Abstract: Currently lacking are effective and accurate tools to help petroleum traders and logistics personnel to make better decisions, collaborate in real-time and negotiate deals in a private and secure environment. The present invention addresses this and other needs in the industry. In particular, the present invention provides automated workflow management for a series of workflow tasks by mapping the workflow tasks to a collaborative workflow process comprising: roles, users, business processes and computer executable activities. A workflow object is received that supplies information used to set particular attributes of the roles, the users, the business activities and the computer executable activities of the collaborative workflow process. Information and data objects are shared electronically among the users performing certain of the roles. At least one of the activities is automatically executed, such that the workflow is automatically managed.

Abstract: Currently lacking are effective and accurate tools to help petroleum traders and logistics personnel to make better decisions, collaborate in real-time and negotiate deals in a private and secure environment. The present invention addresses this and other needs in the industry. In particular, the present invention provides a non-client computer resident method optimizes vessel scheduling by aggregating vessel information. At least some of the vessel information is automatically downloaded from an electronic source. The aggregated vessel information is stored in a vessel information database comprising vessel information database records. Information is obtained about a potential vessel contracting transaction. The vessel information database is searched in a real-time manner to match the potential vessel contracting transaction to at least one of the vessel information database records such that the vessel contracting transaction is optimized.

Abstract: A retainer clip includes a ratchet plate and a cooperating pawl for anchoring a sink to a countertop with a press-in, above-counter installation. The ratchet plate has a plurality of detents and is affixed to an edge of a cutout in the countertop. The pawl includes a spring element mountable to the sink and has at least one upwardly angled, resilient tab which successively engages the ratchet plate detents with a one-way action as the sink moves downwardly in the cutout. When the sink is fully inserted, the tab seats upwardly in a detent of the ratchet plate. In an embodiment, the pawl includes multiple tabs having slightly different lengths to provide an installation tolerance that is less than an incremental distance between ratchet plate detents.

Abstract: A retainer clip includes a ratchet plate and a cooperating pawl for anchoring a sink to a countertop with a press-in, above-counter installation. The ratchet plate has a plurality of detents and is affixed to an edge of a cutout in the countertop. The pawl includes a spring element mountable to the sink and has at least one upwardly angled, resilient tab which successively engages the ratchet plate detents with a one-way action as the sink moves downwardly in the cutout. When the sink is fully inserted, the tab seats upwardly in a detent of the ratchet plate. In an embodiment, the pawl includes multiple tabs having slightly different lengths to provide an installation tolerance that is less than an incremental distance between ratchet plate detents.

Abstract: Currently lacking are effective and accurate tools to help petroleum traders and logistics personnel to make better decisions, collaborate in real-time and negotiate deals in a private and secure environment. The present invention addresses this and other needs in the industry.

Abstract: Currently lacking are effective and accurate tools to help petroleum traders and logistics personnel to make better decisions, collaborate in real-time and negotiate deals in a private and secure environment. The present invention addresses this and other needs in the industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides software that includes various computer tools for the different individuals (crude and product traders, planners/analysts, brokers, schedulers, vessel owners/brokers, terminal operators, pipeline operators and cash brokers, etc.) involved in crude oil trading. In the preferred embodiment, the invention system is an on-line, real-time user interactive software system. The invention system includes three pieces of functionality: decision support tools: a broad set of powerful tools for accurate, on-the-fly deal evaluation and decision making including crude oil evaluation, product component blending and trading, arbitrage identification, transportation and vessel selection optimization. collaborative workflow environment: delivered via role-based consoles, this increases staff productivity by capturing the relationships between people, organizations, deal and deadlines to coordinate and synchronize the workflow within and between companies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting multiple configurations/sizes of random access memory devices in a single socket architecture is provided. In general, the address lines of the microprocessor are interconnected through a multiplexer and buffer arrangement that divides the address lines into two groups. The two groups of address bits, so divided, are selectively routed to predetermined pin connections of a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) socket that interconnect with predetermined address lines of the resident random access memory. The address bits are transmitted to the pin connections during each of the row address cycle and the column address cycle of the memory. The interconnections between the multiplexer/buffer and the random access memory are arranged so that a variety of standardized address pin configurations are supported by the same socket.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting multiple types and configurations of random access memory devices in a single dual in line memory module (DIMM) socket architecture is provided. Typically, this architecture allows a user to select either SDRAM or EDO to be located in the socket(s) without substantially altering the connectivity between circuit components. A switching arrangement, that can be either active switches or fixed circuit traces, is used to selectively interconnect various control and addressing functions inherent in the microprocessor to appropriate pins of the memory device socket(s) depending upon whether EDO or SDRAM is used. In general, the address lines of the microprocessor are interconnected through a multiplexer and buffer arrangement that divides the address lines into two groups. The address bits are transmitted to the pin connections during each of the row address cycle and the column address cycle of the memory.