All The Claims

1. A method of logging and reporting multimedia viewing information comprising:
obtaining viewing information about a multimedia presentation;
recording the viewing information; and
providing for generation of a viewing report as a function of the viewing information.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of recording the viewing information comprises:
receiving a selection of the multimedia presentation; and
recording viewing information about the multimedia presentation, the viewing information including an indicia of the selection of the multimedia presentation.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the operation of receiving a selection of the multimedia video signal comprises receiving a selection of the multimedia presentation initiated from a remote control device.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the multimedia presentation comprises a television program received from one of a plurality of channels; and further comprising:
receiving a selection of one of the plurality of channels; and
the viewing information comprises a time of selection and an indicia of the selected program.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a signal providing data for the multimedia presentation; and
analyzing the data to extract the viewing information.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the viewing information includes a source of the signal, and further comprising:
recording an indicia of the source of the signal.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the source comprises at least one of a DVD player, a digital video recorder device, a satellite set top box, a cable set top box, a video game counsel, a VHS player, and a television broadcast.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of obtaining viewing information comprises:
obtaining programming guide information.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the viewing report includes at least one of a viewing start time, a viewing end time, a viewing date, a channel, a program title, a program duration, and a parental rating.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
at a server, receiving a request for the viewing report from a client device; and
transmitting the viewing report to the client device.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting the viewing information to a remote storage device.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia presentation comprises a television program, and further comprising:
providing for selecting the television program presented on a channel selected from a plurality of channels; and
receiving additional programming information concerning the selected television program.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving an indicia of a user; and
providing for customizing the generation of the viewing report as a function of the user indicia.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting the viewing report to a remote device for display.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the remote device is a wireless communication device.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a signal to block presentation of the multimedia presentation.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
receiving a signal from a wireless device to block presentation of the multimedia presentation.
18. A system for logging and reporting multimedia viewing comprising:
an input logging module configured to obtain viewing information about a selected multimedia presentation;
an input log storage module configured to store viewing information about the selected multimedia presentation; and
a report generation module for generating a viewing report as a function of the stored viewing information.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein:
the input logging module is further configured to receive a transmission of a selection of the multimedia presentation; and
the viewing information includes an indicia of the selection of the multimedia presentation.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the selected multimedia presentation comprises a television channel selected with a remote control device.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein:
the selected multimedia presentation comprises a television program received from one of a plurality of channels; and
the viewing information comprises a time of selection and an indicia of the selected television program.
22. The system of claim 18 further comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive a signal providing data for the multimedia presentation; and
the input logging module configured to analyze the data to extract the viewing information.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein:
the viewing information includes a source of the signal; and
the input log storage module is configured to store an indicia of the source of the signal.
24. The system of claim 23 wherein the source comprises at least one of a DVD player, a digital video recorder device, a satellite set top box, a cable set top box, a video game counsel, a VHS player, and a television broadcast.
25. The system of claim 18 wherein the viewing information comprises programming guide information.
26. The system of claim 18 wherein the report includes at least one of a viewing start time, a viewing end time, a viewing date, a channel, a program title, a program duration, and a parental rating.
27. The system of claim 18 further comprising:
a server including the input log storage module and configured to receive a request for viewing the report from a client device, the server further including the report generation module configured to transmit the viewing report to the client device.
28. The system of claim 18 wherein the multimedia presentation comprises a television program, and further comprising:
a tuner configured to provide for selecting the television program presented on a channel selected from a plurality of channels; and
the input logger configured to receive additional programming information concerning the selected television program.
29. The system of claim 18 further comprising:
a module configured to receive an indicia of a user; and
the report generation module configured to provide a customized viewing report as a function of the user indicia.
30. The system of claim 18 further comprising:
a blocking module configured to receive a signal to block presentation of the multimedia presentation, the blocking module further configured to block presentation of the multimedia presentation.

