Abstract: The multiple driver occupied passenger vehicles transporter system (Autobus) provides a way to efficiently, economically and safely increase the highway vehicle flow rate of cars per lane per hour. Autobus employs a vehicle transporter, terminal, sensors and systems that provide a way to quickly load and unload driver occupied passenger vehicles on and off of the vehicle transporter. Autobus provides a way to safely transport multiple driver occupied passenger vehicles, including cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and light trucks.

Abstract: A method of routing messages to multiple consumers comprises determining a probability function defining message classification probabilities for each of a plurality of consumer sets, receiving a plurality of messages, classifying each message, storing each message in a queue, receiving notification of a consumer available to process a message, ascertaining the consumer set to which the available consumer belongs, accessing the probabilities for the ascertained consumer set, selecting a message classification according to the accessed probabilities, and transmitting a message, of the selected classification, to the available consumer.

Abstract: Fire ignition systems, combustible ignition structures, and methods of manufacturing and using such systems and devices are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, a fire ignition system may include a combustible container and a combustible ignition structure removably insertable into an interior of the combustible container. In various embodiments, the combustible ignition structure may include a base having a top surface and a chimney extending from the top surface. In various embodiments, the chimney may have an inner flue, a top opening into the flue, and an aperture through a side of the chimney into the flue. Other embodiments may be disclosed herein.

Abstract: Messages are redistributed in a clustered messaging environment including messaging servers and consuming applications. Each messaging server has a queue partition operable to contain messages. Each consuming application can connect to a messaging server in to consume one or more messages from a queue partition local to that messaging server. A message on a holding queue partition local to a messaging server without at least one consumer interested in consuming that message is said to be marooned. A marooned message is redistributed from the holding queue partition to a messaging server that does have at least one consumer interested in consuming the message. The redistribution involves identifying a group of servers, each of which has one or more consumers interesting in consuming the message, selecting a server from the group and forwarding the message to the selected server.

Abstract: Access to a device is controlled in a data processing network by receiving a first request from a client to connect to a device where the device is limited to a fixed number of client connections and connecting the client to an available client connection of the device if the fixed number of client connections on the device would not be exceeded by connecting the client. Access is further controlled by testing liveness of a current client connection on the device if the fixed number of client connections on the device would be exceeded by connecting the client and dropping the current client connection if the liveness testing indicates that the current client connection is not live.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling access to a destination (17, 23, 24) in a data processing network where the destination is limited to a fixed number of requesters responds to a new request (50) for access from a given requestor (20) by determining whether the fixed number would be exceeded. If the fixed number would not be exceeded (51), the new request is granted by connecting (52) the given requester to the destination. If the fixed number would be exceeded, the liveness of the or each current connection to a respective requester is tested (55). If the liveness test succeeds, the new request is rejected but if the liveness test fails, the new request is granted (52).

Abstract: The multiple driver occupied passenger vehicles transporter system (Autobus) provides a way to efficiently, economically and safely increase the highway vehicle flow rate of cars per lane per hour. Autobus employs a vehicle transporter, terminal, sensors and systems that provide a way to quickly load and unload driver occupied passenger vehicles on and off of the vehicle transporter. Autobus provides a way to safely transport multiple driver occupied passenger vehicles, including cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and light trucks.

Abstract: A method of routing messages to multiple consumers comprises determining a probability function defining message classification probabilities for each of a plurality of consumer sets, receiving a plurality of messages, classifying each message, storing each message in a queue, receiving notification of a consumer available to process a message, ascertaining the consumer set to which the available consumer belongs, accessing the probabilities for the ascertained consumer set, selecting a message classification according to the accessed probabilities, and transmitting a message, of the selected classification, to the available consumer.

Abstract: A method of performing message operations includes receiving a message operation request identifying a queue, retrieving a list of the subset of partitions associated with the alias received in the request, and selecting at least one of the partitions within the retrieved subset. According to the method, the queue includes a plurality of partitions, the request identifies the queue with an alias, and the alias having a subset of the plurality of partitions associated therewith.

