Abstract: Embodiments of methods, devices and/or systems for managing the encryption of data are described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and/or systems relating to managing a network, such as a multi-layer network, are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and/or systems for protocol translation are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting a plurality of computing devices, e.g. web servers, database servers, etc., to a plurality of storage devices, such as disks, disk arrays, tapes, etc., by using a stream-oriented (circuit oriented) switch that has high throughput, but that requires non-negligible time for reconfiguration is disclosed. An example of such stream-oriented switch is an optical switch. The preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of communication ports for connection to servers, and a plurality of ports for connection to storage devices. The system decodes the requests from the computing devices and uses this information to create circuits, e.g. optical paths in embodiments where the stream-oriented switch is an optical switch, through the stream-oriented switch. The system uses these circuits to route traffic between the computing devices and the storage devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting a plurality of computing devices, e.g. web servers, database servers, etc., to a plurality of storage devices, such as disks, disk arrays, tapes, etc., by using a stream-oriented (circuit oriented) switch that has high throughput, but that requires non-negligible time for reconfiguration is disclosed. An example of such stream-oriented switch is an optical switch. The preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of communication ports for connection to servers, and plurality of ports for connection to storage devices. The system decodes the requests from the computing devices and uses this information to create circuits, e.g. optical paths in embodiments where the stream-oriented switch is an optical switch, through the stream-oriented switch. The system uses these circuits to route traffic between the computing devices and the storage devices.

Abstract: The presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides an encryption based security system for network storage that separates the ability to access storage from the ability to access the stored data. This is achieved by keeping all the data encrypted on the storage devices. Logically, the invention comprises a device that has two network interfaces: one is a clear text network interface that connects to one or more clients, and the other is a secure network interface that is connected to one or more persistent storage servers. Functionally, each network interface supports multiple network nodes. That is, the clear text network interface supports multiple client machines, and the secure network interface supports one or more storage servers.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, devices and/or systems for a method of managing the retention and/or discarding of stored data are described.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of the invention distributes, and effectively caches, information by inserting it into file handles that the proxy sends to clients. This information can be used to improve performance by eliminating the need for the proxy to generate additional requests to the server to establish file identity. The distributed information can also be intended to improve security, for example, by allowing the proxy to encode into the file handle a session key that expires after some amount of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, devices and/or systems for data storage and/or retrieval are described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using ultrasound to measure speed and acceleration in fluids is provided. Three exemplary embodiments are disclosed. The first exemplary embodiment measures fluid velocity, such as, for example, wind, under standard atmospheric pressure-temperature. The second exemplary embodiment measures gas velocity, such as, for example, wind, affected by and automatically calibrates for pressure-temperature. The third exemplary embodiment measures gas density, such as, for example, density altitude. Applications of the invention include wind direction and speed calculation in agriculture, aviation, hydraulics, and other industries. One of the advantages provided by the invention is there are no moving parts in making such measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting a plurality of computing devices (14), e.g. web servers, database servers, etc., to a plurality of storage devices (16), such as disks, disk arrays, tapes, etc., by using a stream-oriented (circuit oriented) switch (12) that has high throughput, but that requires non-negligible time for reconfiguration is disclosed. An example of such stream-oriented switch is an optical switch (11). The preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of communication ports for connection to servers, and plurality of ports for connection to storage devices. The system decodes the requests from the computing devices and uses this information to create circuits, e.g. optical paths in embodiments where the stream-oriented switch (12) is an optical switch (11), through the stream-oriented switch (12). The system uses these circuits to route traffic between the computing devices (14) and the storage devices (16).

