Abstract: This document describes apparatuses and techniques for enabling a user to authorize access to early boot debugging of hardware issues in a computing system. In general, responsive to a user consenting to early boot debugging, a debug reenable signal is set in nonvolatile storage. Upon reinitialization of the computing system and receipt of an early debugging request, if the debug reenable signal is detected and the early debugging request is authenticated, an early boot debugging system is enabled. The user consent to early boot debugging may circumvent the setting of a fuse that otherwise would prevent performance of early boot debugging.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a compound piston body having a crown piece joined to a skirt piece by a circumferential weld. The skirt piece is formed of a lower temperature-capable steel such as a low alloy steel, and the crown piece is formed of a higher temperature-capable steel having a martensitic microstructure and containing about 10% wt. or greater of chromium. Related methodology for making a piston is also disclosed.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine utilizes the four-cycle process. Gas working chambers are formed using portions of a toroid, two opposing pistons, and seals at the inner gap. A cycle occur over 360 degrees of the toroid with gas ports appropriately placed. One Power Vane (PV) and one Reaction Vane (RV) connect to a central shaft with one piston assembly attached to each end of each vane. The PV produces driving torque on a central shaft through an Overrunning Clutch System (OCS). At specific angles and for controlled durations the PV and RV are slowed, stopped, held to the housing, and then accelerated and coupled to the shaft. Vane movement is controlled by gears, cam ramps, and pin mechanisms operated via multiple, independent but time-coordinated systems. The power vane has no controlled acceleration as combustion forces couple this vane to the shaft via the OCS.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating a privilege-based key using a computer. In the method, a privilege is received from an application, and verified as being associated with the application. The computer cryptographically generates a second key using a first key and the privilege. The second key is provided to the application.

Abstract: A disabled debug capability may be securely re-enabled in an integrated circuit such as a system-on-a-chip (SoC) device. In a method, the integrated circuit receives a debug re-enable message. The debug re-enable message includes a debug re-enable token signed by a private key. The debug re-enable token is based on a serial number of the integrated circuit and a first copy of a symmetric key. The debug re-enable token is validated using a public key corresponding to the private key. A comparison token is generated using the serial number of the integrated circuit and using a second copy of the symmetric key stored in a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit compares the debug re-enable token and the comparison token. The disabled debug capability is re-enabled in the integrated circuit if the debug re-enable token matches the comparison token.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine includes a compound piston body having a crown piece joined to a skirt piece by a circumferential weld. The skirt piece is formed of a lower temperature-capable steel such as a low alloy steel, and the crown piece is formed of a higher temperature-capable steel having a martensitic microstructure and containing about 10% wt. or greater of chromium. Related methodology for making a piston is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing an incentive-based system for the superdistribution of content, which include one or more communications devices transmitting one or more referral messages relating to the content. Further, the apparatus and methods include the communications devices ordering content from across the network based on the referral messages, where a reward is generated for one or more referring devices based on the one or more referral messages. Additionally, the application of privacy and authentication mechanisms protects the privacy and verifies the identities of the parties involved in the transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing a public key for authenticating an integrated circuit. In the method, the integrated circuit obtains a hardware key and an integrated circuit identifier. The integrated circuit generates a derived key based on the hardware key using a key derivation function (KDF) shared with a manufacturing machine. The integrated circuit generates a private key and a corresponding public key using the derived key as an input to a deterministic function. The integrated circuit then provides the public key and the integrated circuit identifier to a partner service for authentication of the integrated circuit using an anonymized credential database to be provided to the partner service by a manufacturer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing a public key for authenticating an integrated circuit. In the method, the integrated circuit obtains a hardware key and an integrated circuit identifier. The integrated circuit generates a derived key based on the hardware key using a key derivation function (KDF) shared with a manufacturing machine. The integrated circuit generates a private key and a corresponding public key using the derived key as an input to a deterministic function. The integrated circuit then provides the public key and the integrated circuit identifier to a partner service for authentication of the integrated circuit using an anonymized credential database to be provided to the partner service by a manufacturer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure communications between remote computing devices and servers. A network device sends characteristics of a client computing device over the network. A network device receives characteristics of a client computing device over the network. A plurality of credentials are generated where at least one of the plurality of credentials based on both the received characteristics of the client computing device and a unique client key, and at least one of the plurality of credentials based on both the received characteristics of the client computing device and a generic key. A network device sends the plurality of credentials over the network. A network device receives the plurality of credentials via the network.