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 for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed, comprising:
(a) providing a fluid-feed mixture comprising a hydrocarbon feed and a utility fluid, the fluid-feed mixture having first and second particulates, the first particulates having a size \u226725 \u03bcm and being present in the fluid-feed mixture in an amount Aflarge, and the second particulates having a size in the range of 1.0 to 20.0 \u03bcm and being present in the fluid-feed mixture in an amount Afsmall;
(b) selectively extracting from the fluid-feed mixture at least a portion of the first particulates to produce a raffinate and an extract; and
(c) hydroprocessing at least a portion of the raffinate;

wherein the raffinate comprises \u226750 wt. % of the fluid-feed mixture’s second particulates, and wherein the extract comprises \u226750% wt. % of the fluid-feed mixture’s first particulates.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the raffinate is hydroprocessed in a hydroprocessing unit, with at least a hydroprocessed effluent being conducted away from the hydroprocessing unit.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility fluid has a solubility blending number, Sfluid, of \u226790, preferably in the range of 90.0 to about 200.0, about 100.0 to about 200.0, about 110.0 to about 200.0, about 120.0 to about 200.0, about 150.0 to about 200.0, or about 175.0 to about 200.0.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the utility fluid has a kinetic viscosity of 0.1 to 5.0 cPoise at 50\xb0 C.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively extracting comprises passing the fluid-feed mixture through at least one backwashing filtration system, the backwashing filtration system being capable of providing the extract and the raffinate.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively extracting includes removing from the fluid-feed mixture \u226750 wt. %, e.g., \u226775 wt. %, \u226780 wt. %, \u226790 wt. %, \u226795 wt. %, \u226797.5 wt. %, or \u226799 wt. %, of particles having a size in the range of from 25 \u03bcm to 100 \u03bcm.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid-feed mixture has a kinetic viscosity of 0.5 to 10.0 cPoise at 50\xb0 C.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said selectively extracting comprises stratifying the feed in at least one sedimentation unit.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid-feed mixture comprises 5.0 to about 95.0 wt. % utility fluid and 5.0 to 95.0 wt. % hydrocarbon feed.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the extract to at least one solids separation unit.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the raffinate is produced in step (b) in an amount in the range of about 7.0\xd7104 to about 10.0\xd7104 kghour.
12. A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed, comprising:
(a) producing a fluid-feed mixture by combining hydrocarbon feed with utility fluid; the fluid-feed mixture having first and second particulates, the first particulates having a size \u226725 \u03bcm and being present in the fluid-feed mixture in an amount Aflarge, and the second particulates having a size in the range of 1.0 to 20.0 \u03bcm and being present in the fluid-feed mixture in an amount Afsmall;
(b) passing the fluid-feed mixture through a backwashing filtration system to provide a raffinate and an extract, the extract comprising at least a portion of the first particulates; and
(c) hydroprocessing at least a portion of the raffinate;
wherein the raffinate comprises \u226750 wt. % of the fluid-feed mixture’s second particulates, and wherein the extract comprises \u226750% wt. % of the fluid-feed mixture’s first particulates.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the utility fluid has a solubility blending number, Sfluid, of \u226790, preferably in the range of 90.0 to about 200.0, about 100.0 to about 200.0, about 110.0 to about 200.0, about 120.0 to about 200.0, about 150.0 to about 200.0, or about 175.0 to about 200.0.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the utility fluid has a kinetic viscosity of 0.1 to 5.0 cPoise at 50\xb0 C.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein said selectively extracting includes removing \u226750 wt. %, e.g., \u226775 wt. %, \u226780 wt. %, \u226790 wt. %, \u226795 wt. %, \u226797.5 wt. %, or \u226799 wt. %, of particles having a size 25 to 100 \u03bcm from the fluid-feed mixture to produce the raffinate.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid-feed mixture has a kinetic viscosity of 0.5 to 10.0 cPoise at 50\xb0 C.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid-feed mixture comprises 5.0 to about 95.0 wt. % utility fluid and 5.0 to 95.0 wt. % hydrocarbon feed.
18. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing the extract to at least one solids separation unit.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the raffinate is produced in step (b) in an amount in the range of about 7.0\xd7104 to about 10.0\xd7104 kghour.
