Abstract: An on-line game site involves a question engine coupled with a plurality of terminals controlled by respective players, for (i) sending predefined questions to the players, receiving answers to the questions from the players, and awarding prizes to the players over a given period of time as a function of the answers received, an activity measured by a traffic index representative of the number of players that have played the game over a given time interval, (ii) displaying, together with the questions sent to the players, paid-for advertising insertions, established on the base of a given rate, (iii) evaluating the receipts associated with the paid-for advertising insertions, (iv) establishing an endowment for the prizes to be awarded players over a given period of time, the endowment being a function of the level of the receipts, and (v) repeatedly increasing the endowment corresponding to an increase in the receipts resulting from an increase in the traffic index.

Abstract: A game session of the invention comprises, contained within a very short time lapse, the following successive stages: a) selecting a headword that is communicated to the player; b) for each of the N players, determining a first candidate word presenting semantic proximity with the headword, and transmitting said first candidate word to the gaming site, which submits it to a search engine in combination with the headword in order to receive a numerical score; c) presenting the N first candidate words submitted to the site by the various players and then, for each player, selecting from amongst these N words a second candidate word that, on reflection, the player believes represents that one of the first candidate words that corresponds to the highest score obtained during the first game stage.

Abstract: An on-line-game method involves a question engine coupled to a plurality of terminals controlled by game players, with game activity measured by a traffic index representative of the number of game players over a given time interval, a) displaying on the terminals questions, sent by the question engine, relating to a success parameter concerning at least one future event and advertising insertions paid for at a given tariff, b) evaluating receipts associated with the paid-for advertising insertions, c) setting up an endowment for allocating prizes over a given time period, the endowment being a function of the level of the receipts, d) on detecting an increase in the traffic index above a given threshold, correspondingly increasing the tariff, e) on detecting an increase in the receipts above another given threshold, correspondingly increasing the endowment, and f) repeating steps d) and e).

Abstract: A method manages collisions in a system for interchanging data between portable objects and at least one terminal suitable for co-operating with a plurality of the portable objects simultaneously. The terminal sends out call messages to the portable objects. A portable object conditionally sends a message to the terminal in response to the call with a probability that may be less than 100%, the response containing an identifier specific to the portable object. The receiver receives a response from an identified portable object and in absence of the response colliding with a response sent out by another portable object, a specific data communication link is established between the terminal and the identified portable object. The portable object modulates the probability of response over time depending on whether or not it has itself already responded previously to a call message sent out by the terminal.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of: coupling the card (24) as initially configured for the default application, with a terminal (14) of the default application, executing a special transaction for reconfiguring the software of the card for the target application so that the card as reconfigured in this way emulates a card specific to the target application; coupling the card as reconfigured in this way with a terminal (18) of the target application; and executing a transaction of the target application. Subsequently, the card as reconfigured for the target application can be coupled with a terminal of the default application, and another special transaction can be executed to return the card to its software configuration for the default application. In particular, the default application can be a SIM card application for GSM radiotelephony, and the target application can be a token-carrier type application.

Abstract: The portable object comprises a circuit on a double-sided printed circuit with a coil etched on the printed circuit, the coil comprising a plurality of alternating turns etched on each of the faces of the card, with each turn being an open turn connected at each end by means of a respective via passing through the card to the corresponding adjacent end of the next turn disposed on the opposite face of the card, the successive turns thus being connected in series in alternating and concentric manner by means of a set of vias.

Abstract: A terminal for contactless communication with portable objects comprises a wave pickup device responsive to the magnetic component of an electromagnetic field, and a receiver which cooperates with the wave pickup device to receive and amplify signals picked up thereby. The wave pickup device comprises at least two distinct and adjacently disposed wave pickup elements spaced apart by a predetermined gap, and a discriminator for deriving a discrimination signal from the signals picked up by each of the wave pickup elements during a given period. The discrimination signal indicates which one of the wave pickup elements has received a signal of greater amplitude.

Abstract: The portable object includes an electronic circuit powered by an internal battery and having a data memory; it enables data to be interchanged with the outside without making direct electrical contact. It comprises a pierceable zone forming a region of the housing of the object, and a plurality of contact areas inside the housing and in register with the pierceable zone, the contact areas being connected to power supply lines for the electronic circuit, the areas being suitable for being put into contact with electrically conductive spikes connected to an external power supply circuit and pushed through the pierceable zone, thereby enabling the electronic circuit of the object to be powered and thus making good any exhaustion or failure of its internal battery, in particular in order to provide access to the data memory.

Abstract: In a system for data exchanges without physical contact between a generally mobile portable set and a terminal or a population of generally fixed terminals, it is sought to make a modular set comprising a portable object (notably a memory card) that can be inserted either into a transceiver device, or in an ISO reader for by example, by saving on an interface management system and by reducing the power consumption of the set to the minimum. The transceiver device is without any microprocessor, and the portable object houses means for the management notably of the transmission/reception protocol of the portable set and of the ISO 7816-3 protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing ozone, comprising: a first electrode; a second, annular electrode surrounding the first electrode and spaced therefrom; a first tubular wall of electrically insulating material disposed between the electrodes; a first sealed glow discharge chamber surrounding one of the electrodes, formed at least in part by the tubular wall, and filled with a charge of an ionizable gas; an ozonization chamber disposed between the electrodes, formed at least in part by the tubular wall, and having an inlet for an oxygen charged medium and an outlet for the medium as ozone enriched; and, electrical conductors for connecting the electrodes to an electrical power source, whereby ionized gas in the glow discharge chamber forms a plasma electrode. The apparatus is preferably energized by applying an electrical potential between the electrodes in the form of voltage pulses at a frequency in the range of 10 to 60 KHz.