Abstract: An information marketplace is provided in which information items are received from various sources. Each item and the item providers carry descriptors that identify various attributes of the information being provided and by whom it is being provided. Requests for information are received from information consumers that are also tagged with attributes describing the consumer and the information being requested. A subset of the information available in the marketplace is provided to the consumer based on a degree of match among the characteristics describing the information, the attributes associated with the provider of the information, and the attributes associated with the consumer without identifying the actionable investment opportunity to the information consumer or identifying the information consumer to the information provider.

Abstract: An illumination system including at least one light source such as an electroluminescent element, e.g. a light emitting diode (LED), and at least one optical element whose surface is structured by diffraction and/or refraction type optical microstructures. In order to shape the beam, the optical element includes at least two sections whose optical microstructures and therefore optical properties are different from one another. The pattern of the microstructures in each of the at least two sections is, at least over a predetermined angular range, rotationally symmetric with respect to the optical axis or another symmetry axis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a computer-based method and system for facilitating the retrieval, classification, and distribution of information. In one embodiment, a method for providing information comprises providing a plurality of entities, each having an entity type, providing a plurality of relationships among the entities, each relationship having a relationship type and direction, and constructing an entity-relationship network comprising the entities and relationships. The method further includes receiving a plurality of information items, facilitating the association of the information items with at least one corresponding entity, receiving a request for information items associated with a selected one of the entities, determining a subset of the entities based on the selected entity, the relationships, the relationship types and the relationship directions, and providing the information items associated with the subset of the entities.

Abstract: This invention relates to a computer-based method and system for facilitating the retrieval, classification, and distribution of information. In one embodiment, a method for providing information comprises providing a plurality of entities, each having an entity type, providing a plurality of relationships among the entities, each relationship having a relationship type and direction, and constructing an entity-relationship network comprising the entities and relationships. The method further includes receiving a plurality of information items, facilitating the association of the information items with at least one corresponding entity, receiving a request for information items associated with a selected one of the entities, determining a subset of the entities based on the selected entity, the relationships, the relationship types and the relationship directions, and providing the information items associated with the subset of the entities.

Abstract: A triggering method for a win outcome on a gaming device includes determining an amount of credit on commencement of game play. A number of symbols displayed in the game is adjusted as a function of the amount bet, to thereby affect the probability of a win outcome being generated.

Abstract: A jackpot triggering method for symbol-driven jackpot awarding techniques comprises determining the amount of credit bet by a player on the commencement of game play. Whether a substitute symbol substitutes for a particular jackpot symbol varies depending on the amount of credit bet by the player and in turn affects the probability of a jackpot being awarded.

Abstract: In a gaming system, an initial set of symbols comprise symbols of a plurality of groups and are displayed in respective ones of display positions. A revised set of symbols is formed by modifying the display position of symbols of at least one of the groups that are formed. In one example, each group of symbols is selected from a set representing a reel of symbols. The reel of symbols is provided in a given order drawn on a physical looped reel. One or more symbols from each reel may be selected for display in accordance with a symbol selection algorithm. A game outcome may be determined based on the relative position of symbols within the revised set.

Abstract: A method of awarding an award on a gaming machine, the method comprising: a) in a random selection process selecting an eligibility criterion or eligibility criteria from a plurality of possible eligibility criteria, whereby the selected criterion or criteria is deemed an active award trigger event; b) monitoring game play activity on the gaming machine for occurrence of the active award trigger event; c) when the active award trigger event occurs as a result of game play activity on the gaming machine, awarding the award; and d) following the completion of step c), or following the occurrence of another event: i) deeming the selected eligibility criterion or criteria an inactive award trigger event; and ii) repeating steps a) to c).

Abstract: An information marketplace is provided in which information items are received from various sources. Each item and the item providers carry descriptors that identify various attributes of the information being provided and by whom it is being provided. Requests for information are received from information consumers that are also tagged with attributes describing the consumer and the information being requested. A subset of the information available in the marketplace is provided to the consumer based on a degree of match among the characteristics describing the information, the attributes associated with the provider of the information, and the attributes associated with the consumer without identifying the actionable investment opportunity to the information consumer or identifying the information consumer to the information provider.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a display, a symbol selector arranged to select at least a first set of normal symbols to be displayed by the display at a plurality of display positions and to cause a special symbol to be displayed at a display position, a special symbol controller arranged to replicate an aspect of the special symbol until an end condition is met, the special symbol controller arranged to maintain each previously displayed special symbol in the display position where the special symbol occurred, select at least one display position for each replicated aspect of the special symbol and cause each replicated aspect of the special symbol to be displayed at the selected position, and an outcome generator arranged to determine at least one game outcome based on the displayed special symbol, the displayed normal symbols and the replicated aspect of the special symbol. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a computer-based method and system for facilitating the classification of information items. Information items are searched for references to entities of interest, and associated with such entities based on calculated confidence levels that the information items contains a reference to the entities and a category confidence level that the information items relate to the entities.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for identifying traffic patterns to web sites based on templates that characterize the arrival of traffic to the web sites are provided. Based on these templates, determinations are made as to which web sites should be co-located so as to optimize resource allocation. Specifically, web sites whose templates are complimentary, i.e. a first web site having a peak in arrival traffic at time t1 and a second web site that has a trough in arrival traffic at time t1, are designated as being candidates for co-location. In addition, the present invention uses the templates identified for the traffic patterns of web sites to determine thresholds for offloading traffic to other servers. These thresholds include a first threshold at which offloading should be performed, a second threshold that takes into consideration the lead time needed to begin offloading, and a third threshold that takes into consideration a lag time needed to stop all offloading of traffic to the other servers.

