Author: claimsbot

We claim:

1. A method for establishing a secure transmission channel from software of a first node to software of a second node comprising:
sending a key, identification of the first node, and identification of the second node from hardware of the first node to hardware of the second node;
receiving the key, identification of the first node, and identification of the second node by the hardware of the second node;
verifying the identification of the first node and the identification of the second node at the hardware of the second node; and,
storing the key at the hardware of the second node.
2. The method of claim 1, further initially comprising:
creating the key at the software of the first node; and,
storing the key at the hardware of the first node.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first node and the second node comprises one or more partitions, each partition corresponding to an operating system instance.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the software of the first node comprises a process running in one of the one or more partitions of the first node.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification of the first node comprises at least one of identification of the process running in the one of the one or more partitions of the first node, and identification of the one of the one or more partitions of the first node.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the identification of the second node comprises at least one of identification of a process running in one of the one or more partitions of the second node, and identification of the one of the one or more partitions of the second node.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the hardware of the first node and the hardware of the second node comprises a connection management mechanism.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the identification of the first node and the identification of the second node at the hardware of the second node comprises verifying the identification of the first node and the identification of the second node in a channel state table accessible by the hardware of the second node and accessible by the software of the second node.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the key at the hardware of the second node comprises storing the key in a key table accessible by the hardware of the second node but inaccessible by the software of the second node.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
creating a message at the software of the second node;
sending the message, the key, the identification of the first node, and the identification of the second node from the hardware of the second node to the hardware of the first node;
receiving the message, the key, the identification of the first node, and the identification of the second node by the hardware of the first node;
verifying the key at the hardware of the first node; and,
processing the message at the software of the first node.
11. A computerized system comprising:
a first connection management mechanism at a first node to maintain first keys for secure communication to first processes running in one or more first partitions of the first node from second processes running in one or more second partitions of a second node, the first keys inaccessible by the first processes, each first key used for secure communication to one of the first processes from one of the second processes; and,
a second connection management mechanism at the second node to maintain second keys for secure communication to the second processes from the first processes, the second keys inaccessible by the second processes, each second key used for secure communication to one of the second processes from one of the first processes.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
a first key table at the first node to store the first keys, the first key table accessible by the first connection management mechanism but inaccessible by the first processes; and,
a second key table at the second node to store the second keys, the second key table accessible by the second connection management mechanism but inaccessible by the second processes.
13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
a first connection table at the first node and accessible by the first connection management mechanism and the first processes, the first connection table having a number of first entries, each first entry identifying one of the first processes, one of the second processes with which the one of the first processes is securely communicating, and one of the one or more second partitions in which the one of the second processes is running; and,
a second connection table at the second node and accessible by the second connection management mechanism and the second processes, the second connection table having a number of second entries, each second entry identifying one of the second processes, one of the first processes with which the one of the second processes is securely communicating, and one of the one or more first partitions in which the one of the first processes is running.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
a first key table at the first node having a number of first key entries, each first key entry corresponding to a first entry of the first connection table and storing one of the first keys, the first key table accessible by the first connection management mechanism but inaccessible by the first processes; and,
a second key table at the second node having a number of second key entries, each second key entry corresponding to a second entry of the second connection table and storing one of the second keys, the second key table accessible by the second connection management mechanism but inaccessible by the second processes.
15. An article comprising:
a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; and,
means in the medium for maintaining keys for secure communication to first processes running in one or more first partitions of a first node from second processes running in one or more second partitions of a second node, the keys inaccessible by the first processes, each key used for secure communication to one of the first processes from one of the second processes.
16. The article of claim 15, wherein the means in the medium is further for storing the keys in a key table inaccessible by the first processes.
17. The article of claim 15, wherein a connection table at the first node is accessible by the means in the medium and the first processes, the connection table having a number of entries, each entry identifying one of the first processes, one of the second processes with which the one of the first processes is securely communicating, and one of the one or more second partitions in which the one of the second processes is running.
18. The article of claim 17, wherein a key table at the first node is accessible by the means in the medium but inaccessible by the first processes, the key table having a number of key entries, each key entry corresponding to an entry of the connection table and storing one of the keys.
19. The article of claim 15, wherein the medium is a recordable data storage medium.
20. The article of claim 15, wherein the medium is a modulated carrier signal.

