Abstract: An electronic amusement device and a method for operating the device are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a slot machine server controls a secondary game of chance played at a client slot machine. The server receives a player identifier corresponding to a player and a client identifier corresponding to a client slot machine. The server retrieves registration data relating to a secondary game of chance corresponding to the player identifier and the client identifier. The server further receives an outcome from the client slot machine and analyzes the outcome based on game requirements associated with the secondary game of chance, thereby determining whether the outcome satisfies at least one of the game requirements. Once all of the game requirements have been satisfied, the server updates a session status indicating the completion of the game requirements.

Abstract: A muffler of a compressor in which an imaginary central line of flowing direction in a passage pipe at an inlet side and an imaginary central line of the flowing direction in a passage pipe at an outlet side are formed to have an angle of 40˜50° or a curved surface having a certain curvature is formed in an extended space between an outlet end of the passage pipe at the inlet side and an outlet end of the passage pipe at the outlet side. Accordingly, the refrigerant gas which flows to the passage pipe at the outlet side through the passage pipe at the inlet side can flow smoothly as the refrigerant gas passes the curved surface and by attenuating pulsation flow between the passage pipes at the inlet side and outlet side, the refrigerant gas can be sucked smoothly. Therefore, suction amount of the refrigerant gas increases, thus to improve the efficiency of the compressor.

Abstract: There is now provided an electric stove with an electric stove body having an exterior comprising side walls, a top, and a bottom spaced from said top. The top has a an exterior top surface on which are disposed a plurality of electric heating elements. The electric heating elements of the top surface are controllable by control apparatus to provide heat sufficient to cook food in cooking utensils, upon such cooking utensils being placed with their bottom on a corresponding electric heating element. The electric heating elements and their corresponding control apparatus are connected by electric circuitry such that the heat produced by the electric heating elements can be set at a desired temperature for cooking food. Electric heating arrangements are also found in the stove. These heating arrangements are connected by electric circuitry to control apparatus so as to permit selection of a cooking temperature in the electric stove.

Abstract: A client computer, server computer, network ranking system, network ranking method, task processing method and recording medium is provided allowing even experienced players to keep a feeling of tension and allowing even beginners to have chances to be ranked high. It is possible to set to only one the number of times the play result of a computer game issued as a task from the server computer 14 to each client computer 10, etc. can be registered for one day. This allows even experienced players to experience a feeling of tension that no retry is possible. On the other hand, this also allows beginners to maintain their interest in the computer game because their play results, however low they may be, also have chances to be ranked high.

Abstract: A computerized test preparation system and methods are disclosed which assist an examinee to increase his learning and improve his performance on standardized academic or applied aptitude and achievement exams. Performance feedback information is provided to a user, including conventional information such as number of items correct and time elapsed, pinpoints substantive areas of a particular exam in which the user is either weak or strong, and offers diagnoses of, and remediation tailored to, a user's personal difficulties. By assessing a user's responses to given exam questions, through various distractor error patterns manifested in the incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions, or through coded categories of responses in the case of user responses to constrained open-ended items, a preliminary diagnosis of a user's deficits in knowledge and/or test taking skill is made. This preliminary diagnosis is subsequently refined utilizing additional examination questions.

Abstract: A system for racing an electrically powered toy vehicle over a defined course under operator control comprises a continuous track having at least one lane with a pit stop segment and an electrical path extending along the lane for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A control unit is operably connected to the electrical path. The control unit has first one control mechanism that can be manipulated by an operator to vary a speed of the electrical vehicle and another to perform at least one pit stop function such as a tire change or a vehicle refueling. A display is operably connected to the control unit for visually displaying a progression of the pit stop function in response to manipulation of the other control mechanism.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An improved structure of a vertical-type, acid and base resistance pump is disclosed. The present pump structure comprises a motor, a seal cap, a ceramic ring, two seals, a shaft cap, a propeller wheel and a pump body, the front of the motor provided with a shaft center having mounted with the shaft cap to prevent fluid from entering and to engage with the propeller wheel, the external side of the shaft center provided with the pump body having an outlet tube, the seal cap located between the top section of the body and the motor, and the bottom section of the body mounted with the ceramic ring, characterized in that the positive face and the reverse face of the shaft cap are provided with the high abrasive resistance seals, and the two seals contact at the top and bottom of the ceramic ring, such that the heat energy is dissipated from the seal cap to outside, and gas is prevented from entering and the reverse-flow of fluid is prevented.

Abstract: A gaming system and method of playing a gaming device by a user. The method includes inserting a voucher having a voucher value into the gaming device and accessing a database having voucher data associated with the voucher. The voucher value is verified. The user is queried for a credit value of a base wagering denomination. Calculations of full game credits and partial game credits are performed based upon the voucher value and the credit value. The full game credits, the partial game credits, and the voucher value are displayed on a game display. The method allows partial or all credits to be played at any time. The method provides for recording of game events to a database. The method also allows for the user to change the base wagering denomination during game play.

Abstract: A system reads an identifier from a hand of cards to identify the cards. For example, the system can read an identifier from a pair of cards forming the initial hand in blackjack, where the one card is face up and the other card is face down. The system determines the value of a hand of cards form the read identifiers. For example, the system can determine a value of an initial hand of two cards in blackjack, while only one card is face up. The system can inform a dealer of the value, or status based on value, of the hand. The system can determine whether cards forming a hand of cards are authenticate by validating the cards based on the read identifier. The system can determine if the cards forming the hand of cards are in an expected sequence based on a knowledge of the initial sequence of cards in a deck.

