Abstract: A collector apparatus and method capable of collecting material in two modes of operation, flats and letters. With a minor adjustment, the apparatus can be transformed from a two-stage device optimal for the letter mode of operation, to a one-stage device optimal for the flats mode of operation. The apparatus includes a first staging area, a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, and a conveying device. The first staging area includes a first staging surface and a first stage transport assembly, and the second staging area includes a second staging surface and a second stage transport assembly. The conveying device is adjustable between the flats and letters modes. In the letters mode position, the conveying device provides a first material flow path running through the first and second staging areas.

Abstract: A collector apparatus and method capable of collecting material in two modes of operation, flats and letters. With a minor adjustment, the apparatus can be transformed from a two-stage device optimal for the letter mode of operation, to a one-stage device optimal for the flats mode of operation. The apparatus includes a first staging area, a second staging area generally disposed downstream from the first staging area, and a conveying device. The first staging area includes a first staging surface and a first stage transport assembly, and the second staging area includes a second staging surface and a second stage transport assembly. The conveying device is adjustable between the flats and letters modes. In the letters mode position, the conveying device provides a first material flow path running through the first and second staging areas.

Abstract: A right-angle sheet stager apparatus for merging multiple input sheet streams into a single output sheet stream includes one or more input channels and an output channel. Each input channel includes a transport surface and a staging surface. Each transport surface communicates with its corresponding staging surface at a transitional member interposed between the transport surface and the staging surface. Each transitional member includes an upper surface disposed at an elevation greater than an elevation of the corresponding staging surface. The output channel includes an output surface, and is oriented in a right-angle relation with respect to the input channels and communicates with the input channels at a merger location. The stager apparatus permits a sheet from the transport surface to enter the staging surface and overlap with a preceding sheet already present on that staging surface, prior to the preceding sheet's complete exit from the staging surface.

Abstract: A right-angle sheet stager apparatus for merging multiple input sheet streams into a single output sheet stream includes one or more input channels and an output channel. Each input channel includes a transport surface and a staging surface. Each transport surface communicates with its corresponding staging surface at a transitional member interposed between the transport surface and the staging surface. Each transitional member includes an upper surface disposed at an elevation greater than an elevation of the corresponding staging surface. The output channel includes an output surface, and is oriented in a right-angle relation with respect to the input channels and communicates with the input channels at a merger location. The stager apparatus permits a sheet from the transport surface to enter the staging surface and overlap with a preceding sheet already present on that staging surface, prior to the preceding sheet's complete exit from the staging surface.

Abstract: A method and system for constructing rule-based intelligent agents that process events on behalf of one or more users. The intelligent agents have event-generating modules that supply events to be processed, and event-processing modules that process the events by evaluating rules. Each event-processing module of the agent includes multiple sets of rules, one or more such sets for each user of the agent. A selection key related to the user is associated with a rule set, and for event-generating modules a selection key indicates the user on whose behalf the event was generated. When the event-processing module receives an event with a selection key, the module locates and evaluates the rule set(s) which have a matching key to launch the corresponding actions.

Abstract: A right-angle sheet stager apparatus for merging multiple input sheet streams into a single output sheet stream includes one or more input channels and an output channel. Each input channel includes a transport surface and a staging surface. Each transport surface communicates with its corresponding staging surface at a transitional member interposed between the transport surface and the staging surface. Each transitional member includes an upper surface disposed at an elevation greater than an elevation of the corresponding staging surface. The output channel includes an output surface, and is oriented in a right-angle relation with respect to the input channels and communicates with the input channels at a merger location. The stager apparatus permits a sheet from the transport surface to enter the staging surface and overlap with a preceding sheet already present on that staging surface, prior to the preceding sheet's complete exit from the staging surface.

Abstract: A right-angle sheet stager apparatus for merging multiple-input sheet streams into a single output sheet stream includes one or more input channels and an output channel. Each input channel includes a transport surface and a staging surface. Each transport surface communicates with its corresponding staging surface at a transitional member interposed between the transport surface and the staging surface. Each transitional member includes an upper surface disposed at an elevation greater than an elevation of the corresponding staging surface. The output channel includes an output surface, and is oriented in a right-angle relation with respect to the input channels and communicates with the input channels at a merger location. The stager apparatus permits a sheet from the transport surface to enter the staging surface and overlap with a preceding sheet already present on that staging surface, prior to the preceding sheet's complete exit from the staging surface.

