The present disclosure relates to a network protection scheme. The image processing method includes a halftone process that is based on an inclined line-group keytone and maintains keytone continuity, including a dither process in which the inclined line-group keytone appears at a stage where the recording in the forward path is made. An assignment message that includes both the assignment information and the power control instruction is formatted and communicated to the access terminals. The female connector may have a septum that also dilates to allow penetration of the nose of the male adaptor. The mounting pins are positioned within holes in the rack columns and one of the spring elements snaps behind the rack column to hold the slide assembly to the rack.