Abstract: Disclosed is a bag dispenser that has a clam-shell arrangement including a hood, base, and also has a mounting system. A bag-dispensing mouth of the system has two opposing members that create resistance when bags (e.g., rolled bags) are pulled out through the mouth. The resistance is adjustable using a cam that can be locked in a variety of positions. The cam engages a drive bar to create the resistance.

Abstract: According to a commercial method of the present invention, a merchant forwards transaction data to a consumer. If the consumer accepts the transaction, a payment command is forwarded to a service provider. The service provider selectively applies authentication before approving payment. Once payment is approved, the service provider forwards a payment instruction, including consumer account information, to a payment service. The payment service forwards payment to the merchant and a payment confirmation is returned to the service provider and, through the service provider, to the consumer. The service provider stores information about each transaction performed by each subscriber. Consumer identity is protected because it is only exchanged between the service provider and the payment service, and is not made available to the merchant. In addition, the storage of the transaction information by various devices facilitates the return process and adds marketing capability to the service provider.

Abstract: Consumer information in electronic transactions is protected by avoiding disclosure of the consumer information to a merchant. In order to execute a transaction, the merchant forwards transaction data, i.e., an offer, to the consumer. In order to accept the offer, the consumer forwards a payment command to a service provider. The service provider selectively applies authentication before approving payment. Once payment is approved, the service provider forwards a payment instruction, including consumer account information, to a payment service. The payment service forwards payment to the merchant. Consequently, consumer information is not provided to the merchant. Further, the consumer need not necessarily provide any communication directly to the merchant. Payment confirmation may be returned to the service provider and, through the service provider, to the consumer. The service provider may also store information about each transaction performed by each subscriber.

Abstract: An architecture that enables distributed storage capacity to be shared as though accesses were being made to a Fiber Channel Switch is described. The distributed capacity may include Fiber Channel devices and thus a method for addressing Fiber Channel devices coupled in a resilient ring has been provided. Expected Fiber Channel behavior and reliability are attained in the architecture of this invention through the application of bandwidth provisioning and extended reach mechanisms at each node in the ring. The bandwidth provisioning mechanisms ensure that access is provided to the communication links of the ring for each node according to a defined bandwidth distribution. The extended reach mechanisms of the invention ensure that the standard Fiber Channel packet delivery assumptions are satisfied. The solution exploits native ring characteristics to deliver customer separation and management of the resulting storage network.

Abstract: Source-implemented constraint-based routing with source routing enables traffic engineering to be performed and reservations to be made within a domain without requiring constraint information and reservation information to be disseminated to all nodes in the domain. In one embodiment, a focal node maintains a table containing metrics of links and connection reservations through the domain. When a connection is to be added, the focal node determines a path, given the constraints reflected in the table, and allocates resources on the links forming the path. The table is updated, and the path is used to generate headers for traffic associated with the connection. Traffic from the nodes toward the focal point follow the reverse path. If a node or link fails, connections carried through the failure are identified, reservations on links associated with the connections are released, and new reservations are made taking into account the new network topology.

Abstract: A communications network for a metropolitan area is disclosed. The network is comprised of three basic types of nodes: an access multiplexer, a photonic switch, and a core node. The access multiplexer provides multiplexing of data packets from end-users onto at least one sparse wavelength division multiplexed (SWDM) wavelength. The SWDM wavelengths are carried over fiber cable to the photonic switches, which consolidate these wavelengths into dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) wavelengths for transmission to the core node. The core nodes include a photonic switch (PSX) and a service-aware terabit router core for routing packets within the metropolitan area via the network or out to a long haul network. The photonic switches and core nodes are capable of switching at the wavelength, group of wavelength, and fiber levels.

Abstract: At least one network device that moves storage blocks based upon a session layer or higher protocol set is employed to facilitate communication between at least one host and at least one target storage device. The at least one network device may include a server and a switch. Transactions related to data storage access are expressed in a non-network protocol and transmitted via a network protocol data unit across at least a portion of the network by employing encapsulation. An adapter card associated with the data storage unit is employed to extract the non-network protocol transaction. Multiple, mirrored data storage units that are separated by relatively large physical distance may be employed to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic data loss due to an event such as a fire. Further, READ transactions may be facilitated by preloading data storage units with READ metadata for subsequent transmission to a client device to enable expedited access to data stored on the data storage units.

Abstract: Source-implemented constraint-based routing with source routing enables traffic engineering to be performed and reservations to be made within a domain without requiring constraint information and reservation information to be disseminated to all nodes in the domain. In one embodiment, a focal node maintains a table containing metrics of links and connection reservations through the domain. When a connection is to be added, the focal node determines a path, given the constraints reflected in the table, and allocates resources on the links forming the path. The table is updated, and the path is used to generate headers for traffic associated with the connection. Traffic from the nodes toward the focal point follow the reverse path. If a node or link fails, connections carried through the failure are identified, reservations on links associated with the connections are released, and new reservations are made taking into account the new network topology.

Abstract: A mobile backhaul inter-mesh communication point forms an interface between a wireless mesh network on a first level and a wireless mesh network on a second, higher bandwidth, level. The two wireless networks are differentiated, e.g., by causing the mesh networks to be formed using different spectra, protocols or coding, or antennae. The mobile intra-mesh communication point functions as an access point in the lower level mesh network and as a relay point in the upper level mesh network. Utilizing mobile inter-mesh communication points facilitates deployment of wireless network access points while enabling the location of access points to follow the concentration of network users. Mobile inter-mesh communication points may be deployed in personal vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, public transportation vehicles such as busses, trains, and aircraft, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, and many other types of vehicles.

Abstract: A communications network for a metropolitan area is disclosed. The network is comprised of three basic types of nodes: an access multiplexer, a photonic switch, and a core node. The access multiplexer provides multiplexing of data packets from end-users onto at least one sparse wavelength division multiplexed (SWDM) wavelength. The SWDM wavelengths are carried over fiber cable to the photonic switches, which consolidate these wavelengths into dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) wavelengths for transmission to the core node. The core nodes include a photonic switch (PSX) and a service-aware terabit router core for routing packets within the metropolitan area via the network or out to a long haul network. The photonic switches and core nodes are capable of switching at the wavelength, group of wavelength, and fiber levels.