Abstract: A method for distributing symmetric encryption keys in a communication system comprising a plurality of nodes is disclosed. Each node comprises information about printer control settings and printer jobs and a printing device configured for generating encryption keys. The method comprises: providing to each node an initial session key information that comprises an initial printer control setting and an initial printer job setting; providing to each node as a one-time pad an initial session key package encrypted with the initial session key information and comprising items of first session key information, wherein any two nodes have a common item of first session key information; generating at each node second session key information that is different for each of the other nodes; and sending from one of the nodes to another node a message encrypted with the first session key information and comprising the second session key information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling a synthesis process for a chemical or biological product, comprising the steps of at a processing device of a synthesis specification control module receiving via a communication interface a synthesis specification for the synthesis process, deriving a set of experimental requirements from the synthesis specification, receiving via the communication interface device laboratory equipment data associated with at least one laboratory equipment device deriving a set of equipment properties from the laboratory equipment data associated with at least one laboratory equipment device, comparing the set of experimental requirements with the set of equipment properties, generating control data based on the comparison providing with the processing device the control data suitable for controlling the synthesis process.