Abstract: An ad hoc wireless communications network includes wireless nodes arranged in a backbone net and stub nets coupled to the backbone net via respective wireless nodes defining gateway nodes. A method for the network includes transmitting node role information from each gateway node to respective wireless nodes within each stub net. The node role information includes node reactive routing directions for establishing a route outside of a given stub net. A route request is unicast transmitted from a first wireless node in a respective first stub net to a respective first gateway node based upon the node role information. The route request is a request to communicate to a second wireless node in a respective second stub net. The route request is transmitted from the first gateway node across the backbone net to the second gateway node of the second stub net.

Abstract: A wireless communications system may include wireless communications devices communicating with one another via time division multiple access (TDMA). The wireless communications devices may include a time master device that may transmit a first synchronization message, a first maintenance message, and a timing head relay designation message. The wireless communications devices also include a timing head relay device corresponding to the timing head relay designation and may receive the first synchronization message, first maintenance message and timing head relay designation message. The timing head relay device may also transmit a second synchronization message and a second maintenance message.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided, which include a wireless transmit interface and a wireless receive interface. A payload receive processor is provided to identify a receive overhead portion from received data received via the receive interface, and it is configured to retrieve payload data in relation to the receive overhead portion in accordance with a data structure protocol. A payload transmit processor is provided to define or modify a transmit overhead portion in transmit data to be transmitted via the transmit interface. The payload transmit processor is configured to position payload data in relation to the transmit overhead portion in accordance with a data structure protocol. A controller is provided, to determine a given wireless media location defined at least in part by the controller determining a given frequency band, from among plural frequency bands, for a given data transfer, via wireless media, between a given node and a separate node.

Abstract: A wireless communications system may include wireless communications devices communicating with one another via time division multiple access (TDMA). The wireless communications devices may include a time master device that may transmit a first synchronization message, a first maintenance message, and a timing head relay designation message. The wireless communications devices also include a timing head relay device corresponding to the timing head relay designation and may receive the first synchronization message, first maintenance message and timing head relay designation message. The timing head relay device may also transmit a second synchronization message and a second maintenance message.

Abstract: An ad hoc wireless communications network includes wireless nodes arranged in a backbone net and stub nets coupled to the backbone net via respective wireless nodes defining gateway nodes. A method for the network includes transmitting node role information from each gateway node to respective wireless nodes within each stub net. The node role information includes node reactive routing directions for establishing a route outside of a given stub net. A route request is unicast transmitted from a first wireless node in a respective first stub net to a respective first gateway node based upon the node role information. The route request is a request to communicate to a second wireless node in a respective second stub net. The route request is transmitted from the first gateway node across the backbone net to the second gateway node of the second stub net.

Abstract: The present techniques provide methods and systems for reading and processing a data signal read from an optical data disc. In embodiments, an optical reader system may read data bits from a data ring in the disc. The data rings may be concentric, and a beginning of a sequence of data on the data ring may be in substantially the same position as an ending of the sequence. The reader may identify a data ring and begin the read process on the targeted data ring, and may end the read process when the reader reaches the starting point. The data sequence read from the data ring may be decoded to form a bit stream, which may be provided to various output devices. A circular trellis formed from the bit stream may enable the reading of a targeted data sequence without additional tail bits to improve data transmission efficiency.

Abstract: The present techniques provide systems and methods for modulation coding of data on optical disks, such as holographic data disks, and techniques for reading that data back from the disks. The techniques involve parsing a bit stream into a sequence of individual bit-patterns, and then using the individual bit patterns to select a symbol, or matrix, from a lookup table of previously selected matrices. The symbols are selected according to predetermined criteria that may help make the disk more resistant to interferences and errors, such as surface scratches, and the like. For example, criteria that may be used to select the symbols are the number of reflective and non-reflective regions within each matrix, and the number of sequential reflective regions, among others. The symbols may be written to the disk in a two-dimensional fashion, e.g., across adjacent tracks, or in a three-dimensional fashion, e.g., across adjacent data layers.

