Abstract: A sink assembly is provided. The sink assembly can comprise a container having a generally trapezoidal shaped cross section. The container can be closed about a sink within the container. The sink can be supported in the container by at least one support element, for example a corner support, a top support having a generally triangular shape, and a drain support. Multiple sink assemblies can be efficiently stacked next to one another for shipping and/or storage.

Abstract: A building-security method is implemented in a variety of embodiments. In one such embodiment, the building-security method is implemented for bidirectional, wireless communication between a control panel device and peripheral devices. Each of the devices includes a wireless communication circuit to effect wireless communications. The control panel wirelessly sends synchronization information to at least one of the peripheral devices. Power consumption is reduced for at least one of the wireless communication circuits by coordinating a communications time interval and a selected channel for communication between the control panel device and the peripheral device to effect wireless communications between the control panel and the peripheral device. The selected channel is one channel from a sequence of channels used for wireless communications between the control panel device and the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A custom designed drive mechanism to be utilized in conjunction with an ink jet printer having a motor, transmission, and gripping apparatus to transmit articles of manufacture to be printed upon through an enclosure having a linear bearing and spring system, an optical sensor, digital encoder and print mechanism such that the articles of manufacture travel in a single direction.

Abstract: A print mechanism positioned in a housing having a pivotably mounted cover and including a ink flow regulator operatively connected to a print cartridge and provided with a plurality of seals to prevent contamination and damage from unwanted ink flow.

Abstract: Security systems and methods are implemented using a variety of devices and methods. According to one such implementation, a security system uses a controller to communicate with security-monitoring devices and has an integrated image-capture device comprising a circuit board structure having an angle-setting support article, a circuit board with a nonadjustable surface, and data-communicating electrical conductors. A camera is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a first angle relative to the nonadjustable surface. A motion detector is secured to the nonadjustable surface and is directed at a second angle relative to the nonadjustable surface of the circuit board. The support article sets the first angle relative to the second angle for capturing both images and motion in a target area. A data-communication circuit communicates data from the camera and the motion detector via the data-communicating electrical conductors and wirelessly communicates the data to the controller.

Abstract: According to one example embodiment, an integrated security arrangement detects unwanted intruders in a facility. The arrangement includes an intrusion sensor to sense an intrusion at a target area of a facility, a second sensor to sense movement, an image-capture device, and a base unit. The image-capture device captures images in response to an intrusion indication from the intrusion sensor and in response to a movement indication from the second sensor. The base unit integrates a direction of view of the second sensor and of the image-capture device, thereby directing the second sensor to sense in the target area in which the images are captured by the image-capture device.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the performance of a processing system is disclosed. The processing system comprises a plurality of host computers, at least one control unit (CU) coupled to the host computer. The control unit comprises a cache and disk array coupled to the CU. The method and system comprises querying an operating system of at least one host computer to determine the storage medium that contains an object to be cached and providing the data in the portion of the disk array to be cached. The method and system further comprises providing a channel command sequence and sending the channel command sequence to the CU via an I/O operation at predetermined time intervals until the object is deactivated. A method and system in accordance with the present invention instructs a control unit (CU) or a storage medium to keep some objects constantly in its cache, so as to improve the overall response time of transaction systems running on one or more host computer and accessing data on disk via the CU.

