Abstract: A storage device and a data access method are provided. The storage device includes a primary storage unit and at least one additional unit. The primary storage unit includes: a primary memory element configured to store secret data and a primary access unit configured to receive an external access command. Each additional unit is configured to receive the external access command. Each additional unit includes: an additional memory element configured to store non-specific data, a local access generation element configured to trigger generating an internal access command based on the external access command, and an additional access unit configured to receive a local access command. The primary storage unit and each additional unit are coupled to a same power rail and a connection wire to simultaneously receive the external access command to parallelly (simultaneously) access the secret data and the non-specific data stored in each additional unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing buffers and a method thereof are provided. The method for managing buffers includes: receiving a plurality of pieces of data, where the plurality of pieces of data includes a first piece of data and a second piece of data; allocating at least one buffer to establish a cluster buffer according to a data amount of the first piece of data; and if at least one of a first condition and a second condition is satisfied, ending a storage operation of the cluster buffer, where the first condition is that a total remaining space of the at least one buffer that has stored the data in the cluster buffer is less than a remaining space threshold, and the second condition is that the quantity of the at least one buffer that has stored the data in the cluster buffer reaches a cluster threshold.

Abstract: An electronic device and a code patching method are provided. The electronic device includes a processor, a read-only memory (ROM), and a one-time programmable (OTP) memory. The ROM stores a boot code, and the boot code includes at least one checkpoint code segment. The OTP memory stores at least one patch code. The processor executes the boot code and queries whether there is a corresponding patch code in the OTP memory when the checkpoint code segment is executed, and if yes, executes the corresponding patch code.

Abstract: A method for switching frequency band in a mesh network including a plurality of access points is provided. The method includes turning off one of two communication ports of a second backhaul station of an idle node when the idle node is in an on-boarding phase and the two communication ports are turned on, so that the idle node joins the mesh network by communicatively connecting to a first backhaul station of one of the access points through the turned on communication port. The two communication ports operate in different frequency bands. A first fronthaul station of each of the access points is configured to provide a communication connection for at least one user terminal. A second fronthaul station of the idle node is configured to provide a communication connection for the at least one user terminal after the idle node joins the mesh network.

Abstract: A license plate recognition system includes an image capturing module, a license plate detection module, a segment extraction module, a character classification module, and a character recognition module. The image capturing module is for capturing an image. The license plate detection module is for receiving the image and to identify a license plate in the image. The segment extraction module is for extracting a sequence of character segments on the license plate. The character classification module is for computing a probability of each possible character in each character segment. The character recognition module is for identifying permissible characters for the each character segment according to a syntax of the sequence of character segments, and to identify a character having a highest probability among the permissible characters as a selected character for the each character segment.

Abstract: A band steering system includes a station and a wireless access point. The station broadcasts a probe request, where the probe request corresponds to a received signal strength indicator. The wireless access point monitors whether the probe request is in a first band or in a second band. When the wireless access point receives the probe request from the first band, the wireless access point determines whether the station is associated with the first band or the second band. When the station is not associated with the first band and the second band, the wireless access point blocks or responds to the probe request according to the received signal strength indicator and a first threshold. When the station is associated with the first band or the second band, the wireless access point blocks or responds to the probe request according to the received signal strength indicator and a second threshold.

Abstract: A control method for a spanning tree protocol (STP) of an EasyMesh network, wherein the STP includes a plurality of stations, includes assigning a bridge identification (ID) to each of the plurality of stations to classify the plurality of stations into a plurality of network layers; assigning a first station of the plurality of stations as a root bridge; determining a root port of each of the plurality of stations and a corresponding path cost to the root bridge; and blocking a designated port of a lower station of the plurality of stations at a lower layer of the EasyMesh network, when a network loop is detected.

