Abstract: A solution for metering usage of services—for example, in a SOA Framework—is proposed. For this purpose, the submission of any invocation of a provider service by a consumer service is intercepted by a license manager; a corresponding request is then submitted to a dedicated licensing service, which returns an entitlement code when the consumer service is entitled to submit the service invocation. The service invocation is decorated with this entitlement code and actually submitted to the provider service. The (decorated) service invocation addressed to the provider service is likewise intercepted by another license manager; a request is then submitted to the licensing service for verifying the received entitlement code. The running of the provider service is then enabled only if the entitlement code is correct.

Abstract: A gaming machine and method are disclosed. A selected symbol is displayed in a non-revealed manner, for example on a display, a player having nominated at least one characteristic of the symbol. If the selected symbol is revealed to have the nominated characteristic a prize is awarded to the player, and if the symbol is revealed to be a special symbol a game controller awards the player a feature outcome that comprises a plurality of bonus plays of a feature game that includes at least one special symbol. Progression to the next bonus play in the plurality of bonus plays is dependent on selection of the special symbol.

Abstract: A user engages in a transaction with a relying party. The relying party requests identity information from the user in a security policy and identifies transaction elements for an on-line business transaction. Typically, the security policy and transaction elements are transmitted together; the security policy can be as little as a request to conduct the on-line business transaction. The user identifies an information card that satisfies the security policy. The computer system requests a security token from the identity provider managing the information card, which can include requesting a transaction receipt for the transaction elements. The computer system then returns the security token (and the transaction receipt) to the relying party, to complete the transaction.

Abstract: One or more systems for transmitting real-time game information for a game to a remote device are provided. The system can include at least one remote terminal unit adapted to be communicated with a controller associated with a game information display device. The remote terminal unit can communicate with a network in communication with each remote terminal unit and with a game server. The game server can include a game server processor. The game server processor can be in communication with each remote terminal unit. A game server data storage can be in communication with the game server processor.

Abstract: A gaming system with a free play mode. The gaming system has a game controller configured to process game play instructions in accordance with game rules to produce game outcomes. A credit meter is under the control of the game controller, the credit meter incremented or decremented in accordance with the game outcomes during normal play. A player interface is in data communication with the game controller. The player interface comprising a display that displays game outcomes to the player and operable to cause a free mode instruction to be communicated to the game controller. The game controller is configured to deactivate the credit meter in response to receipt of a free mode instruction.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the cost per unit transaction for running an application on a server system is disclosed. The total transaction capacity of a system is determined as well as the total storage capacity during a time period M. The total fixed cost and the total variable cost during the time period are also determined. A total cost per unit transaction is determined from the total transaction capacity plus the total storage capacity divided by the total fixed and variable costs. The resource usage of the system by the application is tracked during the time period M. The cost billed to the application user is the resource usage of the application multiplied by the total cost per unit time for the time period M.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes for one or more players. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to one or more players (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). This allows one or more players to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). At least one player who is associated with such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith.

Abstract: To provide an image processing device, image processing method, and data processing method for a game device providing novel game features. In a multiple-player game device 1 comprising mutually coupled input mechanisms 31, it is possible for a game to be played by fewer people than the aforementioned number of players, by using a portion of the input mechanisms 31, the coupling of the input mechanisms other than the input mechanisms used by the fewer number of players being disengaged in cases where a game is played by a fewer number of players.

Abstract: In a game device (301) for showing a past operation history to a player in comparison with the current operation status, a first moving unit (303) moves a first object in a virtual space based on a moving instruction input received by an input receiving unit (302), an input history storage unit (304) stores the moving instruction input as input history information, a second moving unit (305) moves a second object in the virtual space based on input history information stored in the past, an assessment unit (306) assesses whether or not the first object and the second object are overlapping in the virtual space, and a display unit (307) displays the second object in a case where a non-overlapping state has been identified and stops the display of the second object in a case where an overlapping state has been identified.

Abstract: A method and system to digitally sign a content license associated with content, and to distribute content via a network in a geographically controlled manner, commences when a content requester requests delivery of the encrypted content. A content delivery system performs a content to determine a geographic location associated with the content requester. The content requestor authorization process may also determine geographic access criteria associated with the content, and whether the geographic location complies with the geographic access criteria. The content delivery system will release the content for delivery to the content requestor if the content location complies with the geographic access criteria.

