Abstract: A method of transferring information stored in a mobile instrument, the information including a first information file containing metadata and a pointer indicative of a first auxiliary file address; and first auxiliary file containing image information, the first auxiliary file being located at the first auxiliary file address. The method includes the steps of: storing the metadata in a second information file; storing the image information in a second auxiliary file at a second auxiliary file address; generating a second pointer indicative of the second auxiliary file address; and storing the second pointer in the second information file. The instrument includes a camera; one or more spatial sensors; and an external sensor port. Power to the sensors can be controlled asynchronously. Various parsing methods are also described. The instrument includes a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image.

Abstract: To facilitate the recognition and interpretation of actions undertaken within an environment, the environment is associated with a precision positioning system (PPS) and a controller in communication with the PPS. Within the environment, an entity moves about in furtherance of one or more tasks to be completed within the environment. The PPS determines position data corresponding to at least a portion of the entity, which position data is subsequently compared with at least one known action corresponding to a predetermined task within the environment. Using a state-based task model, recognized actions may be interpreted and used to initiate at least one system action based on the current state of the task model and correspondence of the position data to the at least one known action. Furthermore, based on the recognized action, the controller may provide information to the entity or captured event data may be associated with the recognized action.

Abstract: A position determination method for a set of new points to be surveyed, using a geodetic device and reference points whose positions in an absolute coordinate system are known. The position determination is effected by referencing the new points relative to a set of reference points and measurement of the reference points and of the new points in a relative coordinate system for referencing by the geodetic device—relative measured quantities being registered. Furthermore, the new points and the reference points are updated by successive addition in each case of the measured new points and reference points to the set of new points and set of reference points, respectively, and updating the position determination of the new points taking into account all of the respective actual reference points is effected if a specified minimum coefficient of determination for the referencing is ensured by the actual set of reference points.

Abstract: A method of measuring one or more motion parameters of a main shaft in a gyratory or cone crusher is disclosed. Signals are directed from a stationary sensor means located apart from the main shaft to one or more signal reflective surfaces situated on a target located on or adjacent to an upper portion of the main shaft. The target rotates and otherwise moves in unison with the movement of the main shaft. From the elapsed time the distances from the sensor the reflective surfaces on the target are determined. Analyzing the distances over time will yield information on the movement of the main shaft.

Abstract: A compressor information network includes a remote module operable to communicate with a plurality of local modules. Each local module includes a processor and a first non-volatile memory associated with the processor. The processor communicates with the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory associated with a compressor. The remote module includes a database of information copied from the second non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A system (30) includes an analysis engine (34) and a notification engine (38) for selective notification of a condition (72) of an apparatus (26) monitored by a monitoring device (28). A method executed by the system (30) receives (116) data elements (58) from the monitoring device (28), processes (118) the data elements (58) to detect the condition (72) of the apparatus (26), and determines that the condition (72) defines an exception (74) to a normal condition (70) of the apparatus (26). A first notice (60) of the condition (72) is conveyed (146) to a responsible party (59) at a first instance of determination of the exception (74), and conveyance of a second notice (60) is prevented (140) at a second, subsequent, instance of determination of the exception (74). In addition, communication of the normal condition (70) of the apparatus (26) is prevented.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for gauging video processing. In use, results are identified with respect to a first analysis for testing a performance of video processing of a processor, a second analysis for testing a functionality of the video processing of the processor, and a third analysis for testing a quality of the video processing of the processor. To this end, the video processing of the processor may be gauged based on the results.

Abstract: Provided is a method for estimating the impact of fuel distribution on emissions and corrosion responses of a fossil fuel-fired furnace. A variable is determined, termed herein separation number, by inputting fuel oil and air into the furnace, wherein the variable provides a linear relationship to multiple furnace process responses. Emission measurement equipment is located at various furnace outlet positions and thermocouples are located in tubes of the furnace, wherein the responses can be measured to obtain operating data. This operating data is interpreted based on different modes of operation of the furnace, and a change is estimated in the responses as a function of the separation number, wherein the change can be quantified to determine an impact of the fuel distribution or the furnace configuration as a result of the operating data lying on a plane defined by the separation number and a load variable.

