Abstract: Composition includes a fire retardant, a mold inhibitor, and an insecticide. The fire retardant can be at least initially in a foundational form of an aqueous liquid of light viscosity and strength, which is capable of being sprayed on.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing transmission parameter control at a transmitting station is described. The exemplary system and method comprises querying a transmission parameter control module for a transmission schedule. The transmission schedule comprises at least one schedule entry defining a set of transmission parameter controls as they pertain to a destination address. At least one packet of data is then transmitted to the destination address according to the transmission parameters controls of at least one schedule entry from the transmission schedule. A system and method for selecting an antenna configuration corresponding to a next transmission of packet data is also disclosed.

Abstract: Mechanisms for wireless local area network coverage enhancement using dynamic antennas are provided. The dynamic antennas may be used, for example, in an antenna apparatus of an access point. The access point maps a plurality of virtual access points (VAPs), each VAP corresponding to at least one of a plurality of directional antenna patterns of the antenna apparatus. The processor transmits broadcast communication on each of the VAPs a further distance from the access point as compared to transmitting on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with this invention allow for each node within one or more rings to obtain connection and topology information from other nodes within these rings. In such a system, each node is able to maintain connection table and topology tables for each node and each ring within a ring network. In particular, such information can be kept current because this scheme allows for dynamic updating of connection and topology information in real time. With such current information, a node is able to utilize this information to execute such operations as squelching connections on a protect line and timeslot interchange. In addition, by supporting timeslot interchange, the ring can be managed as more than a single logical entity as well as can have better bandwidth management utilization.

Abstract: A fire retardant is combined with a stain protectant and/or mold inhibitor especially to inhibit Stachybotrys chartarum. An aqueous spray-on formulation is beneficially provided.

Abstract: A system and methods for automating the testing of optical fiber are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, an automated conveyor system moves spools of optical fiber contained on pallets from testing station to testing station. According to another aspect of the present invention, a single spool is carried by a specially designed pallet. According to another aspect of present invention, an apparatus automatically strips, cleans, and cleaves the fiber ends once the spool reaches the apparatus. The fiber ends are then automatically manipulated into the appropriate location for a predetermined test to be performed. According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus automatically acquires a sample length of the optical fiber and strips, cleans, and cleaves the fiber ends of the sample. The sample length of the optical fiber is then manipulated into the appropriate location for a second predetermined test to be performed.

Abstract: Intumescent fire retardant latex paint has a mold inhibitor in an amount sufficient to kill, control, or prevent growth of mold, mildew or fungus after the intumescent fire retardant latex paint having mold inhibitor is applied to, and dried and reached a constant mass on a substrate. The paint can be in a form of a finish paint or primer. For example, the mold may be toxic black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum), and the mold inhibitor may be alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride as an 80% by weight mixture added at about 3% by weight of a base fire retardant latex paint formulation. Such a paint can be made by contacting latex paint-forming ingredients with a fire retardant and a mold inhibitor, under conditions sufficient to form the paint; and can be used by contacting it with a substrate under conditions sufficient to be flame retardant or mold inhibitory, or both. An article of manufacture can include, in combination, the paint having the mold inhibitor, or its residue, and the substrate.

Abstract: A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board. A first antenna element produces a first directional radiation pattern; a second antenna element produces a second directional radiation pattern offset from the first radiation pattern. The antenna elements may include one or more reflectors configured to provide gain and broaden the frequency response of the antenna element. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving data transmission rates in communication networks are disclosed. In an 802.11 wireless communication network, where a source node of the wireless network transmits TCP data to a destination node of the wireless network, the destination node does not transmit TCP acknowledgments (ACKs) for the TCP data if 802.11 ACKs indicate that the destination node received the TCP data. If a source outside the wireless network transmits TCP data to the destination node within the wireless network through an intermediate device, such as an access point, the destination node suppresses transmitting TCP ACKs. The intermediate device transmits TCP ACKs as proxy for the destination node to the source. The intermediate device also suppresses TCP ACKs where a source node within the wireless network sends the TCP data to a destination node outside of the wireless network.

Abstract: An access point of a communications network is disclosed configured to receive a multicast or broadcast packet from a source. The access point converts the multicast or broadcast packet into a unicast packet addressed to a station associated with the access point. The access point then transmits the unicast packet over the communications network from the access point to the station. The access point further may determine a minimum data rate by which the access point may transmit the multicast or broadcast packet to the station and determines an effective unicast rate for transmitting the unicast packet to the station. If the effective unicast rate does not exceed the minimum data rate, the access point does not transmit the unicast packet to the station and transmits the multicast or broadcast packet.

