Author: claimsbot

1. A system comprising:
a slider positioned in one of at least two positions, the slider comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side comprising a protrusion extending therefrom, the second side configured to engage a switching mechanism;
a device adapted to approach and engage the protrusion, wherein the device comprises a pin, wherein an angularly-extending surface defined by the protrusion is adapted to engage the pin during the pin’s approach and engagement with the slider; and
means for automatically adjusting the device to a position corresponding to the one of the at least two positions of the slider during the device’s approach and engagement with the protrusion so that the slider remains in the one of the at least two positions, wherein the device is permitted to actuate the slider when the device is in the position corresponding to the one of the at least two positions of the slider.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein, in response to the actuation of the slider, the slider is positioned in another of the at least two positions and a circuit breaker switch is operated.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means further comprises:
means for permitting the pin to rotate in response to the pin’s approach and the engagement of the pin with the angularly-extending surface.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the permitting means comprises:
a shaft connected to the pin and comprising a longitudinal axis; and
a bearing coupled to the shaft;
wherein the shaft is adapted to rotate in a first direction about its longitudinal axis in response to the pin’s approach and the engagement of the pin with the angularly-extending surface.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:
an enclosure in which the slider is disposed;
wherein the permitting means further comprises:
a cover connected to the enclosure and to which the bearing is coupled;
wherein the pin is adapted to approach and engage the slider in response to the closing of the cover.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein, when the cover is closed and the pin is engaged with the slider, the pin is adapted to rotate and actuate the slider in response to rotation of the shaft in a second direction about its longitudinal axis.
7. A system comprising:
a slider positioned in one of at least two positions, the slider comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side comprising at least one protrusion extending therefrom, the second side configured to engage a switching mechanism;
an enclosure in which the slider is disposed;
a pin adapted to approach and engage the slider; and
means for automatically adjusting the pin to a position corresponding to the one of the at least two positions of the slider during the pin’s approach and engagement with the slider so that the slider remains in the one of the at least two positions, comprising:
an angularly-extending surface defined by the protrusion and adapted to engage the pin during the pin’s approach and engagement with the slider; and
means for permitting the pin to rotate in response to the pin’s approach and the engagement of the pin with the angularly-extending surface, comprising:
a shaft connected to the pin and comprising a longitudinal axis;
a bearing coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft is adapted to rotate in a first direction about its longitudinal axis in response to the pin’s approach and the engagement of the pin with the angularly-extending surface; and
a cover connected to the enclosure and to which the bearing is coupled wherein the pin is adapted to approach and engage the slider in response to the closing of the cover;
wherein, when the cover is closed and the pin is engaged with the slider and in the position corresponding to the one of the at least two positions of the slider, the pin is adapted to rotate and actuate the slider in response to rotation of the shaft in a second direction about its longitudinal axis; and
wherein, in response to the actuation of the slider, the slider is positioned in another of the at least two positions and a circuit breaker switch is operated.
8. A system comprising:
first and second circuit breakers positioned in a side-by-side symmetric arrangement, each of the first and second circuit breakers comprising two or more operational modes and at least one of the first and second circuit breakers comprising
a button;
first and second sliders, each of the first and second sliders comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, each first side comprising a protrusion extending therefrom, each protrusion defining an angularly-extending surface, each second side engaging the first and second circuit breakers, respectively, wherein the first and second sliders are aligned with each other;
first and second devices, each of the first and second devices comprising a pin that engages the angularly-extending surfaces of the first and second sliders, respectively; and
means for permitting access to the button during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the means for permitting access comprises: means for overlapping the first and second sliders so that the first and second sliders do not interfere with one another.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for permitting access further comprises: a slot in at least one of the first and second sliders, the at least one of the first and second sliders engaging the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers.
