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|Número de publicación
|Tipo de publicación
|Número de solicitud
|Fecha de publicación
|23 Mar 2010
|Fecha de presentación
|19 Abr 2007
|Fecha de prioridad
|12 Dic 2001
|También publicado como
|Número de publicación
|Christopher Richard Newcombe, Paul David Jones, Richard Donald Ellis, Derrick Jason Birum
|Cesionario original
|Valve Corporation
|Exportar cita
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Citas de patentes (127), Otras citas (6), Citada por (14), Clasificaciones (43), Eventos legales (5)
|Enlaces externos: USPTO, Cesión de USPTO, Espacenet
This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/318,350, filed Dec. 11, 2002, entitled "Method And System For Enabling Content Security In A Distributed System," and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120, which in turn is based on a previously filed U.S. Provisional Patent application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/341,079 filed on Dec. 12, 2001, the benefit of the filing date of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), and wherein each of which is further incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates generally to computers and more particularly to providing secure content over a network.
Today, many software providers have recognized the potential cost savings associated with distributing content over the Internet. If the content can be packaged in a small executable, a software provider may choose to distribute the software over the Internet. However, while the Internet provides new opportunity for profits to software providers, it also creates a tremendous risk for piracy of the content. Such risk for piracy may arise at any place that the content is exposed. Without appropriate protection, the content can be illicitly intercepted, stolen, copied, and redistributed, thus depriving software providers of their profits. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for providing content securely over a network. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made.
This summary of the invention section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of the invention. Particular aspects of the invention are pointed out in other sections herein below, and the invention is set forth in the appended claims, which alone demarcate its scope.
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing content securely over a network. In one aspect of the present invention, the system is directed to securing content over a network. The system includes a data store, an update manager, and a content manager. The data store is configured to store content. The update manager is coupled to the data store and configured to change content in the data store at a rate that is directed to frustrating a hacker or thief. The update manager also tags a portion of the content as exclusively memory resident at a client. The content manager is configured to determine if the client is authentic. If the client is authentic, the content manager provides the content to the client at a predetermined rate. Moreover, the tagged portion of the content remains absent from a client's permanent data store thereby reducing theft of the content.
In another aspect of the invention, a method is directed at securing content over a network by receiving a request from a client for content associated with an application. A portion of the content is tagged as exclusively memory resident on the client. If the client is authentic, the method provides the requested content to the client at the predetermined rate. The provided content enables an application to start execution on the client before the content associated with the application is completely provided. Additionally, the tagged portion of the content is enabled to execute on the client, while remaining absent from the client's permanent data store thereby reducing theft of the content.
Additionally, in another aspect of the method, the content is changed at a pre-set or variable rate that necessitates the client to request the changed content to execute the application associated with the content.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which is to be read in association with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanied drawings, which form a part hereof, and which is shown by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments of which the invention may be practiced. Each embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a method and system for enabling authentication in a distributed system. The system includes a data store for content associated with an application. The content may be tagged as exclusively memory resident at a client. The content may also be encrypted and digitally signed. When an authenticated client requests the content, the content is provided at a rate that enables a portion of the content to start execution on the client before the application associated with the content is completely provided. Additional portions of the content are provided to the client when the additional portions are required for execution by the application. Moreover, in one embodiment, the content is changed at a rate that includes at least one of a periodic and a non-periodic rate. The changes are directed at necessitating the client to request the changed content to execute the application associated with the content, and thereby further frustrate a potential hacker or thief.
Encryption and Decryption
Throughout this disclosure, references to encryption and decryption are made. Where appropriate, each reference to an algorithm used to perform encryption or decryption should be construed to include any other algorithm or technique for making it more difficult to obtain the original bytes (also called plaintext) of an application, component of an application, and/or data. For each reference to an algorithm used to perform encryption or decryption throughout this disclosure, it should also be recognized that other embodiments of the invention may be implemented using other encryption algorithms, including the proposed Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) which is Rijndael, RSA Labs Inc.'s (hereinafter "RSA's") RC6, IBM's MARS, TwoFish, Serpent, CAST-256, International Data Encryption Algorithm (IDEA), Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple DES, DES-EDE2, DES-EDE3, DESX, DES-XEX3, RC2, RC5, Blowfish, Diamon2, TEA, SAFER, 3-WAY, GOST, SHARK, CAST-128, Square, Skipjack, Panama, ARC4, SEAL, WAKE, Sapphire II, BlumBlumShub, RSA, DSA, ElGamal, Nyberg-Rueppel (NR), BlumGoldwasser, Rabin, Rabin-Williams (RW), LUC, LUCELG, ECDSA, ECNR, ECIES, ECDHC, ECMQVC, and/or any other encryption algorithm. These encryption algorithms may use, where appropriate, cipher block chaining mode, cipher feedback mode, CBC ciphertext stealing (CTS), CFB, OFB, counter mode, and/or any other block mode. Other exemplary "encryption" techniques that may be used by embodiments of the invention include compiling source code into binary code, and/or using proprietary data structures to send data. In one embodiment of the invention, Crypto++, an open-source class library of cryptographic techniques, the source code of which is hereby incorporated by reference, may be used in encrypting or decrypting applications and/or data. Other encryption and decryption libraries, both open source, commercial, and/or proprietary may be used.
In one embodiment of the invention, for symmetric encryption and decryption 128-bit keys and the proposed-AES Rjindael cipher may be used in cipher block chaining mode. Random initialization vectors (IVs) may be sent in plaintext. In another embodiment to protect a password stored on a client, 256-bit Rjindael in cipher feedback mode is used with a random IV. In other embodiments of the invention, other symmetric encryption algorithms (such as the ones listed in the previous paragraph) may be used for symmetric encryption and decryption.
In one embodiment of the invention, for asymmetric encryption, 1024-bit keys may be used with RSA. These keys may be formatted according to the "OAEP (with SHA1)" scheme provided by RSA, or any other formatting appropriate. For example, RSA may be used in conjunction with a ticket (which is described in more detail below) to decrypt data in the ticket to recover an AES key that may then be used to decrypt other portions of a ticket. SHA1 stands for Secure Hash Algorithm 1. SHA1 is a cryptographic hash algorithm that produces a 160-bit hash value from an arbitrary length string. In other embodiments of the invention, other private key/public key encryption algorithms may be used (such as the ones listed above) with the same or different key sizes.
In another embodiment of the invention, a server and/or client may also employ a 128-bit HMAC (hashed message authentication code) and/or 1024-bit RSA digital signatures to assist in authenticating that the contents of a ticket have not been changed and/or in authenticating a client and/or server. The 128-bit HMAC may use SHA1 to create a digest of data. For example, contents of a ticket may be fed into a one way hashing function, such as SHA1, to create a block of binary digits. The hashing function may be such that whatever is inputted into it is hashed into fixed length of bits. For example, the hashing function may return 160 bits whether it operates on 4 bytes of data or on all the text in a dictionary. A RSA signature may be created and/or formatted as described in RSA's PKCS #1, or any other suitable format.
