Author: claimsbot

1. A method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
receiving, from a sender, an electronic mail message that is directed to a recipient and comprises one or more hyperlinks;
modifying, at an e-mail server, the one or more hyperlinks by appending an identifier value after each of the one or more hyperlinks, wherein the identifier value comprises information about the sender of the electronic mail message;
receiving, from the recipient, a request to access a specified hyperlink among the one or more hyperlinks;
determining, based on the identifier value that is appended after the specified hyperlink and the information about the sender, a particular action among a plurality of allowed actions; and
issuing a network request to access the specified hyperlink only when the particular action is allowing the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of allowed actions include blocking the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier value is removed from the specified hyperlink before issuing the network request.
4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request to access the specified hyperlink is received at an HTTP proxy, and wherein the electronic mail message is received at an SMTP mail transfer agent that is coupled to the HTTP proxy.
5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier value comprises a network address of a sender of the electronic mail message.
6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier value comprises a message digest of the electronic mail message.
7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identifier value comprises a message identifier that a sending mail transfer agent assigns to the electronic mail message.
8. A method of controlling access to server resources, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
receiving, from a sender, an electronic mail message that comprises one or more hyperlinks;
generating an identifier value, comprising information about the sender, for each of the one or more hyperlinks, wherein the identifier value comprises any one of: a network address of a sender of the electronic mail message; a message digest of the electronic mail message; and a message identifier that a sending mail transfer agent assigns to the electronic mail message;
modifying, at an e-mail server, the one or more hyperlinks by appending respective identifier values after each of the one or more hyperlinks;
receiving, from the recipient, a request to access a specified hyperlink among the one or more hyperlinks;
determining, based on the identifier value that is appended after the specified hyperlink and the information about the sender, a particular action among a plurality of allowed actions, wherein the plurality of allowed actions include blocking the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink; and
removing the identifier value from the specified hyperlink and issuing a network request to access the specified hyperlink only when the particular action is allowing the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink.
9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the request to access the specified hyperlink is received at an HTTP proxy, and wherein the electronic mail message is received at an SMTP mail transfer agent that is coupled to the HTTP proxy.
10. A data processing apparatus, comprising in combination:
one or more processors; an HTTP proxy server hosted on one or more of the one or more processors;
an SMTP mail transfer agent that is coupled to the HTTP proxy server;
electronic mail processing logic coupled to the HTTP proxy server and to the SMTP mail transfer agent, wherein the electronic mail processing logic comprises one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: receiving, from a sender, an electronic mail message that is directed to a recipient and comprises one or more hyperlinks;
modifying the one or more hyperlinks by appending an identifier value after each of the one or more hyperlinks, wherein the identifier value comprises information about the sender of the electronic mail message; receiving, from the recipient, a request to access a specified hyperlink among the one or more hyperlinks; determining, based on the identifier value that is appended after the specified hyperlink and the information about the sender, a particular action among a plurality of allowed actions; and
issuing a network request to access the specified hyperlink only when the particular action is allowing the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink.
11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the plurality of allowed actions include blocking user access to the specified hyperlink.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the identifier value is removed from the specified hyperlink before issuing the network request.
13. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the identifier value comprises a network address of a sender of the electronic mail message.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the identifier value comprises a message digest of the electronic mail message.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the identifier value comprises a message identifier that a sending mail transfer agent assigns to the electronic mail message.
16. A data processing apparatus, comprising in combination:
one or more processors;
an HTTP proxy server hosted on one or more of the one or more processors;

an SMTP mail transfer agent that is coupled to the HTTP proxy server;
electronic mail processing logic coupled to the HTTP proxy server and to the SMTP mail transfer agent, wherein the electronic mail processing logic comprises:

means for receiving from a sender, an electronic mail message that is directed to a recipient and comprises one or more hyperlinks;
means for modifying the one or more hyperlinks by appending an identifier value after each of the one or more hyperlinks, wherein the identifier value comprises information about the sender of the electronic mail message;
means for receiving, from the recipient, a request to access a specified hyperlink among the one or more hyperlinks;
means for determining, based on the identifier value that is appended after the specified hyperlink and the information about the sender, a particular action among a plurality of allowed actions;
means for receiving a network request to access the specified hyperlink only when the particular action is allowing the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the plurality of allowed actions include blocking the recipient to access to the specified hyperlink.
18. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the identifier value is removed from the specified hyperlink before issuing the network request.
19. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the identifier value comprises a network address of a sender of the electronic mail message.
20. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the identifier value comprises a message digest of the electronic mail message.
21. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the identifier value comprises a message identifier that a sending mail transfer agent assigns to the electronic mail message.