Abstract: A system for managing inbound messages in a server complex including one or more message consumers. The system includes a server configured to receive the inbound messages from a first peripheral device and to transmit messages to one or more of the plurality of message consumers. The system also includes an inbound message queue coupled to the server, the inbound message queue configured to store inbound message and discard at least one message when an age of the message exceeds an expiration time.

Abstract: A method for preferential reply routing, the method includes: receiving a request-reply message from a requesting application; detecting there is a preferred partition of a reply queue managed locally to an application server to which the requesting application is connected; qualifying a name of a reply queue stored in the request-reply message so that the name refers to the local partition that is managed locally to the application server; determining whether the local partition is available; wherein in the event the local partition is available: storing a reply message in the local partition; and retrieving the reply message from the local partition in response to the requesting application.

Abstract: A system for managing inbound messages in a server complex including one or more message consumers. The system includes a server configured to receive the inbound messages from a first peripheral device and to transmit messages to one or more of the plurality of message consumers. The system also includes an inbound message queue coupled to the server, the inbound message queue configured to store inbound message until an age of any message stored on the inbound message queue exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling access to a destination (17, 23, 24) in a data processing network where the destination is limited to a fixed number of requesters responds to a new request (50) for access from a given requestor (20) by determining whether the fixed number would be exceeded. If the fixed number would not be exceeded (51), the new request is granted by connecting (52) the given requester to the destination. If the fixed number would be exceeded, the liveness of the or each current connection to a respective requester is tested (55). If the liveness test succeeds, the new request is rejected but if the liveness test fails, the new request is granted (52).

Abstract: There is disclosed a source messaging system having a queue for receiving messages. The source messaging system has means for determining whether a message should be permitted to become INDOUBT. This is done by retrieving a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; determining whether the message falls within the range denoted by the value; and responsive to determining that the message falls within the range, permitting the message to become INDOUBT.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for delivering messages and data to competing consumers. One aspect of the invention includes a message delivery system including a destination messaging engine, one or more receiver messaging engines, and a message pool. The destination messaging engine is configured to distribute data from one or more producers. The receiver messaging engines are configured to request data from the destination messaging engine and transmit the data to one or more consumers. The message pool is configured to store data from the producers, with the destination messaging engine arbitrating data in the message pool among the receiver messaging engines.

Abstract: An environmentally-safe, disposable, and combustible charcoal-based portable heat source includes a first combustible, inner, vertical, upright chimney structure, and a second combustible, outer, vertical, upright wall structure surround said chimney structure and an inner chimney flue defined by said chimney structure for receiving air for igniting and burning said charcoal-based heat source. An outer chimney flue defined by the outer wall of said first combustible, inner, vertical, upright chimney structure and the inner wall of said second combustible, outer, vertical, upright, wall structure, said outer chimney for exhausting fumes from said heat source. A removable inner chimney insert provides structural support for the heat source. An ignition ring establishes a sustained ignition to uniformly ignite the charcoal-based fuel.

Abstract: In a client/server network, a client may be able to use any of several servers in accomplishing a particular task but may still have preferences as to which server should, if available, be used. If the preferred server is not available, the client will be connected to an alternate server. If a server having a higher preference than the alternate server becomes available, state information associated with the client session with the alternate server is used in order to decide when the client may be switched to the preferred server without compromising work currently being done.

Abstract: There is disclosed a source messaging system having a queue for receiving messages. The source messaging system has means for determining whether a message should be permitted to become INDOUBT. This is done by retrieving a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; determining whether the message falls within the range denoted by the value; and responsive to determining that the message falls within the range, permitting the message to become INDOUBT.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for administering messages. In response to a determination that one or more consuming applications have failed to process the same message on a queue a predetermined number of times, the message is made unavailable to consuming applications. Responsive to determining that a predetermined number of messages have been made unavailable to consuming applications, one or more consuming applications are prevented from consuming messages from the queue.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program for an application instance to request attachment to a queue partition on a messaging server within a plurality of messaging servers, each messaging server holding at least one queue partition, the set of queue partitions together forming a single queue. An application instance requests attachment to a queue partition, the request requesting exclusivity with regard to other application instances having a common identifier. Responsive to an indicating that the request has been successful, the application instance interacts with the queue partition.