Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which information regarding the preparation and sale of food products and the ingredients and supplies used in the processing of such products, is recorded and used to improve the efficiency with which the food processing business is operated. In an exemplary embodiment, a database is maintained at a restaurant server for tracking food product sales, ingredients inventories, and historical demand requirements for the food products. All of the information is processed and correlated to provide information concerning food preparation and ingredient ordering schedules, as well as measuring and limiting measured food waste which results from normal operations of the food processing business.

Abstract: A system and method for extending server security based on source IP addresses is provided. When the server receives a packet request, it determines if the request is legitimate or a malicious attempt to cause denial of service. The determination is made by a server background IP packet monitor that looks up the amount of packets previously requested by the same source IP address in a given time interval. If the packet request is legitimate, the server processes the request and sends a response to the client. If the server background IP packet monitor determines that the packet request was from a malicious client, an predetermined action is taken. The action can be notifying the system administrator or denying the packet request and not sending a response.

Abstract: Method, system, and product for facilitating international travel, including creating, in response to a signal from an internet-enabled device coupled for data communications through an internet to an international travel server, a travel record to be stored within the international travel server; creating in dependence upon the travel record, an immigration admissions form for the destination country; and submitting the immigration admissions form to an immigration admission forms database for the destination country.

Abstract: A method, system, and product are described for improving the performance of a TCP connection. A cache is established for storing protocol control blocks (PCBs). The protocol control blocks are associated with sockets which were created in response to TCP connections. PCBs are stored in the cache. PCBs may be prioritized. High priority PCBs are stored in the PCB cache while the low priority PCBs are stored in a linked list in a hash table.

Abstract: A method for redeeming e-coupons beyond their expiration. The method comprises: maintaining an e-coupon database that comprises an e-coupon identifier, an e-coupon expiration condition such as an expiration date, and a post-expiration instruction; receiving a request to redeem the e-coupon associated with the e-coupon identifier when the e-coupon is expired; and executing the post-expiration instruction associated with the e-coupon identifier. Preferably, the request to redeem an e-coupon is received from a consumer using a graphical user interface. A preferred post-expiration instruction is selected from the group consisting of rejecting the e-coupon, fully redeeming the e-coupon, partially redeeming the e-coupon, issuing an alternative e-coupon for the same product or a substitute product, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for customizing an on-line test for persons with disabilities is provided. In one embodiment, a test server receives a request for a test. The test server then determines whether the user that will be taking the test has a disability and, if so, the type of disability or disabilities. The test server may also determine the type of assistive technology device, such as a text to speech converter, employed by the user in taking the test. The test server then customizes the test questions appropriately to compensate for the disability type identified by the user and presents the customized test questions to the user.

Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for processing a check in an automatic teller machine in a data processing system. A check is received from a user at the automatic teller machine. The check is scanned to generate an image. A transaction is performed involving the check. The image is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the user, wherein the image is in a format for use with a financial program.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer implemented instructions for processing checks in a data processing system. A customer check issued by a customer is received at the automatic teller machine. An amount for the customer check is identified. A new check for the amount is created in which the funds for the amount are guaranteed by a financial institution.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a check in an automatic teller machine in a data processing system. A check is received in the automatic teller machine. The check is scanned within the automatic teller machine to generate an image. Optical character recognition is performed on the image to generate data. A markup language is created, which is a representation of the check using the data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for use in a network data processing system to process a check. A check image is received. Optical character recognition is performed on the check image to generate data. Check clearing processes is performed using the check image and the data. These processes are performed without using a physical check itself.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer implemented instructions for processing a bill in an automatic teller machine. The bill is scanned to form a bill image in which the bill includes a markup language providing payment information. Optical character recognition is performed on the bill image to identify the payment information. The bill is processed using the payment information. Bills, such as waterbills, mortgages, credit card statements, and tax bills may be made in this manner.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for determining appropriate advertisements or other content to be delivered to a consumer's computer based upon detection of a local physical event, such as the consumer's current or previous activity or location in a given local environment. A local event detection system in communication with the consumer's computer is used to detect changes in one or more physical parameter representative of an event associated within a given environment, such as detected motion, position, voltage and the like. An advertisement is selected from a database in accordance with a predetermined association with the event detected and, optionally, one or more aspect of a consumer profile. The advertisement is then delivered to a communicating device associated with the given local environment, such as the consumer's computer.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for reassembling fragmented datagrams is described. A plurality of fragments of a plurality of datagrams are received by a recipient data processing system. In response to receipt of the plurality of fragments, a plurality of processes concurrently access a reassembly data structure to store the plurality of fragments, such that the plurality of datagrams are incrementally reassembled from the plurality of fragments. In one embodiment, the reassembly data structure can be implemented as a list containing a plurality of reassembly queues that each contain one or more queue entries for reassembling a respective datagram. Data integrity of the reassembly data structure can be maintained by associating a respective one of a plurality of locks with each of the plurality of reassembly queues so that only one process at a time can access each reassembly queue.

Abstract: A computer system, computer program product and method for calculating user fees associated with an amount of equipment usage. A server monitors usage a plurality of devices over a communications network, such as the Internet. Usage of the devices is charged to one or more users identified as using the devices. The user fees are preferably accumulated over a billing period before submitting an invoice of total user fees to each user. The amount of usage may be measured as a quantity selected from the group consisting of time, repetitions, workload and combinations thereof. The invention allows the possibility of having rate schedules that vary according to a factor selected from time of day, day of the week, device type, device features, device location, current demand conditions and combinations thereof. The system may further include an exercise profiler and a dietary profiler that provide fitness settings, programs and advice.

Abstract: An Internet system for the handling of query requests from a client station comprising a service provider supporting a set of said plurality of client stations. The provider has server means responsive to each query request from each of said set of client stations for temporarily assigning one of a set of IP addresses to each requesting client station and means for sending each query request to a Web server. The Web server includes means for determining if said assigned IP address is still assigned to said requesting client station in combination with means for sending a query response to said requesting client station only if said IP address is still assigned to said requesting station. The service server operates conventionally so that the means for assigning said IP addresses assigns an IP address to one requesting client station for only as long as the one requesting client station continues the query request according to DHCP protocols, i.e.

Abstract: A system through which the Web user may distinguish the more significant hyperlinks on each received Web document. Advantage is taken of the many Web search engines which already track and assign weights to Web documents based upon frequency of universal access, i.e. “hits”. This attribute of Web documents is the most frequently weighted and, of course, used by the search engines when they send their search reports with the Web document listed in the order of frequency of access. Thus, the invention involves the combination of an implement for determining a weight for each of said plurality of embedded hyperlinks in a received Web document and an implementation for prioritizing the plurality of embedded hyperlinks based upon said weights. Then, a set of the plurality of embedded hyperlinks are visually distinguished from each other based upon said prioritizing, whereby said user may select hyperlinks based upon said prioritizing.