All The Claims

1. A method for maintaining data stored in a data processing device, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) generating a signature indicative of the data stored in the data processing device;
(b) communicating the signature to a maintenance node; and
(c) receiving updated data from the maintenance node depending upon the maintenance node determining if the signature is expected from the data processing device.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signature is generated by a hash function.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hash function is an MD5 hashing algorithm.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is indicative of a configuration of the data processing device.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the configuration of the data processing device is determined by identifying the hardware and software components installed on the data processing device.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a hash value for each identified hardware and software component is generated and a further hash value is generated from each of the generated hash values for communicating to the maintenance node.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received signature is processing by a publishsubscribe mechanism.
8. A method for identifying a data update for communicating to a processing device, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a signature from the processing node, the received signature being indicative of data stored on the processing device;
(b) comparing the received signature with lookup data to determine an update to the data stored on the processing device.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the update is communicated to the processing device.
10. A system for maintaining data stored in a processing device, the system comprising:
(a) a generator component for generating a signature indicative of the data stored in the processing device;
(b) the generator component communicating the signature to a maintenance processing node; and
(c) a receiver for receiving updated data from the maintenance node, the updated data being generated by the maintenance node in dependence of the maintenance node comparing the communicated signature with lookup data to determine an update to the data stored on the processing device.
11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the signature is generated by a hash function.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the hash function is an MD5 hashing algorithm.
13. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data is indicative of a configuration of the data processing device.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13 further comprises an identifier component for identifying the configuration of the data processing device by determining the hardware components and the software components installed on the data processing device.
15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the generator component generates a hash value for each identified hardware component and software component and generates a further hash value from the combination of each of the generated hash values for communicating to the maintenance node.
16. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein a receiver component processed the received signature by a publishsubscribe mechanism.
17. A system for identifying a data update for communication to a processing device, the system comprising:
(a) a receiver component for receiving a signature from the processing node, the received signature being indicative of data stored on the processing device; and
(b) a comparator component for comparing the received signature with lookup data to determine an update to the data stored in the processing device.
18. A system as claimed in claim 17, further comprises a communicator component for communicating the update to the processing device.
19. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code, wherein when the computer usable program code is loadable into the internal memory of a processing device, causes the processing device to:
(a) generate a signature indicative of the data stored in the data processing device;
(b) communicate the signature to a maintenance node across a network;
(c) receive updated data from the maintenance node if the maintenance node determines the signature is expected from the data processing device.
20. The computer program product of 19, wherein the program code causes the data processing device to generate the signature using a hash function.
21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the program code causes the data processing device to generate the signature indicative of a configuration of the data processing by identifying the hardware and software components installed on the data processing device.
22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein a hash value for each identified hardware and software component is generated, and a further hash value is generated from each of the generated hash values.
23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the received signature is processing by a publishsubscribe mechanism.
24. A service contract for managing service transactions between at least one microprocessor device and a maintenance mode coupled to a communication network, the at least one microprocessor device having processing hardware andor software, the service contract comprising:
(a) a plurality of hash values generated by the service contract, one of the plurality of hash values pertaining to each of the hardware andor software configuration of the at least one microprocessor device;
(b) a configuration hash value generated by the service contract, the configuration hash value generated from the combination of the plurality of hash values pertaining to each of the at least one microprocessor devices;
(c) a signature file unique to each of the at least one microprocessor devices, the signature file generated by the service contract indicative of the configuration hash value of the at least one microprocessor device.
25. The service contract of claim 24, further comprising:
(a) a maintenance node coupled to the at least one processing device, the maintenance node receiving a signature for each of the plurality of processing devices; the maintenance node comprising:
(i) a pre-registered signature component having expected signatures of each of the plurality of processing devices;
(ii) a comparator component having a rules engine that compares the received signature with the expected signature;
(iii) an update configuration component that transmits updated data to one of the plurality of processing devices when the received signature matches the expected signature and when updated data for the processing device are available.
26. The service contract of claim 25, further comprising a target configuration stored in the maintenance node, the target configuration indicative of the updated data to be transmitted to one of the plurality of processing devices.

