Abstract: A server establishes a secure session with a client device where a private key used in the handshake is stored in a different server. An encrypted connection is established between the first server and the second server. A message is received from the client device that initiates a procedure to establish the secure session between the client device and the first server. As part of this procedure, the first server transmits over the encrypted connection a request to the second server to use the private key. The first server receives, over the encrypted connection, a response to the request that includes a result of the use of the private key. The first server uses the result during the procedure to establish the secure session.

Abstract: An authoritative domain name system (DNS) server receives DNS requests for domains. The authoritative DNS server transmits DNS responses to the DNS requests with address records that include IP addresses that are selected from a larger pool of IP addresses, where a first DNS response can include IP addresses different from IP addresses included in a second DNS response for the same domain. Also, the same IP addresses may be returned for a first domain and a different, second domain. The authoritative DNS server may select the IP addresses to include in DNS responses to the DNS requests using a round-robin process.

Abstract: The invention provides a monitoring device that features: 1) a cardiac sensor component with at least one light-emitting diode and a photodetector; 2) a pedometer component with at least one motion-sensing component (e.g., an accelerometer); and 3) a wireless component with a wireless interface that communicates with an external weight scale. The device also features a microprocessor in electrical communication with the cardiac sensor, pedometer, and wireless components and configured to analyze: 1) a signal from the cardiac sensor component to generate heart rate information; 2) a signal from the pedometer component to generate exercise information; 3) heart rate and exercise information to generate calorie information; and 4) a signal from the external weight scale to calculate weight information (e.g., weight and percent body fat).

Abstract: A socket for allowing a ratchet to be used to screw a folding tree step into or out of a tree trunk. The socket has two C-shaped brackets which are perpendicularly oriented relative to one another. With the foot peg of the tree step folded alongside the main support bar of the tree step, one bracket fits around the foot peg while the other bracket fits around the end of the main support bar to which the screw portion of the tree step is attached.