Abstract: A rack sensor controller is operable to sense information for assets housed in a rack. The rack sensor controller includes a memory storing a location of the rack and sensor information received from a plurality of sensors. At least some of the sensors include one or more RFID readers operable to read RFID tags attached to assets housed in the rack. A processor is operable to receive the sensor information and generate a message including the sensor information and the location of the rack for transmission to one or more back-end applications via a forwarder. The forwarder is operable to receive the message, determine one or more back-end applications to receive the message, replicate the message for each of the back-end applications, and transmit the message to the back-end applications. The back-end applications use the location of the rack and the sensor information to track the assets.

Abstract: A rack sensor controller is operable to sense information for assets housed in a rack. The rack sensor controller includes a memory storing a location of the rack and sensor information received from a plurality of sensors. At least some of the sensors include one or more RFID readers operable to read RFID tags attached to assets housed in the rack. A processor is operable to receive the sensor information and generate a message including the sensor information and the location of the rack for transmission to one or more back-end applications via a forwarder. The forwarder is operable to receive the message, determine one or more back-end applications to receive the message, replicate the message for each of the back-end applications, and transmit the message to the back-end applications. The back-end applications use the location of the rack and the sensor information to track the assets.

Abstract: A method of determining coordinates for nodes in a network. In response to a node being selected, the node broadcasts a request to other nodes for respective coordinate information of the other nodes. Based on the response to the request, the node takes one of the following steps. The node establishes itself as an origin of the coordinate system if no nodes respond to the request with coordinates. The node establishes a first axis of the coordinate system if one node responds to the request with coordinates. The node establishes a second axis of the coordinate system if two nodes respond to the request with coordinates. And, the node determines coordinates for the node based on distance measurements to selected nodes having established coordinates if three nodes respond to the request with coordinates.