Abstract: A program guide system is provided in which an interactive television program guide that is implemented at least partially on user television equipment receives program listings data and real-time data such as sports scores, news data, and the like. The real-time data may be stored in a database maintained by the program guide, so that the program guide may access the stored real-time data at a later time. Updated program listings information may be provided to the program guide as part of the data stream in which the real-time data is provided. Unique keys may be generated for the program listings data and real-time data associated with each live event. The keys may be compared at the program guide to determine which program listings correspond to which items of real-time data. A controllable ticker may be displayed on top of a television program on the user television equipment. The controllable ticker may be sponsored. Different types of real-time data may be assigned different expiration times.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system and method in which functions that have not been provided before by other interactive television program guide systems is provided. The interactive guide may, for example, provide users with an opportunity to preview pay-per-view programs before ordering. The guide may, for example, display a pay-per-view program preview in a video window. The video window may occupy a portion of the screen. If desired, a video window of the video from the currently tuned to channel may be displayed simultaneously in a second video window. In response to the user ordering a previewed pay-per-view program, the interactive guide may explode the pay-per-view program preview window into a full-screen video.

Abstract: Connector structures are provided for attaching elongated flexible tubular grafts to the body organ tubing of a patient. The connector structures are formed from wire. A first set of connector wires may be disposed around the periphery of one end of an elongated flexible tubular graft. A second set can be disposed around the periphery of the elongated flexible tubular graft spaced sufficiently from the first set of connector wires to define a gap. The portion of body organ tubing to which the elongated flexible tubular graft is to be attached is received in the gap and engaged by the first and second sets of connector wires. The wires may be formed in the shape of loops. If desired, hooks may be provided on the ends of the wires. The wires may be curved to accommodate attachment of the graft to tubular body organ tubing. The wires may also be formed in annular shapes. The connector structures may be formed as stand-alone ring-shaped connectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for transmitting and receiving data that can transmit data over a plurality of data paths simultaneously and that provides a plurality of transmission queues which enable data transmissions to be continuously prioritized and which do not cause bottlenecking of data. In the preferred embodiments, the present invention comprises a data transmission facility, at least one forward data path, at least one data reception facility, and at least one reverse data path. Data is transmitted in response to a request to transmit data which may be locally generated at the data transmission facility, or may be remotely generated at any of the data reception facilities and transmitted to the data transmission facility through the reverse data path. The requested data is then transmitted from the data transmission facility through at least one forward data path to at least one data reception facility.

Abstract: A distensible artificial tubular graft structure is provided that has a compliance gradient. The graft may be used to repair a patient's body organ tubing. For example, the graft may be used to replace or supplement portions of a patient's vascular system. The ends of the graft structure may have compliances that are matched to the compliances of the body organ tubing to which they are attached. Distensible compliance-matched connector structures may be used to attach the graft to the body organ tubing.

Abstract: An interactive video system transmits a composite digital information signal consisting of a winnowed generic information signal and a local information signal manipulated to produce an output signal including both data code and object code. This output signal is formatted and transmitted via modulator cards at the system head end to decoders located at the individual users' television sets. Each card uses a dynamic gate array having a configuration sequence determined by a resident configuration EPROM which can be changed in the field. Data is fed to the configured array under the control of a control data EPROM also resident in the modulator card. A transmission modulator in the modulator card receives the data from the dynamic gate array for transmission via any selected medium to the user's location.