Abstract: Methods and arrangements to control access to cryptographic keys and to attest to the approved configurations of computer platforms able to access these keys, which include trusted platform modules (TPMs) are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to control access to a cryptographic key by creating an authorization blob locking authorization data to access the cryptographic key to platform configuration register (PCR) values of a TPM, the PCR values representing a configuration of a computing platform. Embodiments may also involve generating a first TPM cryptographic key bound to PCR values, receiving a second TPM cryptographic key owned by software, and receiving evidence of the identity of an upgrade service controlling the upgrading of the software.

Abstract: Systems and media for generating an improved regression suite by applying harvesting models and/or regression algorithms to tests utilized in verification of a system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a regression manager responsive to user input may be coupled to a harvester module, an analysis module, and a management module. In one embodiment, the harvester module is responsive to harvesting models defined in a modeling language, where the harvester module is coupled to a regression suite database. In another embodiment, a regression methodology may be defined from a collection of regression strategies and each regression strategy may be defined from a combination of harvesting models and/or regression algorithms. A regression generator to receive tests, to apply one or more regression strategies to the tests, to provide reports, and to allow user control may also be provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a wake control mechanism for watercrafts comprising flat or upwardly curved wake control plate(s) which is/are connected to the stern in a variety of ways, either fixed or adjustable, such that the water passing beneath and/or beside the transom is scooped upward by the plate(s) and the watercraft is therefore pushed deeper into the water causing a larger wake. Additionally the plate(s) may have walls so that the scooped water is held above water level thus adding weight and further increasing wake size. Adjustments to the plate(s) position may be used to control the shape as well as the size of the wake.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the arrangement includes a sense element to convey a current from a source to a load and a compensation element located proximate to the sense element. The compensation element has a resistance that changes proportional to a change in temperature of the sense element. In several embodiments, the arrangement further includes an operational amplifier having a first input connected to the sense element, a second input connected to the compensation element and an output that provides an output signal that biases a current through the compensation element in response to a voltage across the sense element. In such embodiments, the bias current provides an output signal proportional to the conveyed current and the compensation element provides temperature compensation for the output signal. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to attach a QFN to a PCB, systems which include a QFN attached to a PCB, and apparatuses for controlling the deposit of solder upon a PCB are disclosed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to calculate a total area for the QFN IO pads. Embodiments may then determine a total area for the regions of solder applied to the PCB thermal pad to which the QFN thermal pad may be connected in dependence upon the calculated total area for the QFN IO pads. In some embodiments, the total area of the solder regions applied to the PCB thermal pad is approximately equal to the calculated total area for the QFN IO pads. In many embodiments, the number of regions of solder and the shape of the regions of solder is determined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to measure temperatures of integrated circuits are disclosed. New circuit arrangements for measuring temperature using various types of integrated circuit sensor elements are discussed. Embodiments comprise methods and apparatuses arranged to measure temperature based upon current leakage rates of different integrated circuit sensor elements. The methods and apparatuses generally involve using a pulse module to generate a charge for the integrated circuit elements. In these method and apparatus embodiments, one or more elements form a decay module to sense when the voltage decays to a threshold value. The method and apparatus embodiments may also have a module to calculate or infer a temperature from the rate of the voltage decay.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to handle non-queued commands for data storage devices, such as Parallel and Serial ATA hard drives, are disclosed. Embodiments may comprise a host and/or a data storage device. The host and data storage device may form, e.g., a handheld device such as an MP3 player, a cellular phone, or the like. The storage device may comprise a new method of responding to a non-queued command while the storage device may be processing a queue of commands. In many embodiments, the method involves processing queued commands until the drive receives a non-queued command that requires immediate processing by the drive. In many of these embodiments, the drive will respond in a new manner to process the non-queued command, the end result having no or minimal impact on host system operation.

Abstract: Systems, method, and media for reconstructing data from simulation models are disclosed. Embodiments may include a method for accessing an alias from an alias file. The method may generally include searching for a net name and, if the net name is not found, searching an alias index file for an alias index entry associated with the net name, the alias index entry having a net name and an associated position. The method may also generally include, if the net name entry is found, accessing from an alias file an alias associated with the net name. A further embodiment may generally include receiving a net name and a position of an alias in the alias file, creating an alias index entry for the alias having a net name and the position of the alias, and storing the created alias index entry in the alias index file.

Abstract: Embodiments include a time-sharing detector that is designed to enable comparison of a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage against the serial data transmission in a specified pattern. In many embodiments, the pattern is pre-defined and, in some embodiments, the pattern includes an overlap period. During the overlap period both the first and the second reference voltages are compared with the data transmission to determine if valid data can be detected. Upon detecting a valid bit based upon one of the reference voltages, an output signal is generated to indicate that the data transmission includes a valid data signal. Advantageously, alternating between the comparisons can reduce power consumption. In many embodiments, the power reduction can be, for example, 50%, depending upon the specified pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments that decrease power consumption of interconnecting devices in integrated circuits are disclosed. Embodiments reduce power consumption in integrated circuits by generating full and reduced swing signals at an output of a driver module in response to a control signal during and deactivating one or more elements to conserve power after an input signal remains unchanged for a period of time. Another embodiment reduces power consumption in a circuit, the embodiment comprising a swing module coupled with a swing selector and an output controller. The swing module may generate full or low swing signals depending on the state of the swing selector. The output controller may increase the output impedance of the swing module after an input signal to the swing module remains unchanged for a quantity of time. Various apparatus embodiments include portable computing devices and cellular telephones.

