Abstract: A garment and/or garment kit is disclosed that includes a first panel having a first interior portion, a first outer edge that extends about the first interior portion, and a plurality of first interlocking members movably connected to the first panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the first interior portion toward the first outer edge of the first panel. The garment and/or garment kit includes a second panel having a second interior portion, a second outer edge that extends about the second interior portion, and a plurality of second interlocking members movably connected to the second panel and extending radially outwardly relative to the second interior portion toward the second outer edge of the second panel. One of the plurality of first interlocking members is interlocked with one of the plurality of second interlocking members to connect the first and second panels to each other.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure is a footwear article. The footwear article includes a double layer knitted upper having a foot bed, an upper portion continuous with the foot bed, an ankle opening, and an inner void for receiving a foot of a wearer. The double layer knitted upper has an outer knit layer defining an exterior surface of the double layer knitted upper. The double layer knitted upper also has an inner knit layer monolithically knit to the outer knit layer. The inner knit layer has a plurality of inner knit regions that spatially correspond to the plurality of outer knit regions of the outer knit layer. The outer knit layer and the inner knit layer substantially define the foot bed and the upper portion of the double layer knitted upper.

Abstract: Convertible pants include a waist portion and legs. Each leg includes an upper leg segment attached to the waist portion, a storage compartment disposed on the upper leg segment, and a lower leg segment undetachably connected to the upper leg segment at an attachment point. The lower leg segment includes a panel and a coupling mechanism detachably connecting a first longitudinal edge of the panel to a second longitudinal edge of the panel. In a shorts mode, the lower leg segment is disposed within the storage compartment such that the leg has a first length. In a pants mode, an exterior surface of the lower leg segment at least partially overlaps and engages with an interior surface of the upper leg segment, and the lower leg segment extends below the upper leg segment such that the leg has a second length that is greater than the first length.

Abstract: A parking request text message is transmitted from a user mobile phone to a billing server and is forwarded to a parking server. The parking server makes a charge API call to the billing server, including a custom text, an amount to be billed and a msisdn of the mobile phone. The billing server charges an account at a carrier server corresponding to the msisdn, receives a charge confirmation from the carrier server, transmits a billing result to the parking server, and sends a confirmation text message to the user mobile phone with the custom text. The parking server updates a parking data structure to indicate that parking has been allotted based on a parking identification in the parking request text message.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, load-bearing systems can have one or more serpentine tensioners. According to another aspect, load-bearing systems can have one or more repositionable load-bearing members. Load-bearing systems having serpentine tensioners and load-bearing systems having repositionable load-bearing members are not mutually exclusive of each other. Accordingly, some disclosed load-bearing systems have a serpentine tensioner in combination with a repositionable load-bearing member. To facilitate disclosure of such principles, wearable packs incorporating one or more aspects of innovative load-bearing systems are described.

Abstract: Woven and knit substrates having juxtaposed notches with finished edges are disclosed. Such substrates can be used as opposed fastener tapes and fastener elements can be formed, woven, or otherwise added to the opposed fastener tapes in a known fashion. The notched fastener tapes permit the resulting slide fastener to be curved in-plane without buckling either of the opposed the fastener tapes out-of-plane. The finished edges maintain structural integrity of the woven or knit substrates, in stark context to prior art substrates having cut notches. Also disclosed are panelized substrates having curved apertures and incorporating disclosed slide fasteners.

Abstract: A text-to-bill processing transaction system is described. A consumer transmits a text message having a merchant keyword component and a transaction details component. The merchant keyword component is used to find a select merchant server from a merchant server data store. The transaction details component is then routed to the select merchant server. The select merchant server then returns a charge amount corresponding to the transaction details component and a fulfillment message. A billing gateway then causes entry of the charge amount against a phone number in an accounts database of a carrier server. A success message transmission module transmits a text message back to the consumer that includes the fulfillment message. The fulfillment message may for example be a code that has to be entered by a consumer.

Abstract: A parking request text message is transmitted from a user mobile phone to a billing server and is forwarded to a parking server. The parking server makes a charge API call to the billing server, including a custom text, an amount to be billed and a msisdn of the mobile phone. The billing server charges an account at a carrier server corresponding to the msisdn, receives a charge confirmation from the carrier server, transmits a billing result to the parking server, and sends a confirmation text message to the user mobile phone with the custom text. The parking server updates a parking data structure to indicate that parking has been allotted based on a parking identification in the parking request text message.

Abstract: A parking request text message is transmitted from a user mobile phone to a billing server and is forwarded to a parking server. The parking server makes a charge API call to the billing server, including a custom text, an amount to be billed and a msisdn of the mobile phone. The billing server charges an account at a carrier server corresponding to the msisdn, receives a charge confirmation from the carrier server, transmits a billing result to the parking server, and sends a confirmation text message to the user mobile phone with the custom text. The parking server updates a parking data structure to indicate that parking has been allotted based on a parking identification in the parking request text message.

Abstract: A text-to-bill processing transaction system is described. A consumer transmits a text message having a merchant keyword component and a transaction details component. The merchant keyword component is used to find a select merchant server from a merchant server data store. The transaction details component is then routed to the select merchant server. The select merchant server then returns a charge amount corresponding to the transaction details component and a fulfillment message. A billing gateway then causes entry of the charge amount against a phone number in an accounts database of a carrier server. A success message transmission module transmits a text message back to the consumer that includes the fulfillment message. The fulfillment message may for example be a code that has to be entered by a consumer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a brokerage commission owed by a client of a brokerage firm based on the principal volume (“PV”) of the client's eligible transactions over a time period. The system may comprise: (i) a database storing information about the client's transactions; and (ii) one or more processors in communication with the database. The processor(s) is programmed to determine the client's brokerage commission by: (i) calculating the cumulative PV of transactions made by the client through the brokerage firm over a time period; and (ii) calculating the commission for a billing time period based on the calculated cumulative PV. The applicable commission may be determined based on a tiered marginal commission rate schedule.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a brokerage commission owed by a client of a brokerage firm based on the principal volume (“PV”) of the client's eligible transactions over a time period. The system may comprise: (i) a database storing information about the client's transactions; and (ii) one or more processors in communication with the database. The processor(s) is programmed to determine the client's brokerage commission by: (i) calculating the cumulative PV of transactions made by the client through the brokerage firm over a time period; and (ii) calculating the commission for a billing time period based on the calculated cumulative PV. The applicable commission may be determined based on a tiered marginal commission rate schedule.

Abstract: A synchronous bit-serial data interface utilizes a transmitter that transmits a data stream having duplicates of each data bit. The receiver samples the data stream utilizing either the rising or falling edge of a received clock signal. If the rising edge is utilized the first duplicated bit is discarded and if the falling edge is utilized the second duplicated bit is discarded. The system allows transmitter/receiver pairs of devices that sample and latch data on the same clock edge to communicate.