Author: claimsbot

1. An AV data transmission apparatus including two or more output channels and transmitting encrypted AV data to a plurality of AV data reception apparatuses, each AV reception apparatus of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses corresponding to one output channel of said two or more output channels, said AV data transmission apparatus comprising:
an encryption device encrypting AV data using an encryption key;
an AV data transmission device transmitting the encrypted AV data to the plurality of AV data reception apparatuses through each output channel of said two or more output channels;
an encryption key switching device selecting at least one output channel of said two or more output channels, and switching an encryption key used for encrypting the AV data to be transmitted through said selected at least one output channel;
an output suspension device selecting, when a first AV data reception apparatus, of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses, which cannot decrypt encrypted AV data encrypted using a first encryption key switched to by said encryption key switching device is present, a first output channel, of said two or more output channels, corresponding to the first AV data reception apparatus, and suspending an output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through said selected first output channel; and
a control device causing (i) said output suspension device to suspend the output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through said selected first output channel, and (ii) said encryption key switching device to switch the first encryption key, used for encrypting the AV data for which the output through said first output channel is suspended, to a second encryption key and then to transmit AV data encrypted using the second encryption key through at least said first output channel of said two or more output channels.
2. The AV data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device (i) causes said output suspension device to suspend the output through said first output channel, and then (ii) disconnects from the first AV data reception apparatus which corresponds to said first output channel.
3. The AV data transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function verification device verifying whether or not the plurality of AV data reception apparatuses detects that the encryption key has been switched,
wherein said control device causes said output suspension device to not suspend the output of the encrypted AV data, which has been encrypted using the first encryption key, through a second output channel, of said two or more channels, which corresponds to a second AV data reception apparatus, of the plurality of AV apparatuses, for which said function verification device verifies that the first encryption key has been switched.
4. An AV data transmission method for transmitting, through two or more output channels, encrypted AV data to a plurality of AV data reception apparatuses, each AV reception apparatus of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses corresponding to one output channel of the two or more output channels, said AV data transmission method comprising:
encrypting AV data using an encryption key;
transmitting the encrypted AV data to the plurality of AV data reception apparatuses through each output channel of the two or more output channels;
switching, by selecting at least one output channel of the two or more output channels, an encryption key used for encrypting the AV data to be transmitted through the selected at least one output channel;
suspending, by selecting, when a first AV data reception apparatus, of the plurality of AV reception apparatuses, which cannot decrypt encrypted AV data encrypted using a first encryption key switched to by said switching is present, a first output channel, of the two or more output channels, corresponding to the first AV data reception apparatus, an output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through the selected first output channel; and
causing (i) said suspending to suspend the output of the encrypted AV data transmitted through the selected first output channel, and (ii) said switching to switch the first encryption key, used for encrypting the AV data for which the output through the first output channel is suspended, to a second encryption key and then to transmit AV data encrypted using the second encryption key through at least the first output channel of the two or more output channels.
5. The AV data transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the AV data encrypted using the second encryption key and to be transmitted through said first output channel and the AV data encrypted using the first encryption key and to be transmitted through said second output channel are the same AV data.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having steerable wheels and a power steering system, a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels and a controllable vehicle suspension system for vertically adjusting the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
determining vehicle position relative to a stationary element of an electrical connector for a utility power grid;
determining a position of a second element of the electrical connector supported on the vehicle;
determining relative positions of the stationary element and the second connector element using x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinates;
using the motor to incrementally advance the position of the vehicle in an x-axis direction on a heading toward the stationary connector element;
using the power steering system to guide the vehicle toward the stationary connector element as vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made to align the connector elements; and
using the vehicle controllable suspension system to adjust the vehicle incrementally in a z-axis direction as vehicle position adjustments are made to align the connector elements;
the vehicle thereby being maneuvered with a heading in an auto-seek mode to mechanically connect the connector elements.
2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made by using differences in wheel rotation of steerable vehicle wheels in a unit of time.
