Author: claimsbot

1. A method for producing 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butyronitrile, comprising:
reacting 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a base as catalyst in a main reaction zone of a multizone reactor to form a reaction mixture comprising the 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile, unreacted 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde, the catalyst and residual amounts of gaseous hydrogen cyanide;
removing the residual gaseous hydrogen cyanide from the main reaction zone to an absorption and post-reaction zone of the reactor which comprises a mixture of 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde and the catalyst; and
further reacting the gaseous hydrogen cyanide with the 3-methylmercaptopropionaldehyde in the absorption and post reaction zone.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transferring a portion of the reaction mixture to the absorption and post-reaction zone.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main reaction zone comprises a stirred reactor or a loop reactor.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main reaction zone comprises a jet pump and the jet pump mixes a hydrogen cyanide feed gas with the reaction mixture.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the absorption and post-reaction zone comprises a device for contacting a gas with a liquid, the device being at least one selected from the group consisting of a column, a tray column, a packed-bed column, a bubble-column reactor, a droplet column, a reactor having a mechanically agitated container, a submerged jet reactor and a jet pump.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the absorption and post-reaction zone is a component of a loop reactor.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen-cyanide is fed to the main reaction zone as a product gas from a plant for producing hydrogen cyanide which is connected to the reactor.
8. The method according to claim 7, a hydrogen cyanide content of the feed product gas is 1 to 99% by weight.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of a low-molecular-weight amine, a heterogeneous amine, a solution of an inorganic base, and a mixture of an acid and a low-molecular-weight amine.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the catalyst is a low-molecular-weight amine, which is selected from the group consisting of a tri-(C1-C12-alkyl)amine, a dialkylaralkylamine, a dialkylarylamine and a heterocyclic amine.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the catalyst is a polyvinylpyridine or a heterogeneous amine which is of formula (I)
wherein
R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, C1 to C12alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;
X is a number between 0 and 6, and
A is a natural or synthetic resin.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the catalyst is a heterogeneous amine of formula I and is a polymer-bound base selected from the group consisting of homologous dialkylaminoalkylpolystyrenes and dialkylaminomacroreticular resins.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the catalyst of formula I is at least one selected from the group consisting of diethylaminoethylpolystyrene, diethylaminomethylpolystyrene, dimethylaminomethylpolystyrene, diethylaminomethyl-macroreticular resin and dimethylaminoethylpolystyrene.
14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the catalyst is an inorganic base which is at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal cyanide, an alkali metal carbonate, and an alkali metal hydrogencarbonate.
15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the catalyst is a mixture of an acid and a low-molecular-weight amine and the acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of organic carboxylic acids, organic sulfonic acids and mineral acids.
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pH of the reaction mixture in the main reaction zone and the absorption and post-reaction zone is 4.5 to 6.0, as measured with a pH electrode at 23\xb0 C. and a water content of 2 to 14% by weight.
17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of the main reaction zone is from 20\xb0 C. to 80\xb0 C.
18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of the absorption and post-reaction zone is from 0\xb0 C. to 30\xb0 C.
19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising reacting residual 3-(methylthio)propanal with residual hydrogen cyanide in a process stream discharged from the reactor in a post-reactor which is upstream of a MMP-cyanohydrin product discharge site,
wherein a temperature in the post reactor is from 20\xb0 C. to 80\xb0 C.
20. The method according to claim 1, wherein an absolute pressure of the reactor is from 0.9 to 5 bar.
21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen cyanide to 3-(methylthio)propanal in the main reaction zone is from 0.98 to 1.03.
22. The method according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of catalyst to 3-(methylthio)propanal in the main reaction zone is from 0.00005 to 0.002.
23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is conducted batchwise, semicontinuously, or continuously.
24. A process for producing D,L-methionine or 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid, comprising employing the 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)butyronitrile produced according to claim 1 or incorporating the method according to claim 1.

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 semiconductor device provided with: a semiconductor substrate; a pad formed above the semiconductor substrate; a surface protective film to cover the pad; a first opening being formed in the surface protective film and exposing a part of the surface of the pad; a protective insulating film formed over the surface protective film; a wiring layer gutter being formed in the protective insulating film and communicating with the first opening; and a wiring layer embedded into the first opening and the wiring layer gutter and coupled electrically to the pad.
2. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein, in the protective insulating film, a second opening communicating with the first opening and the wiring layer gutter formed integrally with the second opening are formed.
3. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein a barrier film to inhibit a wiring material including the wiring layer from migrating into the protective insulating film is formed between the side surface of the wiring layer gutter and the wiring layer.
4. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the side surface of the wiring layer gutter inclines so as to form a taper.
5. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the surface of the wiring layer is lower than the surface of the protective insulating film.
6. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the surface of the wiring layer is exposed.
7. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein a bonding wire is coupled to the surface of the wiring layer.
8. A semiconductor device according to claim 7,
wherein the bonding wire comprises a material containing copper as the main component.
9. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the wiring layer comprises a wiring material containing silver as the main component.
10. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the protective insulating film comprises a polyimide resin film.
11. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein an interface extending from the bottom surface of the wiring layer gutter does not exist in the protective insulating film.
12. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein a wire coupling conductive film is formed in a first region of the surface of the wiring layer.
13. A semiconductor device according to claim 12,
wherein the surface of the wiring layer excluding the first region is covered with an insulating film.
14. A semiconductor device according to claim 13,
wherein the wire coupling conductive film extends over the first region to a partial region of the insulating film.
15. A semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein a wire coupling conductive film is formed in the whole region of the surface of the wiring layer.
16. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including the processes of: (a) preparing a semiconductor substrate over which a pad and a surface protective film covering the pad and having a first opening exposing a part of the surface of the pad are formed; (b) forming a protective insulating film over the surface protective film including the interior of the first opening; (c) by pressing a mold in which a first protrusion and a second protrusion are formed to the protective insulating film, integrally forming a second opening corresponding to the first protrusion and communicating with the first opening and a wiring layer gutter corresponding to the second protrusion and communicating with the second opening in the protective insulating film; and (d) forming a wiring layer in the interior of the wiring layer gutter.
17. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to claim 16,
wherein the manufacturing method includes the processes of: between the process (c) and the process (d), (e) forming a barrier film to inhibit a wiring material including the wiring layer from migrating into the protective insulating film over the surface of the pad exposed through the first opening, the side surface of the first opening, the inner wall of the second opening, and the protective insulating film; and after the process (d), (f) removing the barrier film formed over the protective insulating film.
18. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to claim 16,
wherein the process (d) includes the processes of: (d1) printing the wiring material of the wiring layer in the interior of the wiring layer gutter; and (d2) applying heat treatment to the wiring material.
19. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to claim 16,
wherein the manufacturing method includes the processes of, between the process (c) and the process (d): (g) separating the mold from the protective insulating film; and (h) applying heat treatment to the protective insulating film after the process (g).

1. A processor-implemented method of operation for a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoint device comprising:
receiving, by the SIP endpoint device, an unsolicited NOTIFY message from a call manager component, the unsolicited NOTIFY message having a specific event header that signals to the SIP endpoint device to utilize a resetrestart mechanism specific to the call manager component, a body of the SIP NOTIFY message communicating one of a plurality of actions to be taken by the SIP endpoint device, the plurality of actions including a reset operation andor a restart operation; and
wherein the reset operation specified in the body of the SIP NOTIFY message cause the SIP endpoint device to:
after waiting until all active calls on the SIP endpoint device have ended, unregistering all lines of the SIP endpoint device from the call manager component;
performing a power-on reset of the SIP endpoint device;
accessing a server to read a configuration file of the SIP endpoint device;
re-registering all the lines of the SIP endpoint device with the call manager component;
receiving a call ID from the call manager component; and
verifying that the call ID received matches a unique call ID sent to the call manager component in a last registering transmission.
2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the SIP endpoint device comprises an Internet protocol telephone device.
3. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the unsolicited NOTIFY message includes version stamp information that causes the SIP endpoint device to compare a version stamp received in the unsolicited NOTIFY message against a stored version stamp.