20. An upgrading system for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed, comprising:
(a) a fluid-feed supply for supplying a fluid-feed mixture comprising a hydrocarbon feed and a utility fluid, the fluid-feed mixture having first and second particulates, the first particulates having a size \u226725 \u03bcm, and the second particulates having a size in the range of 1.0 to 20.0 \u03bcm; and
(b) a separation system adapted for selectively extracting from the fluid-feed mixture at least a portion of the first particulates to produce a raffinate and an extract; and
(c) a hydroprocessor for hydroprocessing at least a portion of the raffinate;
wherein the raffinate comprises \u226750 wt. % of the fluid-feed mixture’s second particulates, and wherein the extract comprises \u226750% wt. % of the fluid-feed mixture’s first particulates.
21. The upgrading system of claim 20, wherein the separation system comprises a backwashing filtration system for providing the extract and the raffinate.
22. The upgrading system of claim 20, wherein the separation system comprises a sedimentation unit for providing the extract and the raffinate.
23. The upgrading system of claim 20, further comprising a solids separation unit configured to receive the extract and to separate a liquid portion therefrom.
24. The upgrading system of claim 20, further comprising (A) means for withdrawing a hydroprocessed effluent from the hydroprocessor and (B) a first separation unit configured to (i) receive the withdrawn hydroprocessed effluent and (ii) separate from the hydroprocessed effluent a first fluid-enriched stream and a hydroprocessed product stream.
25. The upgrading system of claim 24, further comprising a second separation unit, preferably a stabilizer, to provide an overhead stream, configured to receive the hydroprocessed product stream and to separate from the hydroprocessed product stream a second fluid-enriched stream and a product stream.

What is claimed is:

1. A dielectric porcelain comprising a polycrystalline material of which a main component comprises oxides containing at least a rare earth element (Ln), Al, M (M represents at least one selected from Ca and Sr) and Ti as metal elements, wherein the thickness of a grain boundary layer is 20 nm or less.
2. The dielectric porcelain according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the oxide of Al is included in the form of crystal comprising at least one selected from -Al2O3, -Al2O3 and -Al2O3.
3. The dielectric porcelain according to claim 1, wherein the main component comprises oxides containing at least a rare earth element (Ln), Al, M (M represents at least one selected from Ca and Sr) and Ti as metal elements, and in case that a compositional formula of the oxides is represented by aLn2Ox.bAl2O3.cMO.dTiO2 (3×4), molar ratios a, b, c and d satisfy the following relationships:
0.056a0.214; 0.056b0.214; 0.286c0.500; 0.230<d<0.470; and abcd1.
4. The dielectric porcelain according to claim 1, wherein at least one of metal elements Mn, W, Nb and Ta is contained in the total amount of 0.01 to 3% by weight on the basis of MnO2, WO3, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5.
5. The dielectric porcelain according to claim 1, wherein the main component comprises oxides containing at least a rare earth element (Ln), Al, M (M represents at least one selected from Ca and Sr) and Ti as metal elements, and a half width of a peak observed in a range from 700 to 900 cm1 of laser Raman spectrum is 120 cm1 or less.
6. The dielectric porcelain according to claim 1, wherein the main component comprises oxides containing at least a rare earth element (Ln), Al, M (M represents at least one selected from Ca and Sr) and Ti as metal elements; a half width of a peak observed in a range from 700 to 900 cm1 of laser Raman spectrum is 120 cm1 or less; and at least one of metal elements Mn, W, Nb and Ta is contained in the total amount of 0.01 to 3% by weight on the basis of MnO2, WO3, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5.
7. A dielectric porcelain comprising oxides, as a main component, containing at least Ti, Zr and Sn as metal elements, wherein a half width of a peak observed in a range from 700 to 900 cm1 of laser Raman spectrum is 120 cm1 or less.
8. The dielectric porcelain according to claim 7, wherein the main component comprises oxides containing at least Ti, Zr and Sn as metal elements, and in case that a compositional formula of the oxides is represented by hTiO2.iZrO2.jSnO2, molar ratios h, i and j satisfy the following relationships:
0.30h0.60; 0.25i0.60; 0.025j0.20; and hij1.
