Author: claimsbot

1. An information processing apparatus that receives a parameter for setting a content of processing and executes the processing in accordance with the received parameter, the information processing apparatus comprising:
a combination propriety determining unit that determines, when receiving plural of the parameters, propriety of combining the received parameters based on a property as a characteristic resulting from the content of processing executed in accordance with each of the parameters.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the combination propriety determining unit comprises:
an association unit that associates the parameters with the property;
an exclusive relationship expressing unit that expresses the combination of the parameters having an exclusive relationship based on the property;
a first property extracting unit that extracts, when receiving the plural parameters, the property of one of the received parameters in accordance with the association unit;
a second property extracting unit that extracts the property having the exclusive relationship with the property of the one parameter extracted by the first property extracting unit in accordance with the combination by the exclusive relationship expressing unit;
a parameter extracting unit that extracts the parameters including the property having the exclusive relationship with the property of the one parameter extracted by the second property extracting unit; and
an exclusive relationship determining unit that determines, if other parameters among the received parameters exist in a group of the parameters extracted by the parameter extracting unit, that the other parameters and the one parameter have the exclusive relationship.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a determining unit that determines whether the other parameters are associated with the property extracted by the second property extracting unit in a job in accordance with the association unit; wherein,
when it is determined that the other parameters are not associated with the property of the one parameter extracted by the second property extracting unit, the combination propriety determining unit completes a combination propriety determining process.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
a display controlling unit that acquires a determination result from the combination propriety determining unit and executes display control in accordance with the determination result.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the combination propriety determining unit defines an exclusive relationship between the parameters of modules including at least one or more of the parameters through a property managing unit that manages the property based on an architecture that realizes an application program for executing a data processing function by connecting the independent modules for executing various processes according to the data processing function via a memory for storing data.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the exclusive relationship between the parameters in a same module is defined through the property managing unit.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the exclusive relationship between the properties managed by the property managing unit is capable of being changed in accordance with a difference between models.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
an activity that combines the modules at the time of executing the application program for executing the data processing function; wherein
the activity interconnects the modules to be combined with the property managing unit.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
the activity interconnects the modules to be combined with the property managing unit either for each data inputting path or for each data outputting path, and
the combination propriety determining unit determines the exclusive relationship of the module interconnected with plural of the property managing units after the module receives responses from all the property managing units.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
the activity interconnects the modules to be combined with the property managing unit either for each data inputting path or for each data outputting path and interconnects all the modules with the corresponding property managing unit, and
the combination propriety determining unit determines the exclusive relationship of the module interconnected with the plural property managing units after the module receives responses from all the property managing units.
11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a framework unit that provides a rule file for indicating the exclusive relationship to the property managing unit at the time of activating a module.
12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
the framework unit makes registration in the property managing unit at the time of setting the module.
13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
processing causing the property used for the determination by the combination propriety determining unit influences other processing.
14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
the property used for the determination by the combination propriety determining unit causes other processing to be physically inoperative due to a constraint on a hardware device when the processing causing the property is executed.
15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
the property used for the determination by the combination propriety determining unit influences an execution result of other processing when the processing causing the property is executed.
16. An information processing apparatus comprising:
means for receiving a parameter for setting a content of processing and executes the processing in accordance with the received parameter; and
combination propriety determining means for determining, when receiving plural of the parameters, propriety of combining the received parameters based on a property as a characteristic resulting from the content of processing executed in accordance with each of the parameters.
17. A method of determining an exclusive relationship between parameters in an information processing apparatus that receives a parameter for setting a content of processing and executes the processing in accordance with the received parameter, the method comprising:
a combination propriety determining step of determining, when receiving plural of the parameters, propriety of combining the received parameters based on a property as a characteristic resulting from the content of processing executed in accordance with each of the parameters.
18. The method of determining an exclusive relationship between parameters according to claim 17, wherein
the combination propriety determining step comprises:
an association step of associating the parameters with the property;
an exclusive relationship expressing step of expressing the combination of the parameters having an exclusive relationship based on the property;
a first property extracting step of extracting, when receiving the plural parameters, the property of one of the received parameters in accordance with the association step;
a second property extracting step of extracting the property having the exclusive relationship with the property of the one parameter extracted by the first property extracting step in accordance with the combination of the exclusive relationship expressing step;
a parameter extracting step of extracting the parameters including the property having the exclusive relationship with the property of the one parameter extracted by the second property extracting step; and
an exclusive relationship determining step of determining, if other parameters among the received parameters exist in a group of the parameters extracted by the parameter extracting step, that the other parameters and the one parameter have the exclusive relationship.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-8. (canceled)
9. A lighting unit comprising:
a light-reflecting reflector;
a plurality of cold-cathode tubes disposed inside the reflector; and
an optical waveguide connected with the open end of the reflector to guide the light emitted by the cold-cathode tubes;
wherein the reflector has a reflective surface that reflects the light having been emitted by the cold-cathode tubes in the direction nearly perpendicular to the wall of each tube, in the direction in which the light thus reflected does not re-enter the cold-cathode tubes.
