Abstract: A system and method for allowing multiple customers to each create an individual, modified motivation or recognition program having participants, each said motivation program permitting the participants to earn awards on the basis of the participants' performance, each said motivation program of a particular customer operating according to preferences selected by the particular customer.

Abstract: An interconnection between a twisted pair communications cable and a communications connector having a plurality of IDCs includes: a housing having an aperture and a pair of first and second IDCs extending within the aperture; a twisted pair communications cable having a twisted pair of first and second conductors and a separator positioned between the first and second conductors; and a termination device. The termination device comprises: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel configured to receive a twist of the first and second conductors and maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide the first IDC into engagement with the first conductor at a first engagement location and the second IDC into engagement with the second conductor at a second engagement location, the engagement locations positioned within the channel and the twist of the conductors.

Abstract: RJ-45 style communications jacks include a housing having a plug receiving cavity that is defined, at least in part, by opposed upper and lower surfaces. A first guide protrudes from the upper surface into the plug receiving cavity. A first channel is formed in the lower surface. The width of this first channel is greater than the width of a housing of an RJ-11 style communications plug but less than a width of a housing of an RJ-45 style communications plug. Moreover, the length of the first channel is sufficient to allow the RJ-11 style communications plug to be fully inserted within the plug receiving cavity.

Abstract: A termination device to facilitate interconnection of a twisted pair communications cable to IDCs includes: a housing having an aperture and a pair of first and second IDCs extending within the aperture; a twisted pair communications cable having a twisted pair of first and second conductors; and a termination device. The termination device comprises: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of the first and second conductors and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide the first IDC into engagement with the first conductor at a first engagement location and the second IDC into engagement with the second conductor at a second engagement location, the first and second engagement locations being positioned within the channel and within the twist of the first and second conductors.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture that is configured to receive a mating plug that is inserted along a horizontal plug axis and a vertically-oriented wiring board that is mounted substantially normal to the horizontal plug axis. First through fourth contact wires are mounted in the vertically-oriented wiring board, with the first and second contact wires forming a first differential pair of contact wires and the third and fourth contact wires forming a second differential pair of contact wires. At least a portion of the first differential pair of contact wires is positioned between the contact wires of the second differential pair of contact wires, and deflectable portions of the third and fourth contact wires include a crossover. Additionally, the fixed portions of the third and fourth contacts are spaced further apart vertically than are the fixed portions of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: An interconnection junction between a twisted pair communications cable and a communications connector having a plurality of IDCs includes: a housing having an aperture and a pair of first and second IDCs extending within the aperture; a twisted pair communications cable having a twisted pair of first and second conductors and a separator positioned between the first and second conductors; and a termination device. The termination device comprises: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of the first and second conductors and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide the first IDC into engagement with the first conductor at a first engagement location and the second IDC into engagement with the second conductor at a second engagement location, the first and second engagement locations being positioned within the channel and within the twist of the first and second conductors.

Abstract: RJ-45 style communications jacks include a housing having a plug receiving cavity that is defined, at least in part, by opposed upper and lower surfaces. A first guide protrudes from the upper surface into the plug receiving cavity. A first channel is formed in the lower surface. The width of this first channel is greater than the width of a housing of an RJ-11 style communications plug but less than a width of a housing of an RJ-45 style communications plug. Moreover, the length of the first channel is sufficient to allow the RJ-11 style communications plug to be fully inserted within the plug receiving cavity.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture that is configured to receive a mating plug that is inserted along a horizontal plug axis and a vertically-oriented wiring board that is mounted substantially normal to the horizontal plug axis. First through fourth contact wires are mounted in the vertically-oriented wiring board, with the first and second contact wires forming a first differential pair of contact wires and the third and fourth contact wires forming a second differential pair of contact wires. At least a portion of the first differential pair of contact wires is positioned between the contact wires of the second differential pair of contact wires, and deflectable portions of the third and fourth contact wires include a crossover. Additionally, the fixed portions of the third and fourth contacts are spaced further apart vertically than are the fixed portions of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture that is configured to receive a mating plug that is inserted along a horizontal plug axis and a vertically-oriented wiring board that is mounted substantially normal to the horizontal plug axis. First through fourth contact wires are mounted in the vertically-oriented wiring board, with the first and second contact wires forming a first differential pair of contact wires and the third and fourth contact wires forming a second differential pair of contact wires. At least a portion of the first differential pair of contact wires is positioned between the contact wires of the second differential pair of contact wires, and deflectable portions of the third and fourth contact wires include a crossover. Additionally, the fixed portions of the third and fourth contacts are spaced further apart vertically than are the fixed portions of the first and second contacts.