Abstract: A method for determining a preferred operating gradient for use in attaining a life objective for an electrical energy storage device is disclosed. A present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device is provided and a life target for the electrical energy storage device is established as a predetermined limit in a predetermined metric at a predetermined state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device. A state-of-life gradient is then determined with respect to the predetermined metric which converges the state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device to the life target.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a structure for damage is provided. The method includes stimulating a sensor in a sensor array to generate a plurality of waves. The sensor array includes one or more quadrants, wherein each quadrant includes one or more sensors. Sensor data from all sensors are acquired in each quadrant in parallel. The sensor data wave characteristics is processed for analysis. The processed sensor data wave characteristics are compared with threshold values to determine the presence of damage to the structure. If the presence of damage is determined, a corrective system is notified for corrective action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems of tracking enterprise gas emissions such as greenhouse gas emissions. The systems and methods relate to collecting or entering data relating to one or more emissions source of an enterprise or an enterprise location, calculating emissions totals, and, according to certain embodiments, generating emissions reports.

Abstract: A method for generating a series of output signals represented by a series of measurement signals which is particularly useful in the compensation for jatter, missing spurious pulses or plates when applied to the processing of signals from a speed probe monitoring the speed of a rotating bladed shaft. The method includes the steps of predicting a value for a first measurement signal from a historical measurement signal value, generating a first output signal from the predicted value of the first measurement signal; comparing the measurement signal to its predicted value, and: if the measurement signal is within a predetermined range of acceptable values, using the first measurement signal to predict a value for a second measurement signal; if the measurement signal is outside the pre-determined range of acceptable values, using the first predicted value to predict a second measurement signal, and generating a second output signal from the predicted value of the second measurement signal.

Abstract: A frequency domain transforming section transforms mixed signals observed by multiple sensors into mixed signals in the frequency domain, a complex vector generating section generates a complex vector by using the frequency-domain mixed signals, a normalizing section generates a normalized vector excluding frequency dependence of the complex vector, and a clustering section clusters the normalized vectors to generate clusters. Then, a separated signal generating section generates separated signals in the frequency domain by using information about the clusters and a time domain transforming section transforms the separated signals in the frequency domain into separated signals in the time domain.

Abstract: An electronic method for parametric modeling of a conceptual vehicle design. The method includes (a) receiving dimensional input including one or more vehicle level parameters and one or more component level parameters; (b) receiving geometrical input including one or more non-dimensional design inputs; and (c) generating a parametric concept model based on dimensional input and the geometrical input.

Abstract: An improved method for designing the route of a transport element, such as a tube, is provided. The method preferably designs the route automatically and, by utilizing constraint objects in the design of the route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the resulting route complies with the various constraint objects. In addition, the method of the present invention may establish an overall cost function to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that each comply with the constraint objects such that a preferred or optimal route may be designed. Constraints may be based upon the routing of the transport element in relation to another transport element, an additional constraint, or a relaxed constraint.

Abstract: A constraint solver is encapsulated in a service adapted to participate in a negotiation. In operation, the system constructs a graph in its memory for negotiating a set of actions to be performed by selected ones of a plurality of participants. Each node of the graph defines a negotiation context that has associated therewith a constraint store with at least a set of domain constraints stored therein that limit during the negotiation a set of semantic constraints of the service on variables of the constraint solver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to model, analyze, and build linear time invariant systems with delays. The method and apparatus model a linear time invariant system as a linear fractional transformation of matrices of a delay free linear time invariant model with a bank of pure delays. The method and apparatus of the present invention can further accommodate input delays and output delays associated with the linear time invariant system with delays.

