Abstract: A process is provided to produce a micronized sulphur powder product, including the preparation of a micronized sulphur emulsion from molten sulphur and a dispersant solution, including a surfactant in a concentration less than the critical micelle concentration of the surfactant.

Abstract: A device and corresponding systems and methods are provided for wrapping an object resting on an object conveyor defining an object path, the object conveyor conveying the object in a forward direction along the object path, the device comprising: an orbital wrapping mechanism configured to travel in an elliptical path around the object path and to deposit a stretch wrapping material; a wrapping material conveyor configured for cooperation with the object conveyor, the wrapping material conveyor positioned beneath the object conveyor such that when the orbital wrapping mechanism travels along the elliptical path, the orbital wrapping mechanism deposits the stretch wrapping material around both at least a portion of the object and at least a portion of the wrapping material conveyor, the wrapping material conveyor having at least one bearing surface in contact with the stretch wrapping material and movable in a forward direction such that the stretch wrapping material is conveyed along with the object in the f

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided in relation to a wrapping machine for wrapping packages, and more particularly, to a film-breaking apparatus for use with a wrapping machine having a dispenser carriage movable along a wrapping axis for wrapping a film around a package. The film-breaking apparatus includes a trigger arm coupled to the dispenser carriage; a puncturing arm including a puncturing member, the puncturing arm pivotably connected to the trigger arm such that the trigger arm is free to rotate relative to the puncturing arm in a first rotational direction, and rotationally coupled to the puncturing arm in a second rotational direction. The puncturing arm is configured to puncture the film being dispensed by the dispenser carriage with the puncturing member when rotated by the trigger arm.

Abstract: A device and corresponding systems and methods are provided for wrapping an object resting on an object conveyor defining an object path, the object conveyor conveying the object in a forward direction along the object path, the device comprising: an orbital wrapping mechanism configured to travel in an elliptical path around the object path and to deposit a stretch wrapping material; a wrapping material conveyor configured for cooperation with the object conveyor, the wrapping material conveyor positioned beneath the object conveyor such that when the orbital wrapping mechanism travels along the elliptical path, the orbital wrapping mechanism deposits the stretch wrapping material around both at least a portion of the object and at least a portion of the wrapping material conveyor, the wrapping material conveyor having at least one bearing surface in contact with the stretch wrapping material and movable in a forward direction such that the stretch wrapping material is conveyed along with the object in the f

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a message from a network element to a remote data plane element in order to request a data plane resource for hosting a session for a particular subscriber. The remote data plane element is designated to host a data plane function for a particular mobile network subscriber and the data plane resource comprises at least one of memory space and processor allocation. The method further includes discovering nodes capable of supporting the control plane functions; discovering nodes capable of supporting the data plane functions for the session; and performing a system-specific internal configuration to support separation of the data plane functions and the control plane functions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A data flow is received at a network processor that includes a plurality of frames. A first set of frames in the plurality of frames are passed from the network processor to a general processor for processing by the general processor. A flow acceleration request is received at the network processor from the general processor based at least in part on inspection of a first frame in the first set of frames. The flow acceleration request is received subsequent to passing at least two of the first set of frames to the general processor. A particular frame in the plurality of frames received subsequent to the first set of frames is processed by the network processor such that it is accelerated relative to processing of the first set of frames by the general processor and bypasses the general processor.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided in relation to a wrapping machine for wrapping packages, and more particularly, to a film-breaking apparatus for use with a wrapping machine having a dispenser carriage movable along a wrapping axis for wrapping a film around a package. The film-breaking apparatus includes a trigger arm coupled to the dispenser carriage; a puncturing arm including a puncturing member, the puncturing arm pivotably connected to the trigger arm such that the trigger arm is free to rotate relative to the puncturing arm in a first rotational direction, and rotationally coupled to the puncturing arm in a second rotational direction. The puncturing arm is configured to puncture the film being dispensed by the dispenser carriage with the puncturing member when rotated by the trigger arm.