3. A control system for a battery-powered vehicle having steerable wheels and a power steering system, a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels and an adjustable vehicle suspension system, the control system comprising:
an electrical connector comprising first and second electrical connector parts, one part being mounted on a stationary structure and connected electrically to a power grid, the second part being mounted on the vehicle;
the position of the one connector part relative to the other being identified by target x, y and z axes;
a first vehicle position signal and a second vehicle position signal being exchanged by the connector parts; and
a vehicle system controller for receiving the vehicle position signals;
the controller being configured to respond to the position signals to compute a distance in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction and a z-axis direction between the first and second electrical connector parts, the x, y and z axes defining the vehicle position in a coordinate reference frame;
the motor being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual x-axis vehicle position and a target x-axis vehicle position;
the power steering system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual y-axis vehicle position and a target y-axis position;
the vehicle suspension system being activated by the controller to incrementally reduce to zero an error between an actual z-axis vehicle position and a target z-axis vehicle position;
the vehicle thereby being maneuvered along a line of travel with a heading that will effect a mechanical coupling of the connector parts and completion of a battery charging circuit.
4. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the vehicle position signals are short-range radio frequency signals.
5. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the vehicle position signals are optical signals.
6. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the position signals are retro-reflective signals.
7. The control system set forth in claim 3 wherein the stationary structure is a vehicle garage wall, the vehicle being maneuvered along a line of travel that allows the connector parts to be coupled as the vehicle moves under battery and motor power following a driving event that partially depletes battery charge.
8. A method for controlling a battery-powered vehicle having a power steering system and a motor electrically coupled to the battery for powering vehicle traction wheels, the method comprising the steps of:
determining vehicle position relative to a stationary element of an electrical connection for a utility power grid;
determining a position of a second element of the electrical connection supported on the vehicle;
the motor being adapted to incrementally advance the position of the vehicle in an x-axis coordinate direction on a heading toward the stationary connector element to align the connector elements;
the power steering system being adapted to guide the vehicle in a y-axis coordinate direction toward the stationary connection element as vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made to align the connection elements;
a vehicle suspension being adapted to adjust the vehicle vertically in a z-axis coordinate direction to align the connector elements; and
determining relative positions of the stationary element and the second connection element using at least two of the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis coordinates;
the vehicle thereby being maneuvered with a heading in an auto-seek mode to mechanically connect the connector elements.
9. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein vehicle y-axis position adjustments are made by using differences in wheel rotation of steerable vehicle wheels in a unit of time.

1. A method comprising:
coupling a client device to communicate with a host computer over a serial link, wherein the serial link enables the client device to communicate with the host computer without using a network connection;
the client device sending a request to the host computer over the serial link to request the host computer to open a proxy network connection for communication between the client device and a server computer;
in response to the request, the host computer creating a network socket for communication with the server computer, so as to establish the proxy network connection via the network socket; and
conveying data between the client device and the server computer using the serial link and the proxy network connection, wherein the method enables the client device to communicate with the server computer through a network without opening a network connection on the client device.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating the network socket comprises creating a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) socket.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein conveying the data comprises conveying a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) packet through the TCP socket.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein conveying the data between the client device and the server computer comprises the client device transmitting and receiving data over the serial link without using a TCP stack on the client device.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method requires no more than a single program thread to run on the client device.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein conveying the data between the client device and the server computer comprises the client device transmitting and receiving data over the serial link without using a networking protocol stack on the client device.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the serial link comprises one of:
an RS-232 link;
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) link.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein conveying the data between the client device and the server computer using the serial link and the proxy network connection comprises:
the client device sending first data to the host computer over the serial link;
the host computer forwarding the first data to the server computer over the proxy network connection;
the host computer receiving second data from the server computer over the proxy network connection; and
the host computer forwarding the second data to the client device over the serial link.
