Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle security device (10) for fitment to a vehicle (1). Device (10) has a vehicle immobiliser (11), at least one sensor (12,13,14) to sense characteristics of a driver attempting to drive a vehicle, a memory device (15) to store characteristics of one or more persons authorised to drive the vehicle, and a control device (16) to prevent unauthorised changes to the memory device. A comparator (17) compares the characteristics of the driver in the vehicle with the characteristics of persons in the memory device (15), and ensures the immobiliser (11) prevents the vehicle being driven if the characteristics of the driver attempting to drive the vehicle does not match the characteristics of one or more persons authorised to drive the vehicle.

Abstract: A method includes: while streaming video frames on a network toward a client device, detecting a loss of connectivity between the network and the client device; responsive to detecting the loss of the connectivity between the network and the client device, ceasing the streaming of the video frames toward the client device; subsequent to detecting the loss of connectivity, determining that the connectivity between the network and the client device has been re-established; responsive to determining that the connectivity between the network and the client device has been re-established, resuming the streaming of the video frames on the network toward the client device by transmitting an Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frame on the network toward the client device without sending one or more frames corresponding to images chronologically prior to an image corresponding to the IDR frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable clip gun (1) for securing clips (10) with a pin (11) into a surface Y. Gun (1) has a gun body, storage means (4) to store a plurality of clips, a driver station (5), a delivery means (4) to deliver a clip from the storage to the driver station, and a driver (6) to drive the clip pin into the surface to secure the cable to the surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system is described that comprises a network device adapted to receive a media stream that includes a plurality of network packets. The network device of the system processes the media stream, targeted for a client device that is communicatively coupled to the network device, by perform a number of operations. A first operation comprises partitioning the plurality of network packets into a plurality of subsets, each subset in the plurality of subsets corresponding to a media frame in a plurality of frames. Next, a priority level is determined for each particular media frame in the plurality of media frames, where the priority level for each particular media frame is assigned to each of the one or more network packets in the particular frame. Thereafter, network packets are transmitted or dropped based at least on the priority level associated with each network packet in the plurality of network packets.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable medium is described that comprises instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause dynamic determination of one or more transmission parameters for transmitting a particular network packet of a plurality of network packets. The transmission parameters are determined based on (a) a classification associated with the particular network packet and (b) one or more current conditions. Subsequent to this determination, the particular network packet is transmitted using the one or more transmission parameters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle storage device. A trolley is provided having folding legs with wheels which move from a first in use position with the legs supporting the trolley for wheeled movement along the ground, to a second storage position with the legs folded adjacent the trolley. A housing is provided for mounting in a vehicle to accommodate the trolley with legs in the second position. Goods can be placed in the trolley in one location and the trolley can be used to transport the goods with its legs in the first position to the vehicle where the trolley legs can be placed in a second storage position and the trolley placed in the housing whilst still supporting said goods, and the trolley can then be removed from the vehicle with its legs placed in the first position to transport goods to a second location.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and network architectures are disclosed for creating and implementing secure wireless, wired, and/or optical networks using specially modified “stealth” packets, cells, frames, and/or other “stealth” information structures. This enables stealth packets, network elements, and networks to have a low probability of detection, interception, and interpretation. The “stealth” packets, switches, networks, and methods provide invisibility or “cloaking” by modifying previously existing standards rules for packet structures, protocols, timing, synchronization, and other elements. Stealth packets, network elements, and networks may be further enhanced with encryption techniques by encrypting various parts of, or the entire packet structure itself, for example, headers, preambles, payload, and/or other packet elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for the purpose of power generation by collecting or reflecting light using a foldable surface for compact transport, comprising of a circular surface divided into sectors, which in a closed folded position each sector is drawn closed by elevating a radius on one side of the sector on a pivot along the radius, and which in an opened position is held rigid by both radial and circumferential support.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and network architectures are disclosed for creating and implementing secure wireless, wired, and/or optical stealth-enabled networks using specially modified packets, cells, frames, and/or other “stealth” information structures. This enables stealth packets to have a low probability of detection, a low probability of interception, and a low probability of interpretation. Stealth packets are only detected, intercepted, and correctly interpreted by stealth-enabled network equipment. In its simplest form, stealth packet switching modifies the packet structure, protocols, timing, synchronization, and other elements through various rule-violations. This creates stealth packets, which normal equipment cannot receive correctly, and hence normal equipment discards the stealth packets. Stealth packets may be further enhanced with encryption techniques which focus on encrypting the packet structure itself, as opposed to merely encrypting the data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a network. Signals are received from a plurality of time sources. A signal having a desired level of accuracy is selected from the signals. A reference time in the network is established using the signal. Data to be transmitted through the network is encrypted to form encrypted data. The encrypted data includes a number of encrypted headers and an encrypted body. A next node in the network is identified based on a destination for the encrypted data. A request is generated to reserve a number of time intervals for transmitting the encrypted data to the next node through the network. The encrypted data is transmitted in the network during the number of time intervals responsive to receiving an approval for the request from the next node.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a network service. A first criteria specifying a first set of flows from a first service manager is received at a forwarding agent. The first criteria specifies an expiration time interval. The first criteria is stored on the forwarding agent. A second criteria is received that specifies a second set of flows from a second service manager at the forwarding agent. The second set of flows includes flows that are in the first set of flows and the second criteria is designated as a lower priority criteria. The second criteria is stored on the forwarding agent. The first criteria is deleted from the forwarding agent upon the expiration of the expiration time interval. A packet is received that belongs to a flow that is included in the first set and the second set. It is determined that the packet matches the second set ant the packet is forwarded to the second service manager.

