Abstract: A network management system is used to secure a communications channel between at least two clients. The network management system includes a network management server which includes network management software. The network management server is coupled to the clients for managing the communication between the clients. The network management system further includes at least two secured communication channels established by the network management server between the network management server and each of the clients, respectively, such that the at least two clients can securely communicate with each other.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include generating, by a controller, a plurality of control signals to control operations of inverter circuitry to generate an AC signal from a DC signal. The method of this embodiment may also include using the control signals generated by the controller to also control operations of power factor correction (PFC) circuitry, via the inverter circuitry, to enable the PFC circuitry to generate power factor correction of an input source coupled to the PFC circuitry and the inverter circuitry. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes battery gauge circuitry implemented on an integrated circuit. The battery gauge circuitry includes a plurality of switches that individually open in response to a voltage reduction on a battery cell associated with a respective one of the switches. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a logic device that determines if at least one of the switches is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a register that stores data that indicates if at least one switch is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a controller that initiates halting power delivery to a load if at least one of the switches is open. The controller also identifies the open switch.

Abstract: A Global Positioning System (GPS) system includes multiple GPS application servers. The multiple GPS application servers provide GPS assistant information for locating a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives GPS information from multiple GPS satellites. The GPS assistant information is determined based on a GPS position and a geographic position of a GPS application server of the multiple GPS application servers. The GPS application server is nearest of the multiple GPS application servers to the mobile terminal, and the geographic position of the GPS application server is known.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing a rule matching are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for performing a rule matching includes a content matching module and a first rule matching module. The content matching module searches the data stream for contents. The contents are organized into rules including a simple rule with a single content and a complex rule with multiple contents. The first rules matching module is coupled to the content matching module for determining whether the rules are matched by the data stream according to a searching result of the content matching module. To this end, the first rule matching module updates status registers according to the searching result and each status register can indicate whether one of the rules is matched by the data stream.

Abstract: An apparatus includes battery gauge circuitry implemented on an integrated circuit. The battery gauge circuitry includes a plurality of switches that individually open in response to a voltage reduction on a battery cell associated with a respective one of the switches. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a logic device that determines if at least one of the switches is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a register that stores data that indicates if at least one switch is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a controller that initiates halting power delivery to a load if at least one of the switches is open. The controller also identifies the open switch.

Abstract: A transistor comprises a substrate of a first conductivity type, a drain region and a source region of a second conductivity type, a gate, a gate oxide layer, an adjustment implant region of the first conductivity type and a planar junction. The drain region and the source region are disposed in the substrate. The gate is placed over the substrate between the source region and the drain region. The gate is separated from the substrate by the gate oxide layer. The adjustment implant region is disposed under the gate oxide layer and in the substrate. A second doping concentration of the adjustment implant region is higher than a first doping concentration of the substrate. The adjustment implant region and the drain region in a predetermined shape form the planar junction with a surface curvature pointing towards the drain region to relax electrical field intensity at a location of the planar junction.

Abstract: A computer system includes a system CPU responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system. The first operating system is run by the computer system in a first operation mode and the second operating system is run by the computer system in a second entertainment mode. A PC operating in an entertainment mode may operate a variety of entertainment software applications. A quick boot process is also provided. The quick boot process may include an accelerated BIOS boot process that defers and delays appropriate tasks. The quick boot process may also include: detecting a condition; performing a BIOS boot process; loading an image file associated with the condition; and executing the image file associated with the condition. The condition may be that associated hardware is unchanged from a previous boot. A parental control system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protection means for a driving circuit which drives a set of external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFL). The driving circuit with protection function for driving a set of EEFLs consistent with the present invention includes: a transformer connected to the set of EEFLs; a switching network connected to the transformer which delivers power to the transformer; a sensing circuit connected to the set of EEFLs which detects disconnection if one light source is disconnected; and a controller connected to the switching network which controls the switching network to reduce the total current supplied to the EEFLs which remain connected, if the sensing circuit detects that one EEFL is disconnected. Appropriate protection can therefore be implemented when the EEFL is disconnected on one end or both ends.

Abstract: A DC/AC cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) inverter circuit includes a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding for providing increased voltage to a CCFL, a first and second MOSFET switches for selectively allowing direct current of a first polarity and a second polarity to flow through the transformer respectively. The primary and secondary windings of the transformer are electrically coupled to ground. A capacitor divider is electrically coupled to the CCFL for providing a first voltage signal representing a voltage across the CCFL. A first feedback signal line receives the first voltage signal. A timer circuit is coupled to the first feedback signal line for providing a time-out sequence of a predetermined duration when the first voltage signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. A protection circuit shuts down the first switch and the second switch when the first voltage signal exceeds the predetermined threshold after the predetermined duration.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting lock status of a spread spectrum signal, having a first accumulator, a first calculation unit, a second calculation unit, a second accumulator, a multiplier and a comparator. The first accumulator accumulates an in-phase integration result and a quadrature integration result over a time period. The first calculation unit determines a first evaluation value based on the accumulated in-phase integration result and the accumulated quadrature integration result. The second calculation unit processes the in-phase integration result and the quadrature integration result. The second accumulator accumulates the output of the second calculation unit over the time period. The multiplier determines a second evaluation value by multiplying the accumulated result from the second accumulator with a predetermined value. The comparator compares the first and second evaluation results wherein the comparison result is an indicator of the lock status.

