Abstract: The present invention relates to a win method for use in an amusement game, and an amusement game 10 that utilises the win method. In each play or attempt of the game the player has the choice of trying for a major prize 33 or vending a minor prize 32. If they opt for the minor prize 32, the minor prize is vended and the game ends 36. If they opt for the major prize 33 the game continues. If they win the major prize 34, a major prize is vended 35 and the game ends 36. If they do not win the major prize and it is not the last attempt 37, the game continues. They have the option of trying for the major prize again 33 or opting for the minor prize 32. On the last attempt 37, if the player opts for a major prize and loses, they do not win any prize and the game ends 36.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus comprises a recording processor which is operable to record audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor which is operable to generate meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals, and a communications processor which arranged to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium. Furthermore, the meta data generation processor may be operable to generate at least one sample image which is representative of a video image from the recorded video signals, and to associate the sample image with an address on the recording medium at which the video image is recorded. The video and/or audio generation apparatus provides an advantage in generating and utilising meta data to facilitate the generation of audio/video productions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a dynamically reconfigurable system monitor (20) are described. A system monitor (20) has registers (206) accessible via a reconfiguration port (201). At least one of the registers may be dynamically reconfigured via the reconfiguration port (201) to select a channel to be monitored or to store an alarm value to be used in monitoring by the system monitor (20). Additionally, the system monitor (20) may be embedded in a columnar block architecture.

Abstract: A data structure for representing metadata describes the content of at least one shot or sub-shot of information material. The data structure comprises a volume identification defining a data carrier on which the information material is contained, at least one shot identification defining the shot or sub-shot within the material, and at least one type of metadata associated with the content of the shot or sub-shot. The volume identification is arranged at a first hierarchical level and the shot identification is arranged at a lower hierarchical level and the metadata describing the shot is arranged with respect to the shot hierarchical level. The data structure provides an efficient facility for communicating metadata between metadata nodes including application programs which use the metadata. The metadata is identified on the basis of a shot and volume on which the information material which the metadata describes is contained.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining a machine using an in-situ vehicle (IV) is provided. The IV may be used with a machine that includes a work-piece and an interference body positioned proximate a surface of the work-piece such that a relatively small gap extends between the work-piece and the interference body. The method includes transporting the IV from external to the machine into the gap, positioning the IV in the gap such that at least a portion of the IV circumscribes a work area of the work-piece, locking the IV between the work-piece and the interference body, and manipulating a tool coupled to the IV from external to the machine, the tool configured to transfer a component between the work-piece and a storage cassette on the IV.

Abstract: A video replay apparatus including a content storage device, a replay controller configured to control a replay of video material from the content storage device, the replay controller being configured to control the replay in accordance with metadata associated with the video material, the metadata defining an information content of the video material and defining an information event within the video material as a threshold change in the information content, and the replay controller is further configured to replay the video material with a pre-defined number of information events in a unit of time in a replayed sequence.

