Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to each of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/159,747, filed on May 19, 2016, and entitled “SUSPENDED CEILING MOUNTING BRACKET FOR CONNECTOR INSTALLATION,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/211,588, filed on Aug. 28, 2015. The entireties of these related applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosed subject matter relates generally to network cabling, and, for example, to a bracket or bracket assembly that can be used to securely install connectors within a ceiling space. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    To provide data connectivity between the many computing, communication, or media devices distributed throughout commercial, campus, and residential buildings, network installers often run data cables within the walls, floors, and/or ceilings of the building. In many cases, this requires running the data cables through plenum spaces in the ceiling or floor of the building. Plenums are enclosed spaces within the building structure that conduct heated or cooled air throughout the building as part of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Plenum spaces are separated from the general living or residential spaces, typically comprising the spaces above the dropped ceiling or below the raised floor. As wireless access points become more prevalent, network installers are placing an increasing number of cable connections within the ceiling. 
         [0004]    Because plenum spaces facilitate free circulation of air between rooms of the building, the presence of fire, smoke, or toxic gases within a plenum space poses a high safety risk. To mitigate this risk, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has defined standards that dictate the types of materials that may be used for cables and related accessories residing within plenum spaces. 
         [0005]    Horizontal cabling within plenums and other building spaces are often hung on J-hooks and terminated to a jack within the space (e.g., in the plenum space above the dropped ceiling) or by field terminating a plug. These termination practices yield a poor connection that is susceptible to accidental disconnection if the suspended jack or plug is physically impacted, or if an excessive amount of strain is placed on the cable. 
         [0006]    The above-described deficiencies of current horizontal cabling techniques are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of current technology, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with the state of the art, and corresponding benefits of some of the various non-limiting embodiments described herein, may become further apparent upon review of the following detailed description. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosed subject matter in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the various embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of the various embodiments. It is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the various embodiments nor to delineate the scope of the various embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the disclosure in a streamlined form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0008]    Various embodiments relate to a connector mounting bracket that provides a means by which to suspend a connectorized cable in a ceiling space, resulting in a robust, strain-resistant coupling between the cable and the connectors terminated thereto. The bracket can be clipped to a drop wire within a ceiling space, thereby suspending the bracket within the ceiling space. The bracket includes a means for mounting a connector (e.g., a modular jack, connector, port or adapter to receive the same—collectively “connector”) directly on the bracket, as well as a means for mounting a surface mount box housing one or more connectors. By providing a means to suspend a connector within a ceiling space, the bracket provides a greater degree of protection and strain relief compared to the coupling between cables and the connectors terminated thereto that are not so mounted. 
         [0009]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the disclosed subject matter, then, comprises one or more of the features hereinafter more fully described. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the subject matter. However, these aspects are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the subject matter can be employed. Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It will also be appreciated that the detailed description may include additional or alternative embodiments beyond those described in this summary. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an orthographic view of an example mounting bracket for installing connectors within a ceiling space. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional front view of an example bracket for installing connectors within a ceiling space. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional rear view of an example bracket for installing connectors within a ceiling space. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view illustrating installation of a modular connector in one of the port openings of a connector mounting bracket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional view of a connector mounting bracket with a modular connector installed in a port opening of the bracket. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view of a connector mounting bracket affixed to a drop wire. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a three-dimensional view of an example surface mount box that can be mounted on a connector mounting bracket. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a three-dimensional view of a surface mount box mounted on a connector mounting bracket. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9A  is a view of a two-port surface mount box installed on a bracket such that two port openings of the box are facing upward. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9B  is a view of a two-port surface mount box installed on a bracket such that two port openings of the box are facing downward. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9C  is a view of a two-port surface mount box installed on a bracket such that two port openings of the box are facing left. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9D  is a view of a two-port surface mount box installed on a bracket such that two port openings of the box are facing right. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a view of an example installation of a connector mounting bracket within a ceiling space. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is an orthographic view of example mounting bracket that includes a beam clamp. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a three-dimensional front view of a bracket with attached beam clamp. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a view depicting a mounting orientation in which a bracket with a beam clamp is mounted vertically on the clamp. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a view depicting a mounting orientation in which a bracket with a beam clamp is mounted horizontally on the clamp. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart of an example methodology for mounting a connector in a ceiling space. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart of another example methodology for mounting a connector in a ceiling space. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart of another example methodology for mounting a connector within a ceiling space. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart of another example methodology for mounting a connector in a ceiling space. 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart of an example methodology for fabricating a bracket that can be used to mount a connector within a ceiling space. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The subject disclosure is now described with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject disclosure. It may be evident, however, that the subject disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the subject disclosure. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is an orthographic view of an example mounting bracket  100  for installing connectors within a ceiling space according to one or more embodiments.  FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional front view of bracket  100 , and  FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional rear view of bracket  100 . Bracket  100  can be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic or metal (e.g., galvanized steel or other metal or metal alloy). In one or more embodiments, bracket  100  can be made of a plenum-rated material that does not emit toxic fumes when exposed to heat or burning, in compliance with National Electrical Code 300-22(b). A clip  114  is affixed to the right side of the bracket  100  using a bolt  116  or other mounting hardware (e.g., a rivet, a screw, etc.). Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, clip  114  may be formed as a continuous portion of the bracket  100 , e.g., by shaping the clip  114  from the same section of metal material as the rest of the bracket  100 . Clip  114  may be, for example, a multi-function clip such as a bat-wing clip or other type of hardware configured to securely attach the bracket  100  to a drop wire or other rod-like structure within a ceiling space. As shown in  FIG. 3 , bracket  100  is designed to hold the clip  114  such that a vertical edge of the clip is adjacent and parallel to bridge lance  106 c, which resides on substantially the same latitude of the bracket as bolt  116 . In this configuration, bridge lance  106   c  prevents excessive rotation of the clip  114  about the bolt  116 . Although  FIG. 3  illustrates a bridge lance as the structure for preventing rotation of the clip  114 , it is to be appreciated that other structural features may be used in place of the bridge lance without departing from one or more embodiments of this disclosure. For example, a louvre or other protruding feature of the bracket may be used instead of a bridge lance as an anti-rotation mechanism. 
         [0034]    In one or more embodiments, bracket  100  may also include additional mounting holes—e.g., mounting holes  104   a  and  104   b  located near respective top and bottom corners of the right side of bracket  100 —to allow optional direct mounting of the bracket. 
         [0035]    Bracket  100  is configured to support both direct installation of connectors on the bracket, as well as installation of a surface mount box containing connectors. A number of punched threads  110  (e.g., threaded holes) are formed at various locations on the bracket for installation of the surface mount box, which will be described in more detail below. For direct installation of connectors, two port openings  102  are disposed on the bracket  100 . Although the example bracket of  FIGS. 1-3  depicts two port openings formed in bracket  100 , any number of port openings may be formed in the bracket, subject to space limitations, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view illustrating installation of a connector  402  in one of the port openings  102 , and  FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional view of the bracket with the connector  402  installed in the port opening. Connector  402  may comprise structural elements for terminating a cable  502  or other structural means for connectivity with cabling or other connectors. For example, if cable  502  is a category rated twisted-pair cable (e.g., CAT 6A), and connector  402  a modular jack, connector  402  may include punch-down hardware on its rear side for terminating the cable on the jack. Connector  402  may also include a port  404  on its front face configured to receive a complementary connector. Port  404  may be, for example, an RJ-45 jack configured to receive a RJ-45 plug terminated on the end of a category rated twisted-pair cable (e.g., CAT 5e, CAT 6, CAT 6A, etc.). Alternatively, connector  402  may be an adapter configured to receive a fiber optic connector within port  404 . Other embodiments of connector  402  can support other types of connectivity, including but not limited to RJ-11, universal serial bus (USB), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), fiber optic, video graphics array (VGA), digital video interface (DVI), coaxial, banana jack, Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC), Thunderbolt, or other connector types. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , connector  402  can be directly mounted on bracket  100  by inserting the connector  402  through a port opening  102 . Each port opening  102  can be shaped to interface with connection hardware or accessories built into the connector  402 . For example, notches  112  on the top and bottom edge of each port opening  102  can be configured to receive spring-loaded clips located on the top and bottom of connector  402  (or on a mounting jacket that fits on the outside of connector  402 ) to facilitate locking the connector  402  in place when inserted through the port opening  102 . Once installed, connector  402  can be unlocked and removed from the bracket  100  by applying pressure to the spring-loaded clips. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is a view of the bracket affixed to a drop wire  602  within a dropped ceiling space, with two connectors  402  installed in the port openings  102  of the bracket. Such drop wires are often found in drop-ceiling installations supporting the ceiling framework. Using the modified bracket including the clip (i.e., the bracket-clip assembly), these drop wires can serve as installation points for connectors  402 . Securing the bracket  100  on the drop wire  602  or other rod-like structure (e.g. a threaded wire) using clip  114  yields a reliable in-ceiling installation for connectors  402 . As shown in  FIG. 5  a cable  502  (e.g., a CAT 6A cable or other type of data cable) is terminated on the rear side of the connector  402 . A second cable (not shown) running inside the ceiling space and terminated with an appropriate type of plug can be plugged into port  404  of either of the connectors  402 , thereby electrically connecting the two cables. 
