Author: claimsbot

1. A fluid filtering cartridge comprising:
(i) a filter element including a body of filtering media and having a substantially hollow interior in fluid communication with an opening extending through said filtering media; and,
(ii) a sealing element situated in said opening, said sealing element presenting a fluid-tight seal between said opening and a conduit received therein, said sealing element comprising a radially inwardly directed flange having an inwardly disposed edge with a ring member secured thereto, said ring member having an interior face sealingly received about the exterior surface of the conduit when the conduit is received within said opening through said filtering media to present a fluid-tight seal between the exterior surface of said conduit and the interior surface of said opening.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ring member has a leading edge directed outwardly from said hollow interior of said filtering media and a trailing edge directed inwardly toward said hollow interior of said filtering media.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ring member is frustoconical in shape with the inside diameter of said ring member at said leading edge greater than the inside diameter of said ring member at said trailing edge.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from a flexibly resilient material.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from plastic, silicone, polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer, or rubber.
6. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the interior diameter of said leading edge of said ring member is greater than the exterior diameter of said conduit.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interior diameter of said trailing edge of said ring member is less than or equal to the exterior diameter of said conduit, said ring member and said flange deflected when said conduit passes through said ring member, said deflection of said ring member and said flange biasing the interior face of said ring member against the exterior surface of said conduit.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid filtering cartridge further includes a cap positioned on the exterior surface of said body of filtering media and about said opening therethrough, said cap including a cylindrical tube received within said opening, said flange of said sealing element connected to the internal surface of said cylindrical tube such that said sealing element presents a fluid-tight seal between the interior surface of said cylindrical tube and the exterior of said conduit when said conduit is received through said cylindrical tube.
9. A filter cartridge for the removal of contaminants from a stream of fluid, said cartridge comprising;
(i) a filter element including a body of filtering media and having a generally hollow interior in fluid communication with an opening extending through said filtering media,
(ii) a cylindrical tube fixedly received within said opening, said cylindrical tube having an exterior and an interior surface; and,
(iii) a sealing element situated within said cylindrical tube, said sealing element comprising a radially inwardly directed flange intersecting and connected to the interior surface of said cylindrical tube, said flange having an inwardly disposed edge with a ring member secured thereto, said ring member having an interior face sealingly receivable about the exterior surface of a conduit inserted through said cylindrical tube to present a fluid-tight seal between the interior surface of said cylindrical tube and the exterior surface of said conduit.
10. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said ring member has a leading edge directed outwardly from said hollow interior of said filtering media and a trailing edge directed toward said hollow interior of said filtering media.
11. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said ring member is frustoconical in shape with the internal diameter of said leading edge greater than the internal diameter of said trailing edge.
12. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from a flexibly resilient material.
13. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from plastic, silicone, polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, a thermoplastic elastomer, or rubber.
14. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cylindrical tube, said flange and said ring member are of unitary construction and formed from a flexibly resilient material.
15. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the diameter of said leading edge is greater than the diameter of said conduit received through said cylindrical tube.
16. The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the interior diameter of said trailing edge of said ring member is less than or equal to the exterior diameter of said conduit, said ring member and said flange deflected when said conduit passes through said sealing element, said deflection of said ring member and said flange biasing the interior face of said ring member against the exterior surface of said conduit.
17. A sealing element for sealingly engaging the exterior surface of a generally cylindrical body, the sealing element comprising a radially inward directed flange having an inwardly disposed edge with a ring member secured thereto, said ring member having an interior face sealingly receivable about the exterior surface of the generally cylindrical body received through said sealing element, said ring member having a leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading and said trailing edges directed outwardly from said flange, said ring member generally frustoconical in shape with the internal opening through said ring member at said leading edge greater than the internal opening through said ring member at said trailing edge.
18. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from a flexibly resilient material.
19. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from plastic, silicone, polyolefin polyethylene, polyproprelyne, thermal plastic elastomer, or rubber.
20. The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the size of the interior opening through said ring member at said trailing edge is less than the size of the cross section of the generally cylindrical body received therethrough.
21. A sealing element for sealingly engaging the interior surface of a bore, said sealing element secured to the exterior surface of an elongate member receivable within said bore and sealing between the exterior surface of said elongate member and the interior surface of said bore upon the receipt of the elongate member therein, the sealing element comprising a radially outward directed flange having an outwardly disposed edge with a ring member secured thereto, said ring member having an exterior face sealingly received against the interior surface of said bore when the elongate member is received therein, said ring member having a leading edge and a trailing edge and being generally frustoconical in shape with said ring member being larger at said trailing edge than at said leading edge.
