Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a system that enables financial services companies to manage and track information about a sales force. The system includes components for managing distributors information, for validating and tracking licenses and credentials, for creating customized contracts, and for maintaining compensation structures. The system allows for configuring compensations, providing financial services companies a toolkit for creating and modeling their complex commission schedules used to compensate their sales force. The system also provides modeling tools for agreements and contracts between a financial services company or provider and the distributors who sell products. The system has a multi-component architecture comprising multiple modules, multiple data processing engines, a backbone and multiple data sources. The processing modules carry out information processing using one or more data processing engines.

Abstract: Adaptive ambient services are provided via a proxy. The proxy allows a wireless device to access, through the proxy, a set of Internet access destinations associated with a wireless data service. During such access, the proxy measures data traffic exchanged with the wireless device and classifies such traffic as associated with a one of the Internet access destinations that was accessed. According to adaptive rules, such classification continues until the traffic is no longer associated with that Internet access destination.

Abstract: An automated system for facilitating sales in dynamically-changing mobile retail environments includes a vendor/supplier connector module, a carrier connector module, a provisioning module, and a point-of-sale (POS) customization module. The vendor/supplier connector module facilitates automated exchange of product data with a plurality of different vendors or suppliers of products or services. The carrier connector module facilitates automated exchange of transportation data with a plurality of different carriers, with the transportation data corresponding to specific mobile retail environments. The provisioning module automatically determines, based on the product data and on the transportation data, products or services corresponding to a specific mobile retail environment. The POS customization module automatically generates re-configuration data for each of a plurality of POS interfaces.

Abstract: A system and method for remediation, curing concerns, and transferring information associated with declined transactions is disclosed. The present disclosure generally relates to electronic commerce, and more particularly, to a system and method of validation and efficiency associated with electronic commerce.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings for the communications device; monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile; and modifies a service policy setting to achieve a service usage goal.

Abstract: A shielded access apparatus for enabling personnel access to an enclosure which is shielded to prevent propagation of electromagnetic energy into and out of the enclosure. The apparatus includes an access enclosure of electrically conductive material and first and second openings in the enclosure. A shield is positioned in the enclosure between the first and second openings for preventing radiated electromagnetic energy passing through one of the openings from travelling along a straight line to the other opening. Absorption material lines the interior of the enclosure and absorbs radiated electromagnetic energy passing through the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for lining the interior of a furnace or the like having a hot and a cold face comprising alternating strips of two fibrous materials stacked edgewise to form the insulative module or mat. The first fibrous material exhibiting either greater shrinkage or corrosion resistance than the second fibrous material, and the alternating pattern allowing the lining to be used in conditions which would normally exceed the use characteristics of the second material.

Abstract: The invention provides an eave truss for anchoring, supporting and reinforcing a metal roof and "tilt-up" or other prefabricated concrete or masonry walls in a building against the vertical load exerted by the roof itself, the lateral load exerted by wind and seismic forces, and load caused by thermal expansion and contraction of various attached heterogeneous building components. The eave truss is supported by the roof beams, and a single eave truss is attached to the roof, the ends of the roof beams, and the wall along the full length of each end of the building. The eave truss attachment to the wall is in shear only at the center portion of the truss; all other attachments to the walls from the eave truss are made through horizontally slotted holes in the eave truss to allow normal thermal expansion and contraction of the heterogeneous parts.

Abstract: A collimated knitting pattern instruction panel for instructing a user in the creation of knitwear having patterns thereon which are formed into columns. The knitwear consists of a plurality of rows of yarn each of which having at least two groups of stitching configurations, with each of the groups of stitching configurations defining a portion of a particular one of the patterns. In addition, a plurality of a particular one of the groups of stitching configurations form one of the columns on the knitwear. The collimated knitting pattern instruction panel comprises at least two elongated panel members, with each of the panel members having two horizontal edges and two side edges. At least one of the side edges of a first one of the panel members is in juxtaposition with one of the side edges of a second one of the panel members.

Abstract: A central hub carries a main pivotal shaft, on respective sides of which extend pivotal links, to each of which is fixed an end of a truss which trusses can be moved together and parallel when the links are in a straight line for displacement of the structure, and can be spaced and radiating when the links are disposed along a closed contour, for use of the structure.

Abstract: A block set, each block including a generally cubical portion with a frusto-pyramidal or convex portion, and an oppositely disposed frusto-pyramidally configured mating concave portion for interlocking. Each of the fourteen surfaces or sides thus formed includes a substantially similar pictorial depiction of an object, such as an animal or the like, with a letter imprinted on the object, preferably in a portion of the object which bears a resemblance to the letter. The edges of each side of the block are colored, with each edge being a different color for promoting color awareness, with the like colored edges of adjacent blocks establishing a preferred orientation for pictorial and indicia alignment. The individual pictorial representations on adjacent surfaces of the same block are oriented in different orthogonal directions for enabling reading of a word on the adjoined surfaces of adjacent blocks on at least one other of the adjoined surfaces of the blocks.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus comprises an outfit of frames of tubular steel, display boards, and securing clips. Some of the clips are frame-to-frame clips, which have symmetrical snap-on C-shaped profiles. Others of the clips are frame-to-board clips, which have one snap-on profile, and one channel shaped profile to grip the board. Still others of the clips are frame to flat surface clips which have one snap on profile, and one flat surface. The resulting modular exhibition display panels are versatile as to their design, and readily adjustable if it should turn out that some changes are needed. The panels are markedly light in weight yet can be strong enough to survive being erected, dismantled, transported, and rebuilt many times.

