Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Abstract: Electrical contact devices for supplying a bias voltage to a developer roller and a primary charge roller of a toner cartridge used in an image forming system. The electricity may be communicated through electrical contact devices with or without modular inserts, using spring wires, flat springs, coil springs, unicorn springs, endfelt seals that also act as bias voltage contacts, magnetic seals that also act as bias voltage contacts, insulator spacers that also act as bias voltage contacts, scraper devices that also act as bias voltage contacts, and two legged spring contacts. Also, improved endfelts may be made using a combination of foam that has been flocked or with a surface of fibers that simulates a velvet surface and even a conductive flocking where the endfelt seal may act both as a seal and also an electrical contact.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or toner cartridge component thereof uses a bias voltage contact device that fits into an electrobushing which transmits the electrical contact has been invented. Thus, now a bushing can also act as an electrical contact and thereby a spring is not a requirement. The cylindrical bias voltage contact fits into a developer roller and has a smaller portion that is also cylindrical and fits into an electrobushing. The electrobushing is contacted electrically to the power supply of the image forming apparatus. The cylindrical bias voltage contact may have a cylindrical portion that fits into the developer roller by press fit with the new feature where the cylindrical portion has more than one diameter for obtaining a better press fit.

Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Abstract: A toner cartridge of a laser printer, copier or facsimile machine has various strips in it for various functions. Among the strips are recovery blades, spreader blades, wiper blades, certain shipping seals, doctor blades and other miscellaneous strips. A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal to be ergonomically installed in a user friendly way by leaving a strip of protective liner protruding from the strip for easy removal. Also, a device and method for attachment of strips is shown that utilizes a positioning tab stiffener device for user friendly easy insertion of the strip into a toner cartridge, laser printer, copy cartridge or facsimile machine. After the positioning tab is used to install the strip, the positioning tab stiffener device is removed from the strip assembly. By using preferential 2-sided tapes or transfer tapes that are removable on one surface, the positioning device tab may be removed easier.

Abstract: An improved seal-insert and seal for a toner hopper as used in toner cartridge assemblies for printers, copiers and facsimile machines. In one embodiment, the seal has two slotted, rectangular outer pieces joined together with slot alignment and joined by an inner layer of two-sided tape. The two-sided tape is made with a long u-shape which does not interfere with the slots in the outer pieces. The open end of the u-shaped tape configuration allows a seal to be inserted or removed from between the outer pieces to close or open the slots. The seal-insert is applied over the passage from the toner hopper. The outer pieces are made from an antistatic and/or a conductive material, such as an aluminum laminate or plastic impregnated with conductive particles. Alternately, the outer pieces may be made from plastic covered with an antistatic and/or conductive spray or coating.

Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Abstract: Coupling facility store-in cache structures are duplexed in order to improve data availability. That is, once duplexing is established, selective data is written to both a primary structure instance and a secondary structure instance. Thus, if one of the structure instances fails, then the other structure instance is used in order to prevent data from being lost. Duplexing can be started manually and/or automatically by the operating system. Further, a structure may be removed from duplex mode and enter simplex mode, if duplexing is not desired.

Abstract: A method for generating customized alerts related to the procurement, sourcing, strategic sourcing and/or sale of one or more items by an enterprise is disclosed. The method is based on a Value Chain Intelligence (VCI) system that enables suppliers and procurement professionals to leverage enterprise and marketplace data in order to potentially improve decision-making in business enterprises. Accordingly, internal data from enterprises and external data from suppliers, catalogs, and marketplaces are integrated and analyzed in real time for their impact on supply chains processes. When an event occurs or data is received potentially affecting decisions regarding the procurement, sourcing, strategic sourcing, and/or sale of one or more items, the system correlates the data with predetermined conditions, which, when satisfied, trigger one or more software modules to send alerts to specified users about the potential impact of the event and/or data on the particular item/s.

Abstract: A method for selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: obtaining a digital image file containing a plurality of images; employing the digital image file to produce an index print having the plurality of images along with an index number associated with each image and a customer order number; prior to making any individual prints, delivering the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; using the index print to order prints of selected images; making prints of the selected images; and delivering the selected prints to the customer.

