Abstract: An optical network comprising: an optical splitter configured to split an optical signal incident on the optical splitter into at least a control signal and a data signal; an optical switch; a first optical path configured to carry the control signal between the optical splitter and the optical switch; and a second optical path configured to carry the data signal between the optical splitter and the optical switch. The optical network is configured to transmit the control and data signals such that the data signal is incident on the optical switch after the control signal. The optical switch is configured to selectively switch the optical network between a first configuration and a second configuration in accordance with the control signal. The application also relates to a method of configuring an optical network.

Abstract: An agricultural admixture includes an acid, an organic amine, boron and one or more additional micronutrients, in which the boron and additional micronutrients are chelated, along with a saccharide. In the admixture, boron is present in an amount of at least 1.0 wt % thereof, the admixture contains a total boron and additional micronutrients content of at least 7.2 wt %, and the admixture remains stable, non-precipitated for at least 60 days. A method of spraying an agricultural admixture involves admixing the aforementioned admixture with one or more agricultural chemicals and spraying the admixture, where the admixture remains stable, non-precipitated for at least 60 days. A method of producing an agricultural admixture involves admixing the aforementioned admixture with one or more agricultural chemicals, where the admixture remains stable, non-precipitated for at least 60 days.

Abstract: A method of managing storage units representing digital assets in a decentralised repository arranged in a peer-to-peer network comprising a plurality of peer computing systems, comprising steps of: selecting at least one storage unit hosted on a first peer computing system, where the selecting is carried out using selection criteria rules encoded in software; performing a cryptographic processing function taking as inputs information related to a current version of a first storage unit and information related to the selected at least one storage unit to generate a result as an output of the cryptographic processing function, where the first storage unit is hosted on a second peer computing system; and storing the result into a new version of the first storage unit.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a characteristic response from a communications network device in a communications network environment comprises accepting, at the communications network device, a challenge signal. Coupling all or part of the challenge signal or all or part of a transformation of the challenge signal in the form of radiation into one or more physical network channel media of the communication network. Allowing radiation to scatter between the physical communication channel media and a physically unclonable function PUF; and obtaining a response to the challenge by measuring scattered radiation from at least the PUF.

Abstract: A physically unclonable function (PUF) configured to receive a challenge signal and produce a response signal dependent on the challenge signal in response thereto; wherein: the PUF comprises a photonic crystal structure of plural dimensionality which is configured to: be illuminated by an optical input signal which is, or is derived from, the challenge signal; and responsive thereto, produce an optical output signal dependent on the optical input signal's interaction with the photonic crystal structure, wherein the response signal is, or is derived from, the optical output signal.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods. systems and programs of transmitting data from a source node to a destination node through a network via a plurality of intermediate nodes are provided. The method splits the data into a plurality of shares using a secret sharing algorithm. The method determines a respective route through the network to the destination node for each of the plurality of shares. Each route comprises a plurality of intermediate nodes via which that share is to be transmitted. At least two of the routes are different from each other. At least a first intermediate node of each route is common to the other routes. The method constructs a plurality of datagrams for conveying the plurality of shares through the network along their respective routes. Each datagram is intended for processing by a respective intermediate node and is encrypted with a key associated with that intermediate node.

Abstract: A method of managing a decentralised repository of stored digital units of information, the decentralised repository comprised of a plurality of inter-acting peer-to-peer computing systems, comprising steps of: (a) loading a software agent on each of a plurality of peer-to-peer computing systems, the software agents making up a network of distributed software agents; (b) using the network of distributed software agents to manage the decentralized repository of stored digital units of information; wherein at least one of (i) software agent code for at least one of the software agents, and (ii) a cryptographic digest of such software agent code, is stored in at least one block in the decentralised repository.

Abstract: A method of managing storage units representing digital assets in a decentralised repository arranged in a peer-to-peer network comprising a plurality of peer computing systems, comprising steps of: selecting at least one storage unit hosted on a first peer computing system, where the selecting is carried out using selection criteria rules encoded in software; performing a cryptographic processing function taking as inputs information related to a current version of a first storage unit and information related to the selected at least one storage unit to generate a result as an output of the cryptographic processing function, where the first storage unit is hosted on a second peer computing system; and storing the result into a new version of the first storage unit.

Abstract: A method of storing storage units representing digital assets into a decentralised repository arranged in a peer-to-peer network comprising a plurality of peer computing systems, to create an archive of the digital assets, comprising steps of, for each new storage unit being submitted to the archive by a submitting peer computer system: determining a specific quantity of stored existing storage units, each of which the new storage unit is to be cryptographically linked to, where the existing storage units have been previously submitted to the archive; selecting specific ones of all of the existing storage units up to the received specific quantity of stored existing storage units, where the selection has been made from existing storage units stored by specific ones of the peer computing systems; performing cryptographic processing by taking as inputs to such cryptographic processing, the selected specific existing storage units and the new storage unit, and obtaining a result of such cryptographic processing;

Abstract: A method of exchanging quantum information between a photon and a micro/nano scale resonant structure is provided. The method comprises providing the resonant structure (15) in an optical waveguide (10). The method further comprises passing a photon (18) through the resonant structure in the optical waveguide. The method also comprises applying a driving signal (17) to the resonant structure to cause phonic oscillation of the resonant structure and to modulate a wavelength of the photon such that the passing the photon through the resonant structure results in an exchange of quantum information between the photon and a quantum state in a phonon of the resonant structure.

