Abstract: A fluid sensor for sensing a concentration or composition of a fluid, the sensor comprising: a semiconductor substrate comprising a first etched portion and a second etched portion; a dielectric region located on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric region comprises a first dielectric membrane located over the first etched portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a second dielectric membrane located over the second etched portion of the semiconductor substrate; two temperature sensing elements on or within the first dielectric membrane and two temperature sensing elements on or within the second dielectric membrane; an output circuit configured to measure a differential signal between the two temperature sensing elements of the first dielectric membrane and the two temperature sensing elements of the second dielectric membrane; wherein the first dielectric membrane is exposed to the fluid and the second dielectric membrane is isolated from the fluid.

Abstract: A fluid sensor for sensing a concentration or composition of a fluid, the sensor comprising: a semiconductor substrate comprising a first etched portion and a second etched portion; a dielectric region located on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric region comprises a first dielectric membrane located over the first etched portion of the semiconductor substrate, and a second dielectric membrane located over the second etched portion of the semiconductor substrate; two temperature sensing elements on or within the first dielectric membrane and two temperature sensing elements on or within the second dielectric membrane; an output circuit configured to measure a differential signal between the two temperature sensing elements of the first dielectric membrane and the two temperature sensing elements of the second dielectric membrane; wherein the first dielectric membrane is exposed to the fluid and the second dielectric membrane is isolated from the fluid.

Abstract: We disclose herein a fluid sensor for sensing a concentration or composition of a fluid, the sensor comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising a first etched portion, a dielectric region located on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the dielectric region comprises a first dielectric membrane located over the first etched portion of the semiconductor substrate, a heating element located within the first dielectric membrane, and a first temperature sensing element spatially separated from the heating element. The fluid sensor further comprises a second temperature sensing element within the dielectric membrane, or the heating element may be further configured to operate as a second temperature sensing element.

Abstract: A data management blockchain and protocol for controlling access to data, in which no central trusted authority is required, is presented. The data management blockchain and protocol comprises an initial announcement of public keys by a plurality of blockchain participants, through which each blockchain participant establishes an identity. Subsequently a first of the plurality of blockchain participants publishes data encrypted with a cryptographic key on the blockchain. A second of the plurality of blockchain participants is assigned as an owner of the data by an authority. Access to the data is granted or revoked to further participants by the second of the plurality of blockchain participants through signed permission messages published on the blockchain, and a corresponding hand-over of the cryptographic key by the first of the plurality of blockchain participants, allowing access to the data. Access to further data may be revoked by changing the cryptographic key used.

Abstract: A data management blockchain and protocol for controlling access to data, in which no central trusted authority is required, is presented. The data management blockchain and protocol comprises an initial announcement of public keys by a plurality of blockchain participants, through which each blockchain participant establishes an identity. Subsequently a first of the plurality of blockchain participants publishes data encrypted with a cryptographic key on the blockchain. A second of the plurality of blockchain participants is assigned as an owner of the data by an authority. Access to the data is granted or revoked to further participants by the second of the plurality of blockchain participants through signed permission messages published on the blockchain, and a corresponding hand-over of the cryptographic key by the first of the plurality of blockchain participants, allowing access to the data. Access to further data may be revoked by changing the cryptographic key used.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for reaching consensus on adding data to and extending the structure or schema of databases synchronized across a distributed ledger or blockchain system, in which no central trusted authority is available, comprising sending an announcement message by a network connected device to a plurality of network connected devices over a network, said message proposing a database schema change or extension. If the announcement message and preceding data in the distributed ledger satisfy predetermined conditions, the plurality of network connected devices may include the data in the distributed ledger, and modify the schema of their databases in a corresponding manner. If data is submitted that requires a structural change to the database before the announcement message has been incorporated in the distributed ledger, the data is rejected by the network and is not included in the distributed ledger.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for storing a location on a blockchain of a hash, such as a cryptographic hash, digital fingerprint, or digest, of a digital item, such as a document, file, sound clip, or computer code, within the digital item itself. The blockchain may be used for providing a provenance of the digital item by generating the hash of the digital item and submitting it within a transaction to the blockchain. The system and method presented allow the location of the hash within the blockchain to be embedded within the digital item before said hash is generated and submitted, providing a clear link between a record of the hash and the digital item in question, and reducing the computational and network resources required to verify the provenance of the digital item.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning an IoT device with a digital certificate without a need for a central Certificate Authority is presented. A blockchain is initiated, with a root certificate presented in an initial block of the blockchain. Said root certificate is subsequently used to sign an authorized certificate. The IoT device is preloaded with a nonce, and a hash of the nonce signed by an authorized certificate is published on the blockchain. The nonce may then be submitted to the blockchain with a self-signed certificate, the presence of the nonce validating the self-signed certificate. The blockchain provides a final single view of a true state of the digital certificates in the system and their respective authority and validity.

Abstract: A system and method for associating payment with provisioning an IoT device with a digital certificate without a need for a central Certificate Authority is presented. The IoT device is preloaded with a nonce, and a hash of the nonce signed by an authorized certificate is published on the blockchain. The nonce may then be submitted to the blockchain with a self-signed certificate, the presence of the nonce validating the self-signed certificate. The blockchain provides a final single view of a true state of the digital certificates in the system and their respective authority and validity. The publishing and signing of certificates may be associated with a transfer of tokens, or digital credits of commercial value.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning an IoT device with a digital certificate without a need for a central Certificate Authority is presented. A blockchain is initiated, with a root certificate presented in an initial block of the blockchain. Said root certificate is subsequently used to sign an authorized certificate. The IoT device is preloaded with a nonce, and a hash of the nonce signed by an authorized certificate is published on the blockchain. The nonce may then be submitted to the blockchain with a self-signed certificate, the presence of the nonce validating the self-signed certificate. The blockchain provides a final single view of a true state of the digital certificates in the system and their respective authority and validity.

