Abstract: Decentralized computer systems and methods are disclosed for establishing and conducting payment processing with loyalty points using distributed ledger. One method includes: receiving a consumer identification, an issuer identification, and transaction information from a point of sale system when the loyalty card is presented for a transaction of a good or service at a merchant, identifying the network node containing distributed ledger associated with the issuer according to received issuer identification prompting, to participants of the shared ledger, to validate whether the consumer distributed ledger has required loyalty points for the transaction; if all of the participants of the shared ledger accepts the transaction, generating, a new immutable entry to the distributed ledger for the transaction with remaining loyalty points in the loyalty card after deducting the points required for the transaction; and sending a transaction approved message to the point of sale system at the merchant.

Abstract: Decentralized computer systems and methods are disclosed for establishing and conducting payment processing with loyalty points using distributed ledger. One method includes: receiving a consumer identification, an issuer identification, and transaction information from a point of sale system when the loyalty card is presented for a transaction of a good or service at a merchant, identifying the network node containing distributed ledger associated with the issuer according to received issuer identification prompting, to participants of the shared ledger, to validate whether the consumer distributed ledger has required loyalty points for the transaction; if all of the participants of the shared ledger accepts the transaction, generating, a new immutable entry to the distributed ledger for the transaction with remaining loyalty points in the loyalty card after deducting the points required for the transaction; and sending a transaction approved message to the point of sale system at the merchant.

Abstract: Decentralized computer systems and methods are disclosed for establishing and conducting payment processing with loyalty points using distributed ledger. One method includes: receiving a consumer identification, an issuer identification, and transaction information from a point of sale system when the loyalty card is presented for a transaction of a good or service at a merchant, identifying the network node containing distributed ledger associated with the issuer according to received issuer identification prompting, to participants of the shared ledger, to validate whether the consumer distributed ledger has required loyalty points for the transaction; if all of the participants of the shared ledger accepts the transaction, generating, a new immutable entry to the distributed ledger for the transaction with remaining loyalty points in the loyalty card after deducting the points required for the transaction; and sending a transaction approved message to the point of sale system at the merchant.

Abstract: Decentralized computer systems and methods are disclosed for establishing and conducting payment processing with loyalty points using distributed ledger. One method includes: receiving a consumer identification, an issuer identification, and transaction information from a point of sale system when the loyalty card is presented for a transaction of a good or service at a merchant, identifying the network node containing distributed ledger associated with the issuer according to received issuer identification prompting, to participants of the shared ledger, to validate whether the consumer distributed ledger has required loyalty points for the transaction; if all of the participants of the shared ledger accepts the transaction, generating, a new immutable entry to the distributed ledger for the transaction with remaining loyalty points in the loyalty card after deducting the points required for the transaction; and sending a transaction approved message to the point of sale system at the merchant.

Abstract: A multiple-board squirrel-gathering-nuts game including a tree board with a starting position, movement markers, a card access position, nut positions, multiple nut values, multiple launch positions, multiple launch directions, and landing positions along with dice, squirrel position markers, and nut position markers providing an unlimited scalable squirrel game.

Abstract: This present invention relates to a system for providing users access to audio/visual content. The system comprises means for enabling a plurality of users to connect to the system, means for enabling users to browse available content items, means for receiving a message from at least one user connected to the system, and means for transmitting said message to at least one further user connected to the system. The system also provides means for enabling connected users to synchronize consumption of available content items.

Abstract: A distributed search system includes a central server having an index of data, wherein the index of data is also available on a plurality of computing devices in a distributed computing network, the plurality of computing devices being distinct from the central server, each the computing device having a cache in which the computing device automatically stores data generated during the course of the computing device's access to another computing network distinct from the distributed computing network.

Abstract: A filter for a distributed network may include receiving index requests from indexing nodes over a network and providing over the network index responses to the indexing nodes in response to the index requests. The index responses may instruct a receiving indexing node to index or not index a specified file. The method may be implemented in software and executed on a computer.