Abstract: A system and/or method for relaying messages in a network (e.g. a mobile network) are provided. Certain portable communications nodes are instrumented with omni-directional antennas. Certain static communications nodes are network cluster-head nodes with directional antennas, and, for example, achieve much of the gain possible when all nodes have directional antennas. Cluster-head communications preferably are used when the nodes are separable by the directional antennas. Preferably, there is a transition to mesh communications when the nodes cannot take advantage of the directional antennas. One feature of certain exemplary embodiments is that only one side of a communication link requires a directional antennal to enable spatial frequency reuse.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods for relaying messages between nodes in a network (e.g. a wireless network) are provided. In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, substantially simultaneous communications between nodes may be accomplished. At least one secondary turbo-coded message may be piggybacked onto a turbo-coded primary message. Messages in the network may be queued and sent from a transmitter to at least one receiver based at least in part on the signal-to-noise ratio(s) of the receiver nodes with respect to the transmitter. Thus, it may be possible to realize a network that reduces collision problems, reduces delays in communications, and/or increases throughput.

Abstract: The present techniques provide methods and systems for reading and processing a data signal read from an optical data disc. In embodiments, an optical reader system may read data bits from a data ring in the disc. The data rings may be concentric, and a beginning of a sequence of data on the data ring may be in substantially the same position as an ending of the sequence. The reader may identify a data ring and begin the read process on the targeted data ring, and may end the read process when the reader reaches the starting point. The data sequence read from the data ring may be decoded to form a bit stream, which may be provided to various output devices. A circular trellis formed from the bit stream may enable the reading of a targeted data sequence without additional tail bits to improve data transmission efficiency.

Abstract: The present techniques provide systems and methods for modulation coding of data on optical disks, such as holographic data disks, and techniques for reading that data back from the disks. The techniques involve parsing a bit stream into a sequence of individual bit-patterns, and then using the individual bit patterns to select a symbol, or matrix, from a lookup table of previously selected matrices. The symbols are selected according to predetermined criteria that may help make the disk more resistant to interferences and errors, such as surface scratches, and the like. For example, criteria that may be used to select the symbols are the number of reflective and non-reflective regions within each matrix, and the number of sequential reflective regions, among others. The symbols may be written to the disk in a two-dimensional fashion, e.g., across adjacent tracks, or in a three-dimensional fashion, e.g., across adjacent data layers.

Abstract: A system and method involve determining the location of objects within an area of interest using wireless signals. The system includes at least three base stations communicating with a central processor and a plurality of mobile devices. Further, at least one fixed beacon transmitter of known location may be provided. The mobile devices transmit a wireless signal to the base stations, which then determine a location of the mobile devices based on time difference of arrival information between the mobile devices measured at all the base stations.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided, which include a wireless transmit interface and a wireless receive interface. A payload receive processor is provided to identify a receive overhead portion from received data received via the receive interface, and it is configured to retrieve payload data in relation to the receive overhead portion in accordance with a data structure protocol. A payload transmit processor is provided to define or modify a transmit overhead portion in transmit data to be transmitted via the transmit interface. The payload transmit processor is configured to position payload data in relation to the transmit overhead portion in accordance with a data structure protocol. A controller is provided, to determine a given wireless media location defined at least in part by the controller determining a given frequency band, from among plural frequency bands, for a given data transfer, via wireless media, between a given node and a separate node.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods for relaying messages between nodes in a network (e.g. a wireless network) are provided. In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, substantially simultaneous communications between nodes may be accomplished. At least one secondary turbo-coded message may be piggybacked onto a turbo-coded primary message. Messages in the network may be queued and sent from a transmitter to at least one receiver based at least in part on the signal-to-noise ratio(s) of the receiver nodes with respect to the transmitter. Thus, it may be possible to realize a network that reduces collision problems, reduces delays in communications, and/or increases throughput.

