Abstract: A method for forming a securities bundle indexed to entertainment revenue includes determining a first funding amount for a first entertainment event. A second funding amount is determined for a second entertainment event. Next, a dividend schedule is determined for the first and second entertainment events. A securities bundle is formed at least partially based on the funding amounts and the dividend schedule, with the securities bundle comprising a first security and a second security. The first security is associated with the first entertainment event and the second security is associated with the second entertainment event.

Abstract: An auction system 200 in a networked environment. The system includes a preregistration module 201 for identifying and verifying a user of the auction system. The preregistration module checks the credit history of the user and generates a registration record of the user. The system includes an assurance module 210 for conducting a presale inspection of the merchandise item and to generate a merchandise inspection report. The system also includes a description module 215 for displaying the merchandise inspection report and a description report of the merchandise item. The system includes a bidding module 220 for processing a plurality of bids from a plurality of users. The bidding module analyzes each of the plurality of bids from each of the plurality of users to determine whether an incoming bid is higher or lower than a current high bid and to determine a current high bid.

Abstract: An investment system provides for multiple employers. The employers withhold payments to employees according to preferences defined by the employee. The employer forwards the withholding to an investment account manager who manages accounts for each employee. The account manager pools the withholding from the employees and invests the money in proportion to the preferences stated by the employees in the plan. Employees may change employers without affecting their accounts. Tax information may be calculated by the system to ensure accurate gratuity accounting and tax compliance on the part of the employer.

Abstract: At least one set of revocation information for identifying electronic appliances that should be revoked for content protection and master revocation information for identifying electronic appliances that have special permission to update the revocation information are recorded in advance into a special storage region on a storage medium. When the storage medium is loaded into an electronic appliance indicated by the master revocation information, the revocation information can be updated. However, when the storage medium is loaded into an electronic appliance indicated by the revocation information, the electronic appliance is revoked and so the protection of contents is improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides backup protection for circuit breaker failure by providing a programmable controller coupled to detect the failure of a circuit breaker to open on command and generate a command signal to all circuit breakers coupled to the programmable controller to open.

Abstract: The present invention is a state of the art technological system composed of computers and local area radio network technologies to allow visitors to an amusement park or similar facility to electronically register for positions within a line for those popular rides, attractions and restaurants thereby eliminating the physically tiring wait in the actual lines. The system also allows park visitors to search for the location, distance and direction within the park boundaries of all other members within the same group at any given time. The invention includes a computer system as a main control, a number of specialized communication modules at appropriate locations and a larger number of movable visitor ID devices operating in a custom designed method to provide the above mentioned services. The system is simple to use and can be fully automated thereby reducing the manpower necessary to otherwise run the park.

Abstract: A fastener and corresponding communication system comprises a first fastener having a first end and a second fastener having a second end. The first fastener has an integrated circuit positioned to be electrically coupled to a first communication interface on the first end of the fastener. The second end also has a second communication interface, the first communication interface and the second communication interface electrically coupled together when the first fastener and the second fastener are fastened together. The first fastener preferably has a hollow cavity therethrough and the integrated circuit is positioned inside the first fastener. At least one electrical signal line, preferably only one, exists through the hollow cavity in communication with the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A control system for tracking the operation of a nonlinear system has two parts: a tracking subsystem and a controlling subsystem. The tracking subsystem generates a parametric signal and the controlling subsystem controls and stabilizes the nonlinear system operating under operating conditions corresponding to that parametric signal. The controlling subsystem includes a modulator responsive to the parametric signal and to a feedback signal for producing and applying an input signal to the nonlinear system to cause the nonlinear system to produce an output signal. The controlling subsystem also includes means responsive to the output signal for producing the feedback signal.

Abstract: A control device for weft inserting in a jet loom realizes weft inserting in stable running conditions without depending on the professional perceptions and experiences of operators. The control device for weft inserting is constructed by inferring a corrected value of at least one parameter for weft inserting by fuzzy inference on the basis of at least one operating information relating to the weft inserting in a weaving machine in order to accept an operating condition of the weaving machine at an objective value, and controlling at least one actuator for weft inserting on the basis of the corrected value inferred by the fuzzy inference.

Abstract: A system for aligning control zones with measurement zones in a sheetmaking system having a plurality of actuators arranged in the cross-direction, comprising the steps of: a) bumping at least one of the actuators; b) measuring a profile of the sheet at a substantial distance from the bumped actuators; and c) determining a location of the effect of each of the bumped actuators on the sheet.

Abstract: The disclosure involves the use of a library of modulated wavelet-packets which are effective in providing both precise frequency localization and space localization. An aspect of the disclosure involves feature extraction by determination of the correlations of a library of waveforms with the signal being processed, while maintaining orthogonality of the set of waveforms selected (i.e. a selected advantageous basis). In a disclosed embodiment, a method is provided for encoding and decoding an input signal, such as an audio or video signal, comprising the following steps: applying combinations of dilations and translations of a wavelet to the input signal to obtain processed values; computing the information costs of the processed values; selecting, as encoded signals, an orthogonal group of processed values, the selection being dependent on the computed information costs; and decoding the encoded signals to obtain an output signal.

