All The Claims

1. A method of representing a first end-user license agreement (EULA) offered to a user and automatically responding to a subsequent EULA offered to the user, the method comprising:
semantically representing at least one term of the first EULA using a machine-readable form;
receiving a term preference indication of a user preference for the at least one term;
storing the term preference indication using the machine-readable form;
automatically responding to the first EULA including the stored term preference indication; and
automatically responding to the subsequent EULA including the stored term preference indication;
wherein a set of terms of the subsequent EULA is deemed to be accepted by the user if a representative logical expression for the set of terms having a parameter for each member of the set of terms is evaluated to produce a result indicative of a user acceptance of the set of terms, the representative logical expression in the machine-readable form.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable form comprises a logical language having at least one parameter corresponding to the at least one term, at least one logical operator, a capability to create a logical expression from at least one of the at least one parameter and at least one of the at least one logical operator, and a capability to nest logical expressions.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing an update to the stored term preference indication.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the term preference indication is stored on at least one of: a computer of the user, a computer of a party offering at least one of the first or the subsequent EULA, a website, or a distributed computing system.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving an application preference indication of a user preference for applying the term preference indication, the application preference indication comprising at least one from a set of application preference indications, the set of application preference indications including:
applying the term preference indication to only a current EULA,
applying the term preference indication to future EULAs,
applying the term preference indication to a EULA offered by a specified party,
applying the term preference indication to a EULA for a specified type of product,
applying the term preference indication in conjunction with another term preference indication, and
removing a previously applied term preference indication;

storing the application preference indication; and
allowing an update to the application preference indication.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one of the automatic response to the first EULA or the automatic response to the subsequent EULA.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising signifying the response to the first EULA by performing at least one from a set of steps, the set of steps including:
storing, in a machine log, an entry corresponding to the first EULA’s response,
sending, to an offering party of the first EULA, a digital record indicating the first EULA’s response, and
sending, to the offering party, a digital signature on a message indicating the first EULA’s response.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring compliance with the term preference indication included in the response to the first EULA and indicating a potential non-compliant condition prior to an occurrence of the potential non-compliant condition.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a default set of user term preference indications,
allowing an update to the default set of user term preference indications,
receiving a user application preference indication for each member of the default set, the user application preference indication comprising at least one of:
applying the each member of the default set of user term preference indications to a EULA offered by a specified party,
applying the each member of the default set to a EULA for a specified type of product,
applying the each member of the default set in conjunction with another each member of the default set, or
removing a previously applied user term preference indication;

allowing an update to the user application preference indication of the each member of the default set, and
including the default set of user term preference indications and the user application preference indication for the each member of the default set in the responses to the first and subsequent EULAs.
10. A method of electronically representing a first electronic agreement and automatically responding to a subsequent electronic agreement, the method comprising:
semantically representing at least one term of the first electronic agreement using a machine-readable form, the machine-readable form comprising a logical language including at least one parameter corresponding to the at least one term, at least one logical operator, and a capability to create a logical expression from at least one of the at least one parameter and at least one of the at least one logical operator;
receiving a term preference indication of a user preference for the at least one term;
automatically responding to the first electronic agreement including the term preference indication; and
automatically responding to the subsequent electronic agreement including the term preference indication,
wherein set of terms of the subsequent electronic agreement is deemed to be accepted by the user if a representative logical expression for the set of terms having a parameter for each member of the set of terms is evaluated to produce a result indicative of a user acceptance of the set of terms, the representative logical expression in the machine-readable form.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first electronic agreement is one from a set of types of electronic agreements comprising a service level agreement, a privacy use agreement and an end-user license agreement.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
storing the term preference indication on at least one of: a computer of a user to which the first and subsequent electronic agreements are offered, a computer of a party offering at least one of the first or the subsequent electronic agreement, a website, or a distributed computing system, and
allowing an update to the stored term preference indication.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
receiving an application preference indication of a user preference for applying the term preference indication, the application preference indication comprising at least one from a set of application preference indications, the set of application preference indications including:
applying the term preference indication to only a current electronic agreement,
applying the term preference indication to future electronic agreements,
applying the term preference indication to a specified type of electronic agreement,
applying the term preference indication to an electronic agreement offered by a specified party,
applying the term preference indication to an electronic agreement for a specified type of product,
applying the term preference indication in conjunction with another term preference indication, and
removing a previously applied term preference indication;

