Abstract: An electronic communication network comprises a server platform and client data processing devices. Each client data processing device is configured to submit electronic messages to the server platform, provided with a timestamp. The server platform is configured to process incoming electronic messages strictly in a sequence corresponding to the timestamp. The electronic communication network comprising at least one switch, wherein the switch is arranged to receive electronic messages from a plurality of the client data processing devices. the switch comprises a buffer and is configured to store the electronic messages produced by the client data processing devices in the buffer, and to transfer the electronic messages in a manner sorted according to the timestamp provided to each electronic message by the time generator of the client data processing device submitting the electronic message, so that the electronic message with the oldest time is transferred first.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for an electrically excited machine (100), comprising: a machine rotor (10); and an exciter device (30) for the electrical excitation of the machine (100), wherein the exciter device (30) comprises at least one energy transfer system (20) integrated in the machine rotor (10). Moreover, the invention relates to an electrically excited machine (100) comprising a machine stator (40) and an arrangement according to the invention.

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronically-based negotiation session between users within an ESN. The method includes sending a message including a request portion and a response portion from a first user to a second user in a round of successive rounds, and in response to receiving the message from the first user, sending a message from the second user to the first user in a subsequent round, the message from the second user including a response portion responsive to the request portion of the message from the first user and a request portion. When a new round is performed, evaluating whether an agreement exists by checking messages previously exchanged, and exchanging subsequent messages, when any rounds remain and the session has not been terminated, and granting access and exchanging data between the users, executing actions, and setting policies as negotiated, when the session has been terminated and an agreement exists.

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronically-based negotiation session between users within an ESN. The method includes sending a message including a request portion and a response portion from a first user to a second user in a round of successive rounds, and in response to receiving the message from the first user, sending a message from the second user to the first user in a subsequent round, the message from the second user including a response portion responsive to the request portion of the message from the first user and a request portion. When a new round is performed, evaluating whether an agreement exists by checking messages previously exchanged, and exchanging subsequent messages, when any rounds remain and the session has not been terminated, and granting access and exchanging data between the users, executing actions, and setting policies as negotiated, when the session has been terminated and an agreement exists.

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronically-based negotiation session between users within an ESN. The method includes sending a message including a request portion and a response portion from a first user to a second user in a round of successive rounds, and in response to receiving the message from the first user, sending a message from the second user to the first user in a subsequent round, the message from the second user including a response portion responsive to the request portion of the message from the first user and a request portion. When a new round is performed, evaluating whether an agreement exists by checking messages previously exchanged, and exchanging subsequent messages, when any rounds remain and the session has not been terminated, and granting access and exchanging data between the users, executing actions, and setting policies as negotiated, when the session has been terminated and an agreement exists.

Abstract: A method comprising, defining a social network U={u, u?, . . . }, defining a set of relationships between users O?U×U, defining a set of attributes of the social network A={a1, a2, . . . }, defining a set of contacts of the user u, defining a user profile of the user u Iu=Au?Uu, defining a metric M={m1, m2, . . . }, receiving a rating of a metric of user u? from the user u, defining a condition c?C, defining a set of elements Z={z1, z2, . . . }, receiving a request for access to Iu from user u?, determining authorization for user u? to access a subset of Iu by an access control function U×U×Pow(R)×C?Pow(Iu×Z), and outputting a subset of Iu to user u? as determined by the access control function.

Abstract: A method of assessing operational risk includes defining a participant set. The participant set includes a plurality of members. The method also includes identifying a set of initial risk sources, assigning risk certificates for each of the initial risk sources to each of the plurality of members of the set of participants, and trading the risk certificates among the plurality of members of the set of participants to establish market prices that correspond to a level of risk associated with each of the initial risk sources.

Abstract: The floor drain possesses an inlet housing (11), which has an opening for floor water to be led away and which is connectable to a wall drain opening of a vertical wall. On the inlet housing (11) are arranged connecting means (44), which are adjustable with respect to the vertical wall and with which the inlet housing (11) can be connected in a sealtight manner to the vertical wall. The connecting means (44) are preferably adjustable in depth and/or height. They have at least one sealing foil (24), with which the connecting means (44) can be sealed against a floor (6) and/or a panelling (14).

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronically-based negotiation session between users within an ESN. The method includes sending a message including a request portion and a response portion from a first user to a second user in a round of successive rounds, and in response to receiving the message from the first user, sending a message from the second user to the first user in a subsequent round, the message from the second user including a response portion responsive to the request portion of the message from the first user and a request portion. When a new round is performed, evaluating whether an agreement exists by checking messages previously exchanged, and exchanging subsequent messages, when any rounds remain and the session has not been terminated, and granting access and exchanging data between the users, executing actions, and setting policies as negotiated, when the session has been terminated and an agreement exists.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically managing relationships between a plurality of users within an electronic social network. The method includes monitoring interactions between the plurality of users in relationships within the electronic social network over time, and obtaining interaction information associated with the monitored interactions, and automatically updating and managing access privileges of users based on the obtained interaction information, to access profile information of respective users. The method ensures automated, adequate and dynamically changing representation of relationships in an ESN system, thereby greatly increasing the value of the ESN system to the user and ways to pro-actively maintain and improve existing relationships or prevent them from decaying.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing context-aware social networking within an electronic social network is provided. The method includes dynamically obtaining context information corresponding to at least one of past, present and future events associated with each user of a plurality of users within the electronic social network, storing the obtained context information, defining one or more context patterns of interest using the stored context information, and detecting a context pattern of interest from the one or more context patterns of interest for a first user of the plurality of users and formulating one or more recommendations or executing user-defined actions or predefined actions by the electronic social network for the first user using the detected context pattern of interest and the context information of at least a second user of the plurality of users.

Abstract: A method comprising, defining a social network U={u, u?, . . . }, defining a set of relationships between users O?U×U, defining a set of attributes of the social network A={a1, a2, . . . }, defining a set of contacts of the user u, defining a user profile of the user u Iu=Au?Uu, defining a metric M={m1, m2, . . . }, receiving a rating of a metric of user u? from the user u, defining a condition c?C, defining a set of elements Z={z1, z2, . . . }, receiving a request for access to Iu from user u?, determining authorization for user u? to access a subset of Iu by an access control function U×U×Pow(R)×C?Pow(Iu×Z), and outputting a subset of Iu to user u? as determined by the access control function.

Abstract: A specification of a set of objects associated with at least one virtual world is obtained. The objects are laid out in a three-dimensional virtual representation. An on-the-fly virtual place is created in the virtual world, based on the layout.

Abstract: A method of assessing operational risk includes defining a participant set. The participant set includes a plurality of members. The method also includes identifying a set of initial risk sources, assigning risk certificates for each of the initial risk sources to each of the plurality of members of the set of participants, and trading the risk certificates among the plurality of members of the set of participants to establish market prices that correspond to a level of risk associated with each of the initial risk sources.

Abstract: In the context of electronic social networking platforms, ‘hybrid profile’ management allows a user u to create and locally manage ‘pseudo-profiles’ reflecting the profile information of real-world contacts who are not actual members of the networking platform. The first-degree electronic social network of a given user u thus includes both the profiles of other regular network users who have agreed to be direct contacts to u as well as these pseudo-profiles.

Abstract: A compact and highly mobile fire-fighting vehicle is disclosed which is capable of entering buildings through doorways and being maneuvered through corridors to the location of the fire. The vehicle carries fire extinguishing materials thereon and a spray device for spraying such materials. The vehicle can be battery operated directly by an operator or by an electronic remote control device provided on the chassis. A plurality of vehicles of the present invention can be effectively utilized to surround and isolate a fire.