9. Apparatus for communication, comprising:
a client computing device, which comprises a first serial port; and
a host computer, which comprises a second serial port, wherein the host computer is coupled to the client computing device by a serial link between the second serial port and the first serial port;
wherein the client computing device is configured to send a request to the host computer over the serial link to request the host computer to open a proxy network connection for communication between the client computing device and a server computer, wherein the request is sent over the serial link without using a network connection between the client computing device and the host computer;
wherein the host computer is configured to:
in response to the request, create a network socket for communication with the server computer, so as to establish the proxy network connection via the network socket;
receive first data sent over the serial link from the client computing device;
forward the first data to the server computer over the proxy network connection;
receive second data from the server computer over the proxy network connection; and
forward the second data to the client computing device over the serial link.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein creating the network socket comprises creating a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) socket.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first data received over the serial link from the client computing device comprises a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) packet.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the client computing device is configured to send the first data to the host computer over the serial link without using a TCP stack on the client computing device.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the client computing device is configured to send the first data to the host computer and received the second data from the host computer using a single program thread running on the client computing device.
14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the client computing device is configured to send the first data to the host computer over the serial link without using a networking protocol stack on the client computing device.
15. A computer-readable storage medium for use on a client computing device, wherein the client commuting device is adapted to be connected by a serial link to a host computer, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions readable by the client computing device and executable by the client computing device to:
receive a first request to open a network connection to a server computer from a client application executing on the client computing device;
in response to the first request, send a second request to the host computer over the serial link to request the host computer to open a proxy network connection for communication between the client computing device and the server computer, wherein the request is sent over the serial link without using a network connection between the client computing device and the host computer;
receive data addressed to the server computer from the client application; and
send the data to the host computer over the serial link, wherein the host computer is configured to forward the data to the server computer over the proxy network connection.
16. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the data addressed to the server computer comprises a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) packet.
17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the client computing device to run the client application and to send the second request using a single program thread running on the client device.
18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the client computing device to send the data over the serial link without using a networking protocol stack on the client computing device.
19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the client computing device to send the data over the serial link without using a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) stack on the client computing device.
20. A computer-readable storage medium for use on a host computer, wherein the host computer is adapted to be connected by a serial link to a client computing device, and wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions readable by the host computer and executable by the host computer to:
receive, over the serial link, a request from the client computing device to open a proxy network connection for communication between the client computing device and a server computer, wherein the request is received over the serial link without using a network connection between the host computer and the client computing device;
in response to the request, create a network socket for communication with the server computer, so as to establish the proxy network connection via the network socket;
receive first data sent over the serial link from the client computing device;
forward the first data to the server computer over the proxy network connection;
receive second data from the server computer over the proxy network connection; and
forward the second data to the client computing device over the serial link.
21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the instructions cause the host computer to create the network socket by creating a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) socket.
22. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the first data received over the serial link from the client computing device comprises a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) packet.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A device for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, the device comprising:
one or more transducers, each transducer comprising at least two electrodes and an electroactive polymer in electrical communication with the at least two electrodes, wherein a portion of the electroactive polymer is arranged to deflect from a first position to a second position in response to a change in electric field, and wherein the electroactive polymer has an elastic modulus below about 100 MPa; and
at least one surface in contact with a fluid and operatively coupled to the one or more transducers, wherein the deflection of the portion of the electroactive polymer causes the thermodynamic work to be imparted to the fluid and wherein the thermodynamic work is transmitted to the fluid via the at least one surface.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a chamber for receiving the fluid wherein a bounding surface of the chamber includes the at least one surface.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the chamber is formed from one of a bladder or a bellows.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the deflection of the portion of the electroactive polymer squeezes the bladder or bellows to reduce a volume of the bladder or the bellows.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the deflection of the portion of the electroactive polymer stretches the bladder or bellows to increase a volume of the bladder or the bellows.
6. The device of claim 3, wherein the chamber is formed from a cylinder and a piston wherein the one surface is a portion of a piston head.
7. The device of claim 2, wherein the deflection of the portion of the electroactive polymer causes a change in a volume of the chamber.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the change in the volume in the chamber compresses the fluid.
9. The device of claim 7, wherein the change in the volume in the chamber expands the fluid.
10. The device of claim 7, wherein the change in the volume in the chamber causes a thermodynamic phase change in at least a portion of the fluid.
11. The device of claim 7, wherein the change in volume in the chamber draws fluid into the chamber.
12. The device of claim 7, wherein the change in volume in the chamber expels fluid from the chamber.