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 fixing device comprising:
a heated fixing member;
a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member, wherein the fixing member and the pressing member fix a toner image on a recording medium;
a first blowing unit that separates the recording medium from the fixing member by blowing air to a position close to a leading edge of the recording medium having passed the nip portion; and
a second blowing unit that separates the recording medium by blowing air to the recording medium whose leading edge has passed through the nip portion,
wherein a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the first blowing unit is larger than a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the second blowing unit;
a discharged air volume discharged by the first blowing unit is less than a discharge air volume discharged by the second blowing unit; and
a first discharge port from which air is blown by the first blowing unit is arranged upstream of a second discharge port from which air is blown by the second blowing unit in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium;
wherein the first blowing unit discharges air compressed by an air compressor and the second blowing unit discharges air ventilated by a fan.
2. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein a blowing position of the fixing member, to which the air from the first blowing unit is blown to, is a position to which the leading edge of the recording medium reaches along an outer surface of the fixing member within 20 msec from an exit of the nip portion.
3. The fixing device of claim 2, wherein the first blowing unit is adapted to blow air from the first blowing unit to the blowing position within an area of an angle made by a tangent to the fixing member at the blowing position and an extension line from the nip portion.
4. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first discharge ports and a plurality of the second discharge ports are arranged in the across the width direction of the recording medium to be fixed; and the fixing device is provided with a control unit wherein, when fixing the recording medium narrower than the widest recording medium that can be fixed, control is provided in such a way as to suspend a blowing of air from the first and second discharge ports which are located at an end in the across width direction of the recording medium and which do not contribute to separation of the recording medium.
5. The fixing device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of electromagnetic valves communicating with the first discharge ports respectively, and a plurality of fan switches communicating with the second discharge ports, wherein the control unit controls on-off operations of the electromagnetic valves and fan switches.
6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section for forming a toner image;
a transfer section for transferring the toner image onto a recording medium; and
a fixing device for fixing the toner image on the recording medium,

wherein the fixing device includes:
a heated fixing member;
a pressing member to form a nip portion between the pressing member and the fixing member, wherein the fixing member and the pressing member fix a toner image on a recording medium;
a first blowing unit that separates the recording medium from the fixing member by blowing air to a position close to a leading edge of the recording medium having passed the nip portion; and
a second blowing unit that separates the recording medium by blowing air to the recording medium whose leading edge has passed through the nip portion,
wherein a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the first blowing unit is larger than a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the second blowing unit;
a discharged air volume discharged by the first blowing unit is less than a discharge air volume discharged by the second blowing unit; and
a first discharge port from which air is blown by the first blowing unit is arranged upstream of a second discharge port from which air is blown by the second blowing unit in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium;
wherein the first blowing unit discharges air compressed by an air compressor and the second blowing unit discharges air ventilated by a fan.
7. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, wherein a blowing position of the fixing member, to which the air from the first blowing unit is blown to, is a position to which the leading edge of the recording medium reaches along an outer surface of the fixing member within 20 msec from an exit of the nip portion.
8. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first blowing unit is adapted to blow air from the first blowing unit to the blowing position within an area of an angle made by a tangent to the fixing member at the blowing position and an extension line from the nip portion.
9. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, wherein a plurality of the first discharge ports and a plurality of the second discharge ports are arranged in the across the width direction of the recording medium to be fixed; and the fixing device is provided with a control unit wherein, when fixing the recording medium narrower than the widest recording medium that can be fixed, control is provided in such a way as to suspend a blowing of air from the first and second discharge ports which are located at an end in the across width direction of the recording medium and which do not contribute to separation of the recording medium.
10. The image forming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fixing device further comprising a plurality of electromagnetic valves communicating with the first discharge ports respectively, and a plurality of fan switches communicating with the second discharge ports, wherein the control unit controls on-off operations of the electromagnetic valves and fan switches.

1. A computer program product for providing a message-based interface for supply network planning-related requests, the supply network planning-related requests comprising requests associated with managing a long- or mid-term production or distribution plan, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media and operable when executed to:
receive via a first message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, the first message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for requesting creation of a new supply network plan that includes a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan create request message entity; and
a supply network plan package comprising a supply network plan entity, where the supply network plan entity includes a supply network plan configuration ID;

process the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and
send a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.
2. The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the second message includes a second message confirming the request to create the new supply network plan, the second message including a second message package hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan create confirmation message entity;
a supply network plan package and a log package, the supply network plan package comprising a supply network plan entity, the supply network plan entity including an ID, and the log package comprising a log entity.
3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the derived message-based interfaces further include a supply network plan configuration interface and a supply network planning aggregate hierarchy interface.
4. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:
a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for communicating information associated with managing a long- or mid-term production or distribution plan using a request;
a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message including a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as:
a supply network plan create request message entity; and
a supply network plan package comprising a supply network plan entity, where the supply network plan entity includes a supply network plan configuration ID; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.
5. The distributed system of claim 4, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.
6. The distributed system of claim 4, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.
7. A computer program product for providing a message-based interface for supply network planning-related requests, the supply network planning-related requests comprising requests associated with managing a long- or mid-term production or distribution plan, the computer program product comprising computer readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media and operable when executed to:
receive via a message-based interface derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based interfaces and message packages, the first message-based interface exposing at least one service as defined in a service registry and from a heterogeneous application executing in an environment of computer systems providing message-based services, a first message for querying supply network plans by details, the first message including a first message package derived from the common business object model and hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan key figure value by elements query message entity; and
a selection package comprising a supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity, where the supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity includes a selection by ID, a selection by supply network planning aggregate hierarchy ID, at least one selection by key figure ID, and at least one selection by time series period ID, where each selection by key figure ID includes an interval boundary type code;