11. The system of claim 10 further comprising: means at least partially extending in the slot for activating the button, wherein the activating means at least partially extends in the slot during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the means for overlapping the first and second sliders comprises:
a first end portion of the first slider, the first end portion defining a first width that is less than a first maximum width defined by the first slider; and
a second end portion of the second slider, the second end portion defining a second width that is less than a second maximum width defined by the second slider;
wherein the first and second end portions of the first and second sliders, respectively, overlap during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers.
13. The system of claim 8 further comprising: means for actuating each of the first and second sliders.
14. The system of claim 13 further comprising: means for guiding the first and second end portions during relative overlapping movement between the first and second end portions.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for actuating each of the first and second sliders comprises:
a first device adapted to approach and engage the first slider; and
a second device adapted to approach and engage the second slider.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first circuit breaker is in one of the two or more operational modes of the first circuit breaker during the first device’s approach; and wherein the system further comprises:
means for automatically adjusting the first device to a position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the first circuit breaker during the first device’s approach and engagement with the first slider;
wherein the first device is permitted to actuate the first slider when the first device is in the position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the first circuit breaker.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second circuit breaker is in one of the two or more operational modes of the second circuit breaker during the second device’s approach; and wherein the system further comprises:
means for automatically adjusting the second device to a position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the second circuit breaker during the second device’s approach and engagement with the second slider;
wherein the second device is permitted to actuate the second slider when the second device is in the position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the second circuit breaker.
18. A system comprising:
first and second circuit breakers positioned in a side-by-side symmetric arrangement, each of the first and second circuit breakers comprising two or more operational modes and at least one of the first and second circuit breakers comprising
a button;
first and second sliders engaging the first and second circuit breakers, respectively, wherein the first and second sliders are aligned with each other; and
means for permitting access to the button during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers, comprising:
a slot in at least one of the first and second sliders, the at least one of the first and second sliders engaging the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers;
means for overlapping the first and second sliders so that the first and second sliders do not interfere with one another, comprising:
a first end portion of the first slider, the first end portion defining a first width that is less than a first maximum width defined by the first slider; and
a second end portion of the second slider, the second end portion defining a second width that is less than a second maximum width defined by the second slider;
wherein the first and second end portions of the first and second sliders, respectively, overlap during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers;
means for guiding the first and second end portions during relative overlapping movement between the first and second end portions;
means at least partially extending in the slot for activating the button, wherein the activating means at least partially extends in the slot during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers; and
means for actuating each of the first and second sliders, comprising:
a first device adapted to approach and engage the first slider; and
a second device adapted to approach and engage the second slider;
wherein the first circuit breaker is in one of the two or more operational modes of the first circuit breaker during the first device’s approach;
wherein the second circuit breaker is in one of the two or more operational modes of the second circuit breaker during the second device’s approach;
wherein the system further comprises: means for automatically adjusting the first device to a position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the first circuit breaker during the first device’s approach and engagement with the first slider, wherein the first device is permitted to actuate the first slider when the first device is in the position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the first circuit breaker; and
means for automatically adjusting the second device to a position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the second circuit breaker during the second device’s approach and engagement with the second slider, wherein the second device is permitted to actuate the second slider when the second device is in the position corresponding to the one of the two or more operational modes of the second circuit breaker; and
wherein the button is able to be viewed through the slot during each of the two or more operational modes of the at least one of the first and second circuit breakers.
