Abstract: A group of client calculators (18) communicates by determining whether a aster calculator (14) is a member of the group. If the master calculator (14) is present, the client calculators (18) determine whether the master calculator (14) has allowed communication between the client calculators (14). The client calculators may communicate if the master calculator (14) is not present or if the master calculator (14) is present and has allowed communications between other of the client calculators (18).

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless network including a master processing device (14) for generating information and broadcasting the information through wireless, transmission of signals and a plurality of client processing devices (18) having circuitry for receiving the information from the master processing device (14) and transmitting other information to the master processing device (14). The master processing device (14) selects one of the plurality of client processing devices (18) to acknowledge the receipt of the information from the master processing device.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data, comprising an interrogator (14) for transmitting an interrogation signal, a plurality of data collectors (12) for collecting data, a plurality of transponders (11) each coupled to a corresponding data collector (12) and each operable to receive the interrogation signal and to use the energy of the interrogation signal to transmit a response signal containing data from the data collector (12) associated with the transponder and wherein the interrogator (14) is further operable to receive the response signal from the transponders (11).

Abstract: A network (10) of mobile computing devices (18) communicates by receiving and rebroadcasting messages using wireless transmission. A message is initiated by first mobile computing device and transmitted to a set of other mobile computing devices which may be selected on an ad hoc basis. The receiving mobile computing devices rebroadcast the message to other of the mobile computing devices (18) which have not received the message. The message is repeatedly rebroadcast until all mobile computing devices (18) have received the message or, if the message is intended for particular selected mobile computing devices (18), until all selected devices have received the message.

Abstract: A SLM spectrometer is provided that employs an entrance slit or a collimator to provide parallel rays of radiation to a prism which disperses the incident radiation into an associated wavelength spectrum. The resulting spectrum from the prism is incident upon a spatial light modulator (SLM), such as a deformable mirror device (DMD). By selectively activating (or deactivating) a small portion of the surface of the SLM, i.e. a cell on the SLM, it is possible to selectively reflect or transmit a portion of the spectrum incident upon the SLM onto a focusing device, such as a parabolic focusing mirror. The focusing device in turn focuses the portion of the spectrum reflected by the selected cells on the SLM to a sensor. The wavelength selected is a function of which row of cells are activated (or deactivated) in the SLM. The SLM spectrometer of the present invention may be used to analyze visible light and light that is near visible, such as the near infrared or ultraviolet regions.