Author: claimsbot

1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
a first program residing in the memory;
a second program residing in the memory;
a dynamic key generation mechanism that dynamically generates publicprivate key pairs; and
an inter-program authentication mechanism that authenticates the first program to the second program using a publicprivate key pair that is dynamically generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first program includes an authentication mechanism that authenticates a user.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, after the inter-program authentication mechanism authenticates the first program to the second program, the second program performs identity mapping from an identity asserted by the first program to an identity understood by the second program.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first program authenticates to the second program using a first authentication token that is digitally signed by the first program using a private key that is dynamically generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first authentication token comprises:
information about a user that authenticates with the first program;
information about the first program;
information about the second program; and
a digital signature of the first program using a private key for the first program generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by querying a public key authority for the public key corresponding to the first program.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by verifying the digital signature of the first program using the public key for the first program retrieved from the public key authority.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the second program authenticates to the first program, if required, by digitally signing the first authentication token using a private key corresponding to the second program to generate therefrom a second authentication token, and returning the second authentication token to the first program.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a third program residing in the memory, wherein the second program authenticates to the third program by generating a third authentication token from the first authentication token received from the first program, and sending the third authentication token to the third program.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the third program verifies the third authentication token by querying a public key authority for the public key corresponding to the second program.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising log file that is written to each time a program verifies an authentication token.
12. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
a first program residing in the memory, the first program including an authentication mechanism that authenticates a user;
a second program residing in the memory;
a dynamic key generation mechanism that dynamically generates publicprivate key pairs;
a public key authority that publishes public keys generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism; and
an inter-program authentication mechanism that authenticates the first program to the second program using a first authentication token that is digitally signed by the first program using a private key that is dynamically generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, after the inter-program authentication mechanism authenticates the first program to the second program, the second program performs identity mapping from an identity asserted by the first program to an identity understood by the second program.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first authentication token comprises:
information about a user that authenticates with the first program;
information about the first program;
information about the second program; and
a digital signature of the first program using a private key for the first program generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the first program.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by verifying the digital signature of the first program using the public key for the first program retrieved from the public key authority.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second program authenticates to the first program, if required, by digitally signing the first authentication token using a private key corresponding to the second program to generate therefrom a second authentication token, and returning the second authentication token to the first program.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a third program residing in the memory, wherein the second program authenticates to the third program by generating a third authentication token from the first authentication token received from the first program, and sending the third authentication token to the third program.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the third program verifies the third authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the second program.
20. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a log file that is written to each time a program verifies an authentication token.
21. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
a first program residing in the memory;
a second program residing in the memory;
a third program residing in the memory;
a dynamic key generation mechanism that dynamically generates publicprivate key pairs; and
an inter-program authentication mechanism that authenticates the first program to the second program using a first authentication token generated by the first program using a publicprivate key pair corresponding to the first program, and that authenticates the second program to the third program using a second authentication token that includes all information in the first authentication token.
22. A method for a first program to authenticate to a second program, the method comprising the steps of:
(A) dynamically generating a publicprivate key pair for the first program;
(B) the first program generating a first authentication token using the private key dynamically generated in step (A); and
(C) the second program verifying the first authentication token using the public key dynamically generated in step (A).
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token in step (C) by verifying a digital signature of the first program in the authentication token using the public key for the first program.
24. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of authenticating a user to the first program.
25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of performing identity mapping from an identity asserted by the first program to an identity understood by the second program.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein the first authentication token comprises:
information about a user that authenticates with the first program;
information about the first program;
information about the second program; and
a digital signature of the first program using a private key for the first program generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
27. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:
(D) dynamically generating a publicprivate key pair for the second program;
(E) the second program digitally signing the first authentication token using the private key generated in step (D) to generate therefrom a second authentication token; and
(F) returning the second authentication token to the first program to authenticate the second program to the first program.
28. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of the second program authenticating to a third program by generating a third authentication token from the first authentication token and sending the third authentication token to the third program.
29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of the third program verifying the third authentication token by using the public key generated in step (D).
30. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of writing to a log file that is written to each time a program verifies an authentication token.
31. A method for a first program to authenticate to a second program, the method comprising the steps of:
(A) dynamically generating a publicprivate key pair for the first program;
(B) sending the public key for the first program to a public key authority;
(C) dynamically generating a publicprivate key pair for the second program;
(D) sending the public key for the second program to the public key authority;
(E) the first program generating a first authentication token using the private key for the first program; and
(F) the second program verifying the first authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the first program.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token in step (F) by verifying a digital signature of the first program in the authentication token using the public key for the first program retrieved from the public key authority.
33. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of authenticating a user to the first program.
34. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of performing identity mapping from an identity asserted by the first program to an identity understood by the second program.
35. The method of claim 31 wherein the first authentication token comprises:
information about a user that authenticates with the first program;
information about the first program;
information about the second program; and
a digital signature of the first program using a private key for the first program generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
36. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:
(G) dynamically generating a publicprivate key pair for the second program;
(H) the second program digitally signing the first authentication token using the private key generated in step (G) to generate therefrom a second authentication token; and
(I) returning the second authentication token to the first program to authenticate the second program to the first program.
37. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of the second program authenticating to a third program by generating a third authentication token from the first authentication token and sending the third authentication token to the third program.
38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of the third program verifying the third authentication token by using the public key corresponding to the second program.
39. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of writing to a log file that is written to each time a program verifies an authentication token.
40. A method for authenticating a first program to a third program, the method comprising the steps of:
authenticating the first program to a second program using a first authentication token generated by the first program using a publicprivate key pair corresponding to the first program; and
authenticating the second program to the third program using a second authentication token that includes all information in the first authentication token.
41. A program product comprising:
(A) an inter-program authentication mechanism that authenticates a first program to a second program using a publicprivate key pair that is dynamically generated by a dynamic key generation mechanism; and
(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the inter-program authentication mechanism.
42. The program product of claim 41 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
43. The program product of claim 41 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises transmission media.
44. The program product of claim 41 wherein the first program includes an authentication mechanism that authenticates a user.
45. The program product of claim 41 wherein, after the inter-program authentication mechanism authenticates the first program to the second program, the second program performs identity mapping from an identity asserted by the first program to an identity understood by the second program.
46. The program product of claim 41 wherein the first program authenticates to the second program using a first authentication token that is digitally signed by the first program using a key that is dynamically generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
47. The program product of claim 46 wherein the first authentication token comprises:
information about a user that authenticates with the first program;
information about the first program;
information about the second program; and
a digital signature of the first program using a private key for the first program generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
48. The program product of claim 46 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the first program.
49. The program product of claim 48 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by verifying the digital signature of the first program using the public key for the first program retrieved from the public key authority.
50. The program product of claim 46 wherein the second program authenticates to the first program, if required, by digitally signing the first authentication token using a private key corresponding to the second program to generate therefrom a second authentication token, and returning the second authentication token to the first program.
51. The program product of claim 50 further comprising a third program, wherein the second program authenticates to the third program by generating a third authentication token from the first authentication token received from the first program, and sending the third authentication token to the third program.
52. The program product of claim 51 wherein the third program verifies the third authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the second program.
53. The program product of claim 41 further comprising log file that is written to each time a program verifies an authentication token.
54. A program product comprising:
(A) an inter-program authentication mechanism that authenticates a first program to a second program using a first authentication token that is digitally signed by the first program using a key that is dynamically generated by a dynamic key generation mechanism in a public key authority, the first program including an authentication mechanism that authenticates a user; and
(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the inter-program authentication mechanism.
55. The program product of claim 54 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
56. The program product of claim 54 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises transmission media.
57. The program product of claim 54 wherein, after the inter-program authentication mechanism authenticates the first program to the second program, the second program performs identity mapping from an identity asserted by the first program to an identity understood by the second program.
58. The program product of claim 54 wherein the first authentication token comprises:
information about a user that authenticates with the first program;
information about the first program;
information about the second program; and
a digital signature of the first program using a private key for the first program generated by the dynamic key generation mechanism.