Abstract: A method for graphically simulating stable but non-dissipative water in real-time includes steps for modeling multiphase materials with grid of nodes, suppressing numerical dissipation for getting rid of loss of mass of material, and suppressing numerical diffusion for reducing dampening of the fluid motion of materials in liquid phase. The step of modeling multiphase materials includes steps of describing liquid and gas with a set of nonlinear partial differential equations, representing the liquid-gas interface as an implicit surface, and determining properties of the materials, from the information about the liquid-gas interface, including the surface curvature and the surface tension. The set of nonlinear partial differential equations includes multiphase incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The step of representing the liquid-gas interface includes a level set method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating models of directed scale-free object relationships are described. In one aspect, a sequence of random numbers is generated. Individual ones of these random numbers are then selected over time to generate the directed scale-free object relationships as a graph based on sequences of in-degrees and out-degrees.

Abstract: A method for predicting the structural behavior of an object when a fire is applied to it for a given period of time, comprising the following steps: Preparing a computer-implemented 3D Finite Element Model of said object including its thermal relevant material properties and a computer-implemented 2D Finite Volume Model for simulating a fire inside said object and obtaining predicting information regarding its thermal effects; Obtaining the heat transfer coefficients of the structure using said predicting information regarding the thermal effects inside said object; Applying said heat transfer coefficients and other relevant thermal boundary conditions in said 3D Finite Element Model, simulating the application of a fire to said object and obtaining a thermal mapping of the object during said application of fire. The invention also refers to a system for carrying our said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising the ligand binding domain (LBD) of a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in crystalline form. In alternative embodiments, the LBD of FXR is complexed with a ligand therefor. There are provided high resolution structures of FXR complexed with a novel high affinity agonist, fexaramine. The discovered structure of a FXR LBD provides the first three-dimensional view of the structural basis for FXR ligand binding. The present invention further provides a computer for producing a three-dimensional representation of FXR or a complex thereof, and a computer for determining at least a portion of the structure coordinates of FXR or a complex thereof. The present invention further provides methods of using this structural information to predict molecules capable of binding to FXR; to identify compounds with agonist, antagonist or partial agonist activity for FXR; and to determine whether a test compound is capable of binding to the LBD of FXR.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting properties of a Metal Oxide Silicon (MOS) varactor, which includes: establishing a MOS varactor model equation in conjunction with an area of a gate; calculating values of the coefficients of the MOS varactor model equation through measurements for test materials; and extracting the properties of a capacitor of the MOS varactor using the calculated values of the coefficients. According to the method, the MOS varactor model equation can be expressed by Cgate=[Cigate×Area+Cpgate×Perimeter]×N, wherein, Cgate denotes gate capacitance for voltage applied to the gate, Cigate denotes intrinsic gate capacitance, Cpgate denotes perimeter gate capacitance, and N denotes the number of gate fingers. The MOS varactor model equation can be applicable to various sized capacitors, so that it is possible to estimate a gate capacitance for voltage applied to a gate, considering the differences due to the surface shapes of a device.

Abstract: A modular instance-aware event-driven test framework is described. It includes an event-driven test framework, a transition-graph test model for the event-driven text framework, an instance-aware event-driven test framework built on said event-driven test framework and a transition-graph test model for said instance-aware event-driven test framework built on said transition-graph test model.

Abstract: A high accuracy method for transistor-level static timing analysis is disclosed. Accurate static timing verification requires that individual gate and interconnect delays be accurately calculated. At the sub-micron level, calculating gate and interconnect delays using delay models can result in reduced accuracy. Instead, the proposed method calculates delays through numerical integration using an embedded circuit simulator. It takes into account short circuit current and carefully chooses the set of conditions that results in a tight upper bound of the worst case delay for each gate. Similar repeating transistor configurations of gates in the circuit are automatically identified and a novel interpolation based caching scheme quickly computes gate delays from the delays of similar gates. A tight object code level integration with a commercial high speed transistor-level circuit simulator allows efficient invocation of the simulation.