Abstract: An apparatus ideally suited for the small mailing service is disclosed. The apparatus can take pro-printed, un-addressed mail pieces of non-identical size delivered to the mailing service from different merchants and combine the mail pieces to create mailing bundles at the lowest postal rate and group the bundles to create a single mailing. In the apparatus a computer serves to take the merchant mailing lists, merge and sort the entries thereon into lowest postal rate groupings, and use this merged data base to enable a sequence controller and associated machinery to physically commingle and address the non-identical mail pieces into the single mailing bundle. Provision is also made for generating required postal service documentation and invoices from the mailing service to the merchants.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for speech recognition control of apparel manufacture equipment, such as a sewing machine, is provided. This invention allows an operator to control specific operational modes of the apparel manufacture equipment through verbal commands recognized by the equipment as distinct from other sounds in the environment of the equipment. The invention includes a device for recognizing and translating an operator's verbal command into an electronic control signal; a communication device such as a microphone for inputting the operator's verbal command into the recognizing and translating device; and interfacing means for presenting the electronic control signal to the apparel manufacture equipment in a form recognized and accepted by the equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing error compensation by modifying encoder-type position feedback signals supplied to a machine tool controller is illustrated by four embodiments. The first embodiment inserts compensation pulses into position feedback signals by using OR gates, when both square waves of the feedback signals are logically low. The addition or subtraction of the compensation pulses is performed by inserting the compensation pulses at a particular phase relative to each other. The second embodiment is capable of inserting correction pulses when the square waves are in any logical state. The third embodiment is capable of correcting the error completely controlling the feedback signals and not using OR gates to insert correction pulses, but requires a faster microcomputer. The fourth embodiment uses inverters incorporated sequentially, instead of OR gates, to invert the square wave signals before they are supplied to the machine tool controller.

Abstract: In order to control the movements of a robot with smooth transition type acceleration and deceleration stages, the ratios of the smooth transition type acceleration/deceleration speed command to the linear-type acceleration/deceleration speed command are calculated at each sampling time and stored in a memory portion. The robot is driven with the speed command calculated by multiplying the linear-type acceleration/deceleration speed command by the ratios stored in the memory portion for each sampling time during the driving the robot.

Abstract: A mailing machine for processing respective sheets including envelopes which each have a body and a flap and including cut tapes which each have a substrate portion and an adhesive tape portion removably connected thereto, the machine comprising, structure for feeding each sheet in a predetermined path of travel extending downstream through the machine, the sheet feeding structure including oppositely spaced input rollers defining a nip therebetween, structure for feeding a cut tape, structure for controlling the feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure upstream from the nip of the input rollers for sensing a sheet fed to the machine and providing a corresponding first sensing signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to commence feeding in response to receiving the first sensing signal, the controlling structure including a switch connected to the microprocessor and providin

Abstract: A facility for manufacturing a variety of products laid out on a rectangular floor. The facility includes an entry warehouse located along one side of the floor and a product warehouse arranged so as to form an L-shaped layout with the entry warehouse. Parts assembly lines and dedicated product assembly lines are located, in the stated order, in a grouping which extends toward the product warehouse on the floor and such lines are partially enclosed by the entry warehouse and the product warehouse. The dedicated product assembly lines are functionally independent from each other, but the parts assembly lines cooperate with each other so as to produce articles that are commonly required by the dedicated product assembly lines. Transportation lines are incorporated in the facility to form an E-shaped flow pattern of the articles from the entry warehouse to the product warehouse.

Abstract: A data storage system has error detecting and correcting system having three error codes. The data are arranged logically as a three-dimensional array consisting of a plurality of logically rectangular blocks of data. Each block of data has columns and rows of data. A first error code that corrects errors creates a first redundancy in each of the columns. A like-positioned block row of data in each of the blocks constitutes an array row of data. The array rows are grouped into sets of array rows, the number of array rows in each set vary inversely with a number of tracks of a record medium that concurrently receive the data for recording. Each set of data are recorded serially by bit in respective tracks of the tape record medium. Before recording, the block rows are logically rotated (end-around shifted) within each of the array rows.

Abstract: Through a localized compact workstation (104), the operator is offered all the monitoring, alarming and control functions which have been previously dispersed over many control panels located throughout the control room (100). The information display hierarchy is composed of an IPSO overview display (122), video display units (108) preferably based on CRT technology and qualified video display units (116) preferably based on solid state flat panel display technology. Associated with each display unit is an individual, independent control module to allow process and component control. One control module (112) supports non-safety control functions and avoids separate controllers for components and process control. Another control module (118) is a qualified system which supports safety system control functions and avoids separate controllers for component and process control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing system which accepts a custom order of product from a customer and custom manufactures a product without sacrificing manufacturing efficiency. The manufacturing system includes the featuring steps of inputting the required specification of a product, creating the product design based on the design information of the product transmitted from a designing department, status data from the production department, and the input required specification, showing the created product design to the customer, selectively indicating a product to be purchased, transmitting the specification of the selected product to the production department, and producing a product based on the selected product specification.