Abstract: An interactive character system that includes one or more toy characters and an environment, such as a theme park. Each toy character has one or more one or more electronic signal receivers, and an electronic system. The electronic system is structured to produce oral communication and has a programmable memory structured to store software. The software is structured to interact with the electronic signals and to cause the electronic system to produce the oral communication. The environment has one or more environmental electronic signal transmitters disposed therein. The toy character, one or more one or more electronic signal receivers interact with the one or more environmental electronic signal transmitters to cause the toy character electronic system to produce the oral communication.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for displaying information from the Internet. In one embodiment, the invention generates a plurality of content modules, each content module comprising a subset of the content of at least one web site. The content modules are then stored in a content module data directory. When a query is received from a user, the query is assigned to at least one content module. The results of the query are displayed on two regions of the user's screen. On a first region of the user's display screen a list of information relating to the plurality of retrieved web sites is displayed. On a second region of said display screen, information from said at least one content module associated with the query is displayed.

Abstract: An Interactive Fantasy Lottery where lottery players are given game pieces describing discernable actors (people, animals or events) who will be participating in an upcoming event. The performance of the actor will determine the value of the player's game piece. Thus, the player has an incentive to observe the indicated event in order to determine its outcome as well as the value of his game piece. When the game piece is distributed over a computer network and displayed on a web page, the player will be motivated to visit the web page in order to obtain a game piece, and to monitor his performance in the lottery. In so doing, the player is increasing web traffic across the site which in turn increases the value of the advertising contained therein as well as making the web site more successful overall. In one embodiment, the content of the game is one or more sports figures. The lottery player interacts with the game piece to reveal the sports figure or figures.

Abstract: A stabilized jack stand for a vehicle comprises a vertically directed leg for location on a foot, and an extendable portion for supporting a vehicle chassis, the leg defining a peripheral area relative to the foot plate. An engagement element releasably secures the foot to the leg, and the foot extends to an area beyond the periphery area of the leg. The leg a side profile extends from a wider portion adjacent to the foot to a narrower portion towards the extendable portion of the jack stand, and the leg has a cross-sectional profile including at least two inter-engaging walls and the engagement element being for interfacing with the two walls.

Abstract: A distributed Bragg reflector for a vertical cavity surface emitting laser has a semiconductor material system including the elements aluminum, gallium, arsenic, and antimony. Accurate control of the composition of the semiconductor material system must be maintained to result in a distributed Bragg reflector suitable for use in a VCSEL. A method of fabricating the distributed Bragg reflector includes calibrating the incorporation of at least one of the elements into the material system as different semiconductor materials are grown on a substrate.

Abstract: A learning system method for infants, toddlers and young children which uses selected visuals stored on an audiovisual storage and playback device in conjunction with unique flash cards to provide an enhanced learning experience.