Abstract: The present invention provides a method that allows a developer to add complex dependency logic to an existing database without having to modify the underlying structure of the database. One embodiment of the present invention provides a way to flexibly handle record state transitions by using an event model. The event model is a set of one or more items called an event. Each event in the event model has an associated event type and contains dependency logic that interrelates the events in the event model with one another. Each event represents a set of actions that are optionally contingent upon a condition. The actions and conditions that comprise an event are determine when the event is created. Each event may have a different set of actions and conditions. This enables an event to represent a number of different things. An event can represent anything it is defined to represent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method that allows a developer to add complex dependency logic to an existing database without having to modify the underlying structure of the database. One embodiment of the present invention provides a way to flexibly handle record state transitions by using an event model. The event model is a set of one or more items called an event. Each event in the event model has an associated event type and contains dependency logic that interrelates the events in the event model with one another. Each event represents a set of actions that are optionally contingent upon a condition. The actions and conditions that comprise an event are determine when the event is created. Each event may have a different set of actions and conditions. This enables an event to represent a number of different things. An event can represent anything it is defined to represent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method that allows a developer to add complex dependency logic to an existing database without having to modify the underlying structure of the database. One embodiment of the present invention provides a way to flexibly handle record state transitions by using an event model. The event model is a set of one or more items called an event. Each event in the event model has an associated event type and contains dependency logic that interrelates the events in the event model with one another. Each event represents a set of actions that are optionally contingent upon a condition. The actions and conditions that comprise an event are determine when the event is created. Each event may have a different set of actions and conditions. This enables an event to represent a number of different things. An event can represent anything it is defined to represent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method that allows a developer to add complex dependency logic to an existing database without having to modify the underlying structure of the database. One embodiment of the present invention provides a way to flexibly handle record state transitions by using an event model. The event model is a set of one or more items called an event. Each event in the event model has an associated event type and contains dependency logic that interrelates the events in the event model with one another. Each event represents a set of actions that are optionally contingent upon a condition. The actions and conditions that comprise an event are determine when the event is created. Each event may have a different set of actions and conditions. This enables an event to represent a number of different things. An event can represent anything it is defined to represent.

Abstract: A scalable game apparatus and method for implementing a multi-player computer game includes a plurality of networked computers over which computer processes are distributed. In various embodiments, each computer includes a baron process which coordinates the spawning of a sector manager process on the computer and communicates with a primary server process on one of the networked computers. The primary server process determines on the basis of computer loading which computer in the network should be used to spawn a new sector manager. Each sector manager implements a logical area into which game players can enter and perform game-related activities. Each baron process provides computer loading information to the primary server process. The inventive method and apparatus allows a large number of players to be efficiently accommodated while improving the reliability of the game.

Abstract: A machine, method and computer-readable medium for presenting one or more users with suggestions of items from a choice space, wherein the items chosen for presentation are based upon explicit and/or observed preferences of the user. The present invention contemplates use in any number of paradigms involving large user choice spaces, including those relating to the internet and on-line arenas, as well as those relating to television.

Abstract: A diversified processing system and associated method are disclosed for updating at least one remote computer platform with an action occurring on a local computer platform. The disclosed system and method minimizes the amount of locally generated information that needs to be transferred across a network so as to maintain on a remote computer platform a copy of what has occurred locally. To minimize the information sent between platforms, each platform may contain items, referred to as instances, which respond to various types of commands. The types of instances include master, proxy, and free instances. Master instances and proxy instances relate to the same item located on different platforms. Each master instance keeps its related proxy instances current with its status by transmitting its changes between platforms to its related proxy instances. Free instances respond to changes occurring preferably on a single platform.

Abstract: A sector windowing system, method and medium for reducing the number of transmission to various users in a multi-user computer game are disclosed. In various embodiments, the disclosed system, method, and medium determines what characters should receive notification of activities of other characters based on the proximity of the characters in the game, the load on a server's system and current backlog in the server's queue for each receiving user. The disclosed method and system allows a large number of users to be aware of their surroundings while reducing the number of transmission required for slow and unaffected characters.

Abstract: A machine, method and computer-readable medium for allowing program information to be conveyed to the user in a linear fashion, while also allowing the user to request additional program information relating to a particular "scene" that they are viewing. If a user is dissatisfied with the current scene they are viewing, they can request "alternate" program information. This is accomplished by dividing the program information conveyed to a user into scenes, any of which may have additional program information associated with it. When additional program information is requested, the appropriate scene associated with the current scene is conveyed to the user. Conversely, if a user requests alternate program information, then the requesting scene is conveyed to the user. If there is no requesting scene, then the next scene at the same level is conveyed to the user.