Abstract: An anti-grab gun barrel where a plurality of sharps are positioned at the muzzle end of a gun. The sharps are oriented so that when a bag guy attempts to take control of the gun held by an officer the bad guys hands are injured and he cannot take control of the gun from the officer. The sharps are provided in several alternative formats such as blades and spikes. The sharps radiate about the muzzle end of the barrel. A hilt may be provided to prevent the officer from touching the sharps. A non-lethal electrical discharge device may also be provided near the muzzle end.

Abstract: System and method for maintaining a persistent-shopping-cart catalog. An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system and method for offering an item for sale on a website, allowing a user to browse the website via a client computer, generating a shopping cart, allowing the user to place the item in the shopping cart, and storing information about the item and the user in a single memory location in response to the browsing session being interrupted.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method for purchasing a product in an electronic commerce environment includes, conducting a product search from a catalog to obtain a product from the catalog, and purchasing the product by placing an order. In another embodiment, a system for providing the capabilities for purchasing a product in an electronic commerce environment includes, one or more storage devices for enabling a product search to be conducted from a catalog to obtain a product from the catalog and for purchasing the product by placing an order.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for selecting a procedure for shipping a product, comprising: creating a set of delivery procedures with each delivery procedure having a destination code, a delivery time, and a cost of delivery; receiving a purchase order having a requested delivery time for a purchased product and a product-destination code for the purchased product; and selecting from the set a delivery procedure having the lowest cost of delivery and the same delivery time and the same destination code as the requested delivery time and product-destination code.

Abstract: A method of creating and maintaining a shipping-charge database is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a shipping-charge data set into a shipping-charge administration tool from the administrator client, the data set including a plurality of possible order price ranges, at least one shipping option for each price range, and a shipping charge for each shipping option, and causing the shipping-charge data set to be stored at a location exposed to a server for use in establishing a shipping charge for an on-line order in response to a price of the order and a shipping-option selection for the order. The method is extendable and may be used to create and maintain other databases, such as airline and hotel pricing databases.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for handling a merchandise return request from a customer of a merchant. The method includes receiving customer identification data, the customer identification data being capable of uniquely identifying the customer among customers of the merchant. The method further includes receiving a return transaction definition, the return transaction definition includes at least one of a problem type parameter and a return transaction type parameter. The method additionally includes automatically ascertaining, from a database of items previously ordered, a set of return-eligible items. Each return-eligible item in the set of return-eligible items represents an item of merchandise previously ordered by the customer that conforms to the return transaction definition and predefined return-related business rules of the merchant.

Abstract: A method for the non-destructive, in-situ assessment of a resilient elastic substrate, said method comprising the steps of: applying detector means to a surface of said substrate; urging said detector means into said substrate at a substantially constant speed to a predetermined depth; holding said detector means at said predetermined depth for a predetermined time; releasing said detector means, allowing elastic recovery of said substrate; and processing compressibility and/or elastic recovery of said substrate during said urging, holding and/or releasing steps.