Abstract: A system for determining a state of a door having a locking mechanism for locking the door includes a locking mechanism and a door sensor. The locking mechanism sensor is disposed for sensing a condition of the locking mechanism and generating a signal indicative thereof. The door sensor disposed for sensing a condition of the door and generating a signal indicative thereof. The system further includes a processor for determining a state of the door, in response to the signals from the locking mechanism sensor and the door sensor. The state of the door is a secured state when the door sensor senses the condition of the door as closed and the locking mechanism sensor senses the condition of the locking mechanism as locked. A method for determining a state of a door having a locking mechanism for locking the door includes sensing a condition of the locking mechanism and sensing a condition of the door.

Abstract: A system for determining a state of a door having a locking mechanism for locking the door includes a locking mechanism and a door sensor. The locking mechanism sensor is disposed for sensing a condition of the locking mechanism and generating a signal indicative thereof. The door sensor disposed for sensing a condition of the door and generating a signal indicative thereof. The system further includes a processor for determining a state of the door, in response to the signals from the locking mechanism sensor and the door sensor. The state of the door is a secured state when the door sensor senses the condition of the door as closed and the locking mechanism sensor senses the condition of the locking mechanism as locked. A method for determining a state of a door having a locking mechanism for locking the door includes sensing a condition of the locking mechanism and sensing a condition of the door.

Abstract: A system and method involve tracking the location of objects within an area of interest using transmitted-reference ultra-wideband (TR-UWB) signals. The system includes at least three base stations communicating with a central processor, at least one mobile device and at least one fixed beacon transmitter of known location. The mobile device is equipped with a transmitter for transmitting a TR-UWB signal to a base station, which then determines a location of the mobile device based on time difference of arrival information between the beacon transmitters and mobile devices measured at all the base stations. Preferably, the area of interest includes a plurality of mobile devices each transmitting a delay-hopped TR-UWB signal according to a code-division multiple access scheme. The mobile devices may be attached to a patient and/or a medical asset within the hospital for tracking purposes.

Abstract: A turbo decoder control comprises an address generator for addressing systematic data, parity data, and systematic likelihood ratios according to a pre-determined memory mapping. The systematic data samples are accessed in the order required by the MAP decoding algorithm such that interleaving and de-interleaving functions in the MAP decoding algorithm are performed in real-time, i.e., without delay. Such memory-mapping in combination with data handling functions (e.g., multiplexing and combinatorial logic) minimizes memory requirements for the turbo decoder and allows for use of programmable interleavers, variable block lengths, and multiple code rates.

Abstract: An imaging system and method includes a detector framing node (DFN) being programmable to receive image data from a panel detector, and to store the image data for later transfer of the image data by way of a direct memory access (DMA) transfer. The imaging system and method also includes a DFN control unit configured to control operation of the DFN and to output at least one DMA instruction to the DFN, the at least one DMA instruction corresponding to a dummy DMA instruction that disables a start of a DMA transfer corresponding to execution of the at least one DMA instruction. The imaging system and method further includes an auxiliary image interface being programmable to detect the dummy DMA instruction, to issue a DMA request to the DFN in accordance with the dummy DMA instruction, and to convert data received from the DFN into a different format, to output to a host unit that is capable of processing the data received in the different format.

Abstract: A system for filtering digital television signals is provided. The system comprises a generator for providing a first data sequence to a private data packetizer, and a transmitter for transmitting the packetized first data sequence in a data channel of a digital television signal. The system further includes a receiver for receiving the digital television signal and recovering the first data sequence. The receiver includes a channel estimator for providing an estimate of channel characteristics, such as estimated channel impulse estimate and estimated noise variance. The receiver further includes an adaptive equalizer filter having an input for receiving the digital television signal and an input for receiving adaptive filter coefficients. The receiver further includes a coefficient processor for calculating adaptive filter coefficients based on the channel estimate, and providing the adaptive filter coefficients to the adaptive equalizer filter.