Abstract: Embodiments of an invention a processor architecture are disclosed. In an embodiment, a processor includes a decoder, an execution unit, a coherent cache, and an interconnect. The decoder is to decode an instruction to zero a cache line. The execution unit is to issue a write command to initiate a cache line sized write of zeros. The coherent cache is to receive the write command, to determine whether there is a hit in the coherent cache and whether a cache coherency protocol state of the hit cache line is a modified state or an exclusive state, to configure a cache line to indicate all zeros, and to issue the write command toward the interconnect. The interconnect is to, responsive to receipt of the write command, issue a snoop to each of a plurality of other coherent caches for which it must be determined if there is a hit.

Abstract: A method of monitoring steam traps to identify which steam traps are malfunctioning is described and claimed. The method involves surveying the building to locate all the steam traps, identifying where to place the sensors to monitor the steam traps of interest, placing the sensors in appropriate locations, collecting the signals from each sensor in a collection point, monitoring the collected signals to identify which steam traps are not operating as desired and taking corrective action regarding those steam traps that are not operating as desired. The method enables the operator of the industrial water system using steam traps to be able to reduce the cost of wasted energy in lost steam.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for transacting secure purchase and bill payment transactions.

Abstract: A terminal is provided for allowing a user to conduct remote purchase payment and remote bill payment transactions with a remote host computer. In one embodiment, the terminal includes a QWERTY alphabetic keyboard (14), a numeric keypad (16), a magnetic card reader (54), a display (12), a printer (52), a modem (338), an earphone 402, a microphone 404, and a cellular phone 408 all integral to the terminal. A controller is included for operating the terminal and communicating with the remote host computer system via the modem, the controller coupled to the QWERTY alphabetic keyboard (14), the numeric keyboard (16), the magnetic card reader (54), the display (12), the printer (52), and the modem (338).

Abstract: It is the object of this invention to provide a terminal and system to allow debit and credit card holders the ability to conveniently perform various transactions from their home or office. The terminal is a single device, which has an alphabetic QWERTY keyboard, a numeric touch tone type keypad, miscellaneous other keys, a magnetic card reader, a display, a printer, a modem, and a serial port. The terminal firmware supports various financial transactions including: purchase payment, bill payment, and settlement review. The terminal supports initialization, encryption, transaction generation, transaction transmission and data reception from a host system and receipt printing. A local data base including a transaction log and a profile list are maintained in the terminal memory. The transaction log stores purchase payment information and is stored as a stack and the profile list has entries for each specific bill pay account.

Abstract: A cover for a woman's shoe of a type having a projecting heel, a shoe front sole, and an upper defining a foot opening and including a shoe toe area, a shoe upper heel area, and a shoe upper instep area, the combination including: a stretch cover for covering a surface of a woman's shoe having a D shaped opening in the stretch cover for receiving the shoe into the stretch cover; an elastic band for retaining the stretch cover on the shoe upper heel area attached to the opening in the stretch cover; and a overlap cover, integral to the stretch cover and forming a straight side of the D shaped opening in the stretch cover, for stretching the stretch cover over the shoe toe area and the shoe upper instep area adapted to stretch across the foot opening in the shoe from the shoe toe area to over the shoe upper instep area when the shoe is inserted into the stretch cover and before a foot is inserted into the shoe, and adapted to stretch down and inside the shoe toe area thereby stretching the stretch cover over th