Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for providing power management to sensing nodes in a sensor network. A system may include a plurality of sensing nodes, each sensing node connected through a power management device to an external power source, such as a powered node of another network, for managing power from the external power source to the sensing node. Beneficially, a plurality of power management devices allow for a sensor network of fixed or mobile wireless sensing nodes or sensor gateways to make use of power from an external source such as an another network e.g. an existing emergency lighting system or other similar powered building system. Thus for example, a sensor or group of sensing nodes and their associated power management devices may be integral with or co-located in proximity to powered nodes of these other networks.

Abstract: Redundant wireless links in a meshed backhaul network may be used to improve quality of service on the backhaul network by confining knowledge of the duality to the attached network elements. Globally, an aggregate bandwidth of the redundant wireless links may be advertised to allow network level routing to treat the redundant links as a single logical link. At the link level, however, the network elements may differentiate between different types of traffic to provide preferential service to particular types of traffic. By using different physical links within the logical link for particular types of traffic, the quality of service for that type of traffic may be improved by not causing different types of traffic to compete for the same bandwidth. The redundant links may be interfaced using a tower network including a radio accessed router optionally powered using solar power, to isolate the tower network from ground equipment.

Abstract: The rate at which a particular wireless client may be PINGed may depend on many factors, including the accuracy with which the location of the wireless client is required to be known, how accurate the system has historically been able to locate other previous clients in the same general area; the speed with which the client is moving, the amount of other data being transmitted by the client, the needs of other clients being serviced by the access point that will need to PING the client, the current battery life of the client, and the priority of obtaining an accurate location for a particular wireless user verses other uses of the network bandwidth. Based on the multiple factors considered by the system, the rate at which the client will be PINGed is adjusted to optimize the amount of bandwidth used to determine the client's location.

Abstract: System and method for determining location-enhanced presence information for a particular entity subscribed to a communications system. Location information indicative of a current location for the particular entity is obtained, as well as presence information indicative of a current activity status of the particular entity within the communications system. A combination of the current location and current activity status of the particular entity is applied as a condition to a set of conditional rules associated with the particular entity, for determining current location-enhanced presence information for the particular entity.

Abstract: System and method for dynamically re-directing communications sessions destined for a particular entity in a communications system, each communications session being associated with at least one predefined route. Location information indicative of a current location of the particular entity is obtained and applied to a predefined set of conditional routing rules associated with the particular entity. This rules-based processing generates a routing result, on the basis of which the at least one predefined route associated with each communications session destined for the particular entity is dynamically updated.

Abstract: System and method for dynamically reconfiguring communications session routing in a communications system, each communications session being destined for a particular entity and being associated with at least one predefined route. Location information indicative of a current location for the particular entity is obtained and applied, in combination with at least one other type of information affecting routing of communications sessions to the particular entity, to a predefined set of conditional routing rules associated with the particular entity. This rules-based processing generates a routing result, on the basis of which the at least one predefined route associated with each communications session destined for the particular entity is dynamically updated. The at least one other type of information affecting routing of communications sessions to the particular entity may include presence information, location-enhanced presence information, entity profile information and administrative information.

Abstract: Security information such as fixed or dynamically received camera location information, laser signature information, timestamp information, and network information, may be used to secure the transport and storage of surveillance video. Where the surveillance video is to be transported on a communication network, the round trip time from a video data storage server to the surveillance camera and back to the video data storage server may be monitored and periodically added to the secured video data. By checking to see whether the round trip time has changed, it may be possible to determine whether the video has been tampered with. The secured video data may also be transported over two or more paths on the network to two or more video data storage servers so that redundant copies may be stored at different primary locations. By comparing copies of the data, alteration of one of the copies may be detected.

Abstract: Information may be extracted from an array of relatively low sensitivity hazardous material sensors deployed, for example within a population center, by collecting identification information, such as video data, RFID data, proximity data, and IR data along with the hazardous material sensor reading. The identification information may then be used to identify objects in the vicinity of the hazardous material sensor at the time the reading was taken. By using identification data to identify an object, and then correlating sensor data readings for that object with other sensor data readings for the same object, as identified using previously collected identification information, a statistically more significant reading may be obtained for that particular object than would be obtainable by any one particular hazardous material sensor. Optionally the proximity of the object to the sensors may be used to weight the readings from the sensors.

Abstract: A method and system for managing handover where a database that receives location information about a moving object includes information regarding which base station is used in a current radio link connection and which base stations were used from historic radio link connections. Using the base station radio link history of the object and an electronic map, a processor coupled to the memory of the database selects which physical path the moving object is using. Upon matching the object's path with a history of path routes on the list, the processor will apply an optimized handoff sequence to the moving object. The optimized route can be derived from an algorithm that processes previous historical data from moving objects traveling on the same route. Methods of providing the location of moving objects via location sensors may be used to provide the database with higher resolution information about a moving object's location on an electronic map and allow further enhancement of the handoff optimization.

Abstract: A technique for accommodating electronic components on a multilayer signal routing device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a multilayer signal routing device comprising a primary surface and a secondary surface. The primary surface may have a plurality of electrically conductive pads formed thereon, wherein a group of the plurality of electrically conductive pads is in respective electrical connection with a group of electrically conductive micro-vias formed in the multilayer signal routing device. The secondary surface may have a channel formed thereon coinciding with the location of the group of electrically conductive micro-vias, wherein the channel has a channel area on the secondary surface for accommodating an electronic component mounted on the secondary surface.