Abstract: Audio level control is provided for compressed audio. Scale factors for the compressed audio are extracted from an MPEG audio data stream, the extracted scale factors are altered without decompressing the compressed audio, and the MPEG audio data stream is updated with the altered scale factors. All of the scale factors in the MPEG audio data stream are altered based on a parameter identifying how the gain levels in the MPEG data stream are to be altered.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for encoding digital audio data with reduced bit rates, the apparatus having a provider of psycho-acoustically quantized digital audio data with a bit rate being higher than the reduced bit rate. The apparatus further has an identifier for identifying a frequency band according to a selection criterion, the selection criterion being such that an impact on the quality of the digital audio data when the data in the identified frequency band is replaced by generated noise is smaller than the impact on the quality of the digital audio data, which would arise when the data in a different frequency band is replaced by generated noise. The apparatus further has a replacer for replacing data in the identified frequency band of the digital audio data by a noise synthesis parameter.

Abstract: A sub-quantizer for sub-quantization of a vector includes a sub-codevector generator that generates a set of candidate sub-codevectors, and transformation logic that transforms each candidate sub-codevector into a corresponding codevector. A memory stores an illegal space definition representing illegal vectors. A legal status tester determines legal codevectors among the codevectors based on the illegal space definition. An error calculator generates error terms corresponding to the candidate sub-codevector, and a sub-codevector selector determines a best one of the sub-codevectors corresponding to a legal codevector and a best error term. The vector includes parameters relating to a speech and/or audio signal, such as Line Spectral Frequencies (LSFs).

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus includes a sound information acquiring unit that acquires sound information, a unit segment dividing unit that divides the sound information into plural unit segments, a segment information acquiring unit that acquires segment information that indicates a feature of each unit segment, a segment relation value calculating unit that calculates a segment relation value that indicates a relative feature of a target segment which is a unit segment to be processed with respect to an adjacent segment which is a unit segment adjacent to the target segment, based on segment information of the target segment and segment information of the adjacent segment among the segment information, a recognition candidate storing unit that stores recognition candidates that are targets of speech recognition, and a recognition result selecting unit that selects a recognition result from the recognition candidates stored in the recognition candidate storing unit utilizing the segment relation value.

Abstract: A real-time speech recognition system includes distributed processing across a client and server for recognizing a spoken query by a user. Both the client and server can dedicate a variable number of processing resources for performing speech recognition functions. The partitioning of responsibility for speech recognition operations can be done on a client by client or connection by connection basis.

Abstract: A pitch wave signal creation method as a preliminary process for efficiently coding a speech wave signal having a fluctuated pitch period is provided. A speech signal compressing/expanding apparatus and a speech signal synthesizing apparatus using the method, and a signal processing associated therewith are further provided. The pitch wave creation method of the invention is essentially comprised of a method of detecting the instantaneous pitch period of each pitch wave element of the speech wave signal, and a process of converting a corresponding pitch wave element into a normalized pitch wave element having a predetermined fixed time length by expanding and compressing the pitch wave element on a time axis while retaining its wave pattern based on the each detected instantaneous pitch period. The speech signal having a pitch fluctuation can be compressed in high quality and high efficiency by coding or synthesizing the speech wave signal using the pitch wave signal creation method of the invention.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for building a speech application. The method comprises reading data from a table; creating a data construct that models the structure of the table, in terms of fields contained therein; providing a user interface (UI) to display the structure of the table to a user; receiving a selection of data fields from the user; and automatically generating code for a voice browser (VB) based on the selection.

Abstract: An audible utterance is received from a user. A procedure determines a user intent associated with the audible utterance and identifies multiple parameters associated with the user intent. The procedure then determines whether any of the multiple parameters associated with the user intent are missing from the audible utterance. If any parameters are missing, an audible response requesting the missing parameters is generated and communicated to the user. If all parameters associated with the user intent are contained in the audible utterance, a response to the user's request is generated and communicated to the user.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus comprising: buffering an encoded audio input signal comprising at least one combined signal of a plurality of audio channels and one or more corresponding sets of side information parameters describing a multi-channel sound image; changing the length of at least one audio frame of said combined signal by adding or removing a segment of said combined signal; modifying said one or more sets of side information parameters with a change corresponding to the change in the length of said at least one audio frame of said combined signal; and transferring said at least one audio frame of said combined signal with a changed length and said modified one or more sets of side information parameters to a further processing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a special service delivery by a carrier of a mail item created by an office worker. The method utilizes one or more special service indicators on the mail item to ensure that the office worker can obtain information about the status of the mail item by the simple placement of one of the special service stickers on the mail item.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and/or at the specified delivery time.