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 paint circulating system back pressure regulator comprising:
a paint flow passage at least partially disposed between a fixed structure and a moveable structure, wherein the moveable structure is moveable to vary a width of the paint flow passage to regulate a pressure of paint upstream of the regulator while paint flows through the paint flow passage, and the moveable structure comprises a rigid structure coupled to a first flexible membrane that opens and closes against a surface of the fixed structure, wherein a surface of the first flexible membrane contacts the fixed structure when the moveable structure closes against the surface of the fixed structure;
a chamber having an opening configured to communicate with a supply of pressurized fluid, wherein the regulator is configured to vary a fluid pressure of the pressurized fluid to control an adjustable set point of the pressure of paint upstream of the regulator; and
a plurality of independent moveable structures each located in a separate chamber of a plurality of separate chambers, wherein each respective separate chamber of the plurality of separate chambers is configured to be independently pressurized by the supply of pressurized fluid to move one of the plurality of independent moveable structures.
2. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressurized fluid is compressed air.
3. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, comprising a biasing member configured to restrict the paint flow passage against the pressure of paint in the paint flow passage when the pressurized fluid is not applied to the chamber.
4. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biasing member is a coiled spring.
5. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biasing member is of adjustable strength.
6. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coiled spring biases the moveable structure toward a closed position to restrict the paint flow passage, and the chamber is pressurized by the supply of pressurized fluid to bias the moveable structure against the coiled spring and toward an open position to open the paint flow passage.
7. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the biasing member is isolated from the paint flow passage.
8. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moveable structure comprises a second flexible membrane coupled to the rigid structure.
9. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, comprising a coiled spring operable to restrict the paint flow passage against the pressure of paint in the paint flow passage when pressurized fluid is not applied to the plurality of separate chambers.
10. A system, comprising:
a back pressure regulator, comprising:
a paint flow passage;
a fixed structure having a first surface; and
a moveable assembly, wherein the movable assembly comprises:
a first independently moveable portion having a first structure coupled to a first membrane; and
a second independently moveable portion having a second structure coupled to a second membrane, wherein the second independently moveable portion comprises a second surface configured to move against the first surface to close the paint flow passage and move away from the first surface to open the paint flow passage, and the moveable assembly is movable to vary a width of the paint flow passage between the first and second surfaces to regulate a pressure of paint upstream of the back pressure regulator while paint flows through the paint flow passage.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the back pressure regulator comprises a spring operable to restrict the flow passage against a pressure of paint in the flow passage.
12. The system of claim 11, comprising a spring adjuster configured to adjust a compression of the spring to set the pressure of the paint upstream of the back pressure regulator.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second independently moveable portions each comprise a shaft and a seal disposed about the shaft.
14. A system, comprising:
a back pressure regulator, comprising:
a paint flow passage at least partially disposed between a fixed structure and a first moveable structure, wherein the first moveable structure is movable to vary a width of the paint flow passage to regulate a pressure of paint upstream of the back pressure regulator while paint flows through the paint flow passage;
a biasing member configured to bias the first moveable structure toward a closed position to close the paint flow passage, wherein the biasing member is isolated from the paint flow passage; and
first and second chambers configured to communicate with a supply of pressurized fluid, wherein the first chamber comprises a first membrane coupled to a second moveable structure, and the second chamber comprises a second membrane coupled to a third moveable structure, and wherein the back pressure regulator is configured to vary a fluid pressure of the pressurized fluid to control an adjustable set point of the pressure of paint upstream of the back pressure regulator.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the pressure of the pressurized fluid biases the first moveable structure against the biasing member and toward an open position to open the paint flow passage.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.
17. A paint circulating system back pressure regulator comprising:
a paint flow passage at least partially disposed between a fixed structure and a moveable structure, wherein the moveable structure is moveable to vary a width of the paint flow passage to regulate a pressure of paint upstream of the regulator while paint flows through the paint flow passage, and the moveable structure comprises a flexible membrane that opens and closes against a surface of the fixed structure;
a chamber having an opening configured to communicate with a supply of pressurized fluid; and
a plurality of independent moveable structures located in separate chambers, wherein each separate chamber is configured to be independently pressurized by the supply of pressurized fluid to move one of the independent moveable structures, wherein the regulator is configured to vary a fluid pressure of the pressurized fluid to control an adjustable set point of the pressure of paint upstream of the regulator.
18. The paint circulating system back pressure regulator as claimed in claim 17, comprising a coiled spring operable to restrict the paint flow passage against the pressure of paint in the paint flow passage when pressurized fluid is not applied to the separate chambers.

I claim:

1. A process for the heat treatment of bale fiber feedstock, comprising the steps of:
i. placing the bale in a sealed chamber;
ii. evacuating the chamber to a reduced pressure;
iii. introducing steam into the sealed chamber to raise the temperature of the bale to an elevated level;
iv. repeating steps ii and iii to effect a desired degree of conditioning of the bale; and
V. removing the bale from the chamber.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein step iv is performed at least 3 times.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein step iv is performed 4 times.
4. The process of claim 2 wherein the temperature of the bale during the last repetition of step iii is 80 C.
5. The process of claim 2 wherein step iv is performed three times and the reduced pressure in the evacuating steps is 50, 100, 100 and 200 mbar.
6. The process of claim 3 in which the reduced pressure in the five evacuating steps is 50, 200, 200, 200 and 200 mbar, respectively.
7. The process of claim 3, wherein the temperature of the bale to be obtained during step iii is 60, 70, 80, and 80 C., respectively.
8. The process of claim 5 in which each step iii is maintained for about 5 minutes
9. The process of claim 5 in which step iii is maintained for a period of 5 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes, respectively.

