Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Oracle America, Inc.

Integrated Micro Products, Ltd.

Emrys J Williams

David C Liddell

Andrew M Rudoff

Raymond J Gilstrap

Paul Jeffrey Garnett

Michael W Shapiro

Kenneth Clayton Gross

Andrew E Phelps

Joseph Raymond Siegel

Kenneth Alan House

David S Gordon

Cynthia A McGuire

Steven E Weiss

Gregory S Jumper

A payment device is provided for use in transactions such as credit purchases at a retail store. The device includes a non-volatile memory containing a set of multiple identifiers that are associated with a customer account. The multiple identifiers are also known to an agency that provides the customer account. The device further includes a processor operable to select one identifier out of the set of multiple identifiers for use with any particular transaction involving the device and the customer account. This identifier is then conveyed from the device, typically via a store terminal, to the agency that maintains the account.

Method and apparatus having multiple identifiers for use in making transactions

A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring a parameter such as temperature in a system such as a computer server. The method involves defining a monitoring range for the parameter. Typically, the parameter initially lies within the monitoring range. The parameter is then tracked by determining whenever the parameter exceeds an upper or lower limit of the monitoring range. If such a limit is reached, the monitoring range is adjusted to try to accommodate the parameter within the adjusted monitoring range. A time history of the monitoring range may be recorded, including details of all the adjustments of the monitoring range. This allows the behavior of the parameter to be subsequently investigated for diagnostic purposes.

Method and apparatus for monitoring variations in a parameter over time

A method and apparatus for accepting a pass code such as a personal identification number (PIN) are disclosed. The method involves providing a user with a challenge, typically on some form of shielded display to prevent third party viewing. The user now enters a response which transforms the challenge into the pass code allocated to the user. The response allows the user to be validated against a stored record of the pass code allocated to the user.

Method and system for accepting a pass code

A semiconductor device includes a stored device identifier that is accessible to external systems, and a stored secret key that is inaccessible to external systems. The device also includes an input, which in operation receives a system identifier, representing the system into which the device is to be incorporated, and an authorization key. An authorization unit within the device is then used for enabling or disabling the device in accordance with the values of the stored secret key, the received system identifier and the authorization key. The authorization key is typically supplied by a support center in response to being notified of the device identifier. In one embodiment, the authorization unit encrypts the system identifier using the stored secret key as the encryption key and then compares the result against the authorization key.

Anti-theft system and method for semiconductor devices and other electronic components

A personal authorisation device wearable by a user includes an input operable to receive data for authenticating a user, a memory operable to store validation information derived from the user authentication data, and an output operable to provide an authorisation code. The device further includes a tamper detector that triggers if the device is removed from its wearer. Triggering of the tamper detector serves to disable use of the device.

Personal authorisation device

One embodiment of the invention provides apparatus including a data structure representing a fault tree for a system. The data structure comprises a plurality of events linked by propagations. Each event is classified as one of at least three possible event types. A first type of event is a problem event, which represents an underlying cause of misbehavior in the system. A second type of event is an error event, which represents an error in the system comprising an incorrect signal or datum. A third type of event is a report event, representing the formal detection by the system of an error. Each propagation in the fault tree denotes a cause and effect linkage from one event to another event. There are no propagations within the fault tree to a problem event.

System and method for providing a data structure representative of a fault tree

A method and system are provided for automated diagnosis for a system. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a fault tree representation of the system, the fault tree specifying propagations of errors generated in the system by problems to produce error reports. At least some of the propagations have timing information associated therewith. One or more error reports having timing information associated therewith are received and analysed using the fault tree representation to determine a suspect list of problems. The suspect list contains those problems that could have generated errors to produce the received error reports compatible with the propagations in the fault tree, and consistent with the timing information associated with the propagations and the received error reports.

