Abstract: A security infrastructure and methods are presented that inhibit the ability of a malicious node from disrupting the normal operations of a peer-to-peer network. The methods of the invention allow both secure and insecure identities to be used by nodes by making them self-verifying. When necessary or opportunistic, ID ownership is validated by piggybacking the validation on existing messages. The probability of connecting initially to a malicious node is reduced by randomly selecting to which node to connect. Further, information from malicious nodes is identified and can be disregarded by maintaining information about prior communications that will require a future response. Denial of service attacks are inhibited by allowing the node to disregard requests when its resource utilization exceeds a predetermined limit. The ability for a malicious node to remove a valid node is reduced by requiring that revocation certificates be signed by the node to be removed.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer cache architecture stores peer address certificates in different cache segments according to the number of IDs being stored and their relative distance in the peer name space. The cache instantiates regions of decreased range and increased granularity as additional information from close peers is learned. In a large peer cloud where the number of instantiated IDs is not known, each succeeding cache region covers one tenth of the preceding cache region. For peers with multiple IDs registered locally, the segmented cache of the present invention combines overlapping segments of the same granularity to eliminate the duplication of information that would otherwise occur. A cache tree, an instantiated segment tree, and an uninstantiated segment tree are arranged in red-black trees to simplify the search and proper placement and instantiation of information.

Abstract: A method for use in a peer-to-peer communication system to ensure valid connections are made in a secure manner includes the steps of receiving an address record for a peer node which includes an ID certificate. The ID certificate is validated and checked to verify that the ID certificate has not expired. Further, the method determines if the node from whom the address record was received is to be trusted, and the number of instances of the IP address included in the certificate is already stored in cache. When the foregoing are completed successfully, i.e. the certificate is valid, not expired, has been supplied by a trusted neighbor, and does not point to an IP address that already exists for different ID's multiple times, the method opportunistically verifies ownership of the ID certificate at the peer node's IP address. That is, the verification of ownership only occurs when the advertiser of the ID is the owner of that ID (or when the ID is to be used).

Abstract: A serverless name resolution protocol ensures convergence despite the size of the network, without requiring an ever-increasing cache and with a reasonable numbers of hops. This convergence is ensured through a multi-level cache and a proactive cache initialization strategy. The multi-level cache is built based on a circular number space. Each level contains information from different levels of slivers of the circular space. A mechanism is included to add a level to the multi-level cache when the node determines that the last level is full. The PNRP includes a mechanism to allow resolution of names which are mapped onto the circular number space through a hash function. Further, the PNRP may also operate with the domain name system by providing each node with an identification consisting of a DNS component and a unique number.

Abstract: An improved excimer laser is disclosed. In one embodiment, the laser includes laser beam generating circuitry operable to generate a laser beam and a vessel enclosing the laser beam generating circuitry. The vessel contains a volume of gas conducive to the formation of the laser beam by the laser beam generating circuitry. The vessel has a wall with a beam aperture formed therein to permit the laser beam generated by the laser beam generating circuitry to pass through it. A window mount assembly is attached to the wall of the vessel. The window mount assembly encloses a beam cavity and has a window that transmits the laser beam. The window is positioned at a first, closed end of the beam cavity. The beam cavity has a second, open end adjoining the beam aperture formed in the vessel wall. The beam cavity has a lateral surface extending between the first and second ends. A plenum lies outside the beam cavity. A gas handling system extracts the gas from the vessel and provides the gas to the plenum.

Abstract: A display concept designed to interface with source material from a computer, video recorder or video camera. The interface to a computer generates a series of images that are separate viewpoints of a desired scene to be viewed in three dimensions. The images are based upon a horizontal translation of viewpoints. In the case of a video camera, the interface captures video images from multiple viewpoints and delivers these images in a successive manner to a location at which they can be viewed. The camera requires a single lens and sensor instead of multiple lenses. In the video recorder case, an interface stores images from a computer or video camera and plays back images in the proper sequence for the display. A display system can also operate as a film recorder to provide hard copy, three-dimensional images. A computer, video recorder or video camera thus provides images to a surface which can be viewed and which can present two-dimensional images which are changeable into three-dimensional images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for performing parametric testing of a functional programming interface. Parametric testing of a function verifies that the function performs as expected when a valid or an invalid parameter is passed to the function. To perform parameter testing on a function, the present invention receives as input prototype information for the function, and then formulates a testing plan. The invention tests the function according to the testing plan. The testing plan specifies a list of invalid and valid values for each parameter of the function. The invention repeatedly invokes the function, each time passing the function various combinations of invalid and valid values. The function passes the test when (1) the function does not return an error code for any combination of valid parameter values and (2) the function returns an error for any combination of parameter values that include an invalid parameter value.