19. An apparatus comprising:
first and second circuit breakers wherein the second circuit breaker is positioned directly beneath the first circuit breaker;
first and second sliders, each of the first and second sliders comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, each first side comprising a protrusion extending therefrom, each protrusion defining an angularly-extending surface, each second side engaged with the first and second circuit breakers, respectively;
first and second devices, each of the first and second devices comprising a pin that engages the angularly-extending surfaces of the first and second sliders, respectively; and
first and second operators for actuating the first and second sliders, respectively, wherein the second operator is aligned with and positioned directly beneath the first operator so that the relative positions of the first and second operators correspond to the relative positions of the first and second circuit breakers.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of the first and second operators comprises a handle, each handle comprising an angularly-extending portion so that the handle of the second operator is in a nesting arrangement with the handle of the first operator.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein each handle is adapted to rotate to actuate the respective first or second slider; and wherein the nesting arrangement permits the second handle to rotate, relative to the first handle, over at least a predetermined range of rotation.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of the first and second circuit breakers comprises a switch engaged with the respective first or second slider so that the switch is operated in response to the actuation of the respective first or second slider.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein each of the first and second operators comprises a shaft comprising a longitudinal center axis; and wherein the longitudinal center axis of the shaft of the second operator extends between the first and second circuit breakers.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein a spacing is defined between the centerline of the switch of the second circuit breaker and the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the second operator.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein each of the first and second circuit breakers defines a width; and wherein the spacing is substantially equal to about half of the width of the second circuit breaker to accommodate a compact arrangement between the first and second circuit breakers.
26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of the first and second operators comprises:
a shaft comprising a longitudinal center axis about which the shaft is adapted to rotate in place; and
a pin connected to the shaft, wherein the pin is adapted to rotate and engage the slider in response to the rotation of the shaft;
wherein the slider translates in response to the engagement between the pin and the slider.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of the first and second sliders comprises:
first and second end portions;
a middle portion extending between the first and second end portions; and
first and second protrusions extending from the middle portion, each of the first and second protrusions defining:
an angularly-extending surface; and
first and second side surfaces, each of the first and second side surfaces extending from the middle portion and to the angularly-extending surface.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the pins of the first and second operators are adapted to engage at least one of the first and second protrusions of the respective first and second sliders to actuate the respective first and second sliders.
29. An apparatus comprising:
first and second circuit breakers wherein the second circuit breaker is positioned directly beneath the first circuit breaker;
first and second sliders engaged with the first and second circuit breakers, respectively; and
first and second operators for actuating the first and second sliders, respectively, wherein the second operator is aligned with and positioned directly beneath the first operator so that the relative positions of the first and second operators correspond to the relative positions of the first and second circuit breakers;
wherein each of the first and second operators comprises a handle, each handle comprising an angularly-extending portion so that the handle of the second operator is in a nesting arrangement with the handle of the first operator;
wherein each handle is adapted to rotate to actuate the respective first or second slider and wherein the nesting arrangement permits the second handle to rotate, relative to the first handle, over at least a predetermined range of rotation;
wherein each of the first and second circuit breakers comprises a switch engaged with the respective first or second slider so that the switch is operated in response to the actuation of the respective first or second slider;
wherein each of the first and second operators comprises a shaft comprising a longitudinal center axis and wherein the longitudinal center axis of the shaft of the second operator extends between the first and second circuit breakers;
wherein a spacing is defined between the centerline of the switch of the second circuit breaker and the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the second operator;
wherein each of the first and second circuit breakers defines a width; and
wherein the spacing is substantially equal to about half of the width of the second circuit breaker to accommodate a compact arrangement between the first and second circuit breakers.
30. An apparatus for approaching and actuating a slider engaged with a device, the apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising a longitudinal center axis about which the shaft is adapted to rotate in place; and
a pin connected to the shaft, wherein the pin is adapted to rotate and engage the slider in response to the rotation of the shaft;
wherein the slider translates in response to the engagement between the pin and an angularly-extending surface defined by a protrusion on the slider.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the device is a circuit breaker and a switch of the circuit breaker is operated in response to the translation of the slider.
32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the pin comprises: a base defining a diameter; and a cam lobe extending from the base and defining a radius, wherein the cam lobe cammingly engages the slider in response to the rotation of the shaft.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the device is a circuit breaker and a switch of the circuit breaker is operated in response to the translation of the slider; and wherein the shaft is permitted to rotate over at least a predetermined range of rotation comprising:
a range of rotation in a first direction to place the switch in at least one position; and
a range of rotation in a second direction opposing the first direction to place the switch in at least one other position.
34. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the pin comprises:
a generally cylindrical first portion extending from the shaft in a first direction, the first portion defining a first diameter; and
a generally cylindrical second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction, the second portion defining a second diameter;
wherein the second portion cammingly engages the slider in response to the rotation of the shaft; and
wherein an angle is defined between the first and second directions.
35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the device is a circuit breaker and a switch of the circuit breaker is operated in response to the translation of the slider; and wherein the shaft is permitted to rotate over at least a predetermined range of rotation comprising: a range of rotation in a first direction to place the switch in at least one position; and a range of rotation in a second direction opposing the first direction to place the switch in at least one other position.
36. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising: a handle connected to the shaft.
37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the handle comprises an angularly-extending portion that is adapted to be placed in a nesting arrangement with at least one other handle; and wherein the nesting arrangement between the handle and the at least one other handle permits the handle to rotate over at least a predetermined range of rotation.
38. An apparatus for approaching and actuating a slider engaged with a circuit breaker, the apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising an external threaded connection and a longitudinal center axis about which the shaft is adapted to rotate in place; and
a pin connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate in response to the rotation of the shaft, the pin comprising:
a base defining a diameter of about 0.352 inches, a cam lobe extending from the base and defining a radius of about 0.750 inches, wherein the cam lobe cammingly engages the slider in response to the rotation of the shaft and the slider translates in response to the camming engagement between the cam lobe and the slider, and a planar surface adapted to be positioned proximate the slider during the camming engagement between the cam lobe and the slider;
a handle connected to the shaft and aligned with the pin, the handle comprising an angularly-extending portion that is adapted to be placed in a nesting arrangement with at least one other handle, wherein the nesting arrangement between the handle and the at least one other handle permits the handle to rotate over at least a predetermined range of rotation; and
a bearing through which the shaft extends, the bearing comprising an internal threaded connection threadably engaged with the external threaded connection of the shaft;
wherein a switch of the circuit breaker is operated in response to the translation of the slider, the switch comprising a centerline that extends in the direction of translation of the slider, wherein a predetermined distance of about 0.5 inches is defined between the longitudinal center axis of the shaft and the centerline of the switch; and
wherein the predetermined range of rotation comprises:
a range of rotation in a first direction to place the switch in at least one position, and a range of rotation in a second direction opposing the first direction to place the switch in at least one other position.
39. An apparatus for approaching and actuating a slider engaged with a circuit breaker, the apparatus comprising:
a shaft comprising an external threaded connection and a longitudinal center axis about which the shaft is adapted to rotate in place; and
a pin connected to the shaft and adapted to rotate in response to the rotation of the shaft, the pin comprising:
a generally cylindrical first portion extending from the shaft in a first direction, the first portion defining a first diameter of about 0.25 inches; and
a generally cylindrical second portion extending from the first portion in a second direction, the second portion defining a second diameter that is substantially equal to the first diameter;
wherein the second portion cammingly engages the slider in response to the rotation of the shaft and the slider translates in response to the camming engagement between the second portion and the slider; and
wherein an angle of about 150 degrees is defined between the first and second directions;
a handle connected to the shaft, the handle comprising an angularly-extending portion that is adapted to be placed in a nesting arrangement with at least one other handle, wherein the nesting arrangement between the handle and the at least one other handle permits the handle to rotate over at least a predetermined range of rotation;
a bearing through which the shaft extends, the bearing comprising an internal threaded connection threadably engaged with the external threaded connection of the shaft;
wherein a switch of the circuit breaker is operated in response to the translation of the slider, the switch comprising a centerline that extends in the direction of translation of the slider, wherein a predetermined distance of about 1.5 inches is defined between the longitudinal center axis of the shaft and the centerline of the switch; and
wherein the predetermined range of rotation comprises:
a range of rotation in a first direction to place the switch in at least one position, and a range of rotation in a second direction opposing the first direction to place the switch in at least one other position.