Abstract: A method of communicating data between a client and a server includes initiating a participating application for transmitting packets between a client and a server. The participating application participates in a transport protocol. The method also includes initiating a non-participating application for transmitting packets between the client and the server. The non-participating application does not participate in the transport protocol. Additionally, the method includes determining whether to transmit a packet from the client to the server using the participating application or the non-participating application.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a fault tolerant network service. A packet is received that corresponds to a flow from a forwarding agent at a primary service manager and instructions are determined at the primary service manager for handling packets corresponding to the flow. The instructions are sent to the forwarding agent and the instructions are stored at the primary service manager. A replication packet is sent to a backup service manager. The replication packet includes the instructions for handling packets corresponding to the flow.

Abstract: A computerized system for augmenting data from a source database with data from a reference database to generate an augmented database that can be used for predictive modeling is disclosed. The present invention includes a method for using the Internet to obtain information, including, reading a data record stored in a field of data, searching a database for information describing the data record, condensing the information describing the data record into a value description, associating the value description with the data record, and augmenting the field of data with the value description associated with the data. The present invention also includes a computerized system for augmenting data from a source database with data from a reference database to generate an augmented database that can be used for predictive modeling and data mining to conduct searches of data in the augmented database.

Abstract: A system and method are described for selecting a server to handle a connection. The method includes receiving at a service manager a connection request intercepted by a network device having a forwarding agent that is operative to receive instructions from a service manager, the connection request having been forwarded from the forwarding agent on the network device to the service manager. A preferred server is selected at the service manager from among a group of available servers. The preferred server is the server that is to service the connection request. Instructions are sent from the service manager to the forwarding agent. The instructions include the preferred server that is to service the connection request so that the connection request may be forwarded from the network device to the preferred server.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transparently proxying a connection to a protected machine. The method includes monitoring a communication packet on a network at a proxy machine. The communication packet has a communication packet source address, source port number, destination address, and destination port number. The proxy determines whether to intercept the communication packet based on whether the communication packet destination address and the communication packet destination port number correspond to a protected destination address and a protected destination port number stored in a proxy list. The proxy machine then determines whether to proxy a proxied connection associated with the communication packet based on the communication packet source address and the communication packet source port number. A protected connection is terminated from the proxy machine to a protected machine.

Abstract: A method and a system are described for directing a client to the most optimal, most available Web site or to the most optimal content in a distributed content environment, using an Internet Site Selector, which is an Internet appliance that optimizes the performance of domains hosted on mirrored, geographically distributed Web sites. The system includes various components including the Internet Site Selectors which co-locate with each Web site. The method comprises a number of steps including sending client requests to a primary or main site, redirecting by an Internet Site Selector coupled to the primary or main site the modified client requests to all other participating Internet Site Selectors. Several modes and deployments of the Internet Site Selectors, including geographic site selection, multiple Internet Site Selectors at each Web site, Internet Site Selector grouping, Internet Site Selectors in content routing are described.