Abstract: A method routes a predefined number of entities (200) through a predetermined area for scanning the content of the predetermined area. The method comprises the steps of: partitioning the predetermined area into a first set of cells (100); grouping the first set of cells (100) into a number of corridors (201) equal to the number of entities (200); determining a starting cell for each entity (200) in each corridor (201); initiating a scan of cells of each of the corridors (201) from the starting cell of each of the entities (200) and determining the content of each of the scanned cells; and determining a total cost for each entity (200) to travel to each of the scanned cells scanned by each entity (200) and performing a scan from each of the scanned cells by each entity (200).

Abstract: A business intelligence system is disclosed that utilizes shipping information to provide business intelligence to a user. The business intelligence system receives information pertaining to originating parcel pickup and delivery information, stores the information in a shipping information database, and allows a user to formulate various types of transaction requests. The transaction results provide shipping information categorized in various ways in regard to past shipments as well as compare one category shipping information with another category of shipping information or with categories of non-shipping information. In addition, the system can extrapolate certain categories of shipping information into the future. Further, the system provides information to a user in a variety of formats including various graphical formats, tabular formats, and cartographical formats.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an interactive, web based cardiovascular healthcare management system which has an infomediary site with databases having information relating to cardiovascular disease risk factors such as age, blood pressure, LDL, HDL and subfractions thereof and cardiovascular disease management such as diet, exercise, drugs and cardiovascular education materials. The physician can communicate electronically with the infomediary site to obtain patient test results and formulate a patient treatment plan from the diet, exercise and drug data. The physician can electronically communicate treatment plans to the patient through a record in the infomediary site. The patient can electronically communicate compliance information to the physician through the patient record. The infomediary site may also provide a case manager to provide initial draft treatment plans to the physician, gather patient history data and/or patient treatment plan compliance data.

Abstract: A method and system for performing a clinical trial having a reduced placebo effect is disclosed. The method includes randomizing study participants into three or more treatment groups and performing a first phase of testing on the groups. In a typical embodiment, the first phase of testing includes administering an active treatment to a first group, and administering a placebo to a second group and to a third group. Responders and non-responders are determined for each group. A second phase of testing is then performed. The second phase of testing includes administering the placebo to non-responders in the first group, administering the active treatment to non-responders in the second group, and administering the placebo to non-responders in the third group. The data from the first phase of testing and from the second phase of testing is pooled and analyzed to determine response rates to active treatment and placebo.

Abstract: A communication station is for use with a medical device (such as an infusion pump) and a processing device (such as a computer). The communication station includes a housing, a medical device interface coupled to the housing, a processing device interface coupled to the housing and a processor coupled to the housing. The device interface interfaces with the medical device, and the processing device interface interfaces with the processing device. The processor provides a communication path between the medical device and the processing device such that programming and instructions may be communicated from the processing device to the medical device and data may be transferred from the medical device to the processing device. The communication station may be combined with a system that is capable of generating reports either locally or remotely. In addition, the medical device interface may be a cradle that is configurable to attach to different shaped medical devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented warranty knowledge base construction system and method. An user interface receives a first rule related to vehicle repair claim processing. A rules syntax data store stores syntax rules for constructing repair claim-related rules. A knowledge base generator module connected to the user interface and to the rules syntax data store determines whether the first rule is in an acceptable syntax based upon the stored syntax rules. The first rule is used in a knowledge base system to process repair claims.

