Abstract: A system, method and computer program product according to one embodiment are provided for calibrating an RFID interrogator. A signal is sent from an interrogator to a calibration device. A backscatter signal is received from the calibration device. The backscatter from the calibration device is analyzed. An outgoing signal strength of the interrogator is adjusted based on the analysis. In a system, method and computer program product according to another embodiment, the interrogator is set to selectively respond to tags returning a backscatter signal strength selected based on the analysis. In a system, method and computer program product according to another embodiment, comparison criteria is selected based on the analysis of the backscatter signal. An RF device is instructed to store the comparison criteria, which is then used by the RF device to selectively respond to an interrogator signal having at least a desired strength.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) device such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag according to one embodiment includes a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) for generating a reference signal based on a stored digital comparison criteria value, and a mechanism for comparing an incoming signal to the reference signal. The device performs an action such as backscattering based on the comparison. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product according to one embodiment are provided for calibrating an RFID interrogator. A signal is sent from an interrogator to a calibration device. A backscatter signal is received from the calibration device. The backscatter from the calibration device is analyzed. An outgoing signal strength of the interrogator is adjusted based on the analysis. In a system, method and computer program product according to another embodiment, the interrogator is set to selectively respond to tags returning a backscatter signal strength selected based on the analysis. In a system, method and computer program product according to another embodiment, comparison criteria is selected based on the analysis of the backscatter signal. An RF device is instructed to store the comparison criteria, which is then used by the RF device to selectively respond to an interrogator signal having at least a desired strength.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) device such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag according to one embodiment includes a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) for generating a reference signal based on a stored digital comparison criteria value, and a mechanism for comparing an incoming signal to the reference signal. The device performs an action such as backscattering based on the comparison. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A telecommunications network node architecture is disclosed that enables a telecommunications network that uses automatic protection switching to be expanded to include more nodes than its standard protocol provides for without modifying the standard protocol or the existing nodes in the network. Although the illustrative embodiment is depicted as using the SONET/SDH protocol, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention that use automatic protection switching with another protocol. The illustrative embodiment comprises: an automatic protection switching channel that defines an address space in the telecommunications network; a node that is uniquely identified by an address in the address space; and a node that is not uniquely identified by an address in the address space.

Abstract: A SONET/SDH architecture is disclosed that enables the multiplexing of STS-1's from different SONET/SDH rings into a single STS-N for transmission via a single optical fiber, but while maintaining the association of each of the STS-1's with its respective SONET/SDH ring. For example, when an STS-48 carries 12 STS-1's from a first SONET/SDH ring and 12 STS-1's from a second SONET/SDH ring, the STS-48 carries: the automatic protection switching channel for the 12 STS-1's from the first SONET/SDH ring (with addresses specified in the address space of the first SONET/SDH ring); and the automatic protection switching channel for the 12 STS-1's from the second SONET/SDH ring (with addresses specified in the address space of the second SONET/SDH ring).

Abstract: An apparatus and method that extend the automatic protection switching protocol to address at least 256 network nodes. By using overhead bytes as extended APS node IDs, large single ring SONET/SDH systems can be avoided. This means APS messages that force every node into a single ring can be avoided and recovery performance from a break in the ring or a node fault can be improved. The protocol for the extended automatic protection switching channels takes multiple extended APS node IDs from tributary lines and merges those extended APS ID's into a single SONET/SDH stream on another line. Placement of the extended APS node ID's in the overhead bytes of SONET/SDH frames allows easy relay around each SONET/SDH ring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that extend the automatic protection switching protocol to address at least 256 network nodes. By using overhead bytes as extended APS node IDs, large single ring SONET/SDH systems can be avoided. This means APS messages that force every node into a single ring can be avoided and recovery performance from a break in the ring or a node fault can be improved. The protocol for the extended automatic protection switching channels takes multiple extended APS node IDs from tributary lines and merges those extended APS ID's into a single SONET/SDH stream on another line. Placement of the extended APS node ID's in the overhead bytes of SONET/SDH frames allows easy relay around each SONET/SDH ring.

Abstract: A telecommunications network node architecture is disclosed that enables a telecommunications network that uses automatic protection switching to be expanded to include more nodes than its standard protocol provides for without modifying the standard protocol or the existing nodes in the network. Although the illustrative embodiment is depicted as using the SONET/SDH protocol, it will be clear to those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodiments of the present invention that use automatic protection switching with another protocol. The illustrative embodiment comprises: an automatic protection switching channel that defines an address space in the telecommunications network; a node that is uniquely identified by an address in the address space; and a node that is not uniquely identified by an address in the address space.

Abstract: A SONET/SDH architecture is disclosed that enables the multiplexing of STS-1's from different SONET/SDH rings into a single STS-N for transmission via a single optical fiber, but while maintaining the association of each of the STS-1's with its respective SONET/SDH ring. For example, when an STS-48 carries 12 STS-1's from a first SONET/SDH ring and 12 STS-1's from a second SONET/SDH ring, the STS-48 carries: the automatic protection switching channel for the 12 STS-1's from the first SONET/SDH ring (with addresses specified in the address space of the first SONET/SDH ring); and the automatic protection switching channel for the 12 STS-1's from the second SONET/SDH ring (with addresses specified in the address space of the second SONET/SDH ring).