Abstract: A garden light 10 having a body (11) with a post (12), the lower end of which is provided with a spike (13). The upper end of the post (11) receives a lens assembly (12). Secured to the lens assembly (12) is a cap assembly (24) that has three LEDs that are activated to produce a varying color light.

Abstract: A backlight driver circuit has a transformer, a switching circuit and a plurality of switch devices. The switching circuit couples a DC voltage to a primary side of the transformer and alternates polarities thereof so that an AC voltage is generated on a secondary side of the transformer to turn on the backlight blocks. The switch devices are respectively connected between one of the backlight blocks and the transformer, and the AC voltage turns the backlight blocks on when the switch devices are turned on.

Abstract: A system and method for searching and retrieving certificates, which may be used in the processing of encoded messages. In one embodiment, a certificate synchronization application is programmed to perform certificate searches by querying one or more certificate servers for all of the certificates on those certificate servers. If all of the certificates on a certificate server cannot be successfully retrieved using a single search query, due to a search quota on the certificate server being exceeded for example, the search is re-performed through multiple queries, each corresponding to a narrower subsearch. The invention enables large amounts of certificates to be automatically searched for and retrieved from certificate servers, thereby minimizing the need for users to manually search for individual certificates.

Abstract: In a system where a management application sends commands to a remotely-located agent over a network, the agent maintains a security specification table defining the security level for each combination of the cipher and authentication algorithms of the communication path to/from the management application and a required security level table defining the minimum security level required for the execution of each command. Upon receiving a command from the management application, the agent obtains, by referencing these tables, the operational security level of the communication path and the required security level for the command, and executes the command only if the former is greater than or equal to the latter. This mechanism ensures high security in system management by preventing a malicious intruder from executing potent commands that can cause a down of a computer system, without unreasonably limiting the use of the management application by the system administrator.

Abstract: A method of protecting from modification computer apparatus comprising a plurality of functional modules by monitoring the configuration of functional modules within the computer apparatus. The method comprises: storing a module configuration of the computer apparatus; and checking the actual module configuration against the stored module configuration, and inhibiting function of the computer apparatus if the actual module configuration does not satisfactorily match the stored module configuration. Advantageously, the module configuration is stored on a security token, such as a smart card.

Abstract: A method for authentication of a first client in communication with a second client via an authentication server is disclosed, such that the first client and the second client are authenticated to each other, and the authentication server is authenticated to both the first client and the second client. The ability of a client and an authentication server to generate a one-time-use key unique to the client for a given request, is used as the basis for authentication. The flow of requests and responses coupled with each client's unique one-time-use key, such as a one time use account number used to encrypt messages, results in all three entities, the two clients and the authentication server, mutually authenticating each other. The method effectively prohibits a “man-in-the-middle” attack, wherein an unauthorized entity tries to assume the roll of one of the two clients, or the authentication server.

Abstract: A method for controlling media sharing among a plurality of nodes in a network. The present method is comprised of availing to the network an instance of media content for sharing among the plurality of nodes by a source node communicatively coupled to the network. The present method further includes decrypting the instance of media content from an encryption local to the source node. The present method further includes encrypting the instance of media content into an intermediate encryption. The present method further includes transferring the instance of media content to a node while the instance of media content is in the intermediate encryption. The node is associated with the network. The decrypting and the encrypting and the transferring are in response to receiving a request for the instance of media content from the node.

Abstract: A circuit comprises a detector circuit and a protection triggering circuit in a discharge lamp system. The detector circuit detects both open lamp and shorted lamp conditions and is coupled with detecting devices, such as sensing capacitors. A DC bias is added to the sensing capacitors so that capacitor voltages are always greater than zero volts. The output voltage of the detector circuit is coupled to the protection triggering circuit, which triggers an open lamp protection when open lamp condition occurs and a shorted lamp protection when shorted lamp condition occurs.

Abstract: Electronic ballast power supply/control circuits and methods that can be used to supply starting power to PFC control chips and that can be used to control ballasts so that PFC and inverter power supply circuits supply stable power to control circuitry even when the ballasts are performing advanced ballast functions. The circuits and methods supply starting power more quickly and efficiently than prior art starting circuits and control ballasts by either loading PFC circuits or inverter circuits included in the ballasts. The circuits load PFC circuits by connecting load resistors to the PFC circuits or by operating the inverter circuits at high frequencies that generate switching losses in the inverter transistors that load the PFC circuits. Inverter circuits are loaded by operating the inverter at frequencies that are much higher than preheating, igniting, and normal operating frequencies.

Abstract: A method of securely transferring user data from a first communication device to a second communication device includes receiving with the first device a public encryption key transmitted by the second device over a first communication medium using a first communication protocol. The user data is encrypted with the first device using the received public key. The encrypted user data is transmitted from the first device to the second device over a second communication medium using a second communication protocol.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating access to stored information associated with a user, where a service provider receives, from a network entity controlling access to the stored information, a first message component encrypted with a first crypto-key associated with the network entity that can be decrypted by the network entity and a network address associated with the stored information. The service provider then receives a request for information enabling access to the stored information from an access portal associated with the user. Next, the service provider generates a response that includes the network address and the first message component and transmits the response to the access portal. The generated response is extensible by the access portal to include a second message component. The second message component is encrypted with a second crypto-key associated with the access portal. The extended response is usable to obtain access to the stored information.