System and method for automated problem diagnosis

A method and system are provided for reporting a status from a first node in a network to a second node in the network. The first node maintains a first value and a second value, both of which represent some status at the first node. When this status is modified, the first value is updated in accordance with the modified status. Once this has been done, a transmission is sent indicating the updated first value from the first node to the second node. The second node maintains a third value that also represents the status at the first node. Therefore, when the second node receives the transmission from the first node indicating the updated first value, it updates this third value in accordance with the updated first value. It then sends a confirmation back to the first node. Once this confirmation has been received at the first node, the second value is updated in accordance with the updated status. In this way, the third value mirrors the first value, and the second value mirrors the third value.

Method and system for reporting status over a communications link

A method for managing a fault involves detecting an error, gathering data associated with the error to generate an error event, and categorizing the error event using a hierarchical organization of the error event.

Event protocol and resource naming scheme

A semiconductor device includes at least one component which is vulnerable to damage during scan testing for a particular input data configuration, and supports a safe mode in which this particular input data configuration is disabled. The semiconductor device also includes a port for receiving an input scan vector for scan testing, and an authorization unit connected to said port. The authorization unit maintains the device in safe mode if an input scan vector does not satisfy at least one predetermined criterion. In one particular implementation, the authorization unit generates a digital signature for the input scan vector, which is then compared to a signature portion included within the input scan vector itself. Scan testing is enabled providing that this comparison finds a match.

Semiconductor device and method and apparatus for testing such a device

One embodiment of the invention provides a method for simulating the operation of a system. The method includes providing a fault tree representation of the system. The fault tree defines a set of problems that may occur in the system, and specifies propagations in the system whereby a problem may create one or more errors that may in turn be detected by error detectors to produce corresponding error reports. The fault tree representation allows the presence of a problem in the system to be simulated, and the set of error reports resulting from the simulated problem to be determined. This simulation can be repeated for different problems to compare the sets of error reports potentially produced by the different problems.

System and method for simulating system operation

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the power consumption of a semiconductor device such as a CPU or other form of processor that is operable to process a sequence of instructions. The device includes a monitor for checking the power consumption of the device, in order to detect any significant change in power consumption (which can cause problems for the power supply circuitry). In order to mitigate such change, one or more dummy instructions are inserted into the sequence of instructions. The dummy instructions do not affect the logical processing, but are selected in order to limit the change in power consumption. Thus if the change in power consumption represents an increase, then dummy instructions are selected that do not require much current. Conversely, if the change in power consumption represents a decrease, then dummy instructions are selected that draw a relatively large amount of current.

Method and apparatus for controlling the power consumption of a semiconductor device

A method and system are provided for generating a data structure representative of a fault tree for a system. One embodiment of the method includes providing one or more input files comprising a source code description of the fault tree. The source code description has a plurality of statements specifying events and propagations in the fault tree, where a propagation represents a cause and effect linkage between events. The method further includes compiling the input files in source code into the data structure.

System and method for generating a data structure representative of a fault tree

A method and apparatus are disclosed for supplying power in electronic equipment. Thus the apparatus comprises at least one electronic component and a power supply unit that provides power to the electronic component. The power supply unit incorporates a detector that is responsive to the power output level from the power supply unit increasing beyond a predetermined limit. If this limit is breached, the power supply unit outputs a delay signal to the electronic component. This delay signal then causes the electronic component to reduce its power consumption (such as by performing dummy operations), thereby avoiding an overload on the power supply unit.

Method and apparatus for supplying power in electronic equipment

An Error Correcting Code (ECC) conversion facility includes a first interface for receiving input data protected in accordance with a first ECC, and first and second processing paths, each connected to the first interface. First and second decoders are incorporated into respective first and second processing paths. Each of these decoders serves to extract clear data from input data protected in accordance with the first ECC. The first processing path also includes a decoder that can protect clear data in accordance with a second ECC. The output of the system is then connected to both the first and second processing paths, and produces output data protected in accordance with the second ECC. A first portion of this output data comprises data received from the first processing path, and a second portion of the output data comprises data received from the second processing path.

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Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Emrys J Williams