Abstract: An automobile air intake system is provided that channels air from outside the automobile engine compartment to the engine. The automobile air intake system according to an embodiment of the invention includes an intake enclosure coupled to a bulkhead across the front of the engine compartment. The automobile grille, radiator, and a front portion of the hood in front of the bulkhead form a flow channel to an intake port of the intake enclosure. Aspects of the invention include a screen extending from the bulkhead to the grille for inhibiting the flow of water and particles through the flow channel. Other aspects provide an alternative air path for channeling air from the engine compartment to the intake enclosure.

Abstract: An automobile air intake system is provided that channels air from inside the automobile engine compartment to an air intake enclosure leading to the engine. Air inside the engine compartment is channeled via a passageway in the hood to an air intake enclosure leading to the engine. The intake path through the hood may be an alternate path for providing air to the engine when a primary path is at least partially obstructed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the automobile air intake system includes an intake enclosure and a hood having a passageway formed between the hood skin and the hood frame for channeling air from the within the engine compartment to the intake enclosure.

Abstract: This invention provides a methodology for negotiating parameters in a distributed computing environment. The invention may be implemented in a way which is simple, general and robust. Leasing, deadlock detection and starvation detection may be provided. The invention may be applied to automatic configuration of networked devices and their services. In one embodiment, devices on a computer network provide services. In each instance where one service imports functionality from another service a finite state machine associated with each service is instantiated. The finite state machines exchange messages which cause them to progress through a sequence of states. The messages contain configuration data. When the finite state machines have reached their final states the functionality in question is made available to the importing service. The finite state machines enforce incremental negotiation. The finite state machines also provide smooth recovery from errors and interruptions in network availability.