Abstract: A system and method of tracking the location of stored objects, such as keys, that maintains object-tracking data in a remote data storage that is accessible via the Internet. A storage container selectively provides access to one or more uniquely identifiable objects stored within, such as keys, through an access control that gathers the tracking data generated from the removal and return of each object. The access control further includes an output for selective transmission of the object-tracking data over a network to a remote data store that stores and provides access to the stored object-tracking data to other computer devices on the Internet. The data store can provide the object tracking data to other computer devices, visually summarize the data in a report to a user, and can alter data stored at the access control.

Abstract: A storage cell includes a bit storage member capable of storing a data bit. The bit storage member includes a true data output, having a true data value corresponding to the data bit, and a complement data output, having a complement data value corresponding to a logical complement of the true data value. A first controllable gate is electronically coupled to the true data output and is responsive to a first read enable signal so that the true data value is passed through the first controllable gate when the first read enable signal is asserted. A second controllable gate is electronically coupled to the complement data output and is responsive to a second read enable signal so that the complement data value is passed through the second controllable gate when the second read enable signal is asserted.

Abstract: An antenna system for transmitting and receiving, in association with a radio device that develops an H-field and an E-field corresponding to a radio frequency power signal having a voltage and a current, the voltage having a phase relationship to the current. The antenna system includes a Hertz-type radiating element. A phasing and matching circuit is electrically coupled between the Hertz-type radiating element and the radio device. The phasing and matching circuit adjusts the phase relationship between the voltage and the current of the radio frequency power signal so that the H-field and the E-field are in nominal time phase. This enhances the performance of all of the antenna parameters in addition to allowing reduction in size.

Abstract: A switch for optically coupling a first optical channel to a selected one of a plurality of second optical channels includes a frame that defines a central passage, through which a beam coupled to the first optical channel may pass, and a plurality of peripheral passages, through which a beam coupled to a selected second optical channel may pass. A rotational object is capable of rotating about an axis. A beam redirector allows a first optical path to be optically coupled to a second optical path extending from a preselected position adjacent the peripheral area of the rotational object. A turning mechanism causes the rotational object to rotate to a position where the second optical path is in alignment with the selected one of the plurality of second optical channels.

Abstract: A system and method of playing a lottery-type game are provided. The game comprises obtaining at least one player-selected combination, or concatenated indicia string, such as from a series of one or more columns on a game play slip. A first random combination, or concatenated indicia string, is generated by a gaming administrator and it is determined whether at least one of the player-selected combinations matches the gaming administrator generated combination. Regardless of whether any player-selected combinations match the first gaming administrator generated combination, at least a second gaming administrator generated combination, or more, may be provided for a player to determine whether at least one of the player-selected combinations matches the second gaming administrator generated combination. A payout amount may be awarded based upon the number of player-selected combinations and gaming administrator generated combinations matched.

Abstract: A memory system for a computational circuit having a pipeline includes at least one functional unit and an address generator that generates a memory address. A coherent cache memory is responsive to the address generator and is addressed by the memory address. The cache memory is capable of generating a cache memory output. A non-coherent directory-less associative memory is responsive to the address generator and is addressable by the memory address. The associative memory receives input data from the cache memory. The associative memory is capable of generating an associative memory output that is delivered to the functional unit. A comparison circuit compares the associative memory output to the cache memory output and asserts a miscompare signal when the associative memory output is not equal to the cache memory output.

Abstract: A high-resolution spatial light modulator and systems incorporating the modulator. The modulator includes an array of optically multistable reflective elements disposed on a substrate and each of the reflective elements are capable of structural change into one of a plurality of stable states wherein each of the reflective elements maintains a stable optical property. A computer selectively controls the state of the array of reflective elements to thereby cause each reflective element of the array to selectively reflect incident light such that the array of reflective elements can generate a desired holographical or optical image.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing data includes a first processor and a second processor. The first processor receives a source clock signal and converts the source clock signal to a first timing signal with a first phase. The second processor receives the source clock signal and converts the source clock signal to a second timing signal with a second phase. A phase connection circuit coupled to the first processor and the second processor determines whether the first phase is equivalent to the second phase. If the first phase and the second phase are not equivalent, the first processor will modify the first phase such that the first phase and the second phase are equivalent. The first processor may modify the first phase by inverting the first timing signal or by adding a clock delay to the first timing signal.

