The invention relates to data integrity in applications employing smartcards, in particular smartcards in connection with remote stations like personal or desktop card readers or similar inexpensive terminals. Since smartcards today are extensively used particularly in the financial and banking field, the data integrity issue is of particular importance. In such applications, any interrupted data transfer between the smartcard and a terminal can result in making the smartcard unusable and/or cor...

A device for monitoring the integrity of a diaphragm (1) of a diaphragm transport+ unit, made of one or a plurality of layers, having a resistance device (3) connected to one layer and having a measuring device interconnected to a current source (15) via a connecting arm (20), the measuring device being a Wheatstone bridge (2) in which the resistance device (3) forms a bridge resistance (S1, S2, S3, S4) in at least one bridge arm, and an incipient rupture of a layer of the diaphragm having the e...

A method and apparatus for protecting against network damage in next generation communications networks. More particularly, network safety is achieved using semantic restriction of higher level call processing protocol primitives coupled with dynamically programming the various network routing elements to enforce both connection control and rate control.

Methods for extracting DNA from a biological sample that result in a higher yield of target DNA than conventional methods. More particularly, methods for extracting DNA include exposing the biological sample to inhibitors of DNA degradation.

A method and computer apparatus are presented for providing a secure data architecture for computer memory of a processor. The apparatus comprises a memory unit and a processing unit. Data are stored in the memory unit and manipulated by the processing unit, which is programmed to implement the data architecture. Tagged single data words are formed by concatenating a tag to each of the single data words. Each of the tags takes a value that corresponds to the data type of the single data word to ...

The present invention is a system for providing GPS users with a high level of confidence in the integrity and accuracy of received GPS signals. The system provides a means for each GPS satellite itself to verify the accuracy and/or integrity of its own operations by calculations and processing internal to the GPS satellite and by crosslink communications with other GPS satellites in the GPS constellation. After a GPS satellite verifies the accuracy and/or integrity of its own signals, the GPS s...

A method and apparatus for measuring the length of a cable link in a computer network sends a test signal through the cable and examines how the signal is received. Measurements of the signal transit time, decrease in signal amplitude, and decrease in signal power are three techniques that may be used to measure cable lengths, individually or in combination. One or more transceivers are connected to the cable to send and receive the test signals, so that there is no need for access to the cable,...

An exemplary implementation of the invention is a process for forming passivation protection on a semiconductor assembly by the steps of: forming a layer of oxide over patterned metal lines having sidewalls; forming a first passivation layer of silicon nitride over the layer of oxide such that the first passivation layer of silicon nitride resides along the sidewalls of metal lines and pinches off a gap between the metal lines; performing a facet etch to remove material from the edges of the fir...

An improved process ensures to the extent possible that the usage memory of an electronically-based electricity meter is always in a state that most recent data may be retrieved. Two separate areas or pages of memory are maintained and updated as to quantitative consumptions, e.g., kiloWatt-hour. Preferably a non-volatile form of memory is used. The older of the two data memories is updated, based on a data validation check. The approach ensures that a previous value is always retained, to preve...

A high integrity electrical connector (10) including an electrically conductive retention clip (12) and an electrically conductive internal contact (14). The retention clip (12) includes a substantially tubular wall (16) presenting a longitudinally extending channel (18) and first and second opposed ends (20,22), the wall defining a window (24) intermediate the ends (20,22) and presenting first and second legs (32,34) extending into the channel (18). The internal contact (14) is received in the ...