Abstract: A vehicle to vehicle warning system comprises a transmitter associated with a primary vehicle alerting one or more secondary vehicles of its proximity through a receiver. The transmitter may emit a radio frequency signal which activates radio frequency receivers in surrounding vehicles. When in appropriate proximity, the signal is configured to initiate a warning at the secondary vehicle, such as light from a light-emitting device or sound from a sound-generating device. In another form, the primary vehicle includes a passive transmitter and the secondary vehicle includes a multi-frequency resonance tag/circuit having distinct frequencies for detection and discrimination. The passive transmitter creates electromagnetic waves which are generated as it passes by the secondary vehicle housing the multi-frequency resonance tag, setting off the secondary vehicle alarm system.

Abstract: There is provided a method for placing a plurality of processes onto respective processor elements in a processor array, the method comprising (i) assigning each of the plurality of processes to a respective processor element to generate a first placement; (ii) evaluating a cost function for the first placement to determine an initial value for the cost function, the result of the evaluation of the cost function indicating the suitability of a placement, wherein the cost function comprises a bandwidth utilization of a bus interconnecting the processor elements in the processor array; (iii) reassigning one or more of the processes to respective different ones of the processor elements to generate a second placement; (iv) evaluating the cost function for the second placement to determine a modified value for the cost function; and (v) accepting or rejecting the reassignments of the one or more processes based on a comparison between the modified value and the initial value.

Abstract: A matching game involves attempting to match one or more sets of base symbols with two or more sets of player symbols, such as player symbols in two matrices. In a single player variation, a player attempts to achieve combinations of matches. One or more winning combinations comprise matches of all symbols along contiguous rows, columns or diagonals of two or more of the matrices. In a multi-player variation, individual players attempt to achieve patterns of matches across their own matrix and combinations of contiguous matches spanning the matrices of two or more of the players.

Abstract: In a method of playing a game, secondary indicia are used to provide information regarding game status. In one embodiment, a wagering game such as video keno, video slots or video poker is presented using one or more first indicia such as keno numbers, cards or slot symbols. Secondary indicia are displayed at one or more times to provide game state information such as information regarding win or loss, matching or un-matching symbols, correct or incorrect selections or the like. Preferably, the secondary indicia have one characteristic or attribute indicating one game state (such as a winning selection or outcome) and another characteristic indicating another game statue (such as a losing selection or outcome). One embodiment of the invention is a keno game in which secondary indicia are displayed to provide information regarding whether the player's selected numbers have matched or not.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for use with multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) signal processing techniques, which reduce the amount of memory and memory bandwidth used to store and access filter coefficients by compressing a filter coefficient based at least in part on one or more neighboring filter coefficients for storage and decompressing the filter coefficients when retrieved. The decompressed filter coefficients can be used with a MIMO filtering technique, and/or can be used to compress or decompress additional coefficients.

Abstract: Building or structural panels may be joined, such as to form walls or floors. The panels have edge anchors with mounts. The anchors may comprise elongate members defining a trough having spaced cross-pins. A connector is positioned between adjacent panels. The connector engages the mounts of the anchors, such by having the cross-pins slide into slots of the connector. The panels may have outer skins located over an expanded core comprising a matrix of supporting elongate members and voids or openings, with the anchors located slots formed in the edges of the panels.

Abstract: A computer system comprising hardware including a data interface for interfacing between the computer system and a data source; a memory; a first operating system capable of communicating with the hardware; and a second operating system capable of supporting a user-level application and being configured to communicate with the hardware via the first operating system, the second operating system being capable of allocating a region of the memory for use as a buffer by such a user-level application. The data interface is configurable to associate a predetermined data format with a region of the memory that has been allocated for use as a buffer by a user-level application supported by the second operating system and to, on receiving from the data source a data message of that format, automatically store data of that message in that region of the memory without it passing via the first or second operating systems.

Abstract: A method of presenting and playing a game provides the opportunity for enhanced awards. In one embodiment, if a winning game outcome is a predetermined winning outcome, an enhanced paytable or award is activated. The enhanced paytable or award offers the player a chance for enhanced winnings in one or more subsequent games. The enhanced award may be activated when a particular winning outcome is received in a game and may then be won by repeating that winning outcome in one or more subsequent games. The award might also be won by designating the outcome before a game and then receiving that outcome during the play of the game. The enhanced award or paytable may remain in effect for a period of time or for a certain number of games, and may be triggered, be selected by a player or be selected by a casino.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for brokering food services are disclosed. The methods and apparatus described herein provide quality controlled room service to guests of hotels that do not otherwise have traditional room service available. A call center operator routes each call to the appropriate restaurant and stays on the phone line to monitor the call. The restaurant delivers the order and collects the appropriate fee. Menus used by the system are generated by a process that maintains a consistent look and feel despite the fact that each area uses a unique menu.

