Abstract: A control system, method, and device for managing variable power sources in DC power systems, such as photovoltaic (PV) systems. An electrical component can be configured to condition power from a photovoltaic (PV) panel such that current is drawn from the PV panel at a peak power continuously, at all times, or irrespective of current flux.

Abstract: A system and method for managing simultaneous access to a scarce or serially re-usable resource by multiple process threads. A stationary queue is provided, including a wait counter for counting the cumulative number of threads that have been temporarily denied the resource; a satisfied counter for counting the cumulative number of threads that have been denied access and subsequently granted access to said resource; a sleep code routine responsive to the wait counter for generating a run identifier; and a wakeup code routine responsive to the satisfied counter for generating the run identifier.

Abstract: A control system, method, and device for managing variable power sources in DC power systems, such as photovoltaic (PV) systems. An electrical component can be configured to condition power from a photovoltaic (PV) panel such that current is drawn from the PV panel at a peak power continuously, at all times, or irrespective of current flux.

Abstract: Encryption and decryption of data stored from a computing system to a storage medium is disclosed wherein the processing employs a non-accessible encryption key that is unique to the computing system. The unique encryption key can be embedded in non-removable hardware of the computing system or generated, e.g., from identification numbers ascertained from non-removable hardware of the computing system. Processing includes establishing the unique encryption key, encrypting data using the unique encryption key and storing the encrypted data to the storage medium without storing the unique encryption key on the storage medium. The storage medium can comprise any non-removable or removable storage medium, including for example a computer hard drive, floppy diskette, or recordable compact disk.

Abstract: Encryption and decryption of data stored from a computing system to a storage medium is disclosed wherein the processing employs a non-accessible encryption key that is unique to the computing system. The unique encryption key can be embedded in non-removable hardware of the computing system or generated, e.g., from identification numbers ascertained from non-removable hardware of the computing system. Processing includes establishing the unique encryption key, encrypting data using the unique encryption key and storing the encrypted data to the storage medium without storing the unique encryption key on the storage medium. The storage medium can comprise any non-removable or removable storage medium, including for example a computer hard drive, floppy diskette, or recordable compact disk.

Abstract: A high efficiency lighting system maintains normal lighting conditions by lighting fixtures requiring DC electrical power. A power control device receives AC electrical power from a public utility converts AC power to DC power and delivers low voltage DC electrical power to lighting fixtures. A standby battery is provided to maintain power during power outages. Optionally, a photovoltaic DC electrical power source may be connected to the power control device, to provide alternate DC electrical power. In a further embodiment, a gas driven cogenerator unit may supply DC electrical power.

Abstract: An electronic ballast system controls one or more ballasts of HID or fluorescent lamps, which are controlled in an “on/off” manner by a ultra low power controller that is isolated for a primary power circuit or derives its very low switch power from the ballast itself. The on/off control provides a near lossless control system. This system may be applied to electronic ballast for operates at fractional power levels corresponding to different lighting intensities and with conventional occupancy sensors. The system may also be applied to other electronically compatible end-use devices and applications.

Abstract: Dynamic varying of encrypting of a stream of data at an encryption unit based on data content is disclosed. The dynamic varying of the encrypting, which can be responsive to passage of a predefined number of units of physical data or passage of a predefined number of conceptual units of data, is accomplished by changing at least one encryption parameter over different portions of the data. The at least one encryption parameter can comprise one or more of an encryption key, an encryption granularity, an encryption density scale, an encryption density, an encryption delay, an encryption key update variable, and an encryption key update data trigger. The change in encryption parameter is signaled to a receiver's decryption unit and used by the decryption unit in decrypting the dynamically varied encrypted stream of data. The stream of data may comprise, e.g., MPEG compressed video or audio.

Abstract: A system and method for managing simultaneous access to a scarce or serially re-usable resource by multiple process threads. A stationary queue is provided, including a wait counter for counting the cumulative number of threads that have been temporarily denied the resource; a satisfied counter for counting the cumulative number of threads that have been denied access and subsequently granted access to said resource; a sleep code routine responsive to the wait counter for generating a run identifier; and a wakeup code routine responsive to the satisfied counter for generating the run identifier.

