Abstract: The present invention provides a system for and a method of collaborative annotation of digital content. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of annotating digital content is provided. An annotation related to a portion of a volume of digital content is created. The annotation is stored in computer-readable memory in a manner that maintains a logical connection between the annotation and the portion of the volume of the digital content. The annotation is created by a first user. A comment is created by a second user in response to the annotation. The comment is stored in computer-readable memory in a manner that maintains a logical connection between the comment and the annotation. The portion of the volume of the digital content is displayed together with at least an identification of the annotation and at least an identification of the comment.

Abstract: A speech interpretation module interprets the audio of user utterances as sequences of words. To do so, the speech interpretation module parameterizes a literal corpus of expressions by identifying portions of the expressions that correspond to known concepts, and generates a parameterized statistical model from the resulting parameterized corpus. When speech is received the speech interpretation module uses a hierarchical speech recognition decoder that uses both the parameterized statistical model and language sub-models that specify how to recognize a sequence of words. The separation of the language sub-models from the statistical model beneficially reduces the size of the literal corpus needed for training, reduces the size of the resulting model, provides more fine-grained interpretation of concepts, and improves computational efficiency by allowing run-time incorporation of the language sub-models.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for provisionally crediting a financial account of a gaming environment based on player funds received by gaming devices in the form of wagers. The financial account can be maintained at a financial institution. The player funds can be currency, electronic funds, or combinations therefor. Once the currency is physically transferred to the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Similarly, for wagers using electronic funds, once the settled funds are received by the financial institution, the provisional credit can be converted to a full credit. Using provisional credits, benefits from the funds can be enjoyed by the gaming operator prior to the physical currency and/or settled funds being received and processed by the financial institution.

Abstract: A method of managing Proxy Objects by attaching Meta Data to each Proxy and HD Object. The Meta Data enables the user to programmatically swap one Proxy Object with one or more HD Objects. All Proxy Objects and HD Objects are stored in a secure database structure that protects the content owner's intellectual property while providing access by users to the proxy objects and all related product information. Non-technical and non-CAD users can configure objects within a space by selecting an object, browsing a catalog of possible alternative objects, viewing specific product details and then selecting the object to replace the selected object. Once a new object is selected, a photo realistic 360 image of a scene is created in real time without any special software on the user's computer or any special training.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing patrons of gaming environments with cash advances. The cash advance can be initiated by the patron via a mobile communication device and finalized at any of a variety of fund retrieval devices, such as a self-service kiosk, an electronic table game, a gaming machine, or a casino cage. The patron's funds can be dispensed to the patron in any of a variety of formats, such as cash, a printed voucher, chips, or gameplay credits.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. Information associated with transactions using the payment vehicle can be used for player relationship purposes.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems provide for production of geographically located, accurate indoor maps of physical spaces and provide navigation guidance for users in physical spaces, and process requests for users related to available physical space within said physical spaces. Aggregated information about the physical spaces is curated and converted using automated procedures into a data model that contains all elements of said physical spaces, including geographic data about the physical space's location on the globe. The system and computer program embodiments retrieve the converted data, load it on mobile devices or computers, rendering it on these devices in the correct global geographic context, allowing users to interact with the data to select rooms, and send and receive requests to and from external systems regarding these selections. Users navigate within the physical spaces using mobile devices and the computer program embodiments in tandem to provide accurate directions and guidance.

Abstract: A system and method for providing seamless consumption of media content and managing playlists for seamless consumption of media is described. One embodiment includes receiving a request for media content; determining a mode of consumption for the media content; determining a media content service to provide the media content; and providing the media content according to the preferred mode of consumption and from the preferred service and managing playlists to integrate reproduction of media content from multiple services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing jackpot events occurring at electronic gaming devices of a casino environment. Upon a player hitting a jackpot, tax documentation can be automatically populated with the player's information, such as social security number and mailing address. The populated tax information can be electronically transmitted to recipients, such as the player. The player's information used to populate the tax documentation can be based on personally identifiable information provided by the player to obtain a stored value payment vehicle that is issued to the player and tied to a player identifier used by the casino environment for player tracking.

