1. A computer system comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
an execution data collection mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the execution data collection mechanism collecting execution data for the computer system;
an execution data transmission mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the execution data transmission mechanism, when enabled, transmitting at least a portion of the execution data to another computer system coupled to the computer system via a network; and
an execution data access mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the execution data access mechanism allowing access to the execution data by a user of the computer system only if the execution data transmission mechanism is enabled.
2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the computer system comprises a customer computer system and the another computer system comprises a vendor computer system.
3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor.
4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by a software application residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor.
5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an analysis program residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor.
6. A networked computer system comprising:
(A) a first computer system;
(B) a second computer system coupled to the first computer system via a network, the second computer system comprising:
(B1) an execution data collection mechanism that collects execution data for the second computer system;
(B2) an execution data transmission mechanism that, when enabled, transmits at least a portion of the execution data to the first computer system; and
(B3) an execution data access mechanism that allows access to the execution data by a user of the second computer system only if the execution data transmission mechanism is enabled.
7. The networked computer system of claim 6 wherein the first computer system comprises a vendor computer system and the second computer system comprises a customer computer system.
8. The networked computer system of claim 6 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an operating system.
9. The networked computer system of claim 6 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by a software application.
10. The networked computer system of claim 6 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an analysis program.
11. A method for a user of a second computer system coupled via a network to a first computer system to access execution data collected by the second computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
(A) the second computer system collecting the execution data;
(B) the second computer system determining whether transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled;
(C) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled, allowing the user to access the execution data; and
(D) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is not enabled, not allowing the user to access the execution data.
12. A method for a first computer system to collect execution data from a second computer system coupled via a network to the first computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
(A) the second computer system collecting the execution data;
(B) the second computer system determining whether transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled;
(C) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled, allowing access to the execution data by a user of the second computer system;
(D) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is not enabled, not allowing access to the execution data by a user of the second computer system; and
(E) the second computer system transmitting at least a portion of the execution data to the first computer system.
13. A method for a user of a second computer system coupled via a network to a first computer system to access execution data collected by the second computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
(A) the second computer system collecting the execution data;
(B) the second computer system allowing the user to access a limited portion of the execution data;
(C) if the user requests to access more than the limited portion of the execution data:
(C1) the second computer system determining whether transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled;
(C2) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled, allowing the user to access the requested execution data; and
(C3) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is not enabled, not allowing the user to access the requested execution data.
14. A method for a first computer system to collect execution data from a second computer system coupled via a network to the first computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
(A) the second computer system collecting the execution data;
(B) the second computer system allowing the user to access a limited portion of the execution data;
(C) if the user requests to access more than the limited portion of the execution data:
(C1) the second computer system determining whether transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled;
(C2) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is enabled, allowing access to the requested execution data by a user of the second computer system;
(C3) if transmission of the execution data from the second computer system to the first computer system is not enabled, not allowing access to the requested execution data by a user of the second computer system; and
(C4) the second computer system transmitting at least a portion of the execution data to the first computer system.
15. A method for doing business comprising the steps of:
(A) a vendor offering to a customer the ability to access execution data gathered by a customer computer system in exchange for the customer’s transmitting of the execution data to the vendor;
(B) if the customer does not accept the offer in (A), disabling customer access to the execution data on the customer computer system;
(C) if the customer accepts the offer in (A), enabling customer access to the execution data on the customer computer system.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
(D) the customer computer system sharing the execution data.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
selling the customer computer system to the customer.
18. A program product comprising:
(A) an execution data collection mechanism that collects execution data for a first computer system;
(B) an execution data transmission mechanism that, when enabled, transmits at least a portion of the execution data to a second computer system;
(C) an execution data access mechanism that allows access to the execution data only if the execution data transmission mechanism is enabled; and
(D) computer recordable media bearing (A), (B) and (C).
19. The program product of claim 18 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an operating system.
20. The program product of claim 18 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by a software application.
21. The program product of claim 18 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an analysis program.
22. A program product comprising:
(A) an operating system comprising:
(A1) an execution data collection mechanism that collects execution data for a first computer system;
(A2) an execution data transmission mechanism that, when enabled, transmits at least a portion of the execution data to a second computer system;
(A3) an execution data access mechanism that allows access to the execution data only if the execution data transmission mechanism is enabled; and
(B) computer recordable media bearing the operating system.
23. The program product of claim 22 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an operating system.
24. The program product of claim 22 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by a software application.
25. The program product of claim 22 wherein the execution data comprises data collected by an analysis program.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sterilizing unit for sterilizing a web of packaging material on a machine for packaging pourable food products, the sterilizing unit comprising:
a bath containing a sterilizing agent, in which said web is fed continuously;
an aseptic environment comprising a process chamber connected to an outlet of said bath and housing drying means for removing residual sterilizing agent from said web; and an aseptic chamber communicating with said process chamber via an opening for the passage of said web, and in which said web is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube which is filled continuously with the product for packaging; and
an air processing circuit for controlling the process conditions in said aseptic environment, and comprising suction means for drawing air from said process chamber, air processing means, and means for feeding processed air into said aseptic chamber;
comprising valve means interposed between said process chamber and said suction means of said air processing circuit, and which can be activated during operation of said machine to control the pressure conditions in said aseptic environment.
2. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising a transition chamber communicating with an inlet of the bath and with said suction means; said valve means being interposed between said process chamber and said transition chamber.
3. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valve means comprise an orifice connecting said process chamber to said transition chamber; and a movable shutter for adjusting the opening of said orifice.
4. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shutter is movable between an open position wherein said process chamber communicates directly with said transition chamber via said orifice, and a closed position wherein said process chamber communicates with said transition chamber via said bath when containing no sterilizing agent.
5. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 4, comprising sensor means for detecting the pressure in said aseptic environment; and adjusting means for adjusting said open position to maintain, in said aseptic environment, a pressure value at least equal to a predetermined threshold value.
6. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising barrier means for producing a localized pressure drop between said aseptic chamber and said process chamber; said barrier means defining said opening, through which said web Is fed, between said process chamber and said aseptic chamber.
7. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 6, for processing a web of packaging material fitted with opening devices projecting from one face of said web; wherein said opening is asymmetrical with respect to the traveling plane of said web, and is higher on the side facing the face of said web from which said opening devices project.
8. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 7, comprising a guide roller located immediately downstream from said opening; said barrier means comprising a partition defining said opening and shaped to get close to said roller.
9. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drying means comprise at least one nozzle for directing a jet of air on to said web; said means for feeding processed air into said aseptic environment comprising a first conduit for feeding air to an air inlet in said aseptic chamber, a second conduit for feeding air to said nozzle, and a distributor having an inlet connected to said air processing means, and two outlets connected respectively to said second conduit and to said first conduit.
10. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 9, comprising a heater housed in said second conduit.
11. A sterilizing unit as claimed in claim 2, comprising an orifice connecting said transition chamber to the outside environment; said orifice being normally closed, but being opened under low pressure.