         [0039]    Raised bridge lances  106  or other loop structures formed on the bracket  100  can be used in conjunction with cable ties to organize excess cabling or to provide additional strain relief. For example, an installer may wish to neatly secure excessive loops of cable (e.g., service loops) to the bracket in case a cable plug must be replaced, to ensure that a sufficient amount of loose cable is available near the connectors  402  after the original plug is cut from the cable. Bridge lances  106  can be used to tie these service loops to the bracket  100  using cable ties (e.g., nylon or hook &amp; loop cable ties). 
         [0040]    As noted above, in addition to supporting direct installation of connectors  402  into port openings  102 , bracket  100  is also configured to support installation of a surface mount box that can be used for horizontal cabling connections.  FIG. 7  is a three-dimensional view of an example surface mount box  702  that can be mounted on bracket  100 . Surface mount box  702  comprises a housing  704  and one or more cable ports openings  706  disposed on one or more sides of the box. In one or more embodiments, the housing  704  can comprise a plenum-rated material that does not emit harmful fumes if subjected to heat or burning, in compliance with National Electrical Code 300-22(b). Connectors  402  can be installed inside the surface mount box  702  behind the cable port openings  706 , allowing cable plugs terminated to cables to be inserted through the cable port openings  706  and plugged into the connectors  402 . Similar to the connectors described above, connectors  402  can be provided to support substantially any type of data connectivity type, including but not limited to RJ-45, RJ-11, USB, HDMI, fiber optic, VGA, DVI, banana jack, RCA, BNC, or other connector types. Moreover, in some embodiments, connectors  402  may be permanently installed components of surface mount box  702  rather than removable modular components. By disposing the connectors in a recessed location inside the housing  704 , surface mount box  702  can protect the connectors and the cable plugs inserted therein from physical impact. The surface mount box  702  is also designed to provide strain relief for the cable connections, yielding a reliable and secure connection. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a three-dimensional view of the surface mount box  702  mounted on bracket  100 . Surface mount box  702  can be installed on the bracket  100  using mounting hardware (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.) through the punched threads  110  of the bracket (see  FIGS. 1-6 ). Bracket  100  can then be suspended within a ceiling space using clip  114 . As shown in  FIGS. 9A-9D , surface mount box  702  can be selectively mounted on bracket  100  in one of several possible orientations.  FIG. 9A  depicts a two-port surface mount box installed on bracket  100  such that the two cable port openings  706  face upward, allowing cables  902  with plug terminations to be connected to the modular connectors inside the surface mount box through the top-facing surface of the box. Cables  904  entering from the bottom-facing surface of the box are each terminated on the rear side of one of the connectors inside the housing of the surface mount box. Thus, plugging a cable plug terminated to one of the cables  902  into one of the connectors residing in the surface mount box connects that cable  902  to one of the cables  904  terminated on that connector. 
         [0042]      FIG. 9B  depicts surface mount box  702  installed on bracket  100  rotated relative to the orientation in  FIG. 9A , such that the cable port openings  706  are facing downward. This orientation allows the cable plugs of cables  902  to be plugged into the connectors of the surface mount box from the downward direction.  FIGS. 9C and 9D  depict surface mount box  702  oriented on bracket  100  such that the cable port openings  706  are facing in the left and right directions, respectively. In general, the locations of punched threads  110  on bracket  100  allow surface mount box  702  to be selectively mounted in any of these orientations, allowing an installer to select the most suitable connector orientation for a given cabling installation project. 