Abstract: A peripheral video conferencing system is housed in a peripheral housing and adapted for communication with an analog or digital communication channel and a separate host computer system. Audio, video, and data file information is transmitted to and received from a remote conferencing site over the communication channel. A plurality of audio, video, and communication channel connectors provide means for acquiring source audio and video signals, and respectively displaying on a separate monitor and broadcasting over an internal or separate external speaker remote video images and audio. A high-speed output interface provides connectivity with the separate host computer system for coordinating, in cooperation with video conferencing application software operating thereon, the presentation of local and remote NTSC or PAL video images on a display coupled to the computer system.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for managing an electronics and appliances supply chain utilizing a network. A network is utilized to receive data from a plurality of electronics and appliances outlets of an electronics and appliances supply chain in which the data relates to the sale of electronics and appliances by the electronics and appliances outlets. An electronic order form is generated based on the data for ordering electronics and appliances from an electronics and appliances distributor of the electronics and appliances supply chain. The data is transmitted via the network to the electronics and appliances distributor of the electronics and appliances supply chain. The data is also transmitted to an electronics and appliances supplier of the electronics and appliances supply chain utilizing the network. Additionally, activity in the electronics and appliances supply chain is forecast utilizing the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for monitoring supplier activity in a supply chain management framework. Data relating to the sale of goods is received from at least one store of a supply chain utilizing a network. Electronic order forms are generated based on the data for ordering goods from a plurality of suppliers of the supply chain. The electronic order forms are sent to the suppliers so that the goods are supplied to the stores. The electronic order forms for each of the suppliers are then compared for monitoring the reliance of the store on each supplier.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for a secure supply chain management framework. A plurality of users including suppliers, distributors, and stores of a supply chain are registered utilizing a network. The registered users are maintained on a list. Data from a plurality of stores of the supply chain is collected utilizing the network. The list is updated to add, edit, and delete the users utilizing the network. When a request (which includes an identifier) for access to the data is received utilizing the network, the identifier is compared against the list and a network-based interface is displayed for allowing access to the data upon the successful comparison of the identifier against the list.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for creating a bid proposal utilizing a supply chain graphical user interface. A graphical user interface is displayed in response to a request to create a bid proposal. Utilizing the graphical user interface, information is received so that a bid proposal can then be generated using the information. The received information may include a buyer name, a due date, a contract begin date, and/or a contract end date.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for providing network-based supply chain communication between stores, distributors, suppliers, a supply chain manager, and an office of the supply chain manager. Invoice level sales data is transmitted from the supplier to the supply chain manager utilizing a network. Invoice level sales data is sent from the distributors to the supply chain manager utilizing the network. Daily sales data is communicated from the stores to the office of the supply chain manager utilizing the network. Daily sales data is transmitted from the office of the supply chain manager to the supply chain manager utilizing the network. The daily sales data is organized based on the stores from which the daily sales data originated.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for creating cost system components in a supply chain utilizing a network. A plurality of items are defined utilizing a graphical user interface. A supplier site is selected from a set utilizing the graphical user interface. The set of supplier sites is determined based on the definition of the items. A distribution center is also determined utilizing the graphical user interface. The distribution center is designated to interface with the supplier site for distribution of the items.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for updating information in a supply chain management framework. A plurality of stores of a supply chain are registered utilizing a network. The registration includes receiving first identification information. Data is collected from a plurality of stores of the supply chain utilizing the network. This data relates to the sale of goods by the stores and includes second identification information more recent than the first identification information. Access to the data is allowed utilizing a network-based interface so that the first identification information can be compared with the second identification information in order to allow for the updating of the registration of the stores based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for managing a health and personal care products supply chain utilizing a network. A network is utilized to receive data from a plurality of health and personal care products outlets of a health and personal care products supply chain in which the data relates to the sale of health and personal care products by the health and personal care products outlets. An electronic order form is generated based on the data for ordering health and personal care products from a health and personal care products distributor of the health and personal care products supply chain. The data is transmitted via the network to the health and personal care products distributor of the health and personal care products supply chain. The data is also transmitted to a health and personal care products supplier of the health and personal care products supply chain utilizing the network.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for normalizing data in a supply chain management framework. A plurality of data types are defined with each data type including parameters. Data is received utilizing a network from a plurality of point of sale outlets of a supply chain that relates to an amount of goods sold by the point of sale outlets. A format of the data is verified against the parameters of the defined data types and any discrepancies between the format of the data and the parameters of the defined data types are corrected for facilitating an analysis of the data.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for an auction function utilizing a network-based supply chain management framework. Data is received via a network from a plurality of stores of a supply chain. A plurality of users are allowed to access to the data utilizing a network-based interface. A plurality of goods are displayed to the users accessing the data utilizing the network-based interface. Subsequently, the acceptance of bids on the goods is allowed from the users utilizing the network.

Abstract: A peripheral video conferencing system is housed in a peripheral housing and adapted for communication with an analog or digital communication channel and a separate host computer system. Audio, video, and data file information is transmitted to and received from a remote conferencing site over the communication channel. A plurality of audio, video, and communication channel connectors provide means for acquiring source audio and video signals, and respectively displaying on a separate monitor and broadcasting over an internal or separate external speaker remote video images and audio. A high-speed output interface provides connectivity with the separate host computer system for coordinating, in cooperation with video conferencing application software operating thereon, the presentation of local and remote NTSC or PAL video images on a display coupled to the computer system.