Abstract: A tunable laser including: an optical cavity including a first and second end mirrors, and a center mirror; a quantum well gain region between the end mirrors; and a transparent heat spreader bonded to the quantum well gain region; wherein the optical cavity is configured to generate resonant laser radiation between the end mirrors; the quantum well gain region includes at least one quantum well that is substantially aligned with an antinode of the resonant laser radiation and is located at a fixed distance to the center mirror; the distance from the first end mirror to the center mirror is optimized to maintain maximum output power, and the distance from the second end mirror to the center mirror is adjustable for tuning the laser to a desired output wavelength; the center mirror maintains an antinode of the resonant radiation at a fixed phase relationship with the center mirror.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for hardening a communication device, which methods and apparatuses make it possible to identify a use of at least one port, by which port a request is submitted to the communication device by a message, and to output a signal for blocking the at least one port if, after a specifiable time period, either the use of the port in question is detected as low or no use of the port in question is detected. Embodiments can be used to harden communication devices in a production line, in a hospital and/or in a power supply network.

Abstract: An intersection management system and method for reducing or avoiding potential collisions between vehicles are provided. The system may use a wireless signal, with or without a circuit, to traverse an intersection. The system may use, at least in part, a positive vehicle control system.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method may receive detection times at which passage of one or more vehicle systems by a detection device disposed along a route is detected. Locations of the one or more vehicle systems at different times may be received from one or more location sensors disposed onboard the one or more vehicle systems. The locations of the one or more vehicle systems when the one or more vehicle systems were detected by the detection device may be determined by comparing the detection times with the different times associated with the locations. A condition or state of the detection device can be determined by comparing the locations that are determined by the controller with a device location of the detection device.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for hardening a communication device, which methods and apparatuses make it possible to identify a use of at least one port, by which port a request is submitted to the communication device by a message, and to output a signal for blocking the at least one port if, after a specifiable time period, either the use of the port in question is detected as low or no use of the port in question is detected. Embodiments can be used to harden communication devices in a production line, in a hospital and/or in a power supply network.

Abstract: A method for protecting a login process of a user to a service provider against brute force attacks is provided. A financial value is transferred from the user to a token provider for a temporary login token. A login attempt is performed by the user on the service provider, wherein the login attempt requires user specific login data and the temporary login token. If the login on the service provider was successful within a predefined number of login attempts, the financial value is transferred back to the user.

Abstract: Provided is a method for processing of service requests by a service provider node. Hereby, the method includes receiving a first service request, which is remitted by a user. The method further includes receiving first control data indicative of a first financial deposit, which is remitted by the user, wherein the first control data is referenced to at least one service request. The method further includes processing the received first service request, if the received first control data is referenced to the received first service request.

Abstract: A method and a system for identifying a weakness in a first device that is arranged in a first network, including transmission of a first message to a second device, wherein the second device is arranged in a second network outside the first network, including reception and evaluation of the first message by the second device for the purpose of providing a piece of identification information for the first device in the first network, including composition and transmission of a second message to the first device by the piece of identification information by the second device and including display of a weakness by the first device or second device if the second message is received by the first device. The method and a system can be used to check a secure network and/or device configuration in the industrial and private sectors.

Abstract: A method for protecting a login process of a user to a service provider against brute force attacks is provided. A financial value is transferred from the user to a token provider for a temporary login token. A login attempt is performed by the user on the service provider, wherein the login attempt requires user specific login data and the temporary login token. If the login on the service provider was successful within a predefined number of login attempts, the financial value is transferred back to the user.

Abstract: The invention includes a process for one's own global navigation satellite system and at least one other global navigation satellite system including the following: Receiving ranging signals and navigation messages or ranging signals only from the at least one other global navigation satellite system, and processing the received ranging signals and navigation messages in a similar way as the ranging signals and navigation messages of the owned global navigation satellite system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) degradation of a satellite radio frequency (RF) transmitter being in a repeating ground track orbit. Sets of signal-to-noise (C/N0) and satellite orbit data are obtained from first and second sources. Each data set is associated with the satellite and one of several receivers. Computing temporal information on an elevational and azimuthal satellite direction for each receiver location. A temporal information based time interval is determined for a single ground track. Determining, for each receiver, one of a first plurality of differences between a first time point data set value and a second time point data set value. The two time points differ by the time interval. A first average of the first plurality of differences is computed and compared with a predetermined threshold. A signal is triggered when the computed first average is larger than the threshold.

