Author: claimsbot

1. A system for applying a polar bias modulation having a phase component and an amplitude component to a signal, the system comprising:
a power amplifier (PA) having a plurality of amplifier gain stages, wherein the power amplifier is configured to amplify an input to create an amplifier output signal;
a frequency synthesizer configured to apply a phase modulation to the signal input to the power amplifier, wherein the phase modulation is based upon the phase component of the polar bias modulation; and
an amplitude control circuit comprising a detector configured to receive an indication of the amplifier output as a feedback signal, a control module configured to generate a control signal based upon both the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar bias modulation, and a bias circuit configured to adjust a bias signal associated with at least one of the plurality of amplifier gain stages in response to the control signal.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal input to the power amplifier comprises a substantially uniform amplitude.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a baseband gain stage coupled to the detector and the control module and configured to adjust the feedback signal.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the baseband gain stage is configured to adjust the feedback signal based at least in part upon a signal received from a control interface.
5. The system of claim 3 wherein the baseband gain stage is configured to adjust the feedback signal in discrete steps.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises an integrator having a time constant, wherein the integrator is configured to combine the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar modulation to create the control signal.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the time constant of the integrator is adjustable to maintain a substantially constant loop gain of the feedback signal.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the control module comprises an integrator having a time constant, wherein the integrator is configured to combine the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar modulation to create the control signal, and wherein the time constant of the integrator is adjustable with the discrete steps of the baseband gain to maintain a substantially constant loop gain of the feedback signal.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of amplifier gain stages comprises a first amplifier gain stage, wherein the bias signal associated with the first stage is a collector voltage.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of amplifier gain stages further comprises a second amplifier gain stage, wherein the bias signal associated with the second amplifier gain stage is a base current.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the bias circuit comprises a voltage-to-current conversion module configured to convert the control signal to the base current of the second amplifier gain stage.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled to receive the feedback signal and a digital-to-analog converter configured to provide the control signal to the bias circuit, and wherein the control module comprises digital circuitry logically disposed between the analog-to-digital converter and the digital-to-analog converter.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises an analog integrator and associated bias circuitry.
14. A wireless telephone handset incorporating the system of claim 1.
15. A method of applying a polar modulation having a phase component and an amplitude component to a power amplifier (PA) having an amplifier gain stage, wherein the power amplifier is configured to amplify an input to create an amplifier output signal, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving an indication of the amplifier output as a feedback signal;
generating a control signal based upon both the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar bias modulation; and
adjusting a bias signal associated with the amplifier gain stage in response to the control signal.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step applying a phase modulation to the signal input to the power amplifier, wherein the phase modulation is based upon the phase component of the polar bias modulation.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of adjusting the feedback signal in discrete steps between the receiving step and the generating step.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the generating step comprises combining the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar modulation at an integrator to create the control signal, and wherein the time constant of the integrator is adjustable with the discrete steps of the baseband gain to maintain a substantially constant loop gain of the feedback signal.
19. A circuit configured to execute the method of claim 15.
20. A system for applying a polar modulation having a phase component and an amplitude component to a power amplifier (PA) having an amplifier gain stage, wherein the power amplifier is configured to amplify an input to create an amplifier output signal, the system comprising:
means for receiving an indication of the amplifier output as a feedback signal;
means for generating a control signal based upon both the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar bias modulation; and
means for adjusting a bias signal associated with the amplifier gain stage in response to the control signal.

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 comprising employing at least one processor to perform each of the steps of:
receiving a plurality of target hashes, each target hash representing a distinct data block of a target object, each distinct code block consisting of a sequence of processor instructions of the target object;
in response to receiving the plurality of target hashes, retrieving a plurality of reference hashes representing a whitelisted data object, and
in response to determining that the plurality of target hashes is not identical to the plurality of reference hashes, and determining that the plurality of target hashes and the plurality of reference hashes share a majority of items, labeling the target object as non-malicious.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein labeling the target object as non-malicious is performed in response to determining a similarity score according to a count of hashes common to both the plurality of target hashes and the plurality of reference hashes.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein each target hash comprises a hash of an opcode pattern, the opcode pattern comprising a sequence of instruction indicators, each instruction indicator indicative of a processor instruction of the distinct code block.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of processor instructions consists of between 5 and 50 consecutive processor instructions.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the sequence of processor instructions consists of between 5 and 15 consecutive processor instructions.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of processor instructions starts with a CALL instruction.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
performing a code normalization procedure on the target object to produce a normalized target object, and wherein each distinct code block consists of a sequence of computer instructions of the normalized target object; and
applying a hash function to the distinct code block to produce the target hash.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a computer file.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the target object comprises a computer process.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions which, when executed by a computer system having at least one processor, cause the computer system to:
receive a plurality of target hashes, each target hash representing a distinct data block of a target object, each distinct code block consisting of a sequence of processor instructions of the target object;
in response to receiving the plurality of target hashes, retrieve a plurality of reference hashes representing a whitelisted data object, and
in response to determining that the plurality of target hashes is not identical to the plurality of reference hashes, and determining that the plurality of target hashes and the plurality of reference hashes share a majority of items, label the target object as non-malicious.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein labeling the target object as non-malicious is performed in response to determining a similarity score according to a count of hashes common to both the plurality of target hashes and the plurality of reference hashes.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein each target hash comprises a hash of an opcode pattern, the opcode pattern comprising a sequence of instruction indicators, each instruction indicator indicative of a processor instruction of the distinct code block.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the sequence of processor instructions consists of between 5 and 50 consecutive processor instructions.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the sequence of processor instructions consists of between 5 and 15 consecutive processor instructions.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the sequence of processor instructions starts with a CALL instruction.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the computer system to:
perform a code normalization procedure on the target object to produce a normalized target object, and wherein each distinct code block consists of a sequence of computer instructions of the normalized target object; and
apply a hash function to the distinct code block to produce the target hash.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the target object comprises a computer file.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the target object comprises a computer process.
