Abstract: A smoking materials packaging device may be moved between an open and closed position, and may include a back panel movingly coupled to a first side panel via a first hinge. A front panel may be movingly coupled to a side of the first side panel opposite to the back panel via a second hinge. A second side panel may be movingly coupled to a side of the front panel opposite to the first side panel via a third hinge. A flap panel may be movingly coupled to a side of the second side panel opposite to the front panel via a fourth hinge. Smoking material(s) may be coupled to the front and back panels. A first magnetic element may be coupled to the flap panel and a second magnetic element may be coupled to the back panel, and the magnetic elements may secure the device in the closed position.

Abstract: Alarm system includes a controller, a single-wire loop connected to the controller, identification modules connected to the single-wire loop and attachments to or incorporated structures on or in the identification modules. Attachments or incorporated structures include digital and analog devices. Each identification module is programmed to provide a signal or report to the controller indicative of whether the associated device is in a normal state or in an alarm/trouble state. When analog devices are used, the identification modules may be designed not only to convert the analog readings to digital form but also to provide for a permitted range of variation in the sensor readings so that not all variations from a single, predetermined value of the condition being monitored by the sensor are considered indicative of a problem with the area being monitored by the sensor or a fault with the sensor.

Abstract: Alarm system includes a controller, a single-wire loop connected to the controller, identification modules connected to the single-wire loop and attachments to or incorporated structures on or in the identification modules. Attachments or incorporated structures include digital and analog devices. Each identification module is programmed to provide a signal or report to the controller indicative of whether the associated device is in a normal state or in an alarm/trouble state. When analog devices are used, the identification modules may be designed not only to convert the analog readings to digital form but also to provide for a permitted range of variation in the sensor readings so that not all variations from a single, predetermined value of the condition being monitored by the sensor are considered indicative of a problem with the area being monitored by the sensor or a fault with the sensor.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system and method for minimizing perturbations while monitoring parallel applications. Perturbations due to monitoring the application are minimized by synchronizing all the nodes within the system to a very accurate global time clock such that all the nodes running the application stop and restart running the application at the same time. Within the time period bounded by the stop and restart time, all the performance monitoring data is transferred from performance monitoring data buffers to a secondary memory.

Abstract: An asynchronous interface enabling a processor node operating at a first clocking frequency to transfer and receive information from a communications network operating at a second clocking frequency. The asynchronous interface comprises an input synchronizer and an output synchronizer. The input synchronizer asynchronously receives a first plurality of information packets from the processor node and synchronously transfers the first plurality of information packets into the communications network. The output synchronizer, however, synchronously receives a second plurality of information packets from the communications network and asynchronously transfers the second plurality of information packets into the processor node. Both the input and output synchronizers are coupled between the communications network and the processor node.