10. The lighting unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reflective surface is so disposed that the surface reflects the emitted light at an angle at which the reflected light runs through the space between the cold-cathode tube and the reflector adjacent thereto or between the neighboring cold-cathode tubes.
11. The lighting unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reflective surface is so disposed that the surface reflects the light emitted by one cold-cathode tube at an angle at which the reflected light runs through the space between the one cold-cathode tube and the other cold-cathode tube and that the surface reflects the light emitted by the other cold-cathode tube at an angle at which the reflected light runs through the space between the one cold-cathode tube and the wall surface of the reflector.
12. The lighting unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reflective surface is composed of a plurality of curved segments.
13. A lighting unit comprising:
a light-reflecting reflector;
a cold-cathode tube disposed inside the reflector;
a first optical waveguide connected with the open end of the reflector for guiding the light emitted by the cold-cathode tube; and
a second optical waveguide disposed in the space between the cold-cathode tube and the reflector and having an end that faces the end of the first optical waveguide.
14. The lighting unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the profile of the surface of the second optical waveguide that faces the outer surface of the cold-cathode tube is analogous to the profile of the outer surface of the cold-cathode tube.
15. A lighting unit comprising:
a light source unit having a cold-cathode tube with a phosphor dispersed inside the tube, a housing that houses the cold-cathode tube and has a reflector formed on an inner surface, and a transparent filler filled in the housing; and
an optical waveguide guiding the light from the light source unit and emitting the light through a light-emitting surface.
16. A lighting unit comprising:
a light source unit having a cold-cathode tube, a housing that houses the cold-cathode tube and has a reflector formed on an inner surface, and a transparent filler filled in the housing;
an optical waveguide guiding the light from the light source unit and emitting the light through a light-emitting surface;
a temperature sensor for controlling the temperature of the cold-cathode tube; and
a heating element for heating the cold-cathode tube.
17-54. (canceled)

That which is claimed is:

1. A process for hydrotreating acidic compounds of an acidic petroleum oil which comprises:
contacting an acidic petroleum oil comprising at least one acidic compound with a hydrogen donor solvent at process conditions sufficient to promote hydrogen transfer from said hydrogen donor solvent to said at least one acidic compound of said acidic petroleum oil, thereby producing a treated petroleum oil.
2. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hydrogen donor solvent comprises a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of decalin, tetralin, any petroleum oil having hydrogen added thereto, and combinations of any two or more thereof.
3. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said acidic petroleum oil is contacted with said hydrogen donor solvent without the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
4. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said acidic petroleum oil is contacted with said hydrogen donor solvent prior to desalting of said acidic petroleum oil.
5. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said process conditions include a temperature which is below the temperature at which significant coking of said acidic petroleum oil occurs.
6. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 700 F. to about 900 F.
7. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 750 F. to about 850 F.
8. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 775 F. to about 825 F.
9. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one acidic compound comprises a naphthenic acid.
10. A process in accordance with claim 9 wherein said naphthenic acid is a carboxylic acid of the formula RCOOH, wherein R comprises in the range of from 1 to 50 carbon atoms.
11. A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the total acid number (TAN), as determined using ASTM test method D664-95, of said treated petroleum oil is lower than the TAN of said acidic petroleum oil.
12. A process for hydrogenating acidic compounds of an acidic petroleum oil which comprises:
contacting an acidic petroleum oil comprising at least one acidic compound with a hydrogen donor solvent at process conditions sufficient to promote hydrogen transfer from said hydrogen donor solvent to said at least one acidic compound of said acidic petroleum oil, thereby producing a treated petroleum oil;
removing a fraction from said treated petroleum oil;
contacting said fraction with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and under process conditions sufficient to hydrogenate at least a portion of the hydrocarbons of said fraction; and
utilizing at least a portion of said fraction as at least a portion of said hydrogen donor solvent.
13. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said acidic petroleum oil is contacted with said hydrogen donor compound without the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
14. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said petroleum oil is contacted with said hydrogen donor compound prior to desalting of said acidic petroleum oil.
15. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said process conditions include a temperature which is below the temperature at which significant coking of said acidic petroleum oil occurs.
16. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 700 F. to about 900 F.
17. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 750 F. to about 850 F.
18. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 775 F. to about 825 F.
19. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein said at least one acidic compound comprises a naphthenic acid.
20. A process in accordance with claim 19 wherein said naphthenic acid is a carboxylic acid of the formula RCOOH, wherein R comprises in the range of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
21. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein the total acid number (TAN), as determined using ASTM test method D 664-95, of said treated petroleum oil is lower than the TAN of said acidic petroleum oil.
