Abstract: A portable traffic control unit for temporary use is disclosed that is capable of both automatic and manual operation. The unit is modular and is small enough and light enough that it is easily carried in a police, emergency or other vehicle and can be set up and programmed for use by one person. The unit has a bright LED display typically having red, orange, green lights, and flashing white strobe LEDs that are microprocessor controlled. The unit has a radio receiver that receives RF signals used to control the operation of the unit, and the signals are received from a handheld RF transmitter used at the site of the unit, or are received from an RF transmitter at a remote control site. Various sensors may be attached to the unit to provide information that is transmitted to the handheld remote control and/or to the remote control site using an RF transmitter that is part of the unit. Multiple traffic control units operating at a common site can communicate with each other to facilitate operations.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for identifying, locating, authorizing by proximity and communicating with equipment and personnel in a facility that generally employs a series of limited range transceivers for location determination and a distributed wireless data network for data transfer. The system employs unique RF transceiver tags on personnel and equipment that are each uniquely identified and registered with a facility control application that oversees activities in the facility. The tags are tracked by RF communication based upon their proximity to one or more fixed-base networked access points and relays (which transfer location data by RF back to access points) within four range zones. Location data on all tags is uploaded periodically to a location server that interfaces with the facility control server.

Abstract: A media detection system that detects an external device coupled to a port of a network device and that establishes a working communication link. The media detection system includes a port connector including first and second contact sets and a physical layer device which includes a transmit output and a receive input. The physical layer device monitors its receive input for communication signals and provides a link detect signal indicative thereof. The media detection system further includes a select circuit that selectively couples the transmit output and the receive input of the physical layer device to the first and second contact sets, respectively, of the port connector in a first state and crosses the connection in a second state.