Abstract: A computer system in which augmentation content can be provided to a client device. A receiver is provided in a server for receiving a live television signal. A matching engine can then identify a segment of television, based on fingerprinting techniques and can determine a time delay between the start time of the segment of television and its identification. A content retrieval unit can then select augmentation content based on the identified segment of television and the time delay, and this can be output to a client device. In this way the augmentation content can be selected so that it maintains synchronization with live television.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed in which features can be identified in a live television signal. A keyword extractor is arranged to identify keywords in the received television signal or to identify characteristic features in the signal. A content retrieval unit can then retrieve additional content that is related to selected keywords. An output unit can output keywords initially in an expanded format which may include the keyword and the retrieved additional content. The keywords are then displayed in a contracted format after a predetermined period of time has elapsed in order to make space on for newer keywords in the expanded format.

Abstract: A computer system in which augmentation content can be provided to a client device. A receiver is provided in a server for receiving a live television signal. A matching engine can then identify a segment of television, based on fingerprinting techniques and can determine a time delay between the start time of the segment of television and its identification. A content retrieval unit can then select augmentation content based on the identified segment of television and the time delay, and this can be output to a client device. In this way the augmentation content can be selected so that it maintains synchronisation with live television.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of communicating with a user including wirelessly broadcasting content which is accessible to a multiplicity of users and which includes at least some non-audio content which is not visible to the users without user actuation and which includes product-specific information, enabling a user to select a portion of the content, responsive to a selection by the user, capturing at least part of the non-audio content, corresponding to the portion of the content selected by the user and employing at least part of the captured content to access a contact using a mobile communicator by initially establishing contact with a non product-specific communication facility and employing product-specific information contained in the non-audio content. A system for communicating with a user is also disclosed.

Abstract: A filter for a distributed network may include receiving index requests from indexing nodes over a network and providing over the network index responses to the indexing nodes in response to the index requests. The index responses may instruct a receiving indexing node to index or not index a specified file. The method may be implemented in software and executed on a computer.

Abstract: A device coupled to a network receives a request from an indexing node in the network, the request corresponding to a particular data item; and provides a response to the indexing node in response to the request, wherein the response to the indexing node includes an indication that the indexing node should index a substitute data item instead of the particular data item.

Abstract: A distributed search system includes a central server having an index of data, wherein the index of data is also available on a plurality of computing devices in a distributed computing network, the plurality of computing devices being distinct from the central server, each the computing device having a cache in which the computing device automatically stores data generated during the course of the computing device's access to another computing network distinct from the distributed computing network.

Abstract: A distributed search system includes a central server having an index of data, wherein the index of data is also available on a plurality of computing devices in a distributed computing network, the plurality of computing devices being distinct from the central server, each the computing device having a cache in which the computing device automatically stores data generated during the course of the computing device's access to another computing network distinct from the distributed computing network.

Abstract: This present invention relates to a system for providing users access to audio/visual content. The system comprises means for enabling a plurality of users to connect to the system, means for enabling users to browse available content items; means for receiving a message from at least one user connected to the system, and means for transmitting said message to at least one further user connected to the system. The system also provides means for enabling connected users to synchronise consumption of available content items.

Abstract: An apparatus to lift an oilfield machine includes at least one lifting bellows, an alignment assembly extending between at least one lifting bellows and an adapter plate of the oilfield machine, the alignment assembly comprising an inner cylinder to reciprocate within a sleeve of the oilfield machine, and the alignment assembly comprising a top plate at an upper end of the inner cylinder, the top plate configured to transfer forces from the at least one lifting bellows and the inner cylinder to the adapter plate, wherein the sleeve is configured to restrict the inner cylinder to a substantially linear displacements therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying live television is described in which live television can be received and output to a user on one or more display devices. A user analysis module is configured to acquire data concerning television content being viewed contemporaneously by other users in a network, and the user's set-top-box can output content related to the acquired data to one or more display devices so that it can be viewed by the user. In addition the set-top-box is connected to a server including an extractor configured to extract data from the live television. A selection tool is configured to select augmentation content using the extracted data, and the set-top-box is configured to output the selected augmentation content to one or more display devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying live television is described in which live television can be received and output to a user on one or more display devices. A user analysis module is configured to acquire data concerning television content being viewed contemporaneously by other users in a network, and the user's set-top-box can output content related to the acquired data to one or more display devices so that it can be viewed by the user. In addition the set-top-box is connected to a server including an extractor configured to extract data from the live television. A selection tool is configured to select augmentation content using the extracted data, and the set-top-box is configured to output the selected augmentation content to one or more display devices.