Abstract: An energy management system for a home network comprising a plurality of power consuming devices including a pool pump is provided. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display device. The central controller further includes a scheduling algorithm configured to enable a user to program a schedule for the pool pump.

Abstract: An energy management system for a home network is provided. The energy management system comprises one or more power consuming devices and a central controller having a memory and a communication module. The controller is operationally connected to the power consuming devices. The energy management system further includes a user interface capable of providing energy data to a user, and an emergency power device enabled with a communication device communicatively linked to the communication module, such that information may be transmitted by one of the communication device and communication module, and received by the other of the communication device and communication module.

Abstract: An energy management system for a home network comprising a plurality of power consuming devices including a pool pump is provided. The system comprises a central controller operatively connected to the power consuming devices and configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility, including at least a peak demand state and an off-peak demand state, and a display device. The central controller further includes a scheduling algorithm configured to enable a user to program a schedule for the pool pump.

Abstract: An apparatus having: an agent; and a first test session servlet running on the agent, receiving a test description in a predetermined format from a caller, threading a first test session that invokes the agent to run the at least one subtest. The test description has at least one predefined subtest, dynamic data, and predefined test parameters. The first test session servlet receives test results from the first test session, and sends the subtest results from the at least one subtest and the dynamic data back to the caller.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for sharing or transferring dynamically-generated data between or among multi-sided test components in a wireless environment are described. Multiple flows are initiated substantially simultaneously. Dynamically generated data are shared between or among agents using dynamic data content servlets that employ open communication standards or protocols, such as HTTP or HTTPS.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for performing multi-location execution of tests between or among multi-sided test components in a wireless environment are described. Multiple flows are initiated substantially simultaneously and concurrently executed. A graphical representation of a multi-flow test is created that permits synchronization of the flows among agents at multiple remote locations. The graphical representation is converted into a textual representation in an open communication standard format, and information regarding each flow involved in the test is ascertained. The flows are substantially simultaneously initiated and concurrently executed with synchronization and dynamic data exchange components.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for synchronizing the execution of tests between or among multi-sided test components in a wireless environment are described. Multiple flows are initiated substantially simultaneously. Execution is then paused in at least one of the flows. The paused flow sends a request for permission to resume execution to a sync servlet. The sync servlet does not respond affirmatively to the request until an appropriate synchronization signal is received from an unpaused flow, and then only after a desired test component in the unpaused flow has been executed. The paused flow is resumed upon receiving the appropriate synchronization signal from the sync servlet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a Survivable Branch Office are provided by embodiments of the invention. The Survivable Branch Office includes a plurality of interconnected packet-based network devices, wherein the Branch Office is adapted to operate in a first mode during which centralized telephony call processing services are supplied to the Branch Office by a Main Office via a connection between the Branch Office and the Main Office. The Branch Office is also adapted to operate in a second mode when the connection between the Branch Office and the Main Office is interrupted. In the second mode the plurality of interconnected packet-based network devices collectively provide telephony call processing services in a distributed manner for the Branch Office.

Abstract: To synchronize time between network devices equally capable of accurately maintaining an indication of current time, one of the network devices is deemed to be a reference for time and the other network devices synchronize their indications of current time to the reference. To synchronize copies of data at multiple network devices, each network device maintains a counter representative of the passage of time but not necessarily of current time. The counter at each device is periodically synchronized with the counters of other network devices. When data is changed at a network device, the value of the counter at the time of changing is stored in association with the changed data. Stored counter values are used to determine whether a local copy or a remote copy of the data is likely more recent and therefore preferable. A further test may be applied if a counter value comparison is inconclusive.

Abstract: An apparatus having: an agent; and a first test session servlet running on the agent, receiving a test description in a predetermined format from a caller, threading a first test session that invokes the agent to run the at least one subtest. The test description has at least one predefined subtest, dynamic data, and predefined test parameters. The first test session servlet receives test results from the first test session, and sends the subtest results from the at least one subtest and the dynamic data back to the caller.

