Abstract: A security gateway provides a secure connection among one or more networks and a protected resource network. One of the local networks may be connected to the remote private network via a VPN IPsec tunnel. The networks may be local networks that share resources without compromising the security of the protected resource network. The local networks may have access to an untrusted network such as the Internet, sharing a single connection through the security gateway. Dynamic source network address translation is used to permit access from the network connected to the protected resource network to other, less trusted networks while concealing the actual IP addresses of hosts within that network.

Abstract: A mechanism for reducing horizontal force in load measurement is presented. The mechanism includes a structure having surfaces of nonuniform radii of curvature (e.g., oblate spheroid surfaces) at both ends. The ends of the structure contact a force-sensor coupling element and a base-coupling element, forming two interfaces. Each interface includes a contact area between a convex surface and a concave surface. When a horizontal force is applied, the contact area at each interface shifts, allowing the structure to tip from the vertically aligned position that it is in when no horizontal force is applied. Compared to conventional mechanisms, the structure of the invention has a lower effective height because interfaces between oblate spheroid surfaces allow a larger angle of deflection than flat interfaces. The oblate spheroid interfaces also allow deflection to occur with less wear and tear at the interfaces compared to the flat-interfaced structures.

Abstract: A system and method for circumventing schemes that use duplication detection to detect and block unsolicited e-mail (spam.) An address on a list is assigned to one of m sublists, where m is an integer that is greater than one. A set of m different messages are created. A different message from the set of m different messages is sent to the addresses on each sublist. In this way, spam countermeasures based upon duplicate detection schemes are foiled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming an article having a protective ceramic coating which reduces radiation heat transport through the ceramic coating. The protective ceramic coating includes one or more embedded reflective metallic layers for reducing the radiation heat transport. The method for forming the protective coating broadly comprises the steps of forming a ceramic coating on a substrate and embedding at least one reflective metallic layer within the ceramic coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming an article having a protective ceramic coating which reduces radiation heat transport through the ceramic coating. The protective ceramic coating includes one or more embedded reflective metallic layers for reducing the radiation heat transport. The method for forming the protective coating broadly comprises the steps of forming a ceramic coating on a substrate and embedding at least one reflective metallic layer within the ceramic coating.

Abstract: An arrangement calculates a description of potential responses of a distributed system in response to at least one input stimulus. The distributed system including nodes whose operation is described by respective node behavior descriptions. The method involves applying symbolic evaluation to plural node behavior descriptions so as to produce plural response descriptions that describe responses of nodes, and combining at least the plural response descriptions so as to arrive at the description of potential responses of the distributed system.

Abstract: A photocatalytic air purifier is disclosed. The photocatalytic purifier includes filter structures coated with a catalytic material such as titanium dioxide. One or more UV lamps are interposed between the filter structures. The catalytic layer reacts with airborne VOCs and bioaerosols when activated by the UV lamps to thereby oxidize the VOCs and destroy the bioaerosols. The photocatalytic air purifier does not need to be replaced or regenerated after a period of continuous usage. The photocatalytic purifier of the present invention substantially eliminates odors, VOCs, and bioaerosols from air directed through the fan coil. The photocatalytic air purifier includes a control system that optimizes operating costs. Because of these features, service, maintenance, and filter replacement are reduced to a minimum. At the same time, the well being of persons living in the space conditioned by the photocatalytic air purifier is improved.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting intrusion on a computer system utilizes a target server running software that is executed for a client only upon receiving authorization from a monitoring server to execute the software. When an attempt to execute software on the target server by a client is not authorized, monitoring server notifies the system administrator of the unauthorized attempt.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting intrusion on a network utilizes a target server running software that is executed for a network client only upon receiving authorization from a monitoring server to execute the software. When an attempt to execute software on the target server by a client is not authorized, monitoring server notifies the system administrator of the unauthorized attempt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming an article having a protective ceramic coating which reduces radiation heat transport through the ceramic coating. The protective ceramic coating includes one or more embedded reflective metallic layers for reducing the radiation heat transport. The method for forming the protective coating broadly comprises the steps of forming a ceramic coating on a substrate and embedding at least one reflective metallic layer within the ceramic coating.

Abstract: A system and method for circumventing schemes that use duplication detection to detect and block unsolicited e-mail (spam.) An address on a list is assigned to one of m sublists, where m is an integer that is greater than one. A set of m different messages are created. A different message from the set of m different messages is sent to the addresses on each sublist. In this way, spam countermeasures based upon duplicate detection schemes are foiled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming an article having a protective ceramic coating which reduces radiation heat transport through the ceramic coating. The protective ceramic coating includes one or more embedded reflective metallic layers for reducing the radiation heat transport. The method for forming the protective coating broadly comprises the steps of forming a ceramic coating on a substrate and embedding at least one reflective metallic layer within the ceramic coating.