Encryption may be used to protect tickets in a somewhat similar fashion to the Kerberos open protocol from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is hereby incorporated by reference. Embodiments of the invention that may be used to protect tickets and authenticate clients and/or servers are described below.
Keys may be distributed using 1024-bit RSA and a 128-bit Rjindael symmetric session key. The 1024-bit RSA key may be used to encrypt the 128-bit Rjindael symmetric key. The 128-bit Rjindael key may be used to encrypt the body of a message. To recover a message body, a receiver may use its private RSA key to obtain the 128-bit Rjindael key. Then the 128-bit Rjindael key may be used to decrypt the body of the message. Tickets may include other encrypted 128-bit Rjindael session keys that are sent from one server to another server in a somewhat similar manner to that described in the open Kerberos protocol from MIT.
Encrypted or unencrypted messages or tickets may be sent using TCP/IP, UDP, SSL, IPSEC, or any other networking protocol. Content sent to or from content servers may be encrypted on unencrypted. Random numbers may be generated by any random number generator. An exemplary random number generator that may be used is contained in the CryptoAPI suite, produced by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.
It will be recognized that the key sizes given above are illustrative. In other embodiments of the invention, key sizes other than or in addition to the key sizes above may be used when encrypting data and/or authenticating a server, client, or user.
Illustrative Environment
As further shown in the figure, NAT server 104 is in communication with clients 132-33, and network 110. Clients 130-131, content server 120, AAS 108, and GDS 140 each are in communication with network 110.
Network 110 can employ any form of computer readable media for communicating information from one electronic device to another. Network 110 can include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), direct connections, such as through a universal serial bus (USB) port, other forms of computer-readable media, or any combination thereof. Links within LANs typically include fiber, twisted wire pair or coaxial cable, while links between networks may utilize analog telephone lines, full or fractional dedicated digital lines including T1, T2, T3, and T4, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs), wireless links including satellite links, fiber, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL), Video Digital Subscriber Lines (VDSL), or other known links. Furthermore, remote computers and other related electronic devices can be remotely connected to either LANs or WANs via a modem and temporary telephone link. In
The media used to transmit information in the links illustrates one type of computer-readable media, namely communication media. Generally, computer-readable media includes any media that can be accessed by a computing device. Communication media typical embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term "modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, communication media includes wired media such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, fiber optics, wave guides, and other wired media and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.
NAT server 104 provides IP address translations allowing a single device, such as a router, to act as an agent between the Internet (network 110) and a local network (not shown), enabling a single, unique IP address to represent the enterprise. When a NAT enabled device is employed, the IP address space is typically partitioned into two parts—a reusable set of IP addresses internal to stub domains, and a set of globally unique IP addresses. The reusable IP addresses are typically called internal local IP addresses, or local addresses. The global IP addresses are termed global addresses, external address, or remote addresses. A given address is either a local address or a remote address.
NAT server 104 may include a table comprising of pairs of local addresses and remote addresses. The IP addresses inside the stub domain, the local addresses, typically are not globally unique. Therefore, they may be reused in other domains. As the remote IP addresses are used to communicate to the Internet, these addresses typically are globally registered.
AAS 108 is configured to authenticate a user, and to provide the authenticated user one or more content tickets that enables the authenticated user to access one or more content servers. AAS 108 authenticates a user by employing an authentication mechanism that has some features similar to the Kerberos model, which is hereby incorporated by reference. For example, AAS 108 may include an authentication server (not shown) that receives a request for access to content server 120. AAS 108 may also include a ticket-granting server (not shown) that provides one or more content tickets to the authenticated client. However, unlike Kerberos, the present invention also modifies a timestamp with a cryptographically strong digest of the client's local and remote IP addresses before encryption to provide a modified authenticator that binds the timestamp to a particular client.
In one embodiment, AAS 108 extracts the timestamp from the modified authenticator and authenticates the client based at least in part on the timestamp being within an acceptable time window.
AAS 108 may also determine whether another client is attempting to employ an account of the user that is currently logged into a content server, or the like. This may arise for example, when a user shares passwords, account information, or the like, or when a user's information has been stolen, or the like. When AAS 108 determines that the same user appears to be attempting multiple virtually simultaneous logins, AAS 108 may cancel currently authorized tickets issued to that user. It may then contact each content server for which a content ticket was granted and inform the content server that the content ticket is no longer valid.
The AAS 108 may also contact one or more content servers and instruct them to take other actions with respect to a client that attempts to access content with a revoked ticket. For example, the AAS 108 may instruct content server 120 that the client should display a message informing the user that another user is attempting to use tickets the user was previously given, that repeated attempts to obtain or use tickets in this manner may result in suspension of the user's account, and/or other appropriate information. AAS 108 may also instruct content server 120 to modify a download of content provided to the client, such as slowing a rate of transfer of the content to the client, or the like. AAS 108 may further employ other servers, including a message server, or the like, to propagate a message that a certain client and/or tickets should be denied access.
If AAS 108 determines that the client is valid and authorized, it provides the client with the content ticket. In one embodiment, AAS 108 provides several content tickets, each of which is associated with a different content server. The content ticket may include a server readable portion, a client readable portion, and a modified authenticator.
The server readable portion may include information associated with the client's local and remote IP addresses, the user's account, user name, lifetime parameter, a portion of application content, such as a application tile, version information or the like, and a session key. In one embodiment, the server readable portion is signed by a public encryption key associated with AAS 108. Additionally, the server readable portion is encrypted with a public encryption key associated with the receiving content server, such as content server 120. The public/private encryption keys employed may include any of a variety of public/private encryption key mechanisms including those described above.
The client readable portion of the content ticket may include a session key, a lifetime parameter, and the like. The lifetime parameter may include information associated with a time after which the ticket is valid, an expiration time for the ticket, and the like. In one embodiment, the client readable portion is signed with the private key of authentication server of AAS 108 so that clients (who have the corresponding public key) can check that it is valid. The client readable portion may be encrypted with the user's hashed salted password. If the user can decrypt a client readable portion, which is so encrypted, and extract and utilize its contents, then other servers have indirect but firm assurance that the user knows their own password (i.e., is authentic). That is, in one embodiment the client proves that it can decrypt the client readable portion by extracting the session key from the client readable portion and using it to encrypt subsequent authenticators. The authenticators are sent to subsequent servers along with the still-encrypted (opaque) and tamper-proof server readable portion. The server decrypts the server readable portion and extracts its copy of the same session key, and uses that to decrypt the authenticator. If the authenticator is decrypted successfully (and passes checks such as the timestamp check) then this proves beyond reasonable doubt that the client had the correct session key, which proves that the client was able to decrypt the client readable portion (i.e. knows their password).
