Abstract: In an aspect a computer-implemented method is described. The method may include: causing a point-of-sale terminal processing a transaction to display a machine-readable code, the machine-readable code encoding a web address; receiving a request from a device that scanned the machine-readable code, the request received at the web address and the request including data; determining, based on data encoded in the machine-readable code and data included in the request, that the transaction may be processed using a value-added service; and in response to determining that the transaction may be processed using the value-added service, enabling completion of the transaction using the value-added service.

Abstract: A method for evaluating security of third-party applications includes: launching, in an automated test environment, a test instance of a first application; determining a data access pattern for the first application of accessing a protected remote server based on detecting data retrieval operations of retrieving data from the protected remote server by the test instance and determining application states of the first application associated with the detected data retrieval operations; and providing the data access pattern for the first application on a client device.

Abstract: In an aspect, the present application may describe a method that comprises monitoring a risk parameter associated with a third party server to detect a change in the risk parameter, and responsive to detecting the change in the risk parameter, sending, to a remote computing device and via the communications module, a notification that includes a first selectable option to modify data sharing associated with the third party server and a second selectable option to replace the third party server with an alternative third party server.

Abstract: Embodiments described are directed to the evaluation of a dynamically changing communication network environment to ensure that individual participant thresholds and network-centric thresholds are maintained and satisfied. A plurality of conditions for multiple dimensions of data are set for each participant in the network and for the network as a whole. The participant and network conditions, along with the participant capabilities, are considered holistically across the entire network to determine if the network and the participants are meeting thresholds for the different dimensions of data. In various embodiments, the thresholds, either at an individual participant level or at the network level, may be augmented with priorities to ensure that higher priorities are satisfied.

Abstract: A facility controlling a communication device to create a disconnected ad hoc network and then to rejoin an internetwork is described. The communication device makes a direct or indirect wireless connection with a participant in a network in which the communication device was formerly a participant. In response to making the connection, the communication device: (1) communicates with a registration authority of the network to synchronize a provisional registration authority state established by the first communication device during a period after the communication device was formally a participant in the network and before the connection was made; and (2) communicates with a security authority of the network to synchronize a security authority state established by the communication device during the period.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a converter device having at least the following: a housing including a button with a motor and a gear assembly, a wireless processor, an internal battery, and an attachment element to attach the housing to a host device. The button may be programmable to control the host device. In addition, the wireless processor is preconfigured with a specific identifier (e.g., SIM) to a mobile network or a user's mobile device so that upon activating the host device, the converter may be connected to the mobile network or the user's mobile device without any additional configurations.

Abstract: In a first participant in a network—such as an ad hoc wireless network—a facility performs peer regulation of the network. The facility monitors behavior of a second participant in the network that has appointed itself a routing participant for the network. Among the monitored behavior, the facility identifies behavior of the second participant that is inconsistent with its routing participant status. In response to this identifying, the facility sends a message to participants of the network including a third participant indicating that the second participant is no longer a routing participant.

Abstract: A facility for protecting executables is described. The facility accesses a first executable representation of a program and decompiles it to obtain an intermediate representation of the program. The facility obfuscates the intermediate representation of the program, and recompiles the obfuscated intermediate representation of the program to obtain a second executable representation of the program.

Abstract: A facility for securely executing a program is described. The facility stores a number of encoded modules, each including an encoded block and a type field that contains a resource indicator that in turn identifies an encoding resource. The encoding resource has contents specifying details of a process for decoding the encoded block to obtain a working module containing executable code for a portion of the program.

Abstract: Embodiments described are directed to the evaluation of a dynamically changing communication network environment to ensure that individual participant thresholds and network-centric thresholds are maintained and satisfied. A plurality of conditions for multiple dimensions of data are set for each participant in the network and for the network as a whole. The participant and network conditions, along with the participant capabilities, are considered holistically across the entire network to determine if the network and the participants are meeting thresholds for the different dimensions of data. In various embodiments, the thresholds, either at an individual participant level or at the network level, may be augmented with priorities to ensure that higher priorities are satisfied.

Abstract: A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.

Abstract: A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.

Abstract: Seamless connectivity utilizing multi-domain security by storing a global key on each participant computing devices. When a participant computing device tries to connect to a network, the network sends encryption keys for that network in response to that participant computing device providing the global key and not being blacklisted. The participant computing device can then connect to the network using that network's encryption key. A meta-message container is generated for the message based on a next participant in a route from the transmitting participant to the destination participant. One or more series of one or more line items are generated for the message, with each line item being tagged tag with network information. The line items are encrypted based on the network information. The meta-message container and the encrypted series of line items are then transmitted to the next participant.

Abstract: A facility for generating a network announcement message for a first communication device is described. In the message generated by the facility, first data encodes values determined for the first communication device of standard attributes specified by a wireless networking standard. Second data encoded values determined for the first communication device of expanded attributes including at least one expanded attribute characterizing the first communication device's connection to an internetwork. The message is usable by a second communication device that receives the message to compare the first communication device to other communication devices to which the second communication device is capable of connecting.

Abstract: A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.

Abstract: In a first participant in a network—such as an ad hoc wireless network—a facility performs peer regulation of the network. The facility monitors behavior of a second participant in the network that has appointed itself a routing participant for the network. Among the monitored behavior, the facility identifies behavior of the second participant that is inconsistent with its routing participant status. In response to this identifying, the facility sends a message to participants of the network including a third participant indicating that the second participant is no longer a routing participant.

Abstract: A facility operating in a first mobile communication device (MCD) is described. The facility generates a key pair made up of a private key and a public key for use by the first MCD in communicating with other MCDs. The public key has information content. The facility constructs a first public key component and a second public key component, that each encode an incomplete portion of the information content of the public key; and that collectively encode the complete information content of the public key. The facility transmits a wireless message for receipt by other MCDs; it has (1) first contents that identify the wireless message as a notification signal, and (2) as second contents, the first public key component. The second contents are located at a position in the first wireless message that identifies the second contents as the node ID of the first MCD.

Abstract: A facility for operating a communication device is described. The facility joins a network to which one or more other communication devices are connected, and identifies a type of network service not being provided in the network. In response, the facility determines to provide the identified type of network service in the network, and proceeds to provide the identified type of network service in the network.

Abstract: A facility controlling a communication device to create a disconnected ad hoc network and then to rejoin an internetwork is described. The communication device makes a direct or indirect wireless connection with a participant in a network in which the communication device was formerly a participant. In response to making the connection, the communication device: (1) communicates with a registration authority of the network to synchronize a provisional registration authority state established by the first communication device during a period after the communication device was formally a participant in the network and before the connection was made; and (2) communicates with a security authority of the network to synchronize a security authority state established by the communication device during the period.

Abstract: A facility that controls participants in an ad hoc peer wireless network to use transmission power level settings and routing paths that best serve individual participants in the network and the network as a whole is described. Variously, the facility modulates transmission power levels to extend participant battery life and reduce the likelihood of radio interference in the network; establishes routing paths that contribute to the effectiveness and continuing operation of the network; and monitors for and responds to the occurrence of interference in the network's communications.