Abstract: A piston for a low pressure fluid accumulator of a hydraulic control unit of a vehicle brake system includes a cylindrical body having an outer surface defining a first end surface of the piston. The first end surface includes a plurality of interconnected ridges. The ridges have outer surfaces and form cavities therebetween. Each ridge is adapted to provide a sealing surface between the first end surface of the piston and an inner surface of a fluid accumulator in which the piston may be inserted. In one embodiment of the invention, the closed end of the piston includes a thick self-supporting wall. A thin skirt extends from the thick self-supporting wall toward the open end of the piston. A plurality of axially extending skirt support ribs is formed on the inner surface of the piston skirt.

Abstract: A system for biometrically securing business transactions uses speech recognition and voiceprint authentication to biometrically secure a transaction from a variety of client devices in a variety of media. A voiceprint authentication server receives a request from a third party requester to authenticate a previously enrolled end user of a client device. A signature collection applet presents the user a randomly generated signature string, prompting the user to speak the string, and recording the user's as he speaks. After transmittal to the authentication server, the signature string is recognized using voice recognition software, and compared with a stored voiceprint, using voiceprint authentication software. An authentication result is reported to both user and requestor. Voiceprints are stored in a repository along with the associated user data. Enrollment is by way of a separate enrollment applet, wherein the end user provides user information and records a voiceprint, which is subsequently stored.

Abstract: A computer based message encryption system for transmitting encrypted message between a sending member of an internal messaging system and a receiving non-member or receiving member external user without requiring the sender or recipient member to maintain and support encryption key pairs themselves. An internal system that contains an external server for creating key pairs for message encryption between the senders and receives for the encryption of messages. The key pairs are encrypted themselves according to an encryption pass-phrase so that the pass-phrase may used to decrypt the key pair which in turn may be used to decrypt the message. In response to a predetermined time or destroy command, said encryption key pairs are destroyed.

Abstract: An ignition coil is secured to an internal combustion engine by a twist lock connection. The twist lock connection is defined by a first connection feature comprising a plurality of tabs extending radially outwardly from a cylindrical body portion of the ignition coil, and a second connecting feature comprising a corresponding plurality of camming surfaces having a ramp shape and terminating in a mechanical stop.