Abstract: A marketing optimization module automatically obtaining multi-dimensional marketing data from a market client. The marketing optimization module automatically organizes at least a part of the multi-dimensional marketing data into one or more marketing categories. The marketing optimization module then analyzes all of or a part of the multi-dimensional marketing data to facilitate the optimization of a marketing investment.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, which allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals of which the user is willing to view their messages. The messages are displayed inside the space of the webpage where usually banners are shown. The system may provided benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for targeting the delivery of advertisements over a network such as the Internet are disclosed. Statistics are compiled on individual users and networks and the use of the advertisements is tracked to permit targeting of the advertisements of individual users. In response to requests from affiliated sites, an advertising server transmits to people accessing the page of a site an appropriate one of the advertisement based upon profiling of users and networks.

Abstract: Finding a best price available for a selected product, computed including all relevant factors available to the search engine. Searching separately for the product by price, and concurrently, searching for any available coupons or other discounts available for that product from the seller. When obtaining price information, querying for relevant information relating to purchase decisions. Obtaining relevant information from third-party sources. When obtaining discount information, querying for relevant information relating to applicability of that discount. Matching price information with coupon information for each selected requested product, and computing an effective price to the potential buyer. Aggregating the information it obtains, and presenting that aggregated information. Filtering or sorting those results. Maintaining separate pricing information for each product, uniquely identified by a code, in a database entry. Maintaining separate information for each discount.

Abstract: Handling electronic coupons includes accessing information indicating association of an electronic coupon with an account of a user that identifies multiple retail entities associated with the user. Information indicating association of electronic coupons with the user's account may be transmitted to respective computer systems associated with the multiple retail entities. The computer systems may associate electronic coupons with the user such that the user may redeem the electronic coupons at a retail store upon presentation of a user identifier. When the user redeems an electronic coupon, cancellation information for the electronic coupon may be transmitted to the computer systems of other retail entities associated with the user. Receipt of the cancellation information may cause the respective computer systems to cancel the redeemability of the electronic coupon such that the user is prevented from redeeming the electronic coupon at a retail store associated with the corresponding retail entity.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, which allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals of which the user is willing to view their messages. The messages are displayed inside the space of the webpage where usually banners are shown. The system may provide benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser.

Abstract: A system for delivering coupons containing barcodes to a mobile device such as a mobile phone is disclosed. A message processor means (106) generates message data comprising a coupon. A message optimizer means (116) generates an optimized message responsive to the message data and the capabilities of the mobile device (124). Preferably the capabilities of the mobile device comprise device attribute associated with a mobile device type, and are stored in a database means (110). The optimized message is transmitted to the mobile device. For basic mobile devices, simple text message including barcode number and associated text will be delivered. Otherwise, subject to the mobile device supporting the required display dimensions and color depth, a barcode image, picture, and/or multimedia content will be delivered.

Abstract: A method for the production of acetylene from coal and hydrogen is provided by electric arc heating. The coal has a content of volatile components (i.waf) from about 25 to 44 percent and a content of organic oxygen (i.waf) of less than 9 percent and is ground to a diameter of less than 0.5 mm. The coal is then separated into two to four grain size fractions and one of the grain size fractions is loaded on a hydrogen containing gas. The gas carrying the coal is heated by way of an electric arc with an energy of from about 5 to 20 kJ/l (in normal state). The ratio of electric power employed to coal stream is from about 4,000 to 40,000 kJ/kg coal. The coal is heated for a time duration about inversely proportional to the third root of the specific outer surface of the coal gain fraction. The resulting product gas is quenched with cold liquid hydrocarbons, with hydrogen or water. Acetylene yields of up to about 0.41 kg acetylene per kg coal can be obtained.

Abstract: Dust-laden hot product gas under pressure is admitted into a vessel suspended in a water bath. It escapes through openings in the top of the vessel and the rising bubbles are intercepted by upright tubes through which they cause a flow of water to effect a turnover of the bath. This causes the gas to become cooled, dust to be scrubbed from it and the gas also to become saturated with water vapor.

Abstract: A thrust containment apparatus is disclosed for use with a pressurized rotary kiln gasifier. The thrust containment apparatus maintains stationary hoods mounted on both ends of the kiln shell in fixed positions by relieving the hoods of forces generated by high pressures within the kiln. The thrust containment device comprises braces mounted on the hoods on the sides remote from the kiln shell. Tie members, or tie rods, extending along the exterior of the kiln shell connect the braces. An expandable bellows is provided between one brace and its adjacent hood. As tie members deform through thermal and tensile expansion, the bellows accomodates the expansion while maintaining a gas-tight seal between the hood and the brace.

Abstract: A method for recovering a resin material from a spent commercial article comprises contacting the commercial article with a solution of a dialkyl ketone and tetrahydrofuran, and granulating the resin material, and recovering the resulting resin granules. The present method is useful for the recovery of synthetic resins including polyolefins, polycarbonates and vinyl polymers. The granulated resins recovered have a high purity in addition to retaining the properties and composition of the original resin material, and little or none of the solution utilized in the recovery process is lost. In the instance where the resin is being removed from a metal substrate, the surface of the substrate is undamaged and perfectly clean, and the recovery solution is free from metallic particles.

