Abstract: A system comprising of both software on a target computer and software residing on a removable hardware device, (currently embodiment is a USB device) designed for the sole purpose of limiting and or controlling Internet (IP based network) communications, based upon the presence of the external device. The system utilizes a unique device descriptor along with a unique stored identifier of the Physical Control Node (PCN) for the purposes of enabling the target computer to discriminate devices. A unique identifier held within the computer allows the PCN to discriminate the target computer. Furthermore, allowed IP addresses are stored in the PCN and or computer for the purpose of allowing access to specific IP addresses while connected. Tertiary criteria can be stored within the PCN and or computer for the purposes of further defining system behavior i.e. calendar and time restricted behavior, while logging associated events.

Abstract: A method of power factor control for a power regulation system connected for supplying electric power to a reactive load, the power factor being characterized by a phase difference between a voltage waveform and an induced current waveform, the method comprising the steps of identifying a peak of an AC current waveform and a peak of an AC voltage peak waveform, determining a time delay between a designated peak of a half cycle of the voltage waveform and a peak of a corresponding half cycle of the current waveform; and adjusting the voltage applied to the load in a manner to vary the time delay so as to bring the power factor towards unity.

Abstract: The present invention is illustrated in a method of power factor control for a power regulation system connected for supplying electric power to a reactive load. The system includes a microcomputer for supplying gating signals to an electronic switching device such as a triac for controlling the conduction phase angle of the triac to control the application of alternating current (AC) electric power to the load. The method comprises monitoring of the waveform of the AC voltage applied to the load and determining for each of the half-cycles of the waveform a timed event when the absolute value of the magnitude of the waveform transitions through a reference magnitude. A peak of the voltage waveform is determined. The process is repeated for the AC current waveform and the corresponding peaks of the current waveform identified.