Abstract: The presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides an encryption based security system for network storage that separates the ability to access storage from the ability to access the stored data. This is achieved by keeping all the data encrypted on the storage devices. Logically, the invention comprises a device that has two network interfaces: one is a clear text network interface that connects to one or more clients, and the other is a secure network interface that is connected to one or more persistent storage servers. Functionally, each network interface supports multiple network nodes. That is, the clear text network interface supports multiple client machines, and the secure network interface supports one or more storage servers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using ultrasound to measure speed and acceleration in fluids is provided. Three exemplary embodiments are disclosed. The first exemplary embodiment measures fluid velocity, such as, for example, wind, under standard atmospheric pressure-temperature. The second exemplary embodiment measures gas velocity, such as, for example, wind, affected by and automatically calibrates for pressure-temperature. The third exemplary embodiment measures gas density, such as, for example, density altitude. Applications of the invention include wind direction and speed calculation in agriculture, aviation, hydraulics, and other industries. One of the advantages provided by the invention is there are no moving parts in making such measurements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a routing algorithm that uses a new concept of node metric system for optimizing the throughput of a network, in particular, a shared medium network. The measure of congestion of a path in the network is represented by a path metric which is computed by summing the node metrics of the intermediate nodes on the path. Factors used in computing node metrics include the following: 1. future traffic load from neighboring nodes to the node; and 2. future traffic load from the node to the neighboring nodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for using ultrasound to measure speed and acceleration in fluids is provided. Three preferred embodiments are disclosed. The first preferred embodiment measures fluid velocity, such as, for example, wind, under standard atmospheric pressure-temperature. The second preferred embodiment measures gas velocity, such as, for example, wind, affected by and automatically calibrates for pressure-temperature. The third preferred embodiment measures gas density, such as, for example, density altitude. Applications of the invention include wind direction and speed calculation in agriculture, aviation, hydraulics, and other industries. One of the advantages provided by the invention is there are no moving parts in making such measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which provides for the switching from service providers on dial-up connection. A user connection device like a cellular phone is programmed to receive command functions. The command functions allow the user to navigate across services provided through the dial-up connection. Once a first service is activated, a second service can be connected to automatically by selecting from a menu option. Navigation can also be performed by voice activation.

Abstract: A transmitter pen location system is provided, in which a pen is adapted to send a repeated output signal to external receivers at two or more receiver locations, wherein the location of the pointing tip of the pen is determined in relation to the writing surface of a whiteboard. In one embodiment an output element, preferably an ultrasonic transducer, transmits a time dependent output signal from a single signal transmitter pen to two or more external receivers at two or more receiver locations. The direction of arrival of the output signal to each of the receiver locations is determined, and the pointing tip of the single transmitter pen is then determined, as the intersection of direction vectors from the pen to the external receivers.

Abstract: A transmitter pen positioning system is provided, in which a pen, having multiple output elements, is used to accurately determine the location of the pointing tip of the pen, in relation to the writing area of a surface, such as a white board. The first output element, preferably an infrared transducer, transmits a first output signal from the transmitter pen. The second output element, preferably an ultrasonic transducer, transmits a second output signal, having a lower propagation velocity than the first output signal, from the transmitter pen to two or more receivers. In a basic embodiment, the first output signal arrives at one or more receivers generally concurrently.

Abstract: A transmitter pen positioning system is provided, in which a pen, having multiple output elements, is used to accurately determine the location of the pointing tip of the pen, in relation to the writing area of a surface, such as a white board. The first output element, preferably an infrared transducer, transmits a first output signal from the transmitter pen. The second output element, preferably an ultrasonic transducer, transmits a second output signal, having a lower propagation velocity than the first output signal, from the transmitter pen to two or more receivers. In a basic embodiment, the first output signal arrives at one or more receivers generally concurrently.

Abstract: A method of admitting and routing switched virtual circuit requests in a network first finds a set of routing paths on which a requested VC may be routed by using a two step process. The method uses a cost function based on a parameter related to the number of hops in a subset of VC connections previously made in the network to determine potential routing paths on which the VC can be routed at a cost below a specified threshold. The method next checks to determine which potential routing paths comprise links and nodes with sufficient resources to accommodate the request. Paths satisfying both steps are output as a set of routing paths and then a second criterion is used to select a path from the set on which to route the request. In a distributed routing system, the inventive method uses a local network state to determine the cost function and the set of routing paths.