Abstract: An automated design process and apparatus for use in designing complex structures, such as circuits, to satisfy prespecified design goals, using genetic operations. The present invention uses a population of entities which may be evolved to generate structures that may potentially satisfy the design goals. The behavior of such generated structures is evaluated in view of the design goals, and those structures more closely meeting the design goals are evolved further until a structure is generated that either meets the prespecified design goal or some other process completion criteria. In this manner, a design complex structure may be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for solving problems where a population is created and evolved to generate a result. While solving the problem, the architecture of entities in the population are altered. Each of said entities may include internally and externally invoked sub-entities. The externally invoked sub-entities are capable of having actions, invocations of sub-entities which are invoked internally, and material. Also, each sub-entity which is invoked internally is capable of including actions, invocations of internally invocable sub-entities, material provided to the externally invocable sub-entity, and material.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for solving problems using self-replicating and self-improving entities. The present invention includes an apparatus and process for solving a problem using a population of entities, wherein each of the entities is an arrangement of actions and material which are capable of including an incorporation action and are capable of including an emission action. The present invention also includes a process and apparatus for activating each of the entities by presenting each of the entities with at least one combination of environmental material. If an entity has an incorporation action then that entity searches the population for a part of one of the entities and then incorporates the portion of the one entity associated with the part into itself.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for solving problems using automatic function definitions, for solving problems using recursion and for performing data encoding. The present invention includes an apparatus and process for creating a population and then evolving that population to generate a result. When solving problems using automatic function definition, the apparatus and process initially creates a population of entities. Each of said entities has sub-entities of internally and externally invoked sub-entities. The externally invoked sub-entities are capable of having actions, invocations of sub-entities which are invoked internally, and material. Also, each sub-entity which is invoked internally is capable of including actions, invocations of internally invocable sub-entities, material provided to the externally invocable sub-entity, and material. The population is then evolved to generate a solution to the problem.

Abstract: A non-linear genetic process for problem solving using co-evolving populations of entities is disclosed. The iterative process of the present invention operates on a plurality of populations of problem solving entities. First, an activated entity in one of the plurality of populations (evolving population) performs, producing a result. The result is assigned a value and the value is associated with the producing entity. The value assigned is computed relative to the performance of the entity in a population different from the evolving population (one of the environmental populations). Next, entities having relatively high associated values are selected from the evolving population. The selected entities perform either crossover or fitness proportionate reproduction. In addition, other operations such as mutation, permutation, define building blocks and editing may be used. Next, the newly created entities are added to the evolving population.

Abstract: A game in which a player of the game acquires a ticket containing some information stored therein for comparison to information broadcasted from a transmitter. The broadcasted information contains a value, such as a number, corresponding to a winning number. The stored information is compared to the broadcasted information and if a match results, then the ticket is deemed to be a winning ticket.

Abstract: A ticket apparatus for a game is described. The ticket apparatus includes storage means for storing a first value. A receiver is included for receiving a broadcast of a broadcast value for the game, wherein the broadcast value is broadcast over a first transmission medium. The ticket apparatus includes means for ascertaining whether the first value is a winning value in view of the received broadcast value. A transmitter responsive to the ascertaining means is included for transmitting over a second transmission medium a signal that indicates that the first value is the winning value if the first value is the winning value. A method of playing a game is also described, wherein locater means are used to locate a ticket apparatus.

Abstract: A composite sheet susceptible to having a water base ink applied by an ink jet printing system is provided. The sheet includes a non-absorbent substrate, such as aluminum on to which is applied a coating of hydroxypropyl cellulose dissolved in an organic solvent and containing a suitable flatting agent such as finely divided amorphous silica. The coating is applied in a thickness in the range of 3 to 25 microns. The method of preparing the composite sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for making a game ticket, such as for example a lottery ticket, is disclosed in which the ticket has a base sheet and a cover sheet adhesively joined together in peripheral portions of sections containing information used in the game. The cover sheet, along with other materials placed on the base sheet, conceals the information to be used in the game and prevents undetected tampering with the ticket. The ticket is formed from a base sheet on which information to be concealed is printed, and a release coating is deposited over predetermined areas of the previously printed information. Thereafter an opaque material is applied over the release coating to conceal the information in the printed areas, which opaque material is adapted to be rubbed off when the ticket is used. Thereafter the non-transparent cover sheet is adhered to the base sheet along predetermined areas surrounding the sections of the base sheet defining individual tickets.