9. A dielectric resonator comprising the dielectric porcelain of any one of claims 1 to 8 disposed between a pair of input and output terminals, so as to function through electromagnetic coupling.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A virtual local area network (VLAN) tunneling system comprising:
a first switching node having an ingress port and an egress port, the ingress port being associated with a VLAN and receiving a data packet, the egress port being configured as an untagged port, the egress port adding VLAN information to the data packet and transmitting the data packet on a label-switched path;
a second switching node receiving the data packet transmitted from the first switching node via the label-switched path, the second switching node further identifying the data unit as a virtual bridged LAN data unit, retrieving the added VLAN information from the data packet, and transmitting the data packet to a final destination based on the retrieved VLAN information.
2. The VLAN tunneling system of claim 1 further including a third switching node in the label-switched path, the third switching node configured to add to the packet a label value reserved for packets originating from a port associated with a VLAN for informing the second switching node that VLAN information is embedded in the data packet.
3. The VLAN tunneling system of claim 2, wherein the second switching node receives the packet with the reserved label value and determines that the packet includes VLAN information associated with an originating port based on the reserved label.
4. A virtual local area network (VLAN) tunneling system including a switching node in a label-switched path, the switching node including:
an ingress port associated with a VLAN receiving a packet; and
an egress port configured as an untagged port, the egress port receiving the packet from the ingress port and adding to the packet VLAN information associated with the VLAN of the ingress port and transmitting the packet over the label-switched path.
5. A virtual local area network (VLAN) tunneling system including a switching node in a label-switched path, the switching node including:
an ingress port receiving a packet having an ingress label value; and
an egress port receiving the packet from the ingress port and replacing the ingress label value with a label value reserved for packets originating from a port associated with a VLAN, the egress port further transmitting the packet to a next switching node on the label-switched path based on the ingress label value.
6. The switching node of claim 5, wherein the next switching node is an egress edge switching node in the label-switched path.
7. The switching node of claim 6, wherein the egress edge switching node receives the packet with the reserved label value, determines that the packet includes VLAN information associated with an originating port based on the reserved label value, and processes the VLAN information for transmitting the packet to a final destination.
8. A virtual local area network (VLAN) tunneling system comprising:
a first switching node having a plurality of ports at least one of which has a VLAN associated therewith; and
a second switching node, characterized in that a data unit for transmission from said first switching node to said second switching node over said at least one port is checked for VLAN assignment prior to transmission and in that said data unit is transmitted from said first switching node to said second switching node on a label-switched path or not depending on a result of said check.
9. The system of claim 8 further characterized in that a VLAN identifier assigned to said data unit is applied to said data unit prior to transmission on said label-switched path.
10. The system of claim 9 further characterized in that said VLAN identifier applied to said data unit is referenced at said second switching node to identify the VLAN assignment of said data unit.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one port is untagged.
12. The system of claim 8 further characterized in that said data unit is bridged from said first switching node if not transmitted on said label-switched path.
13. A virtual local area network (VLAN) tunneling method comprising the steps of:
receiving a packet at an ingress port, the ingress port being associated with a VLAN;
forwarding the packet to an egress port, the egress port being configured as an untagged port;
adding to the packet at the egress port VLAN information and a label value associated with a next switching node in a label-switched path; and
transmitting the packet to the next switching node in the label-switched path.
14. A virtual local area network (VLAN) tunneling method comprising the steps of:
receiving a packet at an ingress port of a switching node, the packet having an ingress label value;
forwarding the packet to an egress port;
replacing the ingress label value with a label value reserved for packets originating from a port associated with a VLAN; and
transmitting the packet to a next switching node on a label-switched path based on the ingress label value.
15. The method of claim 16, wherein the next switching node is an egress edge switching node in the label-switched path.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
receiving at the egress edge switching node the packet with the reserved label value;
determining that the packet includes VLAN information associated with an originating port based on the reserved label value;
retrieving the VLAN information; and
processing the VLAN information for transmitting the packet to a final destination.