Abstract: A contaminated gas that is to be cleaned, such as contaminated air, is passed through an adsorbent bed to remove gaseous contaminants. An enclosure having a fixed volume is then created around the adsorbent bed. Included within the enclosure is a photocatalytic gas purifier. The adsorbent bed is heated to release the contaminants into the fixed volume to create a high concentration of contaminants in the gas within the fixed volume. The now highly contaminated fixed volume of gas is recirculated through the heated adsorbent bed and photocatalytic gas purifier. The gas purifier oxidizes the contaminants at a high oxidation rate due to the high contaminant concentration level. The enclosure is then opened and the adsorbent bed, now regenerated and at its original temperature, is ready to again receive and clean contaminated gas.

Abstract: A catalytic combustor burns a fuel-air mixture which is not preheated. The combustor includes a strip or strips of metal which define a plurality of alternating wide and narrow channels. The channels contain corrugated strips which maintain the spacing of the channels. A catalyst coating is deposited only in the wider channels, the narrower channels remaining un-catalyzed. The strip or strips can be heated resistively to start the combustion. Once the combustion is started, the electric current is stopped, and the combustion continues. The combustor is useful in a home heating appliance such as a gas furnace. In another embodiment, in which the combustor is used in a high-temperature environment such as in a gas turbine, the catalyst can be deposited in the small channels only, so as to limit the amount of catalytic combustion.

Abstract: An electronic air cleaner (10) includes a housing (20), a mechanical prefilter (30), an electrostatic precipitator cell (40) and at least one germicidal lamp (50). The electrostatic precipitator cell (40) includes a plurality of collector plates (42) for collecting thereon particulate material from the air stream. The germicidal lamp or lamps (50) are disposed to irradiate the collector plates (42) and any particulate material collected thereon with germicidal light to destroy microbial growth that might occur on the particulate material deposited on the collector plates. Reflectors (60) may be provided in operative association with the germicidal lamp or lamps (50) to concentrate the germicidal light unto the collecting surface of the collector plates (42). A post filter (90), disposed downstream with respect to air flow of the lamp or lamps (50), is provided to remove volatile organic compounds from the air flow.

Abstract: A method of updating a knowledge base containing information about a subject matter, the knowledge base being used to automatically respond to messages containing questions or comments relating to the subject matter, the method includes the steps of logging the message in a log if the knowledge base does not address the message; providing the logged message to a subject matter expert; and permitting the subject matter expert, but not other users of the knowledge base, to update the knowledge base in response to the logged message. The method further includes the steps of sending the logged message to one or more persons on a list of people with knowledge about the subject matter; receiving a message from at least one of the persons and logging the received message in association with the logged message; and the step of providing the logged message further provides the received message to the subject matter expert.

Abstract: A personal telephone messaging agent can automate routine scheduling, coordinating and information gathering tasks while maintaining the advantages inherent in the telephone system. A person specifies a message and, optionally, some specific questions, and a list of recipients to his or her personal messaging agent. The messaging agent delivers the message to and collects a response from each messaging recipient using the telephone system. When each intended recipient has been reached, the agent contacts the sender to report the results or, optionally, the agent could undertake routine tasks such as scheduling a meeting based upon the responses and assigning a conference room for the meeting.An even more sophisticated personal telephone agent may be employed in the context of an information retrieval service. An IVR system has an interface designed for people to use.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for sending and receiving authorized messages from a sender to a recipient in a network. The method and system makes use of a channelized address to send the message from the sender to the recipient. The channelized address comprises a common address portion that indicates the identity of the recipient in the network and a channel identifier portion for verifying that the message is authorized for delivery to the recipient.

Abstract: A method of updating a knowledge base containing information about a subject matter, the knowledge base being used to automatically respond to messages containing questions or comments relating to the subject matter, the method includes the steps of logging the message in a log if the knowledge base does not address the message; providing the logged message to a subject matter expert; and permitting the subject matter expert, but not other users of the knowledge base, to update the knowledge base in response to the logged message. The method further includes the steps of sending the logged message to one or more persons on a list of people with knowledge about the subject matter; receiving a message from at least one of the persons and logging the received message in association with the logged message; and the step of providing the logged message further provides the received message to the subject matter expert.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring the usage of a focus resource by a target program which has a plurality of call paths and at least one procedure, which allows a user to select a focus call path from a call path profile and compute a refinement call path profile which shows the usage of the focus resource by refinement call paths of the focus call path. Methods and systems are disclosed for deriving the call path profile, pruning and unpruning the call path profile, defining function groups, optimizing and contextualizing. Computation of the refinement call path profile can be performed by immediate upward or downward and extended upward or downward refinement of the call path profile.