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 operating power semiconductors arranged in converters, comprising:
measuring with a temperature sensor a temperature of at least one of the power semiconductors;
performing a comparison of the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor with a reference temperature and providing a result of the comparison;
activating a pre-heating phase for preheating the power semiconductors as a function of the result;
during the pre-heating phase, defining a pre-heating current; and
impressing the pre-heating current into an electrical load.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power semiconductors are arranged on an intermediate DC circuit of the converters.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical load is an electric machine connected to the power semiconductors.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-heating phase is activated when the result indicates that the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor is lower than the reference temperature, and wherein the pre-heating phase is not activated when the result indicates that the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor is greater than or equal to the reference temperature.
5. The method as of claim 1, further comprising performing a further comparison of the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor with a further reference temperature and providing a further result of the further comparison.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pre-heating phase, when activated in the activating step, remains active when the further result indicates that the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor is lower than the further reference temperature, and wherein the pre-heating phase when activated in the activating step is deactivated when the further result indicates that the temperature of the at least one power semiconductor is greater than or equal to the further reference temperature.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration of the pre-heating phase lies within a range of seconds.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of the pre-heating phase is within a range of up to one second.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein, during an activated state of the pre-heating phase, the pre-heating current is impressed into the electric machine, and wherein the pre-heating current generates no torque in the electric machine.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-heating current generates no torque on a shaft of the electric machine.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pre-heating current is provided as a function of a vector control.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the electric machine is constructed as an asynchronous machine and the pre-heating current is impressed into the asynchronous machine during the pre-heating phase by means of a magnetization current.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the magnetization current is a current component of a vector control for asynchronous machines.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the electric machine is a synchronous machine and the pre-heating current is impressed into the synchronous machine during the pre-heating phase by means of a field-forming current.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the field-forming current is a current component of a vector control for synchronous machines.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric machine is operated with a torque, which acts on a mechanical shaft of the electric machine, and wherein during an activated state of the pre-heating phase the pre-heating current is impressed into the electric machine.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pre-heating current is provided as a function of a vector control.
18. A computing unit, comprising:
a temperature input for receiving a measured temperature of at least one of a plurality of power semiconductors arranged in converters of an electric machine; and
a signal output,
said computing unit being configured
to perform a comparison of the measured temperature with a reference temperature and to provide a result of the comparison,
to activate a pre-heating phase for preheating the power semiconductors as a function of the result,
to generate control signals which are convertible into gate activation signals for gates of the power semiconductors and which define a pre-heating current impressed into the electric machine during the pre-heating phase in response to execution of the gate activation signals, and
to output the control signals via the signal output.
19. A computer program configured for operating the computing unit of claim 18.
20. A computer program product, on which the computer program of claim 19 is stored.
21. An activation apparatus, comprising:
a signal input configured for receiving the control signals generated by the computing unit of claim 18; and
gate activation signal outputs, said activation apparatus being configured
to generate the gate activation signals for the power semiconductor as a function of the control signals, and
to output the gate activation signals to the gates of the power semiconductor via the gate activation signal outputs.
22. A converter, comprising:
power semiconductors arranged in the converter;
a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the power semiconductors;
a computing unit, said computing unit comprising a temperature input for receiving the temperature of at least one of the power semiconductors measured with the temperature sensor, and a signal output, said computing unit being configured to perform a comparison of the measured temperature with a reference temperature and to provide a result of the comparison, to activate a pre-heating phase for preheating the power semiconductors as a function of the result, to generate control signals which are convertible into gate activation signals for gates of the power semiconductors and which define a pre-heating current impressed into the electric machine during the pre-heating phase in response to execution of the gate activation signals, and to output the control signals via the signal output;
a computer program product and a computer program stored on the computer program product, said computer program being configured for operating the computing unit,
an activation apparatus, comprising a signal input configured for receiving the control signals of the computing unit, and gate activation signal outputs, said activation apparatus being configured to form the gate activation signals for the power semiconductor, and to output the gate activation signals to the gates of the power semiconductor via the gate activation signal outputs.
23. The converter of claim 22, further comprising an intermediate DC circuit.
24. An electric or hybrid vehicle, comprising the converter of claim 22, and an electric machine operable by the converter.
25. The electric or hybrid vehicle of claim 24, wherein the electric machine is constructed as an asynchronous machine or a synchronous machine.