59. The program product of claim 54 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the first program.
60. The program product of claim 59 wherein the second program verifies the first authentication token by verifying the digital signature of the first program using the public key for the first program retrieved from the public key authority.
61. The program product of claim 54 wherein the second program authenticates to the first program, if required, by digitally signing the first authentication token using a private key corresponding to the second program to generate therefrom a second authentication token, and returning the second authentication token to the first program.
62. The program product of claim 61 further comprising a third program, wherein the second program authenticates to the third program by generating a third authentication token from the first authentication token received from the first program, and sending the third authentication token to the third program.
63. The program product of claim 61 wherein the third program verifies the third authentication token by querying the public key authority for the public key corresponding to the second program.
64. The program product of claim 54 further comprising a log file that is written to each time a program verifies an authentication token.
65. A program product comprising:
(A) an inter-program authentication mechanism that authenticates a first program to a second program using a first authentication token generated by the first program using a publicprivate key pair corresponding to the first program, and that authenticates the second program to a third program using a second authentication token that includes all information in the first authentication token; and
(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the inter-program authentication mechanism.
66. The program product of claim 65 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises recordable media.
67. The program product of claim 65 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises transmission media.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of fabricating an integrated three-dimensional magnetic sensing device, the method comprising:
etching a substrate to form at least one sloped surface of the substrate, wherein the at least one sloped surface is sloped with respect to a first surface area of the substrate and with respect to a second surface area of the substrate;
forming a first magnetic sensor unit on the first surface area of the substrate such that the first magnetic sensor unit senses a component of a magnetic field in a first direction, wherein forming the first magnetic sensor unit comprises depositing a first set of magnetoresistive strips on the first surface area of the substrate and depositing a first set of conductive straps on the first set of magnetoresistive strips, wherein the first set of conductive straps are arranged to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the first set of magnetoresistive strips;
forming a second magnetic sensor unit on the second surface area of the substrate such that the second magnetic sensor unit senses a component of a magnetic field in a second direction, wherein forming the second magnetic sensor unit comprises depositing a second set of magnetoresistive strips on the second surface area of the substrate and depositing a second set of conductive straps on the second set of magnetoresistive strips, wherein the second set of conductive straps are arranged to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the second set of magnetoresistive strips; and
forming a third magnetic sensor unit on the at least one sloped surface of the substrate such that the third magnetic sensor unit senses a component of a magnetic field in a third direction, wherein forming the third magnetic sensor unit comprises depositing a third set of magnetoresistive strips on the at least one sloped surface of the substrate and depositing a third set of conductive straps on the third set of magnetoresistive strips, wherein the third set of conductive straps are arranged to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the third set of magnetoresistive strips,
wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are mutually orthogonal directions, and
wherein the first set of conductive straps provide a linear operating range for the first set of magnetoresistive strips, the second set of conductive straps provide a linear operating range for the second set of magnetoresistive strips, and the third set of conductive straps provides a linear operating range for the third set of magnetoresistive strips.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
arranging a conductor in proximity to the third magnetic sensor unit,
wherein passing a current through the conductor aligns a magnetization vector of the third magnetic sensor unit.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
coupling interconnections to the first set of magnetoresistive strips to form a first resistor bridge network;
coupling interconnections to the second set of magnetoresistive strips to form a second resistor bridge network; and
coupling interconnections to the third set of magnetoresistive strips to form a third resistor bridge network.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein etching the substrate to form the at least one sloped surface of the substrate comprises etching a semiconductor chip via KOH etching.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein etching the substrate to form the at least one sloped surface of the substrate comprises etching the substrate via KOH etching.
