Abstract: A disclosed technique enables a tree of transactions between entities which may be a first entity and a second entity. The technique may be implemented at a transaction recipient, which can be one of the entities or an external actor, such as a certifier. The transaction recipient accesses two transactions, including a first and second transaction, and two respective secrets, including a first and second secret. The first transaction originates from the first entity, while the second transaction originates from the second entity. The first and second transaction are obfuscated based on the first secret and the second secret, respectively. The first transaction is logically connected to the second transaction. The transaction recipient further de-obfuscates the two transactions using the two respective secrets, and cryptographically signs at least a part of the second transaction to obtain a signature, prior to allowing the second entity to access the obtained signature.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for managing physical objects. A computer system associates a physical object of a set of physical objects with an object identifier. The computer system obtains a digital fingerprint, from a unique physical property of the physical object, wherein the digital fingerprint is impacted by the unique physical property. The computer system obtains a dataset from the object identifier and the digital fingerprint. The computer system cryptographically signs the dataset to obtain a signature. The computer system instructs to store the object identifier and the signature on a data storage device.

Abstract: A system and method interpret optical characterization examinations performed with a set of optical devices. Each device comprises one or more arrays of optical metasurface structures and have arrays tailored to have distinct properties making them differ from one another. First data and second data are accessed that capture a physical fingerprint of each device and an outcome of an optical characterization examination performed with each device, respectively. The outcomes of examinations performed are impacted by the respective, distinct properties of the arrays. Each device is identified based on the first data accessed, which makes it possible to obtain a readout key associated with the identified device. This readout key accounts for the respective one of the distinct properties. Finally, the second data are interpreted according to the readout key obtained to elucidate the outcome of the optical characterization examination. The invention is further directed to related computer program products.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for certified sensor readings from a sensor can be provided. The method includes calibrating the sensor, generating a digital certificate, signing, by the sensor, a measurement value with its private key of a public/private key pair, and sending, by the sensor, the signed measurement value such that the sensor is identifiable via its public key and the related generated digital certificate.

Abstract: Methods are provided for generating a random bit-string from an array of SRAM cells. Such a method includes reading the start-up value of each cell over multiple power-ups of the array, and calculating, from the multiple start-up values of each cell, a bias value indicative of entropy of that cell. The method also includes generating, based on the bias values, an address list in which addresses of cells in the array are listed in order of entropy of the cells. This address list is stored in non-volatile memory. The method further comprises, on a subsequent power-up of the array, generating a random bit-string by reading the start-up values of a set of cells selected in decreasing entropy order of the address list. Hardware random number generators exploiting such methods are also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for managing relationships between persons and physical objects based on identifiers. A computer system configures a user device to be capable of interacting with each of a first database and a second database. The computer system verifies, by interacting with the second database, that a given object of the physical objects is a genuine object, based on a given object identifier of the given object and a digital fingerprint detected from a physical fingerprint of the given object. The computer system requests, via the first database, a transfer of a given relationship from a first person to a second person with respect to the given object, based on the given object identifier and a person identifier of the second person.

