Abstract: An impact assessment system and method for determining emerging criticality in a complex system is provided. The impact assessment system includes a component dependency model and an emergent criticality analyzer. The component dependency model describes the relationships between components in the system and their underlying dependency and criticality relationships. The impact assessment system receives component failure data from the complex system and uses the component dependency model and emergent criticality analyzer to determine the impact of the component failure on the criticality of remaining components in the system. The impact assessment system is thus able to determine how component failures in the complex system can impact the criticality of remaining components in the complex system and thus can assist in determining how those components may or may not be safely used in further operational activities.

Abstract: A method includes executing one or more applications in a deterministic execution environment and executing a plurality of background tasks in the deterministic execution environment. The one or more applications and the background tasks are executed in different time slots. At least one of the background tasks cannot be completed within a single time slot. The at least one of the background task is executed incrementally in multiple non-adjacent time slots so as to prevent the at least one background task from interfering with the execution of the one or more applications.

Abstract: A method includes executing an application in an execution environment. The application is allocated a plurality of memory blocks in a memory during execution. The method also includes executing a deterministic garbage collection process. The garbage collection process is capable of reclaiming at least one of the memory blocks in the memory from the application so that the at least one reclaimed memory block can be reallocated.

Abstract: A method includes executing one or more applications in an execution environment. The one or more applications are capable of requesting allocation of memory during execution. The method also includes allocating a plurality of memory blocks in a heap to the one or more executing applications. The plurality of memory blocks are allocated sequentially in the heap to the one or more executing applications. In addition, the method includes deallocating the plurality of memory blocks during a single deallocation. Memory blocks in multiple heaps could be allocated to the one or more executing applications. A particular memory block in a particular heap could be allocated to a particular executing application by pushing an indicator identifying the particular heap onto a stack. The particular memory block is allocated in the particular heap based on the indicator, and the indicator is popped from the stack after allocation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for prognosticating system performance in a dynamic system influenced by planned human activities the dynamic system comprising a telemetry subsystem. The apparatus comprises a processor coupled to the telemetry subsystem and configured to acquire data relating to the system state vector, a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing mission plan data comprising information relating to said planned human activities influencing said dynamic system, and a dynamic system simulation core in said memory and executable on said processor to form a dynamic system simulation incorporating said mission plan data and said state vector data. The method includes parsing human activities into plannable elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for disambiguating data elements transmitted by exception over a multi-path, multi-tiered communications network of nodes from at least one originating node to a destination node. A method includes the steps of receiving counter data from each node operable to originate data elements, receiving a data element name, evaluating counter data from nodes forming at least one possible path between the named data element's originating node and said destination node; and indicating as unambiguous data associated with the data element name if each of the nodes forming the possible path are transmitting counter data to the destination node. The apparatus includes a processor coupled to the destination node and to a source of data element names, a memory containing a path database and instructions for searching the database for paths of the named data element and to update the database with data relating to counter data reception.

Abstract: A method for making an apparatus for disambiguating telemetry sent by exception over a multi-path, multi-tier communications network having a plurality of telemetry source nodes producing telemetry data elements, a plurality of linked relay nodes, and one destination node, each telemetry source node connected to at least one relay node, wherein each node originates uniquely identifiable periodically changing counter data over said network, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a network diagram of said multi-path, multi-tier communications network, organizing data describing said network diagram, wherein said data describing said network diagram includes data relating to said counter data, and autocoding said data describing said network diagram to produce a telemetry disambiguating computer program. An apparatus and a program product are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for storing and retrieving data relating to paths through a network having a plurality of linked nodes and a destination node, each node of the plurality of nodes having a counter operable to transmit counter data when the node is operating properly. The apparatus includes a processor coupled to the destination node, which serves as a source of received counter data, a memory coupled to said processor, and a data link to a destination node of the network. The memory contains at least one data structure adapted to associate data relating to designed paths through the network with data relating to the received counter data. The memory also contains processor instructions executable to store said data relating to the received counter data in the at least one data structure. Methods for searching and updating the apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for analyzing spacecraft depressurization events. The apparatus comprises a memory configured to store information relating depressurization aperture sizes to feeding volumes and to first derivatives of pressure with respect to time; and information relating to a volume of the at least one compartment. The apparatus further comprises a processor coupled to the memory and configured to receive pressure signals and temperature signals representative of the temperature and pressure in the vessel, detect depressurization from a first derivative of pressure with respect to time calculated in response to the pressure signals, calculate a feeding volume from the compartment volumes, the pressure signals, and the temperature signals and determine a depressurization aperture size using the first derivative of pressure with respect to time responsive to detection of depressurization and the feeding volume.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for analyzing spacecraft depressurization events. The apparatus comprises a memory configured to store information relating depressurization aperture sizes to feeding volumes and to first derivatives of pressure with respect to time; and information relating to a volume of the at least one compartment. The apparatus further comprises a processor coupled to the memory and configured to receive pressure signals and temperature signals representative of the temperature and pressure in the vessel, detect depressurization from a first derivative of pressure with respect to time calculated in response to the pressure signals, calculate a feeding volume from the compartment volumes, the pressure signals, and the temperature signals and determine a depressurization aperture size using the first derivative of pressure with respect to time responsive to detection of depressurization and the feeding volume.

Abstract: A method for making an apparatus for disambiguating telemetry sent by exception over a multi-path, multi-tier communications network having a plurality of telemetry source nodes producing telemetry data elements, a plurality of linked relay nodes, and one destination node, each telemetry source node connected to at least one relay node, wherein each node originates uniquely identifiable periodically changing counter data over said network, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a network diagram of said multi-path, multi-tier communications network, organizing data describing said network diagram, wherein said data describing said network diagram includes data relating to said counter data, and autocoding said data describing said network diagram to produce a telemetry disambiguating computer program. An apparatus and a program product are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for storing and retrieving data relating to paths through a network having a plurality of linked nodes and a destination node, each node of the plurality of nodes having a counter operable to transmit counter data when the node is operating properly. The apparatus includes a processor coupled to the destination node, which serves as a source of received counter data, a memory coupled to said processor, and a data link to a destination node of the network. The memory contains at least one data structure adapted to associate data relating to designed paths through the network with data relating to the received counter data. The memory also contains processor instructions executable to store said data relating to the received counter data in the at least one data structure. Methods for searching and updating the apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for prognosticating system performance in a dynamic system influenced by planned human activities the dynamic system comprising a telemetry subsystem. The apparatus comprises a processor coupled to the telemetry subsystem and configured to acquire data relating to the system state vector, a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing mission plan data comprising information relating to said planned human activities influencing said dynamic system, and a dynamic system simulation core in said memory and executable on said processor to form a dynamic system simulation incorporating said mission plan data and said state vector data. The method includes parsing human activities into plannable elements.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, emulating, on a non-native computer, a native environment for a visual display object file for a real time process control system and a real time process control system employing the emulator. The visual display object file contains a drawing command, an address pointer for communicating data with the real time process control system and a rule for interpreting data received from a touch-sensitive screen.