Abstract: Various approaches described herein enable various types of users, such as finance managers, vendors, and vendor managers to access up-to-date information in a retail environment that can assist with obtaining and tracking various items to be offered through that environment. A budget planner can analyze information such as historical performance, projection, and vendor data to establish a budget plan for various providers for a particular period. The budget information is fed to an assortment planner, which can use similar and other types of information to allocate that budget across various types and styles of item for each provider. A commitment tracker enables a user to commit to at least some portion of the allocation for various items, and track how well the orders are filled. Information at each level is fed back into the system to be almost instantly available and to adjust allocations for current or future periods.

Abstract: Various approaches described herein enable various types of users, such as finance managers, vendors, and vendor managers to access up-to-date information in a retail environment that can assist with obtaining and tracking various items to be offered through that environment. A budget planner can analyze information such as historical performance, projection, and vendor data to establish a budget plan for various providers for a particular period. The budget information is fed to an assortment planner, which can use similar and other types of information to allocate that budget across various types and styles of item for each provider. A commitment tracker enables a user to commit to at least some portion of the allocation for various items, and track how well the orders are filled. Information at each level is fed back into the system to be almost instantly available and to adjust allocations for current or future periods.

Abstract: Parallel columns of gas adsorbent beds to evolve an effluent gas enriched in a first component of a feed gas. Each column consists of the serial arrangement of a first bed of molecular sieve material selective to the first component, a plenum and a second bed of molecular sieve material selective of a second component of the feed gas. During one column pressurization the beds of another column are regenerated. More particularly, gas evolved from the second bed of the pressurized column is counterflowed through the second bed of the other column to the plenum of that column where it is subsequently mixed with feed gas and used as feed for the first bed of that column.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a product effluent from a fluid mixture through the retention of a component, or components, in a bed of adsorption particles. The apparatus has a housing with a chamber therein for retaining the bed of adsorption particles. A first port in the housing connects the chamber with a source of the fluid mixture. The bed of adsorption particles is connected to a second port in the housing through a header chamber. The second port is connected to a product effluent responsive device. A third port in the housing connects the chamber to a discharge conduit. A first valve controls the communication of the fluid mixture into the chamber and a second valve inhibits the communication of any resultant product effluent through the second port until a specific fluid pressure develops in the chamber whereby the bed of adsorption particles readily adsorbs a component, or components, in the fluid mixture.