Abstract: The interactive doll simulates the character of a live person or, in other embodiments a fantasy figure or animal, in essence, simulating a living being that possesses respective human or animal qualities: displaying specific needs, tenderness, intelligence and/or understanding. The doll contains a clock or other timekeeping device and thereby knows of the time of day. It automatically enters a sleep mode at a preset sleep time during which the playtoy remains quiet, and wakens at a preset hour of the day, issuing a verbal statement to let the player know it is time to again play. By issuing a sequence of verbal requests from time to time to the player to take action of various kinds on or with the doll, determines the player's compliance or noncompliance with each such request and issues a verbal message appropriate to such compliance or non-compliance.

Abstract: A method and a computer program and computer apparatus for use by health care providers for the production of accurate billing coding for care rendered. The invention established the process, the data gathering and documentation required of a provider in determining and documenting correct Evaluation and Management CPT code(E&M code or E&M coding) required for agency reimbursement for care delivered. This invention is directed to a computer and computer program wherein a computer program requires a computer to perform a complete audit of E&M coding prior to billing thus ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The system enables providers to comply with statutory and regulatory reporting requirements demonstrating the meeting of Federal and State statutory and regulatory standards prerequisite to payment to the medical provider for health care delivered.

Abstract: A system and method for generating automobile insurance certificates from a remote computer terminal connected by a computer network to a central computer, wherein an expiring automobile insurance policy is identified by viewing on the remote computer terminal data, stored on the central computer, relating to expiring policies and an automobile insurance certificate relating to the expiring policy is ordered electronically, in response to such identification, from the remote computer terminal.

Abstract: An individualized patient electronic medical records system that provides unlimited patient access to her/his medical records, including text and other data. Additionally, the invention may include a benchmark against which medical treatments can be evaluated for compliance with reasonable standard of care or a prompt to indicate appropriate testing, medications, etc., based upon the patient's age, sex, etc. Also, the invention is applicable to human patients and to animal patients. Advantages of the invention include patient ownership, control, and access to her/his individual records at any time. Also, the patient can review and enter comments or questions on her/his data record for review and consideration by a physician. Furthermore, the patient can carry the medical record on her/his person so that the information is readily accessible in the event of an emergency or if s/he were traveling.

Abstract: A method for establishing certifiable patient informed consent for a medical procedure, where, in one embodiment, the patient interacts with a video training system until mastery of all required information is successfully achieved. Training techniques which permit elicitation of measurable behaviors from a patient as a guide to discerning the level of knowledge of the patient are utilized. Certification is only granted when the measurable behavior approximately coincide with the legal and medical standards for establishing informed consent. The system is capable of adapting to various medical procedures, as well as various patient attitudes and knowledge bases, while still maintaining a level of consistency throughout. In one embodiment, a minimum probability of understanding may be preset, and the training procedure will continue until the actual statistical probability of understanding is at least equal to the preset minimum.

Abstract: A user interface for querying and displaying records from a database employs a physical metaphor for the process of constructing queries and viewing results. The criteria are represented in displays as symbols that can be included in a query. The display of the symbols are ranked in terms of their respective utility, where the utility is inferred from the commands received to generate the queries. In one embodiment, the ranking is based on frequency of use. The ranking may be indicated by various display effects. For example, in an embodiment, the search criteria are indicated as strings of beads in a three-dimensional scene, each bead representing a criterion and each string representing a different category. For example the criteria, drama, action, suspense, and horror may be included in a category of genre. Criteria are selected to form a query by moving corresponding beads to a query string which is then submitted to perform the search.