22. The device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from a flexibly resilient material.
23. The device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said ring member and said flange are formed from plastic, silicone, polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomer, or rubber.
24. The device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said ring member, at its trailing edge, is greater in size than the size of the cross section of said bore.
25. The device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said flange includes an inwardly disposed edge received within a complimentary shaped channel in the exterior surface of said elongate member.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A series-wound motor comprising:
an armature including a commutating armature coil;
a stator forming a closed yoke within which said armature is mounted rotatably, said stator having first and second axial ends;
brushes connectable to a voltage source for sliding contact with said armature coil;
at least two field poles provided on said stator, each said field pole comprising a center section being integral with said closed yoke and further comprising two pole horns extending circumferentially from said center section and defining first and second axial grooves extending between said closed yoke and said pole horns;
at least two field coils attached to said stator, each said field coil having two axial ends and two lateral parts extending between said axial ends, each said field coil being received with its lateral parts within said axial grooves and protruding with its axial ends beyond said first and second axial ends of said stator;
wherein at least one of said pole horns comprises at least a first protrusion protruding circumferentially from an axial edge of said pole horn and a second protrusion protruding circumferentially from said axial edge of said pole horn.
2. The series-wound motor of claim 1, wherein each one of said pole horns comprises at least a first protrusion protruding circumferentially from an axial edge of said pole horn and a second protrusion protruding circumferentially from said axial edge of said pole horn.
3. The series-wound motor of claim 2, wherein each said field coil is configured as a preformed winding, and wherein said lateral parts of said field coils are retained within said axial grooves of said stator by said first and second protrusions.
4. The series-wound motor of claim 3, wherein said first and second protrusions are arranged at said first and second axial ends of said stator.
5. The series-wound motor of claim 2, wherein each said pole horn comprises at least a third protrusion protruding circumferentially from said axial edge of said pole horn.
6. The series-wound motor of claim 2, further comprising switching means for switching between a first rotating direction of said armature and between a second rotating direction of said armature.
7. A series-wound motor having a preferred rotary direction, said motor comprising:
an armature including a commutating armature coil;
a stator forming a closed yoke within which said armature is mounted rotatably, said stator having first and second axial ends;
brushes connectable to a voltage source for sliding contact with said armature coil;
at least two field poles provided on said stator, each said field pole comprising a center section being integral with said closed yoke and further comprising two pole horns extending circumferentially from said center section and defining first and second axial grooves extending between said closed yoke and said pole horns, one of said pole horns extending from said center section contrary to said preferred rotary direction and ending in a run-on edge, another one of said pole horns extending from said center section in said preferred rotary direction and ending in a run-off edge;
at least two field coils connected in series;
switching means for switching said motor between a motor operation mode and a braking mode, wherein, when being in said motor operation mode, said field coils are connected in series with said armature coil in a motor circuit fed by said voltage source, and wherein, when being in said braking mode, said field coils form a closed brake circuit with said armature coil being separated from said voltage source;
wherein said run-off edges of said pole horns each comprise at least first and second protrusions extending circumferentially from said run-off edge.
8. The motor of claim 7, wherein said first and second protrusions are configured as tongues extending circumferentially and defining cutout sections therebetween.
9. The motor of claim 8, wherein each said run-off edge at said cutout section has a smaller distance in circumferential direction from a center of said center section than has said run-on edge from said center.
10. The series-wound motor of claim 7, wherein each said field coil is configured as a preformed winding comprising two axial ends and two lateral parts extending therebetween, and wherein said lateral parts of said field coils are retained within said axial grooves of said stator by said first and second protrusions.
11. The series-wound motor of claim 7, wherein said first and second protrusions are arranged at said first and second axial ends of said stator.
12. The series-wound motor of claim 7, wherein each said pole horn comprises at least a third protrusion protruding circumferentially from said axial edge of said pole horn.
13. The series-wound motor of claim 7, wherein said stator comprises a geometric neutral zone, said commutating armature coil being displaced with respect to said geometric neutral zone counter to the preferred rotary direction.
14. The motor of claim 7, wherein said run-on edges of said pole horns each comprise at least two protrusions extending circumferentially from said run-on edge.
15. The motor of claim 7, further comprising means for restricting the current flowing in the brake mode within said brake circuit.
