Abstract: A steering shaft assembly includes a male shaft having a plurality of splines formed thereon, each of the splines terminating at a spline end, wherein each of the spline ends form an angle of about 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal direction of the splines. The steering shaft assembly also includes a female shaft including a plurality of stakes located proximate an end of the female shaft, the stakes retaining the male shaft at an interface between the stakes and the spline ends.

Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Computer program products and methods for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system. The method includes identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient and sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure message services. The system includes a forwarding service to receive message for delivery to a recipient. The system checks for preferences for delivery of the message content including encryption preferences and notifies the recipient or delivers the message according to the encryption preferences. The system includes an interoperability engine to determine delivery preferences including security preferences, the security preferences indicating a security protocol by which the message can be securely delivered to the recipient.

Abstract: Computer program products and methods for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system. The method includes identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient and sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

Abstract: Computer program products and methods for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system. The method includes identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient and sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

Abstract: A system and method to send a secure message from a sender to a recipient using strong encryption protocols without the need for the recipient to create a public/private key pair and by using a third party to appropriately identify the recipient without revealing actual identification information to the third party. Upon successful identification, the third party is able to provide a recipient with information that enables recipient to create and use the actual decryption key without revealing the actual decryption key to the third party.

Abstract: A system and method for authorizing certain aspects of network based transactions between a customer and a merchant is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for secure transmission of data in pipeline fashion. A pair of transaction certificates can be used to verify the authenticity and integrity of data transmitted in more than one block.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure message services. The system includes a forwarding service to receive message for delivery to a recipient. The system checks for preferences for delivery of the message content including encryption preferences and notifies the recipient or delivers the message according to the encryption preferences. The system includes an interoperability engine to determine delivery preferences including security preferences, the security preferences indicating a security protocol by which the message can be securely delivered to the recipient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a message securely from a sender to a recipient over a network and includes at each transfer: creating a message; retrieving the public key of the recipient from an external key server just prior to sending the message; signing the message using the private key of the sender; encrypting the signed message using a public key encryption algorithm and the public key of the recipient producing an encrypted signed message; generating an E-mail message addressed to the recipient; attaching the encrypted signed message as an attachment to the E-mail message; and, transmitting the E-mail message to the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure message services. The system includes a forwarding service to receive message for delivery to a recipient. The system checks for preferences for delivery of the message content including encryption preferences and notifies the recipient or delivers the message according to the encryption preferences. The system includes an interoperability engine to determine delivery preferences including security preferences, the security preferences indicating a security protocol by which the message can be securely delivered to the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for authorizing certain aspects of network based transactions between a customer and a merchant is disclosed. The system utilizes an account code for identifying rights to use an account identified by an account number, and a database for storing the account number, account code, and a Signature Phrase. The Signature Phrase is stored when rights to use the account have been positively identified. The customer can complete an e-commerce transaction using the customer's account by providing a Signature Phrase without the Signature Phrase or account code actually residing in the database or being provided to the merchant. The account code, account number, and Signature Phrase may be received through one or more external interfaces with the customer. In some embodiments, the database stores the account number, account code, and the Signature Phrase in a hashed format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a message securely from a sender to a recipient over a network and includes at each transfer: creating a message; retrieving the public key of the recipient from an external key server just prior to sending the message; signing the message using the private key of the sender; encrypting the signed message using a public key encryption algorithm and the public key of the recipient producing an encrypted signed message; generating an E-mail message addressed to the recipient; attaching the encrypted signed message as an attachment to the E-mail message; and, transmitting the E-mail message to the recipient.

Abstract: Computer program products and methods for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system. The method includes identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient and sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a message securely from a sender to a recipient over a network and includes at each transfer: creating a message; retrieving the public key of the recipient from an external key server just prior to sending the message; signing the message using the private key of the sender; encrypting the signed message using a public key encryption algorithm and the public key of the recipient producing an encrypted signed message; generating an E-mail message addressed to the recipient; attaching the encrypted signed message as an attachment to the E-mail message; and, transmitting the E-mail message to the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure E-mail services. The system includes a forwarding service to receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient. The system checks for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content including encryption preferences and notifies the recipient or delivers the message according to the encryption preferences. The system also includes an interoperability engine to determine delivery preferences of the sender including security preferences, the security preferences indicating a security protocol by which the E-mail message can be securely delivered to the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure E-mail services. The system includes a forwarding service operable to receive an E-mail message for delivery to a recipient, store the message at least temporarily in a storage means and check for recipient preferences for delivery of the E-mail message content. If no preference is specified and if Web-based delivery is specified, the system provides an E-mail notification to the recipient including a secure link to the message and responds to a page request from the recipient indicating the message including extracting the message from the storage means, formatting the message as a page and delivering the page to the recipient's web browser. If a preference for delivery other than Web-based is specified, the system delivers the message in accordance with the recipient's preference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authorizing a transaction between a consumer and a merchant over a network where the anonymity of the consumer with respect to the merchant is maintained while still validating the authenticity of the consumer prior to completing the transaction. The method includes registering consumer payment information at a payment server and launching a charge slip application including securely transferring unique transaction information for display to the consumer. The consumer digitally signs the charge slip and encrypts the charge slip and consumer digital signature with a payment server key. The merchant digitally signs the encrypted charge slip data. The payment server authenticates the consumer, the merchant and the transaction details at the payment server and requests authorization of the transaction from a card processor. Upon approval, the payment server returns an approval and shipping information for the consumer to the merchant so that the transaction can be completed.

Abstract: A multi-radio equipment arrangement comprises multiple transceivers of different band splits. A preferred arrangement utilizes at least one transceiver for communicating on digital "trunked" RF communications system and at least one transceiver for communicating on a wide-area "conventional" RF communications system. The multi-radio equipment transceivers communicate with each other and with an equipment control unit via a common internal serial data bus to form a multi-radio local network. Each transceiver incorporates a microprocessor controller that includes appropriate task management and serial bus interface software routines for operating and communicating with other devices on the bus. The control unit provides a user interface comprising conventional radio equipment front-panel controls. A "trunked" system transceiver is automatically selected whenever its measured audio quality exceeds a predetermined user-programmable minimum level.