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. A method of determining patch cord connectivity information, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal from an RFID tag that is associated with a first patch cord at a first RFID antenna;
receiving a second signal from the RFID tag at a second RFID antenna;
identifying the one of a plurality of connector ports that the first patch cord is connected to based at least in part on respective strengths of the received first and second signals.
2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising receiving a third signal from the RFID tag at a third RFID antenna, wherein the identification of the one of the plurality of connector ports that the first patch cord is connected to is based at least in part on the respective strengths of the received first, second and third signals.
3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising transmitting an excitation signal to the RFID tag in order to cause the RFID tag to emit a transmitted signal, wherein the first, second and third signals are the received versions of the transmitted signal that are received at the first, second and third RFID antennas, respectively.
4. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:
transmitting a first excitation signal to the RFID tag in order to cause the RFID tag to emit a first transmitted signal, wherein the first signal is a received version of the first transmitted signal that is received at the first RFID antenna;
transmitting a second excitation signal to the RFID tag in order to cause the RFID tag to emit a second transmitted signal, wherein the second signal is a received version of the second transmitted signal that is received at the second RFID antenna; and
transmitting a third excitation signal to the RFID tag in order to cause the RFID tag to emit a third transmitted signal, wherein the third signal is a received version of the third transmitted signal that is received at the third RFID antenna.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of connector ports are within a detection zone, and wherein the first, second and third RFID antennas are arranged about at least part of a periphery of the detection zone.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the RFID tag comprises one of a plurality of REID tags that are within the detection zone, and wherein the method further comprises using an arbitration procedure to select one of the plurality of RFID tags as the RFID tag that emits a transmitted signal that is received at the first RFID antenna as the first signal.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the one of the plurality of connector ports that the first patch cord is connected to based at least in part on respective strengths of the received first, second and third signals comprises:
comparing the strength of the received first signal to pre-stored signal strength data for each of the plurality of connector ports at the first RFID antenna to identify one or more connector ports that have pre-stored signal strength data that closely matches the strength of the received first signal;
comparing the strength of the received second signal to pre-stored signal strength data for each of the plurality of connector ports at the second RFID antenna to identify one or more connector ports that have pre-stored signal strength data that closely matches the strength of the received second signal;
comparing the strength of the received third signal to pre-stored signal strength data for each of the plurality of connector ports at the third RFID antenna to identify one or more connector ports that have pre-stored signal strength data that closely matches the strength of the received third signal; and
identifying the one of the plurality of connector ports that the first patch cord is connected to as the connector port having pre-stored signal strength data at each of the first, second and third antennas that closely matches the respective received first, second and third signals.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the one of the plurality of connector ports that the first patch cord is connected to based at least in part on respective strengths of the received first, second and third signals further comprises:
determining that none of the plurality of connector ports have pre-stored signal strength data at each of the first, second and third antennas that closely matches the respective received first, second and third signals; and
adjusting the strength of the received first, second and third signals; and
comparing the adjusted strengths of the received first, second and third signals to the pre-stored signal strength data.
9. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising performing a calibration operation prior to determining the patch cord connectivity information, the calibration operation comprising:
(a) inserting an RFID-enabled patch cord into a first of the plurality of connector ports;
(b) transmitting a signal over the first RFID antenna in order to cause an RFID tag on the RFID-enabled patch cord to emit a calibration signal that is received at each of the first, second and third RFID antennas;
(c) measuring the strength of the calibration signal received at each of the first, second and third RFID antennas;
(d) storing the measured strengths of the calibration signal at each of the first, second and third RFID antennas as the pre-stored signal strength data for the first of the plurality of connector ports; and
(e) repeating (a) through (d) for each of the plurality of connector ports in order to obtain the pre-stored signal strength data for each of the plurality of connector ports.