19. A computer system comprising at least one processor configured to form:
means for receiving a plurality of target hashes, each target hash representing a distinct data block of a target object, each distinct code block consisting of a sequence of processor instructions of the target object;
means for retrieving a plurality of reference hashes representing a whitelisted data object in response to receiving the plurality of target hashes, and
means for labeling the target object as non-malicious in response to determining that the plurality of target hashes is not identical to the plurality of reference hashes and determining that the plurality of target hashes and the plurality of reference hashes share a majority of items.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein labeling the target object as non-malicious is performed in response to determining a similarity score according to a count of hashes common to both the plurality of target hashes and the plurality of reference hashes.

1. A method for email sender verification, the method comprising:
(a) including a tag in an email, wherein said tag contains an identity datum for a sender of the email and said identity datum is stored in association with an email address of said sender at a server that is physically remote from both said sender and said recipient;
(b) sending said email via a network, wherein a sender address becomes associated with said email;
(c) providing at least said identity datum, taken from said tag, to said server to retrieve said email address of said sender;
(d) comparing said email address with said sender address, thereby verifying that said email came from said sender when said email address and said sender address match; and
(e) forwarding said email to one or more of a plurality of shadow email folders based on pre-set criteria for at least one of said email address and said sender address, wherein said shadow email folders have private email addresses that are not otherwise used.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
prior to a first said (a), requesting said tag from said server.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
prior to each instance of said (a), requesting said tag from said server, thereby dynamically obtaining said tag for each instance of a said email.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
selectively issuing or not issuing said tag based on criteria provided as part of said requesting and a usage policy pre-set by said sender.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
prior to said (a), encrypting said identity datum; and wherein,
said (c) includes decrypting said identity datum taken from said tag.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein:
said encrypting is based on a private key and said decrypting is based on a public key.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein:
said private key and said public key belong to said sender.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
prior to said (a), said sender sending said email to an email server; and
said (a) occurring and said (b) initiating at said email server.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said (b) includes said recipient receiving said email at an email server;
said email server performs said (c) and said (d); and the method further comprising,
providing a result for said (d) to said recipient.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said identity datum is information about said sender that is one of: confirmable against a public record, confirmable against a private record not generated by said server, or confirmable against a private record unique to said server.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said identity datum includes at least one of a telephone number, a driver license number, government insurance account number, commercial insurance account number, bank account number, customer account number, user identifier, student number, national identity number, passport number, biometric data, and digital certificate associated with said sender.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein:
said tag is in request for comment (RFC) 822 extension encoding.
13. A system for email sender verification, the system comprising:
a sender email application to send an email for a sender;
a recipient email application to receive said email for a recipient;
a network connecting said sender email application to said recipient email application, wherein a sender address becomes associated with said email;
a sender verification server to access a database storing an identity datum for said sender in association with an email address of said sender;
said sender email application further to include a tag in said email containing said identity datum;
said recipient email application further to provide at least said identity datum, taken from said tag, to said sender verification server;
said sender verification server further to retrieve said email-address, thereby permitting comparison of said email address with said sender address to verify whether said email came from said sender; and
said sender verification server further to forward said email to one or more of a plurality of shadow email folders based on pre-set criteria for at least one of said email address and said sender address, wherein said shadow email folders have private email addresses that are not otherwise used.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein:
at least one of said sender email application and said recipient email application is an email agent that runs on a respective computerized device of said sender or said recipient.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein:
at least one of said sender email application and said recipient email application is an email server that is a gateway to a respective computerized device of said sender or said recipient that runs an email agent.
16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
a recipient verification server to intermediate between said recipient email application and said sender verification server.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein:
said network is the internet and said recipient verification server communicates with said sender verification server via said network.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein:
said network is a first network which is the internet; and further comprising,
a second network which is private; and
said recipient verification server communicates with said sender verification server via said second network.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein:
said second network is a signaling system seven (SS7) type network.
