Abstract: An accessory for a hand-held video game device combines an amplified stereo speaker system and a force feed back effect. The accessory includes an audio connector jack adapted for insertion into the device's headphone outlet. The vibration feed back is activated by and proportional to the sound generated from the device, thus allowing a user of the device to control the vibration feed back by adjusting the volume. The accessory allows the user to further control the vibration feed back for any set level of sound generated from the device.

Abstract: A gaming chip system for evaluating a collection of gaming chips, represents different gaming chips and assigns monetary values to each of the different gaming chips. A display displays the assigned monetary value of each gaming chip. The total value of a collection of chips is evaluated by counting the number of chips for each type, and calculating the monetary value of each gaming chip type using the assigned monetary value.

Abstract: A system and method which uses statistical analysis of college football games to predict an outcome is comprised of a unique combination of objective, quantitative factors. The system and method accounts for when in the college football season the contest takes place and uses varying sets of objective parameters based on the season game number. The system and method may be implemented on a variety of processing platforms which allows for rapid analysis of multiple contests.

Abstract: A method of communicating encrypted configuration data between a programmable logic device (PLD) and a storage device is included in one part of the invention. The method includes the following steps. Transmit encrypted configuration data stored in a storage device to the PLD. Decrypt the encrypted configuration data to generate a copy of the configuration data in the PLD. Configure the PLD using the copy of the configuration data. In one embodiment, the PLD transmits a key to the storage device. In another embodiment the key is separately entered into the storage device and the PLD and never transmitted between the PLD and the storage device. In another embodiment, the key is entered only into the PLD. The key is used to encrypt the configuration data.

Abstract: A method enabling two populations of persons, one being sedentary (for example a provider of long-distance services) and the other being nomadic (for example the customers of this provider of services) to exchange data in a sure and speedy manner, comprises the following steps:portable objects are placed at the disposal of the persons belonging to the nomadic population, these objects having the credit card format and being customized by specific identifiers for each person and for each card, the card is used to transmit at least partially encrypted DTMF type brief acoustic identification signals which are received by means of the microphone of a standard telephone set and processed by means of the standard telephone set so that the resulting signal can be transmitted, through a telephone or computer network, to the data-processing service of at least one of the persons of the sedentary population,the signals coming from the card are processed by means of a specific software program whose parameters are a fun

Abstract: A system is disclosed for automatically distributing secured versions (*Sys.sub.-- D.sub.-- key*) of a file decryption key (Sys.sub.-- D.sub.-- key) to a plurality of file users by way of the file's security label. The label is defined to contain a plurality of Access-Control-Entries Records (ACER's) where each ACER includes a respective secured version (*Sys.sub.-- D.sub.-- key*) of the file decryption key. Each such secured version (*Sys.sub.-- D.sub.-- key*) is decipherable by a respective ACER private key. Each ACER may include respective other data such as:(a) ACER-unique identifying data for uniquely identifying the ACER or an associated user;(b) decryption algorithm identifying data for identifying the decryption process to be used to decrypt the encrypted *DATA* portion of the file; and(c) special handling code for specifying special handling for the code-containing ACER.

Abstract: The security provided by encryption of ATM cells is enhanced by testing each cell for low data content level. If a cell has a low data content, its contents are nevertheless compressed and the resulting string is used to replace the original data. A length character and a randomly generated number which are added to the freed-up byte positions in the data field of the cell. The entire, modified data field is encrypted before the cell is transmitted. At a receiving system, a compression indicator is checked to determine whether the cell contains original or compressed data. If necessary, the length field and the random number are stripped and the remaining cell data is decompressed before the cell data is decrypted.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for authenticating information using a double feedforward hash function to provide complementarity in the implementation of an encryption algorithm. A cryptographic processor has a first input for receiving plaintext, a second input for receiving a key and an output for outputting ciphertext generated by cryptographically processing the plaintext and key. A first circuit element is responsive to the ciphertext and plaintext for outputting a first ciphertext derivative. A second circuit element is responsive to at least a portion of the first ciphertext derivative and the key for outputting a second ciphertext derivative. The first and second circuit elements can be XOR gates. Alternatively, these elements can be provided using lookup tables.