Abstract: An ancillary display for a gaming environment having one or more gaming machines each having a respective primary display that displays respective gaming action and/or gaming enticements includes a subarea image capturing circuit configured to capture video subarea signals corresponding to a predetermined subportion of imagery presented by at least one of the primary displays of at least one of the gaming machines, and one or more image output driver circuits configured to output ancillary imagery that is responsive to at least one of the captured video subarea signals.

Abstract: A stringed instrument plectrum being made primarily from a material with desirable edge properties and from one or more secondary materials with desirable flexibility, density, and or tactile qualities. The primary material is formed so that there is one or more central recesses that are then filled by the secondary material in order to modify the flexibility and or tactile nature of the plectrum while maintaining the edge properties of the primary material and keeping the central section of the plectrum a generally uniform thickness.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device and process designed to accelerate the maturation of stringed musical instruments, composed of but not limited to a broad spectrum audio generator coupled with one or more fasteners via one or more armatures dimensioned to allow easy installation, secure attachment, and easy uninstallation from the stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device and process designed to accelerate the maturation of stringed musical instruments, composed of but not limited to a broad spectrum audio generator coupled with one or more fasteners via one or more armatures dimensioned to allow easy installation, secure attachment, and easy uninstallation from the stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: A method for deploying workloads in a heterogenous computing environment having multiple hosts of multiple different types and/or multiple monitors of multiple different types is disclosed. The method includes selecting a master image for deployment of a workload, wherein multiple subimages are associated with the master image, and the subimages correspond to at least some of the different types of hosts and/or the different types of monitors such that the master image is usable to deploy the workload on at least one of the hosts. The method also includes determining a host on which to deploy the workload using the master image; determining a monitor of the host to manage the workload; determining a monitor type of the monitor; determining, by an orchestration engine and based on the monitor type, a subimage that supports the first monitor; and cloning the associated resources to the host to initiate the workload thereon.

Abstract: A plectrum sheath made of a rigid material designed to retain a single plectrum, having a thin wide opening at the top and a closure at the bottom. Two clip springs are built into the device due to the nature of its fabrication. These clip springs provide downward spring tension that holds a plectrum firmly in place once the plectrum is fully inserted into the plectrum sheath.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing expedited promotions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include (1) a financial institution server comprising at least one computer processor receiving, from a merchant, a transaction comprising an identification of a good or service, a customer financial instrument issued by the financial institution, and a promotion identifier; (2) the financial institution server retrieving a promotion associated with the promotion identifier; (3) the financial institution server approving the transaction with the financial instrument; and (4) the financial institution server automatically applying the promotion to the transaction.

Abstract: An ancillary display for a gaming environment having one or more gaming machines each having a respective primary display that displays respective gaming action and/or gaming enticements includes a subarea image capturing circuit configured to capture video subarea signals corresponding to a predetermined subportion of imagery presented by at least one of the primary displays of at least one of the gaming machines, and one or more image output driver circuits configured to output ancillary imagery that is responsive to at least one of the captured video subarea signals.

Abstract: By querying a set of fabrics to determine an initiator logged into a fabric in the set of fabrics, a set of accessible fabrics is discovered, an accessible fabric in the set of accessible fabrics accessible to the initiator, an initiator comprising a transceiver connecting a server to a switch, a fabric in the set of fabrics comprising a switch connecting a server to a storage device, the storage device comprising a storage volume. Using a fabric usage policy, a set of allowed fabrics within the set of accessible fabrics is determined. Using the set of allowed fabrics, a storage volume is mapped to a server, the mapping enabling the server to access the storage volume via a fabric in the set of allowed fabrics.

Abstract: A method, a computer program product, and a system for distributing a private signature key between authorization instances. The method includes registering a plurality of authorization instances in a configuration file and generating host instance key pairs by each of the authorization instances. The method also includes storing the public host keys in the shared database and electing one of the authorization instances to be a signature key leader instance. The method includes generating, by the signature key leader instance, a signature key pair. The signature key pair includes a public signature key and a private signature key. The method also includes storing the public signature key in the shared database and transmitting an encrypted private signature key to a requesting authorization instance of the authorization instances. The method further includes decrypting the encrypted private signature key using the private host key generated by the requesting authorization instance.