storing the application preference indication; and
allowing an update to the application preference indication.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising signifying the response to the first electronic agreement by at least one of:
storing, in a machine log, an entry corresponding to the first electronic agreement’s response,
sending, to an offering party of the first electronic agreement, a digital record indicating the first electronic agreement’s response, and
sending, to the offering party of the first electronic agreement, a digital signature on a message indicating the first electronic agreement’s response.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring compliance with the term preference indication included in the response to the first electronic agreement and indicating a potential non-compliant condition prior to an occurrence of the potential non-compliant condition.
16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
receiving a default set of user term preference indications,
allowing an update to the default set of user term preference indications,
receiving a user application preference indication for each member of the default set, the user application preference indication comprising at least one of:
applying the each member of the default set of user term preference indications to an electronic agreement offered by a specified party,
applying the each member of the default set to an electronic agreement for a specified type of product,
applying the each member of the default set in conjunction with another each member of the default set, or
removing a previously applied user term preference indication;

allowing an update to the user application preference indication of the each member of the default set, and
including the default set of user term preference indications and the user application preference indication for the each member of the default set in the responses to the first and subsequent electronic agreements.
17. A computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions thereon for a logical language for semantically representing a set of terms of an electronic agreement offered to a party, the logical language comprising:
at least one parameter corresponding to at least one term of the set of terms of the electronic agreement;
at least one logical operator;
a capability to create a logical expression from at least one of the at least one parameter and at least one of the at least one logical operator;
a capability to nest logical expressions; and
a capability to sub-nest logical expressions;
wherein a portion of the set of terms of the electronic agreement is deemed to be accepted by the party if a representative logical expression in the logical language is evaluated to produce a result indicative of the party’s acceptance of the portion, the representative logical expression including a representative parameter for each term in the portion.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions for at least one of: allowing a selection of the portion of the set of terms or allowing the party to create the representative logical expression.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions for translating between the logical language and a language readable by the party.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising computer-executable instructions for allowing access to a library of parameters corresponding to a library of terms used in electronic agreements.

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 liquid crystal display device provided with a pixel area on a substrate having a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of thin film transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to said plurality of thin film transistors, and a drive circuit area disposed at a periphery of said substrate and having a drive circuit for driving said plurality of thin film transistors,
said plurality of thin film transistors comprising:
a polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer formed on said substrate, a gate electrode formed on said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, an insulating film to cover said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, said gate insulating film and said gate electrode, a drain electrode formed on said insulating film and electrically connected to said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, and a source electrode formed on said insulating film, spaced from said drain electrode and electrically connected to said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer,
unevenness of a surface of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer being within 10% of a thickness of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, and
variations of positions of peaks of depth distributions of concentration of impurities introduced into said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer to determine a conductivity type thereof being within 10% of said thickness of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, said positions of said peaks being with respect to a surface of said substrate.
2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said unevenness of said surface of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer and said variations of positions of the peaks of depth distributions of concentration of the impurities are present under said gate insulting film.
3. A liquid crystal display device provided with a pixel area on a substrate having a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of thin film transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to said plurality of thin film transistors, and a drive circuit area disposed at a periphery of said substrate and having a drive circuit for driving said plurality of thin film transistors,
said plurality of thin film transistors comprising:
a polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer formed on said substrate,
a gate electrode formed on said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween,
an insulating film to cover said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, said gate insulating film and said gate electrode,
a drain electrode formed on said insulating film and electrically connected to said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, and
a source electrode formed on said insulating film, spaced from said drain electrode and electrically connected to said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer,
unevenness of a surface of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer being within 10% of a thickness of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer.
4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein said unevenness of said surface of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer is present under said gate insulating film.
5. A liquid crystal display device provided with a pixel area on a substrate having a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of drain lines, a plurality of thin film transistors and a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to said plurality of thin film transistors, and a drive circuit area disposed at a periphery of said substrate and having a drive circuit for driving said plurality of thin film transistors,
said plurality of thin film transistors comprising:
a polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer formed on said substrate,
a gate electrode formed on said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween,
an insulating film to cover said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, said gate insulating film and said gate electrode,
a drain electrode formed on said insulating film and electrically connected to said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, and
a source electrode formed on said insulating film, spaced from said drain electrode and electrically connected to said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer,
variations of positions of peaks of depth distributions of concentration of impurities introduced into said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer to determine a conductivity type thereof being within 10% of said thickness of said polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, said positions of said peaks being with respect to a surface of said substrate.
6. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein said variations of positions of the peaks of depth distributions of concentration of the impurities are present under said gate insulating film.