The modified authenticator includes information associated with the client's local IP address, remote IP address, and timestamp. In one embodiment, the client's local and remote IP addresses are concatenated, and hashed, employing any of the cryptographically strong hashing mechanisms described above, to provide a digest. The digest is exclusive or'ed (xor'ed) with the timestamp. Associating the timestamp with the client's IP addresses ensures that the timestamp is bound to a single physical client, thereby minimizing the likelihood that an authenticator may be reused by a hacker or shared with a friend. In one embodiment, the modified authenticator is further encrypted with the session key to ensure that the client was able to obtain the session key by decrypting the client readable portion that it received. It also confirms that content server 120 is able to obtain the session key by decrypting the server readable portion.
Content server 120 may include virtually any electronic device capable of storing content and downloading the content to an authenticated client. Some devices that may be used as content server 120 include a client such as client 300 of
GDS 140 is configured to provide location information about AAS 108 to clients 130-133 and content server 120. GDS 140 may receive the location information from AAS 108. Location information may include an IP address, a Universal Resource Locator (URL), Media Access Control (MAC) address, and the like.
Clients 130-133 are described in more detail with reference to
Clients 130-133 are enabled to request access to servers, such as content server 120 by requesting content tickets from AAS 108. In one embodiment of the invention, clients 130-133 are enabled to provide information associated with its local and remote IP addresses to AAS 108 as part of the request for content tickets. Clients 130-133 may also provide information associated with local and remote IP addresses to content server 120.
As shown in
CDS 406 is configured to provide storage for information associated with content. CDS 406 may include a database, a flat file, a directory structure, and the like. Content may include data, application programs, code portions, subroutines, functions, dynamic link libraries, executable components, licensing information, and the like. Content may be compressed, encrypted, or unencrypted. Content may also be digitally signed employing any of a variety of mechanisms, including those described above. Moreover, a version of the content may employ a distinct encryption key. Encryption and signing keys may be stored in a content description data store (not shown) on AAS 108. Decryption and signature verification keys may be sent to a client by embedding them in the client readable portion of the content ticket. Moreover, the content ticket may be cached in a restricted access file that is configured for the particular client, thereby minimizing the usefulness of stolen decryption and signature verification keys.
Content may be divided into one or more resources. Resource may be anything a program requires or needs to continue or complete execution. A program itself may be divided into a plurality of resources. When a client computer first requests an application, the resources of the application may be located solely on a content server, such as content server 120 in
In one embodiment, content is configured employing various obfuscation and tamper-detection and tamper-prevention techniques. Obfuscation and tamper-detection/prevention includes mechanisms, processes, techniques, and the like that are directed to enhance the security of content by inhibiting the disassembly, decompilation and modification of the content. Any of a variety of dynamic and static obfuscation techniques may be employed, including transformations of content based on a desired level of security (e.g., resistance to reverse engineering); control transformations that create opaque constructs and the like employing aliasing, concurrency; transformations of content based on a desired level of obfuscation (e.g. desired potency, resilience, cost); and the like. In one embodiment, obfuscation includes modification of an application's static symbolic information. In another embodiment, dummy code in integrated at varying locations with the content. In still another embodiment, a checksum formula associated with the content is randomly varied.
Some of the blocks of content may be downloaded from the content server and stored on the client. Blocks of content may be configured to be downloaded at a predetermined or variable rate to a client. That is, after a sufficient number of blocks are downloaded, the application may start executing with the blocks that are currently available on the client computer. Before or when the application comes to a part in the code in which it needs code located on the content server, the application may request a block of code containing the needed code. This block of content would be a resource needed by the application to continue or complete execution. Moreover, the blocks of content may be configured such that not all of the blocks of content associated with a complete application are present on the client computer at any one time. This is directed at ensuring that the complete application is not available for theft at any one time.
Moreover, in one embodiment of the present invention, content in one block is configured to cross validate content in another block. In one embodiment the cross validation is constructed in a hierarchical approach across content. In another embodiment, the cross validation employs a circular validation of content. That is, a block of content may include an executable, dynamic link library or the like that is enabled to validate a digital signature associated with an executable, dynamic link library or the like in another block of content. Thus, an attacker would have to simultaneously remove all such validations from the blocks of content before the associated application could run without potentially detecting that it has been tampered with and instituting a countermeasure. Such countermeasures may include degradation of performance of the application on a client, reporting the tampering to an authority, termination of access to the application, termination of an account associated with a user, and the like.
Associated with the blocks of content may also be a checksum block. The checksum block provides integrity information associated with the blocks of content. The checksum block may also be in a compressed, encrypted, or unencrypted format. Additionally, the checksum block may be digitally signed employing any of a variety of mechanisms, including those described above.
Also associated with the content may be a tag that indicates that the content is exclusively memory resident at the client. That is the tagged content is configured to never be cached to a permanent data store, including a hard disk, floppy disk, CD, tape, DVD, or the like. Content tagged as "exclusively memory resident" is intended to be downloaded to a client's random access memory (RAM) or the like, decrypted in memory, loaded, and executed in memory by application programs on a client that are further configured to restrict access to portions of tagged content. In addition, the tagged content may be configured to be purged off of the client upon a predetermined condition, including completion of execution of the tagged content by the client, an application associated with the content, or the like.
UM 404 is configured to receive frequent changes of the content with associated version identifiers and provide the revised content to CDS 404. Frequent changes of content are directed at further frustrating potential content theft by requiring a hacker to frequently request the content. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the content is revised at least once per minute. However, other portions of the content may be changed at a different revision rate, including a periodic rate, a non-periodic rate, and the like. Moreover, UM 404 is directed to provide selected content as content that is tagged as "exclusively memory resident at the client."
CTAM 402 is configured to receive requests for content from clients 130-133. CTAM 402 receives requests typically in the form of a content ticket that was granted by AAS 108. The content ticket may include a client readable portion, a server readable portion, and a modified authenticator, as described above.
CTAM 402 examines information in and about the server readable portion of the content ticket to authenticate the client. For example, it may examine a digital signature associated with the server readable portion to validate the source and integrity of the server readable portion. CTAM 402 may also decrypt the readable portion employing its private encryption key. Moreover, it may employ the session key to decrypt the modified authenticator. CTAM 402 may then 'exclusive or' the modified authenticator with a concatenated cryptographically strong digest of the client's local and remote IP addresses. CTAM 402 may obtain the client's remote IP address from the TCP/IP packet header, a system call, or the like. CTAM 402 may obtain the client's local IP address from the server readable portion of the content ticket. Should either of the IP addresses not match the IP addresses employed to originally generate the modified authenticator then, a resulting timestamp would likely be incorrect. It would be extremely unlikely then that the resulting timestamp would fall within an acceptable time window. Hence, the client would be determined to be an unauthorized client and may be denied access to content.
In a traditional approach, detection of reused authenticators is performed by maintaining a record of all authenticators (and pre-authenticators) received within a prior pre-set period of time. The examining server would compare a received authenticator to the stored authenticators in the prior pre-set period of time. If a match is found, than the examining server would assume the authenticator is being reused by an unauthorized client. However, this approach may result in a significant load on the examining server, slowing down the authentication and access process.
