Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the operation of a digital processing system. In one example of a method of the invention, a first status indicator is received for a first software program which is executing on the digital processing system, and it is determined whether the first software program is in a first state. In response to determining that the first software program is not in the first state, then a first predetermined function is performed. In one embodiment, several additional status indicators may be received, one for each of several software programs which are executing on the system. For each additional status indicator, it is determined whether the corresponding software program is in the first state, and if it is not in the first state, then a corresponding, predetermined function is performed, such as (for example) relaunching the corresponding software.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the operation of a digital processing system. In one example of a method of the invention, a request is repeatedly generated for the digital processing system, and a response to the request is normally provided by the digital processing system when it is not in a default state (e.g. when not crashed). If the digital processing system is in a default state then no response is provided, and a control device automatically restarts the digital processing system. In another example of a method of the invention, a status indicator is, when the system is not in a fault state, repeatedly sent to a control device. This status indicator resets a counter in the control device, thereby preventing the counter from reaching a predetermined value. If the counter reaches the predetermined value, then the control device automatically restarts the digital processing system.

Abstract: A power control device which incorporates a microcontroller to control the switching of power of a plurality of outlets. A host computer communicates with the microcontroller through the computer's keyboard interface to instruct the device to turn on or off one or more of the outlets either immediately or at one or more preset future times. An operator communicates with the microcontroller through the computer's keyboard intercede to instruct the device to initiate a sequence of pro-programmed on/off events.