Abstract: A system and method for a consumer to order goods and/or services from a vendor through use of an instant messaging service. The consumer initiates an instant message communication link between the consumer and the vendor by using the vendor's screen name which has been added to the consumer's list of contacts and sending an initiating message. Software resident on the vendor's computer responds to initiation of the instant message communication link by supplying a list of good and/or services to the consumer. The consumer can order from the list of goods and/or services while concurrently communicating with the vendor. An order identification number is created each time an order is placed which includes information from the consumer's screen name, the vendor's screen name and software generated information. The order identification number uniquely identifies the order and is used only once.

Abstract: The operation of a shadow processor for a system having redundant controllers is arranged so that it receives a FIFO fill indicator from another shadow processor associated with that one of the controllers that is in a standby mode, and, if the value of the indicator reaches a predetermined value, then the shadow processor throttles the data writing activity of the active controller for an amount of time sufficient to allow the other shadow processor time to unload the FIFO below a particular fill level.

Abstract: A nutrient dispersal device adapted for vertical insertion into the soil is comprised of a cap section, a hollow elongated cylindrical body section rotatably connected to the cap section at an upper end of the body section and a hollow tip section rotatably connected to the lower end of the body section. Liquids entering through a cap section aperture, mix with nutrients stored within the tip section and the resultant mix is dispersed through nutrient dispersal apertures arranged in the sidewalls of the body section. The diameter of the body section is advantageously less than the diameter of the tip section such that the nutrient dispersal apertures arranged in the sidewalls of the body section are not blocked by the surrounding soil during vertical insertion of the nutrient dispersal device into the soil.