Abstract: A system and method for a wireless link to a remote receiver includes a communication device for generating RF and a planar antenna apparatus for transmitting the RF. The planar antenna apparatus includes selectable antenna elements, each of which has gain and a directional radiation pattern. The directional radiation pattern is substantially in the plane of the antenna apparatus. Switching different antenna elements results in a configurable radiation pattern. Alternatively, selecting all or substantially all elements results in an omnidirectional radiation pattern. One or more directors and/or one or more reflectors may be included to constrict the directional radiation pattern. The antenna apparatus may be conformally mounted to a housing containing the communication device and the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for improved data transmission on a wireless link to a remote receiving node includes a communication device for converting packets to RF at a physical data rate, an antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna configurations for transmitting the RF, and a processor for selecting the antenna configuration and the physical data rate based on whether the remote receiving node indicated reception of the data transmission. The processor may determine a table of success ratios for each antenna configuration and may rank each antenna configuration by the success ratio. The processor may transmit with an unused antenna configuration to probe the unused antenna configuration and update the table of success ratios. Similarly, the processor may maintain a table of effective user data rates, rank each physical data rate by the effective user data rate and probe unused physical data rates to update the table.

Abstract: A system and method for a wireless link to a remote receiver includes a communication device for generating RF and an antenna apparatus for transmitting the RF. The antenna apparatus comprises a plurality of substantially coplanar modified dipoles. Each modified dipole provides gain with respect to isotropic and a horizontally polarized directional radiation pattern. Further, each modified dipole has one or more loading structures configured to decrease the footprint (i.e., the physical dimension) of the modified dipole and minimize the size of the antenna apparatus. The modified dipoles may be electrically switched to result in various radiation patterns. With multiple of the plurality of modified dipoles active, the antenna apparatus may form an omnidirectional horizontally polarized radiation pattern. One or more directors may be included to concentrate the radiation pattern. The antenna apparatus may be conformally mounted to a housing containing the communication device and the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: Fire retardant composition has a mold inhibitor. The composition can embrace a mixture of a substantially neutral ammonium phosphate salt in combination with an active hydrogen-containing nitrogenous organic compound spumific, e.g., urea, and with a hydroxyl-containing carbonific, e.g., a polyol, and further with the mold inhibitor. Such a composition can be made by contacting a phosphoric acid with ammonia to form the ammonium phosphate, contacting the ammonium phosphate with the spumific, the carbonific, and the mold inhibitor, under conditions sufficient to form the composition; and can be used by contacting it with a flammable substrate under conditions sufficient to be flame retardant or mold inhibitory, or both. Another aspect is an article of manufacture comprising, in combination, the fire retardant composition having the mold inhibitor, and the flammable substrate or a residue of the same.

Abstract: Fire resistance can be rated for building structure by providing or having made available, and applying or noting application or presence of fire control agent(s) to or with component part(s) of the structure; providing a fire resistance rating format of a comparative structure; and comparing for a fire resistance classification rating (FRCR). Certification can be effected by providing a security code specific for one-time use in relation to a building structure by a user; entering an FRCR of a building structure rated for fire resistance at a first location and the security code to a communication medium; transmitting by the medium the entered rating and the security code from the first location to a second location; and checking the security code of the user to insure it is authorized and specific to that user; if so, recording the rating supplied by the user; if not, notifying an appropriate monitor.

Abstract: Building structure fire resistance can be rated by providing or having made available a new or existing building structure; providing or having made available at least one fire control agent; applying or noting application or presence of the at least one fire control agent to or with at least one component part of the building structure; providing a rating format for fire resistance of a comparative building structure; and comparing the applying, application or presence of or with the at least one component part of the building structure to the rating format to provide a fire resistance classification rating. A multi-level rating system can be employed.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with this invention allow for each node within one or more rings to obtain connection and topology information from other nodes within these rings. In such a system, each node is able to maintain connection table and topology tables for each node and each ring within a ring network. In particular, such information can be kept current because this scheme allows for dynamic updating of connection and topology information in real time. With such current information, a node is able to utilize this information to execute such operations as squelching connections on a protect line and timeslot interchange. In addition, by supporting timeslot interchange, the ring can be managed as more than a single logical entity as well as can have better bandwidth management utilization.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with this invention allow for each node within one or more rings to obtain connection and topology information from other nodes within these rings. In such a system, each node is able to maintain connection table and topology tables for each node and each ring within a ring network. In particular, such information can be kept current because this scheme allows for dynamic updating of connection and topology information in real time. With such current information, a node is able to utilize this information to execute such operations as squelching connections on a protect line and timeslot interchange. In addition, by supporting timeslot interchange, the ring can be managed as more than a single logical entity as well as can have better bandwidth management utilization.

Abstract: A computer system having a shared disk file system running on multiple computers each having their own instance of an operating system and being coupled for parallel data sharing access to files residing on network attached shared disks. A metadata node manages file metadata for parallel read and write actions. Metadata tokens are used for controlled access to the metadata and initial selection and changing of the metadata node.

Abstract: A computer system having a shared disk file system running on multiple computers each having their own instance of an operating system and being coupled for parallel data sharing access to files residing on network attached shared disks. Locking techniques reduce the overhead of a token manager which is also used in the file system recovery if a computer participating in the management of shared disks becomes unavailable or failed. Synchronous and asynchronous takeover of a metadata node occurs for correction of metadata which was under modification and a new computer node to be a metadata node for that file. Locks are not constantly required to allocate new blocks on behalf of a user.