Abstract: A system and method detect and manage conductive gaps between collector devices onboard vehicles and conductive pathways extending along routes traveled by the vehicles. The collector devices are conductively couplable to the conductive pathways. The system and method respond to a detected drop in an amount of electric current being conducted from the conductive pathway to the collector device of a vehicle with a responsive action prior to or during a subsequent drop in voltage being conducted from the conductive pathway to the collector device.

Abstract: An assembly may be provided that includes a controller configured to be coupled with at least one blower drive that operates a blower motor to cool resistive elements that dissipate electrical power as heat. The controller may be configured to determine whether the electrical power is no longer received by the resistive elements and operate the at least one blower drive to operate the blower motor to cool the resistive elements responsive to the electrical power no longer being received by the resistive elements.

Abstract: A method including detecting that a vehicle that may be propelled by an electric drive system having one or more motors disconnects or begins disconnecting from an off-board source of power while the one or more motors are being powered by the off-board source of power. The method may include supplanting a decreasing amount of a first electric energy supplied by the off-board source of power to the electric drive system with an amount of a second electric energy supplied by an onboard source of power to the electric drive system responsive to the detection of the disconnect from the off-board source of power.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling operation of a vehicle system are provided. This vehicle system can be at least partially powered by electric current conducted to a collector device of the vehicle system from a conductive pathway extending along a route traveled by the vehicle system. A voltage level of the conductive pathway may be monitored, and a conduction impaired location of the conductive pathway may be identified based at least in part on the voltage level of the conductive pathway that is monitored. The collector device or a removal device may be controlled to remove a contaminant from the conductive pathway at the conduction impaired location, the vehicle system may be controlled to compensate for the conduction impaired location, and/or an off-board facility and/or another vehicle system may be notified of the conduction impaired location responsive to identifying the conduction impaired location.

Abstract: A computer security vulnerability remediation system (CSVRS) is disclosed, including a CSVRS client communicatively coupled to a remediation server through a network. The CSVRS client includes software having a security vulnerability, which vulnerability may be known to malicious actors who develop an exploit. In some cases, the exploit is a “zero-day exploit,” meaning the vulnerability may not be known to the CSVRS client until the exploit is deployed. A RSP receives information about the exploit and vulnerability from a team of remediation experts. The RSP may prepare a remedial exploit, which carries a self-healing pay load. The remedial exploit may be delivered either through the vulnerability itself, or through credentials granted by the CSVRS client to the RSP. The self-healing pay-load takes appropriate action, such as closing ports or disabling scripts, to prevent the vulnerability from being further exploited.

Abstract: A computer security vulnerability remediation system (CSVRS) is disclosed, including a CSVRS client communicatively coupled to a remediation server through a network. The CSVRS client includes software having a security vulnerability, which vulnerability may be known to malicious actors who develop an exploit. In some cases, the exploit is a “zero-day exploit,” meaning the vulnerability may not be known to the CSVRS client until the exploit is deployed. A RSP receives information about the exploit and vulnerability from a team of remediation experts. The RSP may prepare a remedial exploit, which carries a self-healing pay load. The remedial exploit may be delivered either through the vulnerability itself, or through credentials granted by the CSVRS client to the RSP. The self-healing pay-load takes appropriate action, such as closing ports or disabling scripts, to prevent the vulnerability from being further exploited.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new method for policy enforcement in a virtualized or cloud environment. We break down the environment into layers, which are further sub-divided into security units. Each security unit has a security profile based on its own security properties and those of the layers below. The security profile also reflects the floor, ceiling and wall security properties. Each security unit has an agent which is used to establish communications with other security units. Such communication is mediated by a cloud trust broker which determines if the communication is permitted based on access control list or else retrieves the security profiles and applies pre-defined rules. If the communications are allowed the cloud trust broker runs a mutual authentication and key distribution protocol that results in the two security units obtaining a session key which they can then use for further communications which can proceed directly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to drilling apparatus which includes a steerable bottom hole assembly for use in a well bore. The steerable bottom hole assembly includes a bent sub assembly connectable to a distal end of a drill string. It also has a control bias unit connected to the bent sub assembly and a drill bit connected to the control bias unit. The bent sub assembly may have an adjustable angle.