Abstract: A method of supervising a plurality of displaced devices includes having each device emit a supervisory signal that is detectable by a designated unit. Indicia can be included indicative that an intervening message has been sent from a respective device. The designated unit can respond to missing, expected supervisory signals as well as unreceived messages.

Abstract: A data packet is conveyed between servers connected to a packet network. A first server securely distributes a list of distinct numbers to one or more authorized receiving servers. Subsequently, upon receiving a packet to be transferred, the first server selects an unused number from the number list and writes the number into the packet before routing the packet to one or more of the authorized receiving servers. Upon receipt of the packet, an authorized receiving server checks that the number included in the packet is valid in that it is both contained in the latest number list and has not already been used in another packet. If valid, the receiving server determines a sequence number representative of the position of the number in the latest number list and sends an acknowledgement message to the originating server, including the determined sequence number.

Abstract: An adjustable control arm is for a suspension of a vehicle having a frame and at least one wheel. The control arm includes a first arm section connected with the frame and a second arm section connected with the wheel and coupled with the first arm section such that the second section is releasably fixable to the first section and alternatively slidably displaceable with respect to the first section so as to adjust camber of the wheel, the first and second arm sections remaining generally coupled together during displacement of the second section. Preferably, the first arm section has a cavity and the second arm section has an engagement portion disposed within the cavity, the engagement portion being fixedly connectable to the first arm section to releasably connect the two arm sections and alternatively displaceable within the cavity.

Abstract: A method of providing data from a data repository to a client application, comprises receiving an initial query from a client application and obtaining a first set of results from the data repository to the initial query. If the total number of results of the first set is greater than a predetermined number for provision as a single page, a second set of results is stored in memory and a page of results is provided. An indication of the total number of results to the initial query is provided as well as an indication of the position of the results of the page within the set of results, and an indication of the range of the results for which subsequent queries will return results consistent with the initial query. This provides a results paging model to allow a client application to page through a large set of query results, with transparent indication of the consistency between the pages of results.

Abstract: A hierarchical digital signature method is provided by which different levels of data elements of a data entry are processed in turn to derive function values (for example hash function values) for data elements in the level which are to form part of the digital signature. All function values for one level are combined in a further function to provide an additional function value, and the additional function value is used in the processing of data elements in the next level nearer to the root. This provides a digital signature which can use only selected data elements of a data entry, and which is not sensitive to the ordering of the data entry structure.

Abstract: A method of supervising a plurality of displaced devices includes having each device emit a supervisory signal that is detectable by a designated unit. Indicia can be included indicative that an intervening message has been sent from a respective device. The designated unit can respond to missing, expected, supervisory signals as well as unreceived messages.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for compressing and decompressing data representing a 3D unit vector. X, Y, and Z components are derived from the vector data and a determination made as to the octant in which that vector falls from a number of possible octant pairs. The vector is then scaled with a scaling factor and compressed data values are derived from the octant pair data and scaled vector data.

Abstract: A database security structure that may be used for semistructured databases assigns each node 4 of a database to a collection. For each collection, create rights, retrieve rights, associate rights and dissassociate rights are provided to one or more users, the rights being assigned in common for all nodes of the collection. Users can only carry out the task if they have the appropriate rights. In this way, a flexible database security structure is provided that can deliver appropriate security for different elements of a semistructured database.

Abstract: A digital repository 20 includes data items. A user can add additional functionality or program routines to data item by including as a data item a data processing identifier pointing to at least one data processing routine. Such routines are accessed by a client 22 by sending from a client to the digital repository 20 a request to access a data item, wherein the repository provides an interface description document 32 from the digital repository 20 to the client 22 as the response to the request. The client 22 can then transmit a data processing request from the client to a service 26 identified by the data processing identifier of the interface description document 32, the data processing request including the identifier from the interface description document.

Abstract: A directed graph of data includes nodes 10, properties 22 attached to nodes and resources 34. The nodes 10, properties 22 and resources 34 are classified as indexable or non indexable. At least one property 30 links a pair of nodes, one node being a parent and one being a child. An indexing algorithm indexes each indexable property pointing to a resource as related to any respective indexable nodes linked to the node to which the indexable property is attached through a chain of indexable links from child to parent through intermediate nodes, all of which are non-indexable.

