Abstract: A scalable game apparatus and method for implementing a multi-player computer game includes a plurality of networked computers over which computer processes are distributed. In various embodiments, each computer includes a baron process which coordinates the spawning of a sector manager process on the computer and communicates with a primary server process on one of the networked computers. The primary server process determines on the basis of computer loading which computer in the network should be used to spawn a new sector manager. Each sector manager implements a logical area into which game players can enter and perform game-related activities. Each baron process provides computer loading information to the primary server process. The inventive method and apparatus allows a large number of players to be efficiently accommodated while improving the reliability of the game.

Abstract: A method of performing automated collection selection relative to a plurality of document collections, each including one or more documents, using a list of qualified terms developed from an input query text. The method comprises the steps of: (a) parsing the input query text to select single-word terms and multiple-word phrase terms from the query text by exclusion of predetermined context-free single-word terms and punctuation; (b) applying each such selected term against a meta-index descriptive of the document collections; (c) determining cumulative rankings for the document collections relative to each such selected term normalized against the plurality of document collections; and (d) selecting a set of the document collections having the highest relative cumulative rankings.

Abstract: A machine, method and computer-readable medium for presenting one or more users with suggestions of items from a choice space, wherein the items chosen for presentation are based upon explicit and/or observed preferences of the user. The present invention contemplates use in any number of paradigms involving large user choice spaces, including those relating to the internet and on-line arenas, as well as those relating to television.

Abstract: A method for forwarding operands directly between instructions operates in a computer central processing unit. Values for registers, condition codes, stack locations and memory storage locations are routed directly from the program instructions or microcode that alter them to the instructions that use those operands. Instructions that have received all needed operands are started and their resulting output operands are forwarded to other instructions. With direct forwarding of operands, normal locations for operands may often be skipped so that simpler designs can be employed in constructing the operand storage for register files and stacks. Operands receiving newer values never appear in program-visible locations if the prior values were forwarded to all instructions that might need them and those receiving instructions are completed. In executing program loops, loop-dependent variables are identified. A method is shown whereby multiple loop-dependent operands are computed substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A purchase transaction is performed between a client browser and a merchant server over a general access wide area connected network. The transaction appears to the client as singularly identifying a purchasable product or service and singularly confirming the purchase. A persistent predetermined coded identifier is established on the client browser corresponding to an account record stored by the merchant server. A predetermined URL referencing a purchasable product or service is served to the client browser. The predetermined URL includes an implicit reference to the persistent predetermined coded identifier. The predetermined URL is received by the merchant server, including the predetermined coded identifier, in response to a client browser selection. The merchant server validates the predetermined coded identifier against the account record and records an identifier of the purchasable product or service as derived from the predetermined URL by the merchant server.

Abstract: A collection search system is responsive to a user query against a collection of documents to provide a search report. The collection search system includes a collection index including first predetermined single word and multiple word phrases as indexed terms occurring in the collection of documents, a linguistic parser that identifies a list of search terms from a user query, the linguistic parser identifying the list from second predetermined single words and multiple word phrases, and a search engine coupled to receive the list from the linguistic parser. The search engine operates to intersect the list with the collection index to identify a predetermined document from the collection of documents. The search engine includes an accumulator for summing a relevancy score for the predetermined document that is related to the intersection of the predetermined document with the list.

Abstract: Apparatus for identifying wireless subscriber units and for determining if access to a communications network should be granted. A plurality of wireless subscriber units each generates a wireless subscriber signal including internal data traits and external signal traits. The internal data traits include an identification code. A RF downconverter is located remote from the wireless subscriber units and receives the wireless subscriber signal. A characterizing device is connected to the RF downconverter and extracts parameters that characterize the external signal traits of the wireless subscriber units. A decision device computes the likelihood that the observed parameters belong to the validated wireless subscriber unit to determine if access to the wireless subscriber service should be granted. The apparatus may be used to prevent cellular telephone cloning fraud.

Abstract: Validating identification clusters formed of unique transmitter intercepts and validating clusters based on information within the cluster data with or without the aid of specific intercepts. Transmitter validation signals are allocated for validating specific ones of the transmitters. Analyzers identify specific received intercepts from specific ones of the transmitters to form an identification signal. Storage is provide for storing the specific received intercepts with corresponding identification clusters for marking the specific identification cluster as validated or invalidated. The valid and invalid states of the stored clusters are used to authorize or prevent access by the transmitters to the communication system.

Abstract: An improved electric power generation apparatus using a wave force and a method thereof which are capable of protecting the system from waves having a predetermined height higher than the previously set height based on the climate condition at the construction site of the system, which includes the steps of lifting/lowering a plurality of buoys in response to waves applied thereto, each of said buoys being connected to each of a plurality of support members disposed at a lattice-type frame submerged within sea, converting the lifting/lowering movement of each buoy into a rotation force, a driving compressed liquid generation unit provided at each buoy in cooperation with the rotation force, transferring the compressed liquid generated in the operation of the compressed liquid generation unit to a main transferring tube, driving a turbine using the compressed liquid transferred thereto through the main transferring tube, and generating power by driving a power generator drivingly communicating with the turbine

Abstract: Reactive congestion control in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network where the network is formed by the interconnection of nodes each including a forward path for transfer of information from source to destination through the network and a return path for returning congestion control signals. Each source includes a modifiable issue rate unit which issues forward information signals at different rates for virtual channels in response to the presence and absence of congestion signals received on the return path.