6. A method of fabricating an integrated three-dimensional magnetic sensing device, the method comprising:
etching a substrate to form at least one sloped surface of the substrate, wherein the at least one sloped surface is sloped with respect to a first surface area of the substrate and with respect to a second surface area of the substrate, wherein the at least one sloped surface includes a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface, and wherein the first sloped surface is opposite the second sloped surface;
forming a first magnetic sensor on the first surface area of the substrate such that the first magnetic sensor senses a component of a magnetic field in a first direction;
forming a second magnetic sensor on the second surface area of the substrate such that the second magnetic sensor senses a component of a magnetic field in a second direction;
forming a third magnetic sensor on the at least one sloped surface of the substrate such that the third magnetic sensor senses a component of a magnetic field in a third direction, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are mutually orthogonal, and wherein the third direction is vertical to the first surface area and the second surface area; and
arranging on the third magnetic sensor a biasing means for cancelling at the third magnetic sensor magnetic field components parallel to the first surface area and the second surface area,
whereby the third magnetic sensor detects components of the magnetic field in the third direction.
7. A three-dimensional magnetic sensing device comprising:
a substrate comprising a first surface area, a second surface area, a first sloped surface, and a second sloped surface, wherein the first sloped surface is opposite the second sloped surface, and the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface are sloped with respect to the first surface area and the second surface area;
a first magnetic sensor that senses a component of a magnetic field in a first direction, wherein the first magnetic sensor is located on the first surface area;
a second magnetic sensor that senses a component of the magnetic field in a second direction, wherein the second magnetic sensor is located on the second surface area;
a third magnetic sensor that senses a component of the magnetic field in a third direction, wherein a first part of the third magnetic sensor is located on the first sloped surface and a second part of the third magnetic sensor is located on the second sloped surface; and
a biasing device located on the third magnetic sensor, wherein the biasing device cancels at the third magnetic sensor magnetic field components parallel to the first surface and the second surface,
wherein the third direction is perpendicular to the first surface area and the second surface area, and
wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are mutually orthogonal directions.
8. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 7, wherein the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface are formed by etching the substrate via KOH etching.
9. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 7, wherein the first magnetic sensor comprises a first Hall-effect sensor, the second magnetic sensor comprises a second Hall-effect sensor, and the third magnetic sensor comprises a third Hall-effect sensor.
10. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 7, wherein the first magnetic sensor comprises a first giant magnetoresistive sensor, the second magnetic sensor comprises a second giant magnetoresistive sensor, and the third magnetic sensor comprises a third giant magnetoresistive sensor.
11. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 7, wherein the first magnetic sensor comprises a first spin tunnel device sensor, the second magnetic sensor comprises a second spin tunnel device sensor, and the third magnetic sensor comprises a third spin tunnel device sensor.
12. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 7, wherein the first magnetic sensor comprises a first giant magneto-impedance sensor, the second magnetic sensor comprises a second giant magneto-impedance sensor, and the third magnetic sensor comprises a third giant magneto-impedance sensor.
13. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 7,
wherein the third magnetic sensor comprises: (i) a first magnetoresistive strip on a first sloped surface area of the at least one sloped surface area, (ii) a second magnetoresistive strip on the first sloped surface area of the at least one sloped surface area, (iii) a third magnetoresistive strip on a second sloped surface area of the at least one sloped surface area, and (iv) a fourth magnetoresistive strip on the second sloped surface area of the at least one sloped surface area,
wherein the biasing device comprises a plurality of conductive straps including a first set of conductive straps, a second set of conductive straps, a third set of conductive straps, and a fourth set of conductive straps,
wherein the first set of conductive straps are placed across the first magnetoresistive strip so as to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to long ends of the first magnetoresistive strip,
wherein the second set of conductive straps are placed across the second magnetoresistive strip so as to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to long ends of the second magnetoresistive strip,
wherein the third set of conductive straps are placed on the third magnetoresistive strip so as to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to long ends of the third magnetoresistive strip,
wherein the fourth set of conductive straps are placed across the fourth magnetoresistive strip so as to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to long ends of the fourth magnetoresistive strip.
