Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the repair of IP multicast sessions. A repair server polls multiple transmit servers to accumulate as many of the packets missing from the multicast session as possible. A network includes a source of multicast packets in a multicast session and a plurality of multicast recipients in that session. A repair server in the network provides the packets it receives to the recipients. The repair server includes a missing packet detector. There is a plurality of retransmit servers in the network buffering portions of the packets they respectively receive during the session. The repair server maintains an ordered list of the retransmit servers that are most likely to have buffered copies of packets missing from the session. When the repair server detects that there are packets missing from the session it has received, it uses the ordered list to sequentially request the missing packets from respective ones of the plurality of retransmit servers.

Abstract: This patent concerns a method of enhancing the security of the check cashing operation at locations remote from the issuing bank. A key suitable for cryptographic purposes is encoded onto the check stock in the form of a graphic where the style of the graphic and its means of interpretation are customisable. This permits the decryption of data without the need for online key retrieval. Typical usage occurs when a check is issued and the payee and amount at least are hashed or encrypted using the key decoded from the graphic, the hashed value being added to the check, possibly on the MICR line. At POS or a bank teller the key is decoded from the graphic, the check data is rehashed and compared with the hash value on the MICR line. The key encoded within the graphic may also be a PIN.

Abstract: A print head 110 has a ceramic substrate 116 with a thermal bead 115 and a built in separating structure 114, 124 that is either a polished edge 114 or a second bead. The edge 114 or the bead 124 can provide a peel structure that can be used to separate donor web from the receiver sheet at a point after printing where donor material that is transferred to the receiver sheet is still generally in a liquid state.

Abstract: The invention recognises that both human readable data printed on a check and machine readable data added to the check at the time of check printing to graphically encode the human readable data are subject to errors and artefacts during the initial printing and subsequent scanning processes: if, after scanning, there is a less than perfect match in the two forms of data, that does not therefore necessarily imply fraudulent alteration of the human readable data. The present invention enables a quantitative, probability-based interpretation of the degree and the kind of mismatch to verify authenticity.

Abstract: A document (e.g. a check) for a specific beneficiary has encoded on it a unique identifier, also present on an identity card owned by that beneficiary. A person presenting the document (e.g. to cash the check) also has to show their identity card. A check can then be made between the unique identity on the document (associated with the true beneficiary) and that obtained from the identity card in order to authenticate the person claiming to be the true beneficiary.

Abstract: Unicast endpoint clients (110, 111, 115) on an IP Unicast network (107, 108) are provided access to Multicast sessions on an IP Multicast network (101) through a Multicast-Unicast gateway server (120, 121). The server obtains information about sessions on the Multicast network and makes such information available to a Unicast client on the Unicast network upon request by the client. Upon being presented with a list describing the subject matter of each session, the user at the Unicast client selects the session to which he or she wants to join, which causes the Multicast-Unicast server to join the appropriate session on behalf of the requesting client for each media type in which the joining client wants to be a participant. The server then sets a bi-directional Unicast User Datagram Protocol (UDP) stream between itself and the client. All packets then received by the server from the Unicast client are address-translated to the appropriate Multicast session address.

Abstract: A transmit and receive system for transmitting data between a transmit site and a receive site. The system includes a tunnel source, router and modulator for dividing a transmit data stream having a first bit rate into multiple data streams with each of the multiple data streams having a bit rate which is lower than the first bit rate, transmitting each of the multiple data streams over a plurality of RF channels. The system further includes a demodulator and destination source for recombining the multiple data streams at the receive site to provide a receive data stream having a bit rate equal to the first bit rate.

Abstract: A method for sending data from a transmit site to a receive site which includes dividing a transmit data stream having a first bit rate into multiple data streams with each of the multiple data streams having a bit rate which is lower than the first bit rate, transmitting each of the multiple data streams over a plurality of RF channels and recombining the multiple data streams at the receive site to provide a receive data stream having a bit rate equal to the first bit rate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to mechanisms for content-aware redirection and content exchange/content discovery that permit a request for content to be redirected to a particular advantageous server that can serve the content.

