Abstract: A unifying domain model for Internet business systems is described that includes an authoritative definition of logical objects that make up a modern Internet business system, a canonical list of attributes associated with such objects, a specification of how such objects may be composed and may relate to one another, and what operations or actions may be taken on or provided by them. A middleware framework is also described that brokers communication between end-user applications that are designed to consume the aforementioned objects and various integrated systems that are not so designed, such as LOB systems and partner systems, wherein brokering communication may include performing a translation between a representation of the data and operations utilized by an integrated system and the unifying domain model utilized by the end-user applications during runtime of the end-user applications.

Abstract: A system for holding poured concrete in a desired shape until it sets is disclosed. The system can include a plurality of forms having two opposing end sections. Each of the end sections has an end bracket attached to it. A plurality of footing stakes are used to connect the end brackets together such that the forms maintain the desired shape. At least one whaler bracket is secured to a top of the forms to maintain the spacing between them. A skin panel can be used to bridge gaps between forms. Bulkhead brackets can be attached to the ends of the forms and secured to allow end walls to be created where desired. Vertical footing panels can also be used to pour concrete onto adjoining inclined surfaces.

Abstract: A system for holding poured concrete in a desired shape until it sets is disclosed. The system can include a plurality of forms having two opposing end sections. Each of the end sections has an end bracket attached to it. A plurality of footing stakes are used to connect the end brackets together such that the forms maintain the desired shape. At least one whaler bracket is secured to a top of the forms to maintain the spacing between them. A skin panel can be used to bridge gaps between forms. Bulkhead brackets can be attached to the ends of the forms and secured to allow end walls to be created where desired. Vertical footing panels can also be used to pour concrete onto adjoining inclined surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a perform (1) for a holey optical fibre including thermomechanically forming the preform from a unitary body of optically suitable material (20) so that one or more discrete optical elements (30), such as air holes, are formed therein. Each element (30) has a refractive index which is different from the refractive index of the optically suitable material (20). The thermomechanical formation is preferably conducted by extrusion or by injection molding. In a preferred embodiment, the unitary body is a fluid. The method is suitable for production of a preform for a polymer holey optical fibre or an inorganic glass holey optical fibre.

Abstract: A game board system including a bottom portion with a cup centered on its surface, a rotatable member provided on the bottom portion and including game piece apertures, an outer top portion provided on the bottom portion, and an inner stationary top portion superposed on the rotatable frame and including second game piece apertures. Portions of the game board system may be exchanged to form a new game board system. Additionally, the game board system may be played according to several versions.

Abstract: An occupant propelled vehicle is provided that includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, front and rear wheels, a platform, a steering mechanism and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may include a drive sprocket mounted on the frame, a driven sprocket, an endless chain provided around the drive sprocket and driven sprocket, and a pedal for an occupant to drive the drive sprocket and propel the vehicle in a forward direction.

Abstract: An occupant propelled vehicle is provided that includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, front and rear wheels, a platform, a steering mechanism and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may include a drive sprocket mounted on the frame, a driven sprocket, an endless chain provided around the drive sprocket and driven sprocket, and a pedal for an occupant to drive the drive sprocket and propel the vehicle in a forward direction.

Abstract: An automated process is provided for controlling process parameters, such as moisture content and grain feed rate, in a grain processing system. Control of process parameters may be provided by an automatic control system which receives signals from input devices, such as moisture sensors, and generates signals to control the parameters. The automatic control system may provide control signals that are feedback, feedforward, or a combination of feedback and feedforward control. Grain processing system components may include a grain conveyor, a wetting system, a steam chest, a flaking mill, a livestock pelletizer, and/or a cooler assembly.

Abstract: Toner control system and method for an electrographic printer in which toner is delivered from a reservoir to a toner fountain and there applied to an electrostatically charged sheet to form an image. The visual quality of the image is monitored, and toner concentrate is added to the toner in response to the monitored quality to increase the amount of pigment particles in the toner and thereby maintain a substantially constant image quality. The concentrate is added to the toner in a return line between the fountain and the reservoir in relatively small, predetermined amounts, and it is mixed before being added. In the disclosed embodiments, a test image is formed outside the main image on the sheet, and the brightness of one or more predetermined colors in the test image is monitored. This system and method are applicable both to monochrome images and to multicolor images.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal sealing method and apparatus for use on oil and/or gas wells, utilizes an upper seal member and a lower seal member, wherein the energizing of the seal members is staged to cause the lower seal member to become sealingly engaged. before the upper seal member becomes sealingly engaged. The seal members may have two seals of different construction; one seal is an interference type seal, and the other seal is a wedge type seal.

Abstract: Cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink are each used to print a color patch to obtain four color patches. Two of each pair of the three colorants cyan, magenta and yellow are used to print a red, a green and a blue patch. These seven color patches together with a patch formed by the printing medium with no colorant form eight color patches. A color monitor is adjusted until its screen color matches one of the eight color patches and the appearance values of the monitor are noted. This is repeated for each of the eight patches in order to compile a lookup table for the colors in each of the eight color patches. For softproofing, each square in a color grid pattern printed by the printer will contain portions, each of which has a color identical to one of the eight color patches. Using the lookup table, the values of the appearance signals corresponding to the colors of these portions in the square area are obtained for displaying a color patch on the color monitor of the same color.