Abstract: RJ-45 style communications jacks include a housing having a plug receiving cavity, a guide protruding from a first surface of the housing into the plug receiving cavity and a stop provided at a second surface of the housing. The guide is configured to contact a plug housing of an RJ-11 communications plug when the RJ-11 communications plug is inserted within the plug receiving cavity so that the guide directs the RJ-11 communications plug toward the second surface where the stop prevents the RJ-11 communications plug from being fully inserted within the plug receiving cavity.

Abstract: A termination device to facilitate interconnection of a twisted pair communications cable to IDCs includes: a housing having an aperture and a pair of first and second IDCs extending within the aperture; a twisted pair communications cable having a twisted pair of first and second conductors; and a termination device. The termination device comprises: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of the first and second conductors and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide the first IDC into engagement with the first conductor at a first engagement location and the second IDC into engagement with the second conductor at a second engagement location, the first and second engagement locations being positioned within the channel and within the twist of the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A termination device to facilitate interconnection of a twisted pair communications cable to IDCs includes: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of two conductors of a twisted pair communications cable and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide a first IDC of a pair of IDCs into engagement with a first conductor of a twisted pair at a first engagement location and a second IDC of the pair of IDCs into engagement with a second conductor of the twisted pair at a second engagement location.

Abstract: Communications jacks include a housing having a plug aperture, a wiring board that is mounted at least partially within the housing, a set of contacts mounted on the wiring board and extending into the plug aperture, and a contact support that is mounted at least partially within the plug aperture. The contact support is configured to be moveable between a first position and a second position. The contact support may be configured to engage at least some of the contacts when a first type of communications plug is received within the plug aperture, and may be configured to not provide support to any of the contacts when a second type of communications plug is received within the plug aperture.

Abstract: A patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, includes: a frame including mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mounting the patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel, the bezel including a plurality of outlet apertures, and a plurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of the outlet apertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electrical contacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug. The plug aperture has a generally horizontal axis for receiving the mating plug and further includes a plug latch recess. The outlets are oriented such that the plug latch recess is positioned on one side edge of the plug aperture.

Abstract: A termination device to facilitate interconnection of a twisted pair communications cable to IDCs includes: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of two conductors of a twisted pair communications cable and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide a first IDC of a pair of IDCs into engagement with a first conductor of a twisted pair at a first engagement location and a second IDC of the pair of IDCs into engagement with a second conductor of the twisted pair at a second engagement location.

Abstract: A multi-service access platform may have network interface cards and application cards. The network interface cards may interface the multi-service access platform to an ingress network and an egress network. The network interface cards may be coupled to the application cards by a network distribution bus. As a result, the application cards may perform digital signal processing on signals received from the ingress network. Additionally, the application cards may be coupled to a packet switching fabric. The packet switching fabric may facilitate exchange of signals between the application cards. Additionally, the packet switching fabric may permit exchange of the signals with the egress network.

Abstract: A patch panel, of the type for mounting to a rack system in a network closet, includes a plurality of openings for receiving bezels. The bezels may be connected to the patch panel by a snap-lock arrangement. Each bezel includes one or more ports for receiving a jack unit. The ports open in an angled direction toward a lateral side of the bezel. A surface is formed to a lateral side of the port, which accommodates snap locking features of a jack unit and a removable label over the snap locking features.

Abstract: A patch panel configured for mounting to a network rack, includes: a frame including mounting features at opposite lateral ends for mounting the patch panel to the network rack; a bezel mounted to the patch panel, the bezel including a plurality of outlet apertures, and a plurality of communication outlets mounted in respective ones of the outlet apertures. Each of the outlets includes a plurality of electrical contacts within a plug aperture configured to receive a mating plug. The plug aperture has a generally horizontal axis for receiving the mating plug and further includes a plug latch recess. The outlets are oriented such that the plug latch recess is positioned on one side edge of the plug aperture.

Abstract: A patch panel, of the type for mounting to a rack system in a network closet, includes a plurality of openings for receiving bezels. The bezels may be connected to the patch panel by a snap-lock arrangement. Each bezel includes one or more ports for receiving a jack unit. The ports open in an angled direction toward a lateral side of the bezel. A surface is formed to a lateral side of the port, which accommodates snap locking features of a jack unit and a removable label over the snap locking features.