Abstract: A system and method interpret optical characterization examinations performed with a set of optical devices. Each device comprises one or more arrays of optical metasurface structures and have arrays tailored to have distinct properties making them differ from one another. First data and second data are accessed that capture a physical fingerprint of each device and an outcome of an optical characterization examination performed with each device, respectively. The outcomes of examinations performed are impacted by the respective, distinct properties of the arrays. Each device is identified based on the first data accessed, which makes it possible to obtain a readout key associated with the identified device. This readout key accounts for the respective one of the distinct properties. Finally, the second data are interpreted according to the readout key obtained to elucidate the outcome of the optical characterization examination. The invention is further directed to related computer program products.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for a quality control method. The method includes verifying one or more sensors as part of a verification process and assessing a quality of an item or a technical process as part of a quality control process. Two or more measurements values characterizing the item or the technical process from the one or more sensors are obtained. One or more output values based on a computerized process taking the two or more measurements values as inputs are obtained. At least one of the output values obtained is compared to one or more corresponding reference values, to obtain a quality assessment of the item or the technical process.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for managing ownership of physical objects based on identifiers. A computer system provides an ownership database storing pairs of object identifiers and owner identifiers, and the ownership database is in data communication with a computerized transaction system. Upon the computerized transaction system triggering a transaction protocol for a transaction for a respective one of the physical objects, at the ownership database independently of the computerized transaction system, a process of transferring an ownership of the respective one of the physical objects is executed. In response to receiving a request to change the ownership from a buyer, the ownership database records a buyer identifier of the buyer as a new owner identifier associated with an object identifier of the respective one of the physical objects.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for managing relationships between persons and physical objects based on identifiers. A computer system configures a user device to be capable of interacting with each of a first database and a second database. The computer system verifies, by interacting with the second database, that a given object of the physical objects is a genuine object, based on a given object identifier of the given object and a digital fingerprint detected from a physical fingerprint of the given object. The computer system requests, via the first database, a transfer of a given relationship from a first person to a second person with respect to the given object, based on the given object identifier and a person identifier of the second person.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a computer program product for managing physical objects. A computer system associates a physical object of a set of physical objects with an object identifier. The computer system obtains a digital fingerprint, from a unique physical property of the physical object, wherein the digital fingerprint is impacted by the unique physical property. The computer system obtains a dataset from the object identifier and the digital fingerprint. The computer system cryptographically signs the dataset to obtain a signature. The computer system instructs to store the object identifier and the signature on a data storage device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for certified sensor readings from a sensor can be provided. The method includes calibrating the sensor, generating a digital certificate, signing, by the sensor, a measurement value with its private key of a public/private key pair, and sending, by the sensor, the signed measurement value such that the sensor is identifiable via its public key and the related generated digital certificate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a computer-implemented method of processor branch prediction. This method aims at training a machine-learning model of processor branch behavior while a processing unit executes computer instructions. Such instructions include branch instructions, load instructions and store instructions. The load instructions and the store instructions cause a control unit of the processing unit to load data from a memory into processor registers and store data from the processor registers to the memory, respectively. Basically, the training of the model involves, for each of N branch instructions (N>2) encountered whilst the processing unit executes said branch instructions: identifying a next branch instruction; and feeding the machine-learning model with carefully chosen inputs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a computer-implemented method of processor branch prediction. This method aims at training a machine-learning model of processor branch behavior while a processing unit executes computer instructions. Such instructions include branch instructions, load instructions and store instructions. The load instructions and the store instructions cause a control unit of the processing unit to load data from a memory into processor registers and store data from the processor registers to the memory, respectively. Basically, the training of the model involves, for each of N branch instructions (N>2) encountered whilst the processing unit executes said branch instructions: identifying a next branch instruction; and feeding the machine-learning model with carefully chosen inputs.

Abstract: A motion detection device for motion controlled switching of a peripheral device having a switching characteristic is suggested. The motion detection device comprises a motion detector for providing detection signals in response to detected motions and a memory for storing durations between the detection signals. The motion detection device further comprises a signal generator for outputting a switching signal to the peripheral device for switching the peripheral device from a first operation mode to a second operation mode for a activation period. A controller is further included for controlling the signal generator. Therein, the controller is configured to determine the activation period based on at least a selection of the durations between the detection signals stored in the memory and the switching characteristic of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A method for dynamically selecting a size of a memory access may be provided. The method comprises accessing blocks having a variable number of consecutive cache lines, maintaining a vector with entries of past utilizations for each block size, and adapting said block size before a next access to the blocks.

Abstract: A method of prefetching data is provided including monitoring sequences of memory addresses of data being accessed by a system, whereby sequences of m+1 memory addresses each are continually identified; and for each identified sequence: converting, upon identifying said each sequence, memory addresses of said each sequence into m relative addresses, whereby each of the m relative addresses is relative to a previous memory address in said each sequence, so as to obtain an auxiliary sequence of m relative addresses; upon converting said memory addresses, feeding said auxiliary sequence of m relative addresses as input to a trained machine learning model for it to predict p relative addresses of next memory accesses by the system, where p?1; and prefetching data at memory locations associated with one or more memory addresses that respectively correspond to one or more of the p relative addresses predicted.

Abstract: A method of prefetching data is provided including monitoring sequences of memory addresses of data being accessed by a system, whereby sequences of m+1 memory addresses each are continually identified; and for each identified sequence: converting, upon identifying said each sequence, memory addresses of said each sequence into m relative addresses, whereby each of the m relative addresses is relative to a previous memory address in said each sequence, so as to obtain an auxiliary sequence of m relative addresses; upon converting said memory addresses, feeding said auxiliary sequence of m relative addresses as input to a trained machine learning model for it to predict p relative addresses of next memory accesses by the system, where p?1; and prefetching data at memory locations associated with one or more memory addresses that respectively correspond to one or more of the p relative addresses predicted.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention is directed to a method for connecting a device to a network. An example method comprises providing a device assigned with a device identifier and an asymmetric cryptographic key pair that includes a public key and a private key. The device stores the private key on a memory thereof. The device is provided with information as to the assigned device identifier and/or the public key. This information is detectable by a detector so as to be transmissible to a server for it to identify the device identifier and the public key assigned to the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention is directed to a method for connecting a device to a network. An example method comprises providing a device assigned with a device identifier and an asymmetric cryptographic key pair that includes a public key and a private key. The device stores the private key on a memory thereof. The device is provided with information as to the assigned device identifier and/or the public key. This information is detectable by a detector so as to be transmissible to a server for it to identify the device identifier and the public key assigned to the device.