Abstract: A middleware program provides an interface between an input channel and a business transaction server. The middleware program receives data and commands from an interface program that is coupled to an input channel. The middleware program validates the data, orders the data, transforms the data into a form required by the server, sends the data to the server, and the middleware program receives the results of the business transaction from the server. The middleware program transforms the results into a form required by the interface program and sends the results to the interface program. The interface program displays the results. The middleware program may reduce the time required to create an interface to a channel. The middleware program moves business logic out of the server or legacy program and into a middle layer that may be easily integrated with many different types of visual or non-visual user interfaces.

Abstract: A system, method and carrier medium for modeling a Financial Service Organization (FSO) business in a computer software program and for storing the model of the FSO business in a database. An object-oriented business model representing the FSO may be created and stored in a business model database. The one or more business objects included in the business model may be configured to describe various products, methods, functions and properties associated with an FSO. A process map business object may describe a process workflow. The process workflow may identify a sequence of tasks to be performed by an FSO production system to process an FSO transaction. The sequence of tasks associated with an FSO transaction may be consistent with pre-defined business logic for the transaction. Selecting a task object from a plurality of task objects and transferring the task object to a process map display representing the process map business object may create the process workflow.

Abstract: A system, method and carrier medium for communicating between a Financial Service Organization (FSO) computer system and a computer system external to the FSO in a generic fashion. For each direction of a message (i.e., outbound from the FSO computer system or inbound to the FSO computer system), two templates are constructed and subsequently stored in a database. The first type of template is the message template; the second type of template is the message layout template. The outbound message template represents outbound messages; the inbound message template represents inbound messages. The outbound message layout template represents outbound message layouts; the inbound message layout template represents inbound message layouts. An outbound message represents a request for FSO data from an external computer system to be used in a FSO computer system for processing a FSO transaction between a FSO and a FSO customer.

Abstract: An improved synchronization system and method for copies of data in a computer system. The computer system comprises a cluster, wherein each computer in the cluster may store a local copy of a data set along with a validity flag for the local copy. The computer system further comprises a coupling system which is connected to each of the computers in the cluster through a coupling system interface program, wherein the coupling system is configured to coordinate the data sharing and workload of the cluster. The computer system also comprises an external data storage shared by the computers in the cluster. One of the computers may read a first copy of the data set from a primary data set on the external data storage. The computer may then store the first copy locally and set a first validity flag to indicate that the first copy is valid. Another computer, server, or application program may make a second copy of the primary data set and set a second validity flag to valid.

Abstract: Business data (including transactional data) may be gathered, stored, sorted, and/or collated into financial service organization (FSO) reports used by various entities of a FSO. A processing relationship configuration program may be used to create a processing relationship structure between various entities of the FSO. Processing relationship structure information may be stored on a database of an FSO. Nodes may be created and uniquely defined to represent FSO physical entities and/or FSO functions. A nodes structure may correspond to the processing relationship structure within an FSO. In some embodiments, an FSO application program, such as a report program, may be generated based on a defined processing relationship structure. The report records may be arranged in a particular sequence by one or more of the break key fields. Changes to the processing relationship structure may be automatically reflected in the reports generated by the report program.

Abstract: A central server for providing a promotion to a plurality of application servers includes a processor, and a tangible media coupled to the processor, the tangible media including code that directs the processor to receive from a user at a client system promotion setup data for the promotion, code that directs the processor to receive a specification of an offer data for the promotion from the user, code that directs the processor to receive a promotion targeting specification for the promotion from the user, code that directs the processor to receive a specification of a method for delivering the promotion to the plurality of application servers, code that directs the processor to form a specification for the promotion in response to the promotion identifier, the offer type, the promotion targeting specification, and the method for delivering the promotion, code that directs the processor to store the specification in a memory, and code that directs the processor to transmit the promotion to the plurality of

Abstract: A flow-diverter apparatus includes two hull and foil assemblies pivotally connected by rigid members and attached to control lines. Several flow-diverter apparatus may be joined by lines, cables or rigid links to form a flow-diverter system. The apparatus may also include lines/cables to vertically distribute control line force. Attachment points or lines for booms, scientific equipment, dispersion equipment, fire suppression equipment or other devices may also be provided. Apparatus may use horizontal hydrodynamic lift forces to create a diversion flow transverse to an onset flow, to deploy and hold equipment transverse to an onset flow, and/or to provide mixing on the surface of a body of water. Apparatus may be deployed from shore, from a fixed point in the water, or by a vessel.

Abstract: A method for an integrated promotion system includes receiving a specification of a promotion, determining a point of sale server destined for the promotion, in response to the promotion, converting the specification of the promotion into a point of sale data packet, providing the point of sale data packet to the point of sale server, providing notice of a promotion to a first targeted customer in response to the point of sale data packet, providing a promotion benefit to the first targeted customer when the preconditions of the promotion are met, storing transaction data of the first targeted customer, when the first targeted customer meets the preconditions of the promotion, uploading the transaction data of the first targeted customer, generating a promotion report, in response to the transaction data of the first targeted customer, and providing the promotion report to the promoter system.

Abstract: An improved method and system for logging transaction records in a computer system. The method may include writing a confirmation log record to the log file for a transaction that completes normally, and not writing a confirmation log record for transactions that are aborted. The log file may be unloaded periodically by an unload program. The unload program may write transaction log records accompanied by a confirmation log record to a good output file and transaction log records not accompanied by a confirmation log record to a suspended output file. On a subsequent execution, the unload program may combine the log records in the log file and the suspended file. The unload program may write transaction log records accompanied by a confirmation log record to a good output file. The unload program may write transaction log records not accompanied by a confirmation log record and which have not exceeded a transaction time limit to a suspended output file.

Abstract: Apparatus for optimising the design of a manufacturing process in order to achieve predetermined goals including: A computer simulation model of the structural elements of a manufacturing process pre-programmed to operate according to predetermined flow and sequencing rules and data describing the required product mix and to output, during operation, data on request relating to breakdowns and queues at various resources within the process. A calculator received the data and calculates first values of complexity and constituent elements thereof from the output data of the computer simulation model and second values of complexity and constituent elements thereof from similar data relating to the real manufacturing process in operation.

Abstract: A levitating support and positioning system (10) is provided for orienting an electromagnetic energy reflecting assembly (40). System (10) includes a reflective member (60) supported by an annular ring (50) having a plurality of superconductors (70) disposed thereon. Ring (50) is levitated above a base surface (20) by means of a plurality of electromagnetic assemblies (30), each of the electromagnetic assemblies (30) corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of superconductive elements (70), whereby the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnetic assemblies (30) are repelled by the respective superconductive elements. The orientation of the support ring (50), and the reflector therewith, is adjusted by changing the relative magnetic field strength between each of the electromagnetic assemblies (30), allowing the reflector to be directed in both elevation and azimuth.

Abstract: A near-real-time holographic display for operations at a remote work site where a three dimensional database is collected with a laser range scanner. The database is then divided into discrete two dimensional segments or depth planes. A holographic recording material is then sequentially exposed to multiple depth planes through a stack of three spatial light modulators in a multiplane exposure process. This procedure is repeated for all depth planes in the database. The holographic recording material is then rapidly developed for viewing of the remote work site in a holographic image that simulates natural vision.