Abstract: A concrete hose safety device has two stiff elongated hemi-cylindrical sections which may be half tubes or less than half, the sections having internal diameters roughly equal to the external diameter of a concrete hose. A plurality of hinge straps secure the sections in parallel and allowing them to open to allow a concrete hose to be laid therein and closed with the concrete hose secured therein. A plurality of closure straps then hold the device closed. In use, an operator may simply rely on-the device to prevent the concrete hose from whipping due to air in the hose, surge and so on.

Abstract: Under the present invention, components pertaining to a particular business operation of an organization are identified arranged into a component map. Information corresponding to a set of financial and staffing variables for the components is then gathered. During a workshop or the like, votes regarding a differentiation factor and an effectiveness factor of each of the components are received according to a predetermined scale. When vote quality is deemed acceptable (e.g., according to a standard deviation), a series of individual heat maps will be generated from the component map using the votes and the information previously collected. In general, an individual heat map is generated for each of the differentiation factor, the effectiveness factor, and the set of financial and staffing. Thereafter, an integrated heat map can be generated by combining at least two of the individual heat maps.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program for managing compliance with service level agreements in a grid environment are provided. A grid service for managing compliance with service level agreements in a grid environment detects a grid job passing a timing entry point, and flowing towards a grid environment provided by a grid vendor. When the grid job is detected passing the timing entry point, the grid service starts a timer to monitor an amount of time from the grid job passing the timing entry point until a result of the grid job passes a timing exit point while flowing away from the grid environment. When the grid service detects the result of the grid job passing the timing exit point, the grid service determines whether a value of the timer exceeds a timing term agreed to in a service level agreement specifying performance requirements for said grid job agreed to by said grid vendor, such that compliance with the service level agreement is automatically managed within the grid environment.

Abstract: An automation assessment tool is provided that defines autonomic technology, processes, organization, and skill sets that apply to autonomic computing. The automation assessment tool provides educational material about autonomic computing and a scale of maturity levels, which is used to assess on-demand preparedness. The automation assessment tool presents a survey and collects answers to the survey questions. The automation assessment tool then determines solutions and recommendations to achieve a target level of on-demand preparedness.

Abstract: The performance of one or more resource vendors in a grid computing environment are automatically rated by receiving one or more resource self-reports, a set of client-driven performance criteria, and job results from a grid resource. Rating logic performs an analysis of the job results against the client-driven performance criteria and the self-reports, and produces a grid resource rating table which allows for future selection of grid resources to be performed based upon actual historical performance of the available resources and vendors.

Abstract: This present invention provides a teleconferencing method and system in which that places the contact responsibility on the conference host, rather than passively requiring individuals to connect to the conference. This invention creates a participant profile for each potential conference participant. The user profile would include a primary point of contact, such as an office telephone, and secondary choice, such as a home office telephone, cellular telephone, or text capable Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). As the system proceeds through the options, in the event the participant is not reached, a message appropriate to that media (voicemail, text message, etc.) can be left as a reminder. Further, the invention would provide to all participants any softcopy materials deemed critical by the leader of the meeting, in a format based on user preferences also contained in the profile database.

Abstract: The present invention introduces unique functionality whereby there is a substantial reduction in the storage and replication requirements for the locally initiated electronic mail messages, which include locally sourced attachments. In the method of the present invention, at the origination location of an electronic message, there is an identification of electronic messages containing locally sourced attachment documents. During the storage of the transmitted message, there is determination of whether any attachment to the message was a locally sourced attachment. If the attachment was a locally sourced attachment, the attachment may not be stored with the message. Instead a pointer or link can be created to the original or locally sourced document. This approach will reduce the storage space required by electronic messages.

Abstract: Mats of aligned fibers are formed by feeding a dispersion of fibers through an aligning nozzle onto the inner surface of a cylindrical permeable surface and rotating the surface sufficiently rapidly to remove the dispersion medium and maintain the fiber alignment on the surface.

Abstract: A bursting disc assembly wherein an explosive charge is positioned close to a destructible area of the disc within a shear line.