This problem is addressed by binding the authenticator to a physical client through the IP addresses. However, as an IP address may be misleading for clients residing behind a NAT server, the present invention stores those authenticators for further examination. That is, if CTAM 402 determines that the client's local IP address is not the same as the client's remote IP address, then CTAM 402 compares the received authenticator to the stored authenticators for a possible reuse of authenticators. By only performing this comparison for clients behind a NAT server, the present invention may greatly reduce the need to check pre/authenticators for possible reuse. In addition, even if the client is behind a NAT its pre/authenticators are still bound to one particular combination of remote and local IP addresses. This means that the server need only check the timestamp against a small set of pre/authenticators previously received from that one client (that combination of IP addresses) within the time window. This is typically a much smaller set than the global set of all pre/authenticators received from all clients within the time window (which a traditional Kerberos approach checks against).
CTAM 402 also examines the client's remote and local IP addresses to determine whether other users are attempting to share the user's account. By requiring the client to provide its IP addresses, the present invention may also minimize the effects of a network address translation described above.
Moreover, CTAM 402 extracts the client's remote IP address from a TCP/IP packet header associated with the client's request, a system call, or the like, and also obtains the client's remote IP address from the server readable portion (i.e. as the remote IP address was seen by the server that issued the ticket containing this server readable portion). CTAM 402 may then compare the two remote IP addresses to further validate the client. Note that the two addresses may legitimately be different if the client's remote IP address has changed for any reason since the ticket (server readable portion) was issued. For example, this may occur if the client has a dynamic IP address (DHCP), which has expired, or if the client is behind a NAT that has a dynamic IP address, which has expired. In any case, if the remote IP addresses are different (even for these legitimate reasons) then the client fails authentication and must obtain a new ticket (new server readable portion) from the issuing server to confirm the client's new remote IP address. This is done because the server cannot generally distinguish between legitimate client IP address changes and theft of tickets (use of tickets from a hacker's IP address, different from that of the original client).
CTAM 402 also examines other parameters to validate the client, including the lifetime parameter, session key, user name, account name associated with the user, access rights granted, content being requested, and the like. CTAM 402 may also receive messages from AAS 108 informing it that the client is not authentic, and hence should be denied access to content.
Should CTAM 402 determine that a client is not authentic, or is not authorized, CTAM 402 may deny the client access to the requested content. CTAM 402 may also send an error message to the client informing the user that access to the requested content is denied. In one embodiment, CTAM 402 directs CDM 408 to slow or even stop content flow to the unauthenticated client.
Alternatively, if CTAM 402 determines that the client is authentic and authorized, CTAM 402 may provide a signal, message, or the like, to CDM 408 to enable the client to access the requested content.
Also, if CTAM 402 determines that the client is authentic but already has a connection to access content, then CTAM 402 may refuse access, or may direct CDM 408 to grant access but also disconnect the client's existing connection. This is directed at preventing multiple simultaneous accesses to content by a single user—i.e. to prevent users from sharing their account names and passwords with third parties.
CDM 408 is configured to provide content with its associated checksum blocks to the authorized and authenticated client. Content is typically downloaded to the client employing a predetermined rate of content transfer to the client. That is, content may be downloaded in a stream of blocks that are arranged to enable the client application to start execution in the client memory with the blocks that are currently available on the client computer. Before or when the application comes to a part in the code in which it needs code located on the content server, the application may request a block of code containing the needed code to be downloaded. Moreover, CDM 408 may ensure that not all of the application associated with the content is present on the client at any one time to ensure that the complete application is not available for theft on the client. In one embodiment, CDM 408 may direct the client to be re-authenticated before receiving the additional content.
In another embodiment, CDM 408 or another server is configured to provide an additional stream of bits that may include a pseudo-random sequence (using a pre-arranged or communicated seed), a decryption key, a signature verification key, application data, content, or the like. This stream of bits is required to ensure the proper execution of an associated application (i.e. is another mechanism to ensure that the client never has a full set of bits required to run the application, and so cannot use the application without being connected and authenticated by the system). For example, the client may be required to perform an action, such as a one-way hash, based in part on data extracted at pre-selected points in the stream of bits, and verify that the hashes match a pre-arranged table, or the like. The one-way hash of the stream of bits may also be employed by an algorithm within the application such that an incorrect one-way hash would cause the application to malfunction, degrade, report an error, or the like. In this manner, an attacker may be prevented from merely regenerating the stream of bits by employing the same algorithm, seed, and the like.
CDM 408 is further configured to receive messages, instructions, and the like, from CTAM 402 directing CDM 408 to modify a rate of download to a client. In one embodiment, CDM 408 is instructed to slow the rate of download to the client. In another embodiment, CDM 408 is instructed to stop the download, perhaps because the client is no longer authorized to access the content.
As shown in figure, server 200 may be connected to network 110, or other communications network, via network interface unit 210. Network interface unit 210 includes the necessary circuitry for connecting server 200 to network 110, and is constructed for use with various communication protocols including the TCP/IP protocol. Typically, network interface unit 210 is a card contained within server 200.
Server 200 also includes processing unit 212, video display adapter 214, and a mass memory, all connected via bus 222. The mass memory generally includes random access memory ("RAM") 216, read-only memory ("ROM") 232, and one or more permanent mass storage devices, such as hard disk drive 228, a tape drive (not shown), optical drive 226, such as a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, and/or a floppy disk drive (not shown). The mass memory stores operating system 220 for controlling the operation of server 200. This component may comprise a general-purpose server operating system, such as UNIX, LINUX™, or Microsoft WINDOWS NT®. Basic input/output system ("BIOS") 218 is also provided for controlling the low-level operation of server 200.
The mass memory as described above illustrates another type of computer-readable media, namely computer storage media. Computer storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, applications, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computing device.
The mass memory may also store program code and data for providing a WWW site, application server site, authentication site, or the like. More specifically, the mass memory may store applications including WWW server application program 230, and programs 234. WWW server application program 230 includes computer executable instructions which, when executed by server 200, generate WWW browser displays, including performing the logic described above. Server 200 may include a JAVA virtual machine, an SMTP handler application for transmitting and receiving email, an HTTP handler application for receiving and handing HTTP requests, JAVA applets for transmission to a WWW browser executing on a client computer, and an HTTPS handler application for handling secure connections. The HTTPS handler application may be used for communication with an external security application to send and receive sensitive information, such as credit card information, in a secure fashion.