1. A valve assembly for an air pressure system, comprising:
an inlet valve including an inlet port, an outlet port and a control port, the inlet port communicating with the outlet port when the control port is above a threshold pressure;
a first control valve including an inlet port, an outlet port, an exhaust port, and a control member, the first control valve inlet port being in communication with the inlet valve outlet port, the first control valve outlet port communicating with one of the first control valve inlet port and the first control valve exhaust port as a function of a position of the first control valve control member; and
a second control valve including an inlet port, an outlet port, an exhaust port, and a control member, the second control valve inlet port being in communication with the inlet valve outlet port, the second control valve outlet port communicating with one of the second control valve inlet port and the second control valve exhaust port as a function of a position of the second control valve control member.
2. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1, further including:
a double check valve including an inlet port, a locking pressure port, and an outlet port communicating with the inlet valve control port, one of the double check valve inlet port and the locking pressure port communicating with the double check valve outlet port as a function of relative air pressures at the double check valve inlet and locking ports.
3. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:
a proportional valve for delivering selectively pressurized air to service brakes and the double check valve inlet port, the inlet valve inlet port communicating with the inlet valve outlet port if a pressure at one of the double check valve inlet port and the locking port is above the threshold pressure.
4. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
the first control valve outlet port communicates with a tractor spring brake; and
the second control valve outlet port communicates with a trailer spring brake.
5. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
the tractor spring brake is applied when a pressure at the first control valve outlet port is less than the threshold pressure; and
the trailer spring brake is applied when a pressure at the second control valve outlet port is less than the threshold pressure.
6. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:
the tractor spring brake is released if the pressurized air delivered to the service brakes and the control port is above the threshold pressure, for causing pressurized air at the inlet valve inlet port to be communicated to the first control valve inlet port via the inlet valve outlet port, and if the first control valve control member is positioned for communicating the pressurized air from the first control valve inlet port to the first control valve outlet port and to the tractor spring brakes; and
the trailer spring brake is released if the pressurized air delivered to the service brakes and the control port is above the threshold pressure, for causing the pressurized air at the inlet valve inlet port to be communicated to the second control valve inlet port via the inlet valve outlet port, and if the second control valve control member is positioned for communicating the pressurized air from the second control valve inlet port to the second control valve outlet port and to the trailer spring brakes.
7. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first control valve outlet port communicates with the locking pressure port.
8. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:
an exhaust conduit communicating with the first control valve exhaust port and the second control valve exhaust port.
9. A braking system control for a vehicle including a service braking system and a parking braking system, the braking system control preventing the parking braking system from releasing the wheels of the vehicle unless the service braking system is engaged, the braking system control comprising:
a system pressure valve, which opens when a sensed control pressure is above a first threshold and that closes when the sensed control pressure is below a second threshold, including a system pressure valve inlet and a system pressure valve outlet, the system pressure valve directing pressurized air delivered to the system pressure valve inlet to the service braking system through the system pressure valve outlet when the system pressure valve is open and preventing pressurized air from reaching the parking braking system when the system pressure valve is closed;
a first control valve including an inlet port, an outlet port, an exhaust port, and a control member, the first control valve inlet port being in communication with the system pressure valve outlet, the first control valve outlet port communicating with one of the first control valve inlet port and the first control valve exhaust port as a function of a position of the first control valve control member; and
a second control valve including an inlet port, an outlet port, an exhaust port, and a control member, the second control valve inlet port being in communication with the system pressure valve outlet, the second control valve outlet port communicating with one of the second control valve inlet port and the second control valve exhaust port as a function of a position of the second control valve control member.
10. The braking system as set forth in claim 9, further including:
a latching mechanism communicating a higher one of a service braking system control pressure and a parking braking system releasing pressure as the sensed control pressure to the system pressure valve.
11. The braking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:
the sensed control pressure is a higher one of a service braking system control pressure and a parking braking system releasing pressure; and
if the sensed control pressure is below the second threshold, no pressurized air is transmitted from the system pressure valve to either the first or second control valves.
12. The braking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein:
the sensed control pressure is a higher one of a service braking system control pressure and a parking braking system releasing pressure; and
if the sensed control pressure is above the first threshold, pressurized air is transmitted from the system pressure valve to both the first and second control valves for enabling release of the parking braking system if the first and second control valve control members are positioned for communicating the pressurized air from the first and second control valves to the parking braking system.
