Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides late network binding functionality to network or web-based applications or services. An application gateway component exposes generic interfaces for different types of network applications allowing client application developers to utilize generic functionality. Client applications can invoke the generic interfaces, at which point the application gateway component can determine contextual information related to the end user. Using the contextual information, the application gateway component can perform late network binding to a network or web-based application or service by generating and transmitting a request thereto based at least in part on the generic interface invocation and user context. The contextual information can include explicit binding information or data that can be utilized to determine or infer binding preferences.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides late network binding functionality to network or web-based applications or services. An application gateway component exposes generic interfaces for different types of network applications allowing client application developers to utilize generic functionality. Client applications can invoke the generic interfaces, at which point the application gateway component can determine contextual information related to the end user. Using the contextual information, the application gateway component can perform late network binding to a network or web-based application or service by generating and transmitting a request thereto based at least in part on the generic interface invocation and user context. The contextual information can include explicit binding information or data that can be utilized to determine or infer binding preferences.

Abstract: The present invention routes an application request to at least one of a plurality of sites in a packet data network. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages that establish initial dialogs and SIP messages that are stand-alone requests are sent from a call session control function system to a SIP application load distribution system. The SIP application load distribution system routes a SIP message to at least one destination site, based at least in part on user-defined local state data and a user-defined application load distribution policy. Local state data is sent from a plurality of sites to an application management and health checking system. Local state data may be sent autonomously from the plurality of sites. Local state data may also be sent from the plurality of sites in response to a request issued by the application management and health checking system.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning tasks can receive requested tasks, keep a requested-task queue, keep one or more worker statuses associated with respective workers, and assign the requested tasks from the requested-task queue to selected ones of the workers. In one embodiment, the requested tasks are telephone calls received by a network based contact center, and the workers are telephone agents associated with the network based contact center.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning tasks can receive requested tasks, keep a requested-task queue, keep one or more worker statuses associated with respective workers, and assign the requested tasks from the requested-task queue to selected ones of the workers. In one embodiment, the requested tasks are telephone calls received by a network based contact center, and the workers are telephone agents associated with the network based contact center.

Abstract: A terminal device, such as a computer, workstation or smart phone, incorporates a memory structure which simplifies and facilitates communications between a host computer and the terminal device. The host computer and the terminal device exchange application interface information via a communications protocol in which the host computer associates different types of objects with respective identifiers and then transmits an object type and its associated identifier to the terminal device. The terminal device, in turn, displays the object in a form determined solely by the terminal device but in accordance with respective predefined policies determined by the memory structure. If a user manipulates a displayed object type, then data representative of such manipulation is generated and transmitted with the associated object identifier to the host processor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a communications protocol which facilitates the exchange of interface information between a host processor and a terminal, such as a workstation, smart phone, portable computer, etc., by associating an object that is to be displayed on the terminal display with a particular identifier, and by associating input information entered in response to a user manipulating a displayed object with the associated object identifier, rather than the location of the displayed object. Accordingly, a host processor may specify relative rather than specific attributes for an object that is to be displayed on a terminal display, thereby leaving it up to the terminal to display an object in accord with its own capabilities.

Abstract: A plasticating extruder screw conveyor includes multiple primary flights and corresponding multiple secondary flights defining multiple channels on the screw conveyor arranged about the longitudinal axis of the screw conveyor such that radial components of forces between the screw conveyor and unplasticated material located in the channels are substantially balanced so as to reduce to a minimum any resultant radial force upon the screw conveyor and any concomitant lateral deflection of the screw conveyor, thereby reducing or eliminating excessive vibration, wear or galling of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: A plasticating extruder in which the screw conveyor includes an inner backfeed passage communicating with the channel established by the main flight of the screw conveyor and a solids-directing flight for directing unplasticated material into the backfeed passage and segregating already-plasticated material from the unplasticated material in the channel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method in which the temperature of the barrel inner surface and the temperature of the screw conveyor outer surface of a plasticating extruder are varied, alternately, in repeated steps, independent of one another along at least a portion of the solids conveying zone of the extruder, while a production effectiveness parameter simultaneously is monitored, until the monitored production effectiveness parameter is optimized and the production effectiveness of the extruder is at a desired maximum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus in which a selected coating is applied to specific surfaces within a plasticating extruder to change the coefficient of friction between the solids being conveyed in the extruder and the specific surfaces in such a way as to improve solids conveying and thereby increase the production effectiveness of the extruder.

Abstract: A plasticating apparatus operates continuously to plasticate material which is delivered intermittently to a molding device, the plasticating apparatus including a first screw conveyor which rotates in a barrel, a backfeed passage within the first screw conveyor and a second screw conveyor in the backfeed passage arranged to recirculate material in a circuit extending back through the backfeed passage. The first screw conveyor reciprocates axially so that during periods of non-delivery of plasticated material, the capacity of the circuit is increased to accommodate the accumulation of added plasticated material generated by the continuous rotation of the first screw conveyor.

Abstract: A cross-head die in which the manifold is provided with means for selectively varying the volume of the manifold at some locations relative to other locations, whereby the relative wall thickness about the annular configuration of the material flowing through the die is selectively adjusted about the periphery of the annular configuration of flowing material. Wall thickness and configuration are further controlled at the outlet orifice of the die by means movable to selectively expand, contract and alter the annular configuration of the die passage at the orifice.