Abstract: A contiguous digital media storage system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, the contiguous digital media storage system comprises a storage server, mass storage device, allocator subsystem, and metadata subsystem. Other embodiments may include additional storage servers or mass storage devices as well as one or more client devices. The system and method may be used with third party file systems. Generally, sequentially sensitive information is identified and stored contiguously based on its position within a sequence which substantially increases throughput. This position may be determined from information provided by client devices, file characteristics, or other ways. The system and method may store uniform and variable sized files contiguously.

Abstract: A therapeutic back support device is disclosed which has adjustable curvature and portable thermal application. The back support device allows the user to change the curvature of the device to conform to the individual user's spine. The back support device includes include a support rib covered on one or more sides by padding. Built into the rib, padding, or both is a pocket or recess configured to accept a thermal cell. The thermal cell provides a heating or cooling cell to be placed within the pocket to thereby present heat or cold therapy to the user. On the back of the to device are one or more straps which may be length adjustable to maintain any degree of arch in the back support device.

Abstract: A building or structural panel has a core and outer skins. The core is formed from a stack of layers of building stock such as plywood. Multiple layers of building stock are connected, such as by adhesive at spaced intervals along the lengths thereof to form a stack. The stack is cut into a plurality of strips. Each strip is expanded to form the core. The core comprises a matrix of supporting elongate members and voids or openings. Skins are connected to each side of the core, such as with adhesive, to form the panel. The panel may be cut to size. Anchors or other mounts may be connected to panel.

Abstract: A projection system with one or more light sources reduced power consumption and optional scanning capability is disclosed. A controller processes image data to generate light source control signals and pixel screen control signals which are coordinated to generate an image. Reductions in power consumption occur by matching the light output from the light source to the brightest pixel(s) in the pixel screen for a particular frame. By setting the light output level to an intensity or duration matched to only the maximum level corresponding to a image frame, power consumption is reduced as compared to an embodiment which sets the light source output to its maximum level or maximum duration. The pixel screen, which may be an LCD screen, sets pixel areas corresponding to the brightest pixels as transparent and other, less bring pixels on the pixel screen are set to appropriate levels of reduced transparency.

Abstract: An optic module is disclosed having a memory configured to store data. To selectively control access to the memory and data stored in memory, a method and apparatus for memory access control is provided which creates access levels. The access levels include associated passwords, and read/write capability control, and address access range. During use a technician or other party would enter a password via an interface and the entered password is compared to the password associated with each access level. If a match is not found, then access to the memory, a hence data within the memory is denied. If a match is found the technician gains access to the data stored in the memory address range associated with the access level. Read and write access may also be granted or denied.

Abstract: A system for laser microperforated fresh produce trays for use in modifying or controlling the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and/out of a fresh produce container, where the microperforations are specifically tailored such as by size, location and number for the specific produce. The packaging system tailors microperforated trays for particular produce to optimally preserve the produce, using a method of making registered microperforations on the trays using at least some of the following: a conveyor, a thickness measuring devise, a sensor mechanism, and a laser system including optics.

Abstract: A network interface device for providing an interface between a network and a data processing device, the network interface device having: a plurality of resources of different types for supporting the interface, and a bus interface for interfacing with the data processing device by means of a bus over which data can be sent by addressing to a address on the bus, the network interface device being arranged so that each resource may be addressed by a respective address on the bus.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting and building end-to-end route information in a multi-area Internet protocol (IP) autonomous system (AS) is disclosed. The method and system enable a user, such as a network administrator, to explicitly identify a full set of paths (links and routers) that a given IP packet would potentially traverse from its entry point in the source area of the AS where it originates until its exit point in its intended destination area.

Abstract: A mounting system comprising a base and a media module for mounting and dismounting of storage media is disclosed herein. In general, the mounting system allows one or more media modules to be rapidly mounted and dismounted to and from various devices. The media module may comprise an enclosure for storing the storage media and a rotatable cap with an open portion to accept the enclosure. The enclosure may have one or more media guides and the cap may have one or more locking guides. The media guides may engage one or more pins of the base to align the enclosure with the base. This allows a communications connection to be formed between the storage media and a device. The locking guides may engage the pins to mount the enclosure to the base as the cap is rotated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic network link acceleration provides a managed communication link for accelerated and reliable network communication between a client and other network devices. In one or more embodiments, a client computing device which generates communication packets of a first type is enhanced with a front end mechanism which selectively encodes the data packets into packets of a second type. The data packets which are encoded into a second type are transmitted over a managed communication link which may provide error correction, security, quality of service, and other services including acceleration of communications.