Abstract: A method of providing visibility of foreground elements on a display includes 1) providing a circular RGB hsl hue color wheel having a plurality of colors and numerical angular indicators, 2) constructing a matrix having a maximum color component and a minimum color component, 3) determining each pixel of a display and map the pixel to the matrix to determine a background hue, 4) determining two secondary hues that are different than the background hue, and 5) setting the foreground hue based on the two secondary hues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for remotely identifying software and software versions using a maintained software audit file. The disclosed system management tool identifies software installed on each network node by comparing the name and size of installed files to a software audit file. The system management tool performs an inventory scan of the software on each network node and obtains a list of each file and the corresponding file size. The software audit file provides identifying information, such as the file name and corresponding size, for each known file. Known files can be quickly identified using a match criteria based, for example, on the file name and size. The software audit file is maintained by investigating any unknown files with a sample of the user population having the unknown file. In one implementation, a targeted query is automatically transmitted to a sample of the user population having the unknown file requesting header information for the unknown file.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling electrical current through an inductive load. The electrical current is supplied by one of at least three selectable dual capacitor bank electrical circuits. The method includes storing electrical energy during a charge operating state in first and second capacitor banks of a first dual capacitor bank circuit. The stored electrical energy is then used to drive the inductive load when operating the first dual capacitor bank circuit in a drive operating state. After depleting the stored electrical energy from the first and second capacitor banks, the first dual capacitor bank transitions to a collection operating state that includes collecting electrical energy from the inductive load. A second and third dual capacitor circuits simultaneously transition among the charge operating state, the drive operating state, and the collection operating state during operation.

Abstract: An engine apparatus and method for operating same is disclosed. The engine generates electrical energy from phase changes of two different mixtures within chambers of the engine. Thermoelectric generators are preferably utilized to generate electrical energy from thermo differentials within the engine created by phase changes during engine operation. The engine may additionally be operated to perform mechanical based work.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling electrical current through an inductive load. The electrical current is supplied by one of at least three selectable dual capacitor bank electrical circuits. The method includes storing electrical energy during a charge operating state in first and second capacitor banks of a first dual capacitor bank circuit. The stored electrical energy is then used to drive the inductive load when operating the first dual capacitor bank circuit in a drive operating state. After depleting the stored electrical energy from the first and second capacitor banks, the first dual capacitor bank transitions to a collection operating state that includes collecting electrical energy from the inductive load. A second and third dual capacitor circuits simultaneously transition among the charge operating state, the drive operating state, and the collection operating state during operation.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling electrical current through an inductive load. The electrical current is supplied by one of at least three selectable dual capacitor bank electrical circuits. The method includes storing electrical energy during a charge operating state in first and second capacitor banks of a first dual capacitor bank circuit. The stored electrical energy is then used to drive the inductive load when operating the first dual capacitor bank circuit in a drive operating state. After depleting the stored electrical energy from the first and second capacitor banks, the first dual capacitor bank transitions to a collection operating state that includes collecting electrical energy from the inductive load. A second and third dual capacitor circuits simultaneously transition among the charge operating state, the drive operating state, and the collection operating state during operation.

Abstract: An engine apparatus and method for operating same is disclosed. The engine generates electrical energy from phase changes of two different mixtures within chambers of the engine. Thermoelectric generators are preferably utilized to generate electrical energy from thermo differentials within the engine created by phase changes during engine operation. The engine may additionally be operated to perform mechanical based work.

Abstract: A system and method for converting kinetic to potential energy across a thermal gradient can include an endothermic unit for absorbing heat, an exothermic unit for releasing heat, and a control unit for receiving energy from an outside source to power the endothermic and exothermic units. The system can also include a first power generation unit having a plurality of thermoelectric elements which convert heat to an electrical potential across a thermal gradient, and a feedback unit for supplying the electrical potential generated by the first power generation unit to the control unit.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing data between a network of electronic devices comprising sending one or more messages in the form of a message sequence from a provider to a consumer, each message having descriptive data, a sequence identifier, and a sequence number, verifying by the consumer the presence, format, and continuity of each sequence identifier and sequence number in each message, and upon verification, updating the consumer with the descriptive data in each message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for remotely identifying the user of a computer connected to a network and associating the user with recorded inventory information. A unique user handle or username is used to identify a user associated with a particular network node. The user handle is used to access a user profile, such as a record in a corporate directory database, before an inventory scan is performed. The information recorded in the user profile is linked to inventory information obtained during an inventory scan of a network node. The user identification can be verified by presenting the retrieved personal record to the user to confirm that the record actually corresponds to the user and that the information contained therein is accurate. The present invention supplements the recorded inventory information associated with a conventional inventory scan with personal information corresponding to the user associated with the network node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for remotely identifying software and software versions using a maintained software audit file. The disclosed system management tool identifies software installed on each network node by comparing the name and size of installed files to a software audit file. The system management tool performs an inventory scan of the software on each network node and obtains a list of each file and the corresponding file size. The software audit file provides identifying information, such as the file name and corresponding size, for each known file. Known files can be quickly identified using a match criteria based, for example, on the file name and size. The software audit file is maintained by investigating any unknown files with a sample of the user population having the unknown file. In one implementation, a targeted query is automatically transmitted to a sample of the user population having the unknown file requesting header information for the unknown file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for remotely identifying software and software versions using a maintained software audit file. The disclosed system management tool (SMT) identifies software installed on each network node by comparing the name and size of installed files to a software audit file. The system management tool (SMT) performs an inventory scan of the software on each network node and obtains a list of each file and the corresponding file size. The software audit file provides identifying information, such as the file name and corresponding size, for each known file. Known files can be quickly identified using a match criteria based, for example, on the file name and size. The software audit file is maintained by investigating any unknown files with a sample of the user population having the unknown file. In one implementation, a targeted query is automatically transmitted to a sample of the user population having the unknown file requesting header information for the unknown file.