Abstract: System for measurement of the bit period (or bit rate or baud rate or symbol rate) and bit epoch (or symbol epoch) of a digitally modulated signal by extracting a bit time-of-transition array, determining an emphasis array with individual elements thereof relating to corresponding elements of the bit time-of-transition array, and using linear regression on the bit time-of-transition array with the emphasis. The emphasis array is formed from the signal amplitude, signal to interference ratio, or probability of a bit not being in error. One of several matched filters is dynamically selected based on the data content of the signal and used to detect bit transitions. The system has application in time varying multi-path fading environments. The system operates on signals with low SNR, high co-channel interference, or high intersymbol interference. Useful in transmitter identification, range finding, mobile transmitter location, and frequency hop intercept systems.

Abstract: TDMA communication system having forward channel communications and corresponding reverse channel communications between mobile users and a zone manager in an arbitrarily large broadcaster zone established by a broadcaster. The users are located within the broadcaster zone and the collectors are distributed in proximity to the broadcaster zone. The zone manager operates to control the selection of users to form user groups and for selecting collectors to form collector groups such that the difference between the propagation times from broadcaster to user to collector among users active with the same collector does not exceed a synchronization error such that user reverse channel signals at the collector are isolated from each other. Users are selected such that each of the users in the user group are located at a distance from each of said other users in the user group not greater than a distance UR.sub.max.

Abstract: A transient analysis system that characterizes the transients in RF signals from radio transmitters. Transient characterization permits identification of the transmitter and is useful in cellular telephone fraud prevention systems. The characterization is based on the analysis of the chirp waveform or the complex auto-correlation sequence.

Abstract: A device for simply and precisely fixing a deflection yoke to a Braun tube in such a manner that it does not permanently affix the yoke to the Braun tube but permits the location and fixing angle of the yoke with respect to the Braun tube be easily changed as required. The device includes a holder, coupled to a separator, and a plurality of wedge type cams rotatably mounted on the holder. The holder is provided with a plurality of mounts for rotatably supporting the wedge type cams respectively, a plurality of releasable fixing members for fixing the cams at their adjusted angles, and connection bands extending between the mounts for connecting the mounts together. The wedge type cams not only adjust the yoke fixing angle for compensation of mis-alignment of electron gun but also releasably affix the deflection yoke to the Braun tube. In another embodiment, the wedge type cams may be substituted by pulley type cams which are rotatably mounted on the holder.

Abstract: A cellular communications system that includes forward channel communications to users and corresponding reverse channel communications from mobile users. The users travel from one area to another area over one or more zones. The forward channel communications are broadcast directly to users in a broadcaster zone. The reverse channel communications from users are not returned directly but are first collected at locations arrayed over the broadcaster zone. After collection, the reverse channel communications are forwarded to complete the full duplex communications. The forward channel communications are point to multipoint while the the reverse channel communications are multipoint to point. The communication system separately handles the point to multipoint forward path as a direct broadcast and the multipoint to point reverse path using multiple collection points. Since the forward and reverse paths are separately configured, the present invention optimizes both the forward and reverse paths.

Abstract: An improved missile restraining apparatus capable of effectively protecting a missile from an external impact and quickly releasing a missile restraining state when launching missile, which includes a pair of protrusions having a circular cross-section and formed in the rear portion of a missile, and a pair of brackets fixed to the inner surface of a launch tube and formed so that a pair of restraining grooves corresponding to said protrusions are formed in a predetermined direction, wherein one end of said restraining groove has a circular cross-section, and the other end thereof is shaped to have an elongating axis longer than the diameter of the protrusion in the radial direction and to have the same shorter axis as the restraining groove in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for interpolating a scanning line of a TV signal in a TV, wherein a diagonal component of a video signal of the TV signal is considered and there can be prevented a line structure, a line flicker and a vertical resolution insufficiency due to shortage in the number of the scanning lines.

Abstract: A hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water making apparatus includes an upper water reservoir disposed at a predetermined portion of the refrigerating chamber of the refrigerator, a hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water generating section for generating hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water by electrolysis of water from the upper water reservoir, a hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water storing section for storing hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water generated at the hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water generating section, and a freezing container for storing hexagonal molecular structure water after receiving water stored at the hexagonal molecular structure water storing reservoir of the hexagonal molecular structure water storing section through a connecting pipe. The hexagonal and pentagonal molecular structure water have useful effects for preventing adult diseases.

Abstract: A method and A circuit for detecting an auto tracking find error in a VCR, wherein a phase control range for a capstan motor is widened as compared with the prior art so that, when a phase of the capstan motor is widely detuned, the following speed for stabilization of the phase of the capstan motor can be made fast. According to the invention, in an interval of -.pi.-.pi. of the phase of the capstan motor, first latch data is selected as a phase error signal for control of the phase of the capstan motor. In intervals of -2.pi.--.pi. and .pi.-2.pi. of the phase of the capstan motor, second latch data is multiplied by two and is then of the same polarity as that of the first latch data. The second latch data multiplied by two is added to the first latch data. In result, the added value is selected as the phase error signal. Also, a portion of the data above double the upper limit value is cut in the interval of -2.pi.--.pi.

Abstract: Asynchronous Transfer Mode Local Area Network (ATM LAN). The ATM LAN is implemented as a set of MAC entities which share a common group address space for the purposes of establishing multicast connections. Each station has one or more ATM MAC entities per physical connection to an ATM network. The network ATM LAN service provides the station with ATM LAN configuration information needed for ATM MAC operation. Included in this information is the number of ATM LANs the network has configured for that station.