Abstract: A processing device and a method of providing learning capability thereto are provided. One of a plurality of processor actions is selected based on an action probability distribution comprising a plurality of probability values corresponding to the plurality of processor actions. The plurality of processor actions are associated with a plurality of different difficulty levels. An action performed by a user is identified, an outcome of selected processor action relative to the identified user action is determined, and the action probability distribution is updated based on the outcome and the difficulty level of the selected processor action.

Abstract: A computer game and a method of providing learning capability thereto are provided. The computer game has an objective of matching a skill level of the computer game with a skill level of a game player. A move performed by the game player is identified, one of a plurality of game moves is selected based on a game move probability distribution comprising a plurality of probability values corresponding to the plurality of game moves, an outcome of the selected game move relative to the identified player move is determined, the game move probability distribution is updated based on the outcome, and one or more of the game move selection, the outcome determination, and the game move probability distribution update is modified based on the objective.

Abstract: A processing device having one or more objectives is provided. The processing device comprises a probabilistic learning module having a learning automaton configured for learning a plurality of processor actions in response to a plurality of actions performed by a plurality of users, and an intuition module configured for modifying a functionality of said probabilistic learning module based on said one or more objectives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing learning capability to processing device, such as a computer game, educational toy, telephone, or television remote control, is provided to achieve one or more objective. One of a plurality of actions (e.g., game actions, educational prompts, listed phone numbers, or listed television channels) to be performed on the processing device is selected. A user input indicative of a user action (e.g., a player action, educational input, called phone number, or watched television channel) is received. An outcome of the selected action and/or user action is determined. An action probability distribution having probability values corresponding to the plurality of actions is then updated based on the determined outcome. The next action will then be selected based on this updated action probability distribution. The foregoing steps can be modified based on a performance index to achieve the objective of the processing device so that it learns.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of medical instruments and particularly to an apparatus used to apply cryotherapy to an injury. The apparatus is comprised of a vessel, a driver, and a directional controller. The vessel is configured such that when it is filled with a liquid and refrigerated, the resultant frozen solid formed within the vessel can be extruded via an exiting aperture. The driver forms a watertight seal with the vessel, allowing the vessel to be filled with liquid and frozen. The directional controller comprises flexible tabs that exert pressure on the sides of the frozen solid, limiting the movement of the frozen solid to one-way extrusion. The user applies force to the driver, thereby urging the frozen solid past the directional controller and out via the exit aperture.

Abstract: A telephonic apparatus that minimizes the number of keystrokes required to make a local phone call in an area code overlay region is provided. If a user enters a local phone number into the telephonic apparatus, the telephonic apparatus, in turn, automatically recalls a stored area code and dials it prior to dialing the local phone number. The recalled area code may be either the base area code or the overlaying area code within the area code overlay region. Thus, a user need only enter a local phone number when attempting to make a local phone call within the area code overlay region, which would otherwise require the user to enter a long distance phone number. If a user, on the other hand, enters a long distance phone number into the telephonic apparatus, the telephonic apparatus, in turn, dials the long distance phone number in a standard manner.

Abstract: A feedback cancellation system with reduced sensitivity to low-frequency tonal inputs is provided. Such a system can be used, for example, in a hearing aid to prevent cancellation of the desired tonal inputs to the hearing aid, thus improving the gain at high frequencies of the hearing aid while simultaneously preserving the desired tonal inputs at low frequencies. The feedback cancellation system comprises a first adaptive filter block for adaptively filtering an error signal to remove the low-frequency tonal components from the error signal. The first adaptive filter block is constrained so that only low-frequency tones in the error signal are cancelled, thus enabling the feedback cancellation system to still cancel “whistling” at high frequencies due to the temporary instability of the hearing aid. A second adaptive filter block adaptively filters a feedback path signal to produce an adaptively filtered feedback path signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for a hearing aid capable of determining its accumulated utilization time and making use of this information to control one or more of its functions. The control of the hearing aid's function may be obtained through alteration of parameters of a signal processing algorithm of the hearing aid or by execution of a particular transducer adjustment subroutine or algorithm. The accumulated utilization time may furthermore be utilized to provide a function that makes the hearing aid inoperative when a value of the accumulated utilization time matches some predetermined criteria, such as a predetermined limit value. Such a function is highly desirable if the hearing aid is sold in connection with a subscription arrangement between a dispenser and a hearing aid user where the user pays for his or her hearing aid through payment of regular renewal fees.

Abstract: A telephonic apparatus that minimizes the number of keystrokes required to make a local phone call in an area code overlay region or geographically split area code region is provided. The telephonic apparatus comprises a function key, the operation of which will prompt the telephonic apparatus to automatically dial a preceding number (e.g., a single-digit or multi-digit long distance access number and an area code) stored within the telephonic apparatus. The stored preceding number may contain a frequently called area code, e.g., one that is found in a geographically split area code region. The telephonic apparatus can optionally dial the preceding number in response to entry of the local phone number into the telephonic apparatus. In this case, the stored preceding number may contain either the base area code or the overlaying area code within an area code overlay region.

Abstract: A security envelope that allows a mail handler or recipient to inspect its contents for potentially harmful granular/powder substances without ever opening the envelope is provided. The envelope comprises a front see-through window and a rear see-through window that are registered, such that an observer of the envelope can view through the envelope to examine its contents. A security background may, in place of, or in addition to, the rear window, be provided on the inside of the envelope, such that the observer can additionally verify that the envelope was sent from a trusted source. In this case, the security background will be registered with the front window. The security background may be composed of nano-structures that appear as a standard background when viewed with the naked eye, but reveal identifying elements when viewed under magnification.

Abstract: A counterfeit-resistant document comprises a substrate and a nano-pattern of nano-structures disposed on the substrate, wherein the nano-pattern is configured for forming a latent message (e.g., a warning or alert message) that appears on a copy of the document. The nano-pattern forms one of a foreground and a background of the latent message; and another pattern, e.g., a conventional pattern or another nano-pattern, forms the other of the foreground and background of the latent message. The nano-pattern and the other pattern are configured, such that the foreground and background exhibit substantially similar visual densities on an original of the document, and exhibit substantially different visual densities on the copied document. This can be accomplished by forming the nano-pattern with nano-structures (e.g.

Abstract: A counterfeit-resistant document comprises a contrasting layer and a dynamic camouflaging layer. The contrasting layer is highly contrastive and includes a latent message that can be reproduced over a broad range of copy device control settings. The dynamic camouflaging layer is applied over the contrasting layer to suppress the latent message. The visual density of the dynamic camouflaging layer, which comprises a camouflage pattern that is printed in thermochromic ink, inversely varies with temperature. In this manner, the dynamic camouflaging layer is inactivated at room temperatures so that the latent message is suppressed on the original document, and activated at scanning temperatures so that the latent message is exhibited on a reproduction of the original document.