A wiring system for an automobile connecting a processor and a plurality of devices, using one or more backbone sections. The processor and devices are connected to one another to form a first loop and a second loop, such that data may be transmitted along the first loop and data may be transmitted along the second loop.

A marine seismic streamer includes plural concentrators, plural segments interposed with the plural concentrators so that a concentrator of the plural concentrators is sandwiched between two segments of the plural segments, a first high-voltage rail HV1 that extends along the plural concentrators and the plural segments, and a second high-voltage rail HV2 that extends along the plural concentrators and the plural segments. In each given concentrator i of the plural concentrators, there is a first switch SW1 placed along one of the first high-voltage rail HV1 and the second high-voltage rail HV2, a second switch SW2 placed between the first high-voltage rail HV1 and the second high-voltage rail HV2, a first local controller implemented in hardware, and a second local controller implemented in a combination of hardware and software, and having an operating system, the first local controller being separated from the second local controller.

A marine seismic streamer includes plural concentrators, plural segments interposed with the plural concentrators so that a concentrator of the plural concentrators is sandwiched between two segments of the plural segments, a first high-voltage rail HV1 that extends along the plural concentrators and the plural segments, and a second high-voltage rail HV2 that extends along the plural concentrators and the plural segments. In each given concentrator i of the plural concentrators, there is a first switch SW1 placed along one of the first high-voltage rail HV1 and the second high-voltage rail HV2, a second switch SW2 placed between the first high-voltage rail HV1 and the second high-voltage rail HV2, a first local controller implemented in hardware, and a second local controller implemented in a combination of hardware and software, and having an operating system, the first local controller being separated from the second local controller.

Provided is a communication path control device that transmits path information for controlling a path for transmitting data to a plurality of communication devices which are connected by a wired path and through which data addressed to the plurality of communication devices is sequentially forwarded.

A vehicle control method of starting and shutting down an engine, in which a processor receives a blockchain update comprising a first transaction with instructions to perform an engine startup or shutdown; the blockchain update is validated; an engine startup or shutdown is performed based on the validated blockchain update; where the engine startup or shutdown is delayed based on validating a predetermined number of subsequent blockchain updates, including a second transaction with instructions to perform the engine startup or shutdown.

A vehicle control method of starting and shutting down an engine, in which a processor receives a blockchain update comprising a first transaction with instructions to perform an engine startup or shutdown; the blockchain update is validated; an engine startup or shutdown is performed based on the validated blockchain update; where the engine startup or shutdown is delayed based on validating a predetermined number of subsequent blockchain updates, including a second transaction with instructions to perform the engine startup or shutdown.

A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.

A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.

Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.

Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.