An electronic terminal device can be configured using a device identifier that is input into the device. The terminal device sends the device identifier to a configuration server. The configuration server responds by sending configuration information to the terminal device based on the device identifier.

A gateway device for use between a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) network and a Fibre Channel (FC) storage area network (SAN) device includes a controller, at least one first native Fibre Channel F_Port in operable communication with the controller and configured to interface with a native Fibre Channel N_Port of the FC SAN device, and at least one first virtual N_Port (VN_Port) linked to the at least one first native Fibre Channel F_Port and in operable communication with the controller; the controller being configured to translate an FC FDISC received by the at least one first native Fibre Channel F_Port into an FIP NPIV FDISC and to send the FIP NPIV FDISC on the at least one first virtual N_Port (VN_Port) to establish another virtual link.

Secure data transfers between communication nodes is performed using a group encryption key supplied by a remote management system. A first node transmits a request for secure communications with a second node to the remote management system using a control channel. The remote management system generates and encrypts a group encryption key usable by the first and second nodes and forwards the encrypted group encryption key to the first and second nodes using one or more control channels. The first and second communication nodes decrypt the group encryption key and use it to encrypt data transmitted between the nodes using a data transport network. In some implementations the securely communicating nodes may use encryption keys and/or techniques that prevent the remote management system from eavesdropping on the nodes' communications.

A gateway, operable in a hierarchical heterogeneous network, includes at least two interfaces of which at least one is connectable to a lower network level, and the communication protocols in the network provide a message for offering a service and a message for searching for a service, receipt of a message coming in from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for offering a service, and/or an item of information identifying the offered service, is noted in the interface receiving this message or in a management unit assigned thereto, and receipt of a message from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for searching for a service and/or an item of information identifying the sought service is noted in the interface or management unit, and if the messages relate to the same service, a message for the service availability is sent via the interface.

A gateway, operable in a hierarchical heterogeneous network, includes at least two interfaces of which at least one is connectable to a lower network level, and the communication protocols in the network provide a message for offering a service and a message for searching for a service, receipt of a message coming in from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for offering a service, and/or an item of information identifying the offered service, is noted in the interface receiving this message or in a management unit assigned thereto, and receipt of a message from a lower network level in the gateway at an interface for searching for a service and/or an item of information identifying the sought service is noted in the interface or management unit, and if the messages relate to the same service, a message for the service availability is sent via the interface.

A gateway device for use between a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) network and a Fiber Channel (FC) storage area network (SAN) device includes a controller, at least one first native Fiber Channel F_Port in operable communication with the controller and configured to interface with a native Fiber Channel N_Port of the FC SAN device, and at least one first virtual N_Port (VN_Port) linked to the at least one first native Fiber Channel F_Port and in operable communication with the controller; the controller being configured to translate a first FC Fabric Login (FLOGI) received by the at least one first native Fiber Channel F_Port into a FIP N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) discover service fabric parameter (FDISC) and to send the FIP NPIV FDISC to an FCF to instantiate a virtual link.

Systems and methods associated with media hub devices are provided that passively monitor user devices and transmit targeted media through in-channel transmissions that use the same channel used to monitor the user devices, or shifted channel transmissions that are different than the channel used to monitor the user devices. For example, a media hub device may passively monitor customer devices by scanning a wireless communication channel and obtaining device identification information transmitted by a user device that communicates the device identification information via the wireless communication channel. A media hub device may link the user device with a particular user or may anonymously monitor user behavior, through the monitored user device, without explicit knowledge of the identity of the user. Targeted media may be provided to the user device either in-channel using the same channel used to passively monitor the user device or a shifted channel using a different channel.

Various systems and methods of self-configuring networked media hub devices with failover recovery of peers are disclosed. For example, a media hub device may be configured in an out-of-the-box solution in which the media hub, upon startup, obtains configuration data from a remote device. Peer media hub devices may be connected to one another via a local network and may each be self-configured in the same manner. Each media hub device may monitor other media hub devices on the local network. Based on such monitoring, each media hub device may detect that one of the media hub devices is offline and a new media hub device is online. One or more of the online media hub devices may automatically configure the new media hub device using the offline media hub device's configuration data, thereby configuring the new media hub device to replace the offline media hub device.

A preprocessing unit includes a data receiver to receive a data packet containing packet information, application data, and application data information, a relevance checker to determine relevance of the data packet in dependence on the packet information, an output module to output preprocessor output data, and a first controller to control output of preprocessor output data in dependence on the relevance of the data packet. In order to discard redundant data, thereby reducing the load of the memory, bus, and CPU of the computer system, the preprocessing unit further comprises a redundancy checker to determine redundancy of the application data preferably and a second controller to control output of preprocessor output data in dependence on the redundancy of the application data.

Various examples of systems and methods are provided for slide processing. In one example, among others, a system for processing microscope slides includes a slide positioner that can adjust a position of a slide and a slide treatment system that can dispense a micro stream of a fluid at a location on the slide when the slide is positioned beneath a jet nozzle of the slide treatment system. The system can include a slide sled that can align a smearing slide with a surface of the slide including a fluid sample is disposed, and support the smearing slide at a predefined angle with respect to the surface of the slide. In another example, a method includes obtaining a slide including a sample disposed on a surface, positioning the slide below to a jet nozzle, and dispensing a micro stream of a fluid onto the sample using the jet nozzle.