Abstract: A system and method for issuing, circulating and trading financial instruments with smart features is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, a financial instrument having smart features may comprise a document portion and a token device attached to or embedded in the document portion. The token device may comprise a storage device and a communication interface, wherein the token device is configured to provide a unique address for the financial instrument, the unique address including a device identifier that matches at least in part the document portion and a network address that changes based on a network location of the financial instrument and to communicate securely with an external entity at least to report an identity or a status of the financial instrument.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for using network asset management data including attributes such as device type, location, and link speed for modeling network performance and identifying performance issues. The invention provides measured and observed performance data for one or more segments of a network (e.g., one or more hops or end to end) so that identification of diminished performance in the network might be accomplished. Additionally, the invention may provide projections of performance impacts based upon proposed changes to one or more components in the network. Performance metrics, ping times, MIB data, link speeds, propagation delays, device latency, serialization rates, conversational speeds, conversational utilization and other data are used to model a network for determining or isolating problematic issues and to forecast performance impacts of potential changes to the network.

Abstract: A system and method for using network asset management data including device type, location, and link speed for modeling network performance and identifying performance issues. Functionally complete mathematical characterization of a system may be employed to create a system for problem recognition and resolution, wherein disruptive changes to physical and logical system components are only performed when necessary. Mathematical analysis of pings, MIB, and other asset data may be performed separately and the results compared to “self-check”, form, and verify the complete mathematical characterization of a network system. The invention may provide projections of performance impacts based upon proposed changes to components in the network.

Abstract: A system for determining network characteristics includes a processor including a packet generation component and a packet evaluation component. The packet generation component generates send test packets for communication into the network. The packet evaluation component is responsive to receive test packets for determining network speed and utilization; upon detecting that the network streaming utilization is not significantly high, evaluates the test packet sequences for a first discard pattern representing actual discard red rate; and upon detecting that the network streaming utilization is significantly high, evaluates the test packet sequences for a second discard pattern representing effective discard yellow rate and effective non-discard green rate.

Abstract: To evaluate a communications network, a plurality of network evaluation signals, or probative test packets, are selectively sent and received through the network. Responsive to these evaluation signals, network evaluation parameters are determined and stored. Queuing theory analysis, responsive to these parameters, determines the response time and throughput characteristics, including discrete capacity, utilization and performance, of the network. Calculation of the value of the network's discrete utilization involves the measurement of the network's average delay waiting for service, measurement of the network's standard deviation of delay waiting for service, calculation of discrete utilization from the ratio of these observed values, and then refinement of that calculation by proportionate factoring in instances of dropped samples as cases of one hundred percent utilization to arrive at a final figure for percent of network discrete utilization.

Abstract: Challenge-response and probative methods together or independent of each other enable detection of devices participating in denial of service (DOS) and distributed DOS (DDOS) attacks upon a network resource, and upon identification of devices participating in attacks, minimize the effect of the attack and/or minimize the ability of the device to continue its attack by placing the attacking devices in a state of reduced or denied service.

Abstract: To evaluate a communications network, a plurality of network evaluation signals, or probative test packets, are selectively sent and received through the network. Responsive to these evaluation signals, network evaluation parameters are determined and stored. Queuing theory analysis, responsive to these parameters, determines the response time and throughput characteristics, including streaming utilization of the network.

Abstract: Analysis of networks and testing and analyzing intelligent, network connected devices. An instantaneous network utilization value is assigned for the worst surviving ping instance of between 90% and 99% (determined proportionately from the ratio of dropped test samples to surviving test samples), and then used to solve for average network message size and average utilization of the network. A plurality transactions of different types are transmitted across the network to intelligent end systems and the results mathematically evaluated to determine the portion of the total response time contributed by the network and by the end processors; the utilization of the end processor processing subsystems and of the end processor I/O subsystems; and the utilization of the end system as a whole; and of the network and end processors considered as a unitary entity.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the physical location of a target device. Using communications network trace route and pinging commands, the distances of three test devices of known locations to the target device are determined; and responsive to those distances, the location of the target device is determined by triangulation. Based upon location, the target device may be blocked from a communications network or connected to a particular server.

Abstract: A communications network is evaluated by selectively sending and receiving a plurality of network evaluation signals through the network. Responsive to these evaluation signals, selective network evaluation parameters are determined and stored. Responsive to these parameters, the response time and throughput characteristics of the network are determined by means of algebraic and queuing theory derivations. Network response time analysis determines the apparent bandwidth, utilization, internal message size, queue factor, and device latency. Throughput analysis defines, calculates, and uses hop count, duplex, throughput and multi-server factors.

Abstract: Challenge-response and probative methods together or independent of each other enable detection of devices participating in denial of service (DOS) and distributed DOS (DDOS) attacks upon a network resource, and upon identification of devices participating in attacks, minimize the effect of the attack and/or minimize the ability of the device to continue its attack by placing the attacking devices in a state of reduced or denied service.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the physical location of a target device. Using communications network trace route and pinging commands, the distances of three test devices of known locations to the target device are determined; and responsive to those distances, the location of the target device is determined by triangulation. Based upon location, the target device may be blocked from a communications network or connected to a particular server.

Abstract: To evaluate a communications network, a plurality of network evaluation signals, or probative test packets, are selectively sent and received through the network. Responsive to these evaluation signals, network evaluation parameters are determined and stored. Queuing theory analysis, responsive to these parameters, determines the response time and throughput characteristics, including streaming utilization of the network.

Abstract: A solder composition for use in high-speed hand-soldering of art work or other artifacts consisting essentially of from about 51% to about 56% by weight tin, from about a trace to about 1.0% by weight antimony, and the balance being substantially lead.