Abstract: A method of conducting a competition with remote controlled vehicles involving young, or young-at-heart people from a plurality of local institutions or establishments, and involving a hierarchy of competitions.

Abstract: In a secure electronic payment system, authentication data based on a payment account (e.g., a credit card account) is sent from an authentication server, through a user's Web browser, to a merchant's computer. The merchant's computer sends the authentication data to a computer operated by the issuer of the payment account, either through a payment organization computer or through an acquirer computer operated by the merchant's acquirer. The issuer's computer verifies the authorization request message, thereby generating an authorization response message. The authorization response message is forwarded to the merchant's computer, either through the payment organization computer or through the acquirer computer. If the authorization response message indicates that the verification was successful, the transaction is completed.

Abstract: An elimination-style script-selection method includes a workshop reading of scripts performed before participants who have taken a theater-patronage-frequency survey. Any parallel survey responses between participants of disparate theatrical-patronage patterns are detected, and a weight adjustment factor is applied based thereon.

Abstract: A used card handling device includes both a card cancelling device and a card sorting unit, as well as an imaging device, a transport mechanism for transporting cards between the card imaging, cancelling, and sorting devices or units, and a controller for controlling the card imaging, cancelling, sorting, and transporting devices or units. The sorting device includes a holding device for each type of card, and output pockets to which the holding devices distribute the cards in a desired order.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which enables a user to continue an operation using an application without restarting the application, by the image automatically accessing a license server to update a license for the application when the license becomes expired while the user is performing the operation. A notification notifying the application of invalidity of the license is issued when it is detected that the license for the application has become invalid during execution of the application. The application suspends the execution of the application in response to the notification.

Abstract: A distribution server distributes meteorological data to a first game apparatus. The first game apparatus obtains, from the distribution server, meteorological data corresponding to region data set by region data setting means and transmits the meteorological data to a second game apparatus. The first game apparatus executes an on-line game with the second game apparatus using the obtained meteorological data. The second game apparatus receives the meteorological data transmitted from the first game apparatus. Using the received meteorological data, the second game apparatus executes the on-line game with the first game apparatus.

Abstract: A universal method and computer system for downloading game software to legacy gaming machines. A gaming machine includes a locked enclosure; a first computing device disposed within the locked enclosure, the first computing device being programmed to enable game play of the gaming machine; a second computing device disposed within the locked enclosure of the gaming machine, the second computing device being configured for network access, and an interface between the first and the second computing devices. The second computing device is configured to receive game software components over the network that are compatible with (e.g., executable by) the first computing device but not compatible with (e.g., not executable by) the second computing device and to transfer the received game software components to the first computing device over the interface. The second computing device may include, for example, a PC.

Abstract: A hand-held game apparatus comprises a pointing device, such as a touch panel or the like. A predetermined program including a letter recognition program is transmitted from a stationary game apparatus to a plurality of hand-held game apparatuses. Players perform handwriting input using the touch panels or the like of the respective hand-held game apparatuses. A letter recognition process is performed in each hand-held game apparatus. A result of letter recognition is transmitted to the stationary game apparatus. In the stationary game apparatus, a game process is executed based on the result of letter recognition received from each hand-held game apparatus.

Abstract: A computer-based process for product selection optimization by displaying various security features available for a security document, for evaluating the impact that the selection of one security feature has upon the selection of other features, and for optimizing the selection of each security feature or a combination of features in meeting a protection goal for the security document.

Abstract: A content providing server connected to a home network or the like is configured in such a way as to store a content key, which is encrypted by a network key shared by network-connected devices and appropriately updated, in a storage together with encrypted content, and as to hold a network key table in which all network keys including all pre-update network keys, which are being applied to encrypted content keys, are registered and stored. This server performs a key changing operation of changing a content key, which is encrypted by a pre-update network key, to an encrypted key, to which an updated network key is applied, only when needed, for example, at an occurrence of utilization of the content. Consequently, this configuration prevents key changing operations from being wastefully performed. Thus, the processing load on the server is alleviated.