Abstract: An approach that smoothes a cryptographic function's timing footprint is presented. A processor includes a “function timing smoother” that smoothes out spikes in the amount of time that a particular cryptographic function requires to execute. When a cryptographic function executes, the function timing smoother tracks the amount of time that the cryptographic function executes (current execution time) and compares the time with the amount of time that the same cryptographic function took for a previous execution (previous execution time). When the current execution time is less than the previous execution time, the function timing smoother adds instructions or varies an execution unit's clock speed in order to increase the cryptographic function's current execution time. Using this approach, a malicious user is not able to decipher sensitive information from the cryptographic function's timing footprint.

Abstract: A system and method to smooth a cryptographic function's timing footprint is presented. A processor includes a “function timing smoother” that smoothes out spikes in the amount of time that a particular cryptographic function requires to execute. When a cryptographic function executes, the function timing smoother tracks the amount of time that the cryptographic function executes (current execution time) and compares the time with the amount of time that the same cryptographic function took for a previous execution (previous execution time). When the current execution time is less than the previous execution time, the function timing smoother adds instructions or varies an execution unit's clock speed in order to increase the cryptographic function's current execution time. Using this approach, a malicious user is not able to decipher sensitive information from the cryptographic function's timing footprint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for intelligent mobile vehicles that can be used in unmanned robotic or manned modes, the system having a plurality of controllers, with a low-level controller that controls basic operating functions for the mobile vehicles, and a high-level controller used to issue commands for unmanned robotic operation. Division of features between different controllers enables an ability to operate the mobile vehicle even if the high-level controller should fail or experience faults.

Abstract: A seal for sealing a flow control valve is provided. The seal includes an inlet configured to mate with a flow control device, an outlet configured to mate with a housing, and a convolution formed in a seal wall and interposed between the inlet and outlet. The convolution expands the seal wall when a differential pressure across the convolution is increased.

Abstract: A flow control valve for selectively routing a coolant in a dual-zone heater system is provided. The flow control valve includes a housing and a flow control device. The housing includes an inlet port, a bypass outlet, a front heater outlet, and a rear heater outlet communicating through an internal cavity. The flow control device, which can be a cylinder, sphere, etc., is rotatably positioned in the internal cavity. The flow control device has an axial channel and generally radial aperture. The axial channel transports the coolant received from the inlet port through the flow control device, and the aperture delivers the coolant to one or more of the bypass outlet, the front heater outlet, and the rear heater outlet as the flow control device is rotated. In this way the circuit is not deadheaded.

Abstract: An adaptor apparatus for use in facilitating removal and retrieval of a plug assembly from a well bore. The apparatus is structured for slidably entering, locking and sealing the plug assembly within the well bore. On further movement of the adaptor apparatus the plug assembly may be unsealed and an end of the apparatus connected to a pulling tool, whereby the plug assembly and adaptor apparatus are unitarily equalized and withdrawn from the well bore by a single wireline run.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the service quality performance of a real-time application, for example VoIP, video over IP or IPTV, operating over a path defined in a packet-based network. The present invention performs active probing of a path of the packet-based network by transmitting one or more sequences of packets along the path.

Abstract: An oven, is provided that includes multiple heat transfer means, including convection and microwave heat transfer means. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a blower and at least a shelf disposed within the cooking chamber. The shelf is designed to act as a food support as well as a conduit through which heated air passes into the cooking chamber. The microwave heating means comprises a microwave source and wave guide through which microwaves travel. The wave guide includes a plurality of openings through which microwaves can pass into said cooking chamber. In the preferred embodiment, the openings in the wave guide are positioned to correspond with the predetermined minima or maxima for the microwave wavelength propagating within the wave guide. An electric heating element may also be disposed within the cooking chamber to provide an alternative heating source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method an apparatus for adaptively refining the sampling within an IP network performance monitoring and diagnosis framework. This ability to adaptively adjust the resolution of the sampling can enable variable accuracy and detail in the related IP network analysis. The sampling resolution can be defined as, for example, the load on the network in terms of the rate of packet transmission, the statistical variance thereof and the complexity of the sampling procedure. Each sampling and analysis procedure determines one or more network parameters referred to as critical indicators. Decisions for subsequent samplings and actions are made based on the determination of these critical indicators. As such various evaluation activity levels are defined by conditions that can be checked for and detected within the context of that activity level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for characterising a path between a source host and a destination host, including characterisation of each segment of the network path between the source host and destination host. The present invention comprises a first stage of data collection, wherein sampling of a network path is enabled by means of sending and receiving specific predetermined ordered groups of packets that can vary in size, number and protocol, wherein all packets are sent from the source host and addressed to the destination host. These ordered groups of packets include strategically arranged marker packets and load packets, wherein the load packets are typically expired at a predetermined node between the source host and destination host, and the marker packets complete their journey to the destination.

Abstract: An elevating scraper adapted to be towed by a tractor to perform earth-grading operations and the like including a vehicle frame, towing means on the frame, and a forwardly open scraper bowl located on the frame and terminating in a lower, forwardly extending scraper edge. An upwardly and rearwardly extending elevating conveyor assembly is mounted on the frame forwardly of the scraper bowl and spaced from the scraper edge, and a support surface is situated closely adjacent the conveyor assembly and cooperates therewith so that material may be elevated by the conveyor assembly and supported during such elevation by the support surface and moved into the scraper bowl. The support surface is perforate so that material of large size will be directed to the scraper bowl while smaller sized material will pass through the support surface to the underlying terrain.

Abstract: A soft dairy spread processed by fractionating milk fat into a number of fractions, each fraction having a suitable melting range and re-combining selected fractions in a product having limited change in solid fat content to give a satisfactory spreading characteristic. A butter is made by taking the product and adding solids not fat, water and salt. The combined fractions do not include the triglycerides which melt over 0.degree. C to 20.degree. C.

Abstract: A self-loading auger scraper has a sealed auger supporting bearing assembly that includes a fixed lower housing secured to the floor of the scraper bowl and an upper housing rotatably mounted in bearings in the lower housing. An auger drive means is supported on a cross beam at the top of the bowl; and the upper bearing housing and the drive means have generally coaxial opposed square stub shafts which are loosely but non-rotatably engaged by square sockets in the bottom and top of an auger shaft to provide slip connections. The length of the auger shaft is such as to permit the auger to float while maintaining the slip connections.

Abstract: A message display system comprises a bumper sticker kit including blank bumper stickers and sets of alpha/numeric display members. Each blank bumper sticker comprises a front display surface having registration indicia formed thereon and a back surface comprising an adhesive layer which is normally covered by a backing sheet. Each set of alpha/numeric display indicia includes a plurality of letters, numerals, etc. each comprising a front display surface of contrasting color relative to the front display surfaces of the blank bumper stickers and a back surface comprising an adhesive layer which is normally covered by a backing sheet.In the use of the invention, a message is formed on the front display surface of each blank bumper sticker by removing selected alpha/numeric display members from one of the sets and applying the display members to the front display surface of the blank bumper sticker in accordance with the registration indicia thereon.