14. A three-dimensional magnetic sensing device comprising:
a substrate comprising a first surface area, a second surface area, and at least one sloped surface that is sloped with respect to the first surface area and the second surface area;
a first magnetic sensor comprising: (i) a first set of magnetoresistive strips deposited on the first surface area of the substrate, and (ii) a first set of conductive straps deposited on the first set of magnetoresistive strips, wherein each conductive strap of the first set of conductive straps forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a long edge of the magnetoresistive strip to which the conductive strap is deposited, and wherein the first magnetic sensor senses a component of a magnetic field in a first direction;
a second magnetic sensor comprising: (i) a second set of magnetoresistive strips deposited on the second surface area of the substrate, and (ii) a second set of conductive straps deposited on the second set of magnetoresistive strips, wherein each conductive strap of the second set of conductive straps forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a long edge of the magnetoresistive strip to which the conductive strap is deposited, and wherein the second magnetic sensor senses a component of a magnetic field in a second direction;
a third magnetic sensor comprising: (i) a third set of magnetoresistive strips deposited on the at least one sloped surface of the substrate, and (ii) a third set of conductive straps deposited on the third set of magnetoresistive strips, wherein each conductive strap of the third set of conductive straps forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to a long edge of the magnetoresistive strip to which the conductive strap is deposited, and wherein the third magnetic sensor senses a component of a magnetic field in a third direction;
wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are mutually orthogonal.
15. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 14,
wherein the first magnetic sensor further comprises a first set of interconnections to couple the first plurality of magnetoresistive strips as a first electrical circuit,
wherein the second magnetic sensor further comprises a second set of interconnections to couple the second plurality of magnetoresistive strips as a second electrical circuit, and
wherein the third magnetic sensor further comprises a third set of interconnections to couple the third plurality of magnetoresistive strips as a third electrical circuit.
16. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 15,
wherein the first electrical circuit is arranged as a first Wheatstone bridge circuit,
wherein the second electrical circuit is arranged as a second Wheatstone bridge circuit, and
wherein the third electrical circuit is arranged as a third Wheatstone bridge circuit.
17. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 14, wherein the second surface is formed by performing KOH etching to the substrate.
18. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 14, wherein the first set of magnetoresistive strips, the second set of magnetoresistive strips, and the third set of magnetoresistive strips comprise a magnetoresistive material selected from the group consisting of: (i) anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) material, (ii) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) material, and (iii) colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) material.
19. The three-dimensional magnetic sensing device of claim 14,
wherein the first magnetic sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: (i) a first Hall-effect sensor, (ii) a first giant magnetoresistive sensor, (iii) a first spin tunnel device sensor, and (iv) a first giant magneto-impedance device sensor,
wherein the second magnetic sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: (i) a second Hall-effect sensor, (ii) a second giant magnetoresistive sensor, (iii) a second spin tunnel device sensor, and (iv) a second giant magneto-impedance device sensor, and
wherein the third magnetic sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of: (i) a third Hall-effect sensor, (ii) a third giant magnetoresistive sensor, (iii) a third spin tunnel device sensor, and (iv) a third giant magneto-impedance device sensor.

1. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request for a geographically-based service, the received request indicating that a geographical position of a target node and a radius associated with a maximum distance from the geographical position is requested;
formatting a requesting service message that is associated with a higher-layer protocol, the requesting service message including an indicator indicating that the geographical position of the target node and the radius is requested;
merging the requesting service message in a first header of a requesting datagram;
sending the requesting datagram to the target node;
receiving a reply datagram from the target node;
extracting a reply position message component from a second header of the received reply datagram;
determining the geographical position of the target node and the radius from the extracted reply position message component; and
providing a response to the received request based on the determined radius and the determined geographical position.
2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the computing device is within the service area of the geographically-based service based on the determined radius, the determined geographical position and a second geographical position of the computing device.
3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the requesting service message is selected from the group consisting of an echo request message and a position information request message.
4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the requesting service message comprises an extension header and an echo reply message.
5. The article of manufacture of claim 4, wherein the extension header is selected from the group consisting of a destination option header and a hop-by-hop header.
6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the determined geographical position is selected from the group consisting of geographical coordinates and a physical location address.
7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, further comprising decrypting the reply position message component.
8. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the requesting datagram further includes an authentication header.
9. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the requesting datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification, and wherein the requesting service message comprises an Internet control message protocol version 6 informational message.
10. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the reply datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification.
11. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the requesting datagram further includes a geographical position of the computing device.
12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the geographical position of the computing device is inserted in an extension header of the requesting datagram.
13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the geographical position of the computing device is inserted in a message body of the requesting service message.
14. A device comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a request for a geographically-based service, the received request indicating that a geographical position of a target node and a radius associated with a maximum distance from the geographical position is requested;
format a requesting service message that is associated with a higher-layer protocol, the requesting service message including an indicator indicating that the geographical position of the target node and the radius is requested;
merge the requesting service message in a first header of a requesting datagram;
send the requesting datagram to the target node;
receive a reply datagram from the target node;
extract a reply position message component from a second header of the received reply datagram;
determine the geographical position of the target node and the radius from the extracted reply position message component; and
provide a response to the received request based on the determined radius and the determined geographical position; and

a communication interface operably coupled to the processor, the communication interface configured to send the requesting datagram and to receive the reply datagram.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the device is within the service area of the geographically-based service based on the determined radius and the determined geographical position and a second geographical position of the device.
16. The device of claim 14, wherein the requesting service message is selected from the group consisting of an echo request message and a position information request message.
17. The device of claim 14, wherein the requesting service message comprises an extension header and an echo reply message.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the extension header is selected from the group consisting of a destination option header and a hop-by-hop header.
19. The device of claim 14, wherein the determined geographical position is selected from the group consisting of geographical coordinates and a physical location address.
20. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to decrypt the reply position message component.
21. The device of claim 14, wherein the requesting datagram further includes an authentication header.
22. The device of claim 14, wherein the requesting datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification, and wherein the requesting service message comprises an Internet control message protocol version 6 informational message.
23. The device of claim 14, wherein the reply datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification.
24. The device of claim 14, wherein the requesting datagram further includes a geographical position of the device.
25. The device of claim 24, wherein the geographical position of the device is inserted in an extension header of the requesting datagram.
26. The device of claim 24, wherein the geographical position of the device is inserted in a message body of the requesting service message.
27. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, case the computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving a datagram from a requesting node;
extracting a requesting service message that is associated with a higher-layer protocol from a first header of the received datagram, the requesting service message including an indicator indicating that the requesting node is requesting a geographical position of the computing device and a radius associated with a maximum distance from the geographical position of the computing device for supporting a geographically-based service;
determining the geographical position of the computing device;
formatting a response position message component that is associated with a higher-layer protocol, the response position message component containing the determined geographical position and the radius;
merging the response position message component in a second header of a response datagram; and
sending the response datagram to the requesting node.
28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise determining if the requesting node has permission to obtain the geographical position and the radius.
29. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein determining the geographical position comprises obtaining the geographical position from a serving network.
30. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein determining the geographical position comprises obtaining the geographical position from a user interface.
31. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein determining the geographical position utilizes a time difference of arrival technique.
32. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the received datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification, and wherein the response position message component comprises an Internet control message protocol version 6 (ICMPv6) informational message.
33. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the determined geographical position is contained in the ICMPv6 informational message.
34. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the operations further comprise encrypting the response position message component.
35. A device comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a datagram from a requesting node;
extract a requesting service message that is associated with a higher-layer protocol from a first header of the received datagram, the requesting service message including an indicator indicating that the requesting node is requesting a geographical position of the device and a radius associated with a maximum distance from the geographical position of the device for supporting a geographically-based service;
determine the geographical position of the device;
format a response position message component that is associated with a higher-layer protocol, the response position message component containing the determined geographical position and the radius;
merge the response position message component in a second header of a response datagram; and
send the response datagram to the requesting node; and

a communication interface operably coupled to the processor, the communication interface configured to receive the datagram and to send the response datagram.
36. The device of claim 35, further comprising determining if the requesting node has permission to obtain the geographical position and the radius.
37. The device of claim 35, wherein determining the geographical position comprises receiving the geographical position from a serving network.
38. The device of claim 35, wherein determining the geographical position comprises obtaining the geographical position from a user interface.
