Abstract: The present application is directed to a method and system for secure electronic communications using physically distributed security hardware and capable of operating by simulating a common or unitary HSM device. This is achieved by implementing the internal operations of the HSM using threshold cryptography on a set of internal nodes. In order to provide the necessary functionality, the keys and the required operations (such as the digital signature) are distributed among these nodes. In particular, the system provides digital signature capabilities through an efficient and modular application of Victor Shoup's schema referred to in the background.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a method and system for secure electronic communications using physically distributed security hardware and capable of operating by simulating a common or unitary HSM device. This is achieved by implementing the internal operations of the HSM using threshold cryptography on a set of internal nodes. In order to provide the necessary functionality, the keys and the required operations (such as the digital signature) are distributed among these nodes. In particular, the system provides digital signature capabilities through an efficient and modular application of Victor Shoup's schema referred to in the background.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improved process for the desulphurization of blister copper during anode refining, wherein a mixture of an inert gas and an oxygen containing gas is blown into liquid blister copper. The improvement resides in varying the amount of oxygen containing gas in the mixture of nitrogen and oxygen during the desulphurization of blister copper. The process of the invention enables one to increase the recovery of copper, decrease the recycling of highly oxidized slag, decrease the time of desulphurization, decrease refractory wear, decrease subsequent time of reduction and decrease the amounts of reactants used.

Abstract: In an electrolysis cell wherein powdered material are added to a bath of molten electrolyte, the anode is provided with a duct through which the powdered material may be fed to the electrolyte. Simultaneously, a gas which is preferably inert, is also fed together with the powdered material through the duct, and both are injected beneath the surface of the electrolyte.

Abstract: A process for converting a copper or nickel matte comprising at least 30% by weight of a copper or nickel based material and a substantial weight amount of an iron based material as one of the impurities to be removed from the matte by oxidation in a converter wherein during a first step of said process substantially all of the iron based material is oxidized with an oxygen comprising gas to make ferrous oxide which is thereafter transformed into slag by addition of a solid material to the molten metal and during a second step of said process, the copper based material is oxidized with said oxygen comprising gas to generate substantially pure copper and residues, said residues being essentially in gaseous form, the oxygen comprising gas being injected through an internal injector of a concentric shrouded tuyere comprising the internal injector and an external injector concentrically disposed around said internal injector with a gas passage therebetween, a shrouding substantially inert gas being injected throu