Abstract: Disclosed herein is a network-based retail order satisfaction system, and related methods, having a local processor, a local kiosk having at least one camera and a digital display, a central processor, a customer information database, and facial recognition software configured to identify a returning customer. Disclosed herein is a network-based retail order satisfaction system, and related methods, having machine learning software configured to predict a returning customer's order and provide menu items on the digital display based on the predicted order.

Abstract: A firewall system and method which optimizes the performance of the firewall process by reducing overhead associated with ACL verification and firewall application-level authorization. The firewall system comprises a session manager operating in the firewall services component and a firewall module operating in the switching process component. In one embodiment, the firewall module is configured to provide certain “non-application” level inspection of data packets and update the context of “sessions” associated with the data packets without sending the packets to the firewall services component using session information provided by the session manager.

Abstract: An access control system (a firewall) controls traffic to and from a local network. The system is implemented on a dedicated network device such as a router positioned between a local network and an external network, usually the Internet, or between one or more local networks. In this procedure, access control items are dynamically generated and removed based upon the context of an application conversation. Specifically, the system dynamically allocates channels through the firewall based upon its knowledge of the type of applications and protocol (context) employed in the conversation involving a node on the local network. Further, the system may selectively examine packet payloads to determine when new channels are about to be opened.