Abstract: The improved longitudinal discharge laser electrode with IR baffle includes an electrode made up of washers spaced along the laser axis in order to form inter-washer spaces for hollow cathode discharge to take place and for IR radiation to be trapped. Additional IR baffles can be placed between the electrode ann the window.

Abstract: A three-stage magnetic modulator utilizing magnetic pulse compression designed to provide a 60 kV pulse to a copper vapor laser at a 4.5 kHz repetition rate is disclosed. This modulator operates at 34 kW input power. The circuit includes a step up auto transformer and utilizes a rod and plate stack construction technique to achieve a high packing factor.

Abstract: A regenerative amplifier design capable of operating at high energy per pulse, for instance, from 20-100 Joules, at moderate repetition rates, for instance from 5-20 Hertz is provided. The laser amplifier comprises a gain medium and source of pump energy coupled with the gain medium; a Pockels cell, which rotates an incident beam in response to application of a control signal; an optical relay system defining a first relay plane near the gain medium and a second relay plane near the rotator; and a plurality of reflectors configured to define an optical path through the gain medium, optical relay and Pockels cell, such that each transit of the optical path includes at least one pass through the gain medium and only one pass through the Pockels cell. An input coupler, and an output coupler are provided, implemented by a single polarizer.

Abstract: A pulse compression and prepulse suppression apparatus (10) for time compressing the output of a laser (14). A pump pulse (46) is separated from a seed pulse (48) by a first polarized beam splitter (20) according to the orientation of a half wave plate (18). The seed pulse (48) is directed into an SBS oscillator (44) by two plane mirrors (22, 26) and a corner mirror (24), the corner mirror (24) being movable to adjust timing. The pump pulse (46) is directed into an SBS amplifier 34 wherein SBS occurs. The seed pulse (48), having been propagated from the SBS oscillator (44), is then directed through the SBS amplifier (34) wherein it sweeps the energy of the pump pulse (46) out of the SBS amplifier (34) and is simultaneously compressed, and the time compressed pump pulse (46) is emitted as a pulse output (52). A second polarized beam splitter (38) directs any undepleted pump pulse 58 away from the SBS oscillator (44).

Abstract: Coupling apparatus for a large bore metal vapor laser is disclosed. The coupling apparatus provides for coupling high voltage pulses (approximately 40 KV) to a metal vapor laser with a high repetition rate (approximately 5 KHz). The coupling apparatus utilizes existing thyratron circuits and provides suitable power input to a large bore metal vapor laser while maintaining satisfactory operating lifetimes for the existing thyratron circuits.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable, wheeled cooler apparatus having a (1) cooler chest assembly; (2) support wheel assembly on which the cooler chest assembly is mounted; and (3) a combination handle and lock assembly connected to the cooler chest assembly to act as a lock in an enclosed condition and as a handle in a transport condition. The cooler chest assembly includes a support container member with a removable enclosure lid member mounted thereon. The support wheel assembly is operable in an upright condition of the cooler chest assembly to restrict lateral movement thereof as having support wheel members out of contact with a support surface. The cooler chest assembly is pivotal rearwardly out of contact with the support surface for ease of movement on the wheel members.

Abstract: A plural container packaged for securing together a plurality of identical containers, each said container having an open neck finish, an outstanding bead portion disposed below said finish portion, an angled shoulder portion disposed below said bead portion and an elongate hollow enlarged diameter main body portion having a closed bottom, in communication with said finish opening. The package includes a plurality of such containers, in a regular geometric array, with a unitary cover shroud overlaying each container in the array such that the upper portion of the cover shroud is subjacent to the bead portion of the containers and the lower portion of the cover shroud extends approximately to the midpoint of the container main body portion. A first container securing means interconnects each container at a point immediately subjacent to the bead portion of the container and superjacent to the cover shroud.

Abstract: The fiber orientation of fourdrinier laid machine made paper is simulated with a bench top handsheet mold by means of a two-axis flow convergent nozzle asymmetrically positioned in the slurry reservoir box of the mold. When a pulp slurry is drained of water, a strong flow stream vector component parallel with the forming wire plane is generated within the flow stream as the slurry flows inductively over the nozzle surfaces and from the nozzle throat.