Abstract: A decoupled marketing offer and payment verification system is disclosed. The system communicates with a client and a 3rd party billing provider in connection with the purchase of a product. The system includes a marketing agent configured to receive a context from the client and generate one or more eligible offers, each offer representing the terms of purchase of a product and having associated offer Id. The system also includes a billing agent configured to receive payment information and a selected offer Id and issue a payment request to the 3rd party billing provider. On condition of successful payment, the billing agent is configured to generate a ticket comprising the selected offer Id, the ticket binding the successful payment to the selected offer Id. The billing agent is configured to verify that the ticket is eligible for redemption and record that the ticket is redeemed.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing memory usage is disclosed. The system and method include populating a first container with original data. The first container has a tree-based data structure that includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of pointers. A block of memory is allocated to a second container that has an array-based data structure. The original data is copied from the first container to the second container. The original data, the plurality of nodes, and the plurality of pointers may be deleted from the first container.

Abstract: A portable beach umbrella holder for supporting an umbrella in sand. The holder includes a flexible membrane attached to a support mount which receives a portion of the shaft. The support mount includes an upper portion located on one side of the membrane and a lower potion located on the other side of the membrane. The membrane has a hole between the upper and lower portions. The upper and lower portions are attached to one another so as to secure the membrane between them. A bore extends through the upper and lower portions for receiving the umbrella shaft. The upper and lower portions preferably include a center tubular member which defines the bore. The center tubular member in the upper portion is integral with the center tubular member in the lower portion so as to provide the attachment between the upper and lower portions.

Abstract: A surgical device including a seal anchor that includes leading and trailing portions. A plurality of ports longitudinally extends between the leading and trailing portions. The ports are adapted and configured to receive surgical objects therein. At least one of the surgical objects is a viewing instrument including a viewing portion. During a surgical procedure, surgical objects inserted in the other ports are selectively positionable with respect to the viewing instrument.

Abstract: A surgical system is adapted and configured for use in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The surgical system includes surgical instruments that are configured and adapted to be inserted into an underlying body cavity in a first configuration and to transition to a second configuration within the body cavity to provide improved manipulation and visualization of internal body structures. A method of using the surgical system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus and method for triangulation is disclosed which includes a housing, a rod extending through the housing and a plate attached to a distal end of the rod. The housing is adapted for sealed insertion into an incision in tissue and defines a longitudinal axis. The plate is rotatable about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rod and includes a plurality of slots dimensioned for the reception of surgical objects therethrough. Each of the slots is adapted to transition a surgical object between a first position and a second position upon rotation of the plate. The plate is movable relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis upon actuation of the rod in an axial direction and the plate may also be removably attachable to a distal end of the housing.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing memory usage is disclosed. The system and method include populating a first container with original data. The first container has a tree-based data structure that includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of pointers. A block of memory is allocated to a second container that has an array-based data structure. The original data is copied from the first container to the second container. The original data, the plurality of nodes, and the plurality of pointers may be deleted from the first container.

Abstract: A system and method for adding user-defined object to a modeling tool are provided. In one aspect, a meta-meta model includes at least a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects used to define meta data of a model of a selected domain. A user is enabled to create one or more instances of the plurality of objects to define one or more concepts that describe the selected domain. A user is further enabled to associate the one or more instances to define one or more relationships among the one or more instances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a modeling tool that includes a meta model that has a semantic registry and a meta data manager, an object/property interface, and an object/property factory registry. The object/property factory registry is coupled to the meta model and the object/property interface. The apparatus also includes an object/property model coupled to the object/property interface. The semantic registry includes at least a predefined set of semantics.

Abstract: A method for determining the net change to a model as a result of a transaction. The method includes receiving a request for a net change of a model as a result of a transaction. The method also includes identifying a plurality of model change records associated with the transaction. The method also includes determining and displaying net change of the model based on each of the plurality of model change records associated with the transaction.