Abstract: Systems and methods of asynchronous interactive game play are described. In some embodiments, a method permits a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game and access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game. The second game instance is accessed at a first time. The first game instance is associated with the first player and the second game instance is associated with a second player. The method receives an identification of an in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance while the first player accesses the second game instance. The second player is permitted to access the second game instance at a second time, which is later than the first time. The method causes display to the second player an identification of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

Abstract: An alternator assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The alternator assembly includes a rotor including a shaft. A torsion member is disposed inside a central cavity of the shaft. A pulley is connected to the torsion member to allow some decoupling between the pulley and the shaft.

Abstract: A method of voting with your feet is disclosed. A performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game is associated with a vote on a matter. The performance of the location-based action by the player is detected. A count of votes corresponding to the vote on the matter is incremented based on the detecting of the performance of the location-based action by the player.

Abstract: A method of enabling users to transfer virtual items based on their locations is disclosed. A presence of a player of a computer-implemented game at a location is detected. A presence of an additional player of the computer-implemented game at the location is detected. The player is enabled to transfer a virtual item to the additional player based on the detection of the presence of the player at the location and the detection of the presence of the additional player at the location.

Abstract: A topic room is provided in which one or more individuals or other entities may collaborate on topics of mutual interest. Multiple individuals or participants may use the topic room to communicate in real or non-real time and may work together to create, browse, modify, comment on, and perform any other suitable action on content. A chat room within the topic room receives, records, and transmits the communications and all activity in the topic room to all participants as messages. Client processes at a participant's user equipment may listen to the messages and take particular actions. For example, one participant can follow another participant as that participant browses through material by using the messages received from that participant.

Abstract: A music application guides a user with some musical, experience through the steps of creating and editing a musical enhancement file that enhances and plays in synchronicity with an audio signal of an original artist's recorded performance. This enables others, perhaps with lesser musical ability than the original artist, to play-along with the original artist by following melodic, chordal, rhythmic, and verbal prompts. The music application accounts for differences in the timing of the performance from a standard tempo by guiding the user through the process of creating a tempo map for the performance and by associating the tempo map with MIDI information of the enhancement file. Enhancements may contain. MIDI information, audio signal information, and/or video signal information which may be played back in synchronicity with the recorded performance to provide an aural and visual, aid to others playing-along who may have less musical experience.

Abstract: Systems and methods of asynchronous interactive game play are described. In some embodiments, a method permits a first player to access a first game instance of a multiplayer online game and access a second game instance of the multiplayer online game. The second game instance is accessed at a first time. The first game instance is associated with the first player and the second game instance is associated with a second player. The method receives an identification of an in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance while the first player accesses the second game instance. The second player is permitted to access the second game instance at a second time, which is later than the first time. The method causes display to the second player an identification of the in-game action performed by the first player in the second game instance.

Abstract: A music application guides a user with some musical experience through the steps of creating and editing a musical enhancement file that enhances and plays in synchronicity with an audio signal of an original artist's recorded performance. This enables others, perhaps with lesser musical ability than the original artist, to play-along with the original artist by following melodic, chordal, rhythmic, and verbal prompts. The music application accounts for differences in the timing of the performance from a standard tempo by guiding the user through the process of creating a tempo map for the performance and by associating the tempo map with MIDI information of the enhancement file. Enhancements may contain MIDI information, audio signal information, and/or video signal information which may be played back in synchronicity with the recorded performance to provide an aural and visual aid to others playing-along who may have less musical experience.

Abstract: A music application guides a user with some musical experience through the steps of creating and editing a musical enhancement file that enhances and plays in synchronicity with an audio signal of an original artist's recorded performance. This enables others, perhaps with lesser musical ability than the original artist, to play-along with the original artist by following melodic, chordal, rhythmic, and verbal prompts. The music application accounts for differences in the timing of the performance from a standard tempo by guiding the user through the process of creating a tempo map for the performance and by associating the tempo map with MIDI information of the enhancement file. Enhancements may contain MIDI information, audio signal information, and/or video signal information which may be played back in synchronicity with the recorded performance to provide an aural and visual aid to others playing-along who may have less musical experience.

Abstract: A method of enabling game features based on location-based actions is disclosed. An indication is received of a performance of a location-based action by a player of a computer-implemented game. A feature of the computer-implemented game is enabled based on the receiving of the indication of the performance of the location-based action by the player of the computer-implemented game.

Abstract: A topic room is provided in which one or more individuals or other entities may collaborate on topics of mutual interest. Multiple individuals or participants may use the topic room to communicate in real or non-real time and may work together to create, browse, modify, comment on, and perform any other suitable action on content. A chat room within the topic room receives, records, and transmits the communications and all activity in the topic room to all participants as messages. Client processes at a participant's user equipment may listen to the messages and take particular actions. For example, one participant can follow another participant as that participant browses through material by using the messages received from that participant.

Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip designs including coiled safety/shaping structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A covered mandrel that includes a mandrel and a covering. The mandrel has an outer surface and comprises a first material. The covering is engaged to the outer surface of the mandrel and comprises a second material different than the first material. At least a portion of the covered mandrel is configured to scatter light.

Abstract: A speech recognition circuit comprising a circuit for providing state identifiers which identify states corresponding to nodes or groups of adjacent nodes in a lexical tree, and for providing scores corresponding to said state identifiers, the lexical tree comprising a model of words; a memory structure for receiving and storing state identifiers identified by a node identifier identifying a node or group of adjacent nodes, the memory structure being adapted to allow lookup to identify particular state identifiers, reading of the scores corresponding to the state identifiers, and writing back of the scores to the memory structure after modification of the scores; an accumulator for receiving score updates corresponding to particular state identifiers from a score update generating circuit which generates the score updates using audio input, for receiving scores from the memory structure, and for modifying the scores by adding the score updates to the scores; and a selector circuit for selecting at least one n

Abstract: A method of voting with your feet is disclosed. A notification regarding a survey question is communicated to a player of a computer implemented game. The notification includes an indication of a particular location-based action that is to be performed by the player to answer the survey question. The answer of the player to the survey question is determined based on detection of performance of the particular location-based action by the player.

Abstract: A starter circuit includes a battery, a starter electrically coupled with the battery, a relay disposed between the battery and the starter, and a starter switch mounted remotely from the starter. The starter includes a switch assembly and a starter motor. The switch assembly includes an actuator and a start signal switch. The relay is configured to operate to provide current to the switch assembly to close the start signal switch in response to a received signal. The starter switch closes in response to the start signal switch being closed, whereby the battery delivers current to the starter motor when the starter switch is closed. A starter unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and related method of making is disclosed herewith. The heat exchanger may have first and second fluid reservoirs that retain a quantity of fluid and also a plurality of tubes that extend between the first and second reservoirs and circulate the fluid therebetween. First and second header plates may be retained respectively in the first and second reservoirs through which the plurality of tubes are mounted. First and second pressure reduction plates may each have a plurality of apertures that respectively encompass first and second ends of each of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of apertures may have tapered side walls that taper outwardly from the respective ends, to reduce turbulence of the fluid between the plurality of tubes and the first and second reservoirs.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for executing asynchronous game play by a plurality of players in one or more game instances.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for executing asynchronous game play by a plurality of players in one or more game instances.

Abstract: A method of changing virtual items based on location-based actions is disclosed. It is detected that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action. An attribute of a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting that the player of the computer-implemented game has performed the location-based action.