1. A parameter setting system, comprising a plurality of devices connected to a network,
the parameter setting system being configured such that a function parameter necessary to perform a communication function available through the network is capable of being set by a setting device among the plurality of devices in a setting target device among the plurality of devices except the setting device,
wherein the setting device includes:
a protocol inquiry mechanism that inquires the setting target device about a communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device; and
a setting command mechanism that commands the setting target device to set the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a communication protocol notified in response to an inquiry by the protocol inquiry mechanism,

and wherein the setting target device includes:
a protocol response mechanism that notifies the protocol inquiry mechanism of information with respect to the communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device in response to the inquiry received from the protocol inquiry mechanism; and
a commanded setting execution mechanism that sets the function parameter commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism,
2. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the setting device includes an information obtaining mechanism that obtains, from one of the plurality of devices, at least one piece of device information indicating the function parameter and a communication protocol according to which a communication function is performed using the function parameter,
and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device to set the function parameter indicated by the at least one piece of device information obtained by the information obtaining mechanism, when a communication protocol indicated by the at least one piece of device information is identical with the communication protocol notified by the protocol inquiry mechanism.
3. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the setting device includes a necessity determination mechanism that determines whether or not a function parameter to be commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism according to the communication protocol notified in response to the inquiry by the protocol inquiry mechanism is the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to the communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device,
and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device to set a function parameter determined necessary by the necessity determination mechanism.
4. A parameter setting system, comprising a plurality of devices connected to a network,
the parameter setting system being configured such that a function parameter necessary to perform a communication function available through the network is capable of being set by a setting device among the plurality of devices in a setting target device among the plurality of devices except the setting device,
wherein the setting device includes:
a setting command mechanism that commands the setting target device to set the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a specified communication protocol,

and wherein the setting target device includes:
a necessity determination mechanism that determines whether or not a function parameter commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism is a function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device; and
a setting execution mechanism that sets a function parameter determined necessary by the necessity determination mechanism to perform a communication function according to the communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device.
5. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the setting device includes an information obtaining mechanism that obtains, from one of the plurality of devices, at least one piece of device information indicating the function parameter and a communication protocol according to which a communication function is performed using the function parameter,
and wherein the setting command mechanism transmits the function parameter indicated by the at least one piece of device information obtained by the information obtaining mechanism based on the at least one piece of device information.
6. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 3,
wherein the setting device includes an obtaining source selection mechanism that allows a user to select a device, from which the function parameter is to be obtained, from among the plurality of devices,
and wherein the information obtaining mechanism obtains the device information from the device selected by the obtaining source selection mechanism.
7. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 2,
wherein the setting device includes a setting selection mechanism that notifies a content indicated by the device information obtained by the information obtaining mechanism and allows a user to select whether or not to set the function parameter indicated by the notified device information in the setting target device,
and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device to set the function parameter selected by the user to be set after the content is notified by the setting selection mechanism.
8. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 1,
wherein at least each of the plurality of devices except the setting device includes mechanisms included by the setting target device,
wherein the setting device includes a setting target selection mechanism that allows a user to select a device as the setting target device,
and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device selected by the setting target selection mechanism to set the function parameter.
9. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 1.
10. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 2.
11. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 3.
12. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 4.
13. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 5.
14. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 6.
15. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 7.
16. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 8.
17. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 1.
18. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 2.
19. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 3.
20. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 4.
21. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 5.
22. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 6.
23. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 7.
24. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 8.
25. A parameter setting program that makes a computer system execute a variety of processes so as to function as all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 1.
26. A parameter setting program that makes a computer system execute a variety of processes so as to function as all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 1.

