Engine Control By Lock Change Files

A method of operation for a system comprising the processes:

• at an authority server,
• receiving power level constraints and conditions for an engine control unit (ECU);
• determining a power level policy which expresses the power level for the ECU;
• determining a new content hash for the engine lock change file including the authority policy object;
• storing the authority policy object into a plurality of distributed media;
• updating the hierarchical object locator with the content hash of the authority policy object;
• including the location of the previous authority policy object in the power level lock change file;
• and
• updating the power level lock change file server with a new content hash for the ECU.

A method

• at an engine control unit comprising the processes:
• determining a current time and location by a time and location determination module;
• combining an identity credential with current time and location indicia by a processor;
• reading a stored power level token from a power level token store;
• and
• adjusting power level output to comply with current time and location wherein said power level token logically combines a range of date time constraints and a range of geo-location zones as policy objects.

A system comprising:

• At least one time and location determination module;
• a processor;
• a computer-readable storage device encoded with computer executable instructions;
• at least one first engine control unit coupled to a port-side engine;
• and,
• at least one second engine control unit coupled to a starboard-side engine, all coupled through,
• a network;
• wherein each of said engine control units (ECU)
• comprises:
• a location and time and location determination module;
• an identity credential module;
• a multi-band communication transceiver;
• and,
• a power level token store.