13. The braking system as set forth in claim 12, wherein:
the first control valve communicates with a tractor parking brake; and
the second control valve communicates with a trailer parking brake.
14. The braking system as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
both the tractor parking brake and the trailer parking brake are applied if the first and second control valve control members are positioned for exhausting pressurized air from the tractor and trailer parking brakes.
15. A valve assembly for an air pressure system of a vehicle including a service brake, a first spring brake, and a second spring brake, comprising:
a first control valve including an inlet port, an outlet port fluidly communicating with the first spring brake, an exhaust port, and a control member, the first control valve outlet port communicating with one of the first control valve inlet port and the first control valve exhaust port as a function of a position of the first control valve control member;
a second control valve including an inlet port, an outlet port fluidly communicating with the second spring brake, an exhaust port, and a control member, the second control valve inlet port being in fluid communication with the first control valve inlet port, the second control valve outlet port communicating with one of the second control valve inlet port and the second control valve exhaust port as a function of a position of the second control valve control member; and
means for communicating pressurized air to the first control valve inlet port and the second control valve inlet port as a function of a pressure of the service brake and a pressure of the first spring brake.
16. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein the means for communicating includes:
an inlet valve including an inlet port, an outlet port and a control port, the inlet valve outlet port fluidly communicating with the first control valve inlet port and the second control valve inlet port, the inlet valve inlet port communicating with the inlet valve outlet port when the control port is above a threshold pressure.
17. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 16, further including:
means for delivering a higher one of the pressure of the service brake and the pressure of the first spring brake to the inlet valve control port.
18. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein the means for delivering is a double check valve.
19. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein:
the pressure of the service brake is above the threshold pressure when the service brake is applied;
the pressure of the first spring brake is below the threshold pressure when the first spring brake is applied; and
the means for communicating communicates the pressurized air to the first and second control valve inlet ports for enabling release of the first and second spring brakes, respectively, when the pressure of at least one of the service brake and the first spring brake is above the threshold pressure.
20. The valve assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein pressurized air is communicated to the first and second control valve inlet ports, for enabling release of the first and second spring brakes, respectively, when at least one of the service brake is applied above a threshold pressure and the first spring brake is released.
21. A method for controlling pressure to a first spring brake and a second spring brake of a vehicle via a valve system, the method comprising:
controlling an operating state of an inlet valve as a function of an operating state of a service brake and an operating state of the first spring brake;
controlling respective operating states of a first control valve and a second control valve; and
controlling the operating state of the first spring brake and an operating state of the second spring brake as a function of the operating state of the inlet valve and the respective operating states of the first and second control valves.
22. The method for controlling pressure to first and second spring brakes as set forth in claim 21, wherein controlling the operating state of the inlet valve includes:
fluidly communicating a higher one of a pressure of the service brake and a pressure of the first spring brake to a control port of the inlet valve; and
if the pressure communicated to the inlet valve control port is above a threshold pressure, fluidly communicating a service pressure from an inlet port of the inlet valve to an outlet port of the inlet valve.
23. The method for controlling pressure to first and second spring brakes as set forth in claim 21, wherein controlling the operating states of the first and second control valves includes:
selectively setting a control member of the first control valve so that an outlet port of the first control valve fluidly communicates with one of an inlet port of the first control valve and an exhaust port of the first control valve; and
selectively setting a control member of the second control valve so that an outlet port of the second control valve fluidly communicates with one of an inlet port of the second control valve and an exhaust port of the second control valve.
24. The method for controlling pressure to first and second spring brakes as set forth in claim 23, wherein controlling the operating state of the inlet valve includes:
if at least one of the operating state of the service brake is applied and the operating state of the first spring brake is released, controlling the operating state of the inlet valve to fluidly communicate a service pressure from an inlet port of the inlet valve to the inlet ports of the first and second control valves.
25. The method for controlling pressure to first and second spring brakes as set forth in claim 24, wherein controlling the operating states of the first and second spring brakes includes:
if the inlet valve is communicating the service pressure to the first and second control valves and if the control members of the first and second control valves are set so that the service pressure is fluidly communicated to the first and second control valve outlet ports, controlling the first and second spring brakes to be in a released operating state.
26. The method for controlling pressure to first and second spring brakes as set forth in claim 25, further including:
after the first spring brake is in the released operating state, transmitting the service pressure to the control port of the inlet valve for locking the inlet valve in the operating state to fluidly communicate the service pressure to the inlet ports of the first and second control valves.