process the first message according to the hierarchical organization of the first message package, where processing the first message includes unpacking the first message package based on the common business object model; and
send a second message to the heterogeneous application responsive to the first message, where the second message includes a second message package derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with the first message package.
8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the second message includes a second message responsive to the query of the supply network plans by detail, the second message package including a second message hierarchically organized in memory as:
a supply network plan key figure value by elements response message entity; and
a supply network plan package and a log package, where the supply network plan package comprises a supply network plan entity and a key figure value package, where the supply network plan entity includes an ID, and where the key figure value package includes at least one key figure value entity, each key figure value entity including a supply network plan key figure ID, a time series period ID, a supply network planning aggregate hierarchy aggregate instance ID, and a float value, and where the log package comprises a log entity.
9. A distributed system operating in a landscape of computer systems providing message-based services defined in a service registry, the system comprising:
a graphical user interface comprising computer readable instructions, embedded on tangible media, for communicating information associated with querying a set of supply network plans associated with long- or mid-term production or distribution plans using a request;
a first memory storing a user interface controller for processing the request and involving a message package derived from a common business object model, where the common business object model includes business objects having relationships that enable derivation of message-based service interfaces and message packages, the message package hierarchically organized as:
a supply network plan key figure value by elements query message entity; and
a selection package comprising a supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity, where the supply network plan key figure value selection by elements entity includes a selection by ID, a selection by supply network planning aggregate hierarchy ID, at least one selection by key figure ID, and at least one selection by time series period ID, where each selection by key figure ID includes an interval boundary type code; and

a second memory, remote from the graphical user interface, storing a plurality of message-based service interfaces derived from the common business object model to provide consistent semantics with messages derived from the common business object model, where one of the message-based service interfaces processes the message according to the hierarchical organization of the message package, where processing the message includes unpacking the message package based on the common business object model.
10. The distributed system of claim 7, wherein the first memory is remote from the graphical user interface.
11. The distributed system of claim 7, wherein the first memory is remote from the second memory.

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. An article retrieving apparatus, comprising:
a storage area (11) for storing articles along at least one longitudinal axis;
an article extracting device (14) comprising an air hose (21, 23, 26) including a free end (28) for selectively becoming adhered to for extracting an article from the storage volume via suction in said air hose created by a negative air pressure source (20) coupled to said air hose;
a positioning mechanism (12) coupled to the air hose and responsive to control signals for positioning the free end thereof in alignment with a said longitudinal axis;
a drive mechanism (190) coupled to said air hose for moving the free end thereof in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis in the storage volume; and
control apparatus for initiating an article retrieving operation, and generating control signals which are applied to said positioning mechanism and said drive mechanism for causing controlled movement of the article extracting device so that a selected article is extracted from the storage volume by the free end of said hose and placed in an area for being retrieved;
wherein the free end of said hose includes a product contact sensor, comprising:
a weight having one end attached to said hose, and an air passage formed axially therethrough, said air passage having a diameter which is sufficient for allowing substantially all said suction to be conducted to an other end of said weight, said other end being axially opposed to the one end;
a movable element mounted within the axial air passage formed in the weight, said element being positioned in the passage so as to extend beyond the other end of the weight and contact an article to be retrieved, said contact tending to move said element in an axial direction within the air passage,
a sensor mounted on said weight for generating an electrical signal representative of the sensing of movement of said movable element in response to contact of said movable element with an article to be retrieved, and

a electrical signal conductor coupled to said sensor for conducting said electrical signal from said sensor to said control apparatus, said electrical signal conductor being routed so as to pass through said air hose on its way to said control apparatus.
2. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 1, further including a suction cup mounted to said other end of said weight so as to surround the air passage in the weight and the moveable element, where an article contacting portion of the suction cup extends from the other end of the weight so that movement of the moveable element in response to contact with an article to be retrieved, does not occur until after the article contacting portion of the suction cup has made contact with the article to be retrieved.
3. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 2 wherein said suction cup comprises a cylindrical shape.
4. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 3 wherein said suction cup comprises a flexible material having pleated side walls.
5. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moveable element comprises a metallic blade and the sensor comprises a magnetically operated reed switch.
6. The article retrieving apparatus of claim 5, wherein one end of the metallic blade is adapted to make contact to an article to be retrieved, and an opposed end of the metallic blade is positioned adjacent an operative area of the reed switch, so that upon movement of the metallic blade due to contact with an article to be retrieved, the opposed end of the metallic blade moves within the operative area of the reed switch, thereby causing the generation of said electrical signal.