Abstract: A natural language processing system has a hierarchy of user intents related to a domain of interest, the hierarchy having specific intents corresponding to leaf nodes of the hierarchy, and more general intents corresponding to ancestor nodes of the leaf nodes. The system also has a trained understanding model that can classify natural language utterances according to user intent. When the understanding model cannot determine with sufficient confidence that a natural language utterance corresponds to one of the specific intents, the natural language processing system traverses the hierarchy of intents to find a more general user intent that is related to the most applicable specific intent of the utterance and for which there is sufficient confidence. The general intent can then be used to prompt the user with questions applicable to the general intent to obtain the missing information needed for a specific intent.

Abstract: A method of managing Proxy Objects by attaching Meta Data to each Proxy and HD Object. The Meta Data enables the user to programmatically swap one Proxy Object with one or more HD Objects. All Proxy Objects and HD Objects are stored in a secure database structure that protects the content owner's intellectual property while providing access by users to the proxy objects and all related product information. Non-technical and non-CAD users are able to configure objects within a space by selecting an object, browsing a catalog of possible alternative objects, viewing specific product details and then selecting the object to replace the selected object. Once a new object is selected. A photo realistic 360 image of a scene is created in real time without any special software on the user's computer or any special training.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering a graphic object is disclosed. The method includes selecting a set of points of a graphic object for shading. At least one shading parameter is determined for application to the selected set of points of the graphic object. A shading parameter image is precalculated based on the determined at least one shading parameter. The shading parameter image is stored in a memory. The selected points are shaded using the shading parameter image to produce a shaded graphic object image via a graphic processor. The shaded graphic object image is rasterized into a frame image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for and a method of collaborative annotation of digital content. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of annotating digital content is provided. An annotation related to a portion of a volume of digital content is created. The annotation is stored in computer-readable memory in a manner that maintains a logical connection between the annotation and the portion of the volume of the digital content. The annotation is created by a first user. A comment is created by a second user in response to the annotation. The comment is stored in computer-readable memory in a manner that maintains a logical connection between the comment and the annotation. The portion of the volume of the digital content is displayed together with at least an identification of the annotation and at least an identification of the comment.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to purchase an amount of virtual currency from an online casino wherein the purchased virtual currency includes a predetermined component and a variable component.

Abstract: An application control system and method using generated position information of a control device and adapted for use with a display is disclosed. The control device may be conveniently held by a user. An imager is employed to image the control device to detect reference fields and generate position information. This information is used by the control device to control an application.

Abstract: A method and system for a command processor for efficient processing of a program multi-processor core system with a CPU and GPU. The multi-core system includes a general purpose CPU executing commands in a CPU programming language and a graphic processing unit (GPU) executing commands in a GPU programming language. A command processor is coupled to the CPU and CPU. The command processor sequences jobs from a program for processing by the CPU or the GPU. The command processor creates commands from the jobs in a state free command format. The command processor generates a sequence of commands for execution by either the CPU or the GPU in the command format. A compiler running a meta language converts program data for the commands into a first format readable by the CPU programming language and a second format readable by the GPU programming language.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently executing a delegate of a program by a processor coupled to an external memory. A payload including state data or command data is bound with a program delegate. The payload is mapped with the delegate via the payload identifier. The payload is pushed to a repository buffer in the external memory. The payload is flushed by reading the payload identifier and loading the payload from the repository buffer. The delegate is executed using the loaded payload.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for associating a player identifier with a financial account. The financial account can holds funds that are accessible through the player's use of a payment vehicle. The payment vehicle can be, for example, a credit payment vehicle or a debit payment vehicle. The player can load funds from the financial account to a wagering account.