Abstract: A method for automatically invoking a software module in response to an internal or external event affecting the purchase or sale of an item is disclosed. The method is based on a Value Chain Intelligence (VCI) system that enables suppliers and procurement professionals to leverage enterprise and marketplace data in order to potentially improve decision-making in business enterprises. Accordingly, internal data from enterprises and external data from suppliers, catalogs, and marketplaces are integrated and analyzed in real time for their impact on supply chains processes. When an internal or external event occurs, directly affecting the purchase and/or sale of an item, and/or decisions regarding procurement, sourcing, strategic sourcing, and other business processes, the system understands the event, correlates the event with the aforementioned processes, automatically invokes one or more software modules, which make recommendations and send alerts to users about the potential impact of such an event.

Abstract: A method for assisting a user with procurement decisions, sourcing decisions and strategic sourcing decisions in an enterprise is disclosed. The method implements a plurality of software modules in a logical workflow process based on the results of integrating and analyzing data. The workflow process provides a plurality of steps for discovering data, analyzing data, alerting the user about the data, recommending actions to the user based on the data, and executing those actions. The workflow process is based on a Value Chain Intelligence (VCI) system, which integrates and analyzes internal data from enterprises and external data from suppliers, catalogs, and marketplaces in real time for their impact on supply chains processes. Components for such a system may consist of internal data collection components, external data collection components, data integration components, and data application components.

Abstract: A system and methods based thereon for a Value Chain Intelligence (VCI) system that enables suppliers and procurement professionals to leverage enterprise and marketplace data in order to potentially improve decision-making in business enterprises. In this system, internal data from enterprises and external data from suppliers, catalogs, and marketplaces are integrated and analyzed in real time for their impact on supply chains processes. The VCI system makes recommendations and alerts users based on the results of the integrated and analyzed data. Components in a VCI system may consist of internal data collection components, external data collection components, data integration components, and data application components. The system provides a plurality of methods for searching, extracting, transforming, integrating, analyzing, and representing data internal to an enterprise and data external to an enterprise.

Abstract: Castout processing for duplexed data structures. A selective data item is written from a primary instance of a data structure to at least one storage medium. A determination is made as to whether the selective data item can be deleted from a secondary instance of the data structure. If the selective data item can be deleted, it is deleted from the secondary instance.

Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an electronic throttling valve in a temperature control unit having first and second pressure measurement devices. The method includes determining whether the first pressure measurement device is functioning, determining whether the second pressure measurement device is functioning, controlling the electronic throttling valve using data measured by both the first and second pressure measurement devices when both the first and second pressure measurement devices functioning, controlling the electronic throttling valve using data measured by only one of the first and second pressure measurement devices when the other of the first and second pressure measurement devices is determined to be non-functional, and controlling the electronic throttling valve using temperature data measured by the temperature control unit when both the first and second pressure measurement devices are determined to be non-functional.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus or toner cartridge component thereof uses a bias voltage contact device that fits into an electrobushing which transmits the electrical contact has been invented. Thus, now a bushing can also act as an electrical contact and thereby a spring is not a requirement. The cylindrical bias voltage contact fits into a developer roller and has a smaller portion that is also cylindrical and fits into an electrobushing. The electrobushing is contacted electrically to the power supply of the image forming apparatus. The cylindrical bias voltage contact may have a cylindrical portion that fits into the developer roller by press fit with the new feature where the cylindrical portion has more than one diameter for obtaining a better press fit.

Abstract: A toner cartridge of a laser printer, copier or facsimile machine has various strips in it for various functions. Among the strips are recovery blades, spreader blades, wiper blades, certain shipping seals, doctor blades and other miscleaneous strips. A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal to be ergonomically installed in a userfriendly way by leaving a strip of protective liner protruding from the strip for easy removal. Also, a device and method for attachment of strips is shown that utilizes a positioning tab stiffener device for userfriendly easy insertion of the strip into a toner cartridge, laser printer, copy cartridge or facsimile machine. After the positioning tab is used to install the strip, the positioning tab stiffener device is removed from the strip assembly. By using preferential 2-sided tapes or transfer tapes that are removable on one surface, the positioning device tab may be removed easier.

Abstract: A method for remotely selecting and ordering photographic prints, includes the steps of: sending a photographic film bearing a plurality of latent images to a photofinisher; developing the photographic film to produce visible images and scanning the visible images to create a digital image file at the photo finisher; producing an index print having a plurality of images from the photographic film along with an index number associated with each image and an order number; sending the index print to a customer; selecting images for which prints are desired from the index print; ordering photographic prints via telephone from the customer's home to the photofinisher, specifying the order number and the index numbers associated with the images for which prints are desired; and making photographic prints of the selected images at the photofinisher and sending the photographic prints to the customer.