Abstract: An infrared transmission capable of acting as a beacon, signalling or data transmission device between two mobile vehicles is provided. The transmission system employs semiconductor solid state devices to produce infrared energy. The infrared energy is directed and formed into a beam of energy that is omni-directional horizontally and narrow vertically. The produced beam of infrared energy is then modulated by an information signal to convey information to a remote receiving device. Further, the solid state devices can be operated in a continuous fashion to produce continuous infrared radiation energy for use as a beacon. The solid state devices can be operated intermittently to produce pulsed infrared radiation and energy for operation as a signalling device or as a digital data or analog transmission device. As semiconductor solid state devices, infrared emitting diodes or IR laser diodes can be utilized. The infrared transmission system is particularly suited for shipboard use.

Abstract: A blinking set of displayed collinear elements alternating in color allows simple, rapid, and accurate determination of color misregistration or misconvergence in color television video displays and color television cameras. Operators can readily detect misconvergence due to a shift in a trend line of the collinear elements which is made quite noticeable by repeatedly switching between two patterns, thereby introducing an apparent blinking motion of the misaligned elements in displayed areas that are misconverged. The blinking motion can also be detected by automatic means, thereby eliminating the need for an operator.

Abstract: For highlight or dark areas of images, the error terms diffused to neighborhood pixels include components which are periodic with respect to a wavelength where the wavelength is a function of the density level of the pixels from which the error terms are diffused. In this manner, patterned artifacts or "worms" in the highlight or dark areas of the images are reduced or illuminated.

Abstract: A suspension nut for use in a wellhead assembly of an oil and/or gas well is provided. The nut includes a lower body portion threaded for connection to the wellhead assembly. It also includes an upper body portion adapted to support equipment in the well. The upper body portion is spaced from a surface of the wellhead assembly in the absence of force applied thereto when the lower body portion is connected to the wellhead assembly. The upper body portion is adapted to be forced into abutment with the surface in reaction to the weight of equipment supported by the upper body portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for effecting a fluid-tight seal between a surface of an oil and/or gas well tubing or casing and a wellhead member are provided, wherein the surface has been unprepared to form the seal. The wellhead member is positioned circumferentially about a stub of the tubing or casing. A metal-to-metal fluid-tight sealing means of the wellhead member is positioned adjacent the unprepared surface of the tubing or casing. The sealing means has at least one metallic projection positioned to extend toward the unprepared surface of the tubing or casing. The metallic projection is forced into the unprepared surface of the tubing or casing thus to form a seal therebetween.

Abstract: A communication joint for use in a well is disclosed. The communication joint includes a one-piece tubular body having an exterior surface adapted to form a slidable fluid seal with a wellhead member of the well. The tubular body includes first and second fluid conduits extending axially along and positioned in the tubular body, each conduit providing a fluid passageway independent of the other fluid conduit. Preferably, the first and second fluid conduits extend axially above and below the exterior surface of the body.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning granules of plastic resin comprises a barrel having a hopper feed at its upper portion and a resin discharge at its lower portion to provide for gravitational flow of the granular resin through the barrel. The barrel periphery is perforated to permit passage of heated gases into the barrel and over the granular resin. A channel is defined centrally of the barrel and extends therealong to collect gases flowing over the resins and discharge such gases externally of the barrel.

Abstract: An improved key for driving tamper-proof bolts includes a plastic key handle molded onto one end of a tubular sleeve. The tubular sleeve has a transverse aperture near an end opposite the key handle, and a ball is captively held by the tubular sleeve adjacent the transverse aperture. Molded into the key handle are a chamber providing access to one end of the tubular sleeve and a channel extending transversely through the chamber. The key also includes a plastic plunger handle molded onto an end of a plunger rod axially slidable within the tubular sleeve. A camming surface is located on the end of the plunger rod opposite the plunger handle for camming the ball into the transverse aperture of the tubular sleeve. Molded into the plunger handle is a flattened surface and a flange. A pin is press-fit into the channel adjacent and parallel to the flattened surface of the plunger handle for preventing the plunger handle from rotating and for retaining the flange within the chamber of the key handle.

Abstract: A casing installation system usable with tubular casing having an upper end portion and a lower portion, for anchoring the upper end portion of the casing on an outer casing string secured to a wellhead having a housing, the wellhead housing being positioned at a fixed position over a well, said casing extending upwardly to the wellhead from a location in the well at which location the lower portion of the casing is landed, the upper end of the casing being terminated by a generally annular casing hanger secured to the casing, said outer casing string having an upwardly-facing shoulder, the system also having a locking ring located on the casing hanger and movable thereon in a direction towards the lower end portion of the casing, the locking ring having means for preventing its movement on the casing in a direction away from the lower end portion of the casing in response to a force exerted on the locking ring in said direction away from the lower end of the casing, the locking ring having a downwardly-facin