1. A system for processing executable applications to be suitable for distribution, comprising:
a repository of data files representing a plurality of different executable applications available for distribution;
a repository of ancillary information associated with processing selected executable applications for distribution, said ancillary information identifying characteristics determining aspects of installation of a selected one or more executable applications at a user site;
a packaging processor for collating selected executable applications and associated ancillary information to provide distribution data;
a storage processor for generating a distribution package comprising the distribution data and storing a copy of said distribution package in a database; and
a distribution processor for processing said distribution package to be suitable for distribution.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said ancillary information is stored in the ancillary information repository in the form of a relational database.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said ancillary information, identifying characteristics determining aspects of installation of selected executable applications at a user site, comprises at least one of: (a) an installed directory structure for containing said selected executable applications, (b) characteristics of files containing said selected executable applications, and (c) registration information required for enabling installation.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said ancillary information, identifying characteristics determining aspects of installation of selected executable applications at a user site, comprises at least one of: (a) names of said selected executable applications, (b) relationship of said selected executable applications with other executable applications that are to be delivered with said processed distribution data, and (c) information concerning system characteristics required to enable successful installation.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said information concerning system characteristics required to enable successful installation comprises at least one of: (a) an installed directory structure for containing said selected executable applications, (b) characteristics of files containing said selected executable applications, and (c) registration information required for enabling installation.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said packaging processor allows a user to indicate the status of an executable application as at least one of: (a) available, (b) under development, and (c) having updates available.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said packaging processor removes executable applications from said database in response to at least one of: (a) business requirements, and (b) regulatory requirements.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said packaging processor automatically selects said selected executable applications in response to received electronic order information initiated by a user.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said packaging processor collates said selected executable applications and associated ancillary information in response to received electronic order information initiated by a user.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said storage processor automatically links said associated ancillary information with corresponding selected executable applications based on predetermined mapping information to provide a media image.
11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said storage processor automatically stores user identification information and order related information together with said stored copy of said distribution package to support order tracking.
12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said storage processor automatically stores information identifying access to at least one of, (a) stored user identification information, (b) stored order related information and (c) stored distribution package, to maintain an audit trail indicating access to stored information.
13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said distribution processor processes said distribution package to be suitable for distribution in a medium, selected in response to user command from at least one of: (a) a portable storage medium, (b) electronic network distribution, and (c) file transfer.
14. A system according to claim 1, further comprising an access processor providing centralized access to said stored copy of said distribution package.
15. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a testing processor coupled to said access processor to provide access to said stored copy of said distribution data to support testing of said distribution package.
16. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a report generator for generating a report including user identification information and order related information.
17. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a report generator for generating a report including information identifying at least one of: (a) upcoming executable application releases, and (b) expected date of availability of an executable application.
18. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a report generator for generating a report including information enabling a user to compare what is installed at a user site with what is available in said database to enable a user to identify applications not installed.
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 plant for extracting, de-aerating and heating a vegetable product comprising:
an extraction section for treating a vegetable starting product, in order to obtain an extracted vegetable product;
a storage reservoir of said extracted vegetable product;
a cold de-aeration section for de-aerating said extracted vegetable product obtaining a cold de-aerated extracted vegetable product, said cold de-aeration step being carried out at a temperature T1 less than 35\xb0 C.;
a heating section arranged to heat said vegetable product from a starting temperature to a final temperature, obtaining a heated product;
wherein said cold de-aeration section is located downstream of said extraction section;
wherein said heating section is located downstream of said cold de-aeration section, said heating section arranged to heat said cold de-aerated product from said temperature T1 to a final temperature T2, with T2>T1, obtaining a de-aerated and heated product;
wherein said storage reservoir is located downstream of said heating section such that in said storage reservoir a predetermined amount of vegetable de-aerated and heated product is present at said temperature T2,
and
wherein a deviation means is provided located downstream of said storage reservoir, said deviation means arranged to feed selectively said heated de-aerated product to an exit section located downstream of said storage reservoir, or to a recirculation point located between said cold de-aeration section and said heating section, such that when needed a temporary recirculation can be carried out of said product without changing its sugar concentration and without changing the product taste.