         [0043]      FIG. 10  is a view depicting bracket  100  installed within a ceiling space. In this example, a ceiling-mounted wireless access point device  1002  is installed on dropped ceiling  1008 . The wireless access point device  1002  is networked to telecommunications equipment elsewhere in the building via horizontal cabling routed through the plenum space above the dropped ceiling.  FIG. 10  depicts the ceiling  1008  with a panel removed to reveal the plenum space. Bracket  100  is affixed to an existing drop wire  1004  inside the plenum space using clip  114 , and a single-port surface mount box  702  is mounted to the bracket  100  as described in previous examples. This configuration suspends the bracket and surface mount box  702  above the floor of the dropped ceiling. A cable  1010  from the wireless access point device  1002  is terminated on the connector inside the housing of the surface mount box  702 , where the connector may be terminated to an end of another cable  1006 . Thus, the bracket  100 , clip  114 , and surface mount box  702  provide a secure and strain-resistant installation for the connector inside the ceiling. A cable plug terminated to cable  1010  can be plugged into the connector through the port opening of the surface mount box housing. In addition to providing a robust installation for the connector, installing the bracket  100  on drop wire  1004  keeps the connector suspended above the floor of the dropped ceiling, allowing the connector to be accessed more easily, protecting the connector from inadvertent trampling, and resulting in a neater and more organized cable connection. 
         [0044]    The use of bracket  100  to suspend cable connectors in a ceiling space can provide a more reliable and consistent cable connection relative to a loose connector within the ceiling space. Bracket  100  and its associated components can provide a complete solution for termination of horizontal cabling within a ceiling space, including features that facilitate secure mounting of a connector, proper cable routing and organization, and ready accessibility to the connector. Moreover, once a plug-terminated cable is plugged into a connector mounted on the bracket  100  and the resulting communication link is tested, the bracket can be easily moved to another mounting location without unplugging the cable from the connector (e.g., in the event that a wireless device associated with the connector needs to be moved), thereby eliminated the need to retest the communication link after relocating and remounting the bracket. 
         [0045]    In the example configurations described above, clip  114  is used to affix mounting bracket  100  to a drop wire within a plenum space. In some embodiments, mounting bracket  100  can be adapted to mount on a beam or other type of surface by replacing clip  114  with another type of mounting mechanism.  FIG. 11  is an orthographic view of example mounting bracket  100  that includes a beam clamp  1104  in place of clip  114 .  FIG. 12  is a three-dimensional front view of bracket  100  with attached beam clamp  1104 . Similar to the mounting configuration for clip  114 , beam clamp  1104  is mountable on the right side of bracket  100  using a bolt  1102  or other mounting hardware (e.g., a rivet, a screw, etc.) inserted through a hole near the right-side edge of the bracket (e.g., the same hole used to affix clip  114  to the bracket  100 ). Alternatively, in one or more embodiments, beam clamp  1104  may be formed as an integrated component of bracket  100 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , bracket  100  is designed to hold the beam clamp  1104  such that a vertical side of the clamp is adjacent and parallel to bridge lance  106   c . In this configuration, bridge lance  106   c  prevents excessive rotation of the beam clamp  1104  about the bolt  1102 . 
         [0046]    In the illustrated example, beam clip  1104  has a C-shaped or U-shaped structure and mounts to the bracket  100  such that the recess  1110  of the clamp faces rear-ward away from the bracket  100 . A bolt  1106  is screwed through a screw hole on the top surface of the clamp  1104 . When a beam or other planar surface is inserted into recess  1110  of clamp  1104 , bolt  1106  can be screwed down to facilitate clamping bracket  100  on the beam. In the example depicted in  FIG. 11 , serrated edges  1108  are formed on the lower portion of recess  1110  to prevent the clamp from sliding off the beam while the clamp is tightened on the beam. It is to be appreciated that the beam clamp is not limited to the design depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , and that any type of clamp capable of fastening to a beam or other type of planar structure is within the scope of one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 13 and 14  are three-dimensional views illustrating bracket  100  mounted to a beam  1302  using beam clamp  1104 . As shown in these drawings, bracket  100  can be mounted on the clamp  1104  in any rotational position about bolt  1102 .  FIG. 13  illustrates an orientation in which bracket  100  is mounted vertically on clamp  1104 , which disposes port openings  102  below the beam  1302 , allowing modular connectors (e.g., connectors  402 ) to be suspended below the beam  1302 .  FIG. 14  illustrates an alternative orientation in which bracket  100  is mounted horizontally on clamp  1104 . As an alternative to inserting connectors directly in the port openings  102 , a surface mount box (similar to surface mount box  702 ) may be mounted on bracket  100  as described in previous examples. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 15-19  illustrate various methodologies in accordance with one or more embodiments of the subject application. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the one or more methodologies shown herein are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the subject innovation is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance therewith, occur in a different order and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with the innovation. Furthermore, interaction diagram(s) may represent methodologies, or methods, in accordance with the subject disclosure when disparate entities enact disparate portions of the methodologies. Further yet, two or more of the disclosed example methods can be implemented in combination with each other, to accomplish one or more features or advantages described herein. 