Abstract: A technique for accommodating electronic components on a multilayer signal routing device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for accommodating electronic components on a multilayer signal routing device. Such a method comprises determining a component space that is required to accommodate a plurality of electronic components on a surface of a multilayer signal routing device, and then forming at least one signal routing channel on at least the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, wherein the at least one signal routing channel has a channel space that is equal to or greater than the component space.

Abstract: A method of controlling RF interference in a healthcare establishment. The method comprises receiving data regarding a wirelessly detectable tag associated to a first piece of equipment within the healthcare establishment; determining whether the first piece of equipment is positioned relative to a second piece of equipment within the healthcare establishment such that an RF interference constraint is violated, based at least in part on the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag; and responsive to the RF interference constraint being violated, causing a variation in RF power transmitted by at least one of the first piece of equipment and the second piece of equipment. In this way, wireless communication equipment can be used in the healthcare establishment without deleterious effects on sensitive medical equipment.

Abstract: A system for detecting potentially suspicious motion of a piece of equipment in a healthcare establishment. The system comprises a first functional entity adapted to determine a set of authorized clinicians associated with the piece of equipment; a second functional entity adapted to determine, based at least in part on data regarding wirelessly detectable tags associated with the authorized clinicians and the piece of equipment, when the piece of equipment is in motion and satisfies a remoteness condition with respect to a subset of the authorized clinicians; and a third functional entity adapted to signal potentially suspicious motion of the piece of equipment in response to the piece of equipment being in motion and satisfying the remoteness condition with respect to the subset of the authorized clinicians. In this way, it may be possible to thwart an attempted theft of equipment.

Abstract: According to a first broad aspect, the present invention seeks to provide a method of managing a session with an HIS. The method comprises receiving data regarding a wirelessly detectable tag associated with a first terminal; determining whether the first terminal is positioned relative to a second terminal such that a terminal proximity condition is satisfied based at least in part on the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag, wherein one of the first terminal and the second terminal supports a session with the HIS; responsive to the terminal proximity condition being satisfied, providing an opportunity for signaling of an intent to transfer at least a portion of the session from the one of the terminals to the other of the terminals; and responsive to detection of an intent to transfer at least a portion of the session, transferring the at least a portion of the session, thereby to cause the at least a portion of the session to be supported by the other terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing e-mail spoofing, in which a receiving e-mail checking server system sends a message to a confirmation server associated with a network domain of the sending system of a received e-mail message, to determine if the sender transmitted the message. The e-mail checking server sends a confirmation request e-mail, including a transmission time or unique message “key” associated with the received e-mail, to the sending domain's confirmation server. When a confirmation request is received at the confirmation server, it replies with an indication whether the message was sent at the time indicated in the confirmation request, and/or whether the message key matches that of a previously transmitted message. The confirmation server checks whether the message was in fact sent based on stored values corresponding to the send time and/or message key stored for the confirmation request message. A message may further include indication that its origin can be confirmed.

Abstract: A technique for reducing the number of layers in a multilayer signal routing device is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for reducing the number of layers in a multilayer signal routing device having a plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers for routing electrical signals to and from at least one electronic component mounted on a surface of the multilayer signal routing device. In such a case, the method comprises routing electrical signals on the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers in the multilayer signal routing device for connection to and from a high density electrically conductive contact array package based at least in part upon at least one of an electrically conductive contact signal type characteristic and an electrically conductive contact signal direction characteristic.

Abstract: Redundant wireless links in a meshed backhaul network may be used to improve quality of service on the backhaul network by confining knowledge of the duality to the attached network elements. Globally, an aggregate bandwidth of the redundant wireless links may be advertised to allow network level routing to treat the redundant links as a single logical link. At the link level, however, the network elements may differentiate between different types of traffic to provide preferential service to particular types of traffic. By using different physical links within the logical link for particular types of traffic, the quality of service for that type of traffic may be improved by not causing different types of traffic to compete for the same bandwidth.

Abstract: A multi-facetted antenna array is disclosed for omnidirectional signalling. The multi-facetted antenna array includes a plurality of abutting facets having a planar region under the patch antenna structures, and curving regions between the planar regions and across the abutting edges of the facets. The planar regions under the patch antenna provide proper RF antenna performance, while the curved regions minimize the size of the assembled array. Further disclosed is a method of mounting the associated RF interface module across an inside corner formed by abutting facets. The disclosed multi-facetted antenna array is particularly useful for overcoming the unsightly size and wind loading problems of multi-facetted antenna arrays known in the art.

Abstract: A mobile backhaul inter-mesh communication point forms an interface between a wireless mesh network on a first level and a wireless mesh network on a second, higher bandwidth, level. The two wireless networks are differentiated, e.g., by causing the mesh networks to be formed using different spectra, protocols or coding, or antennae. The mobile intra-mesh communication point functions as an access point in the lower level mesh network and as a relay point in the upper level mesh network. Utilizing mobile inter-mesh communication points facilitates deployment of wireless network access points while enabling the location of access points to follow the concentration of network users. Mobile inter-mesh communication points may be deployed in personal vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, public transportation vehicles such as busses, trains, and aircraft, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, and many other types of vehicles.

Abstract: A device for dissipating heat produced by circuitry such as the circuitry associated with an optical transponder includes a plurality of heat dissipating regions. Each heat dissipating region includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled with at least one component. Each heat sink is at least partially thermally isolated from other heat sinks to mitigate heat flow from high-power components to heat sensitive components. Further, all of the heat sinks associated with the circuit package are electrically coupled to provide electromagnetic shielding. A thermally insulative and electrically conductive gasket is employed to couple adjacent heat sinks.