Abstract: Techniques for selectively off-loading workload across multiple data centers are disclosed. For example, a technique for processing a user request in accordance with a multiple data center environment comprises the following steps/operations. A user request is obtained at a first data center. The user request is classified based on one or more classification criterion. At least a portion of a workload associated with the classified user request is off-loaded to at least a second data center to be processed, wherein the off-loading step/operation is at least based on one or more administrative policies associated with at least one of the first data center and the second data center. The workload is processed such that the user request is at least substantially satisfied in accordance with a service level agreement for the requesting user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for generating a customized catalog for an entity or organization. Items from a base catalog are presented to a user located at a remote data processing system. One or more items are selected by a user through a process of “meta-shopping”. The selected items are placed in a set, also referred to as a “meta-shopping cart”, used to generate the customized catalog. Terms for purchasing items in the customized catalog are associated with the customized catalog. Further, a protocol for purchasing items from the customized catalog may be established, and the customized catalog is then placed on a Web site.

Abstract: Computer-based methods and systems are provided for building, provisioning and executing one or more electronic service level agreements (eSLAs) for Web and other computer hosting services, which specify and enforce service contracts for Web and other computer hosting services. In one aspect of the invention, a computer-based eSLA system includes four main components: (1) an eSLA builder; (2) an eSLA provisioner; (3) one or more execution systems; and (4) a system configuration and measurement system. Generally, the eSLA builder component provides the mechanism for defining and pricing the eSLA, checking the validity of the eSLA and a repository for storing the completed eSLAs. The provisioning system is responsible for configuring the run-time system in order to meet one or a set of eSLAs. The execution system is responsible for handling the run-time user requests, e.g., Web servers and load distributors, and a mechanism for enforcing the eSLAs at run-time.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting maintenance such as software upgrades in components and nodes within a computer network while maintaining the functionality of the computer network in accordance with prescribed performance parameters. A balance is achieved between the rate of performing a desired system upgrade and the necessary performance parameters by empirically determining anticipated system loads and selecting the maximum number of components that can be upgraded simultaneously while meeting the anticipated loads. Provisions are made for the staggering of components through the upgrade process and for the return of components to active service in the computer network in response to unanticipated load spikes. Validation of successful upgrades is also provided.

Abstract: In a client-server environment having a server group including one or more participating servers and one or more controller servers, where each participating server can communicate with at least one controller server, a method for coordinating actions among the servers in the server group comprising the steps of: (1) communicating between a client and at least one of the servers in the server group using a protocol that has limited or no defined procedures for passing state information between the client and the servers; (2) transmitting a request for an action from the client to one of the servers; and (3) communicating among a plurality of servers with at least one controller server coordinating actions of at least some of the servers in response to the request.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for improved serving of content in a distributed data network. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for delivering content in a client-server system based on a request from a client comprises the following steps/operations. The request is obtained. A performance characteristic of at least one server or at least one cache of the client-server system is determined. Then, a level of data accuracy to be delivered to the client in response to the request is determined. The data accuracy determination is based on: (i) the determined performance characteristic of the at least one server or the at least one cache; and (ii) at least one preference associated with the client. The performance characteristic may comprise a load of the at least one server or the at least one cache. The level of data accuracy may comprise a level of personalization to be delivered to the client in response to the request.

Abstract: A server allocation controller provides an improved distributed data processing system for facilitating dynamic allocation of computing resources. The server allocation controller supports transaction and parallel services across multiple data centers enabling dynamic allocation of computing resources based on the current workload and service level agreements. The server allocation controller provides a method for dynamic re-partitioning of the workload to handle workload surges. Computing resources are dynamically assigned among transaction and parallel application classes, based on the current and predicted workload. Based on a service level agreement, the server allocation controller monitors and predicts the load on the system. If the current or predicted load cannot be handled with the current system configuration the server allocation controller determines additional resources needed to handle the current or predicted workload. The server cluster is reconfigured to meet the service level agreement.

Abstract: An on-demand manager provides an improved distributed data processing system for facilitating dynamic allocation of computing resources among multiple domains based on a current workload and service level agreements. Based on a service level agreement, the on-demand manager monitors and predicts the load on the system. If the current or predicted load cannot be handled with the current system configuration, the on-demand manager determines additional resources needed to handle the workload. If the service level agreement violations cannot be handled by reconfiguring resources at a domain, the on-demand manager sends a resource request to other domains. These other domains analyze their own commitments and may accept the resource request, reject the request, or counter-propose with an offer of resources and a corresponding service level agreement.