Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbons can be selectively separated to provide one or more heavy deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the heavy deasphalted oil can be thermally cracked to provide one or more lighter hydrocarbon products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbons can be selectively separated to provide one or more heavy deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the heavy deasphalted oil can be cracked using a fluidized catalytic cracker to provide one or more lighter hydrocarbon products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbon feedstocks can be selectively separated to provide one or more light deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the light deasphalted oil can be hydrocracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products.

Abstract: A method for dewatering and deasphalting a hydrocarbon feed is provided. A hydrocarbon feed containing one or more hydrocarbons, asphaltenes and water can be mixed or otherwise combined with one or more solvents. The addition of the solvent sufficiently decreases the density of the hydrocarbon feed to enable gravity settling of the water phase, providing an oil phase containing one or more hydrocarbons, asphaltenes and solvents. The asphaltenes can be separated from the oil phase to provide an asphaltene mixture containing asphaltenes and a portion of the solvents and a deasphalted oil containing one or more hydrocarbons and the balance of the solvents. The solvents can be separated from the asphaltenes and deasphalted oil, and recycled to the initial mixing step wherein the solvent is mixed or otherwise combined with one or more solvents.

Abstract: Generating a plurality of database cluster failover policy availability configuration modeling solutions by a database cluster management system in an environment of networked computer systems includes receiving a first signal from a user system specifying one of a plurality of database cluster failover policy type behavior patterns. The database cluster management system determines whether generating any of the failover policy type behavior patterns requires additional supplemental data. If no supplemental data are required, then the database cluster management system generates general database cluster policy solutions. If supplemental data are required, then the system utilizes an algorithm to generate unique, specific policy solutions by creating failover node sequences for each of the plurality of failover policy type behavior patterns requiring such additional supplemental data.

Abstract: Generating in a computer system and deploying a data model of a plurality of database cluster configuration availability solutions over a computer network by creating a database cluster configuration modeling specification including objects contained in a unified model language diagram providing a definition of a database cluster configuration data model. Creating the database cluster configuration data model using the database cluster configuration modeling specification and upon receiving signals from a graphical user interface or from XML batch data files or from application programming interfaces, indicating the definition of the cluster configuration model.

Abstract: Presented are embodiments of methods and systems that create an open ad exchange for online advertising by creating and running a premium ad exchange to provide pricing control to both publishers and advertisers. Techniques are presented where advertisement campaigns are matched with ad spot for sale on relevant pages based on a bid-ask price scheme. Further, techniques are presented for allowing publishers of advertisements to still realize revenue when the exchange cannot sell an impression at an asking price by sending that impression to a backup tag.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for presenting to a user relevant areas of distributed computer network sites. In particular, the invention disclosed infers and cross reference user mind sets with data store of potential user goals. The user mind sets indicate a navigational goal of a user over the distributed computer network. In addition, the invention cross-references indicated user goals with data stores of service and service providers providing those services. The invention presents targeted service and service providers to the user across the distributed computer network thereby enabling the user to navigate towards the user goal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing hydrocarbons are provided. A hydrocarbon can be distilled to provide a distillate, a gas oil, and a residue. The residue can include, but is not limited to asphaltenes and non-asphaltenes. The residue can be mixed with a solvent to provide a mixture. The asphaltenes can be selectively separated from the mixture to provide a deasphalted oil. At least a portion of the deasphalted oil and at least a portion of the gas oil can be hydroprocessed to provide a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon. At least a portion of the distillate and at least a portion of the hydroprocessed hydrocarbon can be cracked in a first reaction zone to provide a first cracked product comprising C2 hydrocarbons, C3 hydrocarbons, C4 hydrocarbons, and naphtha.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for presenting to a user relevant areas of distributed computer network sites. In particular, the invention disclosed infers and cross reference user mind sets with data store's of potential user goals. The user mind sets indicate a navigational goal of a user over the distributed computer network. In addition, the invention cross-references indicated user goals with data stores of service and service providers providing those services. The invention presents targeted service and service providers to the user across the distributed computer network thereby enabling the user to navigate towards the user goal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for presenting to a user relevant areas of distributed computer network sites. In particular, the invention disclosed infers and cross reference user mind sets with data stores of potential user goals. The user mind sets indicate a navigational goal of a user over the distributed computer network. In addition, the invention cross-references indicated user goals with data stores of service and service providers providing those services. The invention presents targeted service and service providers to the user across the distributed computer network thereby enabling the user to navigate towards the user goal.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of alpha-methyl-styrene (AMS) to cumene in a two catalyst system is disclosed. A crude cumene feed stream containing up to 10% AMS by weight is supplied to the first reaction zone 112 and mixed with hydrogen in a first catalyst bed 118 containing a nickel catalyst, converting from 70 to 95 percent of the AMS to cumene. Cumene and remaining AMS are separated from hydrogen in a liquid take off tray 120. The first reaction zone 112 effluent is supplied to a second reaction zone 114, where the effluent and hydrogen gas are mixed in a second catalyst bed 126 containing a noble-metal catalyst to substantially convert any remaining AMS to cumene. Cumene is collected, separated from the hydrogen, and can be resupplied to the hydrogenation reactor 110, or supplied as feed to a phenol synthesis loop.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for presenting to a user relevant areas of distributed computer network sites. In particular, the invention disclosed infers and cross reference user mind sets with data stores of potential user goals. The user mind sets indicate a navigational goal of a user over the distributed computer network. In addition, the invention cross-references indicated user goals with data stores of service and service providers providing those services. The invention presents targeted service and service providers to the user across the distributed computer network thereby enabling the user to navigate towards the user goal.