Abstract: A method of enabling a plurality of entities to have sufficient information concerning at least one device and at least one content item, such that each individual entity can arbitrate concerning a performance of said device and said content, on the basis of said device information and said content information.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for compressing and decompressing data representing a 3D unit vector. X, Y, and Z components are derived from the vector data and a determination made as to the octant in which that vector falls from a number of possible octant pairs. The vector is then scaled with a scaling factor and compressed data values are derived from the octant pair data and scaled vector data.

Abstract: Waste treatment apparatus (200) a hopper (201) having an inlet for receiving a receptacle containing waste material and an outlet through which the receptacle is discharged to a first waste treatment chamber (202) having a first cutting mechanism (251) operative to shred the receptacle and to effect a first cutting treatment of the waste material contained in the receptacle, a second waste treatment chamber (203) having a second cutting mechanism (253) to effect a second cutting treatment of the shredded receptacle and waste material, a third waste treatment chamber (250) in communication with the second waste treatment chamber and a gate mechanism (206) at the outlet of the third waste treatment chamber (250) operative to permit discharge of the treated waste material from the apparatus; and means for introducing steam into the second treatment chamber (203) and the third treatment chamber (250).

Abstract: Waste treatment apparatus (200) includes a hopper (201) having an inlet for receiving waste material, a first waste treatment chamber (202), a shredder mechanism (230) operative to effect a first cutting treatment of the waste material as the waste material is discharged from the hopper (201) to the first waste treatment chamber (207), a second cutting mechanism (250) within the first waste treatment (202) chamber operative to effect a second cutting treatment of the waste material before it is discharged to a second treatment chamber (203), a gate mechanism to discharge the treated waste material from the apparatus; and means for introducing steam into the first and second treatment chambers (202 and 203).

Abstract: A method of collecting data relating to the usage of computer equipment by a consumer at the consumer's site includes creating data at the consumer's site relating to the use of the item, and transmitting the data to a remote database for analysis, and once the data is received by the remote database, awarding the consumer a reward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for distributing data elements from a data source (N) to receivers (H1 to H9) over a communications network. A data element may be one at least two types, including a type conveying a full data set and a type conveying a data set comprising only corresponding meta-information. The meta-information data set includes at least a unique identifier for the full data set to which it corresponds. A hierarchy of forwarding computers (P, C1 to C3) is provided to forward a data element supplied by a data source (N) to sets of receivers (H1 to H9). Each forwarding computer (P, C1 to C3) is arranged with access to a respective forwarding table for recording the requirements of receivers to receive data elements of one of the available types, each forwarding computer (P, C1 to C3) forwarding a received data element according to the contents of the respective forwarding table.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a data communications device, such as a modem, having a sleep mode for conserving energy and an operational mode for data transmission, to transition from the sleep mode to the operational mode. The wake up method and apparatus respond to the receipt of serial data from a terminal, including response to existing terminal commands. The wake up method and apparatus also autobauds to the serial data transmit signal. The wake up and autobauding operations occur in a way that are transparent to the user.

Abstract: A field planting system for use in conjunction with large span and wheel tower irrigation apparatus to place seed in a field across a number of rows simultaneously. Seed is suspended uniformly in a gel solution and injected into a stream of carrier water. The seeds, suspended in water, travel in piping separate from irrigation piping to a manifold suspended from the overhead span section. Each manifold distributes seed and carrier water to a plurality of drop tubes. A tube valve locate in each drop tube is closed to permit the manifold to be charged with seeds and water under pressure. Once the manifold is charged, the tube valves open simultaneously and the water and seed discharges from the manifold through drop tubes to a planting shoe. The planting shoe includes a forward nozzle to emit a high pressure stream of water to excavate a small trench or furrow into which the seed is dispensed.

Abstract: A field planting system for use in conjunction with large span and wheel tower irrigation apparatus to place seed in a field across a number of rows simultaneously. Seed is suspended uniformly in a gel solution and injected into a stream of carrier water. The seeds, suspended in water, travel in piping separate from irrigation piping to a manifold suspended from the overhead span section. Each manifold distributes seed and carrier water to a plurality of drop tubes. A tube valve located in each drop tube is closed to permit the manifold to be charged with seeds and water under pressure. Once the manifold is charged, the tube valves open simultaneously and the water and seed discharges from the manifold through drop tubes to a planting shoe. The planting shoe includes a forward nozzle to emit a high pressure stream of water to excavate a small trench or furrow into which the seed is dispensed.