Abstract: System and method for providing time-based content. In one embodiment, time-based offers are presented to viewers of broadcast content, and may be presented on the same display device being used to display broadcast programming. In another embodiment, time-based offers are commercial offers inviting the viewer to purchase goods or services at a special rate for a limited time. Time-based offers may also be customized based on programming content being viewed and/or viewer profile data. Responses to presented time-based offers may be used to update viewer profile data and/or merchant conversion profile data, which is a measure of how effective the particular offer is.

Abstract: A geography teaching apparatus has two working surfaces, such as on opposing sides of a substrate such as paper. The first working surface contains graphical images representing the outlines of countries, such as in a map of a continent. The second or opposing working surface contains graphical images which are identical in size and shape to the graphical images on the first surface, and are positioned in relative positions on the second surface which are identical to the relative positions of the graphical images on the first surface. The second surface also contains text such as the names of each of the countries shown and other information about the countries. Students study the second surface in an attempt to learn the textual information, and then turn the apparatus over to the first working surface and attempt to write down all the information they studied. The relatedness of the visual images reinforce the teaching process and improve memory retention.

Abstract: A portable rubber bathtub seat apparatus for comfortably preventing a person from sliding down when in a seated position within a bathtub, the apparatus being supported by the bottom surface of the bathtub. The apparatus has a generally thin, flat back section upon which the person sits when the apparatus is supported on the bottom surface of the bathtub, a raised front section having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the back section and adequate to support all or part of the legs of the person, the front section having a cavity in the undersurface thereof, a gradually sloping transition area between the back and front sections, and a plurality of suction cups coupled to the front section and positioned within the cavity for releasably securing the apparatus to the bottom surface of the bathtub such that the apparatus is prevented from sliding in relation to the surface while a person is seated on the apparatus.

Abstract: A keyboard testing device for actuating at least one key on a keyboard. The testing device includes a frame having a first portion for supporting a keyboard, and a second portion. A rotatable key actuator is supported by the second portion of the frame. An adjustment mechanism couples the rotatable key actuator to the second portion of the frame which allows adjustment of the actuator with respect to a computer keyboard supported on the first portion of the frame. A motor support on the second portion supports a motor which rotates the key actuator to regularly activate one of the keys on the keyboard.

Abstract: In a distributed computing system in which replicas of a document are separately stored and revised, the document containing data arranged in a number of fields, a method for replicating data contained in a revised document replica to the other of the replicas by replicating only the field or fields which have been revised since an earlier replication. The method includes the steps of dynamically maintaining a two byte document sequence number for each of the document replicas representing the number of revisions made to the replicas, and dynamically maintaining a one byte field sequence number for each of the fields in the replicas. The field sequence numbers for revised fields are set equal to the lower byte of the current document sequence number.

Abstract: Detectors for ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays, electrons, protons, alpha particles, etc. as well as neutrons) of the gas proportional scintillation counter type using techniques to compensate for a loss of scintillation light reaching the photosensor due to solid angle and reflection effects. Two such techniques are disclosed. One technique involves the use of two non-parallel electrically charged grids which produce a radially increasing electric field, thus radially increasing the intensity of the scintillation light. Another technique involves the use of a mask of small opaque dots having a radially decreasing density covering the photosensor, thus radially increasing the intensity of the scintillation light transmitted to the photosensor. The preferred embodiment for X-ray detection consists in a detector, filled with very pure xenon at atmospheric pressure, with a 2.5 cm diameter radiation window (1), a grid with a spherical (2 cm radius) curvature (2) with its edges placed 0.