4. A processor-implemented method of operation for a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoint device comprising:
receiving, by the SIP endpoint device, an unsolicited NOTIFY message from a call manager component, the unsolicited NOTIFY message including a specific event header that signals the SIP endpoint device to utilize a resetrestart mechanism specific to the call manager component, a body of the SIP NOTIFY message communicating one of a plurality of actions to be taken by the SIP endpoint device, the plurality of actions including a reset operation andor a restart operation; and
wherein the reset operation specified in the body of the SIP NOTIFY message causes, by the SIP endpoint device:
after waiting until all active calls on the SIP endpoint device have ended, unregistering all lines of the SIP endpoint device from a call manager component;
performing a power-on reset of the SIP endpoint device;
accessing a server to read a configuration file of the SIP endpoint device;
re-registering all the lines of the SIP endpoint device with the call manager component;
receiving a call ID from the call manager component; and
verifying that the call ID received matches a unique call ID sent to the call manager component in a last registering transmission.
5. The processor-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the unsolicited NOTIFY message comprises a specific event header.
6. The processor-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the unsolicited NOTIFY message includes version stamp information that causes the SIP endpoint device to compare a version stamp received in the unsolicited NOTIFY message against a stored version stamp downloaded to the SIP endpoint device during a last configuration file read.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program, which when executed, is operable to:
responsive to receiving an unsolicited NOTIFY message from a call manager component, implement a reset operation, the unsolicited NOTIFY message having a specific event header that signals the SIP endpoint device to utilize a resetrestart mechanism specific to the call manager component, a body of the SIP NOTIFY message communicating one of a plurality of actions to be taken by the SIP endpoint device, the plurality of actions including the reset operation andor a restart operation, wherein the reset operation specified in the body of the SIP NOTIFY message cause the SIP endpoint device to:
after waiting until all active calls on a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoint device have ended, unregister all lines of the SIP endpoint device from the call manager component;
perform a power-on reset of the SIP endpoint device;
access a server to read a configuration file of the SIP endpoint device;
re-register the lines of the SIP endpoint device with the call manager component;
receive a call ID from the call manager component;
verify that the call ID received matches a unique call ID sent to the call manager component in a last registering transmission.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 further operable to before unregistering all the lines, wait until all active calls on the SIP endpoint device have ended.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a computer program, which when executed, is operable to:
responsive to receiving an unsolicited NOTIFY message from a call manager component, implement a reset operation, the unsolicited NOTIFY message having a specific event header that signals the SIP endpoint device to utilize a resetrestart mechanism specific to the call manager component, a body of the SIP NOTIFY message communicating one of a plurality of actions to be taken by the SIP endpoint device, the plurality of actions including the reset operation andor a restart operation, wherein the reset operation specified in the body of the SIP NOTIFY message cause the SIP endpoint device to:
after waiting until all active calls on a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) endpoint device have ended, unregister all lines of the SIP endpoint device from the call manager component;
perform a power-on reset of the SIP endpoint device;
access a server to read a configuration file of the SIP endpoint device;
re-register the lines of the SIP endpoint device with the call manager component;
receive a call ID from the call manager component; and
verify that the call ID received matches a unique call ID sent to the call manager component in a last registering transmission.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the operation of unregistering all lines is responsive to a NOTIFY message having a specific event header.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 further operable to before unregistering all the lines, wait until all active calls on the SIP endpoint device have ended.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a display;
a program that runs on a computer to produce a graphical user interface on the display, the graphical user interface allowing a person to modify a configuration file of an Internet Protocol (IP) phone device and to reset or restart the IP phone device, the graphical user interface generating output signals in response to either a reset or restart command input;
an interface for transmitting the output signals to a call manager component, the output signals causing the call manager component to send a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) NOTIFY message to the IP phone device, the SIP NOTIFY message having a specific event header that signals the IP phone device to utilize a resetrestart mechanism specific to the call manager component, a body of the SIP NOTIFY message communicating one of a plurality of actions to be taken by the IP phone device, the plurality of actions including a reset operation andor a restart operation; and
wherein the reset operation specified in the body of the SIP NOTIFY message causes the IP phone device to:
after waiting until all active calls on the IP phone device have ended, unregister all lines of the IP phone device from the call manager component;
perform a power-on reset of the IP phone device;
access a server to read the configuration file of the IP phone device;
re-register the lines of the IP phone device with the call manager component;
receive a call ID from the call manager component; and
verify that the call ID received matches a unique call ID sent to the call manager component in a last registering transmission.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a server coupled with a communications network;
code that runs on the server to cause the server to communicate information to a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone via an unsolicited NOTIFY message having a specific event header defined to signal the SIP phone to use a resetrestart procedure specific to the apparatus, the unsolicited NOTIFY message having a body that contains the information, the information including reset and restart information, the message also including a unique call ID for authenticating the unsolicited NOTIFY message, the unique call ID having been received from the SIP phone in a most recent REGISTER message, the information including version stamp information that causes the SIP phone to compare a version stamp received in the unsolicited NOTIFY message against a stored version stamp downloaded to the SIP phone during a last configuration file read; and
wherein the reset information causes the SIP phone to:
after waiting until all active calls on the SIP phone have ended, unregister all lines of the SIP phone from the call manager component;
perform a power-on reset of the SIP phone;
access a server to read the configuration file of the SIP phone;
re-register the lines of the SIP phone with the call manager component; and
verify that the call ID received matches a unique call ID sent to the call manager component in a last registering transmission.