Abstract: Methods and computer systems provide for the determination of employer liabilities and resulting contributions to pension plans by utilizing a smoothed discount rate in place of an assumed long-term discount rate. A compounded expected cumulative return on market value over a period of time that is based on the assumed long-term discount rate is found. A compounded actual return on market value over the chosen look-back period is also found. An adjusted expected rate of return over a future period of time remaining in an assumed period of time is then found based on the compounded expected return and the compounded actual return. The smoothed discount rate to be used in place of the assumed long-term discount rate is then based on the adjusted expected return.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method that prescreens the qualifications of clinical monitors, and quickly and efficiently matches qualified monitors with corresponding qualified clinical sponsors for work on a project. The system and method provide a secure platform for storage and searching of monitor profiles that may be continuously updated by the monitors. The system and method also checks the qualifications provided by monitors in their profiles to ensure that only qualified monitors are capable of being searched by the sponsors. The system and method also provides a secure platform for sponsors to post their clinical projects, and enables the sponsors to select the monitors they wish to view the project details. The system and method then provides the details of the project to the selected monitors, and the ones who are interested may be subsequently interviewed and selected by the sponsors.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computerized method for determining customer service impact. The method includes receiving item orders having a requested completion date. The method also includes scheduling a scheduled completion date for each item order. The method also includes selecting at least one item order, each item order having a scheduled completion date. The method also includes comparing the scheduled completion date with the requested completion date for each selected item order. The method also includes deriving a customer service measurement for each selected item order based on the comparing step. The method can include the optional step of reporting and/or displaying customer service measurement data. In general, in another aspect, the invention relates to a system for determining customer service impact that performs the method steps just described.

Abstract: The number of ads potentially relevant to search query information may be increased by relaxing the notion of search query keyword matching. This may be done, for example, by expanding a set of ad request keywords to include both query keywords and related keywords. The scores of ads served pursuant to a relaxed notion of matching (those with keyword targeting criteria that matched words related to words in the search query, but not the words from the search query) may be discounted relative to the scores of ads served pursuant to a stricter notion of matching. This may be done by using a score modification parameter, such as an ad performance multiplier (when an ad score is a function of ad performance information) The score modification parameter may be updated to reflect observed performance data, such as that associated with {word-to-related word} mappings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a computerized market for used and collectible goods by use of a plurality of low cost posting terminals and a market maker computer in a legal framework that establishes a bailee relationship and consignment contract with a purchaser of a good at the market maker computer that allows the purchaser to change the price of the good once the purchaser has purchased the good thereby to allow the purchaser to speculate on the price of collectibles in an electronic market for used goods while assuring the safe and trusted physical possession of a good with a vetted bailee.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a certificate for an online product. A certificate comprising an authorization code is provided. The authorization code is unique and associated with characteristics that are recorded for tracking purposes. A purchaser receives the certificate, such as by purchasing a physical certificate. The certificate is provided to a user from the purchaser. The user then connects to a system of networked computers and finds the web site indicated on the certificate. The user enters the authorization code on the web site where indicated on the web site. In response to entering the authorization code, the user is provided with an online product at no fee, a reduced fee, or at a standard price.

Abstract: A security system-related marketing system includes a retail environment receptive of walk-in traffic and adapted to market goods and services to consumers. A security system-compliant device adapted to operate as a component of a security system is physically disposed in the retail environment, thereby permitting a purchaser to take physical possession of the device during a purchasing process. A security system component package is also marketed in the retail environment to purchasers of the device, thereby permitting a purchaser of the device to obtain rights to a predetermined set of security system components in the retail environment that substantially provide the security system. Security system services are further marketed in the retail environment to purchasers of the security system component package, thereby permitting a purchaser of the package to obtain rights to security system services in the retail environment.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for executing such a bilateral action. A communication is received at a host system. A determination is made that the communication identifies a physical instrument that identifies an account of stored value. A request is transmitted to another host system to debit the account by an amount identified in the communication to support the bilateral action. A confirmation is received from the other host system that the account of stored value has been debited. An approval for the bilateral action is transmitted to an originating communications device.

Abstract: A method for collaborating between Web-based shopping carts can include the step of identifying a Web-based shopping cart associated with an online store and a shopper of the online store. Access privileges can be established between the shopping cart and at least one other shopping cart, the other shopping carts being associated with shoppers different from the shopper. A linkage can be established between the Web-based shopping cart and the at least one other shopping cart in accordance with the access privileges. Through the linkage, the shopper can be permitted to access items in the another shopping cart.