Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a plug retention apparatus, which includes: a male retention portion including a first flexible clasp for applying a retaining force to a plug assembly inserted therein, the male retention portion further including a ratchet member configured with a toothed bar: and a female retention portion including a second flexible clasp for applying a retaining force to the plug assembly inserted therein, the female retention portion further including an opening to receive the ratchet member of the male retention portion, the female retention portion further including a pawl configured to engage the toothed bar of the ratchet member.

Abstract: Various embodiments for managing power capacity in a facility include: a plurality of wireless sensor devices deployed in a facility, each wireless sensor device to monitor electrical power usage of at least one of a plurality of electrical devices in the facility; periodically obtaining system power data from each of the wireless sensor devices, the system power data including electrical power usage data corresponding to associated electrical devices, the system power data being received from the wireless sensor devices via a wireless sensor network; using the system power data to determine the electrical loading levels of each of the electrical devices; identifying at least one lightly loaded electrical device based on the determined electrical loading levels; dynamically commanding the identified lightly loaded electrical device to migrate its workload to another one of the electrical devices; and dynamically commanding the identified lightly loaded electrical device to deactivate.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adapting wireless sensor network device operation to ambient RF noise. An example embodiment includes: initializing a noise threshold value to a default value; detecting an ambient RF noise level on a plurality of channels of a wireless network device; if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is above the noise threshold value, adjusting the noise threshold value by an increment and retesting the ambient RF noise level on the plurality of channels; if the noise threshold value exceeds a pre-determined maximum noise threshold value, suspending data communications by the wireless network device; and if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is below the noise threshold value, retaining the noise threshold value and enabling data communications by the wireless network device.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for admitting new devices in a self-healing, self-organizing mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to listen on a dynamically-determined frequency for the network management message; to send jamming messages to neighbor nodes in the wireless mesh network, if the network management message is not received; to receive the network management message from a neighbor node in response to the jamming messages; to synchronize a node timer to the received network management message; and to begin data communications with neighbor sensors using the synchronized node timer.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for instrumenting devices to measure power usage using a multi-tier wireless network. An example embodiment includes: establishing communication with a plurality of networked power monitors deployed at particular points in a facility, each power monitor of the plurality of networked power monitors being configured to monitor power consumption of a different one of a plurality of electronic devices in the facility; periodically obtaining system data from each of the plurality of networked power monitors using a wireless sensor network, the system data including power consumption data corresponding to associated electronic devices; using a communication hub to aggregate the system data from a plurality of associated power monitors, the communication hub and the plurality of associated power monitors forming a local network within the wireless sensor network; and using the system data to control operation of the plurality of electronic devices in the facility.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for establishing data communication in a time-synchronized mesh wireless network during time synchronization failures. An example embodiment includes experiencing circumstances adversely affecting synchronization of data communications between wireless network nodes; transitioning to an alert mode wherein a radio of a wireless network node is activated for a longer period of time relative to a normal operating mode; sending a message to at least one neighbor node; listening for a response from the neighbor node; and establishing data communications with the neighbor node upon receiving the response.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for collecting and distributing power usage data from Rack Power Distribution Units (RPDUs) using a wireless sensor network.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for controlling computer room air conditioning units (CRACs) in data centers. An example embodiment includes: receiving an alert message from a reporting wireless network sensor of a plurality of wireless network sensors via a wireless sensor network, the alert message including information indicative of a modification needed to an environmental condition, the alert message including an indication of stability or instability of a computer room air conditioning unit (CRAC) in a data center; and using the information indicative of a modification needed to an environmental condition at a networked controller to command a device capable of modifying the environmental condition to modify the environmental condition in a manner corresponding to the information in the alert message, commanding the device including controlling fan speed in the CRAC to correct an indication of instability.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for controlling environmental conditions in a data center using wireless mesh networks. An example embodiment includes receiving an alert message from a reporting wireless network sensor of a plurality of wireless network sensors via a wireless sensor network, the alert message including information indicative of a modification needed to an environmental condition; and using the information indicative of a modification needed to an environmental condition at a networked controller to command a device capable of modifying the environmental condition to modify the environmental condition in a manner corresponding to the information in the alert message.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for managing packet routing through internally-powered network devices in wireless sensor networks. An example embodiment includes a hybrid network having an externally-powered node and an internally-powered node, the method includes configuring a role that the internally-powered node will take during an operations phase of the hybrid network, the role including whether the internally-powered node will act as a router or a non-router; demoting the internally-powered node to a non-router role if the internally-powered node is not needed for routing; and promoting the internally-powered node to a router role if the internally-powered node is needed for routing.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for building integrated distributed applications for use with a mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to receive a shared view that is shared among a plurality of components of a network; generate a schema for the plurality of components from the shared view; use the schema to generate code components; and use the shared view and the generated schema to generate integration code for integrating the code components.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adaptive data packet scheduling in a mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to divide a time period into a plurality of frames; subdivide each of the plurality of frames into a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots providing a time segment for local data communication between nodes in a mesh network; enable a first node to dynamically assign itself a first slot of the plurality of slots for local data communication, the first node using the first slot to receive data communications destined for the first node; and communicate to other nodes of the mesh network information indicative of the first node's dynamic assignment of the first slot.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adaptive channel hopping in a mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to divide a time period into a plurality of frames; subdivide each of the plurality of frames into a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots providing a time segment for local data communication between nodes in a mesh network; enable a first node to dynamically assign itself a first channel for local data communication, the first node using the first channel to receive data communications destined for the first node; and communicate to other nodes of the mesh network information indicative of the first node's dynamic assignment of the first channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for visualizing environmental conditions in a data center using wireless sensor networks. An example embodiment includes: establishing communication with a plurality of networked environmental sensors deployed at particular points in one of a plurality of pre-defined layers for a facility; periodically obtaining measured environmental data values from each of the plurality of networked environmental sensors using a wireless sensor network; using the measured environmental data values at the particular points to extrapolate computed environmental data values at intermediate points in the facility; and using the measured environmental data values and the computed environmental data values to generate a visualization of environmental conditions in the facility.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adapting to failures in gateway devices in mesh networks. An example embodiment is configured to provide a plurality of interconnected nodes in a mesh network, at least one node of the plurality of nodes being designated a primary node, the primary node providing timing synchronization for other nodes of the plurality of nodes; and the primary node to designate another one of the plurality of nodes as a secondary node, the secondary node only providing timing synchronization for other nodes of the plurality of nodes when the primary node fails to provide the timing synchronization.