably sized input ports of a corresponding plurality of electronic devices,
wherein the frictional engagement of the first device interface with the plurality of variably sized input ports is configured to provide a threshold pull resistance, and
wherein the frictional engagement of the first device interface with the plurality of variably sized input ports is further configured to provide less than a threshold insertion resistance.
8. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, wherein the second device interface is disposed about the first device interface and is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first device interface.
9. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, further comprising:
a first locking mechanism for locking the first device interface in a retracted position; and
a second locking mechanism for locking the second device interface in a retracted position.
10. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 9, further comprising a release mechanism to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms from the first and second device interfaces.
11. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, further comprising a fixed column with outwardly slanted electrical contacts disposed thereon, wherein the outwardly slanted electrical contacts are positioned to electrically couple with the first device interface when the first device interface is in an extended position.
12. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 11, wherein the outwardly slanted electrical contacts are disposed at an offset of 180 degrees about the fixed column relative to each other.
13. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, further comprising front electrical contacts, wherein the front electrical contacts are positioned to electrically couple with the second device interface when the second device interface is in an extended position.
14. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 1, further comprising:
a third device interface having a third size and shape, the third device interface at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to electrically couple the power adaptor to an input port of a third electronic device; and
a third extension mechanism for extending and retracting the third device interface,
wherein the third size and shape is different than the first size and shape and the second size and shape, and
wherein the second device interface and the third device interface share a common axis.
15. A multi-sleeve power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with variably sized input ports of electronic devices, the multi-sleeve power tip comprising:
a housing;
a first device interface at least partially disposed within the housing, the first device interface comprising:
a first electrical contact; and
a second electrical contact,
wherein a first size and shape of the first and second electrical contacts is configured to electrically couple a power adaptor to a first input port of a first electronic device;
a first extension mechanism for extending and retracting the first device interface;
a second device interface at least partially disposed within the housing, the second device interface comprising:
a first electrical contact; and
a second electrical contact,
wherein a second size and shape of the first and second electrical contacts is configured to electrically couple the power adaptor to a second input port of a second electronic device,
wherein the second size and shape is different than the first size and shape, and
wherein at least one of the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact shares a common axis with the first device interface; and
a second extension mechanism for extending and retracting the second device interface.
16. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, wherein the first and second extension mechanisms comprise slidable tabs.
17. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, wherein the first and second extension mechanisms comprise springs.
18. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, wherein the first size and shape comprises a cylinder.
19. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, wherein the second size and shape comprises a cylinder.
20. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first device interface and the second device interface comprises deformable members.
21. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 20, wherein the second size and shape is configured to create a frictional engagement between the second device interface and a plurality of variably sized input ports of a corresponding plurality of electronic devices,
wherein the frictional engagement of the second device interface with the plurality of variably sized input ports is configured to provide a threshold pull resistance, and
wherein the frictional engagement of the second device interface with the plurality of variably sized input ports is further configured to provide less than a threshold insertion resistance.
22. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is disposed about the first device interface and is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first device interface.
23. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, further comprising:
a first locking mechanism for locking the first device interface in a retracted position; and
a second locking mechanism for locking the second device interface in a retracted position.
24. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 23, further comprising a release mechanism to disengage the first and second locking mechanisms from the first and second device interfaces.
25. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, further comprising a fixed column with outwardly slanted electrical contacts disposed thereon, wherein the outwardly slanted electrical contacts are positioned to electrically couple with the first device interface when the first device interface is in an extended position.
26. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 25, wherein the outwardly slanted electrical contacts are disposed at an offset of 180 degrees about the fixed column relative to each other.
27. The multi-sleeve power tip of claim 15, further comprising a first front electrical contact and a second front electrical contact, wherein the first and second front electrical contacts are positioned to electrically couple with the first and second electrical contacts respectively when the second device interface is in an extended position.
28. A multi-sleeve power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with variably sized input ports of electronic devices, the multi-sleeve power tip comprising:
a housing;
a first device interface at least partially disposed within the housing, the first device interface comprising:
a first electrical contact; and
a second electrical contact,
wherein a first size and shape of the first and second electrical contacts is configured to electrically couple a power adaptor to an input port of a first electronic device;
a first extension mechanism for extending the first device interface;
a second device interface at least partially disposed within the housing, the second device interface comprising:
a first electrical contact; and
a second electrical contact,
wherein a second size and shape of the first and second electrical contacts is configured to electrically couple the power adaptor to a second input port of a second electronic device,
wherein the second electrical contact is cylindrical, and
wherein the second electrical contact is disposed about the first device interface and is longitudinally displaceable relative to the first device interface.
29. A multi-sleeve power tip to couple electrically to a power adaptor and to couple alternatingly with variably sized input ports of electronic devices, the multi-sleeve power tip comprising:
a housing;
a first sleeve having a first size and shape, the first sleeve at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to electrically couple a power adaptor to a first input port of a first electronic device;
a first extension mechanism for extending and retracting the first sleeve;
a second sleeve having a second size and shape, the second sleeve at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to electrically couple the power adaptor to a second input port of a second electronic device; and
a second extension mechanism for extending and retracting the second sleeve,
wherein the second size and shape is different than the first size and shape, and
wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve share a common axis.