Abstract: A structure is provided for placing a brick facing on a supporting structure. The arrangement comprises formed sheets which are each provided with parallel channels into which the facing bricks can be placed. The formed sheets are provided with interlocking edges and are moreover provided with linear arrays of holes covered by tape which has two adhesive faces. One of the faces is exposed in the associated channel. The other face is forced through the associated holes to engage with and adhere with the supporting structure. The bricks are placed into the channels and adhere to the tape. Each channel may be provided with a sub-channel which both strengthens the associated sheet and which morever provides a portion of the channel into which the aforesaid tape may be placed.

Abstract: An asphalt composition roofing starter which functions as both a starter and flashing is disclosed. The starter is preferably made from the same asphalt composition roofing material as the roof itself, and comprises a rectangular portion for nailing in plurality to the lower edge of a roof in side by side abutting relationship, and an integral downward extending flashing-like portion which may serve as the flashing on a new roof, or alternatively, covering existing metal flashing in reroofing applications, in either event being more compatible with the main roof covering itself and not requiring the usual periodic repainting characteristic of ordinary flashing. The downward extending portion of the starter is wider than the upper rectangular portion by extending beyond either one or both ends of the upper rectangular portion so as to provide an overlap to avoid any visible split or opening between the adjacent starters.

Abstract: A transportable brick panel consisting of a top reinforced concrete beam, a bottom reinforced concrete beam, brickwork consisting of a plurality of courses of bricks with mortar filled joints extending between said beams and including door or window openings where required, aligned holes passing through some at least of the columns of bricks, reinforcing bars passing through said holes and extending between and being connected with the beams, and a damp course and sealing means on each reinforcing bar where said bar passes through said damp course for preventing passage of moisture along said reinforcing bar. A method of making a transportable brick panel as also described.

Abstract: A ground anchor has an auger fluke defined by a lower leading and upper trailing beveled cutting edges, the shape of the edges being at a non-radial or oblique angle, the disc being vertically separated in the shape of a helix and attached to an axial anchor rod. The rod is set in the ground with a socket tool that is coaxially positioned over the rod. The tool includes a helical slot engagable with the helix of the anchor fluke to rotate the anchor into the ground, to pull test the anchor, and in one embodiment capable to reverse rotate the socket tool for its removal.

Abstract: A form for use in fish taxidermy wherein a single form is supplied to the taxidermist and through the removal of indicated portions different motions of the fish can be represented. In a preferred manner the form is fabricated from an easily severed material and precut lines are provided to both indicate the removable portions as well as aid in the removal.

Abstract: A fabricated open web steel joist is provided. The top and bottom chords of the joist are each formed of L-shaped angles, arranged in back-to-back relation; and the web is formed of a plurality of W-shaped pre-formed bar sections. Adjacent ends of each of the "W"'s are located between the opposed faces of the top chord. If the joist requires an odd number of panels, a "V" (a one-half "W") is inserted between two W's within the length of joint, usually at the center thereof. The joist is welded, with each end and each apex of each "W" and "V" being welded to each of the chord components. The assembly of the joist includes the jig assembly and clamping of all of the components of the joist, welding only the adjacent ends of the "W"'s (and "V", if used) and the apexes of the "W"'s in the upper chord first, inverting the still clamped assembly, and welding the now upper located apexes in the bottom chord. The welding is carried out in a vertical-up manner, in each instance.

Abstract: A building structure comprising a core unit including bathroom and kitchen facilities and a plurality of entrance and exit openings and a plurality of other separate building units having entrance and exit openings therein positioned adjacent the core unit and in communication therewith and with each other through aligned entrance and exit openings, separately constructed at a remote location and secured together in vertically adjusted level position at the building site. The invention further includes the method of constructing the building structure including the steps of constructing the separate core and other building units at a remote location, transporting them to a building site, locating them on foundation structures, vertically adjusting the individual structures and securing them together and subsequently adding additional other separate building units to expand the building structure.

Abstract: A wall structure having vertical end members and a vertical intermediate member. A set of horizontal members are located between the vertical members and are interconnected by horizontal splines. A vertical spline engages the ends of the horizontal members and the vertical members. A top spline engages the top horizontal member and the top ends of the vertical members. A top cap spanning across the vertical intermediate member engages the top spline. A spline tab engages slots in adjacent horizontal members and the vertical slot of the vertical member adjacent to the horizontal members.