16. The motor of claim 15, further comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding being fed by an alternating voltage source also feeding the motor when being in operating mode, said secondary winding being connected in parallel with the field coils in the brake circuit, when being in braking mode, and further comprising an electronic control switch for controlling the current flowing in the brake circuit across the armature coil and the field coil.
17. The motor of claim 16, wherein the control switch is a field effect transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, said field effect transistor being coupled in parallel with its source and its drain to the series-connected field coils via a diode and regulating the current through the field coils depending on the current flowing across the armature coil.
18. The motor of claim 16, wherein the secondary winding is connected in parallel with the series-connected field coils in the brake circuit via a rectifier.
19. The motor of claim 17, wherein the field effect transistor in the brake circuit is connected with its gate to the brushes via a voltage divider.
20. The motor of claim 19, further comprising a load resistor being connected in the brake circuit between one of said brushes and one end of the series-connected field coils via a diode, wherein the drain of the field effect transistor is connected to one end of the load resistor, and wherein the source of the field effect transistor is connected to another one of said brushes and another end of the series-connected field coils.
21. A series-wound motor having a preferred rotary direction, said motor comprising:
an armature including a commutating armature coil;
a stator within which said armature is mounted rotatably;
brushes connectable to a voltage source for sliding contact with said armature coil;
at least two field poles provided on said stator, each said field pole comprising a center section being integral with said closed yoke and further comprising two pole horns extending circumferentially from said center section and defining first and second axial grooves extending between said closed yoke and said pole horns, one of said pole horns extending from said center section contrary to said preferred rotary direction and ending in a run-on edge, another one of said pole horns extending from said center section in said preferred rotary direction and ending in a run-off edge;
at least two field coils connected in series;
switching means for switching said motor between a motor operation mode and a braking mode, wherein, when being in said motor operation mode, said field coils are connected in series with said armature coil in a motor circuit fed by said voltage source, and wherein, when being in said braking mode, said field coils form a closed brake circuit with said armature coil being separated from said voltage source;
wherein said run-off edges of said pole horns each have a smaller distance in circumferential direction from said center line than have said run-on edges from said center line.
22. The motor of claim 21, wherein said run-off edges of said pole horns each comprise at least two protrusions extending in circumferential direction, between which a cutout section is formed.
23. The motor of claim 21, wherein the stator comprises a geometric neutral zone, said commutating armature coil being displaced with respect to said geometric neutral zone counter to the preferred rotary direction.
24. The motor of claim 21, further comprising means for restricting the current flowing in the brake mode within said brake circuit.
25. The motor of claim 24, further comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding being fed by an alternating voltage source also feeding the motor when being in operating mode, said secondary winding being connected in parallel with said series-connected field coils in the brake circuit, when being in braking mode, and further comprising an electronic control switch for controlling the current flowing in the brake circuit across the armature coil and the field coils.
26. The motor of claim 25, wherein the control switch is a field effect transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, said field effect transistor being coupled in parallel with its source and its drain to the series-connected field coils via a diode and regulating the current through the series-connected field coils depending on the current flowing across the armature coil.
27. The motor of claim 25, wherein the secondary winding is connected in parallel with the series-connected field coils in the brake circuit via a rectifier.
28. The motor of claim 26, wherein the field effect transistor in the brake circuit is connected with its gate to the brushes via a voltage divider.
29. The motor of claim 28, further comprising a load resistor being connected in the brake circuit between one of said brushes and one end of the series-connected field coils via a diode, wherein the drain of the field effect transistor is connected to one end of the load resistor, and wherein the source of the field effect transistor is connected to another one of said brush and another end of the series-connected field coils.
30. The motor of claim 15, further comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding being fed by an alternating voltage source also feeding the motor when being in operating mode, said secondary winding being connected via a rectifier circuit in parallel with the series-connected field coils in the brake circuit, when being in braking mode, and further comprising an electronic control switch for controlling the current flowing in the brake circuit across the armature coil and the series-connected field coils.
31. The motor of claim 30, wherein the control switch is a field effect transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, said field effect transistor being coupled in parallel with its source and its drain to the series-connected field coils and regulating the current through the series-connected field coils depending on the current flowing across the armature coil.
32. The motor of claim 31, further comprising a bridge rectifier, said bridge rectifier having A.C. input ends being coupled to the secondary winding and having D.C. output ends being connected in parallel with the field coils in the brake circuit, wherein a positive voltage output end of said bridge rectifier is coupled to the drain of said field effect transistor, and wherein a negative voltage output end of said bridge rectifier is coupled to the source of said field effect transistor.