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, comprising:
receiving activity information used to indicate whether at least one electromagnetic field external to a memory device is active or above a predetermined power level;
controlling storing data to and reading data from the memory device based on the activity information, wherein the controlling comprises stopping the storing to andor the reading from the memory device when the activity information indicates that at least one external electromagnetic field is active or above a predetermined power level; and
storing data temporarily in electrical memory means and transferring the data in the memory device when the activity information indicates that no external electromagnetic field is active or external electromagnetic fields are below a predetermined power level.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises controlling readingwriting head positioning of at least one of a magnetic memory device, an optical memory device, and a magneto-optical memory device.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the controlling comprises controlling readingwriting head positioning of at least one of a hard disk, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a minidisk, a subscriber identity module and a multimedia memory card.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving the activity information comprises receiving information on transmission or reception of radio frequency signals.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the information on transmission andor reception of radio frequency signals from andor to transmission and receiving means of a communication device and the controlling comprises controlling readingwriting head positioning of a memory device provided in the communication device.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the receiving the information on transmission andor reception of radio frequency signals comprises receiving information on whether the transmission or reception is underway, on transmissionreception power level, timing andor frequency.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises creating a compensation for the external electromagnetic field.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the creating the compensation comprises creating the compensation by means of a counter force applied to readingwriting head positioning control.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the receiving the activity information comprises obtaining the activity information from a look-up table and the creating the compensation comprises creating the counter force by means of the look-up table.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the creating the compensation comprises creating the compensation by changing control values of a readingwriting head positioning system.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the receiving the activity information comprises obtaining the activity information from a look-up table and the creating the compensation comprises changing the control values by means of the look-up table.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises driving a readingwriting head of the memory device to a predetermined position when the activity information indicates that at least one external electromagnetic field is active or above a predetermined power level.
13. A computer program comprising program code means for performing the method according to claim 1 when the program is run on a computing means.
14. An apparatus, comprising:
a memory device configured to operate in a communication device relating to an electromagnetic field external to the memory device,
wherein the apparatus is configured to control the storing data to and reading data from the memory device based on activity information used to indicate whether at least one electromagnetic field external to the memory device is active or above a predetermined power level,
wherein the apparatus is further configured to stop the storing to andor the reading from the memory device when the activity information indicates that at least one external electromagnetic field is active or above a predetermined power level, and
wherein the apparatus is further configured to store data temporarily in electrical memory means and transfer the data in the memory device when the activity information indicates that no external electromagnetic field is active or external electromagnetic fields are below a predetermined power level.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a magnetic memory device, an optical memory device or a magneto-optical memory device.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a hard disk, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a minidisk, a subscriber identity module or a multimedia memory card.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14, the external electromagnetic field being created by transmission andor reception means of the communication device, capable of transmitting andor receiving radio frequency signals.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14, the external electromagnetic field being created by cellular activity.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, the cellular activity comprising activity of a mobile communication system.
20. The apparatus according to claim 14, the external electromagnetic field being created by non-cellular activity.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, the non-cellular activity comprising activity of a Bluetooth system, a wireless local area network or a global positioning system.
22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to allow a counter force to be created to readingwriting head control or to allow altering control values of readingwriting head positioning system to compensate the external electromagnetic field.
23. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is configured to drive a readingwriting head of the memory device to a predetermined position when the activity information indicates that at least one external electromagnetic field is active or above a predetermined power level.
24. A communication device comprising an apparatus according to claim 14.
25. A communication device, comprising:
a memory device and electrical memory configured to store data temporarily, the communication device relating to an electromagnetic field external to the memory device,
wherein the communication device is configured to store data to and read data from the memory device configured to be controlled based on activity information used to indicate whether at least one electromagnetic field external to the memory device is active or above a predetermined power level,
wherein the memory device is configured to stop storing data to and reading data from the memory device when the activity information indicates that at least one external electromagnetic field is active or above a predetermined power level, and
wherein the electrical memory is further configured to transfer the data into the memory device when the activity information indicates that no external electromagnetic field is active or external electromagnetic fields are below a predetermined power level.
26. The communication device according to claim 25, wherein the memory device is a magnetic memory device, an optical memory device or a magneto-optical memory device.
27. The communication device according to claim 26, wherein the memory device is a hard disk, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a minidisk, a subscriber identity module or a multimedia memory card.
28. The communication device according to claim 25, wherein the activity information comprises information on transmission andor reception of radio frequency signals.
29. The communication device according to claim 28, wherein the information on transmission andor reception of radio frequency signals comprises information on whether the transmission or reception is underway, on transmissionreception power level, timing andor frequency.
30. The communication device according to claim 25, further comprising means for creating a counter force to readingwriting head control or means for altering control values of readingwriting head positioning system to compensate the external electromagnetic field.
31. The communication device according to claim 30, wherein the means for creating a counter force or the means for altering the control values are controlled by means of a look-up table.
32. The communication device according to claim 25, wherein a readingwriting head of the memory device is configured to be driven to a predetermined position when the activity information indicates that at least one external electromagnetic field is active or above a predetermined power level.