Abstract: A novel steam reforming catalyst comprising hibonite and potassium beta-alumina with improved resilience, improved activity, reduced potassium leaching and reduced coking problems. It also regards a method for producing the novel catalyst and uses of the novel catalyst in reforming reactors, in a plant for producing hydrogen gas, or in a plant for producing synthesis gas.

Abstract: A smart cellphone application is used as sound pressure level meter for determining if ambient noise infringes the legal limit, and sends evidence to prove the infringement to the law enforcement agency. The application play in the speaker at least one reference burst tone, and use Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to achieve the mentioned functionality.

Abstract: A smart cellphone application is used as sound pressure level meter for determining if ambient noise infringes the legal limit, and sends evidence to prove the infringement to the law enforcement agency. The application play in the speaker at least one reference burst tone, and use Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to achieve the mentioned functionality.

Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst, comprising the steps of modifying a carrier by a first impregnation with at least one alkaline earth metal in a first metal precursor solution, the first metal precursor being decomposed to form at least one metal oxide or metal hydroxide, thereby obtaining a modified carrier. A second impregnation is carried out by incipient wetness by a second precursor solution comprising at least one metal Me in a second solution. Finally, the second precursor is decomposed, thereby obtaining a catalyst body having an enrichment of the at least one metal Me in the outer shell of the catalyst body, the metal being present in a concentration having either as an egg-shell profile or a hammock profile.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a cashless way to purchase products or services from offline Vending Machines VM in which the seller receives an electronic transfer of funds before the machine dispenses the purchased products. Using one copy of the WordPress software for each offline VM the sellers can receive payments directly into their PayPal accounts. Buyers can pay using their credit cards or PayPal account. Buyers using Google Maps can locate the nearby machines and the web site associated to them, so that they can purchase products walking to the desired machine. When buyers get close to the VM a special message created and sent by its Smart Cellular Phone SCP commands the VM to dispense the purchased product. The special message contains synchronized time information to protect against message cloning to obtain products without paying.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of processing unit. Each processing unit includes notification storage circuitry configured to store a notification indicator corresponding to each processing unit which indicates whether the processing unit has an outstanding coherent memory request, and multiple request storage circuitry configured to store a multiple request indicator corresponding to each processing unit which indicates whether the processing unit has more than one outstanding request. The data processing system also includes an interconnect network coupled between the processing units and configured to broadcast coherent memory requests from a requesting processing unit of the plurality of processing units to other processing units of the plurality of processing units.

Abstract: The present application relates to a process for producing a catalyst,said process comprising the steps of: providing a carrier and following modifying said carrier by a first impregnation with at least one alkaline earth metal in a first metal precursor solution. The first metal precursor is decomposed to form at least one metal oxide or metal hydroxide thereby obtaining a modified carrier and a second impregnation is carried out by incipient wetness by a second precursor solution comprising at least one metal Me in a second solution. Finally the second precursor is decomposed thereby obtaining a catalyst body having an enrichment of the at least one metal Me in the outer shell of the catalyst body, said at least one metal being present in a concentration having either as an egg-shell profile or a hammock profile.

Abstract: Ordered write transactions from requester devices to multiple target devices are controlled using switch point networks. The requester device and the multiple target devices for the write transactions are coupled to a network of interconnected switch points. Write requests are generated for a plurality of parcels associated with a block of data to be written. The write requests have a particular order associated with an order in which the parcels are to be written, and these write requests are provided to the switch point interconnection network in the particular order. At least one of the switch points is then used to control the flow of write requests to the multiple target devices such that the particular order is maintained. In one embodiment, the target devices are memory devices, and the particular order is based upon the AXI (Advanced eXtensible Interface) protocol.

Abstract: A plurality of processing units are interconnected by a coherency network in accordance with a directed spanning tree. Each processing unit that is a leaf of the directed spanning tree includes processing circuitry to provide a coherency response in response to a snoop request. Each processing unit which is not a root or leaf of the directed spanning tree includes switch point circuitry having one or more ingress ports coupled to neighboring processing units in accordance with the directed spanning tree. The switch point circuitry includes a coherency tracking table configured to store a combined coherency response in response to a particular snoop request based on one or more coherency responses received at the one or more ingress ports from the neighboring processing units.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a plurality of processing unit. Each processing unit includes notification storage circuitry configured to store a notification indicator corresponding to each processing unit which indicates whether the processing unit has an outstanding coherent memory request, and multiple request storage circuitry configured to store a multiple request indicator corresponding to each processing unit which indicates whether the processing unit has more than one outstanding request. The data processing system also includes an interconnect network coupled between the processing units and configured to broadcast coherent memory requests from a requesting processing unit of the plurality of processing units to other processing units of the plurality of processing units.

Abstract: A network having a plurality of switch points, each switch point having both a main multi-stage pipeline and a look-ahead pipeline between input ports and output ports of the plurality of switch points is described. The look-ahead pipeline has fewer pipeline stages than the main multi-stage pipeline. Look-ahead information and corresponding packet are received at an input port. A first stage look-ahead request is generated from the look-ahead information. A second stage look-ahead request is generated in response to the first stage look-ahead request being not granted. And in response to the second stage look-ahead request being granted, transmitting a packet through the switch point using the look-ahead pipeline.

