Abstract: A voting apparatus for receiving a ballot paper comprises a voting aid for overlying the ballot paper, the voting aid comprising a respective ballot marking aid for each voting option of the ballot paper. The apparatus includes an audio system and an activation button for voting option. The audio system audibly renders the relevant ballot information in response to operation of any one of the buttons.

Abstract: Implants and methods for stabilizing bone fractures are provided. In one embodiment, the implants are spheres. In another embodiment, the implants are rods. The rods can be used to stabilize peripheral portions of a bone fracture. The rods can be shaped and configured to correspond to the shape of a region of bone against which the rod will be deployed. The rods can be provided with surface features for engaging adjacent rods and/or adjacent regions of bone to further stabilize the rods. The spheres can be inserted to fill a remaining volume of the fracture cavity. The implants can be made from orthobiologic materials.

Abstract: There is provided a method for mediating the flow of messages in a computer network having a mediation architecture that includes a plurality of logical nodes arranged in a logical mediation cycle. The method provides algorithms for: handing mediation tasks over between mediator nodes; reconfiguring the logical topology of the mediation architecture in response to a change request while maintaining system invariants; and refining the structure of the mediation architecture by adding whole subnetworks in place of single nodes. The method also addresses failure detection and recovery.

Abstract: A distributed mediation network and method of employing such is provided, having a plurality of different types of network module. Each module has a non-reciprocal path therethrough for network traffic and the distribution of network traffic across the network is managed by an autonomic control plane.

Abstract: A distributed mediation network and method of employing such is provided, having a plurality of different types of network module. Each module has a non-reciprocal path therethrough for network traffic and the distribution of network traffic across the network is managed by an autonomic control plane.

Abstract: A distributed mediation network and method of employing such is provided, having a plurality of different types of network module. Each module has a non-reciprocal path therethrough for network traffic and the distribution of network traffic across the network is managed by an autonomic control plane.

Abstract: A distributed mediation network and method of employing such is provided, having a plurality of different types of network module. Each module has a non-reciprocal path therethrough for network traffic and the distribution of network traffic across the network is managed by an autonomic control plane.

Abstract: A display, typically an electroluminescent display, of the type having both an activated, “on”, state and an inactivated, “off”, state, and being switchable between the two, which display incorporates a capacitance sensor, able to detect the near presence of a user, together with means able to utilise the output of this sensor to effect activation of the display accordingly. Preferably, the capacitance sensor comprises a pair of electrodes, one of which may be a front electrode of the electroluminescent display. The capacitance may be sensed by determining the time taken to charge a capacitance; the capacitance may be charged at two or more rates so as to decrease the time taken to measure the capacitance and so reduce the energy consumed.

Abstract: There is provided a method for mediating the flow of messages in a computer network having a mediation architecture that includes a plurality of logical nodes arranged in a logical mediation cycle. The method provides algorithms for: handing mediation tasks over between mediator nodes; reconfiguring the logical topology of the mediation architecture in response to a change request while maintaining system invariants; and refining the structure of the mediation architecture by adding whole subnetworks in place of single nodes. The method also addresses failure detection and recovery.

Abstract: There is described a method, computer program product and system which relate to the execution of verifiable processes in a distributed computing/processing environment. More particularly the invention relates to the autonomic implementation and verification of a business logic specification in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment. The business logic specification (102) is rendered (step 112) as a plurality of validated processes (104) for execution in a distributed processing environment (110). By monitoring and analysing the information generated in that execution (step 114), it is possible to correlate a view of the executing processes (106). Comparison between the original specification and the correlated view is performed, context information is applied (step 116) and amendments made to the specification as a result. The invention achieves the full cycle of events substantially autonomically.

Abstract: There is described a method, computer program product and system which relate to the execution of verifiable processes in a distributed computing/processing environment. More particularly the invention relates to the autonomic implementation and verification of a business logic specification in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment. The business logic specification (102) is rendered (step 112) as a plurality of validated processes (104) for execution in a distributed processing environment (110). By monitoring and analysing the information generated in that execution (step 114), it is possible to correlate a view of the executing processes (106). Comparison between the original specification and the correlated view is performed (step 116) and amendments made to the specification as a result. The invention achieves the full cycle of events substantially autonomically.

Abstract: There is provided a method for transforming business processes into executable sub-programs suitable for execution in target environments, and preferably in distributed heterogeneous target environments. A business process definition is either provided in an internal canonical form or decomposed into that canonical form from any one of a range of notations. The business processes can be stored in the canonical format. By generating executable sub-programs from the business process definition in dependence upon a generator descriptor that corresponds to the target environment, the executable sub-programs can be directly executed on the target environment. The method provides a development time environment in which business processes can be designed, modified, stored in a repository and transformed into directly executable sub-programs. The method permits the invocation of a business process in the context of the invoked program without reference to an engine or server.

Abstract: In the present invention, we provide a run-time infrastructure that dynamically adapts enterprise content and services in order to maximise their value to the mobile user. The system takes account of changes in both the mobile user's business context, typically represented by their calendar and scheduled tasks, and their physical environment, typically represented by the available QoS. This is used to determine what content to source or services to offer to mobile users.