39. The device of claim 35, wherein determining the geographical position utilizes a time difference of arrival technique.
40. The device of claim 35, wherein the received datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification, and wherein the response position message component comprises an Internet control message protocol version 6 (ICMPv6) informational message.
41. The device of claim 40, wherein the determined geographical position is contained in the ICMPv6 informational message.
42. The device of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to encrypt the response position message component.
43. A system comprising:
a requesting device, the requesting device comprising
a first processor configured to:
receive a request for a geographically-based service, the received request indicating that a geographical position of a target device and a radius associated with a maximum distance from the geographical position is requested;
format a requesting service message that is associated with a higher-layer protocol, the requesting service message including an indicator indicating that the geographical position of the target device and the radius is requested;
merge the requesting service message in a first header of a requesting datagram;
send the requesting datagram to the target device;
receive a reply datagram from the target device;
extract a reply position message component from a second header of the received reply datagram;
determine the geographical position of the target device and the radius from the extracted reply position message component; and
provide a response to the received request based on the determined radius and the determined geographical position; and

a first communication interface operably coupled to the first processor, the first communication interface configured to send the requesting datagram and to receive the reply datagram; and

the target device comprising
a second processor configured to:
receive the requesting datagram from the requesting device;
extract the requesting service message from the first header of the received requesting datagram;
if the extracted requesting service message includes the indicator, determine the geographical position of the target device;
format the reply position message component, the reply position message component containing the determined geographical position and the radius;
merge the reply position message component in the second header of the reply datagram; and
send the reply datagram to the requesting device; and

a second communication interface operably coupled to the second processor, the second communication interface configured to receive the requesting datagram and to send the reply datagram.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein the requesting datagram complies with an Internet Protocol version 6 specification, and wherein the response position message component comprises an Internet control message protocol version 6 (ICMPv6) informational message.
45. The system of claim 44, wherein the determined geographical position is contained in the ICMPv6 informational message.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules configured into at least one string of modules, each string of modules assigned to a timeslot in a transmission scheme, each module of each string of modules assigned to a subchannel in a spectrum of frequencies; and
at least one modem configured to communicate data related to at least on of the modules of the plurality of PV modules on a power line.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the subchannels are selected to be orthogonal to each other.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data comprises at least one of voltage, current, module tilt, air temperature, module temperature, and insolation.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one DCDC converter configured to level shift the DC voltage of the data.
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a modem configured to receive the data in each channel for a time slot and to prepare the data for transmission.
6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a DCAC inverter configured to convert the data for transmission into an AC signal for transmission on the power line.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a base station configured to receive the AC signal for data collection.
8. A method comprising:
dividing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules into at least one string of modules;
dividing a spectrum of frequencies into subchannels; and
assigning each string into a timeslot; and sending data related to at least one of the plurality of PV modules on a subchannel during the assigned timeslot.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting the subchannels to be orthogonal to each other.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the data comprises at least one of voltage, current, module tilt, air temperature, module temperature, and insolation.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising at least one DCDC converter configured to level shift the DC voltage of the data.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the data in a modem configured to receive the data in each channel for a time slot and to prepare the data for transmission.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising converting the data for transmission into an AC signal with a DCAC inverter for transmission on the power line.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the dividing the spectrum of frequencies into subchannels comprises at least one of a statically allocating the subchannels and dynamically allocating the subchannels.
15. A system, comprising:
means for dividing a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules into at least one string of modules;
means for dividing a spectrum of frequencies into subchannels; and
means for assigning each string into a timeslot; and sending data related to at least one of the plurality of PV modules on a subchannel during the assigned timeslot.
16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for selecting the subchannels to be orthogonal to each other.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the data comprises at least one of voltage, current, module tilt, air temperature, module temperature, and insolation.
18. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for level shifting the DC voltage of the data.
19. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving the data in a modem, to receive the data in each channel for a time slot, and to prepare the data for transmission.
20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for converting the data for transmission into an AC signal with a DCAC inverter for transmission on the power line.