Abstract: An integrated circuit may comprise a processor configured to: receive a delegate certificate, wherein the delegate certificate includes a first public key; validate a digital signature of the delegate certificate using a second public key; and generate a derivative key using a secret key securely stored in the integrated circuit and using the first public key as inputs to a key derivation function.

Abstract: A disabled debug capability may be securely re-enabled in an integrated circuit such as a system-on-a-chip (SoC) device. In a method, the integrated circuit receives a debug re-enable message. The debug re-enable message includes a debug re-enable token signed by a private key. The debug re-enable token is based on a serial number of the integrated circuit and a first copy of a symmetric key. The debug re-enable token is validated using a public key corresponding to the private key. A comparison token is generated using the serial number of the integrated circuit and using a second copy of the symmetric key stored in a one-time-programmable (OTP) memory of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit compares the debug re-enable token and the comparison token. The disabled debug capability is re-enabled in the integrated circuit if the debug re-enable token matches the comparison token.

Abstract: A system and method for inputting a password. The system and method operates to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters. The system and method operates to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters. The system and method operates to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters. The system and method also operates to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password. In addition, the system and method operates wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices enable synchronizing obscured identification information between a wireless identity transmitter and a central server to support one-way communication of the obscured identification information to the central server. The wireless identity transmitter may be a compact device configured to broadcast messages, such as through Bluetooth® advertisements, including an obscured identifier for receipt and relay to the central server by proximate proximity broadcast receivers via sighting messages that may also include location information. The central server may decode received identification codes to identify the wireless identity transmitter. The wireless identity transmitter may create message data by concatenating identifying information with an incrementing nonce, encrypting the concatenated information, and truncating the encrypted information.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing an incentive-based system for the superdistribution of content, which include one or more communications devices transmitting one or more referral messages relating to the content. Further, the apparatus and methods include the communications devices ordering content from across the network based on the referral messages, where a reward is generated for one or more referring devices based on the one or more referral messages. Additionally, the application of privacy and authentication mechanisms protects the privacy and verifies the identities of the parties involved in the transaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating a privilege-based key using a computer. In the method, a privilege is received from an application, and verified as being associated with the application. The computer cryptographically generates a second key using a first key and the privilege. The second key is provided to the application.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing an incentive-based system for the superdistribution of content, which include one or more communications devices transmitting one or more referral messages relating to the content. Further, the apparatus and methods include the communications devices ordering content from across the network based on the referral messages, where a reward is generated for one or more referring devices based on the one or more referral messages. Additionally, the application of privacy and authentication mechanisms protects the privacy and verifies the identities of the parties involved in the transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for inputting a password. The system and method operates to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters. The system and method operates to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters. The system and method operates to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters. The system and method also operates to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password. In addition, the system and method operates wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

Abstract: A system and method for inputting a password. The system and method operates to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters. The system and method operates to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters. The system and method operates to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters. The system and method also operates to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password. In addition, the system and method operates wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.

Abstract: A method comprising distributing digital data encoding content and arranged into messages from a server to one or more client terminals through a network, each message being decodable by a decoder application on a client terminal, said method including transmitting a plurality of data packets from the server through a network through a network interface of the server, each packet including at least one header and a payload, each payload including at least part of a message, and providing each message to a first of a series of at least one service interface between two layers in a protocol stack, installed on the server, each service interface configured to add at least one packet header to the packet encoding information enabling the client to process the remainder of the packet.