Abstract: A device (1, 33) for readout of and/or communication with a consumer carried token is proposed comprising a first area (5) for wireless radiofrequency detection and/or communication; and a second area (6) spatially separated from said first area for a wireless optical detection and/or communication; wherein said first area (5) is located above said second area (6). Said second area (6) comprises a cavity with at least a front opening (53) for inserting said token by a user, bordered by at least a bottom surface (7), a backside wall (41), and a top illumination unit (54), wherein said top illumination unit (54) comprises at least one essentially vertical translucent skirt (8) with its free edge (55) pointing towards the second area (6); as well as an opening (9).

Abstract: A device (1, 33) for readout of and/or communication with a consumer carried token is proposed comprising a first area (5) for wireless radiofrequency detection and/or communication; and a second area (6) spatially separated from said first area for a wireless optical detection and/or communication; wherein said first area (5) is located above said second area (6). Said second area (6) comprises a cavity with at least a front opening (53) for inserting said token by a user, bordered by at least a bottom surface (7), a backside wall (41), and a top illumination unit (54), wherein said top illumination unit (54) comprises at least one essentially vertical translucent skirt (8) with its free edge (55) pointing towards the second area (6); as well as an opening (9).

Abstract: A method for simple and secure payment handling includes at least the following steps: transmission of identification information to a mobile device (MG); transmission of the purchase sum into a terminal (T); connection of the debit card to the terminal (T); transmission of purchase sum and identification information (ID) from the terminal (T) to a payment institution (ZI); transmission of payment sum and identification information (ID) from the payment institution (ZI) to a coordination entity (KI); association of the identification information (ID) with the mobile device (MG) and transmission of the purchase sum to the mobile device (MG) for authorisation; in the event of verification of the purchaser, transmission of the authorisation via the coordination entity (KI) to the payment institution (ZI) and prompting of debiting of an account of the purchaser; transmission of confirmation of the payment from the payment institution (ZI) to the terminal (T).

Abstract: A method for restitution of data flows or data packets transmitted over a network, using at least two restitution appliances that are at least indirectly connected to the network, for a synchronized and error-free restitution. To synchronize the restitution by the at least two restitution appliances, either one of the restitution appliances, as the master, provides its internal clock as the reference, and the other restitution appliances, as the slaves, coordinate their internal clock with that of the master by the network and restitute the data flows or data packets according to the coordinated clock, or the internal clock of an external appliance also available on the network is used as the master, and all restitution appliances, as the slaves, co-ordinate their internal clock with that of the master by the network, and restitute the data flows or data packets according to the coordinated clock.

Abstract: A method for automatically assigning an IP address when a new user is connected to a network. The new user monitors the network regarding at least one previously allocated valid IP address in a first phase while automatically creating an IP address that differs from the previously allocated IP address in a second phase, the address being only slightly modified, typically only the last byte thereof, the first three bytes being taken over from the previously allocated IP address that was found in the network. The availability of the newly created IP address is then verified by a request in the network, whereupon the new user assigns the IP address to him/herself if the newly created IP address is available, or the creation or verification of a new IP address is repeated if the IP address is not available.

Abstract: A method for restitution of data flows or data packets transmitted over a network, using at least two restitution appliances that are at least indirectly connected to the network, for a synchronized and error-free restitution. To synchronize the restitution by the at least two restitution appliances, either one of the restitution appliances, as the master, provides its internal clock as the reference, and the other restitution appliances, as the slaves, coordinate their internal clock with that of the master by the network and restitute the data flows or data packets according to the coordinated clock, or the internal clock of an external appliance also available on the network is used as the master, and all restitution appliances, as the slaves, co-ordinate their internal clock with that of the master by the network, and restitute the data flows or data packets according to the coordinated clock.

Abstract: A system including at least one content server including at least one processor, data storage, and at least one network interface; at least one terminal including at least one processor, an internal data storage, and at least one network interface; and a network by which the at least one content server and the at least one terminal can be connected via their respective network interfaces for data transmission. The content server includes a management data processing program providing specific terminals with specific files (audio, control protocols, commands) (without actively outputting the same), the at least one terminal outputs audio files, and the at least one terminal periodically and autonomously collects, or more precisely, updates files specifically provided for the terminal via a TCP/IP protocol, especially HTTP or FTP, on the content server, and outputs such via the media output according to a control protocol stored in the terminal.

Abstract: A method for controlling thermal flows in at least one building, according to which a mechanism for influencing the temperature within the building is controlled based on a plurality of input parameters. Controlling can be done in the most economical manner by triggering the mechanism that regulates the temperature of a specific monitored space or the at least one area of a specific space by using a) at least one target value, especially the desired temperature of the specific space, b) at least one general parameter characteristic of at least one variable inside and/or outside the building, which at least indirectly influences the temperature within the specific space, and c) at least one special parameter characteristic of the specific thermal flow conditions of the specific monitored space or the area of the specific space, as input parameters, and calculating the controlling of the mechanism from the input parameters in a control unit.