Abstract: A system includes masking servers, transport servers, and signal servers. Each transport server stores masking server Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Each signal server is configured to store transport server IP addresses, receive an update request from a client, and send the transport server IP addresses to the client in response to the update request. Each transport server is configured to receive a request data payload for a destination target server from the client, select a masking server, and send the request data payload to the selected masking server. The selected masking server is configured to send the request data payload to the target server, receive a response data payload from the target server, and send the response data payload to the transport server from which the request data payload was received. The transport server that receives the response data payload sends the response data payload to the client.

Abstract: Provided is a game pad (10) comprising left and right handle housings (12, 14) adapted to be gripped by a user. The left and right handle housings (12, 14) are interconnected in such a manner as to enable them to be moved apart a sufficient amount to define therebetween a central space (68) for receiving and gripping a handheld information processing device (70) such as a smart phone or the like in a lengthwise orientation. The game pad (10) contains control circuitry (72, 74) and a communications module (80) whereby the game pad (10) can generate control signals and communicate these via a short range wireless protocol to the smart phone (70) in order to exert some control over a game or other application running on the smart phone (70).