Abstract: A device and method for detecting the presence of living organisms in a structure or behind a wall or partition utilizes a microwave or radio-frequency one or more transceivers which generate separate and distinct interrogating signals and receives separate and distinct signals reflected from a structure and living organisms within it. The reflected signals received by each of the transceivers are processed, for instance by a microprocessor, so as to provide output signals that indicate the presence or absence of a living organism in the structure or behind wall or partition. The microprocessor distinguishes and differentiate signals from different living organisms and from false indication of the presence of living organisms, thereby enabling the detection of living organisms despite the existence of motion signals caused by non-living organism motion.

Abstract: A transmitter (110) which transmits a signal (120) for reception by a receiving device (130). The transmitter is arranged to insert into the signal an indication of a geographical region where the signal physically can be received. Preferably the geographical region is indicated in the signal using geometrical shapes. The receiving device receives one or more signals, each of the signals carrying an indication of a respective geographical region where the respective signal physically can be received, and is arranged to determine its locale from said indications. The receiver can compute the intersection of the sets of geometrical shapes carried in the various signals it received as the geographical region it is in. Based on its determined locale the receiver can restrict access to content, if such content is restricted to certain regions.

Abstract: A method and system (200) marks (170) a copy of copy-protected material (202) with a geographic marker based on a geographic region of the source of the copy. Conforming rendering devices are configured to prevent (140) the rendering of copy protected material (201) that have geographic markers that differ (120) from the geographic region associated with the rendering device. Any of a variety of techniques are used to determine the geographic location of the rendering device (200), including the geographic location of the rendering device that produces the original copy. Preferably, each copy (202) of the copy-protected material also includes an identifier of the rendering device (200) that produced the copy, and subsequent renderings of copies by the same rendering device are permitted (130) regardless of geographic locale, thereby allowing for the relocation of a consumer's rendering devices and libraries of material.

Abstract: A vouching system and method provides an alternative means for authorizing access to protected content material. When a copy of content material (201) is deemed to be unauthorized by a rendering device (200), authorization can be obtained by contacting the source (100) of the copied material. If the copy (201) had been authorized, the source (100) re-certifies, or vouches for, the copy (201) to the rendering device (200). Upon receipt of this vouching, the rendering device (200) withdraws its rejection, and proceeds accordingly. Optionally, limits and security measures can be applied to this vouching process to minimize the potential for abuse.

Abstract: A method enables a gas turbine engine to be assembled. The method comprises coupling a rotor assembly including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced rotor blades downstream from, and in flow communication with, a compressor, coupling a casing assembly circumferentially around the rotor assembly such that a clearance is defined between an inner shroud surface of the casing assembly and the rotor blade tips, and coupling a clearance control system to the casing assembly to facilitate maintaining the clearance between the casing assembly and the rotor blade tips, wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the clearance control system is formed with a textured pattern that facilitates increasing the clearance control closure capability during engine operation.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting the presence of living organisms in a structure or behind a wall or partition utilizes a microwave or radio-frequency one or more transceivers which generate separate and distinct interrogating signals and receives separate and distinct signals reflected from a structure and living organisms within it. The reflected signals received by each of the transceivers are processed, for instance by a microprocessor, so as to provide output signals that indicate the presence or absence of a living organism in the structure or behind wall or partition. The microprocessor distinguishes and differentiate signals from different living organisms and from false indication of the presence of living organisms, thereby enabling the detection of living organisms despite the existence of motion signals caused by non-living organism motion.

Abstract: A fastener shield for use in a fluid flow path within a gas turbine engine for reducing fluid drag and heating generated by fluid flow over a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts. The fastener shield has a radially-extending, downstream-facing mounting flange with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt holes positioned to receive respective engine mounting bolts therethrough and to attach the mounting flange to elements of the turbine engine. A curved, upstream-facing fastener shield cover is positioned in spaced-apart relation to the mounting flange for at least partially covering and separating an exposed, upstream-facing portion of the bolts from the fluid flow to thereby reduce drag and consequent heating of the bolts. A plurality of closely spaced-apart, spirally-oriented channels are formed in the fastener shield cover for deflecting the fluid flow impinging on the fastener shield cover, thereby increasing the tangential velocity and lowering the relative temperature of the fluid flow.

Abstract: A fastener shield for use in a fluid flow path within a gas turbine engine for reducing fluid drag and heating generated by fluid flow over a plurality of circumferentially spaced fasteners. The fastener shield has a radially-extending, downstream-facing mounting flange with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolt holes positioned to receive respective engine mounting bolts therethrough and to attach the mounting flange to elements of the turbine engine. A curved, upstream-facing fastener shield cover is positioned in spaced-apart relation to the mounting flange for at least partially covering and separating an exposed, upstream-facing portion of the bolts from the fluid flow to thereby reduce drag and consequent heating of the bolts.

Abstract: A security system is configured to use a variable length encoding of a security identifier for segments of protected content material. In this system, a distinction is made between a “zero” information bit, and the “absence” of the information bit in a shorter information item. A conventional N-bit information encoding is encoded as a variable bit encoding, wherein the information encoding ranges from N?k bits to N+k bits. By distinguishing “zero” bits from “absent” bits, this variable bit encoding allows for 2N?k+2N?(k?1) . . . +2N . . . +2N+(k?1)+2N+k possible unique information values. Preferably, the number of bits used for each encoding of a segment of a data set is a random value, further adding to the complexity of creating a dictionary mapping for protected content material.

Abstract: A system and method determines the proximity of the target node to the source node from the time required to communicate messages within the node-verification protocol. The node-verification protocol includes a query-response sequence, wherein the source node communicates a query to the target node, and the target node communicates a corresponding response to the source node. The target node is configured to communicate two responses to the query: a first response that is transmitted immediately upon receipt of the query, and a second response based on the contents of the query. The communication time is determined based on the time duration between the transmission of the query and receipt of the first response at the source node and the second response is compared for correspondence to the query, to verify the authenticity of the target node.