33. The motor of claim 31, wherein the field effect transistor in the brake circuit is connected with its gate to the brushes via a voltage divider.
34. A series-wound motor having a preferred rotary direction, said motor comprising:
an armature including a commutating armature coil;
a stator forming a closed yoke within which said armature is mounted rotatably;
brushes connectable to a voltage source for sliding contact with said armature coil;
at least two field coils connected in series;
switching means for switching said motor between a motor operation mode and a braking mode, wherein, when being in said motor operation mode, said field coils are connected in series with said armature coil in a motor circuit fed by said voltage source, and wherein, when being in said braking mode, said field coils form a closed brake circuit with said armature coil being separated from said voltage source;
a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding being fed by an alternating voltage source also feeding the motor when being in operating mode, said secondary winding being connected in parallel with said series-connected field coils in the brake circuit, when being in braking mode, and further comprising an electronic control switch for controlling the current flowing in the brake circuit across said armature coil and said series-connected field coils.
35. The motor of claim 34, wherein the control switch is a field effect transistor having a source, a drain and a gate, said field effect transistor being coupled in parallel with its source and its drain to one of the series-connected field coils and regulating the current through said series-connected field coils depending on the current flowing across the armature coil.
36. The motor of claim 35, further comprising a bridge rectifier, said bridge rectifier having A.C. input ends being coupled to the secondary winding and having D.C. output ends being connected in parallel with the series-connected field coils in the brake circuit, wherein a positive voltage output end of said bridge rectifier is coupled to the drain of said field effect transistor, and wherein a negative voltage output end of said bridge rectifier is coupled to the source of said field effect transistor.
37. The motor of claim 36, wherein the field effect transistor in the brake circuit is connected with its gate to the brushes via a voltage divider.

1. A method for conducting an electronic negotiation of a commercial transaction wherein said electronic negotiation is guaranteed to terminate, comprising:
a step of advertising a product with an advertisement, wherein said product that is to be negotiated is listed by a first negotiating party, the advertisement comprising a set of attribute-value pairs, each attribute-value pair including an attribute and a range of values for the attribute, for the product listed in the advertisement;
a step of looking up, wherein the product listed in the advertisement is located for a second negotiating party, wherein at least one of a first set of attribute-value pairs is displayed to the second negotiating party;
a step of offering, wherein the second negotiating party offers to negotiate one or more attributes for the product listed in the advertisement;
a step of counter-offering, wherein the first negotiating party responds to the offer with a first counter-offer; and
a step of displaying at least one of a second set of attribute-value pairs to the second negotiating party it each attribute is not agreed to or a failed negotiation is not declared, wherein the second negotiating party and the first negotiating party continue to exchange counter-offers until each attribute is agreed to or the failed negotiation is declared,
wherein one or more attributes from the set of attribute-value pairs are introduced with a corresponding range of values and each counter-offer reduces the range of values for at least one attribute that was previously introduced, by narrowing a gap between values for a previously introduced attribute or by introducing a new attribute from the set of attribute-value pairs.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of looking up locates the product listed in the advertisement by comparing one or more attribute-values provided by the second negotiating party with the set of attribute-value pairs in the advertisement.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of offering comprises a first proposed range of values that the second negotiating party is offering for a first attribute that is included in the set of attribute-value pairs.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first counter-offer comprises a second proposed range of values that the first negotiating party is offering for the first attribute.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second proposed range of values consists of the same values as the first proposed range of values and the first counter-offer further comprises a third proposed list of values or range of values that the first negotiating party is offering for a second attribute that is included in the set of attribute-value pairs.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first proposed range of values is a list in order from the second negotiating party’s most preferred value to the second negotiating party’s least preferred value.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first counter-offer further comprises a single proposed value that the first negotiating party is offering for a third attribute that is included in the set of attribute-value pairs.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a second counter-offer, in which the second negotiating party responds to the first counter-offer, the second counter-offer comprising the single proposed value from the first counter-offer, whereby the inclusion of the single proposed value indicates that the third attribute is agreed to and is prohibited from being further negotiated.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute-value pairs comprise an attribute that is negotiated with single proposed values.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer and the one or more counter-offers introduce a value for each attribute in the set of attribute-value pairs, the negotiation protocol further comprising an offer that includes a single value for each attribute and in response to which the agreement is reached or the failed negotiation is declared.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more attributes from the set of attribute-value palm are introduced and each counter-offer includes a value for each attribute that was previously introduced except for previously agreed to attributes.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein a single value for a first attribute from the set of attribute-value pairs is agreed to in a counter-offer and the first attribute is prohibited from being introduced into any subsequent counter-offer.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of entering into an agreement, wherein said agreement is entered into when each attribute is agreed to, whereby the first negotiating party and the second negotiating party finalize the delivery of the product.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first counter-offer includes a declaration of a failed negotiation due to the second negotiating party falling to comply with the negotiation protocol, whereby the failed negotiation is declared.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the counter-offers introduces two or more different values for at least one attribute from the attribute-value pairs.