Abstract: A feeder apparatus supplies a powder feedstock to a high or low pressure processing operation. The apparatus includes a metering plate defining an annular channel having a channel width. A measuring mechanism dispenses a measured volume of the feedstock into the annular channel. The measuring mechanism includes a pay-out device defining an outlet significantly smaller than the channel width. The measuring mechanism further includes a maximum fill level defining a maximum pressure head in the feedstock less than a retaining pressure defined by the internal friction of the feedstock. The restraining pressure prevents the feedstock from spreading outwardly in the annular channel and contacting sidewalls of the annular channel under the pressure head of the feedstock. The apparatus further includes a pick-up device for removing the feedstock from the annular channel. The pick-up device includes an inlet having a rectangular shape extending across the annular channel.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for performing auto-migration of data among a plurality of memory devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, memory access of application program data is monitored for each of one or more application programs. The data may be stored in one or more of a plurality of memory storage devices, each with its own performance characteristics. Monitored access is evaluated to determine an optimal distribution of the application programs data, typically stored in files, among the plurality of memory storage devices. The evaluation takes into account service level requirements of each application program. Periodically, data may be automatically transferred from one memory storage device to another to achieve the determined optimal allocation among the available memory storage devices consistent with service level requirements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media are disclosed for autonomic system tuning of simultaneous multithreading (“SMT”). In one embodiment, the method for autonomic tuning of at least one SMT setting for an optimized processing, such as via throughput, latency, and power consumption, of a workload on a computer system includes calling, by a kernel, an SMT scheduler having at least one hook into a genetic library. Further, the method includes obtaining, by the SMT scheduler through the at least one hook, genetic data from the genetic library for the optimized processing of the workload. Further still, the method includes tuning, by the SMT scheduler and based on the obtaining, the at least one SMT setting for at least one cpu of the computer system.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to remap degraded storage blocks on, e.g., IDE/ATA drives are disclosed. Embodiments may comprise a host and/or a data storage device for, e.g., a handheld device. The host may comprise remapping logic. In many embodiments, the remapping logic may track degraded storage blocks as indicated by the data storage device. In several embodiments, the host may remap data from degraded storage blocks in response to indications from the data storage device that the degraded storage blocks have degraded to a point at which further use may risk loss of data. The data storage device may execute error correction code to acquire valid data and if error correction measures exceed a threshold, or are otherwise determined to be excessive, the data storage device may communicate the degradation of the storage block to the host. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for collecting and using machine usage data and machine configuration data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a workbench computer collects historical machine usage data for at least one load test machine emulating a plurality of users to produce a database of historical machine usage data for the at least one machine.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for soft encoding and decoding of data for flash memories using Log-Likelihood Ratios (LLRs). The LLRs are computed from statistics determined by observation of flash memory over time. In some embodiments, the write, retention and read transition probabilities are computed based on the observed statistics. These probabilities are used to compute the LLRs. During a read operation, a device reads the voltage of a cell of the flash memory. The level of the output is determined from the voltage. The level determines which LLRs to compute and transmit to a soft decoder.

Abstract: Embodiments may include connectors with discharge elements integrated into the connectors to interconnect conductors of a cable to attenuate or discharge an electrostatic charge built up on the conductors. In some embodiments, the conductors are momentarily connected to ground as the connector couples with another connector to interconnect a cable with, e.g., a computer. In further embodiments, the discharge elements interconnect the conductors of a cable to redistribute an electrostatic charge and thereby minimize the impact of a discharge when the cable couples with an electronic system such as a computer. Another embodiment comprises a male connector with discharge elements, which ground conductors of the cable as the cable is being inserted into the connector. The discharge elements are pushed out of the way of the conductors as the conductors couple with the connector.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements to adjust resource accessibility based upon usage modes are contemplated. Embodiments may include a supervisor instance such as an operating system that is adapted to select one or more supervisor keys from a set of supervisor keys available to the host node or platform upon which the supervisor instance is operating. The supervisor instance may select the supervisor key(s) based upon an association of the supervisor instance with a usage mode represented by a supervisor key name. In many embodiments, supervisor key names may be associated with resources via with one or more of the supervisor keys based upon the resources needed when operating in the usage modes by a system administrator. Once the supervisor instance is initialized, the supervisor instance may issue client keys that allow access to subsets of the resources available to the supervisor instance based upon usage modes of the clients.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for integrated circuitry optical modulation. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises an optical waveguide enabling multi-level modulation. The embodiment comprises an optical waveguide with integrated circuit modulators. An optical waveguide is split into at least two branches so that modulation can be imposed in each branch. In one embodiment, the branches are combined to produce an optical signal path in which additional modulation is imposed. In an embodiment of an integrated circuit optical demodulator, a received modulated optical signal is divided into branches and demodulated. Embodiments provide a single integrated circuit for multi-level modulation, thereby avoiding the disadvantages of modulation using separate discrete components. Also, a single integrated circuit for multi-level demodulation is provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, media, and apparatuses for disabling camera functionality in a portable device are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include establishing a connection with a camera-enabled portable device and transmitting to the portable device a request for permission to disable camera functionality. Embodiments of the method may also include receiving a response from the portable device relating to permission to disable camera functionality. Further embodiments of the method may include, in response to receiving permission to disable camera functionality, transmitting to the portable device a command to disable camera functionality or, in response to receiving an indication that the user refused permission, displaying a notification message.