Abstract: In a method of controlling stores to and reads from a cache, if a read request is in a read queue, then a read is performed. If no read is in the read queue and if a store request is in a store queue and if an early read predict signal is not asserted, then a store is performed. If no read is in the read queue and if a store request is in the store queue and if the early read predict signal is asserted, if a read is detected a read is then performed. Otherwise, if the early read predict is subsequently de-asserted, then a store is performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for interactively playing a lottery-type game among a number of players. In one embodiment, this is accomplished on a network of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. An objective of the game is for a player to select the number closest to the randomly selected number that represents the winning number for the lottery game. This is a significant departure from the prior art, in that the game of the present invention does not require an exact match to produce a win and in that the game results in a win for every drawing. Thus, the lottery-type game of the present invention improves the gaming experience for the player, which will result in prolonged and more frequent play, thereby maximizing revenues for the operator of the game.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for recognizing one or more images within digitized image data that might include a target image desired to be located. The system generates a set of domain blocks from the image data where each domain block represents a discrete portion the image data and a set of range blocks from one or more target images. Either the domain blocks, the range blocks, or both, are transformed by one or more substantially affine transformations with predetermined coefficients to create possible variants of the images. A comparison between the blocks is made to determine similarity, and includes at least a measurement of whether better matching is achieved when a range block is chosen from image data representing the image which is the source of the domain block or when chosen from other image data.

Abstract: A system and method for generating random coverage masks for rendering images with transparent objects. The system uses shuffle tables for addresses of a pixel to index into a transparency table and to obtain a transparency mask, which is then ANDed with a coverage mask to obtain a new coverage mask.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for the creation and implementation of configurable Java classes on a computer platform executing instructions based upon at least a set of Java language instructions. The configurable Java class is created as an instance of a metaclass object included within the set of Java language instructions, and the configurable metaclass object includes a plurality of subclasses and interfaces wherein each interface includes one or more methods to alter the attributes and methods of the Java class instance of the metaclass object. The metaclass object is preferably implemented as an Enterprise JavaBean.

Abstract: A system and method for reordering data fragments to facilitate reads from a DDR SDRAM where the fragments are placed into a first and second data fragment buffer such that the data fragments are in sequential addresses whereby the second data read on the trailing edge of the clock cycle will read the proper data fragment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for responding to denial of service attacks. Rather than a firewall or other device either denying all new session requests or denying no new session requests (and, albeit, dropping then-pending session requests), new session requests are selectively passed to the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a graphical data stream for display on a display device includes a processor, a first conversion module and a second conversion module. The processor determines the characteristics of the graphical data stream. The first conversion module and the second conversion module convert the graphical data stream in a first format to a second format. The graphical data stream is directed to the first conversion module by a first data path and the graphical data stream is directed to the second conversion module by a second data path. A switching system is used to alternately connect the first conversion module through the first data path and the second conversion module through the second data path.

Abstract: A system and method for scheduling packet output according to a quality of service (QoS) action specification. A system is provided with a calendar queue with a plurality of bandwidth timeslots, wherein the bandwidth timeslots are organized into groups. A look-up logic circuitry inspects a group of bandwidth timeslots substantially simultaneously and determines from the group a first unoccupied bandwidth timeslot in which a current packet can be scheduled. The look-up logic circuitry also determines a first occupied bandwidth timeslot that contains a next packet to be transmitted.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a circle with a radius on a display device comprises (a) providing a set of vertex points; (b) selecting a subset of vertex points from the set of vertex points based on the radius of the circle; (c) scaling each vertex point in the subset of vertex points to produce scaled vertex points; and, (d) connecting the scaled vertex points to approximate the circle. The subset of vertex points may be utilized to determine scaled vertex points for all four quadrants of the circle. The subset of vertex points may be selected by determining the number of vertex points required to render the circle with an error less than a predetermined error threshold. The subset of vertex points is then selected so that the number of members in the subset of vertex points is equivalent to the number of vertex points required to render the circle with an error less than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A multiple-pass system for determining the primitives that are visible in a predetermined pick aperture for a “visible pick” operation. On the first pass, the primitives contained within the pick aperture and thus potentially visible are selected, and each selected primitive is assigned a pick index as an identifier. On the second pass, the pick indices of the selected primitives are rendered to a temporary frame buffer area, using a Z-buffer for hidden surface removal so that only the pick indices of the primitives visible within the pick aperture are stored in the corresponding frame buffer portion. On the third pass, the frame buffer portion corresponding to the pick aperture is read to determine the pick indices of the visible primitives. This information is then used to report back to the host the picked primitives.

Abstract: A method for caching graphics-related data in one or more graphics request buffers wherein duplicative graphics-related data is not written to the graphics request buffers. In the preferred method the graphics-related data is sent in frames, and each frame contains frame setup data and graphical model data, and the model data is compared between the stored frame and the new frame to determine if there is new model data to be written to the graphics request buffers.