Abstract: A method for managing data traffic in a multiple-user multiple simultaneous access environment using a channel load estimate and a calculation. The estimate or estimates are used to calculate a congestion threshold (CT) and to select a current congestion threshold broadcast to all potential users. An experiment is performed by users comparing that congestion threshold value and a random number to determine if a packet is eligible to be transmitted, thus throttling the random transmission of packets so that the transmitted load from the terminal has a rate of packet transmission that is less than the congestion threshold times the offered load (from the user), where the congestion threshold value is related to the probability of a globally successful transmission of a number of simultaneously transmitted packets. A quality of service (QOS) factor may also throttle the transmitted load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides the capability for a single function to safely use multiple register windows within the same function, with minimal additional support from the operating system, by specifying a new window pointer, the “Effective Current Window Pointer” (ECWP), to be used in conjunction with the prior art window pointer. According to the present invention, the new window pointer ECWP can be used to override the prior art window pointer in dictating from which register window the operands stipulated by the instructions to be executed are sourced/sinked. Consequently, using the method and apparatus of the invention, the number of spills to memory is reduced, the number of instructions required is decreased, resources are used more efficiently, and costly dependency problems and RAW (read-after-write) stalls are prevented.

Abstract: Compromise of a predetermined secure data processing routine by a procedure known as a "clock attack" is prevented by a method that inhibits synchronization with externally generated instructions by preventing determination of the time of execution predetermined data processing routine in relation to occurrence of an externally observable event that precedes the execution of the predetermined routine. The method includes the step of (a) randomly varying the duration between the occurrence of the externally observable event and the execution of the predetermined routine. Step (a) includes the steps of (b) executing one or more interim data processing routines between the occurrence of the externally observable event and the execution of the predetermined routine; and (c) randomly varying the duration of said interim routines.