Abstract: A joist assembly system that is structured for dynamic retrieval of components, dynamic and precise positioning and location of retrieved components, assembly of the components to form a joist, and delivery of the assembled joist. The joist assembly system has a plurality of material handling systems, a plurality of welding systems, and a rigging table system. The material handling systems are structured to load and position the components such as chords and webs onto the rigging table. The rigging table in turn supports the chords or webs. Subsequently, the plurality of welding systems weld the webs to the chords to form the joist.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a master timer controller for a controlling a controller configured to implement a plurality of functions at each of a respective plurality of scheduled times, each of the plurality of scheduled times is converted to a respective plurality of time values associated with a master timing protocol The master timer controller has a plurality of comparators configured to compare the accumulated time value with each of the respective plurality of time values, each of the plurality of comparators being further configured to generate a respective one of the plurality of control signals upon the accumulated value of the master timer being equal to the respective one of the plurality of time values. Another embodiment also includes a method for managing timing functions associating with at least one timing protocol.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a system for managing timing functions associating with at least one timing protocol. The system comprises a controller configured to implement a plurality of functions at each of a respective plurality of scheduled times. The system also comprises a time protocol converter configured to convert each of the plurality of scheduled times to a respective plurality of time values associated with a master timing protocol. The system further comprises a master timer controller configured to generate a plurality of control signals associated with the plurality of functions based on an accumulated value of a master timer associated with the master timing protocol relative to the plurality of time values.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a system for managing timing functions associating with at least one timing protocol. The system comprises a controller configured to implement a plurality of functions at each of a respective plurality of scheduled times. The system also comprises a time protocol converter configured to convert each of the plurality of scheduled times to a respective plurality of time values associated with a master timing protocol. The system further comprises a master timer controller configured to generate a plurality of control signals associated with the plurality of functions based on an accumulated value of a master timer associated with the master timing protocol relative to the plurality of time values.

Abstract: Method for maintaining transmission synchrony in wireless communications networks. An embodiment includes computing a transmission time for a packet, adding an adjustment to the transmission time in response to a determining that clock drift has occurred between a local clock and a clock of a host device, and scheduling the packet for transmission at the transmission time. The adjustment is based on timing information provided by control instructions transmitted by the host device. The adjustment is computed using timing information from consecutively received control instructions and a single clock contained in a wireless device. If clock drift has occurred, then the timing information will differ significantly for the two control instructions. The ability to perform the clock drift calculation using a single clock may help to keep the cost and power consumption of the wireless device as low as possible.

Abstract: A retry algorithm determines the maximum number of transmissions and retransmissions that may be attempted for the frame in the head of a transmit queue or transmit buffer that needs to be transmitted across a communications link. The algorithm attempts to achieve a constant delay for each packet in frame by taking into account the number of frames residing in the transmit queue, the number of transmit opportunities elapsed between the arrivals of two successive frames in the transmit queue s, as well as the buffering capabilities of both the transmitting and receiving sides. The transmission and retransmission control technique provides for a way of managing the TX and RX buffers with a size that is suitable for the application being used and the underlying transport network. The number of retries is adapted to incoming and outgoing data rate changes in order to provide a fixed delay wireless link transport and maximize effective channel utilization.