16. A method for electronically negotiating a commercial transaction that is guaranteed to terminate, said method comprising:
advertising a product that is offered for electronic negotiation by a first negotiation party, wherein the advertising step comprises listing a set of attribute-value pairs for the product, wherein each attribute-value pair includes an attribute and a negotiable list of values for the attribute;
looking-up the product from the advertising step, wherein the looking-up step comprises:
displaying to a second negotiating party the set of attribute-value pairs, and
comparing one or more attribute-values provided by the second negotiating party with the set of attribute-value pairs in the advertisement to find a match;

offering to electronically negotiate one or more attributes from the attribute-value pairs for the product, wherein the offering step comprises proposing the second negotiating party’s list of values for a first attribute from the set of attribute-value pairs;
countering the offering step with the first negotiating party’s proposal of a list of values for the first attribute of the product;
displaying to the second negotiating party the first negotiating party’s proposal;
determining one of: when each attribute from the attribute-value pairs is agreed to, and when a failed negotiation is declared; and
conducting one or more additional countering steps until one of: each attribute from the attribute-value pairs is agreed to, and the failed negotiation is declared, wherein the second negotiating party and the first negotiating party alternate conducting the countering steps until one of: each attribute from the attribute-value pairs is agreed to, and the failed negotiation is declared.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein each countering step, one of: reduces a list of values for a previously introduced attribute, narrows a gap between values for a previously introduced attribute, and introduces a new attribute from a set of attribute-value pairs unless one of: each attribute from the attribute-value pairs is agreed to, and the failed negotiation is declared.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein one of the countering steps lists a single value for each previously introduced attribute from the set of attribute-value pairs.
19. A computer program product having computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon for conducting an electronic negotiation that is guaranteed to terminate, said computer program product comprising:
code for advertising a product that is to be electronically negotiated wherein said product is listed by a first negotiating party and said code for advertising operates to produce an advertisement comprising a set of attribute-value pairs, each attribute-value pair including an attribute and a range of values for the attribute, for the product listed in the advertisement;
code for looking-up said product listed in said advertisement for a second negotiating party, wherein at least one of a first set of attribute-value pair is displayed to said second negotiating party;
code for enabling said second negotiating party to submit an offer to negotiate one or more attributes for said product listed in said advertisement; and
code for enabling said first negotiating party to respond to said offer with a first counter-offer and, when one of: each attribute is not agreed to, and a failed negotiation is not declared then at least one of a second set of attribute-value pairs is displayed to said second negotiating party, wherein the second negotiating party and the first negotiating party continue to exchange counter-offers until one of: each attribute is agreed to, and the failed negotiation is declared.
20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein said code for looking-up said product locates the product listed in the advertisement by comparing one or more attribute-values provided by the second negotiating party with the set of attribute-value pairs in the advertisement.
21. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein said offer comprises a first proposed range of values that the second negotiating party is offering for a first attribute that is included in the set of attribute value pairs.
22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the first counter-offer comprises a second proposed range of values that the first negotiating party is offering for the first attribute.
23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the second proposed range of values consists of the same values as the first proposed range of values and the first counter-offer further comprises a third proposed range of values that the first negotiating party is offering for a second attribute that is included in the set of attribute-value pairs.
24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the first proposed range of values is a list in order from the second negotiating party’s most preferred value to the second negotiating parts least preferred value.
25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the first counter-offer further comprises a single proposed value that the first negotiating party is offering for a third attribute that is included in the set of attribute-value pairs.
26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising code for enabling said second negotiating party to respond to said first counter-offer with a second counter-offer, wherein the second counter-offer comprises the single proposed value from the first counter-offer, whereby the inclusion of the single proposed value indicates that the third attribute is agreed to and is prohibited from being further negotiated.
27. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the attribute-value pairs comprise an attribute that is negotiated with single proposed values.
28. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the offer and the one or more, counter-offers introduce a value for each attribute in the set of attribute-value pairs, the computer program product further comprising code for creating a final offer that includes a single value for each attribute and in response to said final offer one of: the agreement is reached, and the failed negotiation is declared.
29. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein one or more attributes from the set of attribute-value pairs are introduced and each counter-offer includes a value for each attribute that was previously introduced except for previously agreed to attributes.
30. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein one or more attributes from the set of attribute-value pairs are introduced with a corresponding range of values and each counter-offer reduces the range of values for at least one attribute that was previously introduced, and one of; narrows a gap between values for a previously introduced attribute, and introduces a new attribute from the set of attribute-value pairs.
31. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein a single value for a first attribute from the set of attribute-value pairs is agreed to in a counter-offer and the first attribute is prohibited from being introduced into any subsequent counter-offer.
32. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising code for creating an agreement, that is entered into when each attribute is agreed to, whereby said code for creating an agreement assist the first negotiating party and the second negotiating party in finalizing the delivery of the product.
33. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the first counter offer includes a declaration of a failed negotiation due to the second negotiating party failing to comply with rules of the negotiation, whereby the failed negotiation is declared.
34. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein one of the counter-offers introduces two or more different values for at least one attribute from the attribute-value pairs.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-7. (canceled)
8. A method for constructing a map of temperature settings at a particulate-filter inlet, the map configured to be installed in a control unit of a diesel engine for a motor vehicle including an exhaust circuit in which is disposed a particulate filter configured to be regenerated by combustion of soot present within the filter, the regeneration being provoked by elevation of exhaust-gas temperature at the inlet of the particulate filter, the elevation being a function of the temperature setting at the particulate-filter inlet,
the method comprising, for each combination associated with an instant t of regeneration and belonging to a set of combinations:
(a) of a mass of soot within the particulate filter;
(b) of a temperature at the outlet of the particulate filter;
(c) of an air flow through the particulate filter; and
(d) of a rate of combustion of the soot within the particulate filter;
determining a value to be assigned to the temperature setting at the particulate-filter inlet, the value being searched for such that, after initiation of a pedal release at the instant t and regardless of a pedal-release profile chosen from among a set of pedal-release profiles, the temperature at the particulate-filter outlet remains below a maximum permissible temperature beyond which the particulate filter is susceptible to deterioration.
9. A method according to claim 8, implemented based on a dynamic computerized model of the combustion of soot within the particulate filter, the model capable of calculating the mass of soot within the particulate filter, the temperature at the particulate-filter outlet, and the rate of combustion of soot within the particulate filter at each instant during a regeneration, by using data concerning the temperature at the particulate-filter inlet, the mass of soot at a starting instant of the regeneration, the air flow through the particulate filter, and the oxygen ratio at the inlet of the particulate filter.
10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the set of pedal-release profiles is established experimentally or by simulation, by the following parameters, which vary as a function of time:
the particulate-filter inlet temperature;
the air flow through the particulate filter; and
the oxygen ratio at the inlet of the particulate filter.
11. A map of temperature settings at a particulate-filter inlet, the map configured to be installed in a control unit of a diesel engine for a motor vehicle including an exhaust circuit in which is disposed a particulate filter configured to be regenerated by combustion of soot present within the filter, the regeneration being provoked by elevation of the exhaust-gas temperature at the inlet of the particulate filter, the elevation being a function of the temperature setting at the inlet of the particulate filter, composed of four inputs corresponding respectively to:
(a) a mass of soot within the particulate filter;
(b) a temperature at the outlet of the particulate filter;
(c) an air flow through the particulate filter; and
(d) a rate of combustion of the soot within the particulate filter,
and including an output corresponding to the temperature setting at the inlet of the particulate filter.
12. A map according to claim 11, the map configured to permit variation of the value of the temperature setting at the inlet of the particulate filter during the regeneration.
13. A motor vehicle comprising:
a diesel engine;
an exhaust circuit including a particulate filter and a control unit of the engine, in which unit there is installed a map of temperature settings at the particulate-filter inlet, wherein the map is a map according to claim 11.
14. A method for controlling regeneration of a particulate filter disposed in an exhaust circuit of a diesel engine for a motor vehicle, implemented by a map of temperature settings at the inlet of the particulate filter according to claim 11.