Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for sintering by pulsating current, the device (1) comprising: —a sintering cell (4) comprising two walls (14a, 14b) facing each other and defining between them a cavity (C) for receiving material to be sintered, —a press (2) arranged for moving one of the walls (14a, 14b) towards the other wall, so as to compress the material, when the material is received in the cavity (C), —means (10a, 10b) of rotating one of the walls (14a, 14b) relative to the other wall, so as to apply a torsional force to the material, when the material is compressed in the cavity (C).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for sintering by pulsating current, the device (1) comprising: —a sintering cell (4) comprising two walls (14a, 14b) facing each other and defining between them a cavity (C) for receiving material to be sintered, —a press (2) arranged for moving one of the walls (14a, 14b) towards the other wall, so as to compress the material, when the material is received in the cavity (C), —means (10a, 10b) of rotating one of the walls (14a, 14b) relative to the other wall, so as to apply a torsional force to the material, when the material is compressed in the cavity (C).

Abstract: A system for printing documents 100 having a position identifying pattern 108 on them comprises a memory 403 arranged to have a document definition 410 stored therein which defines a document having at least one pattern area 107 and a printing control system 400, 408, 306, 307, 309 arranged to print a document instance from the definition by allocating an identity to the document instance, associating an area 700, 718, 720, 721, 722 of pattern space with the document instance, and printing the document instance, wherein the printing control system is arranged to move the boundaries of the defined pattern area before printing the document instance.

Abstract: A method is provided of associating in computer memory (i) a digital electronic version of printed human-discernible content of a printed document comprising a sheet having a machine-readable pattern adapted to enable the position of a digital pattern reading device to be determined and said human-discernible content with (ii) the identity of a sheet upon which the content is printed, the method comprising: printing the content onto a sheet using a printer, said sheet comprising a pre-patterned sheet that has been pre-printed with said pattern; transferring a machine-readable identity code between said printer and said sheet at around the time of printing said content; and storing a correlation between said identity code and said digital electronic version in computer memory.

Abstract: A domain server that comprises: means (10) for receiving a query transmitted from a client device (CL1) for obtaining DNS data; a zone file (FZ1, zone) comprising one or more distribution rules defining a partitioning of the domain into sub-zones, DNS data of said sub-zones being associated with a pair of partition keys specific to said sub-zone; means (20) for obtaining from said zone file a useful piece of information sufficient for identifying the pair of the partition keys associated with the required DNS data; and means (10) for transmitting to the client device (CL1): the required DNS data, the value of the signature of said data produced by means of the private component (ZSK2[pr]) of the pair of partition keys; and the useful piece of information.

Abstract: A method of switching a mobile terminal from a first access router to a second access router, the terminal having previously set up a secure connection with the first access router with which is associated a communication context between the terminal and the first router, said context comprising at least one identifier relating to a set of security parameters of the connection. The invention relates to a method wherein said context is transferred to the second router while the terminal is switching, the method comprising, if the at least one identifier in the transferred context is already being used by said second router, a step of the second router sending the terminal a new identifier for said set of security parameters.

Abstract: A domain server that comprises: means (10) for receiving a query transmitted from a client device (CL1) for obtaining DNS data; a zone file (FZ1, zone) comprising one or more distribution rules defining a partitioning of the domain into sub-zones, DNS data of said sub-zones being associated with a pair of partition keys specific to said sub-zone; means (20) for obtaining from said zone file a useful piece of information sufficient for identifying the pair of the partition keys associated with the required DNS data; and means (10) for transmitting to the client device (CL1): the required DNS data, the value of the signature of said data produced by means of the private component (ZSK2[pr]) of the pair of partition keys; and the useful piece of information.

Abstract: A method of producing an electronic document using a plurality of pieces of physical media having a common position location pattern marked thereupon, comprising the steps of: (i) marking a first piece of the physical media using a digital pen, said pen being arranged to acquire data to enable the determination of the location of a tip thereof upon physical media from the position location pattern marked thereupon; (ii) acquiring data relating to strokes and the location of the strokes of the pen upon the first piece of the physical media sequentially, and storing said data in a memory; (iii) acquiring data relating to strokes and the location of the strokes of the pen upon a second piece of the physical media sequentially, and storing said data in a memory; and (iv) arranging the data stored in steps (ii) and (iii) to form at least one electronic document in which the data relating to the first piece of physical media is distinguishable from the data relating to the second piece of physical media.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of managing a call through a telecommunications network (10) between an access terminal (18) connected to the network (10) and means (22) for providing a service through the network. Said means comprise firstly a multiplicity of terminals (24, 26) connected to the network, said terminals forming servers suitable for providing the service, and secondly means (28) for selecting amongst said multiplicity of servers (24, 26) the server that is best suited for providing the service to the access terminal (18). The call is also set up using a communications protocol enabling some terminals to be mobile by allocating each mobile terminal a main address that is invariable regardless of its point of connection to the network and by forwarding all of the data sent to said main address to the corresponding terminal.

Abstract: A system for printing documents 100 having a position identifying pattern 108 on them comprises a memory 403 arranged to have a document definition 410 stored therein which defines a document having at least one pattern area 107 and a printing control system 400, 408, 306, 307, 309 arranged to print a document instance from the definition by allocating an identity to the document instance, associating an area 700, 718, 720, 721, 722 of pattern space with the document instance, and printing the document instance, wherein the printing control system is arranged to move the boundaries of the defined pattern area before printing the document instance.

Abstract: A method is provided of associating in computer memory (i) a digital electronic version of printed human-discernible content of a printed document comprising a sheet having a machine-readable pattern adapted to enable the position of a digital pattern reading device to be determined and said human-discernible content with (ii) the identity of a sheet upon which the content is printed, the method comprising: printing the content onto a sheet using a printer, said sheet comprising a pre-patterned sheet that has been pre-printed with said pattern; transferring a machine-readable identity code between said printer and said sheet at around the time of printing said content; and storing a correlation between said identity code and said digital electronic version in computer memory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of managing a call through a telecommunications network (10) between an access terminal (18) connected to the network (10) and means (22) for providing a service through the network. Said means comprise firstly a multiplicity of terminals (24, 26) connected to the network, said terminals forming servers suitable for providing the service, and secondly means (28) for selecting amongst said multiplicity of servers (24, 26) the server that is best suited for providing the service to the access terminal (18). The call is also set up using a communications protocol enabling some terminals to be mobile by allocating each mobile terminal a main address that is invariable regardless of its point of connection to the network and by forwarding all of the data sent to said main address to the corresponding terminal.

Abstract: A method of printing a document containing a printed pattern of position identification pattern markings comprising: providing to a printer a set of print instructions which define the content of a document; generating at the printer a pattern using pattern information that is independent from the print instructions; and printing a document that comprises both the content and the pattern.

Abstract: A boot process for a computer comprising a plurality of boot process steps performed in accordance with a boot process pattern, the pattern being determined by the first task which the computer is to carry out.

Abstract: A back-up power accessory is described for storing back-up power for a computer and for providing the computer with the back-up power for a limited period of time upon failure of an AC power supply to the computer, the accessory being electrically connectable to the computer and including a first detection mechanism for detecting AC power failure of said computer; a second detection mechanism for receiving a suspend signal from the computer which signal indicates that the computer is in a power consuming sleep state; a third detection mechanism for receiving an on/off signal from the computer which on/off signal indicates that the computer requires full power; and a shutdown mechanism that cooperates with said first, second and third detection mechanisms upon AC power failure and detection of either the suspend signal or the on/off signal to send a fail signal to the computer for causing the computer to perform a safe shut-down.