Abstract: An electronic gaming system for playing games which includes a system base station and a plurality of gaming boards. The system base station downloads game instructions, a game schedule, and game card arrays into the gaming boards. These game card arrays are stored in the system base station as a gaming card library. The gaming card library contains a plurality of game card arrays such that no two arrays are identical. Each game card array is stored as a single record containing the elements of a particular array, while the individual enjoys instantaneous access to a plurality of gaming cards. The game schedule stores symbols which are to be matched with randomly generated symbols, particularly where the symbols are numbers and the pattern is a plurality of elements of a 5.times.5 array. The base station employs an algorithm to generate cards which ensures that numerical arrays of consecutive adjacent gaming arrays in said library differ by more than one array entry.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for identifying a vehicle in a prescribed area of a service station and associating services with the vehicle. Each vehicle includes a transponder. Communication between the transponder and the service stations is via radio frequency signals.

Abstract: A system for analyzing job cost, worker efficiency and the like including portable modules for receiving and collecting work time data; a collection station optically interfaceable with the portable modules to receive and store the collected work time data from the modules; and a transmitter for delivering stored work time data from a collection station to a host computer.

Abstract: The coordinates X and Y of the location of a scintillation crystal excited by nuclear radiation are determined as a function of the signals X.sup.+, X.sup.-, Y.sup.+, Y.sup.- produced conventionally by an electronic circuit associated with the scintillation crystal. The signals X.sup.+, X.sup.-, Y.sub.+ and Y.sup.- are digitized and the digital coordinate X (respectively Y) is obtained as the product of a first digital data item X.sup.+ -X.sup.- (respectively Y.sup.+ -Y.sup.-) and a second digital data item inversely proportional to the energy of the nuclear radiation received. To prevent beats in the value of the coordinates X and Y, which leads to a moire phenomenon in the radiation image, a random element is introduced into the calculation, for example by adding p random bits to the first digital data item.

Abstract: A translation apparatus includes a translating device connected to an optical character reader for input. The optical character reader includes a reference dictionary stored in a first memory which stores a plurality of reference character strings of morphemes in a first language, each morpheme being identified by a unique address. A morpheme analysis device in the optical character reader matches an optically read character string with one of the morpheme stored in the first memory. A communication device transfers the results of the morpheme analysis, including morphemes and their associated addresses, to the translating device. At the translating device, the results from the morpheme analysis are used to translate the optically read character string to a second language by accessing a second memory. The second memory is addressed identically to that of the first memory.

Abstract: A marketing method for providing manufacturer purchase reward offers by automatically tracking the purchases of member consumers through the use of bar-coded membership cards and using the purchase records in a data processing system to determine if the required purchases have been made to earn a reward. Each member consumer receives a reward booklet disclosing the available reward offers, a periodic status report indicating the member consumer's progress toward earning rewards, and a reward certificate for those rewards earned.

Abstract: An automatic bill collecting method in an automatic teller machine comprising first bill boxes for respective bill denominations, a detecting device for detecting if each of the first bill boxes is full of a predetermined number of bills, a second bill box for storing bills to be collected, and a memory for storing the number of bills to be collected from the first bill box into the second bill box, comprises the steps of storing in the memory a value equivalent to the number of bills set in a central processor, detecting from the detecting device that the first bill box is full of the predetermined number of bills, and transferring the stored number of bills from the first bill box detected to be full of bills to the second bill box.

Abstract: A fertility indicator for storing a plurality of time measurements between consecutive menstrual periods by using a plurality of hours as a unit of count to optimize time measurements and output displays. The indicator uses a computer to analyze the menstrual cycles variables, by applying the Ogino's method and in combination with ovulation cycle variables, to project the fertile status for the present cycle, and by treating all of the stored cycles as the length of the present cycle, the fertile extensions are a true representation of user's cycle history in an ever renewing state as new data erases the oldest stored data. Arrangements are provided for data input protection and data retention.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system for playing games which includes a system base station and a plurality of gaming boards. The system base station downloads game instructions, a game schedule, and game card arrays into the gaming boards. These game card arrays are stored in the system base station as a gaming card library. The gaming card library contains a plurality of game card arrays such that no two arrays are identical. Each game card array is stored as a single record containing the elements of a particular array, while the individual enjoys instantaneous access to a plurality of gaming cards. The game schedule stores symbols which are to be matched with randomly generated symbols, particularly where the symbols are numbers and the pattern is a plurality of elements of a 5.times.5 array.

Abstract: A multichannel stimulator device has a host user interface circuit for enabling a user to select a channel and easily create and display a stimulus wave signal for the selected channel and generate a data signal specifiying the channel and stimulus wave signal. The stimulator also includes a master circuit for receiving the data signal and directing it to the specified channel as a wave building instruction signal. A slave circuit associated with the channel specified receives the wave building signal and responds by generating a corresponding low power stimulus wave signal in the channel specified. Then an output circuit coupled to the slave circuit electrically isolates the low power stimulus wave signal from other channels, amplifying and converting it to a corresponding high fidelity current stimulus wave signal.