Abstract: An interface output stage includes a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit connected to a positive power supply signal line having a first voltage, an output signal line having an output voltage and a negative power supply signal line having a second voltage. The pull-up circuit includes a single output transistor and a body snatcher circuit, both interconnected between the positive power supply signal line and the output signal line. The body snatcher circuit ties the bodies of the output transistor and the transistors forming the body snatcher circuit to either the first voltage or the output voltage. The pull-down circuit is designed generally similar to the pull-up circuit to tie bodies of its transistors to either the output voltage or the second voltage.

Abstract: A substrate clamp for non-isolated integrated circuits is disclosed. The substrate clamp comprises a circuit that controls the voltage on a substrate so that the substrate is connected to a specific node if the parasitic PN diodes at all the circuit nodes are not forward biased. If a specific node is then forced with an applied voltage to forward bias, the substrate is disconnected from its original node and maintains itself at a forward biased diode voltage drop away from the powered node. Various embodiments are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a set of bipolar transistors which utilize the substrate as a common base, is implemented. The emitters of these transistors are connected to a set of nodes which may be driven to voltages outside the range between that provided by the power supply and ground, or any other pair of applied voltages. The collectors of these bipolar transistors are connected together.

Abstract: A voltage overshoot limiter having a detector circuit that looks at the node at which the undesirable overshoot would occur and provides a signal that is proportional to the unipolar rate of change of voltage at the node. This output is fed back to the first stage of the control circuit, error amplifier, etc. in such a manner as to reduce the rate of change of the circuit's nodal voltages to less than their slewing rates. By modifying the value of the detector's output for a given detected slew rate at the node, it is possible to reduce both its overshoot significantly and to reduce its unipolar rate of voltage change. The invention is described as being unipolar, that is, responding to rates of change of voltages which are either positive or negative, though bipolar implementations may be realized.

Abstract: A reverse current limited circuit configured to provide a reverse current limited low dropout voltage output. The reverse current limited circuit, coupled between a pair of terminals, comprises (i) a MOS pass transistor coupled in series between the first and second terminals, (ii) connection circuitry to connect the substrate of the MOS pass transistor to either one of the pair of terminals based on the relative magnitudes of the voltages measured on the pair of terminals, (iii) activation circuitry for turning on and off the MOS pass transistor based on the relative magnitudes of the voltages measured on the pair of terminals and (iv) comparison circuitry used to compare the voltages of the pair of terminals and to control the activation circuitry and the connection circuitry in response to the comparison made.

Abstract: A current limited low dropout voltage circuit for coupling between first and second power supply terminals and an output terminal for providing a current limited low dropout voltage output having a MOS pass transistor coupled in series between the first power supply terminal and the output terminal, a drive circuit coupled to the gate of the MOS pass transistor, circuitry for limiting the gate-source voltage of the MOS pass transistor to limit the maximum current therethrough to a first maximum current level when the voltage between the second power supply terminal and the output terminal is less than a predetermined value, and circuitry for limiting the gate-source voltage of the MOS pass transistor to limit the maximum current therethrough to a second maximum current level when the source to drain voltage of the MOS pass transistor is greater than a predetermined voltage difference and the voltage between the output terminal and the second power supply terminal is greater than the predetermined value, the s

Abstract: A monolithic integrated circuit containing an inverting/non-inverting voltage doubler charge pump circuit is disclosed for converting a unipolar supply voltage to a bipolar supply voltage of a greater magnitude. A dual-collector lateral junction transistor, formed during the conventional CMOS processing steps used to fabricate the MOS switches, is connected as a voltage clamp between a ground potential and the two bipolar DC output lines of the power supply circuit to assure correct start-up conditions for the circuit. Gain reduction devices are placed in the semiconductor substrate to collect minority carriers which would otherwise be injected into inherent parasitic four layer PNPN junction devices created as a result of the architecture of the circuit, to prevent latch-up of the four layer devices. In a preferred embodiment, an RS-232 receiver and transmitter are contained on the same monolithic integrated circuit as the dual charge pump power supply.