(19)

(11)

EP 1 381 994 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 13.11.2003 (43) Date of publication: 21.01.2004 Bulletin 2004/04 (21) Application number: 02763258.7 (22) Date of filing: 27.02.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 17/60 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/021876 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/102133 (27.12.2002 Gazette 2002/52)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 27.02.2001 US 271408 P 26.03.2001 US 278431 P (71) Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company Fairfax, VA 22037 (US)	(72) Inventors: GIORDANO, Joseph, A. Centreville, VA 20120 (US) MURRAY, Jack, B., Jr.,c/o Exxon Mobil Corp. Fairfax, VA 22037 (US) (74) Representative: Troch, Geneviève  ExxonMobil Chemical Europe Inc.,P.O. Box 105 1830 Machelen 1830 Machelen (BE)