Abstract: A controller for an inverter provides variable gain control in a voltage regulation loop to prevent overshoot in an output voltage of the inverter. A feedback circuit senses the output voltage and provides a voltage feedback signal to the controller. The controller includes a voltage conversion circuit and an error amplifier as part of the voltage regulation loop. A gain control block varies a circuit parameter in the voltage conversion circuit or the error amplifier such that regulation of the output voltage starts at a relatively lower voltage level and increases smoothly to a desired level.

Abstract: A power supply for discharge lamp includes a transformer and a current balance device, wherein the transformer includes a primary winding and a secondary winding and the current balance device is coupled between the secondary winding and a plurality of discharge lamps. The current balance device may include a single inductor wherein at least two windings are connected in series with each other and each serially-connected winding is coupled with a discharge lamp, and the other windings are respectively coupled with a discharge lamp. The current balance device may include two inductors wherein at least one winding of a first inductor is connected in series with at least one winding of a second inductor and each serially-connected winding is coupled with a discharge lamp, and the other windings of the first inductor and the other windings of the second inductor are respectively coupled with a discharge lamp.

Abstract: The display device comprises: a substrate 50 having a plurality of light emitting elements on one surface thereof, and a substrate 10 having a circuit for controlling the plurality of the light emitting elements, bonded to said one surface of the substrate 50, and sealing a space where the plurality of the light emitting elements are formed. This makes it possible to form the light emitting elements on a flat surface, and the degradation of the emission characteristics of the light emitting elements can be prevented. The aperture ratio and the luminance of the display device can be also increased.

Abstract: A feedback and protection circuit is provided for detecting voltage and current of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel backlight apparatus and integrating all voltage and current input signals to output single current and voltage feedback signals to a PWM controller, so as to stabilize and control the voltage and current of the CCFL and determine whether any detected input signal is abnormal. If any CCFL is short circuited (CCFL is touched by people) or open circuited (CCFL is not lit), an abnormal status protection signal will be produced and sent to the PWM controller to stop all outputs of the backlight apparatus to prevent damages to circuit components or injuries to people. The circuit is designed in an integrated circuit to achieve the effects of reducing the area occupied by the circuit component layout and lowering the overall cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lamp lighting technique for lighting multiple lamps safely without luminance irregularities. The present lamp lighting circuit includes multiple closed loops wherein a predetermined number of lamps and the secondary windings of the predetermined number of transformers are connected serially. At least one of the primary windings of the transformers employed for each closed loop is connected to the primary winding of the transformer employed for another closed loop serially. Thus, current of the lamps included in the closed loop is made uniform, and also current is made uniform even between the closed loops by connecting the primary windings of the transformers serially. According to the present invention, with regard to serial connection of the primary windings of the transformers, even if the number of transformers is limited, current uniformity can be propagated to the entirety by subjecting closed loops to catenation consecutively.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic apparatus which once makes a user conscious of copyright and the like of digital data, such as audio data and image data, when the user records the digital data or performs the like processing, and then allows the user to use the digital data without annoying him any longer concerning the copyright and the like of digital data, a data recording method for the electronic apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the data recording method. The electronic apparatus is capable of performing a plurality of processes including a specific process execution of which is restricted in advance. A notification section notifies a user of a message calling the user's attention to the specific process in response to an instruction issued on the specific process. A function-setting section sets a specific function according to the notification of the message.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method, system, and article of manufacture that ensures the integrity of programs having variable portions. One aspect of this invention is a method for protecting software products having variant portions. This method includes identifying a reference to an external target in a software product, creating an identifier for the external target, and adding the identifier to the reference. In some embodiments, the unique identifier is a digital signature and the reference to an external target is a call to an external library.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for implementing a cryptography accelerator for performing operations such as hash operations. The cryptography accelerator recognizes characteristics associated with input data and retrieves an instruction set for processing the input data. The instruction set is used to configure or control components such as MD5 and SHA-1 hash cores, XOR components, memory, etc. By providing a cryptography accelerator with access to multiple instruction sets, a variety of hash operations can be performed in a configurable cryptographic accelerator.

Abstract: A system and method that marks whenever a sector on a hard drive is altered. A protected archive bit is maintained for each sector on the hard drive in a secured fashion. Authenticated requests are able to reset the protected archive bit. When a file is changed, the hard drive marks the sectors of the program that have been altered. When the virus protection application executes, it retrieves the sectors that have been altered, identifies the files that correspond to such sectors, and scans the identified files. If a virus has attacked the computer and attached itself to one of the files, the file is identified and scanned and the virus is discovered with appropriate eradication actions performed. An authentication scheme is assigned to a hard drive with a secret that is shared between the drive and the virus protection program and stored in a secure location.