Abstract: A right-angle sheet stager apparatus for merging multiple input sheet streams into a single output sheet stream includes one or more input channels and an output channel. Each input channel includes a transport surface and a staging surface. Each transport surface communicates with its corresponding staging surface at a transitional member interposed between the transport surface and the staging surface. Each transitional member includes an upper surface disposed at an elevation greater than an elevation of the corresponding staging surface. The output channel includes an output surface, and is oriented in a right-angle relation with respect to the input channels and communicates with the input channels at a merger location. The stager apparatus permits a sheet from the transport surface to enter the staging surface and overlap with a preceding sheet already present on that staging surface, prior to the preceding sheet's complete exit from the staging surface.

Abstract: A computer network comprises first and second computers, each having a recovery facility for recovering a two-phase commit procedure and a recovery log. The log comprises a log name log which stores the names of other logs involved in a commit scope and a sync point log which stores sync point phase information. The log names are exchanged prior to a request for sync point. If a failure occurs during sync point, each recovery facility in the commit scope again exchanges log names to verify that there was not a log failure since the prior exchange. Absent a log failure, the logs are used to recover from the sync point failure. Communication facilities are interposed between the first and second computers and include log name exchange tables which record the previous exchanges of log names between the first and second computers.

Abstract: In a computer system or process, sync point managers are distributed throughout each real machine for a plurality of execution environments, but all of the execution environments and sync point managers within one real machine share a common recovery facility and recovery log. A common recovery log is used by the recovery facility for all of the execution environments in the system. Different systems are interconnected by a communication facility and each has its own recovery facility and recovery log. A protected conversation can be initiated between the first and second execution environments in the same real machine, and the sync point managers within the respective execution environments coordinate the two-phase commit procedures associated with the protected conversations. A conversation manager within each real machine assists in routing the conversation between the first and second execution environments.

Abstract: To recover a failed commit procedure, a first recovery facility collects and compares sync point state information from a variety of different types of resources including a data repository and a protected conversation. The comparison of the sync point state information is made automatically in response to a sync point failure event. A second recovery facility serving another execution environment notifies the first recovery facility after a failure and subsequent recovery procedure of the second execution environment has completed. The first recovery facility makes automatic cyclic attempts to communicate with the second recovery facility. The first recovery facility can receive a manually initiated but automatically simulated response of sync point state information when there is a failure such that actual sync point state information cannot be received.

Abstract: A computer system manages storage of files and/or directories. The computer system stores a specification of a file space allocation for an application support processor, an application program, or a group of application programs. The computer system can store temporary files for the application support processor, application program or group of application programs that require greater file space than the file space allocation. This is done by temporarily providing extra unused file space during processing of the temporary files. When the application support processor, application program or group of application programs attempts to commit the files, the file space allocation is enforced. The computer system can store specifications of file space allocations for a plurality of other application support processors, application programs or groups of application programs.

Abstract: A Data Access System for a File Access Processor for servicing requests from a set of Application Support Processors, which can exist in a global network, with each Application Support Processor sharing access to data in files stored by the File Access Processor. The File Access Processor manages access to a set of data files and information about files held in file directories, which allow for managing file collections, can relate to each other hierarchically, and may be shared. Each Application Support Processor also maintains therein an internal cache of file information to improve performance by reducing communications required with the File Access Processor for information about files. The File Access Processor provides the Application Support Processors with information for updating and maintenance of local caches of directory and file description information through a centralized accumulation and distribution of cache change notifications.

Abstract: A fastener is assembled for a pair of overlapping members comprising a cloth tab secured at both ends to one of the members and a closure clasp having a bottom, a pair of pivot arms and a closure clasp arm pivotally mounted therein. The closure clasp bottom is secured to the other member to hide the entire closure clasp from view. The tab passes between the closure clasp arm and the bottom and the closure clasp is shiftable along the tab.