Abstract: A method and system to operate an Internet-based exchange that offers commoditized Ad Media. The system receives the identity of Ad Media from a publisher, automatically classifies the Ad Media so as to associate the classified Ad Media with other like Ad Media and groups the associated Ad Media into buckets forming a commoditized Ad Media, which is offered for purchase or sale over the Internet as tradable units on the exchange. The system includes a media ownership rules module, containing business rules, in communication with a media trades record module containing records of ownership interests, a classification module, an ad server registry module containing configuration information specific to a plurality of ad servers, and a tag routing module that receives ad requests for advertisements from an Internet browser and forwards the ad requests back to the Internet browser for rerouting to an ad server.

Abstract: Methods and systems are directed to managing a protocol network failure in a network clustering system. A cluster master and each client member in the cluster are configured to determine a primary protocol network, a secondary protocol network, and the like, for exchanging a cluster protocol message. Each client member in the cluster determines its ‘active protocol network’ from at least the primary protocol network, and the secondary protocol network when it joins the cluster. Each client member tests its connectivity to the cluster master through the primary protocol network. If a client member detects a failure on the primary protocol network, it dynamically fails over to the secondary protocol network, or the like, without leaving the cluster. If connectivity to the primary protocol network is restored, the client member dynamically resumes the protocol message exchange on the primary protocol network without leaving the cluster.

Abstract: Presented are embodiments of methods and systems that provide for Internet advertisement pricing and placement to be variably based on the advertisement's performance within a given category of Internet media, while at the same time achieving predictable delivery and pricing for both advertisers and publishers. Techniques are presented where an advertiser's online campaign will be pre-empted only for underperformance on its own merits, and not for its relative performance or price versus other advertisers. Further, techniques are presented for allowing publishers of advertisements to realize increased revenue from their high value media while using tag passbacks to secure a minimum reserve pricing of their choice.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of alpha-methyl-styrene (AMS) to cumene in a two catalyst system is disclosed. A crude cumene feed stream containing up to 10% AMS by weight is supplied to the first reaction zone 112 and mixed with hydrogen in a first catalyst bed 118 containing a nickel catalyst, converting from 70 to 95 percent of the AMS to cumene. Cumene and remaining AMS are separated from hydrogen in a liquid take off tray 120. The first reaction zone 112 5effluent is supplied to a second reaction zone 114, where the effluent and hydrogen gas are mixed in a second catalyst bed 126 containing a noble-metal catalyst to substantially convert any remaining AMS to cumene. Cumene is collected, separated from the hydrogen, and can be resupplied to the hydrogenation reactor 110, or supplied as feed to a phenol synthesis loop.

Abstract: A method for operating a dimerization reactor that receives a hydrocarbon feed and produces an output stream comprising a light hydrocarbon component, a dimer and an alcohol component comprises: (a) separating the first output stream into a top stream containing the light hydrocarbon and a bottom stream containing the dimer, with the alcohol being present in the top stream or the bottom stream or both; (b) contacting at least one of the bottom and top streams with a water stream so as to extract at least a major portion of the alcohol therefrom, thereby forming an water/alcohol stream; (c) contacting the water/alcohol stream with a hydrocarbon stream so as to extract at least a major portion of the alcohol present in the water/alcohol stream into the hydrocarbon stream, thereby forming an alcohol-enriched hydrocarbon stream; and (d) feeding the alcohol-enriched hydrocarbon stream into the dimerization reactor.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are directed to maximizing network connectivity after a network failure in a network clustering system. A cluster master in a cluster is configured to manage membership to the cluster based, in part, on a connectivity of the members to adjacent networks. A network device sends information about its connectivity to the cluster master. The cluster master compares the received information to determine whether the network device has different connectivity than the cluster. If the network device has different connectivity, the cluster master may deny cluster membership to the network device. By rejecting network devices with different connectivity, the invention ensures that data received by the cluster may be delivered with substantially equal reliability by virtually any of the cluster members. Thus, even the cluster master may be rejected from membership to the cluster.

Abstract: Methods and systems are directed to managing a protocol network failure in a network clustering system. A cluster master and each client member in the cluster are configured to determine a primary protocol network, a secondary protocol network, and the like, for exchanging a cluster protocol message. Each client member in the cluster determines its ‘active protocol network’ from at least the primary protocol network, and the secondary protocol network when it joins the cluster. Each client member tests its connectivity to the cluster master through the primary protocol network. If a client member detects a failure on the primary protocol network, it dynamically fails over to the secondary protocol network, or the like, without leaving the cluster. If connectivity to the primary protocol network is restored, the client member dynamically resumes the protocol message exchange on the primary protocol network without leaving the cluster.