Abstract: Provided are methods of inserting seedlings into soil plugs. The method includes: a) automatically identifying a target seedling located in a pick-up area using seedling detection apparatus; b) pick-up up the target seedling with an automated seedling handling apparatus; c) transporting the target seedling to an insertion area; d) providing a first soil plug in the insertion area to receive the target seedling, the first soil plug having a first plug end, a second plug end longitudinally spaced apart from the first plug end and a longitudinal slit extending from the first plug end toward the second plug end; e) spreading the slit in the first soil plug; f) inserting a root portion of the seedling into the slit while a stem portion of the seedling is positioned outside the first soil plug; and g) stripping the target seedling from the handling apparatus whereby the seedling remains received within the slit in the first soil plug.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating transactions in a distribution network. An analysis tool may be accessed through a computer network by consumers, producers and/or distribution intermediaries. In response to an inquiry, the analysis tool may present a solution sets may to a consumer, producer, and/or distribution intermediary for optimizing interaction with the network, e.g. minimizing cost or maximizing revenue in business transactions over the network.

Abstract: A system and method for transporting a bulk solid biomass fuel. The biomass transport system comprises a remote storage bin (RSB), a biomass transfer system, and a vacuum source. The RSB contains a quantity of fuel and a controllable dispensing valve configured to dispense a controlled rate of the fuel into a first pipe. The vacuum source provides a stream of air through a second pipe. The biomass transfer system comprises a register and a hod. The register is coupled to a support surface, a first opening be fluidly coupled to the first pipe, and a second opening fluidly coupled to the second pipe.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring bulk solid biomass fuels from a hopper to an end-user storage bin. The system may comprise at least one intermediate bulk container (IBC) configured to contain a quantity of the fuel and a mobile transfer system for transferring the fuel from the IBC to an end-user storage container. The mobile transfer system may comprise a hopper configured to be coupled to the IBC and configured to receive the bulk solid biomass fuel from the IBC; a delivery hose configured to be coupled to the hopper and the end-user storage container, wherein the delivery hose is configured to receive the bulk solid biomass fuel from the intermediate bulk container; and a blower coupled to the delivery hose, the blower configured to transfer the bulk solid biomass fuel between the intermediate bulk container and the end-user storage container.

Abstract: A system and method for aggregating delivery of goods or services may be implemented using an aggregate delivery coordination system accessed through a computer network by users interested in participating in pooling activities. The coordination system receives inputs from users interested in participating and presents pooling activity information to the users in response to the user inputs. The coordination system also coordinates pooling activities between respective groups of the users to establish pooling activity delivery options aggregating delivery of goods or services for the respective groups. The coordination system further notifies the groups of users of completed pooling activities and the delivery options established for those groups.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating transactions in a distribution network. An analysis tool may be accessed through a computer network by consumers, producers and/or distribution intermediaries. In response to an inquiry, the analysis tool may present a solution sets may to a consumer, producer, and/or distribution intermediary for optimizing interaction with the network, e.g. minimizing cost or maximizing revenue in business transactions over the network.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for switching packet traffic over an optical transport network. A network element comprises plurality of mappers for mapping packet traffic to electrical streams. A host network interface includes a packet switch that forwards a first portion of the packet traffic to a first one of the mappers and a second portion of the packet traffic to a second one of the mappers. The first one of the mappers maps the first portion of the packet traffic into a first electrical stream targeted to a first destination on an optical transport network and the second one of the mappers maps the second portion of the packet traffic into a second electrical stream targeted to a second destination on the optical transport network.

Abstract: Described are a system and method of adaptively managing bandwidth between services contending for the bandwidth on an optical link. Bandwidth is allocated to each service contending for bandwidth of the optical link. For each service, a current utilization metric representing a measure of current usage of the allocated bandwidth by that service is computed. Additional bandwidth is allocated to one of the services in response to the current utilization metric of that service if bandwidth usage of the optical link is currently at less than full capacity, otherwise the bandwidth allocation between the services is balanced in response to the current utilization metric of at least one of the services if the bandwidth usage of the optical link is currently at full capacity.