10. A method of determining which connector port in a connector port array an RFID enabled patch cord having an RFID tag associated therewith is connected to, the method comprising:
transmitting one or more signals from an RFID tag;
receiving at each of a plurality of RFID antennas a received version of at least one of the signals transmitted by the RFID tag; and
performing triangulation using at least some of the received versions of the one or more signals transmitted by the RFID tag to identify a connector port in the connector port array that the RFID enabled patch cord associated with the RFID tag is connected to.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein performing triangulation using at least some of the received versions of the signals transmitted by the RFID tag to identify a connector port in the connector port array that the REID enabled patch cord associated with the RFID tag is connected to comprises estimating a location within the connector port array of the RFID tag based on one or more characteristics of the signals received at each of a plurality of RFID antennas.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the signals received at each of the plurality of RFID antennas comprise a received version of the same signal that is transmitted by the RFID tag.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the signals received at each of the plurality of RFID antennas comprise a received version of a different one of signals that are transmitted by the RFID tag.
14. A system for identifying which one of a plurality of connector ports a first patch cord is connected to, comprising:
a first RFID antenna;
a second RFID antenna;
a third RFID antenna;
one or more devices that are configured to measure the strength of signals received at the first, second and third RFID antennas;
a controller that is configured to determine the location of an RFID tag associated with the first patch cord based at least in part on the measured strengths of the signals received at the first, second and third RFID antennas.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a database of information that includes, for each of the plurality of connector ports, an expected received signal strength at each of the first, second and third RFID antennas for an REID tag that is connected to the respective one of the connector ports.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the RFID tag supports an arbitration procedure.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller further logs patch cord interconnections with the connector ports.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of connector ports comprises a subset of the connector ports on a plurality of network switches that are within a first detection zone.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the number of connector ports within the first detection zone exceeds the number of RFID antennas associated with the first detection zone.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the system further comprises a second plurality of connector ports that are part of a second detection zone, and wherein at least one of the first, second or third RFID antennas is shared between the first detection zone and the second detection zone.
21. A method of calibrating a system for determining the patch cord connectivity information with respect to a connector port array, the method comprising:
(a) inserting an RFID-enabled patch cord into a first of the connector ports within the connector port array;
(b) energizing an RFID tag on the RFID-enabled patch cord to cause the RFID tag to emit a signal that is received at each of a plurality of RFID antennas that are associated with the connector port array;
(c) measuring the strength of the signal received at each of the plurality of RFID antennas;
(d) storing the measured signal strengths as pre-stored signal strength data for the first of the connector ports in the connector port array; and
(e) repeating (a) through (d) for each of the connector ports in the connector port array in order to obtain pre-stored signal strength data for each of the connector ports in the connector port array.
22. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising performing a calibration operation prior to determining the patch cord connectivity information, the calibration operation comprising:
(a) inserting an RFID-enabled patch cord into a first of the plurality of connector ports;
(b) transmitting a first signal over the first RFID antenna in order to cause an RFID tag on the RFID-enabled patch cord to emit a first calibration signal that is received at the first RFID antenna;
(c) measuring the strength of the first calibration signal received at the first RFID antenna;
(d) transmitting a second signal over the second RFID antenna in order to cause the RFID tag on the RFID-enabled patch cord to emit a second calibration signal that is received at the second RFID antenna;
(e) measuring the strength of the second calibration signal received at the second RFID antenna;
(f) transmitting a third signal over the third RFID antenna in order to cause the RFID tag on the RFID-enabled patch cord to emit a third calibration signal that is received at the third RFID antenna;
(g) measuring the strength of the third calibration signal received at the third RFID antenna;
(h) storing the measured strengths of the first, second and third calibration signals as the pre-stored signal strength data for the first of the plurality of connector ports; and
(i) repeating (a) through (h) for each of the plurality of connector ports in order to obtain the pre-stored signal strength data for each of the plurality of connector ports.

1. A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) for measuring the position of an object in a selected volume, comprising:
a manually positionable articulated arm having opposed first and second ends, said arm including a plurality of jointed arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal;
a measurement probe attached to said first end of said articulated arm;
an electronic circuit which receives the position signals from the transducers and provides a digital coordinate corresponding to the position of the probe in a selected volume;
wherein at least one of said arm segments is non-linear along its length.
2. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment is curved along its length.
3. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment is arcuate along its length.
4. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment has at least two sections along its length with an included angle between said sections of other than 180 degrees.
5. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment has reverse curves along its length.
6. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment has a non-circular cross-section.
7. The CMM of claim 6 wherein said cross-section has an aspheric shape.
8. The CMM of claim 6 wherein said cross-section comprises an I-beam.
9. The CMM of claim 6 wherein said cross-section is rectangular, square or triangular.
10. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment includes an integrated elbow segment.
11. The CMM of claim 1 wherein:
said arm segment comprises molded material.
12. The CMM of claim 11 wherein:
said arm segment is molded from a carbon composite molding material.
13. The CMM of claim 1, wherein the measurement probe comprises:
a probe body;
a probe end connected to the probe body and structured to touch the position of the object;
a computer input device integrated into the probe body, wherein the computer input device is structured to communicate with a computer.
14. The CMM of claim 13, wherein the computer input device is a rollable trackball.
15. The CMM of claim 14, wherein the measurement probe is structured so that rolling the trackball causes a cursor or mouse pointer to move on a screen of the computer.
16. The CMM of claim 14, wherein the measurement probe is structured so that the trackball can be depressed and depressing the trackball simulates clicking a mouse button on the computer.
17. The CMM of claim 14, wherein the trackball is formed of translucent material, and the trackball further comprises at least one light source.
18. The CMM of claim 13, wherein the probe body comprises a handle, and the computer input device is integrated into the handle.
19. The CMM of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arm segments is approximately oval-shaped.
20. The CMM of claim 1, wherein at least one of the arm segments comprises removable covers structured to allow access to internal components of the arm segment.

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 energy management system for managing an energy distribution system, the energy management system comprising:
first and second energy management devices, the first energy management device being affiliated with a first entity and the second energy management device being affiliated with a second entity different from the first entity;
wherein at least the second energy management device includes:
an energy distribution system interface operative to couple the second energy management device with at least a portion of the energy distribution system;
a processor coupled with the energy distribution system interface and operative to generate energy management data therefrom; and
a security device coupled with the processor and operative to provide access data identifying entities and affiliates thereof, unaffiliated with the second entity, which are permitted to access the energy management data;

the energy management system further comprising:
a network coupled with the first and second energy management devices and operative to facilitate communications therebetween; and
wherein the first energy management device is operative to request at least a portion of the energy management data from the second energy management device via the network, the request including an assertion of authorization to access the energy management data, the processor being operative to validate the assertion via the access data provided by the security device and limit access to the energy management data based thereon.
2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security device is external to the second energy management device.
3. The energy management system of claim 2, wherein the security device is coupled with the network.
4. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the second energy management device is further operative to access the access data in the security device to validate the assertion.
5. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the first energy management device is further operative to access the access data in the security device to validate the assertion and provide the validation to the second energy management device with the request.
6. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security device is further operative to intercept the request, validate the request and provide the validation to the second energy management device.
7. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security device is affiliated with a third entity different from the first and second entities.
8. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the security device is affiliated with the first entity.
9. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the assertion comprises an assertion of identity of the first energy management device.
10. The energy management device of claim 1, wherein the first energy management device is operated by a plurality of users, the access data further identifying which of the plurality of users are permitted to access the energy management data, the request comprising identity of a particular user of the plurality of users which generated the request and the assertion further comprising an assertion of authorization to access the energy management data by the particular user.
11. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises first and second portions, the access data further identifying entities and affiliates thereof, unaffiliated with the second entity, which are permitted to access the first portion, the second portion or a combination thereof.
12. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises billing data.
13. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises energy data.
14. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the access data provided by the security device is implemented using Kerberos.
15. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the access data provided by the security device is implemented using Microsoft Passport.
16. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the access data provided by the security device is implemented using Security Assertion Markup Language.
17. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein an affiliate of an entity comprises a human user of the first energy management device.
18. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second energy management devices comprises an intelligent electronic device.
19. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises authenticatable data.
20. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises encrypted data.
21. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises non-repudiatable data.
22. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management data comprises private data.
23. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the energy management system is operative to process energy management data in a secure manner between the first and second energy management devices.
24. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the first and second energy management devices communicate over the network using an XML web service.
25. A method of managing an energy distribution system, the system comprising first and second energy management devices and a network coupled with the first and second energy management devices and operative to facilitate communications therebetween, the first energy management device being affiliated with a first entity and the second energy management device being affiliated with a second entity different from the first entity, wherein at least the second energy management device includes an energy distribution system interface operative to couple the second energy management device with at least a portion of the energy distribution system and a processor coupled with the energy distribution system interface and operative to generate energy management data therefrom, the method comprising:
providing access data identifying entities and affiliates thereof, unaffiliated with the second entity, which are permitted to access the energy management data;
requesting by the first energy management device at least a portion of the energy management data from the second energy management device via the network, the request including an assertion of authorization to access the energy management data; and
validating, by the processor, the assertion via the provided access data and limiting access to the energy management data based thereon.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the providing further comprises providing the access data from a source external to the second energy management device.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the providing further comprises providing the access data via the network.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein the validating further comprises accessing, by the second energy management device, the access data to validate the assertion.
29. The method of claim 25, further comprising accessing, by the first energy management device, the access data to validate the assertion and providing the validation to the second energy management device with the request.
30. The method of claim 25, further comprising intercepting the request, validating the request and providing the validation to the second energy management device.
31. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data is provided by a third entity different from the first and second entities.
32. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data is provided by the first entity.
33. The method of claim 25, wherein the assertion comprises an assertion of identity of the first energy management device.
34. The method of claim 25, wherein the first energy management device is operated by a plurality of users, the access data further identifying which of the plurality of users are permitted to access the energy management data, the request comprising identity of a particular user of the plurality of users which generated the request and the assertion further comprising an assertion of authorization to access the energy management data by the particular user.
35. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises first and second portions, the access data further identifying entities and affiliates thereof, unaffiliated with the second entity, which are permitted to access the first portion, the second portion or a combination thereof.
36. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises billing data.
37. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises energy data.
38. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data provided by the security device is implemented using Kerberos.
39. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data provided by the security device is implemented using Microsoft Passport.
40. The method of claim 25, wherein the access data provided by the security device is implemented using Security Assertion Markup Language.
41. The method of claim 25, wherein an affiliate of an entity comprises a human user of the first energy management device.
42. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and second energy management devices comprises an intelligent electronic device.
43. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises authenticatable data.
44. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises encrypted data.
45. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises non-repudiatable data.
46. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management data comprises private data.
47. The method of claim 25, wherein the energy management system is operative to process energy management data in a secure maimer between the first and second energy management devices.
48. The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second energy management devices communicate over the network using an XML web service.
49. An energy management system for managing an energy distribution system, the energy management system comprising:
first and second energy management devices, the first energy management device being affiliated with a first entity and the second energy management device being affiliated with a second entity different from the first entity;
wherein at least the second energy management device includes:
means for interfacing the second energy management device with at least a portion of the energy distribution system;
means for generating energy management data therefrom; and
means for providing access data identifying entities and affiliates thereof, unaffiliated with the second entity, which are permitted to access the energy management data;

the energy management system further comprising:
network means coupled with the first and second energy management devices for facilitating communications therebetween; and
wherein the first energy management device is operative to request at least a portion of the energy management data from the second energy management device via the network, the request including an assertion of authorization to access the energy management data, the second energy management device further comprising means for validating the assertion via the access data provided and limiting access to the energy management data based thereon.