Zone based systems design framework for the realisation of efficient block cipher based message authentication code algorithms

A zone based systems design framework is described and utilised in the implementation of a message authentication code (MAC) algorithm based on symmetric key block ciphers. The resulting block cipher based MAC algorithm may be used to provide assurance of the authenticity and, hence, the integrity of binary data. Using software simulation to benchmark against the de facto cipher block chaining MAC (CBC-MAC) variant used in the TinySec security protocol for wireless sensor networks and the NIST cipher block chaining MAC standard, CMAC; we show that our zone based systems design framework can lead to block cipher based MAC constructs that point to improvements in message processing efficiency, processing throughput and processing latency.

The role of Minitab in teaching and learning statistics

This paper describes how the statistical package Minitab is used in teaching statistics in our undergraduate programmes in Mathematics and Statistics to enhance student learning. How the sophisticated recent versions of Minitab can be used to help students understand statistical concepts, develop their statistical thinking and gain valuable skills in performing statistical analysis are discussed.