Abstract: Providing presence tracking of nodes of a logical network in a distributed computing system. Each node in a logical network tracks the presence of all other nodes on the network. This presence information is used by the protocol to optimize bandwidth utilization of the shared physical media, by not attempting to communicate with a device that does not appear to be or is unlikely to be present. In one embodiment, the presence tracking is applied to a power line carrier (PLC) physical media because of PLC's low-bandwidth characteristics, low baud rate characteristics and the widespread usage of plugged-in devices, the presence of which on the network is generally more transient by nature.

Abstract: Providing presence tracking of nodes of a logical network in a distributed computing system. Each node in a logical network tracks the presence of all other nodes on the network. This presence information is used by the protocol to optimize bandwidth utilization of the shared physical media, by not attempting to communicate with a device that does not appear to be or is unlikely to be present. In one embodiment, the presence tracking is applied to a power line carrier (PLC) physical media because of PLC's low-bandwidth characteristics, low baud rate characteristics and the widespread usage of plugged-in devices, the presence of which on the network is generally more transient by nature.

Abstract: A process for establishing secure mutual trust includes generating a one-time-password. The one-time-password is transferred between the devices in a communication occurring off of the network. Each device generates a set of authenticators by hashing a plurality of sub-strings of the password and the device's authentication certificate with a respective set of nonces. The devices exchange the respective sets of authenticators. Each device then alternates revealing its respective set of nonces and its authentication certificate in a multi-stage process. The devices re-calculate the authenticators based upon the respective set of nonces and authentication certificate revealed by the other device along with the one-time-password sub-strings that it posses. If each device determines that the authenticators re-calculated by the given device matches the authenticators previously received from the other device, secure mutual trust is established.

Abstract: A timed erasure mechanism can be used with portable computer-readable media to ensure automatic erasure of secure information, minimizing the security risks in using such media to store and transport passwords, codes, keys and similar private setup information. The portable computer-readable media can comprise volatile memory and a timed erasure mechanism in the form of a power supply and discharging circuitry that discharges the power supply after a predetermined amount of time. Alternatively, the portable computer-readable media can comprise nonvolatile memory and a timed erasure mechanism in the form of a digital time and erasure algorithms that are initiated after a predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, such portable computer-readable media can comprise a container that bears unique physical properties that can alert users to the volatile nature of the media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming and maintaining a secure logical network are provided, thereby enabling confidentiality and authenticity in the exchange of information between nodes on the logical network. In one embodiment, an Address Space Arbitrator (ASA) is a component responsible for the management of a logical network. The ASA performs at least three related functions: discovery, acquisition and maintenance. The way each of discovery, acquisition and maintenance are performed and optimized in accordance with the invention contributes to keeping the logical network secure, and communications robust, even though the underlying physical network is a shared (public) and unreliable media.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic network optimization with application variables are provided. Operation of a protocol stack, such as an SCP stack, relies upon a number of persistent variables, which are remembered over power and reset cycles, used in connection with controlling protocol timing and behavior. These application variables are handled at the network layer of the protocol and may be assigned values by an address space arbitrator, which is an entity responsible for managing the logical network. Each node member of a logical network maintains a set of values for its application variables. This set can be handled by the protocol's network layer, and can be saved in persisted storage. Since the variable values may be modified asynchronously, they are treated as volatile and thus, when a variable is used, its value is obtained through an application interface exposed by a network layer, e.g., through polling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing presence tracking of nodes of a logical network in a distributed computing system are provided. Each node in a logical network tracks the presence of all other nodes on the network. This presence information is used by the protocol to optimize bandwidth utilization of the shared physical media, by not attempting to communicate with a device that does not appear to be or is unlikely to be present. In one embodiment, the presence tracking is applied to a power line carrier (PLC) physical media because of PLC's low-bandwidth characteristics, low baud rate characteristics and the widespread usage of plugged-in devices, the presence of which on the network is generally more transient by nature. Each node on the network asserts its presence at least by sending a periodic qualifying message or by sending traffic and tracks the presence of other nodes by periodically sampling whether a keep-alive has been received.