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 method of routing signals through a network, comprising:
receiving a signal at a first processing node;
passing the signal to a second processing node if a frequency or a wavelength of the signal is not assigned to the first processing node; and
processing address information if the frequency or wavelength of the signal is assigned to the first processing node, wherein the network is comprised of a plurality of layers, and wherein said processing address information comprises:
reading a first address from a first address field of the address information, the first address field corresponding to a next higher layer in the network;
determining if the first address identifies a parent processing node; and
if the first address does not identify the parent processing node routing the signal to the parent processing node.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said passing the signal to the second processing node further comprises passing the signal through a filter which directs signals of a first frequency or wavelength to a first output port, signals of a second frequency or wavelength to a second output port and signals of a third frequency or wavelength to a third output port.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first output port corresponds to a processing module of the first processing node, the second output port corresponds to an interface with processing nodes of a same sub-network, and the third output port corresponds to an interface with processing nodes of an above sub-network.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
reading a second address from a second address field if the first address does identify the parent processing node;
determining if the second address identifies a current processing node; and
if the second address does not identify the current processing node, routing the signal to another processing node in the same sub-network.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
reading a third address from a third address field if the second address does identify the current processing node; and
routing the signal to a processing node in a lower layer or a child device identified by the third address.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a carrier signal to the second processing node in an above sub-network if the address information does not include an address for the second processing node.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a carrier signal to the second processing node in a below sub-network or to a child device if the address information includes an address for a parent processing node and an address for the first processing node.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a carrier signal to the second processing node in a same sub-network if the address information includes an address for a parent processing node and does not include an address for the first processing node.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the signal to the second processing node if the frequency or wavelength of the signal is an express frequency or wavelength.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the frequency or wavelength of the signal is an express frequency of wavelength, the signal is passed to the second processing node without processing address information.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method of routing signals through a network, comprising:
receiving a signal at a first processing node;
passing the signal to a second processing node if a frequency or a wavelength of the signal is not assigned to the first processing node; and
processing address information if the frequency or wavelength of the signal is assigned to the first processing node, wherein the network is comprised of a plurality of layers, and wherein said processing address information comprises:
reading a first address from a first address field of the address information, the first address field corresponding to a next higher layer in the network;
determining if the first address identifies a parent processing node; and
if the first address does not identify the parent processing node routing the signal to the parent processing node.
12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein said passing the signal to the second processing node further comprises passing the signal through a filter which directs signals of a first frequency or wavelength to a first output port, signals of a second frequency or wavelength to a second output port and signals of a third frequency or wavelength to a third output port.
13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first output port corresponds to a processing module of the first processing node, the second output port corresponds to an interface with processing nodes of a same sub-network, and the third output port corresponds to an interface with processing nodes of an above sub-network.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:
reading a second address from a second address field if the first address does identify the parent processing node;
determining if the second address identifies a current processing node; and
if the second address does not identify the current processing node, routing the signal to another processing node in the same sub-network.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:
reading a third address from a third address field if the second address does identify the current processing node; and
routing the signal to a processing node in a lower layer or a child device identified by the third address.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising outputting a carrier signal to the second processing node in an above sub-network if the address information does not include an address for the second processing node.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising outputting a carrier signal to the second processing node in a below sub-network or to a child device if the address information includes an address for a parent processing node and an address for the first processing node.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising outputting a carrier signal to the second processing node in a same sub-network if the address information includes an address for a parent processing node and does not include an address for the first processing node.