Abstract: A method of analyzing and separating the three major populations, namely, lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes of white blood cells from a composite histogram containing the various types of white blood cells is provided by identifying a mode (highest frequency of occurrence) of both the lymphocyte and granulocyte concentrations by determining the highest sum of such populations over first predetermined ranges in the histogram. This is accomplished by determining the lymph and gran peaks along with 60% thresholds from said peaks and estimating the lymph and gran areas in providing a reconstituted lymph and gran curve. Lymph and gran population curves are then subtracted from the histogram resulting in a mid population curve whose peak is determined and from which is derived left and right thresholds based on the mid population peak.

Abstract: There is provided a method for locating available real estate properties for sale, lease or rental using a database of available properties at a central location and remote stations which use a graphic interface to select desired regions on a map of the areas in interest. The user begins with a region where they are interested in acquiring property and select an inner area within this region by using a pointing device such as a mouse to designate boundaries on a map displayed on screen. This is then zoomed in on and a second area is selected within the zoomed region. The second area is then cross-referenced with the database of available properties whose approximate locations are then pictorially displayed on screen. Information about the properties can then be obtained in textual form.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for evaluating pictures of cell cultures uses a computer-aided, observer-interactive system which records and reviews a chronological series of video pictures. The pictures are taken sequentially in each of a plurality of cell culture picture fields which border each other, each such field encompassing a different area of the specimen. Each successive chronological picture is displayed on a monitor where it is reviewed by an observer who uses a digitizing pad to apply distinguishing marks to individual cells and/or cell groups. Picture-memory-an-analysis software is used to facilitate the marking process so that observer work effort and time are remarkably reduced. Stored information relating to the position and number of the distinguishing marks applied to each chronological picture is used to generate statistical graphs and data concerning the division rate of individual cell groups, the mobility of cells, cell pedigrees, and similar matters.

Abstract: A mobile customer service station includes a console on a wheeled chassis. The console carries and houses a number of components which are used in merchandising operations to conclude customer purchase transactions. The items supported externally on the console are a printer for printing purchase receipts, customer credit charge agreements and records of transactions, and a magnetic card reader for reading information from a magnetic stripe of a customer's credit card. The console further includes a cash drawer. The operation of the printer, credit card reader and the cash drawer is controlled by a multi-function control unit located within an enclosure of the console. The control unit is electrically powdered by a self-contained power source which is preferably a deep cycle rechargeable battery. The console also houses a transceiver unit which under the control of the control unit is capable of interactive communication with a radio communication system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling an irrigation system within prescribed limits of pump capacity and flow capacity through defined local zones. Watering schedules may be all simultaneously activated and will make multiple requests for watering time, for posting in a flow management roster. The requests in the roster are processed and satisfied only if overall pump capacity permits and if local flow zone capacities are not exceeded. Pump capacity is expanded incrementally as more requests are processed, but only in accordance with predefined limits on the conditions that have to be met before moving to an expanded capacity. This flow management technique is best employed with a cycle-and-soak feature to avoid runoff problems at selected sites, and using an evapotranspiration approach to vary the watering times in accordance with changing weather conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are set forth which facilitate continuous bit error rate monitoring at the physical (PHY) management layer in a Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), duel token ring network. The monitoring is performed using existing line status information from PHY. Simple error detection logic. In combination with an error counter and a timer, is used to detect errors during active or idle line state conditions, independent of Media Access Control (MAC) layer support.

Abstract: An electronic travelers cheque transaction terminal for use in a financial institution such as a bank for purposes of assisting in the sale, refund or encashment of travelers cheques, and used in combination with a host computer with which the terminal is connected by telephone communication lines and which provides authorization of travelers' cheque transactions, comprising a character recognition element for reading data from the travelers cheques being sold, encashed or refunded, and a control element including a control processing unit and a control program stored in memory. The program is used for controlling the verification of the status of the data, the receipt of authorization of the transaction upon verification of the data, and the storage of the data into another memory upon authorization of the transaction. The control further includes means for generating a "Buffer Full" signal when the storage of the second memory is at capacity.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for quantifying the amounts of physiological metals required to eliminate aluminum from the blood serum of a human patient. The preferred method uses a computer to calculate corrective amounts of deficinet physiological metals required to restore physiological saline conductivity reduced by the presence of aluminum.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus for compressing medical information such as X-ray image data divides the image data into blocks and extracts the region of interest from the image data, excluding the background portion. The image data blocks containing the region of interest are orthogonally transformed by discrete cosine transformation for forming a bit allocation table. The bit assignments in the bit allocation table for the orthogonally-transformed coefficients are adapted only for the image data containing the region of interest. The original image data blocks are orthogonally transformed and quantized according to the bit allocation table to obtain the compressed image data.

Abstract: A computer system incorporates an expanded and integrated theory of Chronobiology and Circadian Regulatory Biology to provide consistent recommendations for the reduction of the effects of jet lag. The system provides consistent recommendations in response to a traveler's itinerary, meeting schedule, and personal preferences. The system can also be used to minimize the effects of changes in work and sleep schedules caused by shift work.