Abstract: A secure game table system, adapted for multiple sites under a central control, for monitoring each hand in a live card game. A common deck identity code is located on each card. A shuffler has a circuit for counting the cards from a previous hand which are inserted into the shuffler and which reads the common identity code. The game control verifies that no cards have been withdrawn from the hand by a player or that new cards have been substituted. A unique code also placed on each card is read as the card is dealt to indicate the value and the suit. The game control stores this information in a memory so that a history of each card dealt is recorded. Sensors are located near each of the player positions for sensing the presence of a game bet and a progressive bet. A card sensor located near each player position and the dealer position issues a signal for each card received.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a gambling loss insurance policy automatically computes insurance premiums and processes gambling sessions covered by the gambling loss insurance policies. The players may purchase the insurance policies using various means such as coins, earned winnings, or credit cards. The gambling loss insurance system provides a high level of flexibility for the players to define specific parameters of the insurance policy. Additionally, the players may purchase the insurance policies directly from the gaming machine, a custom terminal on casino floor, or cage personnel having access to a centralized network server.

Abstract: A computer selected “quick pick” wagering system uses keys in the form of random numbers to serve as seed numbers in a pseudo-random number generating algorithm. A sales agent's terminal uses the algorithm and seed to produce random number combinations for each play from a pool, assigning the number combinations sequentially and printing them, together with a sequential serial number, onto lottery tickets. By storing the algorithm and seed at both the host computer and remote agent terminal, the remote terminal can transmit all pertinent wagering information by only transmitting the actual count of plays sold, thereby reducing the amount of data exchanged by several orders of magnitude. The host computer can then reconstruct the wagers and compare them to winning number combinations. Liability information for each terminal is transmitted back to the agent together with new seed numbers, so the agent terminal may begin selling plays for a new pool while also verifying accurate data exchange.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of converting input text into an audio-visual speech stream resulting in a talking face image enunciating the text. This method of converting input text into an audio-visual speech stream comprises the steps of: recording a visual corpus of a human-subject, building a viseme interpolation database, and synchronizing the talking face image with the text stream. In a preferred embodiment, viseme transitions are automatically calculated using optical flow methods, and morphing techniques are employed to result in smooth viseme transitions. The viseme transitions are concatenated together and synchronized with the phonemes according to the timing information. The audio-visual speech stream is then displayed in real time, thereby displaying a photo-realistic talking face.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting opinion surveys using electronic mail (e-mail) as the transport mechanism is disclosed. A multimedia-enhanced e-mail message is created using an authoring tool in conjunction with a web command launcher. The enhanced e-mail message is distributed to a select set of recipients using a communication engine. The recipients individually review and respond to the questions and issues posed in the enhanced e-mail message. The responses from the various recipients are collected automatically, filtered and stored in one or more databases using a proprietary aggregation engine. The stored responses are then analyzed using an analysis engine to generate one or more reports for distribution under the direction of a user.

Abstract: A method for improving the effectiveness of a child's toilet training regime utilizes a progress scale to evaluate the child's current level or stage of toilet training. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the child's training regime are divided into a plurality of unique groups corresponding to a plurality of stages of toilet training. The child's toilet training progress value, determined using the progress scale, is matched to a particular stage of training and the unique group of recommendations corresponding to the child's stage of training are selected. Methods for comparing the effectiveness of various toilet training regimes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A micro-stick in which the movement of the micro-stick is detected inductively. The micro-stick is connected to an actuator element which varies interaction between an electromagnetic element and a number of conductive coils. In one embodiment, the coils are mounted on a printed circuit board mounted beneath the micro-stick. The micro-stick is mounted on a plate having a number of pins extending through the circuit board. On the other side of the circuit board is a flexible metal sheet which is contacted by the pins, and moved away from the coils in a direction in which the micro-stick is tilted. This increased separation of the metal sheet from the coils can then be detected.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling toy vehicles has a plurality of pads coupled to a central station. Switches in the pads may be closed to select toy vehicles and the operation of motors for moving the vehicles forwardly, rearwardly, to the left and to the right and moving upwardly and downwardly a receptacle or bin for holding transportable elements (e.g. marbles). The pads may be set in a mode to allow sharing of a vehicle by more than one pad. The pads are connected by wires to the central station, and may be interrogated selectively, sequentially or simultaneously by the central station. The central station forms packets of signals representative of the switch closures of the interrogated pads, and transmits the packets over a modulated carrier frequency to receivers in the vehicles. Each of the packets includes a binary signal addressing the vehicle selected by the pad whose switch closures are represented by the packet of data.

Abstract: Teaching golf clubs that signal a golf ball/club face impact location comprising a putter having a head with an elastomer or thin hard material face cover protecting piezoelectric sensors electrically connected to an electrical circuit provided with light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged to visually indicate the impact location, the electrical circuit printed on a circuit board tightly inserted into a golf club head cavity or embedded in a plastic matrix and an iron and a “wood” golf clubs having elastomer or thin hard materials coated on plates inserted into piezoelectric sensors electrically connected to an electrical circuit on a circuit board inserted into a club head cavity or embedded in a plastic matrix with LEDs indicating a golf ball/club face impact location. Each teaching club has a matching Profession Golf Association approved club for golf course play.

Abstract: In a storage target device controller capable of managing multiple command contexts, methods and associated apparatus are provided for automatically managing the plurality of contexts using a state machine model. The state machine model is operable on a target device controller having an active context register set for processing of the presently active transfer on the host channel and an inactive context register set for storing an inactive context. The active context register set and inactive context register set are rapidly and automatically swapped by operation of the state machine model to resume or start processing of an inactive context. Additional inactive contexts are stored in a buffer memory associated with the target device controller. The inactive context register set is automatically stored into a selected one of the additional inactive contexts or loaded from a selected one of the additional inactive contexts by operation of the state machine model of the present invention.