Abstract: A camera configured to generate audio/video signals, the camera including a recording unit configured to record the audio/video signals on a recording medium, a meta data generation processor configured to generate automatically meta data identifying the content of the audio/video signals in response to the audio/video signals, a wireless communications processor configured to communicate the meta data separately from the recording medium, and a communications interface configured to communicate the automatically generated meta data to a personal data processing apparatus and to receive user generated meta data from the personal data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A camera-recorder apparatus comprises an image capture device operable to capture a plurality of video images; a storage medium by which the video images are stored for later retrieval; a feature extraction unit operable to derive image property data from the image content of at least one of the video images substantially in real time at the capture of the video images, the image property data being associated with respective images or groups of images; and a data path by which the camera-recorder apparatus is operable to transfer the derived image property data to an external data processing apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for digital calibration of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). One example relates to calibrating an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion system having an N-bit resolution. The A/D conversion system includes an ADC that generates an output having N most significant bits (MSBs) and M least significant bits (LSBs) (i.e., an N+M bit resolution). An offset calibration circuit is configured to determine an offset in the ADC and to compensate the N+M bit output using the offset to provide an N+M bit offset corrected output. A gain calibration circuit is configured to determine a gain correction factor for the ADC and to compensate the N+M bit offset corrected output using the gain correction factor to provide an N bit offset and gain corrected output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a win method for use in an amusement game, and an amusement game that utilizes the win method. In each play or attempt of the game the player has the choice of trying for a major prize or vending a minor prize. If they opt for the minor prize, the minor prize is vended and the game ends. If they opt for the major prize, the game continues. If they win the major prize, a major prize is vended and the game ends. If they do not win the major prize and it is not the last attempt, the game continues. They have the option of trying for the major prize again or opting for the minor prize. On the last attempt, if the player opts for a major prize and loses, they do not win any prize and the game ends.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus which is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source, the audio and/or video generation apparatus comprising a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, wherein the audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged to receive metadata associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the metadata on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The data processor may be arranged to receive signals representative of the time codes of the recorded audio/video signals, and the metadata may include time code data representative of the in and out points of a take of the audio/video signals generated by the data processor. The metadata may also include unique identification code for identifying the audio/video signals.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an interface to a system monitor (1600) is described. A controller (102) accessible via a port interface thereof (110) is configured for read/write access to configuration memory cells (1500) and for read access to status registers (1602). The configuration memory cells (1500) are addressable via a first address space, and the status registers (1602) are addressable via a second address space different from the first address space. The port interface (110) is configured to receive a plurality of signals including a data address signal (124) and a data clock signal (121). The data address signal (124) has address information for accessing either the first address space or the second address space.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic configuration of function block logic of an integrated circuit is described. The integrated circuit includes a reconfiguration port coupled to a controller. The controller is coupled to an array of memory cell. A portion of the array of memory cells is coupled for read/write communication with the controller, and another portion of the array of memory cells is not coupled for read/write communication with the controller. The portion of the array of memory cells is configurable at an operational frequency of the integrated circuit for dynamic reconfiguration of the function block logic of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An application programmer's interface provides a facility for accessing metadata describing the content or attributes of information material. The application programmer's interface comprises a signalling protocol processor operable to receive a metadata string which includes a resource identifier providing an address of a metadata resource, and a file transfer processor operable to provide access to the metadata resource in accordance with a request from the application program. The signalling protocol processor provides an efficient facility for communicating the metadata string. The metadata string may be in the form of a mark-up language such as XML. The metadata resource may be for example a proxy version of the information material, such as a video proxy if the information material is video. Accordingly, the file transfer processor is arranged to provide efficient access to the video proxy using the address provided with metadata string.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sub-frame bit access for reconfiguring a logic block of a programmable logic device is described. A reconfiguration port in communication with a controller is provided. The controller is in communication with configuration memory for configuring the logic block. Configuration information is provided via the reconfiguration port. A single data word stored in the configuration memory is read via the controller, modified with the configuration information, and written back into configuration memory. Accordingly, by reading a single data word, in contrast to an entire frame, on-the-fly reconfiguration is facilitated.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source has a meta data generation tool which is arranged in operation to generate meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals, wherein the type of meta data generated by the meta data generation tool is user selectable. The audio and/or video generation apparatus may comprise a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, and the audio and/or video generation apparatus may be arranged to receive meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the meta data on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The meta data may be user generated, such as text describing the audio/video signals, or may be secondary meta data which is automatically generated by the audio/video apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a controller for dynamic configuration is described. The controller comprises a port interface, a read/write interface, and a plurality of flip-flops. The flip-flops, couple the port interface to the read/write interface. The port interface is configured to receive a plurality of signals, where portion of the plurality of signals are pipelined through the plurality of flip-flops responsive to a data clock signal of the plurality of signals. This facilitates reading and writing to storage elements at a rate which is at least approximately a frequency of the data clock signal while operating a device at approximately such frequency in which the controller is instantiated.

Abstract: A subject (12) observes an image on a display (10). A control (18) produces a fixation image at a selected position in the display, followed by a stimulus spaced from the fixation image. An eye position sensor (14) detects a saccade movement towards the stimulus. The stimulus is then replaced with a fixation image and the cycle repeated. The time taken to saccade plus the intensity of the stimulus are used to produce a retinal map of field of vision, or to assess other characteristics of the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data storage medium storing data material having a data replay order, the stored data material being associated with dummy data material stored on the medium at a different position in the data replay order, in which metadata identifying the data material is encoded as a watermark in the dummy data material.

Abstract: An audio/video reproducing apparatus is connectable to a communications network for selectively reproducing items of audio/video material from a recording medium in response to a request received via the communications network. The audio/video reproducing apparatus may comprise a control processor operable in use to receive data representing the request for the audio/video material item via the communications network. A reproducing processor is operable in response to signals identifying the audio/video material items from the control processor to reproduce the audio/video material items. The data identifying the audio/video material items includes meta data indicative of the audio/video material items. The meta data may be one of UMID, tape ID and time codes, and a Unique Material Identifier the material items.