1. A meeting room reservation system comprising:
at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor to be associated with a meeting room;
a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, each configured for RFID communication with said at least one RFID sensor; and
a reservation server configured to
schedule reserved starting and ending times for the meeting room,
track checked-in mobile wireless communications devices based upon RFID communication with said at least one RFID sensor, and
send at least one reservation expiration notification for at least one meeting room occupant based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check-in of another mobile wireless communications device.
2. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said reservation server is configured to send the at least one reservation expiration notification within a threshold period of the reserved ending time.
3. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said reservation server is configured to send a plurality of reservation expiration notifications at an increasing frequency.
4. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said reservation server is configured to schedule the reserved starting and ending times via RFID communication between said mobile wireless communications devices and said at least one RFID sensor.
5. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said reservation server is further configured to cancel reserved starting and ending times based upon a failure of at least one associated mobile wireless communications device to check in for reserved starting times.
6. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said reservation server is further configured to send an availability notification based upon checkout of the checked-in mobile wireless communications device.
7. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 further comprising a terminal to be positioned in the meeting room; and wherein said reservation server is further configured to send the at least one reservation expiration notification to said terminal.
8. The meeting room reservation system of claim 7 wherein said terminal comprises a display, and wherein said display is configured to display the at least one reservation expiration notification.
9. The meeting room reservation system of claim 7 wherein said terminal and said reservation server communicate via a local area network (LAN).
10. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said other mobile wireless communications device has a subsequent reserved starting time associated therewith.
11. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein said at least one RFID sensor comprises at least one NFC sensor.
12. The meeting room reservation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one reservation expiration notification comprises at least one electronic mail (email) notification.
13. A resource reservation system comprising:
at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor to be associated with the resource;
a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices, each configured for RFID communication with said at least one RFID sensor; and
a reservation server configured to
schedule reserved starting and ending times for the resource,
track checked-in mobile wireless communications devices based upon RFID communication with said at least one RFID sensor, and
send at least one reservation expiration notification for at least one current resource user based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check-in of another mobile wireless communications device.
14. The resource reservation system of claim 13 wherein said reservation server is configured to send the at least one reservation expiration notification within a threshold period of the reserved ending time.
15. The resource reservation system of claim 13 wherein said reservation server is configured to send a plurality of reservation expiration notifications at an increasing frequency.
16. The resource reservation system of claim 13 wherein said reservation server is configured to schedule the reserved starting and ending times via RFID communication between said mobile wireless communications devices and said at least one RFID sensor.
17. A reservation server for use with at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor to be associated with a meeting room and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices each configured for RFID communication with the at least one RFID sensor, the reservation server comprising:
a scheduling module configured to schedule reserved starting and ending times for the meeting room; and
a check-in module configured to track checked-in mobile wireless communications devices based upon RFID communication with said at least one RFID sensor;
said scheduling module further configured to send at least one reservation expiration notification for at least one meeting room occupant based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check-in of another mobile wireless communications device.
18. The reservation server of claim 17 wherein said scheduling module is configured to send the at least one reservation expiration notification within a threshold period of the reserved ending time.
19. The reservation server of claim 17 wherein said scheduling module is configured to send a plurality of reservation expiration notifications at an increasing frequency.
20. The reservation server of claim 17 wherein said scheduling module is configured to schedule the reserved starting and ending times via RFID communication between the mobile wireless communications devices and said at least one RFID sensor.
21. A meeting room reservation method comprising:
scheduling reserved starting and ending times for a meeting room with a reservation server;
tracking checked-in mobile wireless communications devices with the reservation server based upon radio frequency identification (RFID) communication between the mobile wireless communications devices and at least one RFID sensor associated with the meeting room; and
sending at least one reservation expiration notification for at least one meeting room occupant from the reservation server based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check-in of another mobile wireless communications device.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein sending comprises sending the at least one reservation expiration notification within a threshold period of the reserved ending time.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein sending comprises sending a plurality of reservation expiration notifications at an increasing frequency.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein scheduling comprises scheduling the reserved starting and ending times based upon RFID communication between respective mobile wireless communications devices and the at least one RFID sensor.
