Abstract: A new protective polymeric sheet is described wherein said polymeric sheet includes perforations and attached spacers that allow air and water circulation when the sheet is in use. The sheet protects underlying structures from damage while ensuring moisture migration between the protective polymeric sheet and the underlying structure. The protective polymeric sheet comprises a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet and a plurality of spacers, each spacer extending from a lower surface of the sheet adjacent to one side of each perforation. The spacers are created during perforation of the polymeric sheet. The protective polymeric sheet is useful in a number of applications, including without limitation: to protect pipelines; to replace geotextiles in heap leach processes; to line sandboxes and paving stones; to cover greenhouse floors; to make industrial or residential gutter caps; and as a filter.

Abstract: A new protective polymeric sheet is described wherein said polymeric sheet includes perforations and attached spacers that allow air and water circulation when the sheet is in use. The sheet protects underlying structures from damage while ensuring moisture migration between the protective polymeric sheet and the underlying structure. The protective polymeric sheet comprises a plurality of perforations extending through the sheet and a plurality of spacers, each spacer extending from a lower surface of the sheet adjacent to one side of each perforation. The spacers are created during perforation of the polymeric sheet. The protective polymeric sheet is useful in a number of applications, including without limitation: to protect pipelines; to replace geotextiles in heap leach processes; to line sandboxes and paving stones; to cover greenhouse floors; to make industrial or residential gutter caps; and as a filter.

Abstract: A method is provided for implementing and controlling virtual environments, for example “virtual worlds” by which users can for example meet one another virtually and communicate through their respective terminals. For example, the method relates to the display, rendering and/or deletion of the representations of users acting in these virtual environments, at the different terminals in which these representations can be viewed. The method includes the following steps for a given user: determination of a destination zone in the virtual environment in which the representation of the user is to be rendered; determination of an appearance zone in the virtual environment; displaying of the representation in the appearance zone; and automatic movement of the representation from the appearance zone to the destination zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing a set of entities, each controlling a virtual environment in which user representations evolve. The method includes the following steps: monitoring at least one characteristic of each of the entities and/or at least one characteristic of a corresponding virtual environment; proposing to transfer and/or transferring at least one of the user representations from a first virtual environment to a second virtual environment, as a function of the characteristic or characteristics monitored.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing at least one representation of a user in a virtual environment. The method includes adapting the representation of a given user which is intended to be replayed to at least one other user, the adaptation being executed as a function of at least one comparison between at least one characteristic specific to the given user and at least one characteristic sought by the other user. The adaptation executed for each of the representations of the set of users.

Abstract: A method is provided for managing a set of entities, each controlling a virtual environment in which user representations evolve. The method includes the following steps: monitoring at least one characteristic of each of the entities and/or at least one characteristic of a corresponding virtual environment; proposing to transfer and/or transferring at least one of the user representations from a first virtual environment to a second virtual environment, as a function of the characteristic or characteristics monitored.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying a representation of a user in a virtual environment in which a plurality of user representations evolves. The method includes the following steps for a given user: determination of a destination zone in the virtual environment in which the representation of the user is to be rendered; determination of an appearance zone in the virtual environment; displaying of the representation in the appearance zone; and automatic movement of the representation from the appearance zone to the destination zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for establishing a communication between a first person (121) and at least a second person (122) in an environment (20) where said first and second persons (121, 122) are respectively connected via a first and a second communication terminal (111) (112) each connected to a communication network (30). According to the invention, the method comprises the step (5041) of progressively exposing or masking on said second terminal (112) at least one graphical representation (32) of the real aspect of said first person.

Abstract: A packet-aware time division multiplexing (TDM) switch includes one or more ingress ports, one or more egress ports, a TDM switching fabric, and a bandwidth manager. Ingress ports are capable of distinguishing packets. The TDM switching fabric has persistent connections which provide connectivity between each ingress port and each egress port. Packets received at an ingress port are transmitted to one or more egress ports using TDM over one or more switching fabric connections. The congestion of each connection is monitored, and the capacity of the connection may be automatically adjusted based on the monitored congestion. Congestion may be indicated by a utilization of the connection or by a degree to which a buffer for storing packets to be sent over the connection is filled. Statistical multiplexing may be used at ingress ports and/or egress ports in order to eliminate idle packets. The utilization of the switch for data traffic may thus be improved over conventional TDM switches.