Abstract: Garbage to be converted is fed into the upper end of a vertical chamber. A gas collection chamber is provided around the upper end of the chamber and a blower is used for lowering the pressure in this gas collection chamber. The lower pressure causes a draw within a combustion zone defined at the lower end of the garbage chamber. The draw promotes combustion of garbage in the combustion zone much in the same manner that the draw by a pipe smoker will promote combustion within the bowl of his pipe. The gas collected in the gas chamber is delivered through a water filled cleaner or filter. The gas discharged from the upper end of the filter is ready for use in a power device or a furnace, or it may be collected and compressed or even liquified, into a storage container, for easy mobility and later use.

Abstract: A process of gasifying fine-grained solid fuels for the production of a product gas that contains hydrogen, carbon oxides and methane comprises a treatment with steam, oxygen and/or carbon dioxide in two interconnected gasifying stages under a pressure in the range from 2 to 150 bars and at temperatures of 500.degree. to 1500.degree. C. In the first gasifying stage, the fuel is gasified in a circulating fluidized bed by a treatment with gasifying stage. The residual solids which become available in the first gasifying stage are fed to the second gasifying stage and are virtually completely gasified therein, except for residual ash, by a treatment with a gasifying agent which includes oxygen. At least one-half of the product gas from the second gasifying stage is fed to the first gasifying stage and used as fluidizing fluid therein.

Abstract: An apparatus, used in the treatment of cans, is made up of a number of individual units, each of which essentially comprises a pair of drums that are mounted for rotation about parallel axes which are vertically disposed. One of the drums is used in the treatment of the interior of the cans, while the other is utilized in the treatment of the exterior of the cans. Each of the rotary drums is provided with means for holding a number of cans in circumferential alignment around the outer periphery of the drum such that the longitudinal axes of the cans are radially oriented relative to the rotational axes of the drums. Other means are provided to successively transfer the cans from one drum to another. A number of such units can be used, in tandem, to treat the cans beginning from washing, rinsing and drying of the cans to heating, coating and drying of the coated cans.

Abstract: A high temperature solids gasification generator which employs finely divided solids, e.g. powdered coal, has a down flow and discharges into a plenum chamber below the generator. The plenum chamber has a restricted outlet at the bottom so that a pool of liquid slag will form, and there is a lateral outlet above the slag pool for effluent gas. The lateral outlet has its throat located offset farther from the axis of the plenum chamber than the inside radius of the chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating an entrained flow coal gasifier (10) via a two-stage gasification process. A portion of the coal (18) to be gasified is combusted in a combustion zone (30) with near stoichiometric air to generate combustion products. The combustion products are conveyed from the combustion zone into a reduction zone (32) wherein additional coal is injected into the combustion products to react with the combustion products to form a combustible gas. The additional coal is injected into the reduction zone as a mixture (60) consisting of coal and steam, preferably with a coal-to-steam weight ratio of approximately ten to one.

Abstract: A process for cleaning tank interiors uses a rotary element and a cleanser discharge nozzle and monitors the completion of each full revolution of the rotary element. The cleanser quantity made available per unit of time is monitored and/or controlled or regulated. In the process, the time of each revolution of the rotary element is monitored in such a fashion that said time is represented by the spacing in time of two voltage pulses, with the last voltage pulse serving as a reset pulse for the monitoring time. The monitoring time represents the requirement of a sufficient cleaning effect and exceeds by an adjustable percentage the set time of revolution for a rotary element. In the event each rotary element revolution is completed within the monitoring time, the monitoring begins anew. In the event that the time of revolution of the rotary element exceeds the monitoring time, an electrical, optical, or acoustical malfunction or control signal is given.

Abstract: Disclosed is a refuse disposal apparatus in which refuse fed into a fermenting vat can be disposed by subjecting the refuse to methane fermentation, the fermenting vat including a heating device for heating the refuse in the fermenting vat to a proper temperature for accelerated methane fermentation, and the refuse being agitated by an agitating device in the fermenting vat, so that methane produced in the fermenting vat by the methane fermentation may be externally collected by means of a gas collecting pipe for use as an everlasting heat source, and that sludge produced by the methane fermentation of the refuse in the fermenting vat may be discharged to the outside through a discharge pipe for use as fertilizer.

Abstract: A biologically creative polyamide net which is non-allergenic, non-carcinogenic, non-toxic and compatible with the human body is obtained by treating a polyamide net knit in a sequence of washing operations and activating the net with a solution of a antibacterial composition at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The hot raw synthesis gas stream leaving the reaction zone of a free flow partial oxidation gas generator at a temperature in the range of about 1800.degree. to 3000.degree. F. is passed through a first gas diversion and residue separation zone where the velocity of the gas stream is reduced and its direction is diverted into a side transfer line. Solid material and molten slag separate by gravity from the gas stream. The hot gas stream is then introduced into a second gas diversion and residue separation zone where the direction and velocity is changed and additional residue is separated. About 0.5 to 20 vol. % of the hot gas stream may be passed through bottom outlets in said first and second gas diversion zones in order to prevent bridging. The hot gas stream from the second gas diversion zone is passed upwardly through a radiant cooler where additional solid matter is removed by gravity and the gas temperature is reduced to a temperature in the range of about 900.degree. to 1800.degree. F.