Abstract: A high efficiency lighting system maintains normal lighting conditions by lighting fixtures requiring DC electrical power. A power control device receives AC electrical power from a public utility converts AC power to DC power and delivers low voltage DC electrical power to lighting fixtures. A standby battery is provided to maintain power during power outages. Optionally, a photovoltaic DC electrical power source may be connected to the power control device, to provide alternate DC electrical power. In a further embodiment, a gas driven cogenerator unit may supply DC electrical power.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product are provided for monitoring integrity of at least one of an executable module and an associated protected service provider (PSP) module, wherein the PSP module provides a protected service function to the executable module. A symbiont module is provided for checking integrity of at least one of the PSP module and the executable module, wherein the symbiont module comprises a separate module from the PSP module. The PSP module includes code for cross-checking integrity of the symbiont module, wherein the symbiont module checking and the PSP module cross-checking together monitor integrity of at least one of the executable module and the PSP module. Further, the protected service function can be divided into at least a first component and a second component, with the first component being implemented within the PSP module and the second component being implemented within the symbiont module.

Abstract: Apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for performing integrity checking of a relocated executable module loaded within memory by an operating system loader. A repeatable digital signature is generated by determining the load address of the executable module in memory, normalizing at least some content of the executable module in memory employing the load address of the module, and then performing integrity analysis on a digital section of the module's content, including the normalized content, thereby deriving the repeatable digital signature.

Abstract: A communications apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of FIFO buffers, each with independent control and priority logic under software control for supporting different types of message traffic, both send and receive, such as comprise a multimedia server system. Processor software directs messages to specific, optimized FIFO buffers. Further, a system is provided including a plurality of nodes wherein a sending node specifies the communications path through the system, selecting specific FIFO buffers in each node for buffering its messages.

Abstract: A system and method for managing access by a user to a reusable resource. An integer pool is provided, along with program and hardware structures for obtaining an integer from the integer pool, for returning an integer to the integer pool. Responsive to the integer pool being empty, the user is waited. The integer pool includes a NEXT control structure from which a next integer is obtained for use and into which an integer is loaded upon being made available for reuse. The integer pool includes, for holding integers received from or to be provided to said NEXT control structure, (a) a LIFO stack or (b) a linked list by proxy. Reusable resources include data buffers, hardware status bits, logical connections and/or data channels.

Abstract: A communications apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of FIFO buffers, each with independent control and priority logic under software control for supporting different types of message traffic, both send and receive, such as comprise a multimedia server system. Processor software directs messages to specific, optimized FIFO buffers. Further, a system is provided including a plurality of nodes wherein a sending node specifies the communications path through the system, selecting specific FIFO buffers in each node for buffering its messages.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of an adapter operable in a plurality of modes, such as I/O mode and memory mapped mode. A generic adapter access routine is initialized with global data objects as pointers to corresponding sets of alternative adapter functions, and the adapter is initialized to function in a first mode and the pointers mapped to a corresponding current set of adapter functions. Device driver code calls to global data objects are executed by reference to the current set of adapter functions. Responsive to a request to switch modes, the adapter is switched to a second mode and the pointers remapped to a corresponding second set of adapter functions, and execution of device driver code calls to the global data objects continues.

Abstract: A system and method for managing access by a user to a reusable resource. An integer pool is provided, along with program and hardware structures for obtaining an integer from the integer pool, for returning an integer to the integer pool. Responsive to the integer pool being empty, the user is waited. The integer pool includes a NEXT control structure from which a next integer is obtained for use and into which an integer is loaded upon being made available for reuse. The integer pool includes, for holding integers received from or to be provided to said NEXT control structure, (a) a LIFO stack or (b) a linked list by proxy. Reusable resources include data buffers, hardware status bits, logical connections and/or data channels.

Abstract: A digital parallel processing system wherein a plurality of nodes communicate via messages sent over an interconnection network. Messages are maintained in strict chronological order even though sent by nodes where several sources are generating messages simultaneously. A network adapter is described for interconnecting the processor and its associated memory to a network over a bus. The adapter includes an adapter associated memory programmable into a plurality of functional areas, said functional areas including a send FIFO for storing and forwarding messages to said network from said processor; a stack list for queueing in strict message order activation commands for said send FIFO; and an adapter program area for storing adapter program instructions which control the storing of messages to said send FIFO; and control means responsive to said stack list for executing said adapter program instructions in said strict message order without processor intervention.

Abstract: A data processing system gives an application running on the operating system exclusive ownership of a hardware device. The system is operable in two modes. In the first mode the application interacts with the hardware device by making use of the processing system. In this mode many layers of the processing system are involved and the interaction time with the hardware is slow and inconsistent. In the second mode, exclusive ownership of the hardware device is granted to the application by the driver. In this mode the application has direct access to the hardware device thus avoiding the involvement of the processing system layers. The application accesses and uses the driver through a low latency processor interface linked into the application program itself.