Abstract: A rack sensor controller is operable to sense information for assets housed in a rack. The rack sensor controller includes a memory storing a location of the rack and sensor information received from a plurality of sensors. At least some of the sensors include one or more RFID readers operable to read RFID tags attached to assets housed in the rack. A processor is operable to receive the sensor information and generate a message including the sensor information and the location of the rack for transmission to one or more back-end applications via a forwarder. The forwarder is operable to receive the message, determine one or more back-end applications to receive the message, replicate the message for each of the back-end applications, and transmit the message to the back-end applications. The back-end applications use the location of the rack and the sensor information to track the assets.

Abstract: The present invention provides for validating an association between computing devices using a succession of human-perceptible stimuli such as sounds, lights colors or shapes. Commands are sent from the initiating device to the responding device in encrypted messages. Human-perceptible stimuli are formed at the responding device in response to at least some of the commands. The responder searches for messages that the responder is unable to decrypt and that are received in a time interval before messages that the responder is able to decrypt. The succession of human-perceptible stimuli may be harmonized, in which case, an association between the initiating device and the responding device is validated when the human-perceptible stimuli formed by the initiating device and the human-perceptible stimuli formed by the responding device are harmonized together.

Abstract: A rack sensor controller is operable to sense information for assets housed in a rack. The rack sensor controller includes a memory storing a location of the rack and sensor information received from a plurality of sensors. At least some of the sensors include one or more RFID readers operable to read RFID tags attached to assets housed in the rack. A processor is operable to receive the sensor information and generate a message including the sensor information and the location of the rack for transmission to one or more back-end applications via a forwarder. The forwarder is operable to receive the message, determine one or more back-end applications to receive the message, replicate the message for each of the back-end applications, and transmit the message to the back-end applications. The back-end applications use the location of the rack and the sensor information to track the assets.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a protocol for communications across a securable communication channel between a first device and a second device. The protocol includes the transmission of a plurality of uniquely identifiable messages which each include security-related data, from the first device to the second device. The protocol includes determining whether a subset of messages that are received by the second device comply with at least one predetermined message criterion and are identifiable as having been sent from the first device. In the event that said subset of messages are determined to comply with the predetermined verification criterion (or criteria) and are identifiable as having been sent from the first device, the security-related data is determined to have been successfully communicated to the second device.

Abstract: A system for automatically configuring a first communication interface of a device for connection with an external wireless network includes a communication parameter source external to the device to store communication parameters of the wireless network. A second communication interface is placed inside the device to communicate with the communication parameter source for the communication parameters. An interface configuration module is coupled to the first and second communication interfaces. The interface configuration module causes the second communication interface to receive the communication parameters, and then configures the first communication interface using the communication parameters such that the device can be connected to the wireless network. A method of automatically configuring a communication interface of a device for connection with an external wireless network is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides for validating an association between computing devices using a succession of human-perceptible stimuli such as sounds, lights colors or shapes. Commands are sent from the initiating device to the responding device in encrypted messages. Human-perceptible stimuli are formed at the responding device in response to at least some of the commands. The responder searches for messages that the responder is unable to decrypt and that are received in a time interval before messages that the responder is able to decrypt. The succession of human-perceptible stimuli may be harmonized, in which case, an association between the initiating device and the responding device is validated when the human-perceptible stimuli formed by the initiating device and the human-perceptible stimuli formed by the responding device are harmonized together.

Abstract: A system for changing operation mode of a first communication interface of a first device while in communication with a second device is described. The system includes a communication activator external to the first device to send a trigger signal when an external third device wants to communicate with the first device via the first interface. A second communication interface is located inside the first device to receive the trigger signal. An operation mode control module is coupled to the first and second interfaces to cause the first interface to change its operation mode in order to communicate with the third device when the second interface receives the trigger signal. A method for changing operation mode of a first communication interface of a first device while in communication with a second device is also described.

Abstract: In a medium access control (MAC) protocol for a wireless communications network, communications between a control point and other nodes are coordinated by a repeated superframe. This superframe contains in sequence a contention-free period (CFP1), a contention-based period, and second contention-free period (CFP2). Prior to CFP1 a node hops from one channel frequency to another. CFP2 in a superframe is used for initial transmission of isochronous data (such as voice signals); CFP1 of the following superframe is used for retransmission of any such data which were not correctly received at the first attempt, after the frequency hop at the start of that following superframe. This arrangement minimises delay before retransmission of data, and improves the robustness of the system.

Abstract: A system for managing power consumption of a first communication interface of a device that communicates with an external wireless network is described. The system includes a power activator external to the device to send a power-up trigger signal to the device when the external wireless network needs to communicate with the device via the first communication interface. A second communication interface is located inside the device to receive the power-up trigger signal from the power activator. A power management module is located inside the device and is coupled to the first and second communication interfaces to cause the first communication interface (1) to power off when the power management module determines that the first communication interface is no longer needed and (2) to power up when the power management module receives the power-up trigger signal from the second communication interface.

Abstract: A system for automatically configuring a first communication interface of a device for connection with an external wireless network includes a communication parameter source external to the device to store communication parameters of the wireless network. A second communication interface is placed inside the device to communicate with the communication parameter source for the communication parameters. An interface configuration module is coupled to the first and second communication interfaces. The interface configuration module causes the second communication interface to receive the communication parameters, and then configures the first communication interface using the communication parameters such that the device can be connected to the wireless network. A method of automatically configuring a communication interface of a device for connection with an external wireless network is also described.