Abstract: A method and a system for identifying a weakness in a first device that is arranged in a first network, including transmission of a first message to a second device, wherein the second device is arranged in a second network outside the first network, including reception and evaluation of the first message by the second device for the purpose of providing a piece of identification information for the first device in the first network, including composition and transmission of a second message to the first device by the piece of identification information by the second device and including display of a weakness by the first device or second device if the second message is received by the first device. The method and a system can be used to check a secure network and/or device configuration in the industrial and private sectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) degradation of a satellite radio frequency (RF) transmitter being in a repeating ground track orbit. Sets of signal-to-noise (C/N0) and satellite orbit data are obtained from first and second sources. Each data set is associated with the satellite and one of several receivers. Computing temporal information on an elevational and azimuthal satellite direction for each receiver location. A temporal information based time interval is determined for a single ground track. Determining, for each receiver, one of a first plurality of differences between a first time point data set value and a second time point data set value. The two time points differ by the time interval. A first average of the first plurality of differences is computed and compared with a predetermined threshold. A signal is triggered when the computed first average is larger than the threshold.

Abstract: A method for checking network elements in a network is provided. The respective network element can be activated with the aid of a web interface and has a network address. The method includes the steps: calling up the web interfaces with the aid of the network addresses; generating an image record for each web interface called up, the image record including a graphical representation of the web interface on a display device; ordering the web interfaces called up in groups, the graphical representations on the display device of the web interfaces allocated to a respective group having a graphical measure of similarity and the graphical measure of similarity being determined with the aid of the respective image record; and displaying the graphical representations of the web interfaces of at least one of the groups on a screen having a screen surface.

Abstract: Method, computer program to implement method, storage medium to store the program and apparatus for computing Signal-in-Space Accuracy (SISA) parameters in a regional or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The method includes at least of: determining individual Signal-in-Space Error (SISE) vectors; mapping individual SISE vectors to a service area; accumulating empirical sample sets; processing density functions of estimations of accumulated sample sets; individually overbounding density functions in one of an overbounding sense related to the regional or GNSS or in a paired overbounding with excess mass sense; and selecting a worst case according to predefined requirements.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a liquid sample, especially for automatic removal of a liquid sample from a sample-taking location, comprising: a control unit; a sample collecting unit; a supply and metering system, which is embodied to convey a liquid sample from the sample-taking location and to meter the sample into a liquid receptacle of the sample collecting unit; a housing with a first housing part, which at least partially surrounds at least the sample collecting unit, and a second housing part, which is separated from the first housing part, and which at least partially surrounds a metering space; wherein at least parts of the supply and metering system are arranged in the metering space; and wherein the apparatus furthermore includes a plate, which is releasably connected with the second housing part surrounding the metering space, and which divides the metering space into a first metering space part and a second metering space part.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for a regional or global navigation satellite system that includes an arrangement for receiving additional data or navigation messages from the navigation satellite system, and an arrangement for informing or alarming the user that critical atmospheric conditions occur, whereby the additional data or the navigation messages include atmospheric information.

Abstract: Method, computer program to implement method, storage medium to store the program and apparatus for computing Signal-in-Space Accuracy (SISA) parameters in a regional or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The method includes at least of: determining individual Signal-in-Space Error (SISE) vectors; mapping individual SISE vectors to a service area; accumulating empirical sample sets; processing density functions of estimations of accumulated sample sets; individually overbounding density functions in one of an overbounding sense related to the regional or GNSS or in a paired overbounding with excess mass sense; and selecting a worst case according to predefined requirements.

Abstract: A device and method for orbit prediction of satellites are provided. An accelerometer measures non-gravity forces acting on a satellite. A processor receives measured non-gravity forces from the accelerometer, estimates the contributions of the measured non-gravity forces to the movement of the satellite, and predicts the orbit of the satellite based on the estimated contributions of the non-gravity forces to the movement of the satellite.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling a liquid sample, especially for automatic removal of a liquid sample from a sample-taking location, comprising: a control unit; a sample collecting unit; a supply and metering system, which is embodied to convey a liquid sample from the sample-taking location and to meter the sample into a liquid receptacle of the sample collecting unit; a housing with a first housing part, which at least partially surrounds at least the sample collecting unit, and a second housing part, which is separated from the first housing part, and which at least partially surrounds a metering space; wherein at least parts of the supply and metering system are arranged in the metering space; and wherein the apparatus furthermore includes a plate, which is releasably connected with the second housing part surrounding the metering space, and which divides the metering space into a first metering space part and a second metering space part.