Abstract: At least one first frame of a first data flow is inspected by a general processing unit to associate the first data flow with an aggregate session, the aggregate session corresponding to a first set of aggregate data flows including the first data flow and at least one other data flow. Acceleration of the first data flow, by a network processing unit, can be authorized based on the inspection of the at least one first frame. Acceleration of the first data flow can be subject to at least a set of conditions including an aggregate trigger, the aggregate trigger defining that the acceleration of at least the first data flow be halted in response to an aggregate threshold amount of traffic being detected among the first set of aggregate data flows.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes maintaining a correlation between a domain name and a plurality of Internet protocol (IP) addresses included in a domain name system (“DNS”) response to a DNS request in connection with DNS exchange between a subscriber and a DNS server, wherein each of the IP addresses corresponds to one of a plurality of web servers associated with the domain name; receiving from the subscriber a packet associated with a flow; identifying an IP address within the packet as being one of the plurality of IP addresses included in the DNS response; and executing a policy decision for the subsequent flow without inspecting the contents of the subsequent flow at layer 7 based on an identity of the subscriber and the domain name correlated to the identified IP address, wherein the policy decision comprises charging a different rate for a particular flow.

Abstract: At least one first frame of a first data flow is inspected by a general processing unit to at least determine whether a subsequent portion of the first data flow can be delegated to a network processing unit for accelerated processing. A deceleration trigger is defined for the first data flow from the inspection of the first frame. A first subsequent portion of the first data flow is delegated to a network processing unit for accelerated processing based, at least in part, on the defining of the first deceleration trigger. The first deceleration trigger defines at least one first condition that, when met during accelerated processing of the first data flow, prompts returning processing of the first data flow from the network processing unit to the general processing unit for further inspection of subsequent packets.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, availability information describing virtual machines running on physical machines is accessed. The availability information associates each virtual machine with a physical resource used by the virtual machine. Use by the virtual machines is determined from the availability information. Availability of the physical resources is determined according to the use. Server load is balanced according to the availability of the physical resources. According to another embodiment, the following is performed until a load is accommodated: selecting a server having a load that is less than an expansion threshold; loading the server until the expansion threshold is reached; selecting a next server having a load that is less than a next expansion threshold; and loading the next server until the next expansion threshold is reached. Load of a low load server is determined to be below a contraction threshold, and the low load server is drained.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes maintaining a correlation between a domain name and a plurality of Internet protocol (IP) addresses included in a domain name system (“DNS”) response to a DNS request in connection with DNS exchange between a subscriber and a DNS server, wherein each of the IP addresses corresponds to one of a plurality of web servers associated with the domain name; receiving from the subscriber a packet associated with a flow; identifying an IP address within the packet as being one of the plurality of IP addresses included in the DNS response; and executing a policy decision for the subsequent flow without inspecting the contents of the subsequent flow at layer 7 based on an identity of the subscriber and the domain name correlated to the identified IP address, wherein the policy decision comprises charging a different rate for a particular flow.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating a message from a network element to a remote data plane element in order to request a data plane resource for hosting a session for a particular subscriber. The remote data plane element is designated to host a data plane function for a particular mobile network subscriber and the data plane resource comprises at least one of memory space and processor allocation. The method further includes discovering nodes capable of supporting the control plane functions; discovering nodes capable of supporting the data plane functions for the session; and performing a system-specific internal configuration to support separation of the data plane functions and the control plane functions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more packets of a communication session from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The method further includes associating the communication session to an end user with a source Internet Protocol (IP) address of the packet if the packet is received from the subscriber interface or to an end user with a destination IP address of the packet if the packet is received from the network interface.

Abstract: A data flow is received at a network processor that includes a plurality of frames. A first set of frames in the plurality of frames are passed from the network processor to a general processor for processing by the general processor. A flow acceleration request is received at the network processor from the general processor based at least in part on inspection of a first frame in the first set of frames. The flow acceleration request is received subsequent to passing at least two of the first set of frames to the general processor. A particular frame in the plurality of frames received subsequent to the first set of frames is processed by the network processor such that it is accelerated relative to processing of the first set of frames by the general processor and bypasses the general processor.