Abstract: A display method and apparatus for a navigation system promotes to quickly search a desired on a map image with respect to an order of distance from a current vehicle position or other reference position. On the screen of the navigation system, it displays a specially designed screen to implement the city search operation which includes a state selection box and a city selection box. The navigation system detects the search direction specified by the user and moves the cursor to the location of the candidate city in response to every operation of the input device in the order of distance in the specified direction. Thus, the user is able to find the city by its relative location to the current vehicle position or other reference location, thereby enabling to quickly and intuitively search the target city.

Abstract: A system and method of dispensing lottery game tickets to a purchaser. A point-of-sale (“POS”) terminal is provided with a ticket dispenser assembly in communication with the point-of-sale terminal and a central inventory computer. The POS terminal has at least one dedicated key for requesting ticket information from the central computer and a cash tender key for completing a ticket purchase. The ticket dispenser assembly includes a POS monitor, a ticket controller and a ticket dispenser. The POS monitor passively monitors the electrical communications of the point-of-sale terminal, including the engagement of the dedicated key and the cash tender key, and intercepts the electrical communications corresponding to the engagement of the dedicated key. Upon actuation of the dedicated key and the cash tender key, the POS monitor sends a message to the ticket controller to dispense the desired number of tickets from the ticket dispenser according to the electrical communication produced by the POS terminal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for generating an online listing, such as a yellow pages listing, that includes information about an object, such as a business, and also includes at least one image of the structure containing the object. For example, the image may be a digital image of the store front of a business taken at a street view. Additionally, a user may select an image from a plurality of images that the user perceives as being an appropriate representative image for the business. Based on votes received a default representative image may be identified that is provided in response to a request for information about the business.

Abstract: A method of assisting a loved one of a deceased in planning a funeral or other service which memorializes the deceased. The method may be initiated with the “planner,” i.e. a funeral director or computer and software, querying the loved one as to various aspects of the life of the deceased. Then, based on the loved one's responses to the queries, a theme is selected, from a menu of themes, for a vignette to be incorporated into the funeral or other service. Finally, within the selected theme, one or more memorial items are selected from a menu of memorial items to be utilized in the vignette. Alternatively, the queries can be dispensed with, and the loved one can immediately select a vignette theme from the menu of themes (assisted by either the funeral director or via interactive software running on a computer). Then, as before, one or more memorial items within the selected theme are chosen from a menu of possible memorial items, and are utilized in the vignette in the funeral or other memorial service.