Abstract: An apparatus for a non-combustible aerosol provision device can include an induction circuit including an induction element for inductively heating a susceptor arrangement arranged to heat an aerosol-generating material to thereby generate an aerosol; drive circuitry arranged to provide, from an input direct current, a varying voltage across the induction circuit for driving the induction element to inductively heat the susceptor arrangement; and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the drive circuitry to selectively operate: in a first mode in which the drive circuitry repeatedly alternates a polarity of the voltage provided across the induction circuit; and in a second mode in which the drive circuitry repeatedly alternates between providing a first voltage of non-zero magnitude across the induction circuit and providing substantially no voltage across the induction circuit.

Abstract: A plurality of non-multicast nodes that do not process multicast messages register with a selective multicast proxy. In response to receiving a request for a service from a requestor via multicast, the selective multicast proxy identifies among the plurality of non-multicast nodes one or more providers of the requested service. The selective multicast proxy sends the request to the one or more providers without sending the request to other non-multicast nodes on the computer network. The selective multicast proxy, the requestor of the service, the provider(s) of the service, and the non-multicast nodes may all be located within the same local area network.

Abstract: An authentication program on a network authenticator establishes a secure communication channel with an embedded device. The authentication program receives security credentials from an embedded device. The authentication program receives from the embedded device via the secure communication channel either a secret for the embedded device or a request to generate the secret for the embedded device. The authentication program registers the secret for the embedded device.

Abstract: A method for distributing updates for a key is described. One or more update requests are received per unit of time. The number of received update requests per unit of time is multiplied by a maximum update period to estimate the number of active nodes in a group. The total number of received update requests per unit of time is determined. An amount representing additional update requests per unit of time is obtained from the difference between the total number of received updates and a determined maximum. A minimum update period for a group of nodes is determined.

Abstract: A trust manager receives client account information from a client, determines whether the client account information is valid, and determines whether the client is authorized to access one or more embedded devices that are in electronic communication with a security broker. The trust manager also receives security broker account information from the security broker, determines whether the security broker account information is valid, and determines whether the security broker is authorized to provide access to the embedded device(s). If the client account information from the client is valid and the client is authorized to access the embedded device(s), and if the security broker account information from the security broker is valid and the security broker is authorized to provide access to the embedded device(s), the trust manager establishes a secure trusted connection between the client and the security broker.

Abstract: A multicast repeater is located on a host computer system on a network. One or more other multicast repeaters on other networks are discovered. These other multicast repeaters are located on networks that are separated from the network comprising the host by at least one networking device that is not configured to route UDP multicast addressing. Each time that a UDP multicast request packet is received via multicast, the multicast repeater determines whether the multicast repeater has previously forwarded the UDP multicast request packet. If the multicast repeater has previously forwarded the UDP multicast request packet, it ignores the UDP multicast request packet. However, if the multicast repeater has not previously forwarded the UDP multicast request packet, the multicast repeater sends the UDP multicast request packet via TCP/IP to the one or more other multicast repeaters that have been discovered.

Abstract: A method for distributing updates for a key is described. One or more update requests are received per unit of time. The number of received update requests per unit of time is multiplied by a maximum update period to estimate the number of active nodes in a group. The total number of received update requests per unit of time is determined. An amount representing additional update requests per unit of time is obtained from the difference between the total number of received updates and a determined maximum. A minimum update period for a group of nodes is determined.

Abstract: A trust manager receives client account information from a client, determines whether the client account information is valid, and determines whether the client is authorized to access one or more embedded devices that are in electronic communication with a security broker. The trust manager also receives security broker account information from the security broker, determines whether the security broker account information is valid, and determines whether the security broker is authorized to provide access to the embedded device(s). If the client account information from the client is valid and the client is authorized to access the embedded device(s), and if the security broker account information from the security broker is valid and the security broker is authorized to provide access to the embedded device(s), the trust manager establishes a secure trusted connection between the client and the security broker.

Abstract: A multicast repeater is located on a host computer system on a network. One or more other multicast repeaters on other networks are discovered. These other multicast repeaters are located on networks that are separated from the network comprising the host by at least one networking device that is not configured to route UDP multicast addressing. Each time that a UDP multicast request packet is received via multicast, the multicast repeater determines whether the multicast repeater has previously forwarded the UDP multicast request packet. If the multicast repeater has previously forwarded the UDP multicast request packet, it ignores the UDP multicast request packet. However, if the multicast repeater has not previously forwarded the UDP multicast request packet, the multicast repeater sends the UDP multicast request packet via TCP/IP to the one or more other multicast repeaters that have been discovered.

Abstract: A plurality of non-multicast nodes that do not process multicast messages register with a selective multicast proxy. In response to receiving a request for a service from a requestor via multicast, the selective multicast proxy identifies among the plurality of non-multicast nodes one or more providers of the requested service. The selective multicast proxy sends the request to the one or more providers without sending the request to other non-multicast nodes on the computer network. The selective multicast proxy, the requestor of the service, the provider(s) of the service, and the non-multicast nodes may all be located within the same local area network.

Abstract: An authentication program on a network authenticator establishes a secure communication channel with an embedded device. The authentication program receives security credentials from an embedded device. The authentication program receives from the embedded device via the secure communication channel either a secret for the embedded device or a request to generate the secret for the embedded device. The authentication program registers the secret for the embedded device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for use in a networked computer system that includes a host computer and a remote computer being used to access a device. The system includes a communications module for transferring data to and from a communications port of the host computer. The system also includes a data interface module for accessing an interface definition from a storage device in electronic communication with the host computer. Accessing the interface definition is accomplished through use of an interface definition identifier. A device access controller is also utilized in the system for communicating with the remote computer via the communications module. The device access controller obtains the interface definition identifier from computer program code loaded on the remote computer. In addition, the device access controller accesses the storage device through the data interface module to obtain the interface definition and uses the interface definition identifier to obtain the interface definition.

Abstract: A hardwire missile receiver coupled line apparatus is inserted between the antenna output port and the receiver input in a missile communication link to allow signals to be coupled directly into the missile receiver before the missile launch. At launch, the cable to the side of the missile is pulled from the side of the missile. After the cable is pulled, the open circuited cable between the side of the missile and the coupling network does not degrade the signal transmission from the antenna to the receiver.

Abstract: A multifrequency antenna for a missile is realized by an arrangement in which four microwave antennas are located under a narrow circumferential slot in the skin of the missile forming four separate antennas each with its own input connector. Each antenna consists of a probe fed annular quarter wavelength microwave cavity which radiate out of a top wall end slot. The cavity antennas are fed by a stripline distribution network directly under the antennas. Two L band antennas are positioned directly adjacent the inner surface of the missile skin and an S band antenna and a C band antenna are positioned beneath the L band antennas. A radome covers the circumferential slot.

Abstract: A broadband mixer has two separate tapered ground plane microstrip baluns associated with a first signal port and two separate tapered ground plane microstrip baluns associated with a second signal port together with a frequency converter or mixer portion coupled between the baluns associated with the first and second signal ports and a third signal port. The frequency converter or mixer portion is comprised of eight diodes in a double balanced bridge arrangement having two sets of terminals associated with the first and second signal ports, each of the terminals of said two sets being separated from each of the terminals of the third signal port by a diode to electrically isolate their respective signals. The baluns associated with the first and second signal ports provide for the transformation of unbalanced input signals to balanced signals at the frequency converting diodes.