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 image-printing system, comprising:
a connection-managing server which enters a closed user group (CUG) in which a limited number of users share an image on a network, issues an authorization code necessary for login to the entered CUG while managing loginlogout of user terminal units respectively, the user terminal units, each of which has the same authorization code issued by the connection-managing server, are peer-to-peer-connected with each other during communication between the user terminals and managing the peer-to-peer connection between the user terminal units on the network; and
an order-accepting server which is peer-to-peer-connected with the user terminal units respectively having the same authorization code via the network, gets image data relating to a print order from each of the user terminal units, sends the image data to a digital printer set in a print station, and makes the digital printer execute printing in accordance with the image data; wherein the user terminal unit used for the image-printing system includes:
an image-getting device which gets image data from other peer-to-peer-connected user terminal unit;
an image-displaying device which displays an image represented with the image data gotten by the image-getting device so that the image is viewed;
an image memory which stores image data;
order-inputting unit through which an order is inputted for selecting at least one image from images stored in the other peer-to-peer connected user terminal unit and images stored in the image memory and requesting a print of the selected image, wherein at the time of requesting the print order, a processing for confirming a permission of the print is performed between the peer-to-peer connected user terminal units based on the same authorization code; and
an order-managing server which receives a print order from each of the user terminal units via the network, issues an order ID every order, manages the information on a plurality of print stations, and provides information necessary for the peer-to-peer connection with the order-accepting server of one of the plurality of print stations selected by the user as a print-receiving place for the user terminal unit of the user ordering the print, wherein
the order-accepting server includes a printing-completion-communicating device which communicates the order ID relating to completion of the printing relating to the order to the order-managing server when the print relating to the order is completed.
2. The image-printing system according to claim 1, wherein the connection-managing server receives an entry request for the CUG from the user terminal unit via the network, and enters the CUG and issues the authorization code in accordance with the request.
3. The image-printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a user management server which includes a user-information memory storing information on an image-processing condition designated by each user, the user management server reading the information on an image-processing condition of a user who is a print orderer from the user-information memory to provide the information for the print station.
4. The image-printing system according to claim 3, wherein the digital printer includes an image processor which processes an image in accordance with the information on the image-processing condition gotten from the user management server to generate a print image.
5. The image-printing system according to claim 1, wherein the order-managing server receives the order ID showing the completion of the printing from the printing-completion-communicating device and charges the printing service for the order ID.
6. The user terminal unit according to claim 1, further comprising a restriction-setting device which adds, when sharing images stored in the CUG, a restriction to a using method of the images.
7. The user terminal unit according to claim 6, wherein the restriction-setting device sets, on the basis of an operation of an image owner, at last one of permission and inhibition of at least one of viewing of the image, downloading of the image data, ordering of a print using the image data, and writing of a comment on the image.
8. A method for printing an image, comprising:
entering a closed user group (CUG) in which a limited number of users share an image on a network,
issuing an authorization code necessary for login to the entered CUG while managing loginlogout of user terminal units respectively, the user terminal units, each of which has the same authorization code, a peer-to-peer-connected with each other during communication between the user terminals,
managing the peer-to-peer connection between the user terminal units on the network;
providing an order-accepting server which is peer-to-peer-connected with the user terminal units respectively having the same authorization code via the network,
getting image data relating to a print order from each of the user terminal units,
sending the image data to a digital printer set in a print station for printing in accordance with the image data;
getting image data by an image-getting device from other peer-to-peer-connected user terminal unit;
displaying an image represented with the image data gotten by the image-getting device so that the image is viewed;
storing image data into an image memory; and
inputting order for selecting at least one image from stored images in the other peer-to-peer connected user terminal unit and images stored in the image memory and requesting a print of the selected image, wherein at the time of requesting the print order, a processing for confirming a permission of the print order is performed between the peer-to-peer-connected user terminal units based on the same authorization code; and
providing an order-managing server which receives a print order from each of the user terminal units via the network, issues an order ID every order, manages the information on a plurality of print stations, and provides information necessary for the peer-to-peer connection with the order-accepting server of one of the plurality of print stations selected by the user as a print-receiving place for the user terminal unit of the user ordering the print, wherein
the order-accepting server includes a printing-completion-communicating device which communicates the order ID relating to completion of the printing relating to the order to the order-managing server when the print relating to the order is connected.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: receiving an entry request for the CUG from the user terminal units via the network, and entering the CUG and issuing the authorization code in accordance with the request.
10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: providing a user management server which includes a user-information memory storing information on an image-processing condition designated by each user, the user management server reading the information on an image-processing condition of a user who is a print orderer from the user-information memory to provide the information for the print station.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the digital printer includes an image processor which processes an image in accordance with the information on the image-processing condition gotten from the user management server to generate a print image.
12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the order-managing server receives the order ID showing the completion of the printing from the printing-completion-communicating device and charges the printing service for the order ID.
13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: adding, when sharing images stored in the image memory in the CUG, a restriction to a using method of the images.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: setting, on the basis of an operation of an image owner, at last one of permission and inhibition of at least one of viewing of the image, downloading of the image data, ordering of a print using the image data, and writing of a comment on the image.