Other

Natural Lighting Systems, Inc.

Alexander L Cheng

Zhifeng Tao

A system for self-organizing and auto-configuring mesh networks is disclosed. Special nodes (deemed special for their topological significance) are used as a starting point for forming clusters of fully connected nodes. Here, all nodes can communicate directly with one another and links are scheduled to meet the traffic requirements as indicated by their individual configuration and topological positions. Links that do not interfere with each other are scheduled to operate concurrently, thereby increasing the bandwidth offered by the whole system. When a node leaves or is introduced to the system, the system will adjust with minimum impact on its operation. Once all of the clusters are formed in a system, the clusters are now capable of inter-cluster communications with an increase in bandwidth for such communications.

Self-organizing multi-channel mesh network

A system for self-organizing and auto-configuring mesh networks is disclosed. Special nodes (deemed special for their topological significance) are used as a starting point for forming clusters of fully connected nodes. Here, all nodes can communicate directly with one another and links are scheduled to meet the traffic requirements as indicated by their individual configuration and topological positions. Links that do not interfere with each other are scheduled to operate concurrently, thereby increasing the bandwidth offered by the whole system. When there is change to the system, such as leaving or introduction of a node, the system will adjust with minimum impact on its operation. Once all of the clusters are formed in a system, the clusters are now capable of inter-cluster communications with an increase in bandwidth for such communications.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for position tracking and communication within a defined locale. Low power transmitters and receivers, called probes, are placed in key locations throughout the locale, called ranges. The persons or objects to be tracked carry a battery-powered device, called a tag. The battery in the tag can be used to limit the tag's life span (useful for applications such as limited time span, system renewal according to expected turnover rate, etc.), thereby allowing reuse of the ID. The tag is encoded with a two-level ID code with the common part used in communication with probe in normal condition. The tags respond to beacon upon entering a probe's range. The response is gathered by a probe and fed to a central computer where the tag's current position is recorded and combined with site-specific information and past history to determine the most likely position of each tag. Since the tags do not need to perform any complex computation or high-power communication, they can be constructed inexpensively and deployed as a disposable device. The whereabouts and past information can be queried at various reporting locations. There can also be public announcement, such as speaker or display, placed throughout the locale. The tag can be equipped with some alert or display capability for communication. The present invention provides a low cost, highly usable position tracking system. The system is able to function even with radio signal deafening structure, and provides a site-specific meaningful report. This type of system is especially valuable for transient travelers in territories such as in a convention hall, amusement part, shopping mall, cruise ship, etc. This system is also useful to track highly transitory inventory.

Method and apparatus for position tracking and communication within a defined locale

A system is disclosed that improves quality-of-service (QoS) by parallel operation in a multiple access network and offers a flexible way to adjust network performance by dynamically allocating channels to be assigned dynamically to communicating nodes. The multiple access operation is improved via parallel operation for non-contending nodes, and smaller group of nodes for contention resolution. When a collision is detected by the communicating nodes in a communication system nodes engaged in a contention switch to a contention resolution channel to resolve contention while nodes not engaged in the contention continue their normal operation in the regular channel. After the contention is resolved and communication is accomplished, the nodes that have switched will switch back to their regular channel. Support of different service quality levels based on varying group size is made possible in a multiple access network while providing compatibility with existing protocol.

Method and apparatus for parallel operation in a multiple access network

A method and apparatus for a lighting system with light collection from a plurality of light sources including natural sunlight, distribution and control of said plurality of light sources, and a network of optical fibers and other components connecting said plurality of light sources and a plurality of lighting fixtures is disclosed. Sunlight is collected and integrated with other lighting sources to be distributed via a network of optical fiber cables and optical components. An unlimited combination of light collectors, distribution networks, and fixtures, is available for lighting system designs. The distribution network can run in and/or alongside wiring ducts for ease of maintenance and access. According to the time-of-day, time-of-year, weather condition, personal preference and presence, etc., control is provided at various locations for light collection, distribution, and lighting effect with brightness, colors, and patterns. The present invention discloses a systematic, flexible, efficient, and novel use of multiple light sources, and enables a wide range of innovative architectural uses of lighting.

Method and apparatus for lighting

A method and apparatus is disclosed for two-way multi-media communications over two-way capable cable-TV networks. The cable-TV system is divided into small community hubs, each called a Multiple Service Hub (MSH), comprising a central controller, a plurality of subscriber units and interconnecting devices. The two-way telecommunication signals of the same information type are modulated in the same frequency band compatible with the sub-split cable-TV system; e.g., telephony signals are modulated in the 5 to 30 MHz band. In each MSH the frequency bands allocated for two-way multi-media communications are re-used. Three configurations are illustrated for two-way multi-media communications. In the simplest form the MSH covers one trunk of the cable-TV network. In a more complex arrangement, several branches of the cable-TV network are combined into an MSH. In the third configuration, a central controller is co-located with the information source, e.g., the switching office of the telephone network, and the communication signals of that information type are remoted to the MSH. A signal combiner is disclosed for implementing these configurations to realize the flexibility and extensibility afforded by the present invention.

Method and apparatus for supporting two-way telecommunications on CATV

There is provided a dynamic and adaptable method and apparatus to support two-way multi-media communication services on a multiple access communication system, which comprises a central controller, a shared transmission media and a plurality of remote terminals dispersed throughout the network. The central controller comprises switch and control apparatus and a pool of transmitters and receivers. The communication channels between the central controller and remote terminals are arranged for signalling data and traffic bearer channels in the forward and reverse directions. The number of signalling data channels is adjusted to satisfy the traffic requirements and for redundancy purposes. The forward and reverse signalling data channels are coupled in different mappings to support terminal grouping. Multiple access of the remote terminals for the upstream traffic are mitigated by separating remote terminals in groups via the channel allocation and the terminal assignment process. Communication between the central controller and the remote terminals follows a multiple access scheme controlled by the central controller via polling procedure on each of the forward signalling data channels independently. In case of collision, the central controller engages the remote terminals in a selective polling process to resolve the contention. The overlapping polling method of the controlled access scheme increases the utilization of the signalling channel and reduces the time required to gain access to the shared transmission media. By dynamically adjusting the load on signalling data channels, the signalling process is greatly improved for efficiency and redundancy against anomalies with the added benefit of improved flexibility and extensibility. The system is especially useful in a two-way CATV network.

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White Plains, NY, United States of America

Alexander L Cheng