Server 200 also comprises input/output interface 224 for communicating with external devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, scanner, or other input devices not shown in
As shown in
Client computer 300 also includes BIOS 326, processing unit 306, video display adapter 308, and memory. The memory generally includes RAM 310, ROM 304, and a permanent mass storage device, such as a disk drive. The memory stores operating system 312 and programs 334 for controlling the operation of client computer 300, and enabling a user to request access to a server, to play applications, and the like. The memory also includes WWW browser 314, such as Netscape's NAVIGATOR® or Microsoft's INTERNET EXPLORER® browsers, for accessing the WWW. It will be appreciated that these components may be stored on a computer-readable medium and loaded into memory of client computer 300 using a drive mechanism associated with the computer-readable medium, such as a floppy disk drive (not shown), optical drive 316, such as a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive, and/or hard disk drive 318. Input/output interface 320 may also be provided for receiving input from a mouse, keyboard, or other input device. The memory, network interface unit 302, video display adapter 308, and input/output interface 320 are all connected to processing unit 306 via bus 322. Other peripherals may also be connected to processing unit 306 in a similar manner.
As will be recognized from the discussion below, aspects of the invention may be embodied on server 200, on client computer 300, or on some combination thereof. For example, programming steps may be contained in programs 334 and/or programs 234.
Generalized Operation
The operation of certain aspects of the present invention will now be described with respect to
After a start block, process 500 begins at block 502, where a client requesting content is authenticated. Process 500 may be entered for example, when the client is instructed that an update to content is required to execute an application. Frequent updates to the content are directed to requiring the client to be authenticated. Typically, a client to be authenticated provides a content ticket that was granted by another process, such as a content ticket-granting process (not shown), or the like.
At block 502, a content server examines the content ticket provided by the client to determine whether the client is authentic and authorized to access the requested content (see
Processing moves next to decision block 504, where a determination is made whether the client is authenticated and authorized. If the client is deemed not to be authentic or authorized, processing flows to 518 where an error message is sent to the client. Processing then flows block 514.
Alternatively, if, at decision block 504, the client is determined to be authentic and authorized to access the requested content, processing continues to block 506. At block 506, the requested content is downloaded to the client. In one embodiment, content that is tagged as exclusively memory resident is downloaded into the client's memory. Moreover, the requested content may be downloaded at a constrained rate of transfer to the client.
Processing proceeds to block 508 where downloaded content is decrypted and its checksums are evaluated to ensure that the downloaded content has not been modified. Moreover, in one embodiment, at block 508, digital signatures associated with the content, and checksum blocks are examined to ensure the content is authentic. Should it be determined that the content has been modified, the associated application may be configured to not execute. Moreover, the associated application may also be configured not to execute if the content indicates that a revision is required.
Process 500 continues to block 510 where authenticated content is executed by the client. Processing flows to decision block 512, where a determination is made whether the client requires more content to continue execution of the application. If it is determined that more content is required, processing flows to decision block 516, otherwise, the processing continues to block 514.
At decision block 516, a determination is made whether the current client is to be re-authenticated. If the client is to be re-authenticated, processing returns to block 502, to perform substantially the same process as described above. Alternatively, if the client is not to be re-authenticated, processing returns to block 506, to perform substantially the same process as described above.
If no more content is required by the client, processing continues to block 514. At block 514, when it is determined that the client is no longer executing the downloaded application, the application is configured to purge selected content from the user's computer. This is directed at minimizing potential theft of the content and requiring the user to be re-authenticated to the content server. Upon completion of block 514, process 500 ends.
After a start block, process 600 begins at block 602 where the server receives the content, including an encrypted modified authenticator, is received. In one embodiment, the content server may cache the content ticket to minimize requests from the client.
Processing continues to block 604, where the client's local and remote IP addresses are obtained. In one embodiment, the client's remote IP address is obtained by examining a TCP/IP packet header associated with the client. The client's local IP address may be obtained from the client's request for authentication.
Process 600 continues to block 606, where the encrypted modified authenticator is decrypted. In one embodiment, the modified authenticator is decrypted employing a session key that was encrypted in the server readable portion of the content ticket. In addition, at block 606, the client's local and remote IP addresses are concatenated and hashed to obtain a value X. In one embodiment, value X is truncated to a 64-bit value. The value X is then exclusive or'ed with the modified authenticator to obtain a timestamp associated with the client. Processing flows to decision block 608.
At decision block 608, a determination is made whether the timestamp obtained at block 606 is within a time window established by the content server. If the timestamp is outside the time window, client is deemed not to be authentic, and the process returns to block 502 in
At decision block 610, a determination is made whether a remote IP address associated with information provided by the client matches an IP address obtained by a variety of other approaches, including a system call, examination of a TCP/IP packet associated with the client, and the like. If it is determined that the client's provided remote IP address does not match the IP address obtained through another approach, then it is assumed that the modified authenticator is being reused improperly. The client is deemed not authentic and process 600 returns to block 502 in
Alternatively, at decision block 610, if it is determined that the remote IP address provided by the client matches the IP address obtained by another approach, then the process flows to decision block 612.
At decision block 612, a determination is made whether the client's local IP address is the same as the client's remote IP address. If the addresses are different, then it is determined that the client is behind a NAT server, and processing continues to decision block 618. Alternatively, processing continues to 614.
At decision block 618, a determination is made whether the timestamp obtained at block 606 above matches a stored timestamp associated with the client. Stored timestamps may be obtained through communications with the client over a prior pre-set period of time. By only examining stored timestamps for clients behind a NAT server, authentication time and storage space may be minimized over other approaches that always examine the stored timestamps.
If, at decision block 618, it is determined that there is a match with the stored timestamp, the client is determined to be attempting to improperly reuse the timestamp, and is therefore deemed not authentic. Processing returns to block 502 in
Alternatively, if the timestamp does not match a stored timestamp associated with the client, the client is deemed authentic and processing flows to block 614.
At block 614, the content ticket is validated with respective to the requested content (see
After an enter block, process 700 begins at decision block 702 where a determination is made whether the time allotted for the content ticket, as described by the lifetime parameter, has expired. If the time allotted for the content ticket is expired, then the content ticket is deemed invalid, and process 700 returns to block 613 in
Alternatively, if at decision block 702, the time allotted is not expired, the process continues to decision block 704, where a determination is made whether the content ticket is revoked. A revocation may arise, for example, when the client is determined to be unauthenticated by another server, such as the ticket-granting server, which has informed the content server that the ticket is revoked. Revocation may also arise, where the content server has determined that there is an attempt to reuse this same content ticket. If it is determined that the ticket is revoked, the content ticket is deemed invalid, and processing returns to block 614 in
Alternatively, if at decision block 704, the content ticket is not revoked, processing continues decision block 706, where a determination is made whether the content ticket includes information that grants the client access to the content requested. If the content ticket does not include information to grant access to the requested content, the content ticket is deemed invalid. Otherwise, the content ticket is deemed valid. Upon completion of decision block 706, processing returns to block 614 in
It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute on the processor, create means for implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by a processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the processor to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions, which execute on the processor provide steps for implementing the actions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustration support combinations of means for performing the specified actions, combinations of steps for performing the specified actions and program instruction means for performing the specified actions. It will also be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified actions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
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text:
The new topic is - what are books you love that everyone else hates? These are the titles which elicit eye-rolls, fake gagging sounds, and references to the fact that said title permanently scarred most of those who had to read it in high school. (Of course, you were the one who secretly stole your school's copy of that title, reading and re-reading it well into college, and presenting your first born child with a leather copy of it upon his birth.)