         [0049]      FIG. 15  illustrates an example methodology  1500  for mounting a connector in a space above a dropped ceiling. Initially, at  1502 , a bracket is mounted to a drop wire or threaded rod within a ceiling space using mounting hardware (e.g., a bat-wing clip or other multi-function clip) located on the bracket. At  1504 , one or more connectors are installed in a port opening disposed on the bracket. The connector can be, for example, a modular RJ-45 connector, fiber optic connector, USB port, HDMI port, VGA port, or another type of data or media port. The port opening through the bracket can be shaped to interface with connection hardware on the connector. For example, the port opening can include notches that receive spring-loaded clips formed on the connector or on a mounting jacket fitted to the connector. At  1506 , a plug terminated to a cable is plugged into the connector mounted in on the bracket. 
         [0050]      FIG. 16  illustrates another example methodology  1600  for mounting a connector in a ceiling space. Initially, at  1602 , a bracket is mounted to a drop wire or threaded rod within a ceiling space, similar to step  1502  of methodology  1500 . At  1604 , a surface mount box is mounted on the bracket, where the surface mount box houses at least one connector. The connector can be a, for example modular connector, jack, or data port installed inside the housing of the surface mount box, or can be a permanently installed component of the box. At  1606 , a plug terminated to a cable is plugged into the connector inside the surface mount box. 
         [0051]      FIG. 17  illustrates another example methodology for mounting a connector within a ceiling space. Initially, at  1702 , a bracket is mounted to an edge of a beam within a ceiling space using a beam clamp fixed to the bracket. At  1704 , one or more connectors are installed in a port opening disposed on the bracket, similar to step  1504  of methodology  1500 . At  1706 , a plug terminated to a cable is plugged into at least one of the one or more connectors mounted in on the bracket. 
         [0052]      FIG. 18  illustrates another example methodology for mounting a connector a ceiling space. Initially, at  1802 , a bracket is mounted to an edge of a beam within a ceiling space using a beam clamp fixed to the bracket, similar to step  1702  of methodology  1700 . At  1804 , a surface mount box housing at least one connector is mounted on the bracket, similar to step  1604  of methodology  1600 . At  1806 , a plug terminated to a cable is plugged into the at least one connector inside the surface mount box. 
         [0053]      FIG. 19  illustrates an example methodology  1900  for fabricating a bracket that can be used to suspend or mount a connector within a ceiling space or other building space. Initially, at  1902 , a bracket is fabricated to include at least one mounting hole disposed near an edge of the bracket for mounting a clip or beam clamp to the bracket. The clip can be designed to attach to a drop wire, a threaded rod, or other rod-like structure. The beam clamp can be configured to clamp to an edge of a beam or other planar structure. At  1904 , a clip or beam clamp is mounted to the bracket using the mounting hole formed at step  1902 . As an alternative to steps  1902  and  1904 , the bracket can be formed such that the clip or beam clamp is a continuous portion of the bracket itself (e.g., such that the clip and the bracket are formed from a common section of sheet metal or other material, or the beam clamp is an integrated, non-modular component of the bracket that cannot be separated from the bracket). 
         [0054]    At  1906 , at least one opening is formed in the bracket for holding a connector (e.g., a modular RJ-45 jack, USB port, HDMI port, VGA port, fiber optic port, etc.). At  1908 , at least one box mounting hole is formed on the bracket for mounting a surface mount box on the bracket. At  1910 , at least one first bridge lance is formed near the mounting hole formed at step  1902 . The first bridge lance is oriented on the bracket to prevent excessive rotation of the clip or beam clamp installed using the mounting hole. At  1912 , at least one second bridge lance is formed on the bracket for receipt of cable ties. 
         [0055]    The above description of illustrated embodiments of the subject disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of such embodiments and examples, as those skilled in the relevant art can recognize. 
         [0056]    In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been described in connection with various embodiments and corresponding figures, where applicable, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described embodiments for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosed subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below. 
         [0057]    In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
         [0058]    What has been described above includes examples of systems and methods illustrative of the disclosed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every combination of components or methodologies here. One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Technology Category: h