Abstract: A data management blockchain and protocol for controlling access to data, in which no central trusted authority is required, is presented. The data management blockchain and protocol comprises an initial announcement of public keys by a plurality of blockchain participants, through which each blockchain participant establishes an identity. Subsequently a first of the plurality of blockchain participants publishes data encrypted with a cryptographic key on the blockchain. A second of the plurality of blockchain participants is assigned as an owner of the data by an authority. Access to the data is granted or revoked to further participants by the second of the plurality of blockchain participants through signed permission messages published on the blockchain, and a corresponding hand-over of the cryptographic key by the first of the plurality of blockchain participants, allowing access to the data. Access to further data may be revoked by changing the cryptographic key used.

Abstract: Descriptions of time altering apparatuses for removing a need for leap seconds are provided. Currently leap seconds are applied to Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) in order to align UTC with mean solar time. In one embodiment a time measurement system is connected to a gigantic heavy flywheel positioned at at least one of a north rotational pole or south rotational pole of the Earth. The time measurement system may determine a shift of UTC away from mean solar time and may subsequently speed up or slow down the flywheel to adjust a rotational speed of the Earth in order to move UTC back to mean solar time. In a second embodiment a similar time measurement system may raise or lower heavy weights into mine shafts drilled at or near the equator of the Earth for a similar effect. Planetary speed adjustments may be written to a blockchain.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for storing a location on a blockchain of a hash, such as a cryptographic hash, digital fingerprint, or digest, of a digital item, such as a document, file, sound clip, or computer code, within the digital item itself. The blockchain may be used for providing a provenance of the digital item by generating the hash of the digital item and submitting it within a transaction to the blockchain. The system and method presented allow the location of the hash within the blockchain to be embedded within the digital item before said hash is generated and submitted, providing a clear link between a record of the hash and the digital item in question, and reducing the computational and network resources required to verify the provenance of the digital item.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning an IoT device with a digital certificate without a need for a central Certificate Authority is presented. A blockchain is initiated, with a root certificate presented in an initial block of the blockchain. Said root certificate is subsequently used to sign an authorized certificate. The IoT device is preloaded with a nonce, and a hash of the nonce signed by an authorized certificate is published on the blockchain. The nonce may then be submitted to the blockchain with a self-signed certificate, the presence of the nonce validating the self-signed certificate. The blockchain provides a final single view of a true state of the digital certificates in the system and their respective authority and validity.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for reaching consensus on adding data to and extending the structure or schema of databases synchronized across a distributed ledger or blockchain system, in which no central trusted authority is available, comprising sending an announcement message by a network connected device to a plurality of network connected devices over a network, said message proposing a database schema change or extension. If the announcement message and preceding data in the distributed ledger satisfy predetermined conditions, the plurality of network connected devices may include the data in the distributed ledger, and modify the schema of their databases in a corresponding manner. If data is submitted that requires a structural change to the database before the announcement message has been incorporated in the distributed ledger, the data is rejected by the network and is not included in the distributed ledger.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for reaching consensus on adding data to and extending the structure or schema of databases synchronized across a distributed ledger or blockchain system, in which no central trusted authority is available, comprising sending an announcement message by a network connected device to a plurality of network connected devices over a network, said message proposing a database schema change or extension. If the announcement message and preceding data in the distributed ledger satisfy predetermined conditions, the plurality of network connected devices may include the data in the distributed ledger, and modify the schema of their databases in a corresponding manner. If data is submitted that requires a structural change to the database before the announcement message has been incorporated in the distributed ledger, the data is rejected by the network and is not included in the distributed ledger.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for reaching consensus on adding data to and extending the structure or schema of databases synchronized across a distributed ledger or blockchain system, in which no central trusted authority is available, comprising sending an announcement message by a network connected device to a plurality of network connected devices over a network, said message proposing a database schema change or extension. If the announcement message and preceding data in the distributed ledger satisfy predetermined conditions, the plurality of network connected devices may include the data in the distributed ledger, and modify the schema of their databases in a corresponding manner. If data is submitted that requires a structural change to the database before the announcement message has been incorporated in the distributed ledger, the data is rejected by the network and is not included in the distributed ledger.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is described which comprises a processor operable to execute a sequence of instructions and a cache memory having a plurality of cache lines operable to store data values for access by the processor when executing the sequence of instructions. A cache controller is also provided which comprises preload circuitry operable in response to a streaming preload instruction received at the processor to store data values from a main memory into one or more cache lines of the cache memory. The cache controller also comprises identification circuitry operable in response to the streaming preload instruction to identify one or more cache lines of the cache memory for preferential reuse.

Abstract: Monitoring logic 20 for monitoring a data processor 10 to detect if it is not operating as anticipated, the monitoring logic 20 comprising: a timer 27 operable to measure a predetermined time; detection logic 24; and control logic 22; wherein said detection logic is operable to detect a data or instruction access to at least one predetermined address and in response to not detecting said data or instruction access within said predetermined time, said control logic is operable to send a control signal to said data processor, said control signal controlling said data processor to perform a predetermined operation.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method for generating constant values is provided. The data processing apparatus comprises a data processing unit operable in response to an instruction to perform a data processing operation on one or more data values. Shift logic is operable to selectively apply a shift operation to data to produce one of the data values for the data processing operation. Further, a plurality of registers are provided for storing data. The instruction has a register specifier field for identifying a register and a shift specifier field for specifying a shift to be applied to that register's data in order to produce one of the data values for the data processing operation.