Abstract: Piggy-back snoops are used for non-coherent memory transactions in distributed processing systems. Coherent and non-coherent memory transactions are received from a plurality of processing cores within a distributed processing system. Non-coherent snoop information for the non-coherent memory transactions is combined with coherent snoop information for the coherent memory transactions to form expanded snoop messages. The expanded snoop messages are then output to a snoop bus interconnect during snoop cycles for the distributed processing system. As such, when the processing cores monitor the snoop bus interconnect, the processing cores receive the non-coherent snoop information along with coherent snoop information within the same snoop cycle. While this piggy-backing of non-coherent snoop information with coherent snoop information uses an expanded snoop bus interconnect, usage of the coherent snoop bandwidth is significantly reduced thereby improving overall performance of the distributed processing system.

Abstract: A network having a plurality of switch points, each switch point having both a main multi-stage pipeline and a look-ahead pipeline between input ports and output ports of the plurality of switch points is described. The look-ahead pipeline has fewer pipeline stages than the main multi-stage pipeline. Look-ahead information and corresponding packet are received at an input port. A first stage look-ahead request is generated from the look-ahead information. A second stage look-ahead request is generated in response to the first stage look-ahead request being not granted. And in response to the second stage look-ahead request being granted, transmitting a packet through the switch point using the look-ahead pipeline.

Abstract: A plurality of processing units are interconnected by a coherency network in accordance with a directed spanning tree. Each processing unit that is a leaf of the directed spanning tree includes processing circuitry to provide a coherency response in response to a snoop request. Each processing unit which is not a root or leaf of the directed spanning tree includes switch point circuitry having one or more ingress ports coupled to neighboring processing units in accordance with the directed spanning tree. The switch point circuitry includes a coherency tracking table configured to store a combined coherency response in response to a particular snoop request based on one or more coherency responses received at the one or more ingress ports from the neighboring processing units.

Abstract: An egg-shell catalyst consisting of an active compound in the form of an alloy of nickel and one of iridium, rhodium and ruthenium, on a support comprising alumina, zirconia, magnesia, titania or combinations thereof. The catalyst is used in a process for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Ordered write transactions from requester devices to multiple target devices are controlled using switch point networks. The requester device and the multiple target devices for the write transactions are coupled to a network of interconnected switch points. Write requests are generated for a plurality of parcels associated with a block of data to be written. The write requests have a particular order associated with an order in which the parcels are to be written, and these write requests are provided to the switch point interconnection network in the particular order. At least one of the switch points is then used to control the flow of write requests to the multiple target devices such that the particular order is maintained. In one embodiment, the target devices are memory devices, and the particular order is based upon the AXI (Advanced eXtensible Interface) protocol.

Abstract: Piggy-back snoops are used for non-coherent memory transactions in distributed processing systems. Coherent and non-coherent memory transactions are received from a plurality of processing cores within a distributed processing system. Non-coherent snoop information for the non-coherent memory transactions is combined with coherent snoop information for the coherent memory transactions to form expanded snoop messages. The expanded snoop messages are then output to a snoop bus interconnect during snoop cycles for the distributed processing system. As such, when the processing cores monitor the snoop bus interconnect, the processing cores receive the non-coherent snoop information along with coherent snoop information within the same snoop cycle. While this piggy-backing of non-coherent snoop information with coherent snoop information uses an expanded snoop bus interconnect, usage of the coherent snoop bandwidth is significantly reduced thereby improving overall performance of the distributed processing system.

Abstract: An egg-shell catalyst consisting of an active compound in the form of an alloy of nickel and one of iridium, rhodium and ruthenium, on a support comprising alumina, zirconia, magnesia, titania or combinations thereof. The catalyst is used in a process for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method to send a monetary value corresponding to the value of a US dollar bill feed to a device operated by the person that want to send a cash to a friend or relative. In one embodiment of the invention, the person that wants to send monetary value to another person just places a phone call on the device described on this invention and during the conversation feeds one bill to the device which could be returned back if in few seconds there is no verification that a corresponding monetary value has been received by the other person, similarly additional bills could be fed to the device. To gain trust, the device could show the pictures of the recipient, sound bites and other information such as name, address, and account balance to mention some examples.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the security of containers and the goods within them and for tracking a shipping container from its origin to its destination. A shipping container uses a breach containment system comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, a status record and a plurality of conductors to detect any breach of the shipping container structure. The conductors are embedded in, or applied to, the structures that form the shipping container and are connected a processor. The processor maintains a local timer. Upon the sealing of the shipping container, the conductors form circuits and the local timer contributes a time value to the status record. An open circuit condition experienced by circuits formed by the conductors causes the local timer to be reset and status record to be revised to reflect the revised time value. A monitoring station maintains a master timer that is synchronized with the local timer when the shipping container is sealed.