22. A process in accordance with claim 12 wherein the hydrocarbons of said fraction boil in the range of from about 500 F. to about 900 F., as determined using ASTM test method D 5307-97.
23. A process for hydrogenating acidic compounds of an acidic petroleum oil which comprises:
contacting an acidic petroleum oil comprising at least one acidic compound with a hydrogen donor solvent at process conditions sufficient to promote hydrogen transfer from said hydrogen donor solvent to said at least one acidic compound of said acidic petroleum oil, thereby producing a treated petroleum oil;
contacting a portion of said treated petroleum oil with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and under process conditions sufficient to hydrogenate at least a portion of the hydrocarbons of said portion of said treated petroleum oil, thereby producing a hydrogenated treated petroleum oil; and
utilizing at least a portion of said hydrogenated treated petroleum oil as said hydrogen donor solvent.
24. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said acidic petroleum oil is contacted with said hydrogen donor compound without the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
25. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said petroleum oil is contacted with said hydrogen donor compound prior to desalting of said acidic petroleum oil.
26. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said process conditions include a temperature which is below the temperature at which significant coking of said acidic petroleum oil occurs.
27. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 700 F. to about 900 F.
28. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 750 F. to about 850 F.
29. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said process conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 795 F. to about 825 F.
30. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said at least one acidic compound comprises a naphthenic acid.
31. A process in accordance with claim 30 wherein said naphthenic acid is a carboxylic acid of the formula RCOOH, wherein R can be any alkyl group having in the range of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule.
32. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein the total acid number (TAN), as determined using ASTM test method D664-95, of said treated petroleum oil is lower than the TAN of said acidic petroleum oil.
33. A process in accordance with claim 23 wherein said portion of said treated petroleum oil is at least partially desalted andor at least partially dewatered prior to contact with said hydrogenation catalyst.

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. Image processing apparatus in which output pixels of an output image are generated with respect to input pixels of an input image, a first subset of the output pixels being identical to respective input pixels and a second subset of the output pixels being derived from respective groups of one or more input pixels, the apparatus comprising:
a spatial filter arrangement for filtering the second subset of pixels, the filter not being applied to filter the first subset of output pixels, the filter arrangement having a response such that high spatial frequencies are attenuated in the output image.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which:
the input image is an interlaced image; and
the output image is a progressive scan image.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the filter arrangement has a frequency response relating to a Kell factor of the input image.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the output pixel values are generated with respect to pixels of the input image selected in accordance with an image feature direction in the input image, the apparatus comprising means for comparing blocks of pixels of the input image, the blocks being disposed with respect to a pixel position under test so that a degree of correlation between the blocks is indicative of an image feature direction applicable to that pixel position.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the filter arrangement is selectively operable in respect of an output pixel in dependence upon the degree of correlation between blocks used to select the image feature direction for that output pixel.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which, for image feature directions that define lines whose gradients lie within a range between vertical and a threshold gradient, the operation of the vertical filter is independent of the degree of correlation but selectively operable in dependence on the degree of correlation for other image feature directions.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the filter arrangement is selectively operable in respect of an output pixel in dependence upon the image feature direction applicable to that pixel position.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the horizontal filter is not applied to the output pixel if the image feature direction applicable to that output pixel defines a line whose gradient lies within a range between vertical and a threshold gradient.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for restricting the output of the filter arrangement in respect of a pixel position in dependence on a range of pixel values defined by values of a set of pixels at predetermined positions with respect to that pixel position.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the filter arrangement comprises a vertical filter and the filter arrangement has a response such that high vertical frequencies are attenuated in the output image.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the filter arrangement comprises a horizontal filter and the filter arrangement has a response such that high horizontal frequencies are attenuated in the output image.
12. Vision mixing apparatus comprising image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
13. Video display apparatus comprising image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
14. An image processing method in which output pixels of an output image are generated with respect to input pixels of an input image, a first subset of the output pixels being identical to respective input pixels and a second subset of the output pixels being derived from respective groups of one or more input pixels, the method comprising the steps of:
filtering, using a spatial filter arrangement, the second subset of pixels and not filtering, using the spatial filter arrangement, the first subset of output pixels, the filter arrangement having a response such that high spatial frequencies are attenuated in the output image.
15. A method according to claim 14, in which the filtering is carried out in the vertical direction and the filter arrangement has a response such that high vertical frequencies are attenuated in the output image.
16. A method according to claim 14, in which the filtering is carried out in the horizontal direction and the filter arrangement has a response such that high horizontal frequencies are attenuated in the output image.
17. Computer software having program code which, when executed by a computer, is arranged to cause the computer to carry out a method according to claim 14.
18. A medium by which software according to claim 17 is provided.
19. A medium according to claim 18, the medium being a storage medium.
20. A medium according to claim 19, the medium being a transmission medium.