Abstract: Sleeves for use in systems for supporting platform-like objects on casters and posts and described. The sleeves support caster-and-post junctions and inhibit deformation of the stems of the casters and the ends of posts in directions radially outward from the longitudinal axes of the stems and posts.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for Internet payment enablement and support for merchants and acquirers or other financial institutions (FIs). The system accommodates different payment transactions and channels between customers and merchants, and between merchants and their FIs. A payment transaction manager (PTM) securely routes payment transactions from merchants via the system back-end to different FIs. The PTM accepts any payment transaction, from any device, using any protocol. The system provides merchants with a single integrated interface to their FIs, aggregated transaction data, and merchant enablement tools such as a Merchant Integrated Kit (MIK) to support different payment channels between customers and merchants via plugs, cartridges and hosted pay pages, and a Merchant Support Center for accessing and managing stored electronic transaction data. The system also provides merchant-facing products with Internet payment, virtual terminal, billing, point of sale and wireless solutions.

Abstract: A data distribution system is provided which supplies customers with an executable for requested secured data files to provide the customer with fulfillment software, obviating the need for the customer to download fulfillment software prior to requesting secure data. The data distribution system is characterized by server technology which can dynamically encrypt secured data files just prior to a customer request to download the data file. A framework for building a universal data distribution infrastructure is provided which employs Requesters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a message brokering mechanism (120, 220) for performing a recovery operation in a transaction processing system (100, 200), comprising first and second stages (221, 222) operable to exchange message requests and responses. The first stage (221) is operable to receive a message request from a message source (110, 210) and to check whether the message request is a special message request. This may be by way of checking if a recovery attribute of the message request is set. A normal message request may have a recovery attribute that is not set. If the message request is a special message request, it can be dispatched to the second stage. If the message request is a normal message request, it may be dispatched to the second stage only if the normal message request is not a repeat normal message request.

Abstract: Disclosed is a message brokering mechanism (120, 220) for a transaction processing system (100, 200), comprising first and second stages operable to exchange message requests and responses, wherein the first stage is operable to receive a message request from a message source (110) and to check whether there is an existing first stage response to the message request and, conditional on there being an existing first stage response, to dispatch the existing first stage response to the message source.

Abstract: A data distribution system is provided which supplies customers with an executable for requested secured data files to provide the customer with fulfillment software, obviating the need for the customer to download fulfillment software prior to requesting secure data. The data distribution system is characterized by server technology which can dynamically encrypt secured data files just prior to a customer request to download the data file. A framework for building a universal data distribution infrastructure is provided which employs Requesters.