Abstract: An active reservation system that allows an event vendor to maintain a stand-alone inventory control system which ties directly to an active reservation server, which in turn is distributed through Internet-based reservation systems (web sites) to the users of the Internet. The reservation system includes a local event server that provides the means of maintaining the inventory and the communications with the active reservation server. The local event server allows the event vendor to allocate, control and reserve their inventory at their place of business. This server can then communicate over a network to an active reservation server, which maintains data that Internet-based reservation systems use to provide access to the inventory. The event vendor maintains total control over their inventory while allowing access to that inventory by a much larger audience.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a collaborative training and learning system on a computer system accessible to a plurality of remote users through a computer network includes (a) means for displaying at a user site at least one template which includes a question field, an answer field, a discussion field, a rationale field and a references field, (b) means for inputting user-data including a user-defined question to be included in a predetermined area of the template, (c) means for storing the user-data in a predetermined field of a database, (d) means for retrieving the user-data from the database and for displaying the template and the user-data on a display of the computer system, and (e) means for collaborating with other users of the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for providing an executive compensation system having a first entity, a money lender, and an insurer. The first entity receives a taxable sum of money from a second entity, which owes the taxable sum of money to a person. The first entity provides one or more periodic payments to the person until the person dies, wherein the one or more periodic payments determined from the taxable sum of money and the person's life expectancy. The money lender loans a non-taxable sum of money to the person and in return receives one or more periodic interest payments from the person. The non-taxable sum of money is determined from a fixed rate of interest and the one or more periodic interest payments that are substantially equivalent to the one or more periodic payments. The insurer provides a life insurance policy for the person's life such that the life insurance policy pays a death benefit substantially equivalent to the non-taxable sum of money.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to data stored in a plurality of data sets. A simulated table definition is hosted by a server and includes selected data definitions from the plurality of tables. Data extraction logic is hosted by the server and extracts data from the plurality of tables into memory of the server consistent with the simulated table definition and responsive to a request for access to the simulated table. Interface logic is also hosted by the server and is coupled to the data extraction logic. The interface logic transmits the extracted data to the requester consistent with the simulated table and returns for reuse the memory occupied by data of the simulated table after transmitting the data.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an equity protection insurance policy (EPIC) for investors or shareholders to protect their equity investment in a business entity based on the happening of a fortuitous event is disclosed. The EPIC is in the form of an insurance policy or a put option, in which the shareholder pays lower premiums for the option to sell the equity interest in the entity to the issuer (e.g., carrier) of the EPIC upon the happening of a fortuitous event, such as an E&O claim. Alternatively, rather than receiving an indemnity payment or a purchase of the investment as protection, the present invention also can be formulated as a letter of credit. In this embodiment, the shareholder pays a very low premium in exchange for a letter of credit promising to lend the investor a predetermined amount that is calculated to be sufficient to re-establish an investor's business or start over in the same or similar line of work.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the delivery of health care for patients. A first data signal being multimedia data which is indicative of a patient condition of a selected patient is input into a local computer. Clinical data, cost data and administrative data relating to the health of the selected patient is also input into the local computer. The first data signal is combined with the clinical data, cost data and administrative data to form a first patient information signal which is transmitted to a central computer. A predetermined disease stage is then assigned to the selected patient based on the first data signal. The disease stage is combined with the first patient information signal to form a second patient information signal. Then, a first array of risk factors is computed from a database containing a plurality of previously obtained individualized patient information records.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing policy by accumulating policies for a policy recipient from policy objects associated with a hierarchically organized structure of containers, such as directory containers (sites, domains and organizational units) that includes the policy recipient. Based on administrator input, policy settings for the policy recipient may be accumulated into a specific order by inheriting policy from higher containers, which may enforce their policy settings over those of lower containers. Policy that is not enforced may be blocked at a container. The result is an accumulated set of group policy objects that are ordered by relative strength to resolve any policy conflicts. Policy may be applied to a policy recipient by calling extensions, such as an extension that layers the policy settings into the registry or an extension that uses policy information from the objects according to the ordering thereof. Linking of group policy objects to one or more containers (e.g.

Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising a solid core, a cover inner layer and a cover outer layer, the cover inner layer is composed mainly of a thermoplastic elastomer free of an ionomer resin, and the cover outer layer contains 50-100% by weight of an ionomer resin. The difference in Shore D hardness between the inner and outer layers is within 2 Shore units. While maintaining superior flight performance and durability, the inventive ball has spin receptivity close to wound golf balls.

Abstract: A tube deformed by supply air is placed in a pulsation position of a mannequin. An air pump expanding and contracting by supply air is placed in a cardiac impulse position of the mannequin. An air bag is placed inside an abdomen or a chest of the mannequin. An air supplier is controlled by a computer.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a flash card unit, including: a housing; receiving means to receive in the housing a flash card having thereon at least first and second graphics; illuminating apparatus disposed in the housing to selectively illuminate at least one of the first and second graphics; the first graphic including a problem to be solved; and the second graphic including an answer to the problem.

Abstract: A soda pop ring for kids for providing children with a novelty item. The soda pop ring for kids includes a ring member having ends and being formed in a circular loop with the ends being spaced apart and being in close proximity to one another, and also having a top and a bottom and a central portion and end portions with the central portion having a greater width than the end portions and with selected inscriptions protruding outwardly from the top of the ring member which is removeably secured to the top of a cap of a soda pop bottle.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a permanent life insurance policy including the steps of establishing a benchmark cost of insurance value, obtaining a policy illustration, resolving an illustrated cost of insurance value from the policy illustration, and comparing the benchmark cost of insurance value with the illustrated cost of insurance value. A matrix of mortality profiles may be established wherein the benchmark cost of insurance is adjusted in relation to the matrix. The matrix may include gender-based, lifestyle and pricing method risk values. Gender-based risk values reflect the differing mortality rates experienced between males and females over a lifetime. Lifestyle-based risk values may acknowledge dangerous activities such as tobacco use, job occupation and the like. Pricing method risk values are based on the statistical evidence that affluent individuals generally lead healthier lifestyles while also purchasing substantial policy values.

Abstract: A system enabling an automotive consortium to assemble and/or distribute automobile vehicles utilizing a plurality of partner integrators and a plurality of manufactured modules and/or distribution services, wherein each of the integrators is assigned an ownership percentage in each of the distributed automotive vehicles, with each of said integrators contributing to said automotive consortium at least one specific assembled module such as an automotive vehicle chassis, an automotive vehicle body, an automotive vehicle interior, and/or an automotive vehicle engine, so that the automotive consortium can combine the modules to assemble a complete and finished vehicle, and/or contribute to said automotive consortium at least one specific distribution module such as vehicle delivery to the end-user customer, finance-insurance services, maintenance, etc.

Abstract: A flying toy has a wing having a leading edge, a first end, and a second end. A ballast element is coupled to the first end of the wing, and a launcher receiver element that receives a launcher is coupled to the ballast element.