I'll go first.
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Le Petit Prince by Antoine de St.-Exupery
OH! And don't forget!!
Ello's running a Make-the-Pig-Laugh contest! Now! Today! This weekend! Go here for details.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Written on: 27/03/2014 by Josephine445 (1 review written)
As the subject of Access to justice is such a hot potato, I was expecting the Law Society to show a modicum of interest when Axa Legal Expenses Insurance rejected my claim for a legal costs indemnity on the demonstrably incorrect advice of its panel solicitors, Irwin Mitchell. An independent solicitor - a specialist in his field - confirmed that I had a good case, but Axa, on the advice of its panel solicitors, simply wasn't interested in honouring my policy. My case could have been used as… Read Full Review
Written on: 27/10/2014
Hello every one please i will like to talk about the goodness of GOD in my life after so many months of trying to get a loan on the internet and was scammed the sum of $3,200 i became so desperate in getting a loan from a legit lender online then a friend told me that there is a legit loan company where she got her loan fast and easy without any stress so she introduced me to a Man called Mr Marcos who is the CEO Marcos Ramsey Loan Company, So i applied for a loan sum of ($85,000.00) with low interest rate so the loan was approved and deposited into my bank account without stress that was how i was able to get my loan, so i was able to pay off my bills,bought a new car,paid for my new accommodation in Chicago,not just that i am now living a good and comfortable life with my three kids. i am advising every one who is interested in getting a loan fast and easy to kindly contact them via email:(firstname.lastname@example.com) as well, So thanks as you read the greatest testimony of my life story and thanks be to GOD almighty for his goodness upon my life.
Written on: 16/03/2017
they all roll around in bed together, the system is duped not to serve us but only to make them more money and cover their own backsides
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LDS congregation prepares to occupy new building
WORTHINGTON -- It may be a long, long time from May to December, but local members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) might not have to wait quite as many months to enjoy their new building at the intersection of First Avenue and Knollwood Drive.
"Our groundbreaking ceremony was in May, and site work started in late May, but they're actually way ahead of schedule," recounted Dr. Christian Morgan, Worthington LDS Branch president. "They originally thought it might be early December before we could occupy it, but now we plan to be moved in by November."
The Worthington LDS congregation got its start about 10 years ago with only a handful of members, and after initially meeting at what is now the Travelodge, the church bought the building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 13th Street five years later. That structure was built a little more than 50 years ago by the Assemblies of God church, and after that housed the Dingmann Funeral Home for a number of years.
"We felt it was important to construct a new building, one that would better fit our needs and be more specific to our meetings and congregation," explained Morgan. "We wanted something a little more childfriendly, plus we needed a baptismal font.
"Also, we have a wheelchair-bound member, and with the new building all on one level, it will be much more accommodating."
The Worthington LDS Branch is a sub-group of the LDS Sioux Falls Stake and has roughly 120 members on its membership rolls, with an average of 60-plus people regularly attending. Members come from Worthington, Windom, Lakefield, Westbrook and Jackson, among other communities.
Members are looking forward to stretching out a bit in their new place of worship, which has 4,700 square feet of versatile space. Ten teaching spaces are included, as is a nursery and a kitchen adjacent to the chapel/multi-purpose room.
"The chapel has a breakdown podium and folding chairs so it can be used for other events, like an evening social," said Morgan. It can seat 76 people and, with an overflow area, accommodates up to 90.
While those numbers may not sound all that impressive to some, it's important to keep the big picture in mind.
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has over 13 million members worldwide and is considered the second fastest-growing church in the United States," detailed Leann Morgan, wife of Worthington Branch president Christian Morgan and the first counselor of the church's primary program, which serves children 3 to 12 years old. "The model of church being built here is actually the smallest building put up by the LDS church.
"This is the first church of this particular design to be constructed in the U.S., though there is one like it in Canada."
Annually, the LDS church erects more than 500 chapels for local congregations across the world; the church also oversees additional construction of family history centers and temples. To maintain such a pace, an economy of effort is required, with church authorities in Salt Lake City, Utah, passing instruction down to regional representatives.
For the Worthington LDS congregation, LDS regional representatives and architects from Chicago, Ill., and Omaha, Neb., assisted with the building project.
"They chose from among four or five potential properties and decided the best site for us was at First Avenue and Knollwood," said Morgan. "The exterior will be brick on the lower section and tan stucco from the mid-level to the roofline.
"The interior will be decorated in blue tones with maple wood trim. We had a choice of blue, mauve or green, which are the same choices offered to new LDS churches around the world. You can walk into an LDS chapel in Africa, South America or Russia and see the same colors and the same pieces of artwork."
Boson Construction of Sioux City, Iowa, is the LDS building's main contractor, but Morgan said several of the sub-contractors are either local or from the surrounding area.
An initial cost estimate of the Worthington LDS church is $1 million, but Morgan stressed the money is not all from local members.
"Our church members send their tithing funds to Salt Lake, where church authorities divide it back to the Stakes and Branches," explained Morgan. "The church's resources are shared, which allows for growth in locations like this that couldn't otherwise afford it on their own."
Excitement is spreading among the members as the building enters its final stages of construction, and Morgan assures that a dedication ceremony and public open house will be scheduled for late November or early December, depending on the ultimate occupancy date.
"We hope the building will serve us well as our local congregation continues to grow, and we're eager to be in our own church home," expressed Morgan. "We also want people to know that those of us commonly known as Mormons are Christians like those of many other faiths, and that visitors are always welcome."


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KRONOS the First 18:55 01 Mar 2012
If upgrading your graphics card you are correct in that a lot of GPU's will indeed be to big for your PC as you need what is known as a low profile GPU which is much smaller, unfortunately that limits your upgrade potential a little.
Here's an idea of the type of GPU you are looking for. Low profile GPU . Not all of these cards are better tan what you have of course but until you mention what sort of budget you have it is difficult to suggest anything. It might also be useful to measure exactly how much space you have from the slot your present card is in to the outside of your case.


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Dirty On The 30: Wednesday, July 23, 2014Why does Shia Labeouf want to get sober and what does Jessica Alba say makes for a happy home? Find out here in Dirty on the 30.
Dirty On The 30: Wednesday, May 7, 2014What is Miley Cyrus saying to her critics about her allergic reaction and who's included in the Most Powerful Mom's list this year? Find out here in Dirty on the 30.
Dirty On The 30: Friday, August 16, 2013Who is Kourtney Kardashian's baby daddy, Scott Disick or a male model? A paternity test reveals......Find out here.
