Authenticast: a source authentication protocol for multicast flows and streams

An improved electroless silver plating process in which the plating rate and plating texture are controlled by regulating the oxygen content of the active electroless silver plating solution. An active electroless silver plating solution is continually removed from the plating zone and exposed to a sufficient amount of an oxygen-containing gas to provide a stabilized silver solution. The stabilized silver solution is then extracted, filtered, replenished with desired chemicals, stored or otherwise handled prior to being recycled back to the plating zone. Prior to the stabilized silver solution being passed back to the plating zone, the stabilized solution is scrubbed in a scrubber zone with a gas capable of displacing oxygen from the stabilized solution to produce an active electroless silver plating solution. The plating rate and surface texture of the plated silver layer are controlled in part by regulating the amount of oxygen removed from the stabilized solution prior to passage through the plating zone.