Abstract: A memory data scrambling system that can dynamically rescramble the contents of a memory while the system is in operation includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that has an ASIC bus fabric, a double data rate (DDR) memory controller coupled to the ASIC bus fabric, a dynamic memory scrambler coupled to the DDR memory controller, the dynamic memory scrambler comprising a scrambler, a descrambler, a scrambler selection table, and a key generator and a DDR PHY coupled to the dynamic memory scrambler. The DDR PHY is coupled to an external DDR memory external to the ASIC. The dynamic memory scrambler includes a refresh timer that, upon expiration, causes data in a region of the DDR to be read, descrambled, rescrambled using a different scrambling key, and stored back into the region of the DDR in place of a DDR refresh.

Abstract: A data rate management system that provides quality of service at the fine granularity of applications in the home network and home automation environment is provided. An application can be associated with a dynamic traffic flow, a physical port, a logical interface, or a host computer or device. Virtual queueing is applied to isolate and protect individual applications. Comprehensive rate management algorithms are developed to offer the bandwidth guarantee for the applications individually. The data rate management system includes a traffic classifier, virtual queueing, and a rate manager. The traffic classifier can statically or dynamically identify an application. The identified application is stored in a dedicated virtual queue. The rate manager schedules the packet transmission among virtual queues using the application-based traffic profiles.

Abstract: A method of protecting a sensitive data sequence in an integrated circuit includes generating a pseudorandom sequence according to a seed sequence; combining the sensitive data sequence with the pseudorandom sequence to generate a protected data sequence; and storing the protected data sequence and the seed sequence. The sensitive data sequence is inaccessible from outside of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An object localization system including an object detection module configured to detect an object in a current frame with reference to a preceded frame, and an object localization module configured to identify a location of the object according to the segment. The object detection module includes a difference module for computing differences between the preceded frame and the current frame at a same location to generate a difference frame, a selected block detection module for identifying a selected block of the difference frame according to a predetermined minimum difference, a segment generation module for generating a segment of the current frame.

Abstract: A chip includes a level control circuit, an output circuit, a level supply circuit, and an output terminal. The level control circuit is configured to output a response signal in response to an operation mode of the chip. The output circuit has an output side, and the output side couples to the output terminal. When the operation mode of the chip is a working mode, the response signal is at a first level, and the output circuit is configured to output an output signal at the output terminal. When the operation mode of the chip is a power saving mode, the response signal is at a second level, the output side of the output circuit is in a floating state, and the level supply circuit is configured to provide a level voltage to the output terminal according to the response signal, so that the output terminal has a fixed level.

Abstract: A multi-die system includes a non-volatile memory, a first die having a first operational clock, a second die having a second operational clock, and an arbiter. The first die includes a first bus, a first bus filter coupled to the first bus and the arbiter for controlling access signals, a first access controller coupled to the first bus filter, and a first input/output (I/O) filter coupled to the first access controller, the arbiter and the non-volatile memory for controlling access to the non-volatile memory. The second die includes a second bus, a second bus filter coupled to the second bus and the arbiter, a second access controller coupled to the second bus filter, and a second I/O filter coupled to the second access controller, the arbiter and the non-volatile memory. The first and second operational clocks are independent.

Abstract: A method for performing client steering control in a multi-AP network and associated apparatus are provided. The method includes: utilizing a controller of a controller-agent-client architecture of the multi-AP network to obtain multiple metrics from interactions between logical entities of the controller-agent-client architecture; calculating Basic Service Set (BSS) scores of a set of BSSs according to the multiple metrics, respectively, for selecting a best BSS from the set of BSSs according to the BSS scores; and in response to a time measurement count reaching a predetermined threshold, utilizing the controller to trigger at least one operation related to at least the agents, to allow the best BSS to be selected as a target BSS for roaming, thereby enhancing overall performance of the multi-AP network, wherein the time measurement count corresponds to length of time that the best BSS keeps having highest score of the BSS scores.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a packet-forwarding priority setting circuit comprising: a decision circuit configured to detect whether an application type of a packet stream is included in a table; a processing circuit configured to examine at least one preceding packet among the packets of the stream if no application type of the stream is found in the table, so as to determine the application type of the stream and store it in the table, and the processing circuit configured to determine the application type of the stream according to the table if the application type of the stream is found in the table; and a mapping circuit configured to distribute some or all of the packets of the stream to one of a plurality of queues according to the application type of the stream, in which the queues are associated with different priorities respectively.