Abstract: In a code division multiple access (CDMA) cordless telephone system, CDMA telephone signals are exchanged between a basestation and an operating mobile cordless telephone handset. An upstream signal transmitted by the operating handset is detected at a detection location remote from the basestation by a signal recognition unit, which processes the detected upstream signal to recognize whether the handset is authorized, in which case an identification signal identifying the operating handset as being at the location and as being authorized is transmitted through a signal conduit to the basestation.

Abstract: Router circuit, provides Internet protocol (IP) address translation to enable connection or packet-level multiplexing over multiple single-user IP address account links. Connection-level multiplexing (CLM) provide between LAN and WAN addresses outbound packet transfer by replacing private packet source IP address and port number with said external IP address port number, and inbound packet transfer by replacing external packet destination IP address and port number with private IP address and port number. Look-up table provides bi-directional translation or effective multiplexing of IP addresses and port assignments for incoming or outgoing packets. Packet-level multiplexing (PLM) provides between LAN1 and LAN2 addresses outbound packet processing, wherein destination IP address and port number are replaced with external IP address and port number, and inbound packet processing, wherein source IP address and port number are replaced with internal IP address and port number.

Abstract: The invention concerns a directional method for a server for cells transmitted by a module attached to a local mobile area network as well as a network of this type for implementing said method. The directional method applies to a network which is comprised of a plurality of concentration stages and terminals linked to the low-level concentration stages, said network comprising servers respectively linked to concentration stages. This method is characterized therein that it consists of initially establishing permanent virtual channels in direction of the servers and, when a mobile is connected to two terminals of said network, said two terminals ascertain the closest common server and modify the header of the user cells transmitted by said mobile in such a way that they carry the identifier VPI/VCI of the channel established for said server so as to enable it to be processed there. The present invention also concerns a network provided for implementing said method.

Abstract: A system and associated method for interactively scoring standardized test responses. The system maintains a database of tests, items that make up the tests, and features that make up the items. A user of the system requests a list of items in the database, and the system responds by presenting a list from which the user selects a plurality of items to be scored. The user selects a scoring mode, and the system scores the selected items according to the selected scoring mode. In an interactive scoring mode, the system scores the features of a selected item and presents to the user the feature scores, as well as an overall item score computed based on these feature scores. The user either accepts the scores as presented, changes one or more feature scores, or changes the overall item score. The system then rescores the item based on the user-entered scores and stores the new score in the database. This process is repeated for the remaining selected items.

Abstract: An operating device used in a game machine for playing a television game includes a main body portion of the operating device and first and second grip portions protruding from one side on respective end parts of the main body portion. A first operating unit is mounted on one end of the main body portion and a second operating unit is mounted on the opposite end of the main body portion. The first and second operating units are provided with a plurality of thrusting operators protruding from the upper surface of the main body portion and a plurality of signal input elements actuated by the thrusting operators. A third operating unit and a fourth operating unit are arranged facing each other on the proximal ends of the first and second grip portions. Each of the third and fourth operating units has a rotation member and a plurality of signal input devices actuated by the rotation member.

Abstract: A vibration-absorbing end effector of an automated drill and countersink machine having a shock to mitigate communications of vibrations to the drill tool, while simultaneously dampening the vibrations at their source, in order to increase control of a drill tool during drilling and countersinking operations. The end effector comprises a measurement scale to ensure that the depths of holes to be drilled and countersunk can be checked and corrected in accordance with corresponding ideal depths stored in a memory of the computer already interfaced to the end effector. Furthermore, the pressure foot of the end effector is upwardly rotatable to access the drill tool to the chuck.

Abstract: A child care monitoring network integrates a centralized information dissemination system with live streaming video to increase parental involvement with child care workers and improve child care worker training, including provision for enabling parents to monitor their children during the workday over the Internet and for providing live training demonstrations during off-hours. A local area network connects video cameras to a multi-media computer for digitizing and compressing the video feed and supplying it to a regional broadcast server capable of delivering multiple broadcast video streams to parent subscribers either through direct Internet connections, or over a secured network connected to the Internet via a firewall. A pre-recorded video library and server may be provided in addition to the live video broadcast server for providing information and instruction to both parents seeking child care and to child care providers.

Abstract: The remultiplexing apparatus includes a control information selector that selects a packet containing program control information from the inputted bit stream, a program control information editor that edits contents of the selected program control information and generates new program control information corresponding to an outputted bit stream, and a remultiplexer for multiplexing again the packet containing media information in the inputted bit stream and the program control information generated by the program control information editor.

Abstract: With a purpose of providing a simulation device for fostering a virtual creature where the virtual creature is disciplined, the virtual creature is grown and fostered when a player conducts a corresponding treatment in response to a call or a request from the displayed virtual creature, the simulation device is provided with mark display units for displaying treatments for fostering the virtual creature by marks, and key switches for inputting a corresponding treatment by selecting a specific mark from a plurality of marks, the simulation device is provided with a storing unit for storing control data for fostering the virtual creature and a control unit where, when a treatment for fostering the virtual creature is input by operating the key switches, the control data in correspondence thereto is read from the storing unit and a control for fostering the virtual creature is conducted based on the read control data, and the simulation device is further constituted by a detecting circuit for detecting a call fr