Abstract: A connector for a tube comprises a hollow spigot and an outer securing member for capturing a tube therebetween. The hollow spigot includes an internal bore matched to that of the tube, a tapered end with a frusto-conical length and its small diameter at its distal end and a parallel length inwards of the tapered end, with a diameter less than of the maximum tapered diameter and an annular rib inwards of the parallel length to provide an end stop for the tube when fitted onto the spigot. The outer securing member includes an internal tapered bore matched to the frusto-conical length and of respectively increased diameter to accommodate the tube therebetween and at least one latch formation spaced from the member's large tapered end for engaging behind the annular rib.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the automatic detection of counterfeit documents, particularly checks and currency, through the analysis of images. The method relies on the production of profiles which represent the characteristics of authentic documents and their comparison with similarly extracted profiles from putative authentic documents. In one implementation involving the mass processing of checks the authentic profiles are continuously updated by analysis of large numbers of contemporarily processed checks.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems, synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enhances a multicast information stream, such as an IP multicast session, in a communication network is provided. The stream is received through the communication network and is enhanced at substantially the time the first stream is received. The information stream may be enhanced by adding transcribed content, such as content generated by speech recognition software, or translated content, such as from a first language to a second language, to the stream. The information stream may also be enhanced by adding content to the first information stream, such as content is related to the original content. The enhanced stream may be sent to a user as a second multicast information stream. The enhanced stream may be received by the user in place of, or along with, the original information stream. The enhanced content may be sent to the user at the conclusion of the information stream, if desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for telephony messaging based on a network of packet telephony messaging (PTM) servers. A message is received at an originating PTM server from an originator for delivery to a target device for a recipient. The message is stored at the originating PTM server. The message is routed from the originating PTM server (possibly via a second and subsequent PTM servers) over a first network to a destination PTM server located near the target device. The recipient is notified of the message by the destination PTM server. The message is delivered to the target device from the second PTM server over a second network in response to a request by the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the repair of IP multicast sessions. A repair server polls multiple transmit servers to accumulate as many of the packets missing from the multicast session as possible. A network includes a source of multicast packets in a multicast session and a plurality of multicast recipients in that session. A repair server in the network provides the packets it receives to the recipients. The repair server includes a missing packet detector. There is a plurality of retransmit servers in the network buffering portions of the packets they respectively receive during the session. The repair server maintains an ordered list of the retransmit servers that are most likely to have buffered copies of packets missing from the session. When the repair server detects that there are packets missing from the session it has received, it uses the ordered list to sequentially request the missing packets from respective ones of the plurality of retransmit servers.

Abstract: A method of managing access to secure resources (4-9), the method including: providing an schema of permission rights in respect of secure resources; and, delegating to one or more users an ability to delegate (32) a profile (31) of selected permission rights in respect of one or more secure resources.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the repair of IP multicast sessions. A repair server polls multiple transmit servers to accumulate as many of the packets missing from the multicast session as possible. A network includes a source of multicast packets in a multicast session and a plurality of multicast recipients in that session. A repair server in the network provides the packets it receives to the recipients. The repair server includes a missing packet detector. There is a plurality of retransmit servers in the network buffering portions of the packets they respectively receive during the session. The repair server maintains an ordered list of the retransmit servers that are most likely to have buffered copies of packets missing from the session. When the repair server detects that there are packets missing from the session it has received, it uses the ordered list to sequentially request the missing packets from respective ones of the plurality of retransmit servers.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; a graphical symbol has been selected from a set of visually distinct graphical symbols, which each code for the same bit or character, and a visible element printed on the document includes multiple such graphical symbols. Prior art graphical symbols (e.g. glyphs etc.) use a limited character set—e.g. just a single type of glyph for a type of bit or character (e.g. forward slash for bit ‘0’ and back slash for bit ‘1’). Hence, it is not possible to automatically select a particular glyph for use in one region of a visible element (e.g. a picture of a face) because it has an internal pixel arrangement that makes it best suited for that particular region for aesthetic reasons.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of a visible element and the shapes of the external borders of several graphical symbols differ from each other in order to achieve a desired appearance for the element. Typically, one or both of the linear dimensions of a graphical symbol can be altered for the appropriate aesthetic effect. Prior art graphical symbols (e.g. glyphs etc.) are generally fixed in shape and hence cannot be modified for aesthetic effect. Instead, they have generally been large and obtrusive blocks which considerably mar the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhabiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems, synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.