Abstract: A cooperative e-business complex. The cooperative e-business complex can include one or more electronically accessible e-business complex management services configured to handle e-business processing in the e-business complex on behalf of electronically associated virtual store operators, vendors, business partners and professional services providers. A virtual management office can be included which is configured to coordinate e-business transactions between the associated virtual store operators, the on-line shoppers, the vendors, the business partners, and the professional services providers in the e-business complex. Finally, one or more e-business complex management services requesters can be configured to remotely invoke selected ones of the electronically accessible e-business complex management services.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically transforming data or business messages to enable communication between parties in a distributed computing environment (e.g. between business partners who exchange data over a public network, and who do not necessarily use the same data formats), where this data transformation preferably occurs at the edge of the computing network. A set of transformation services is described, and include template registration, transformation, forward, and receive services. Services from this set may optionally be combined to create composite transformation services. A template defines how to transform one data format into another. Selection criteria may be provided to enable dynamically selecting a template at run-time.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically transforming data or business messages to enable communication between parties in a distributed computing environment (e.g. between business partners who exchange data over a public network, and who do not necessarily use the same data formats), where this data transformation preferably occurs at the edge of the computing network. A set of transformation services is described, and include template registration, transformation, forward, and receive services. Services from this set may optionally be combined to create composite transformation services. A template defines how to transform one data format into another. Selection criteria may be provided to enable dynamically selecting a template at run-time.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically transforming data or business messages to enable communication between parties in a distributed computing environment (e.g. between business partners who exchange data over a public network, and who do not necessarily use the same data formats), where this data transformation preferably occurs at the edge of the computing network. A set of transformation services is described, and include template registration, transformation, forward, and receive services. Services from this set may optionally be combined to create composite transformation services. A template defines how to transform one data format into another. Selection criteria may be provided to enable dynamically selecting a template at run-time.

Abstract: A cooperative e-business complex. The cooperative e-business complex can include one or more electronically accessible e-business complex management services configured to handle e-business processing in the e-business complex on behalf of electronically associated virtual store operators, vendors, business partners and professional services providers. A virtual management office can be included which is configured to coordinate e-business transactions between the associated virtual store operators, the on-line shoppers, the vendors, the business partners, and the professional services providers in the e-business complex. Finally, one or more e-business complex management services requesters can be configured to remotely invoke selected ones of the electronically accessible e-business complex management services.

Abstract: Machine parts are connected together to form an assembly by means of pins which form an interference fit with passages in the parts and whose ends are flush with two opposed surfaces of the assembly. Each pin is provided with an annular groove spaced from one end of the pin by a distance equal to the distance between the opposed surfaces. A positioning member is seated in the groove and the pin is inserted into an associated passage so that the positioning member bears against one opposed surface. After a tight fit is achieved, the protruding portion of the pin is broken away.A device is provided for testing the tightness of an inserted pin. The device may engage the annular groove and apply a tensile test force. Alternatively, after the end of the pin has been broken away, the device may bear against the end of the remaining pin portion and apply a compressive test force.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a circular array of rotatable blades from blades having an integral shroud with a leading planar surface and a trailing planar surface, the leading planar surface being generally parallel to an axial radial plane passing through the center of the root of the blade and the trailing surface, if extended, intersecting the axial radial plane passing through the center of the root of the blade to form an angle generally equal in degrees to 360 divided by the number of blades forming the circular array. Strict radial alignment is provided by assembling the complete blade row such that all blade center lines coincide with the groove center lines, with the shroud mating surfaces in complete contact and in tangential compression.