Abstract: A method for determining a risk of aquaplaning for a motor vehicle comprises steps of determining water on a road on which the motor vehicle is traveling, determining a coefficient of friction between a tire of the motor vehicle and the road being traveled on, determining tire properties, determining precipitation, determining cartographic information items of the road being traveled on, and determining, on the basis of the determined information, whether there is a risk of aquaplaning.

Abstract: A method for distributing a requested torque to one or two drive axles of a vehicle, wherein the requested torque depends on a driver's request. For the first drive axle a first maximum value for a torque is calculated as a function of an adhesion limit of the first drive axle. For the second drive axle a second maximum value for a torque is calculated as a function of an adhesion limit of the second drive axle. At least a first portion of the requested torque is transmitted to the first drive axle, wherein the first portion does not exceed the first maximum value. A second portion of the requested torque is fed to the second drive axle if the first portion does not correspond to the requested torque, and wherein the second portion does not exceed the second maximum value, the requested torque is divided into the first portion and the second portion as a function of at least one parameter.

Abstract: A device for determining a roadway coefficient of friction for a vehicle, having a first tire steering device for setting a first predetermined steering angle (?1) of a first tire of the vehicle; a second tire steering device for setting a second predetermined steering angle (?2) of a second tire of the vehicle; a first sensor device for sensing a force necessary for setting the first predetermined steering angle (?1) of the first tire; a second sensor device for sensing a force necessary for setting the second predetermined steering angle (?2) of the second tire; and an evaluation device for determining the roadway coefficient of friction by evaluating the acquired data of the first and second sensor devices using a predetermined algorithm. Also, a method for determining a roadway coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing authorization and other services. In a preferred embodiment, an authorization service is defined that includes both a messaging specification and a set of rules that govern its use. A first customer wishing to use the authorization service prepares a request that complies with the service's messaging specification and transmits it to a first participant. The first participant transmits the request to a second participant which processes the request according to authorization information provided by a second customer and rules that have been specified for the service. The second participant then prepares a response that complies with the service's messaging specification.

Abstract: A unitary multiport rotary disc valve capable of accomplishing the simultaneous interconnection of a plurality of conduits in accordance with a previously determined cycle, where any conduit communicates with no more than one other conduit at any one cycle step, or valve index position. The conduits to be interconnected are attached to the bottom of a discoid stationery body, or stator, having channels in it which communicate between the conduits and flow paths in a discoid rotating body, or rotor, which assumes various positions according to the cycle steps and distributes fluid flowing in the conduits in a different manner in each cycle step.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for particulate matter which distributes said particulate matter, at substantially the same rate, uniformly across a given area.