Abstract: A power supply topology according to one embodiment includes a first path coupled to a controllable DC power source, a second path coupled to a rechargeable battery, and a third path coupled to a system load, the three paths coupled to a common node. The topology may further include a unidirectional switch coupled to the first path and a selectively unidirectional switch coupled to the second path. The topology may further include a power management control circuit including a wake up circuit having a comparison circuit and an output decision circuit. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: A smart card enabled secure computing environment system locks the host computer system from user access and waits for a smart card to be inserted into an attached or co-resident smart card reader. When a smart card is inserted into the smart card reader, the invention asks the user to enter his smart card password which is compared to the password on the smart card. If the two passwords match, the invention looks up the user's username in an access file of valid users and finds its associated access times and/or cumulative time limits in the access file. if the current time is within any of the valid access times and the user's cumulative usage time is within the specified cumulative time limit, then access is granted and the system is unlocked. The invention periodically checks the current time while the user is using the computer. If a blocked time period is entered or a cumulative time limit is exceeded, the user is logged off the machine and the computer is locked from user access.

Abstract: A method includes coupling a variable output DC power source to power control circuitry, and detecting a type of the variable output DC power source in response to the coupling operation. In one embodiment, the detecting operation may include sending an interrogation signal from the power control circuitry to the variable output DC power source, and evaluating a response to the interrogation signal to determine the type of said variable output DC power source. Power control circuitry may include source type recognition circuitry configured to detect a type of a variable output DC power source in response to a coupling of the variable output DC power source to the power control circuitry.

Abstract: A sequential burst mode regulation system to deliver power to a plurality of loads. In the exemplary embodiments, the system of the present invention generates a plurality of phased pulse width modulated signals from a single pulse width modulated signal, where each of the phased signals regulates power to a respective load. Exemplary circuitry includes a PWM signal generator, and a phase delay array that receives a PWM signal and generates a plurality of phased PWM signals which are used to regulate power to respective loads. A frequency selector circuit can be provided that sets the frequency of the PWM signal using a fixed or variable frequency reference signal.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include supplying power to an LED array having at least a first string of LEDs and a second string of LEDs coupled in parallel, each of the strings includes at least two LEDs. The method of this embodiment may also include comparing a first feedback signal from the first string of LEDs and a second feedback signal from the second string of LEDs. The first feedback signal is proportional to current in said first string of LEDs and said second feedback signal is proportional to current in said second string of LEDs. The method of this embodiment may also include controlling a voltage drop of at least the first string of LEDs to adjust the current of the first string of LEDs relative to the second string of LEDs, based on, at least in part, the comparing of the first and second feedback signals. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes battery gauge circuitry implemented on an integrated circuit. The battery gauge circuitry includes a plurality of switches that individually open in response to a voltage reduction on a battery cell associated with a respective one of the switches. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a logic device that determines if at least one of the switches is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a register that stores data that indicates if at least one switch is open. The battery gauge circuitry also includes a controller that initiates halting power delivery to a load if at least one of the switches is open. The controller also identifies the open switch.

Abstract: A computer system includes a system CPU responsive to a control signal to load a first operating system or a second operating system. The first operating system is run by the computer system in a first operation mode and the second operating system is run by the computer system in a second entertainment mode. A PC operating in an entertainment mode may operate a variety of entertainment software applications. A quick boot process is also provided. The quick boot process may include an accelerated BIOS boot process that defers and delays appropriate tasks. The quick boot process may also include: detecting a condition; performing a BIOS boot process; loading an image file associated with the condition; and executing the image file associated with the condition. The condition may be that associated hardware is unchanged from a previous boot. A parental control system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer system adapted to play audio files. The computer system includes a central processing unit, a storage unit, a first operating system, an interfacing unit, and a second operating system. The first operating system can control at least the CPU. The interface unit can interface with an external digital media device that may store a plurality of compressed audio files. The second operating system is capable of controlling the computer system operating in an audio playback mode. The power of the computer system is turned on and the computer system plays the plurality of compressed audio files in the audio playback mode when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit.

Abstract: A DC/AC converter circuit structure for driving a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps is described. A common-mode choke is used between the cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The common-mode choke balances the currents respectively flowing through the cold cathode fluorescent lamps.