Eva Mendes Among Others Admit They Were Bullied
Jessica Alba Can't Cook


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All Android applications categories
LoLPocket is an simple, free and wonderful application. It gives you advice, it contains timers. It has counters lists for almost all champions as well as builds (missing 2 champions). With more to come!
- Simply press on the champion who you want to know the counters for.
- In a specific champion menu, click on the counters to know why they counter the champion.
- Click on the jungle timers to start them.
- For every build you can view the complete guide by pressing the button at the end.
This is version 2.6
Images and graphics used in this app are property of their respective owners. League of Legends © 2010-2012 Riot Games Inc. All rights reserved.
League of Legends and Riot Games Inc. are registered trademarks of Riot Games
Keywords: League of Legends, LoL, character, league of legend champions, champions manager, who counter, allies, enemies, utils, jungler, items, League of legends, tool, counters, jungle timer, updated
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In honor of National Wear Red Day UConn and UConn Health's campuses donned red clothing to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of women in America. Wearing red also signals to each other the power each of us has individually in potentially preventing the majority of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke with a daily prescription of a healthy diet, exercise and no smoking.
UConn Health's Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center and the American Heart Association thank UConn Nation and Connecticut for their support in raising awareness.
Make sure to share on social media how you chose to Go Red for Women with a photo using the hashtag #GoRedCT.
Also, think about making a donation to support the work of the Calhoun Cardiology Center advancing cardiovascular medicine breakthroughs and scientific research knowledge to improve patient outcomes in the state and beyond.


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Move over Lindsay Lohan, there's another celebrity convicted of bad behavior making their way out of the big house this month.
Plaxico Burress is expected to be released from the Oneida Correctional Center in the next two or three weeks after having time shaved off his two-year sentence for good behavior according to George Willis of the Post. From there he'll go to a work release program and, at some point, he'll surely attempt to salvage whatever might be left for him in the NFL. No surprise there. The surprise comes when you see who is talking positively about him.
Willis got Giants general manager Jerry Reese to say that the Giants would investigate signing Burress once he's eligible to return to the NFL. Mild stuff, but Reese didn't stop there.
"When he first went in, he was saying he thought he'd come back and be a good player, and I don't doubt that at all because he's that kind of athlete," Reese said. "But in this game it's hard to walk away for a couple of years and be the same person. But if anybody can do it, I think it's him. So you never say never."
A smart general manager isn't going to rule something out publicly before it is even a realistic possibility. Before even getting into the state of the Giants, though, the particulars about Burress make this hard to believe.
Let's assume Willis's source is correct and Burress is out of jail before the end of the month, it's still a two-year sentence and that work-release provision would have to take him well into the current NFL season. Plax would also likely face some kind of league punishment which could cut into the 2011 season as well. Even if he avoids the wrath of Roger Goodell, he would already be 34 years old and almost three years removed from his last on-field action when the 2011 season kicks off.
Is that something the Giants are going to need? Not based on what we saw last season. Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks played very well and they've developed a strong rapport with Eli Manning. If they continue to progress, wide receiver is going to be the least of the team's worries. If they don't, the Giants are probably going to finish well out of the playoffs and that could mean a new coach and even a new general manager. Burress doesn't fit with what the Giants will be doing under either scenario.
It's fun to see the Giants as the New York football team linked to a knucklehead for a change. Hopefully the next time it happens the story will have stronger legs.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.


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The murky, masculine, sex-suffused world of the movie detectiveby Josephine Livingstone / August 9, 2013 / Leave a comment
(Above) The PI doesn't solve mysteries with armchair deduction but by invading the private spaces of others
Often responding to Philip or Sam, the private investigator (PI) may be identified by his coat and hat. His natural habitat: the wet street corner or, unauthorised, another person's home. He is commonly accused of committing the very crime under his investigation. You will find him lit starkly, from the side. He is good at getting women into bed, but they often turn out to be malevolent villainesses. He is American.
The PI's bloodlines flow deeply into the tradition of masculine heroes. His characteristics loom so large over Western popular culture that it can be hard to make him out. This is the problem facing any book on the film noir detective: being a chap, in a movie, trying to solve a problem, he is as inscrutably general a cultural trope as the femme fatale. What makes a PI a PI, and not just some other kind of leading man? You can't even really chalk him up to an era, since he has existed since the early days of film.


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According to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released in late July, more than 60 percent of Americans polled say the nation is headed in the wrong direction and only 12 percent approve of Congress' performance. What should Congress and other policymakers do to put the United States on the right track?
Clearly, many factors have contributed to the problems we face. However, more people — 3 million added each year to the United States and 70 million to the world — essentially means more jobseekers, students, patients, drivers, polluters and additional pressure on our environment, infrastructure and government budgets, thus exacerbating problems we seek to solve. A case in point is poverty among American children. In order to address poverty and other problems facing us, a comprehensive approach is required.
Since children born to teen mothers are likely to live in poverty, an effective national campaign to curb teen pregnancy — which totals 750,000 a year nationwide — is warranted. We must educate teens and adults about the consequences of having children they cannot afford as well as the time, energy and costs needed to raise happy children. Since a good education is key to success and because American children don't do well according to international test scores, we must simultaneously reform our education.
Emphasis should be on teaching grade-school students the 3 Rs, train them to think critically, provide an environment that fosters creativity, and make learning a fun experience. Furthermore, art and music classes should be part of the curriculum as they can help people relax. We must hire teachers who are competent and enjoy teaching. Further, unless Congress and other leaders nationwide pay close attention to the following dire facts facing us, problems in the United States will only grow.
Despite China's draconian one-child policy adopted in 1979 and the negative international migration it has experienced, some 350 million people have since been added to China's population. Worse: China's population is projected to grow until 2030.
According to
www.CIA.gov, the estimated total fertility rate for the United States in 2013 is 2.06, much higher than China's 1.55. Additionally, our international net migration is estimated to well exceed 1 million a year, without counting U.S.-born children of foreign-born newcomers.
Based on the above trends and considering that half of U.S. residents are 35 or under, the population of the United States — currently at 315 million — is likely to continue to swell even if our fertility rate were to drop drastically to China's and international net migration plunged to zero. U.S. population has more than doubled since 1950. Another doubling of our current population equals half of India's. This can happen within the lifetimes of today's children if recent population growth trends continue.
The United States is the greatest debtor nation in the world due to our many policies. Further, nearly 50 million Americans of diverse backgrounds live in poverty. Columbia University Professor Henry Levin reported in 2012 that there were 6.7 million high-school and college dropouts nationwide. Social and racial tensions are bound to increase as more people compete for fewer resources. Clearly, turning the United States into another India is no solution to problems here or in developing nations.
Indeed, nearly 60 countries in the world have fertility rates higher than 3.0. Further, 3 billion people are projected to be added to the world's population by 2050. The effect of global warming, in part caused by overpopulation, is already being felt on U.S. soil. The sensible way to help foreign poor is to urge hundreds of billionaires in developing nations to care for their citizens and emulate the Taiwan government's humane family planning program: It brought its fertility rate from 5.1 in 1964 to 1.0 in 1983.
