Abstract: An interactive system and method for shopping is disclosed that separates the shopping process from the buying process. In one embodiment, the system includes an in-store/in-mall computer system and a plurality of handheld scanners configured to scan product information and upload that information to a central database. The system further includes an interactive Web site that is in communication with the database. The system allows a user to scan items for a wish list at participating stores before or after creating an account with the system. The system also allows buyers to easily shop for others by searching for a user's wish list and personal preferences at the system Web site. Furthermore, the system allows the user to select one or more buyers from an address book and notify the selected buyers of a specific wish list via e-mail.

Abstract: The present invention guarantees that messages in a distributed computing environment are successfully delivered from an application sending data to an application receiving the data by maintaining a fault tolerant message delivery system in the event of system failure. This method of reliable message delivery uses at least four separate computing devices that communicate with each other via a Local Area Network. Each computing device has its own Receiver, Message Queue, and Transmitter, referred to as a Node, which are used for message transport. Each message is held in at least two Message Queues on two computing devices at one time until the message is successfully delivered to its final destination.

Abstract: The present invention allows Scenarios to be easily created and maintained via a graphical user interface and processed efficiently by re-using Actions and Action Chains and aggregating duplicated Actions and Action Chains. The method of building, maintaining, re-using, and aggregating Actions and Action Chains utilizes Event-Driven Information Systems and supports the three styles of event processing: simple event processing, event stream processing, and complex event processing.

Abstract: A printed circuit board comprises a plurality of inner and outer holes. An electrically conductive barrel may be disposed in each outer hole, and an electrically conductive barrel and a probe may be disposed in each inner hole. The electrically conductive barrels may protrude from the bottom of the interface board at substantially similar fixed heights. Transfer paths may couple at least some of the barrels in the outer holes to selected barrels in the inner holes.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of reducing information latency in a business enterprise having a computer system. The method includes the steps of accessing a data source and obtaining transaction information relating to changes in the data source. The data source contains data instances and meta data. A change in either a data instance or a meta data may activate an event within the computer system. The method includes determining whether a response is necessary to an event initiated by a change in the data source. The method also includes determining if the change in the data source was the result of access within or external to an application.