20. A system for email sender verification, the system comprising:
sender means for sending an email for a sender;
recipient means for receiving said email for a recipient;
network means for connecting said sender means to said recipient means and associating a sender address with said email;
sender verification means for accessing a database storing an identity datum for said sender in association with an email address of said sender;
said sender means further for including a tag in said email containing said identity datum;
said recipient means further for providing at least said identity datum, taken from said tag, to said sender verification means;
said sender verification means further for retrieving said email-address, thereby permitting comparison of said email address with said sender address to verify whether said email came from said sender; and
said sender verification means further for forward said email to one or more of a plurality of shadow email folders based on pre-set criteria for at least one of said email address and said sender address, wherein said shadow email folders have private email addresses that are not otherwise used.

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 steerable medical device, comprising:
a) a sheath defining a longitudinal axis having a deflectable distal end portion, and at least one lateral passage extending therethrough and configured to accommodate at least one steering cable; and
b) a steering handle operatively associated with a proximal end portion of the sheath and having an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the at least one steering cable accommodated within the at least one lateral passages of the sheath for steering the deflectable distal end portion of the sheath in at least one direction relative to the longitudinal axis thereof.
2. The steerable device of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral passage includes two diametrically opposed lateral passages and the at least one steering cable includes two steering cables, one associated with each lateral passage.
3. The steerable device of claim 2, wherein the sheath includes a central lumen extending therethrough.
4. The steerable device of claim 3, wherein a hemostatic seal is operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the sheath such that the hemostatic seal is in fluid communication with the central lumen.
5. The steerable device of claim 3, wherein the central lumen of the sheath is configured to receive at least one medical device therethrough.
6. The steerable device of claim 5, wherein the sheath has an outer diameter size ranging from about 4 F to about 18 F.
7. The steerable device of claim 5, wherein the proximal end portion of the sheath extends through the steering handle to a proximal end thereof.
8. The steerable device of claim 5, wherein the sheath includes a tubular section reinforced with at least one of braiding, mesh, or wires.
9. The steerable device of claim 5, further comprising a flexible dilator dimensioned for introduction through the central lumen of the sheath and having an axial passage extending therethrough for accommodating a flexible guide wire.
10. The steerable device of claim 9, further comprising a flexible guide wire for introduction through the axial passage of the flexible dilator.
11. The steerable device of claim 10, wherein the dilator includes depth markings disposed along a length of the dilator for indicating how deep the dilator is inserted into the central lumen of the sheath.
12. The steerable device of claim 1, wherein the sheath includes a hydrophobic coating on an exterior surface thereof.
13. The steerable device of claim 1, wherein the sheath includes a soft atraumatic tip portion disposed at the distal end portion.
14. The steerable device of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the sheath includes a radiopaque marker band for determining the location of the distal end of the sheath in situ.
15. The steerable device of claim 1, wherein an infusion port is operatively associated with the proximal end portion of the sheath.
16. The steerable device of claim 15, wherein the distal end portion of the sheath includes at least two side holes in fluid communication with the infusion port for introducing fluid through the distal end portion of the sheath.
17. A steering handle for a steerable medical device, the steering handle configured for effectuating bi-directional steering of the sheath, the steering handle including:
an actuation mechanism operatively connectable to at least one steering cable of the steerable medical device, wherein the actuation mechanism includes a drive nut threadably coupled to a worm coil such that rotation of the drive nut causes axial translation of the worm coil within the steering handle.
18. The handle of claim 17, wherein the actuation mechanism includes a torque ring operatively associated with the drive nut and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the handle in two directions to bi-directionally steer the sheath.
19. The handle of claim 18, wherein a torque ring is manually operable.
20. The handle of claim 18, wherein at least one steering wire is operatively connected to a distal end portion of the worm coil and another steering wire is connected to a proximal end portion of the worm coil.
21. The handle of claim 19, wherein the steering wire connected to the distal end portion of the worm coil is longer than the steering wire connected to the proximal end portion of the worm coil.
22. The handle of claim 21, the longer steering wire is looped around a spring biased guide roller within the handle assembly.
23. The handle of claim 18, wherein the worm coil has a constant thread pitch selected to achieve a desired degree of bidirectional deflection of the distal end portion of the sheath.
24. A steering handle for a steerable medical device, the steering handle configured for effectuating bi-directional steering of the sheath, the steering handle including:
an actuation mechanism operatively connectable to at least one steering cable of the steerable medical device, wherein the actuation mechanism includes diametrically opposed actuators extending from a central hub operatively connectable to the two or more steering wires.
25. The handle of claim 24, further including a locking mechanism configured to provide a resistance to turning the actuators.
26. The handle of claim 25, wherein the locking mechanism provides a resistance to the central hub via a locking member that is cammed against an inner surface of the handle.
27. A kit for placing a surgical device in the vasculature of patient, comprising:
a) an enclosure; and
b) a steerable medical device disposed within the enclosure, wherein the steerable medical device includes:
i) a sheath having a deflectable distal end portion, and at least one lateral passage configured to accommodate at least one steering cable; and
ii) a steering handle operatively associated with a proximal end portion of the sheath and having an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the at least one steering cable accommodated within the at least one lateral passages of the sheath for steering the deflectable distal end portion of the sheath in at least one direction.
28. The kit of claim 27, further comprising a dilator disposed within the enclosure configured to be inserted into the sheath.
29. The kit of claim 27, further comprising a guide wire disposed within the enclosure.