Abstract: A method of forming a distinct pattern in an article of apparel formed of fabric, including the steps of: impregnating a viscous blocking agent into the fabric of the article of apparel in the distinct pattern; treating at least a portion of fabric surrounding the blocking agent in the distinct pattern to alter a color of the portion of fabric surrounding the blocking agent; and removing substantially all of the blocking agent from the article of apparel.

Abstract: A system (100) for analyzing a fault includes a fault object factory (110) constructed and arranged to receive fault data and create a fault object (112), and a fault diagnosis engine (101) constructed and arranged to perform root cause analysis of the fault object. The system may further include a fault detector (130) constructed and arranged to detect the fault data in a monitored entity, a fault repository (140) constructed and arranged to store and access the fault object; and a fault handler (150) constructed and arranged to be triggered by the fault diagnosis engine to analyze the fault object.

Abstract: A network management system (10) includes a fault diagnosis system (12) connectable to a communications network (20). The fault diagnosis system includes a fault object factory, a path determination module, and a fault diagnosis engine. The fault object factory is constructed and arranged to receive fault data and create fault objects. The path determination module is constructed to determine, in a communications network, a path related to the fault data. The fault diagnosis engine is constructed to perform, using the determined path, a fault analysis on the fault data to diagnose a fault related to the communications network. The network management may also include a help desk system (18), a topology mapper (14) or an impact analyzer (16).

Abstract: A system or a method is designed to detect and suppress faults on network elements located in various logical groups. The system and method of fault status suppression in a communications network includes receiving fault data from a detector identifying fault status of a network element; mapping logical group of the detector and the network element; and suppressing fault on the network element when the detector and the network element are in different logical groups and there is a fault on a device providing communication between the logical groups.

Abstract: A network management system includes a fault diagnosis engine, a topology mapper, an impact analyzer and a help desk system. The topology mapper includes a discovery module, a memory, and a presentation module. The discovery module is constructed and arranged to discover network elements in a communications network. The memory constructed and arranged to store topology data received from the discovery module. The presentation module constructed and arranged to present data related to topology of the communication network.

Abstract: A system for guaranteeing bandwidth for transmitting data in a network. A path generation engine determines a data paths across a network according to preselected criteria. A scheduling engine determines schedule appointments for data packets to traverse each link in the network including compensation for transmission delays and switch latencies. Scheduling data is communicated to schedule-aware switches and endpoints so that appointment times are reserved for transmission of the scheduled data packets. Real-time transmission of data can be guaranteed in both directions along the transmission path.