Abstract: A check-in/check-out system (100) and method creates limited-duration copies of protected content material (101). The system is configured to allow up-to-N contemporaneous copies (102) of the protected content material. A log (110) maintains a record of the copies currently outstanding, and their expiration times, after which time a conforming rendering device will cease to render the material of this expired copy. When a copy is returned, the entry in the log is deleted (270). If a copy is not returned to the system (100) before its expiration time, the system is configure to also delete its entry from the log (201), thereby allowing another copy to be made (250) to replace the expired copy, even though the expired copy has not been returned.

Abstract: A plasma reactor including a first dielectric having at least one slot defined therethrough, and a segmented electrode including a plurality of electrode segments, each electrode segment is disposed proximate an associated slot. Each electrode segment may be formed in different shapes, for example, a plate, bar, rim, or plug. The electrode segment may be hollow, solid, or made from a porous material. The reactor may include a second electrode and dielectric with the first and second dielectrics separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel therebetween into which the plasma exiting from the slots defined in the first dielectric is discharged. The fluid to be treated is passed through the channel and exposed to the plasma discharge. If the electrode segment is hollow or made of a porous material, then the fluid/gas to be treated may be fed into the slots defined in the first dielectric and exposed therein to the maximum plasma density.

Abstract: To overcome a watermark security system that is based on a limited set of possible watermark values, a collection of authentic watermarked material is created, and a substitution system provides material from this collection in lieu of the content material that the watermark verification system is intended to verify. In security systems that are designed to verify the existence of authentic watermarked material, without regard to the actual content of the material, this substitution scheme will be successful. In security systems that are designed to verify the existence of an entirety of a data set in order to authorize the presentation of select material from the data set, the substitution of authentic watermarked material for the non-selected material will also be successful. A dictionary of expected watermarks for the data set is provided.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting the presence of living organisms in a structure or behind a wall or partition utilizes a microwave or radio-frequency one or more transceivers which generate separate and distinct interrogating signals and receives separate and distinct signals reflected from a structure and living organisms within it. The reflected signals received by each of the transceivers are processed, for instance by a microprocessor, so as to provide output signals that indicate the presence or absence of a living organism in the structure or behind wall or partition. The microprocessor distinguishes and differentiate signals from different living organisms and from false indication of the presence of living organisms, thereby enabling the detection of living organisms despite the existence of motion signals caused by non-living organism motion.

Abstract: A device (10) for recording content onto a medium (14) includes a processor (22) which is configured to read a first code (16) embedded in the medium (14), a second code embedded in a memory (12) of the recording device (10), and a third code embedded in the content (18). The processor (22) compares the three codes and allows recordation of the content (18) onto the medium (14) when the three codes are identical. The three codes are region codes indicative of the region of broadcast of the content (18), the broadcast time or the time zone of the region of broadcast. The recording device (10) prevents recordation when a content code included in the content (18) does not match the other two codes or their difference is greater than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting the presence of living organisms in a structure or behind a wall or partition utilizes a plurality of transceivers, each of which generates separate and distinct interrogating signals and receives separate and distinct signals reflected from a structure and living organisms within it. The reflected signals received by each of the transceivers are processed, for instance by a microprocessor, so as to provide output signals that indicate the presence or absence of a living organism in the structure or behind wall or partition. The microprocessor distinguishes and differentiate signals from different living organisms and from false indication of the presence of living organisms, thereby enabling the detection of living organisms despite the existence of motion signals caused by non-living organism motion.

Abstract: A system and method facilitates a determination of proximity between nodes based on the communication time between the node. A source node communicates a query, or “ping”, to a target node. The target node is configured to automatically send a response to the sender of such a query. The communication time is determined based on the time duration between the transmission of the query and receipt of the response at the source node. The communication time is compared to a threshold value to determine whether the target node is local or remote relative to the source node.

Abstract: A copyright protection system for protecting content wherein a time dependent ticket is calculated at a source device by combining a checkpoint with a ticket. The checkpoint is transmitted from a display device to the source device prior to the source device transmitting watermarked content to the display device. The checkpoint is also stored at the display device. Thereafter, the source device transmits, to the display device, watermarked content, the ticket, and the time dependent ticket. At the display device, the stored checkpoint is compared to a current count of a local clock that was utilized for producing the checkpoint. If the stored checkpoint is within a window of time of the local clock, then the stored checkpoint is combined with the ticket in the same way that the checkpoint is combined with the ticket at the source device.

Abstract: Copy-protected content material is screened for an indication of the availability of an enhanced version of a screening system and forcing an upgrade to the advanced screening system by refusing to process the copy-protected content material until the upgrade is preformed. When security standards change, and corresponding security techniques are available for downloading to existing consumer devices, newly published content material will contain an indication to that effect. When the newly published content material is processed by an existing consumer device, the consumer device will detect this indication of an available update, and will prevent the processing of this newly published content material until the update is received. In this manner, a phased approach to enhanced security can be effected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for random number generation, including a plurality of cross- connected latches 210, 215, 220, 225, providing at least two latch outputs (latch1, latch0) is provided. At least one input of one latch 210, 215, 220, 225 of the plurality of latches being driven by a clock signal 100. A first XOR 261 receives the at least two latch outputs (latch0, latch1) as an input, and generates a mistake signal “E” when its inputs do not match from the at least two latch outputs(latch0, latch1) being at different logic states. Te mistake signal is compared with a previously stored mistake signal by a second XOR 265 to determine whether to obtain a random bit from a pseudo random stream of bits.