Abstract: Open architecture communication systems and methods are provided that allow flexible data transmission between gaming machines and other devices and nodes within a gaming machine network. The gaming machine and other devices employ a communication interface that sends and receives data via a common communication protocol and via common communication hardware. The communication interface and common communication protocol allow data transfer between gaming machines and other network nodes such as gaming service servers, despite the presence of different proprietary gaming machine functions and proprietary communication protocols and despite the presence of various proprietary hardware and proprietary communication protocols relied on by the servers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an improved method and apparatus for securing a prosthesis that is being implanted in a patient. A heat-curable bone cement is used to secure the implanted prosthesis in the patient. A heater is then applied to the prosthesis to decrease the time required for the cement in contact with the prosthesis to cure or set. An adjustable heater control and temperature gauge are used to monitor and control the amount of heat applied to the prosthesis. A socket is provided on the heater such that a tip designed to couple with the particular type of prosthesis being implanted in the patient can be installed on the heater. One or more safety gauges are used to monitor the heater's operation to insure that an excessive amount of heat is not being applied.

Abstract: A keypad used for dialing telephone numbers to establish a communications link is also used to display game moves. Once the communications link is established between two or more parties, their terminals are placed in a game mode which activates inband signal detection and player identification circuitry located within the terminals. Multi-colored indicators (e.g., LEDs) and player identification displays (e.g., LCDs) at each terminal are activated, their color being dependent upon the source of received instructions. Player identification indicators are incorporated into a touch-tone keypad located on each of the terminals. Each key of the keypad has two or more color-coded indicators incorporated within, each color representing a particular player's move. Thus, the touch-tone keys represent a game board and/or game accessory when the terminal is placed in a game mode.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a game system which is capable of maximizing realism of an on-the-spot broadcasting voice or the like. A plurality of on-the-spot broadcasting data previously prepared to be used specific situation in a competition performed in a virtual game space is stored in storage medium. The information corresponding to a play record of the competition is stored as record data. When the competition enters a situation, an on-the-spot broadcasting data is selected from the plurality of on-the-spot broadcasting data by referring to the record data. Information corresponding to the selected on-the-spot broadcasting data is provided to the game user via an information output control device such as a speaker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in a gaming apparatus having a plurality of reels, wherein each reel includes a plurality of physical stops associated with a plurality of symbols is disclosed. The method and apparatus maps random numbers to the plurality of physical stops on the plurality of reels in a random manner.

Abstract: A setting map is displayed in which two kinds of map points relating to character capability setting, map points for restricting marker position movement, and map points that are irrelevant to the character capability setting are arranged. A marker movement destination is accepted in a movable range corresponding to first points that have been acquired during progress of a game and the first points are decreased in accordance with the accepted marker movement destination. The movement destination map point and map points adjacent to it are employed during processing subject map points. A category of each processing subject map point is recognized, and it is judged whether second points corresponding to the recognized category is greater than or equal to a prescribed value. A capability corresponding to a desired map point is set in accordance with a judgment result in response to a decision manipulation of the player and the second points are decreased by a prescribed value.

Abstract: A video game with a main game process and a subsequent ending process including, if an interrupt request of a game character calling to a player character occurs, acquiring a progress of game at that time, and acquiring the voice message data of calling in accordance with an emotional value. Further, it includes outputting the intonation, volume or total average pitch of the voice message data, as required, variably in accordance with a game scene, a conversation context or a state of the game character. The voice message of calling to the player character is varied in accordance with the progress of game.

Abstract: A method for playing an educational card game uses mathematical question cards and mathematical answer cards. The play proceeds with each player in turn drawing at least one card, determining matches between question cards and answer cards, and posting matches to the player's scoring area. An appropriate scoring criteria may be used to determine players scores after one player has discarded their final card. In a particular embodiment, the game may be implemented in a program running on a computer.

Abstract: A video game wherein input of a candidate character intended to be the object of an action to be performed by a predetermined character is accepted in accordance with a control operation of a player. On the basis of position information pertaining to the characters, a direction is detected. In accordance with this direction, image-control is carried out so that a line of sight of the predetermined character points to the candidate character accepted as input. The input is accepted of an action to be performed by a predetermined character in accordance with a control operation of a player, the action accepted as input is distinguished. When the action has been executed, a direction is successively detected on the basis of position information on the predetermined character arising from internal processing and position information on a character to be the object of the action.

Abstract: An adjustment clamp suitable for adjusting the tension of a material such as a cardiac support device. The adjustment clamp comprises a pair of interconnected, intersecting arms capable of rotating around a common axis. The arms each comprise a handle, a jaw and a shaft between the handle and jaw. The clamp also includes a latch operably mounted to the handle, wherein the latches of the two arms are capable of engaging each other to secure the clamp at a desired position. In one embodiment, the jaw comprises a flat contact surface. In another embodiment, at least one jaw of one arm comprises a roller assembly. Preferably, the clamp also includes a turning mechanism operably mounted to at least one roller assembly. Methods for using the adjustment claim to increase tension in a material are also described. In a preferred embodiment, the clamp is used to adjust the tension of a cardiac support device.