Abstract: This invention relates to a cellular communication system (200), billing processor (223) and method of billing. The communication system includes a subscriber unit (201) having a user updateable identity to phone number association table used for dialling phone numbers based on an identity such as a name. It also includes means (203, 205,219,217) for communicating the table to a billing processor (223) being part of the fixed network. The billing processor (223) comprises means (227) for receiving the table and generating a billing association table containing information from the identity to phone number association table. It furthermore comprises a billing report generator (225) for generating a billing report for the subscriber unit (201) including identity information derived from the billing association table. The invention is applicable to cellular communication systems such as UMTS.

Abstract: A vacuum pump system (10; 36; 46) for pumping gas from an enclosure (12) comprises: a vacuum pump unit (14) having a pump inlet (16) connectable with an outlet (18) of such an enclosure and a pump outlet (20) for exhausting gas; and a chamber (22; 50) selectively connectable with the pump inlet and the pump outlet, such that, in use, in a first state gas can be pumped from the chamber to the pump inlet by the vacuum pump unit and in a second state gas can be evacuated from the pump outlet to the chamber to reduce pressure at the pump outlet.

Abstract: A vacuum pump non-return valve comprises a valve body that defines a through-passage having an inlet side and an outlet side. A valve seat is disposed intermediate said inlet and outlet sides of the through-passage. The valve seat is defined by an insert made of an elastomeric material. The non-return valve has a ball arranged to seat against the valve seat to prevent the passage of gaseous fluids from the outlet side to the inlet side. The ball is displaceable, in use, from valve seat by pressurised gaseous fluid in the inlet side of the through-passage to permit passage of gaseous fluid from the inlet side to the outlet side of the through-passage.

Abstract: A portable toast warmer apparatus is described having a lower part detachably coupled to an upper part. The lower part of the portable toast warmer is connectable to an external electric power supply and is capable of transmitting electromagnetic energy to the upper part when the upper part is coupled to the lower part. The upper part of the portable toast warmer comprises a means for receiving the transmitted electromagnetic energy so that foodstuff slices may be warmed with the plurality of heaters mounted on the walls of the upper part when the upper part is coupled to the lower part. The upper part of the portable toast warmer also comprises a battery so that the toasted foodstuff slices may continue to be heated when the upper part is decoupled from the lower part so that the upper part containing the toasted foodstuff slices may be conveniently delivered to any desired location such as a dining room table.

Abstract: A method and a device to separate conductive particles from a mixture of conductive and non-conductive particles comprising a carbon element extending along and close to but out of contact with a metal drum the carbon element being connected to one terminal of an electric welding machine and the drum to the other terminal so that conductive particles will be welded to the drum to be later scraped off.