Abstract: A commissioning tool includes a laser pointer structured to reflect light from a wireless lighting ballast, a directive antenna, a ranging module structured to determine distance to the ballast, and a housing. The pointer, antenna and ranging module are each mounted in the same common orientation with respect to the housing. A 3D gyroscope determines azimuth angle and elevation angle of the same common orientation. A GPS and dead reckoning system determines the global position of the tool. A wireless transceiver cooperates with the antenna. A processor cooperates with the transceiver to receive a unique device identifier from the ballast. The processor receives the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, and the global position of the tool, and controls the light source. The processor may output the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, the global position of the tool and the unique device identifier to another processor.

Abstract: A wireless system includes a server having a port, a plurality of sensors or devices, each of which includes a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and a wireless module. The wireless module includes a port interconnected with the port of the server, a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of the wireless module, the wireless transceiver of the wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of the sensors or devices, a proximity sensor structured to sense one of the sensors or devices, and a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of such one of the sensors or devices. The port of the server is structured to cooperate with the port of the wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages. The port of the wireless module cooperates with the wireless transceiver to transmit and receive the wireless messages.

Abstract: A wireless communication network includes a plurality of wireless devices and a reconfigurable wireless control or monitoring device structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless devices. The wireless control or monitoring device includes a wireless transceiver, a user output device, a user input device, and a processor cooperating with the wireless transceiver, the user output device and the user input device. The processor includes a routine structured to output first information from the wireless devices to the user output device, or to input second information from the user input device to the wireless devices. The routine is further structured to employ an XML schema to define the first information output from the wireless devices to the user output device, or to define the second information input from the user input device to the wireless devices.

Abstract: A method of network communication includes employing a communication network protocol stack having a plurality of independent communication layers providing a plurality of different corresponding services. A buffer manager is employed for a plurality of communication buffers. The buffer manager is independent of the independent communication layers. An application framework provides asynchronous communications among the buffer manager and the independent communication layers. For a plurality of pairs of the buffer manager and one of the independent communication layers and for a plurality of pairs of the independent communication layers, the method provides subscribing by the buffer manager and by the independent communication layers to a plurality of events through the application framework and publishing by the buffer manager and by the independent communication layers a plurality of corresponding events through the application framework.

Abstract: A commissioning tool includes a laser pointer structured to reflect light from a wireless lighting ballast, a directive antenna, a ranging module structured to determine distance to the ballast, and a housing. The pointer, antenna and ranging module are each mounted in the same common orientation with respect to the housing. A 3D gyroscope determines azimuth angle and elevation angle of the same common orientation. A GPS and dead reckoning system determines the global position of the tool. A wireless transceiver cooperates with the antenna. A processor cooperates with the transceiver to receive a unique device identifier from the ballast. The processor receives the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, and the global position of the tool, and controls the light source. The processor may output the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, the global position of the tool and the unique device identifier to another processor.

Abstract: A wireless system includes a server having a port, a plurality of sensors or devices, each of which includes a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and a wireless module. The wireless module includes a port interconnected with the port of the server, a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of the wireless module, the wireless transceiver of the wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of the sensors or devices, a proximity sensor structured to sense one of the sensors or devices, and a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of such one of the sensors or devices. The port of the server is structured to cooperate with the port of the wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages. The port of the wireless module cooperates with the wireless transceiver to transmit and receive the wireless messages.

Abstract: A wireless communication adapter is for a programmable logic controller including a local wired communication port, such as an expansion port. The wireless communication adapter includes a first wireless communication port structured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of remote wireless sensors and a plurality of remote wireless output devices. A second wired communication port is structured to communicate with the expansion port of the programmable logic controller. A processor cooperates with the first wireless communication port and the second wired communication port. The processor, the first wireless communication port and the second wired communication port are structured to communicate a plurality of inputs from the remote wireless sensors to the expansion port of the programmable logic controller and a plurality of outputs from the expansion port of the programmable logic controller to the remote wireless output devices.

Abstract: A wireless node, such as a sensor node or other suitable node, includes a supercapacitor having a charge and one or more photocells adapted to charge the supercapacitor responsive to ambient light. A microprocessor cooperates with a wireless transceiver to transmit a count of one or more wireless messages. The microprocessor determines the charge of the supercapacitor, determines an incremental charge of the supercapacitor resulting from the ambient light, and adjusts the count of the wireless messages as a function of the charge of the supercapacitor and the incremental charge. A power supply, including a boost regulator and a filter capacitor, powers the microprocessor and the wireless transmitter from the charge of the supercapacitor.

Abstract: A wireless node, such as a sensor node or other suitable node, includes a supercapacitor having a charge and one or more photocells adapted to charge the supercapacitor responsive to ambient light. A microprocessor cooperates with a wireless transceiver to transmit a count of one or more wireless messages. The microprocessor determines the charge of the supercapacitor, determines an incremental charge of the supercapacitor resulting from the ambient light, and adjusts the count of the wireless messages as a function of the charge of the supercapacitor and the incremental charge. A power supply, including a boost regulator and a filter capacitor, powers the microprocessor and the wireless transmitter from the charge of the supercapacitor.

Abstract: A method manages a plurality of communication buffers. The method employs a plurality of communication layers, such as an application layer, a network layer and a MAC layer. A buffer manager is employed for the communication buffers. The buffer manager is independent of the communication layers. The method requests by one of the communication layers one of the communication buffers from the buffer manager. Responsive to the requesting, the method receives at the one of the communication layers an identification of the one of the communication buffers from the buffer manager. One of the communication buffers is employed at the one of the communication layers. The method releases by one of the communication layers the one of the communication buffers to the buffer manager or indicates by one of the communication layers the one of the communication buffers to another one of the communication layers.

Abstract: A method of network communication includes employing a communication network protocol stack having a plurality of independent communication layers providing a plurality of different corresponding services. A buffer manager is employed for a plurality of communication buffers. The buffer manager is independent of the independent communication layers. An application framework provides asynchronous communications among the buffer manager and the independent communication layers. For a plurality of pairs of the buffer manager and one of the independent communication layers and for a plurality of pairs of the independent communication layers, the method provides subscribing by the buffer manager and by the independent communication layers to a plurality of events through the application framework and publishing by the buffer manager and by the independent communication layers a plurality of corresponding events through the application framework.