Abstract: A method including authenticating a voucher which has a time limited validity period. The method comprises: a user requesting issuance of a token to a customer in a machine readable form; and issuing one or more modified versions of the token to the user, each modified version of the token being associated with a different time period of validity of the token; scanning the ticket on a scanning device connected to a terminal operated by the user; the scanning device modifying the token according to a current time period; and the terminal operated by the user comparing the modified token provided by the scanner with the modified tokens issued by the central server to validate the scanned token. A further method is provided for performing a transaction, between a customer and a vendor, using a customer's mobile phone as an authorisation device.

Abstract: Composite materials such as composite particles have a solid non-elastomeric continuous phase made of an organic polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least 25° C. Dispersed within this solid non-elastomeric continuous phase are many multi-compartment porous chemically crosslinked elastomeric particles that have a mode particle size of at least 1 ?m and up to and including 10 ?m. The composite particles can be used as toner particles in electrophotographic imaging methods to provide fused toner images and especially stacked fused toner images.

Abstract: A cyclonic separator comprising a first cyclone stage, a second cyclone stage and an inlet duct. The first cyclone stage comprises a cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection chamber. The second cyclone stage is located downstream of the first cyclone stage and comprises a second dirt collection chamber. The inlet duct carries fluid from an opening in the base of the cyclonic separator to the cyclone chamber, and the first dirt collection chamber surrounds at least partly the inlet duct and the second dirt collection chamber.

Abstract: A system for providing a user interface includes a gadget definition, a style definition, and a scene file. The gadget definition includes one or more XML-based gadget definition tags defining a gadget element and the style definition includes one or more XML-based style definition tags defining one or more style attributes to be applied to the gadget element. The scene file is an XML-based document that includes a gadget element tag that specifies the gadget element. The system further includes a parser to parse the scene file, the style definition, and the gadget definition, and to generate an object that includes a gadget object corresponding to the gadget element. The system also includes a layout engine to determine, based on the object model, a layout of the user interface, and a rendering engine to render, based on the determined layout, the user interface including the gadget element.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that comprises a nozzle and a bristle assembly. A suction opening is provided in the base of the nozzle, which extends from a front to a rear of the nozzle. The bristle assembly is mounted within the nozzle and protrudes through the suction opening. The suction opening is delimited along its length by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and at least part of the leading edge is raised relative to a front end and a rear end of the nozzle. Consequently, when the tool is swept over a cleaning surface and the front end and the rear end of the nozzle contact the cleaning surface, a gap is created between the cleaning surface and the leading edge.

Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that comprises a nozzle and a bristle assembly. The nozzle comprises an elongate suction opening. The bristle assembly, which is mounted within the nozzle and protrudes through the suction opening, comprises a carrier to which a strip of bristles is attached.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of training a DSL link whilst transmitting data over a powerline connection. If the powerline connection causes interference on the DSL link then this will be present during the line training, giving a more robust set of line parameters.

Abstract: A bladeless fan assembly for creating an air current includes a nozzle mounted on a base. The nozzle comprises an interior passage and a mouth for receiving the air flow from the interior passage and through which the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly. The nozzle defines an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth. The nozzle is detachable from the base, which is preferably sized to be accommodated within the opening of the nozzle for transportation.

Abstract: A surface treating appliance includes a first cyclonic separating unit including a plurality of first cyclones arranged in parallel about an axis, and a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel. The plurality of second cyclones is divided into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about the axis and a second set of second cyclones. Each of the first cyclones and the second cyclones has a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes of the first cyclones are arranged at a first orientation to said axis, the longitudinal axes of the first set of second cyclones are arranged at said first orientation to said axis, and the longitudinal axes of the second set of second cyclones are arranged at a second orientation, different from the first orientation, to said axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), which comprises the steps of: formula (I), (a) reacting isovaleraldehyde of formula (II) and alkyl cyanoacetate of formula (III) optionally in presence of salts of weak acid and weak base or weak base in a suitable solvent to get 2-cyano-5-methyl-hex-2-enoic acid alkyl ester of formula (IV); (b) reacting 2-cyano-5-methyl-hex-2-enoic acid alkyl ester of formula (IV) with a suitable cyanide source in water or in an organic solvent or mixture thereof to get 2-isobutylsuccinonitrile of formula (V); (c) obtaining optionally 2-isobutylsuccinonitrile of formula (V) by reacting isovaleraldehyde of formula (II) and alkyl cyanoacetate of formula (III) in presence of suitable cyanide source in water or in an organic solvent or mixture thereof in single step; (d) converting 2-isobutylsuccinonitrile of formula pa (V) to racemic 3-cyano-5-methyl-hexanoic acid or salt thereof of formula (VI) with a genetically modified nitri