25. The method of claim 21 further comprising canceling reserved starting and ending times with the reservation server based upon a failure of associated mobile wireless communications devices to check in.
26. A mobile wireless communications device to cooperate with a reservation server and a radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor associated with a meeting room, the reservation server configured to schedule reserved starting and ending times for the meeting room, track checked-in mobile wireless communications devices based upon RFID communication with the RFID sensor, and send at least one reservation expiration notification based upon a reserved ending time and a subsequent check in of another mobile wireless communications device, the mobile wireless communications device comprising:
a processor and a memory coupled thereto and configured to check in with the reservation server via the at least one RFID sensor, and
receive the at least one reservation expiration notification from the reservation server based upon the reserved ending time and the subsequent check-in of the another mobile wireless communications device.
27. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26 wherein the processor and memory are configured to receive the at least one reservation expiration notification sent from the reservation server within a threshold period of the reserved ending time.
28. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26 wherein the processor and memory are configured to receive a plurality of reservation expiration notifications sent from the reservation server at an increasing frequency.
29. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26 wherein the processor and memory are configured to schedule the reserved starting and ending times via RFID communication with the RFID sensor.
30. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 26 further comprising at least one wireless transceiver coupled to said processor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an electrically conductive layer having a recess therein which includes a balun portion and a slot portion, said slot portion communicating at one end with said balun portion;
a dielectric layer disposed adjacent one side of said conductive layer, said dielectric layer having an opening therethrough in the region of a further end of said slot portion remote from said one end thereof; and
an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot portion in the region of said one end thereof.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said opening increases substantially progressively in width in a direction away from said one end of said slot portion.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said opening is disposed along a centerline of said slot portion and is positioned so that at least a portion of said opening is on a side of said further end of said slot portion nearest said one end thereof, said portion of said opening being spaced from edges of said slot portion.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said opening is disposed along a centerline of said slot portion and is positioned beyond said further end of said slot portion.
5. An apparatus, comprising:
an electrically conductive plate having a balun hole and a slot extending transversely therethrough, said slot opening at one end into said balun hole;
an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot in the region of said one end of said slot; and
wherein said slot has edges on opposite sides thereof that each follow a predetermined curve other than a first-order exponental curve and that may be represened by a polynominal having an order greater than one.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plate is made of a metal.
7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said conductive element has first and second ends, said conductive element being electrically coupled to said plate at said second end thereof, and being free of electrical contact with said plate from said first end thereof to a section thereof adjacent said second end thereof, said section of said conductive element being the portion thereof which extends generally transversely of said slot in the region of said one end of said slot.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7,
including a dielectric sheath provided around said conductive element from said first end thereof past said section thereof; and
including an electrically conductive shield provided around said sheath from said first end of said conductive element to a location adjacent said section thereof, said sheath being free of said shield in the region of said section of said conductive element, and said shield being electrically coupled to said plate.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein said sheath extends to said second end of said conductive element;
including a further shield which is provided around said sheath at said second end of said conductive element and which is electrically coupled to said plate; and
including structure which electrically couples said second end of said conductive element to said further shield.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said structure includes said conductive element increasing in cross-sectional dimension from said section thereof toward said second end thereof so that said second end thereof extends outwardly through said sheath and electrically contacts said further shield.
11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said structure includes a via extending between opposite sides of said further shield through said second end of said conductive element.
12. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said slot has edges on opposite sides thereof which each follow a predetermined curve other than a first-order exponential curve.
13. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined curve for each said edge is configured to facilitate minimization of return loss for electromagnetic signals induced within said slot portion through said elongate conductive element.
14. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said slot has a further end remote from said one end thereof; and including a refracting layer extending approximately perpendicular to a centerline of said slot at a location beyond said further end of said slot, said refracting layer being made of a material which is transmissive to and effects refraction of electromagnetic signals in a selected frequency range that travel in one of two opposite directions along said slot.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, including a further layer which extends approximately perpendicular to said centerline of said slot and which is disposed adjacent said refracting layer on a side thereof remote from said slot, said further layer being made of a material which is transmissive to and effects refraction of the electromagnetic signals in said selected frequency range which are traveling in one of said two opposite directions along said slot.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said refracting and further layers are respective portions of a radome.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a conductive section having a recess which includes a balun portion and a slot portion, said slot portion communicating at one end with said balun portion, and having a further end remote from said one end thereof;
an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot portion in the region of said one end thereof; and
a refracting layer extending approximately perpendicular to a centerline of said slot portion at a location beyond said further end of said slot portion, said refracting layer being made of a material which is transmissive to and effects refraction of electromagnetic signals in a selected frequency range that travel in one of two opposite directions along said slot.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17, including a further layer which extends approximately perpendicular to said centerline of said slot portion and which is disposed adjacent said refracting layer on a side thereof remote from said slot portion, said further layer being made of a material which is transmissive to and effects refraction of the electromagnetic signals in said selected frequency range which are traveling in one of said two opposite directions along said slot.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said refracting and further layers are respective portions of a radome.
20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said layers have dielectric constants which are different.
21. A method comprising the steps of:
creating in an electrically conductive layer a recess therein which includes a balun portion and a slot portion, said slot portion communicating at one end with said balun portion;
forming a dielectric layer adjacent one side of said conductive layer, said dielectric layer having an opening therethrough in the region of a further end of said slot portion remote from said one end thereof; and
fabricating an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot portion in the region of said one end thereof.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said forming step is carried out in a manner so that said opening increases substantially progressively in width in a direction away from said one end of said slot portion.
23. A method comprising the steps of:
creating in an electrically conductive plate a balun hole and a slot that extends transversely therethrough, said slot opening at one end into said balun hole;
fabricating an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot in the region of said one end of said slot; and
wherein said slot has edges on opposite sides thereof that each follow a predetermined curve other than a first-order exponental curve and that may be represened by a polynominal having an order greater than one.
24. A method according to claim 23, including the step of selecting a metal as the material from which said electrically conductive plate is made.
25. A method, comprising the steps of:
creating in a conductive section a recess which includes a balun portion and a slot portion, said slot portion communicating at one end with said balun portion, and having a further end remote from said one end thereof;
fabricating an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot portion in the region of said one end thereof; and
forming a refracting layer which extends approximately perpendicular to a centerline of said slot portion at a location beyond said further end of said slot portion, said refracting layer being made of a material which is transmissive to and effects refraction of electromagnetic signals in a selected frequency range that travel in one of two opposite directions along said slot.
26. A method according to claim 25, including the step of forming a further layer which extends approximately perpendicular to said centerline of said slot portion and which is disposed adjacent said refracting layer on a side thereof remote from said slot portion, said further layer being made of a material which is transmissive to and effects refraction of the electromagnetic signals in said selected frequency range which are traveling in one of said two opposite directions along said slot.
27. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said opening facilitates impedance matching between said slot portion and a region disposed beyond said further end of said slot portion.
28. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said slot is free of dielectric material.
29. A method according to claim 21, wherein said step of forming said dielectric layer includes configuring said opening to facilitate impedance matching between said slot portion and a region disposed beyond said further end of said slot portion.
30. A method according to claim 23, including the step of omitting dielectric material within said slot.
31. An apparatus, comprising:
an electrically conductive plate having a balun hole and a slot extending transversely therethrough, said slot opening at one end into said balun hole;
an elongate conductive element which extends generally transversely with respect to said slot in the region of said one end of said;
wherein said conductive element has first and second ends, said conductive element being electrically coupled to said plate at said second end thereof, and being free of electrical contact with said plate from said first end thereof to a section thereof adjacent said second end thereof, said section of said conductive element being the portion thereof which extends generally transversely of said slot in the region of said one end of said slot;
including a dielectric sheath provided around said conductive element from said first end thereof past said section thereof; and
including an electrically conductive shield provided around said sheath from said first end of said conductive element to a location adjacent said section thereof, said sheath being free of said section of said conductive element, and said shield being electrically coupled to said plate.