Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring aircraft to mitigate potential loss of communication scenarios. One exemplary method involves monitoring a plurality of communications channels using an onboard communications system, maintaining associations between respective communications channel assignments and respective operational contexts based on the plurality of clearance communications, and in response to detecting a change in an operational context of the aircraft, providing indication of a recommended communications channel based on an association between the recommended communications channel and one of the plurality of different operational contexts corresponding to a current operational context of the aircraft.

Abstract: Using a method of operating a system that includes remote servers, and at least one electronic device, a user verbally instructs the electronic device to activate a function. The system uses the remote servers and other parts of the system to determine that the function is not currently enabled and requires a user-acknowledgment to terms of use before the function is enabled. The system provides information on the terms of use and solicits a user-acknowledgment to the terms of use. The user provides a verbal acknowledgment of the terms of use and the verbal acknowledgment is received and stored in a persistent data store.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an inductor, and generates a regulated voltage from a power source. The current flow through the inductor is increased at a first rate in a first interval. In a second interval, the current flow through the inductor is either increased at a second rate or decreased at a third rate depending on whether the regulated voltage is required to be respectively less than or greater than a voltage of the power source. The current flow through the inductor is decreased at a fourth rate in a third interval. The sequence formed by the first interval, the second interval and the third interval is repeated, and followed for all values of the regulated voltage from a lower threshold to higher threshold. The higher threshold has a value greater than the voltage of the power source. The lower threshold is zero volts.

Abstract: A power amplifier containing a DC-DC converter, a linear amplifier and a control block. The DC-DC converter receives power from a power source and generates a regulated power supply voltage whose magnitude is controlled by the magnitude of a control signal provided to the DC-DC converter. The linear amplifier receives an input signal and generates a power-amplified output signal, and receives the regulated power supply voltage for operation. The control block is coupled to receive the input signal, and generates the control signal with a magnitude based on the amplitude of the input signal. The regulated power supply voltage is modulated based on the amplitude of the input signal, for peak-to-peak amplitudes of the power-amplified output greater than or less than or equal to the magnitude of the power source. High efficiency for the power amplifier is thereby obtained.

Abstract: A power amplifier containing a DC-DC converter, a linear amplifier and a control block. The DC-DC converter receives power from a power source and generates a regulated power supply voltage whose magnitude is controlled by the magnitude of a control signal provided to the DC-DC converter. The linear amplifier receives an input signal and generates a power-amplified output signal, and receives the regulated power supply voltage for operation. The control block is coupled to receive the input signal, and generates the control signal with a magnitude based on the amplitude of the input signal. The regulated power supply voltage is modulated based on the amplitude of the input signal, for peak-to-peak amplitudes of the power-amplified output greater than or less than or equal to the magnitude of the power source. High efficiency for the power amplifier is thereby obtained.

Abstract: A method of enhancing security in network management for SNMPv2c packet traffic over internet between a (sending) manager location and an (receiving) agent location uses a pluggable security application function. The manager location has a manager side security application (MSA) and may include one or more managers. The agent location has an agent side security application (ASA) and may include one or more agents. Upon a SNMP request from a manager to the MSA, the request is encrypted, appended with authentication digest and sent to a registered agent in ASA. The MSA receives a secured response packet back from the ASA, which after authentication decrypts and forwards it to the intended manager. Thus, an existing protocol implementation is maintained, while reducing additional network overhead. The method obviates the use of IPSec tunnels and migration to SNMPv3.

Abstract: A method of enhancing security in network management for SNMPv2c packet traffic over internet between a (sending) manager location and an (receiving) agent location uses a pluggable security application function. The manager location has a manager side security application (MSA) and may include one or more managers. The agent location has an agent side security application (ASA) and may include one or more agents. Upon a SNMP request from a manager to the MSA, the request is encrypted, appended with authentication digest and sent to a registered agent in ASA. The MSA receives a secured response packet back from the ASA, which after authentication decrypts and forwards it to the intended manager. Thus, an existing protocol implementation is maintained, while reducing additional network overhead. The method obviates the use of IPSec tunnels and migration to SNMPv3.