In 2012 alone Americans reportedly donated more than $300 billion to charities. Yet problems here and abroad continue to grow, with no end in sight. We must recognize that each nation has the duty to improve life for its citizens. For the sake of all American citizens, Congress must start by urgently adopting policies, including sustainable immigration, that help stabilize our population, a requirement to address our myriad problems.


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(NECN: Julie Loncich, Burlington, Mass.) - At Aly Raisman's Burlington, Mass. gym, they never doubted her level of talent especially on the Olympic stage.
"We, her family at Brestyan's, we knew she was going to go far. We believed it. We had it in our hearts. Her floor routine was amazing," said Rashawn Harrison of Brestyan's American Gymnastics Club.
The 18-year-old first-time Olympian spent more than her share of hours tumbling and jumping...and along the way, inspiring a lot of little gymnasts - like 8-year-old Sophia Voss.
"I'm really proud of her that she went to the Olympics," said Voss.
Proud, doesn't even begin to cut it in her hometown of Needham, Mass. A town where the local jeweler personally designed, made, and gifted sapphire, ruby and diamond earrings that now adorn Aly's ears.
"I'm so thrilled, more for her than for anything else. I think there's a lot of good that will come out of it," said Anto Aboyan of Adamas Fine Jewelers.
A town where signs in her honor hang in store fronts like Taylor's Stationary.
"After last night, everybody is talking about her and how wonderful she did," said Jack McQuillian of Taylor's Stationary.
Back at her gym, the line of girls wanting to be just as wonderful has already begun to form.
"Fifteen people in the last three hours have come in wanting to come here," said Harrison.
There can only be one Aly Raisman, of course and only one gymnast to capture gold.
"I know she will. Fingers crossed, toes crossed," said Harrison.


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Considering holiday lunch options for group of 15 in Philadelphia - unique to past selections (see below). I'm thinking of Palm, but see reviews rating as OK (I am an 837 member). I think I've eliminated Barlay Prime, but still considering Cap Griil, Palm, Mortons. Anything else anyone can suggest?
Cap Grille- 2005 - Excellent
Fork 2006 - Disappointed w/ menu, service. Wil not return
Fogo D Ch- 2007 - Very good, considering a return for 2008


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Letters to the Editor (January 24, 2011)
Taking Bob Marley's advice
In response to "The Gang of November 4," January 19
Sefi Rachlevsky, in a piece I am grateful to him for writing, says the men of action have now begun taking action against their fellow citizens. This is an important step in the logic of his piece, which defends the necessity of thinking.
It is an easy moment to rethink one's "place in the struggle," as Bob Marley encourages us to do. How hollow is the left wing of Zion? By which I mean the specter of coexistence between Palestinians and Jews, including Arab Jews, inside the State of Israel.
"Fellow citizens" seems not to mean Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, for the turn against them isn't what is new − and what is new is serious indeed, considering the damage being done to a political culture that might have been shareable beyond its present confines. A similar concern is − why on earth doesn't Haaretz carry many more articles about life and politics as experienced by the Arab and non-Jewish fifth of Israel's citizenry?
Mark Joseph
Gideon Levy redeems himself
Several weeks ago, I lost my faith in Gideon Levy when he wrote a piece praising Dr. Orly Innes [who last November filed sexual harassment complaints against former Public Security Minister director general Hagai Peleg and police Maj. Gen. Uri Bar-Lev].
Unlike Levy, I believe she harmed the cause of abused women by taking all the attention on herself. A woman with such vast life experience as Dr. Innes should have been able to take care of herself. Instead waking up three years after her "experience" with Bar-Lev, she seems to have gone out of her way to destroy his career, his marriage and his reputation.
Bar-Lev, a charismatic, attractive, appealing man who has done a great deal for his country, did not deserve her venom.
Levy redeemed himself in his brilliant piece "The sad case of Einat Wilf" [published January 20]. I met Einat while working as a volunteer for the Labor Party during the last elections − and I was very impressed. But during the last two years, I haven't see any positive activity on her part, unlike the amazing Shelly Yachimovich.
I regret giving her my voice during the election, and am disgusted with her recent actions. But maybe she did the Labor Party a favor, as they have now found out sooner rather than later where her loyalties lie − obviously with Einat Wilf. I can only hope that the combination of Isaac Herzog, Avishay Braverman and others will bring back the Labor voters. I for one renewed my membership today, after having canceled it because of Ehud Barak.
Alice Krieger
Tel Aviv
The left has lost its way
One Saturday night this month I went to Tel Aviv's Meir Park to demonstrate against racist laws and ideas that have recently infiltrated public discourse in the country. The protest was against admissions committees in small communities, the establishment of a parliamentary committee to investigate the funding sources of left-wing human rights organizations, and the tacit support of rabbis who oppose Jews renting apartments to Arabs.
I assumed that this demonstration would be staged by all forces that support equality, democracy and free speech from the right and left sides of the political spectrum, or at least from all parts of the left.
Instead, when I reached Meir Park I saw mainly flags belonging to small left-wing non-profits, the Hadash party and the Palestinian Authority. I did not see members of the Hashomer Hatzair, Hanoar Haoved or Hamahanot Haolim youth groups; nor did I see an adequate number of Israeli flags, or flags belonging to the Kadima and Labor parties; nor were right-wing supporters of equality and democracy anywhere to be found.
I went to this demonstration as a Jewish protester who supports the Jewish state, not to express support for a Palestinian state or for the partitioning of Jerusalem. I did not want to march behind a Palestinian flag and chant "One, two, Jerusalem's division is long due." I wanted to demonstrate in favor of democratic discourse in Israel, and for the cessation of racist legislation.
Is the torch being carried today solely by pro-Palestinian groups? Is Hadash the country's main proponent of democracy? The left has lost its way. Instead of focusing on one, unifying social message, protesters jump straight to the diplomatic-political issues in a way that alienates would-be protesters from both the right and the left who thirst for a social, Jewish, democratic message.
The Labor party, which has now gone from eight to four Knesset mandates, must raise this banner. As "the party that established the state," Labor must guarantee that the state does not slip from its fingers. Its focus should not be on foreign affairs and diplomacy, but rather domestic issues and the demand for equality and democracy.
Dror Katsav
Tel Aviv
The old woman in the corridor
A true story: One winter, the corridors in the internal ward of the hospital where I worked were, again, flooded with patients. Due to the overcrowding, it was hard to provide partitions and protect the privacy of each patient.
Making the rounds one morning, I spotted in the hallway an old, cheerful woman whose bag, with all her personal items, was perched on her bed. When I explained, apologetically, that the department lacked cabinets for each patient, she replied "No problem, doctor, I also didn't have a cabinet in Bergen-Belsen."
I stood, stunned.
Dr. Amalia Baumgarten
Soroka Medical Center
Be'er Sheva
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