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. A hub unit with integrated bearing rings, the unit comprising:
a hub forming, in a single piece:
a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction,
a flange extending radially outwardly from an axially outer end of the cylindrical portion, and
a first and a second bearing ring mounted axially aligned around the cylindrical portion, wherein the second bearing ring is axially inner with respect to the first bearing ring and provides an end face facing an axially inner direction;
the cylindrical portion forming an axially inner end edge plastically deformed in a radially outer direction against the end face of the second bearing ring;
characterized in that the hub is made of a wrought aluminum alloy.
2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy is an alloy of the 6000 series.
3. A unit according to claim 2, wherein the aluminum alloy is an alloy selected from the group comprising the following alloys: 6061; 6082.
4. A method of manufacturing a hub with integrated bearing rings, the method comprising the steps of:
a) forging a hub in a single piece of wrought aluminum alloy, the hub forming:
a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and providing an axially inner tubular end, and
a flange extending radially outwardly from an axially outer end of the cylindrical portion, and

b) subjecting the forged hub to a hardening heat treatment;
c) fitting a first and a second bearing ring axially aligned around the cylindrical portion of the hub, so that the second ring is axially inner and provides an end face facing an axially inner direction, and the tubular end of the axially inner cylindrical portion protrudes at least partially beyond the end face of the second bearing ring;
d) plastically deforming the tubular end in a radially outer direction against the end face of the second bearing ring, so as to form a plastically deformed edge which locks and axially preloads the first and second bearing rings towards the flange of the hub.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein step b) includes a T6 heat treatment.
6. A method according to claim 4, wherein step b) includes a precipitation hardening step.
7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the cylindrical portion of the hub has a radially outer cylindrical surface, and wherein in step c) the bearing rings are mounted with radial interference on the outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical portion of the hub.
8. A hub bearing unit for a motor vehicle wheel, the unit comprising:
a hub forming, in a single piece:
a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction,
a flange extending radially outwardly from an axially outer end of the cylindrical portion, and

a first and a second bearing ring mounted axially aligned around the cylindrical portion, wherein the second bearing ring is axially inner with respect to the first bearing ring and provides an end face facing an axially inner direction;
the cylindrical portion forming an axially inner end edge plastically deformed in a radially outer direction against the end face of the second bearing ring;
characterized in that the hub is made of a wrought aluminum alloy,
wherein the hub bearing unit is adapted for use with a motor vehicle wheel.