2. The plant according to claim 1, wherein said deviation means is configured to be operated in a first operative configuration, in which said de-aerated and heated product is sent to said outlet section located downstream of said storage reservoir for being transferred out from the plant, or in a second operative configuration, in which said heated de-aerated product is fed to said recirculation point, in such a way that, in normal working conditions, said deviation means is in said first operative configuration, whereas when needed said deviation means is in said second operative configuration.
3. The plant according to claim 1, wherein said deviation means, is configured to work in a third operative configuration, in which a part of said heated de-aerated product is fed to said outlet section and another part of said de-aerated and heated product is fed to said recirculation point.
4. The plant according to claim 1, wherein in said cold de-aeration section a de-aeration chamber is provided working at a pressure set between 0.6 and 0.98 bar absolute.
5. The plant according to claim 1, wherein a vacuum generation means is provided to generate a predetermined void ratio in said de-aeration chamber.
6. The plant according to claim 1, wherein an adjustment means is provided arranged to measure instantly the void ratio present in said de-aeration chamber and to adjust said vacuum generation means for generating said void ratio in said de-aeration chamber.
7. The plant according to claim 1, wherein a feeding means is provided to feed said vegetable product to said de-aeration section under a predetermined head and a plurality of ducts are provided that, in use, are full of vegetable product, to avoid the production of air bubbles and to block the attraction of air along said plant.
8. The plant according to claim 1, wherein said heating means is arranged to heat said de-aerated vegetable product from said temperature T1 to said temperature T2, where 45\xb0 C.<T2<90\xb0 C.
9. The plant according to claim 1, wherein in said extraction section a rotor is configured to work in combination with a fixed sieve having a plurality of holes, in order to divide a vegetable starting product into a main product comprising said puree, or juice, which crosses said sieve and is discharged from said extraction section through a first outlet, and into a waste material that, instead, cannot cross said sieve and is discharged from said extraction section through a second outlet, said main product being sent to said cold de-aeration section through said first outlet.
10. The plant according to claim 1, wherein a feeding means is provided to feed said extracted vegetable product to said de-aeration section under a predetermined head.
11. The plant according to claim 2, wherein said deviation means comprises:
a first three-way valve located downstream of said storage reservoir and operatively connected to:
a discharge duct of said heated de-aerated product from said storage reservoir, when said deviation means is switched to said first, or to said second, or to said third operative configuration;
an outlet duct for sending said de-aerated and heated product from said storage reservoir to said outlet section for being transferred out from the plant, when said deviation means is switched to said first, or to said third operative configuration;
a recirculation duct arranged to feed said de-aerated and heated product to said recirculation point, when said deviation means is switched to said second, or third operative configuration;
a second three-way valve arranged at said recirculation point between said cold de-aeration section and said heating section, said second three-way valve being operatively connected to:
a receiving duct, arranged to receive said cold de-aerated product from said de-aeration section;
a feeding duct, arranged to feed said cold de-aerated product to said heating section when said deviation means is switched to said first operative configuration, or to feed a mixture of said hot de-aerated product and of said cold de-aerated product to said heating section when said deviation means is switched to said third operative configuration;
said recirculation duct arranged to circulate said heated de-aerated product from said first three-way valve to said recirculation point when said deviation means is switched to said second, or to said third operative configuration.
12. The plant according to claim 1, comprising at least one first pump for transferring said cold de-aerated vegetable product from said cold de-aeration section to said heating section, and at least one second pump for discharging said vegetable heated de-aerated product from said storage reservoir, wherein said first and said second pumps work under a head.
13. The plant according to claim 1, wherein in said heating section a heating means is provided arranged to transmit to said cold de-aerated vegetable product a thermal power that is suitable to cause an enzymatic inactivation obtaining an enzymatically inactivated hot de-aerated product.
14. The plant according to claim 2, wherein a control means is further provided arranged to switch said deviation means to said first, or to said second, or to said third operative configuration.