Abstract: A storage control apparatus, in communication with a cluster of storage devices in a storage network having plural administrator systems, comprises a cluster lock requester component, a cluster lock receiver component and a configuration component, wherein, responsive to receipt of a cluster lock by said cluster lock receiver component, the configuration component is operable to configure a logical resource object within said cluster. The apparatus may also include a cluster lock granter component operable to grant a cluster lock to the cluster lock receiver component responsive to said cluster lock requester component. A method of operating a storage control apparatus includes method steps corresponding to functional components of an apparatus and may be embodied in computer program codes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the sharing of account features. In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions and a data warehouse to record the transactions and store account data identifying account features of separate accounts, such as a second account having a feature and a first account without this feature. Account holders of the first and second accounts are in a same household and thus, in accordance with a set of rules, eligible to share the account features. A portal is configured to receive a request identifying the first account and to determine whether a transaction initiated in the first account and qualified for a benefit of the account feature is entitled to the benefit; and if so, a notification engine is to transmit a notification message to an account holder of the first account.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the generation and notification of transactions associated with account features. In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions and a data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions, account data identifying at least one account feature of an account, and rules data identifying at least one qualification requirement. The system further includes a feature offer engine to use the rules data to monitor the transactions in the account to identify a first transaction, a notification engine to provide the account holder with an offer associated with a first account feature in real time with processing of the first transaction, and a portal to receive an approval of a second transaction in accordance with the offer.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods of time period comparison. A user interface, which may be a part of a payroll or human capital management application or software, may be provided which may display payroll items, along with values for the payroll items during a first time period and second time period, as well as the differences in the values for the payroll items between the first and second time periods. A user may select one or more time periods or bases of comparison to be compared and a user interface may display values relating to the time periods accordingly.

Abstract: An ambulatory pump comprising a reservoir (1) for holding the fluid to be pumped and having an outlet (7) through which fluid is expelled in use; a closure (8) device movable relative to the reservoir; and an actuator (14) for moving the closure device relative to the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is arranged in a spiral pattern.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing data related to managing a business for multiple businesses may include a user interface with a businesses pane and an information pane. The businesses pane can provide a list of one or more business entities and allow a user to display data related to a selected business from the list of one or more business entities. An information pane can display data related to the selected business using one or more mini-tabs. The mini-tabs can allow for one or more sets of data to be displayed, including payroll or human capital management data. The information pane can display an interface to perform actionable tasks related to the selected business.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying data modification may include a user interface displaying a timeline with one or more items, which may include their own item timeline, corresponding to the same time period. A change made in item values may be reflected in the timeline. The invention may be applied to payroll or human capital management software, which may provide means for displaying payroll or human capital management information and how it is modified. Similarly, the timeline may also function as an information center that may display events and documents.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying rolling sequences, such as time periods or data status may include a user interface displaying multiple panes providing access to data relating to a given time category. If a time category were to pass, the access to data relating to a given time category may move to the position and format held by the prior time category. The invention may be applied to payroll processing or other human capital management software, which may provide means for displaying payroll information of employees for multiple time categories at once, and may enable payroll information to transition as time categories pass.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying rolling sequences, such as time periods or data status may include a user interface displaying multiple panes providing access to data relating to a given time category. If a time category were to pass, the access to data relating to a given time category may move to the position and format held by the prior time category. The invention may be applied to payroll processing or other human capital management software, which may provide means for displaying payroll information of employees for multiple time categories at once, and may enable payroll information to transition as time categories pass. The invention may also provide measures to draw attention to relevant tasks at relevant times to decrease user-entry mistakes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying data modification may include a user interface displaying a timeline with one or more items, which may include their own item timeline, corresponding to the same time period. A change made in item values may be reflected in the timeline. The invention may be applied to payroll or human capital management software, which may provide means for displaying payroll or human capital management information and how it is modified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying data modification may include a user interface displaying a current data region and a new data region displayed side by side where the new data region may display one or more data interaction interface or data values corresponding to the current data and positioned to mirror the current data position in the current data region. The invention may be applied to payroll processing or human capital management software, which may provide means for displaying human capital management information, such as payroll information, and how it is modified.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermally-actuated pump for use in a hot drink maker The pump comprises a thermal actuator (20) and a piston (42). The piston is disposed within a cylinder (50) and is coupled to the thermal actuator such that, in use, heat supplied to the thermal actuator causes this actuator to drive the piston further into the cylinder and thus create an increased pressure in the cylinder.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.

Abstract: A storage management method for use in a storage area network is provided. The storage area network comprises a plurality of host data processors coupled to a virtualization engine, which is coupled to a plurality of physical storage media. Each physical storage media is assigned a tier level. The method comprises storing a threshold storage access value associated with each tier level, presenting virtual disk(s) to a host data processor and receiving I/O requests to the virtual disk from the host data processor. Additionally, metadata is stored which identifies the tier level of the physical storage to which the block corresponds, mappings between the block and blocks of a virtual disk, and an access rate to the data. The access value is periodically compared to at least one threshold rate associated with its tier level. Depending on the result, storage block(s) may be marked for migration to another tier level.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for update of configuration cache data in a disk storage subsystem in which a cache memory (110) is updated using two-phase (220, 250) commit technique. This provides the advantage that known changes to the subsystem do not require an invalidate/rebuild style operation on the cache. This is especially important where a change will invalidate the entire cache.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to allow secure undisrupted communication from wireless clients that roam a wide area network. System architectures and communication protocols are provided to ensure that wireless clients can seamlessly associate and reassociate with controllers on the network, without disruption to ongoing secure communications.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods for lowering peroxide levels in sucrose acetate isobutyrate formulations and to composition used in and formed by such methods.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for mixing and dispensing components. The methods and apparatus of the invention are particularly advantageous to manually mix the components of radiopaque bone cement and inject the resulting radiopaque bone cement into skeletal structures. The manually actuated apparatus of the invention comprises: (1) a sealed mixing chamber for mixing components; (2) a dispensing chamber isolated from the sealed mixing chamber; (3) a controllable portal to open a flow path between the sealed mixing chamber and the dispensing chamber so that the dispensing chamber can receive the mixed components after they are mixed; and (4) a drive mechanism associated with the dispensing chamber to force the mixed contents from the dispensing chamber.