Abstract: An optical network including an optical splitter configured to split an optical signal incident on the optical splitter into at least a control signal and a data signal; an optical switch; a first optical path configured to carry the control signal between the optical splitter and the optical switch; and a second optical path configured to carry the data signal between the optical splitter and the optical switch. The optical network is configured to transmit the control and data signals such that the data signal is incident on the optical switch after the control signal. The optical switch is configured to selectively switch the optical network between a first configuration and a second configuration in accordance with the control signal.

Abstract: A beacon device transmits a challenge message to each of one or more responder devices over a respective direct communication link, inviting each responder device to prove the existence of its respective direct communication link by transmitting to a respective recipient device, distinct from the beacon device, a respective response message indicating knowledge of contents of the challenge message. A predetermined time period after its transmission of the challenge message, the beacon device transmits a confirmation message indicating knowledge of the contents of the challenge message to a message store. A validation device then compares contents of each response message which preceded the confirmation message in time, if any, to contents of the confirmation message and infers therefrom which of the respective responder devices, if any, received the challenge message over the respective direct communication link.

Abstract: A beacon device including directional transmission means transmits a challenge message in a first predetermined direction to each of one or more responder devices over a respective direct radio communication link, to invite the responder devices to each transmit a respective response message indicating knowledge of contents of the challenge message. The beacon device transmits one or more directed repetitions of the challenge message in one or more respective further predetermined directions such that data relating to the location of each of the responder devices can be inferred from timings of each response message with respect to times the challenge message and the directed repetitions of the challenge message were transmitted. The beacon device either engages in or eschews subsequent two-way communication with each of the one or more responder devices over the respective direct radio communication link, in dependence on the existence and timing of a respective response message.

Abstract: A network device detecting possible malicious traffic and enlists the help of a co-operative group of downstream routers to perform enhanced deep packet analysis and firewalling in parallel with the transport of the packet through the network. The routers may also use other remote computational resource to perform some of the analysis along or close to the route 80 of the packet through the network. The packets are cached at the exit edge router, which does not release the packet from the cooperative group until all analyzers report the traffic is safe, or deletes the traffic if identified as malicious. By buffering at the remote end the packet can be forwarded promptly if approved, but protects downstream components if the traffic is malicious.

Abstract: An authentication method using a plurality of physical unclonable functions (PUFs). The plurality of PUFs includes a first PUF associated with a first device and a second PUF associated with a second device. A surface pattern of the first PUF corresponds to a surface pattern of the second PUF. The method includes obtaining a first response to a challenge using the first PUF, sending a request to the second device for a second response to the challenge obtained used the second PUF, receiving the second response, and determining whether the second device is authenticated based on a comparison between the first response and the second response.

Abstract: An optical network comprising: an optical splitter configured to split an optical signal incident on the optical splitter into at least a control signal and a data signal; an optical switch; a first optical path configured to carry the control signal between the optical splitter and the optical switch; and a second optical path configured to carry the data signal between the optical splitter and the optical switch. The optical network is configured to transmit the control and data signals such that the data signal is incident on the optical switch after the control signal. The optical switch is configured to selectively switch the optical network between a first configuration and a second configuration in accordance with the control signal. The application also relates to a method of configuring an optical network.

Abstract: There is herein provided a method of quantum communication, the method comprising: indicating to a quantum receiving apparatus that a first sequence of mutually non-orthogonal bases will be used to prepare at least some of a plurality of bits in quantum states, at a quantum transmitting apparatus, preparing each of the plurality of bits in a respective one of a second sequence of mutually non-orthogonal bases, to give a plurality of qubits, wherein the second sequence of mutually non-orthogonal bases is different to the first sequence of mutually non-orthogonal bases.

Abstract: An agricultural admixture includes an acid, an organic amine, boron and one or more additional micronutrients, in which the boron and additional micronutrients are chelated, along with a saccharide. In the admixture, boron is present in an amount of at least 1.0 wt % thereof, the admixture contains a total boron and additional micronutrients content of at least 7.2 wt %, and the admixture remains stable, non-precipitated for at least 60 days. A method of spraying an agricultural admixture involves admixing the aforementioned admixture with one or more agricultural chemicals and spraying the admixture, where the admixture remains stable, non-precipitated for at least 60 days. A method of producing an agricultural admixture involves admixing the aforementioned admixture with one or more agricultural chemicals, where the admixture remains stable, non-precipitated for at least 60 days.

Abstract: A network device detecting possible malicious traffic and enlists the help of a co-operative group of downstream routers to perform enhanced deep packet analysis and firewalling in parallel with the transport of the packet through the network. The routers may also use other remote computational resource to perform some of the analysis along or close to the route 80 of the packet through the network. The packets are cached at the exit edge router, which does not release the packet from the cooperative group until all analyzers report the traffic is safe, or deletes the traffic if identified as malicious. By buffering at the remote end the packet can be forwarded promptly if approved, but protects downstream components if the traffic is malicious.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: (I). Also disclosed herein are uses of the compounds disclosed herein in the potential treatment or prevention of an IDO-associated disease or disorder. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising a compound disclosed herein. Further disclosed herein are uses of the compositions in the potential treatment or prevention of an IDO-associated disease or disorder.