Abstract: An information system includes a bulletin board-type interface that enables virtual messages propagating through the system, to interface with one another. The virtual messages are created by a virtual system embedded within the information system. The virtual messages may model any of various network services and predict traffic based on the network services. The virtual messages may represent an attack model on the network. Models of system resources are also created and the models interact by posting and/or retrieving information from the bulletin board-type interface. The interface provides for a negotiation process regarding the availability of future system resources and the impact upon the modeled network service.

Abstract: A system and/or method for relaying messages in a network (e.g. a mobile network) are provided. Certain portable communications nodes are instrumented with omni-directional antennas. Certain static communications nodes are network cluster-head nodes with directional antennas, and, for example, achieve much of the gain possible when all nodes have directional antennas. Cluster-head communications preferably are used when the nodes are separable by the directional antennas. Preferably, there is a transition to mesh communications when the nodes cannot take advantage of the directional antennas. One feature of certain exemplary embodiments is that only one side of a communication link requires a directional antennal to enable spatial frequency reuse.

Abstract: A method and system of routing information packets through a network is presented. The method may include receiving an information packet at a node in a network, wherein the information packet contains information relating to a new metric, forming a new routing protocol based on the new metric information contained in the information packet, and implementing the new routing protocol on the node, wherein the new routing protocol computes routing information based on the new metric information.

Abstract: Methodologies for determining one or more staged topologies for a communication network, communication networks implementing one or more staged topologies, and systems for determining one or more staged topologies for a communication network are provided.

Abstract: A flood attack of an information system is simulated by injecting an algorithmically compressed flood attack model into the information system to assess the effect of the attack upon the system. The flood attack model propagates from node to node throughout the system by way of virtual messages that time-project the flood attack model and do not disrupt system operation while the simulated flood attack is taking place. Programs of executable code installed on nodes of the information system generate and send the virtual messages describing the flood attack.

Abstract: A technique is provided for providing information to a customer within a store. A mobile phone is provided that is adapted to communicate with Near Field Communication (NFC) devices and wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based network, or Internet system, as well as operate as a cellular phone. The mobile phone is configured to bridge information between the various protocols used to enable the mobile phone to communicate with an NFC device, a wireless Internet system, and a cellular phone system. For example, information obtained by the mobile phone from a NFC device may be transferred to the portion of the mobile phone that is used to connect the mobile phone to a wireless Internet system to enable the mobile phone to provide the proper authentication to access the wireless Internet system. In addition, the mobile phone may be adapted to communicate using a Bluetooth communication system.

Abstract: A system and/or method for relaying messages in a network (e.g. a mobile network) are provided. Certain portable communications nodes are instrumented with omni-directional antennas. Certain static communications nodes are network cluster-head nodes with directional antennas, and, for example, achieve much of the gain possible when all nodes have directional antennas. Cluster-head communications preferably are used when the nodes are separable by the directional antennas. Preferably, there is a transition to mesh communications when the nodes cannot take advantage of the directional antennas. One feature of certain exemplary embodiments is that only one side of a communication link requires a directional antennal to enable spatial frequency reuse.

Abstract: Methodologies for determining one or more staged topologies for a communication network, communication networks implementing one or more staged topologies, and systems for determining one or more staged topologies for a communication network are provided.

Abstract: A system predicts bandwidth capacity for a plurality of nodes of a wireless network. The system includes a primary node of the plurality of nodes. The primary node collects signal measurements. The primary node selects a history of measurement values from the signal measurements. The primary node calculates a slope of the measurement values within a window of the history. The primary node calculates a future value of signal measurements from the slope. The primary node thereby determines future bandwidth requirements for the plurality of nodes of the wireless network.

Abstract: A system clusters nodes of a network of a plurality of nodes. The system includes: a receiver for obtaining information about a local neighborhood around a first node of the plurality of nodes, the first node having a first clusterhead node; a compiler for generating a list of clusterhead nodes; a recorder for recording weights of the clusterhead nodes of the list; a processor for computing a differential weight for the clusterhead nodes of the list; a comparator for comparing each of the differential weights with a predetermined affinity threshold; and a determinator for determining whether the first node replaces the first clusterhead node with a new clusterhead node or the first node becomes a clusterhead node.

Abstract: A system determines an optimal arrangement of servers within a mobile network. The system includes a plurality of nodes of the mobile network. Each node decides whether to become a server by determining whether a cost of accessing a server is greater than a cost of synchronization with another server. The system attains and remains in a stable state by the decisions of each individual node.

Abstract: A method and system of routing information packets through a network is presented. The method may include receiving an information packet at a node in a network, wherein the information packet contains information relating to a new metric, forming a new routing protocol based on the new metric information contained in the information packet, and implementing the new routing protocol on the node, wherein the new routing protocol computes routing information based on the new metric information.