Abstract: A network system by which the processing speed of the entire system can be enhanced. The network system includes a number of information processing apparatus connected to each other through a network such that a process can be executed in a distributed fashion. One of the information processing apparatus is set as a master apparatus while the other information processing apparatus are set as slave apparatus. The master information processing apparatus manages information regarding available hardware resources of the individual information processing apparatus connected to the network as apparatus information and manages communication speeds of the individual information processing apparatus connected to the network. One or more of the information processing apparatus by which the process should be executed are specified based on the management information, and a request for execution of the process is issued to the specified information processing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for the heating of a liquid in a beverage machine comprising at least one set of at least two resistors, wherein said resistors are electrically linked together so as to use one resistor of each set individually or in serial with one or more of the resistors of the same set, at least one individual resistor and at least one set of two resistors, wherein said resistors are electrically linked together so as to use the first resistor of a set individually or in serial with one or more of the following resistors of the same set, said resistors transferring the maximum of energy to the flow of liquid and allowing a finer control of the liquid temperature.

Abstract: An appliance supply distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing appliance supplies to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which facilitates dispensing or using one or more supplies from an appliance. The computerized system monitors the supply level(s) and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers additional supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing, use or appliance problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Abstract: A battery is provided. The battery provides improved battery characteristics such as cycle characteristics. A battery includes a cathode; an anode; and an electrolytic solution, wherein the anode contains a carbon material, the electrolytic solution contains propylene carbonate and 4-fluoroethylene carbonate, and the content of 4-fluoroethylene carbonate is from about 0.0027 g to about 0.056 g per about 1 g of the carbon material.

Abstract: A gaming device including a re-initiation mode wherein the probability of extending the bonus game is increased by fixing the reel or reels displaying a locking symbol on the reel. In the re-initiation mode embodiment, the gaming device re-activates some or all of the reels except the reel displaying the locking symbol for a predetermined number of additional free spins or until the reactivated reels display or indicate a terminating symbol on the reels. The gaming device provides any outcomes associated with indicated symbols or combination of symbols. In one embodiment, if a terminating symbol is displayed on designated reels during one of the additional free spins, the gaming device re-initiates the bonus game.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a player's award in a game wherein one symbol of the gaming device changes into another. In one embodiment, all awards for predetermined symbols and combinations thereof, including winning combinations produced by a wild symbol are provided to the player. In a second step, the game awards all awards for predetermined symbols and combinations thereof produced after the wild symbol has changed one or more non-wild symbols to a wild symbol. This step includes awarding the player for combinations previously awarded in the first step, which may or may not have been the result of the wild symbol.

Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a hyperboloidal face or a paraboloidal face and have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2)) (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, and K is a conic constant).

Abstract: In a service providing system that provides optimum services for a request from each terminal, a terminal transmits its own device ID, corresponding to IP address, to a server. The server receives the device ID, searches for a specification of the terminal in a specification information table of the server, and then provides a service meeting the specification of the terminal.

Abstract: The liquid crystal light control element includes the first to third transparent substrates which are placed on top of the other. The second transparent substrate has the projecting part which extends in the surface direction of the second transparent substrate from the first and third transparent substrates. The projecting part has the first surface facing the first transparent electrode and the second surface facing the fourth transparent electrode. The first surface has the first to fourth terminals formed thereon which are electrically connected to the first to fourth transparent electrodes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. In one example, a semiconductor device has a D-HBT structure which include a base layer formed from InGaAs and an emitter layer and a collector layer both formed from InGaP in such a way as to hold said base layer between them, wherein said InGaAs has a composition such that the content of In is smaller than 53% and said InGaP has a composition such that the content of In is just enough to make the lattice constant of said emitter layer and collector layer equal to the lattice constant of said base layer. This semiconductor device realizes a large current gain while keeping the high-speed operation owing to the base layer of InGaAs having good carrier mobility. In addition, it can be formed on a large wafer as the substrate.

Abstract: A gaming device that provides a second or replicating display that is an enlarged, preferably simulated replica of the actual display of the reels, paylines and indicia of the paystops of the gaming device. The second or replicating display can exactly recreate the actual rotation or random generation of the reels, represent the random generation of the reels, and do so by providing a slight delay. The present invention also contains a method by which the replicating display presents each of a plurality of award generating or winning paylines individually and sequentially for a predetermined amount of time before culminating in a display of the accumulated winning paylines. The method enables the player to easily see the source of an award, which would otherwise be difficult to discern from a multitude of paylines.

Abstract: An anode, and a battery using the anode is provided. The anode has a structure in which an anode current collector, an anode active material layer and a protective layer are laminated in this order. The anode active material layer includes Sn, and is alloyed with the anode current collector in at least a portion of an interface with the anode current collector. The protective layer include an element constituting a simple substance with a higher melting point than Sn such as C, Si or W, and not forming a compound with Sn. Thereby, even if the anode wound into a roll is subjected to heat treatment, fusion bonding between adjacent anodes can be prevented.

Abstract: A game and particularly an electronic game that simulates trading securities on an exchange. The game is preferably played as a video gaming machine for gambling purposes. A computing device is provided having, among other things, a video screen display on which a line chart is displayed. The computing device also includes a selection device, which provides a means by which the player interacts with the computing device to “buy” or “sell”. The line chart includes a vertical axis that corresponds to the value or price of one or more securities, and a horizontal axis that corresponds to time. A segmented line is plotted on the line chart during a round of play. A random number generator randomly determines the vertical axis value for each point plotted along the segmented line.

Abstract: A lens film with small warpage even when a transparent base is thin is provided. Pole prisms made of a hardening resin are arranged along the extending direction on a transparent base made of a flexible material. The transparent base has a depression according to a valley between the pole prisms adjacent to each other. The pole prism has a sloping face extending to an inner wall of the depression. The transparent base is in contact with the valley. A layer not functioning as a prism, that is, a so-called skirt layer does not exist between the transparent base and the pole prisms.

Abstract: In a communication method for enabling communication between a card and a management server that manages the card and for writing information transmitted from the management server to the card, a server state flag and a card state flag are created to indicate the processing state of the management server and the processing state of the card, respectively. The server state flag and the card state flag are occasionally updated during communication between the card and the management server. On the basis of the card state flag, it is determined whether or not the writing by the management server to the card is completed normally. When the writing is not completed normally, the card is rewritten the next time communication is established between the card and the management server, the rewriting being defined in accordance with the card state flag and the server state flag.