Abstract: A method, a computer program product, and a system for distributing a private signature key between authorization instances. The method includes registering a plurality of authorization instances in a configuration file and generating host instance key pairs by each of the authorization instances. The method also includes storing the public host keys in the shared database and electing one of the authorization instances to be a signature key leader instance. The method includes generating, by the signature key leader instance, a signature key pair. The signature key pair includes a public signature key and a private signature key. The method also includes storing the public signature key in the shared database and transmitting an encrypted private signature key to a requesting authorization instance of the authorization instances. The method further includes decrypting the encrypted private signature key using the private host key generated by the requesting authorization instance.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided having a cabinet with a high definition frontal mechanism for presenting gaming action of that machine and with at least one of left, right, front and rear cabinet sidewall displays (CSDs) for presenting imagery that can enhance the optical experience of patrons in the vicinity of the gaming machine. Each of the cabinet sidewall displays is configured to be non-reflective (glare free) and when not outputting imagery, to appear as blackened or otherwise darkened surface so as to not detract from effects of nearby other displays. One version includes a CSD driven in response to a selected subarea of the high definition frontal display mechanism.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing expedited promotions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include (1) a financial institution server comprising at least one computer processor receiving, from a merchant, a transaction comprising an identification of a good or service, a customer financial instrument issued by the financial institution, and a promotion identifier; (2) the financial institution server retrieving a promotion associated with the promotion identifier; (3) the financial institution server approving the transaction with the financial instrument; and (4) the financial institution server automatically applying the promotion to the transaction.

Abstract: A method for deploying workloads in a heterogenous computing environment having multiple hosts of multiple different types and/or multiple monitors of multiple different types is disclosed. The method includes selecting a master image for deployment of a workload, wherein multiple subimages are associated with the master image, and the subimages correspond to at least some of the different types of hosts and/or the different types of monitors such that the master image is usable to deploy the workload on at least one of the hosts. The method also includes determining a host on which to deploy the workload using the master image; determining a monitor of the host to manage the workload; determining a monitor type of the monitor; determining, by an orchestration engine and based on the monitor type, a subimage that supports the first monitor; and cloning the associated resources to the host to initiate the workload thereon.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing expedited promotions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include (1) a financial institution server comprising at least one computer processor receiving, from a merchant, a transaction comprising an identification of a good or service, a customer financial instrument issued by the financial institution, and a promotion identifier; (2) the financial institution server retrieving a promotion associated with the promotion identifier; (3) the financial institution server approving the transaction with the financial instrument; and (4) the financial institution server automatically applying the promotion to the transaction.

Abstract: By querying a set of fabrics to determine an initiator logged into a fabric in the set of fabrics, a set of accessible fabrics is discovered, an accessible fabric in the set of accessible fabrics accessible to the initiator, an initiator comprising a transceiver connecting a server to a switch, a fabric in the set of fabrics comprising a switch connecting a server to a storage device, the storage device comprising a storage volume. Using a fabric usage policy, a set of allowed fabrics within the set of accessible fabrics is determined. Using the set of allowed fabrics, a storage volume is mapped to a server, the mapping enabling the server to access the storage volume via a fabric in the set of allowed fabrics.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for providing persistent aerial vehicle surveillance capabilities, including launch and recovery platforms, secured communication, sensor systems, targeting systems, locating systems, and precision landing and stabilization systems for such uses as assisting with base defenses, monitoring parking lots or facilities, providing security monitoring, assisting farmers, performing recon of enemy beaches or use by mortar teams in hostile fields of operations. One embodiment can include an aerial surveillance system using an aerial short wave infrared surveillance system platform for use when quick response in reaction to real-time conditions is preferred while relaying the geo-location and other monitoring assistance via a wireless, fiber optic type link, or an ADHOC GPS system.

Abstract: Machine logic implemented policies are created. These policies guide the automated creation of zoning between multiple VMs (virtual machines) and storage on SANs (storage area networks). This zoning controls hardware (such as communication ports) of various host physical machines, where the VMs and SANs are hosted and connected in mutual data communication. Some embodiments pick the ports (based on policy) to be used by the VM by pruning the list of ports from the VM and likewise the pruning the storage ports (by policy) to create the zone. In some embodiments, machine logic rule based policy(ies) determines which fabrics will be used between the VM and a storage array.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided having a cabinet (and optionally an internal locked box) enclosing one or more heat generating components such that the heat generating components are enclosed within an air-tight gas-filled volume having a convective loop configuration. A clean thermal transfer gas is circulated about the loop so as to flow past and absorb heat energy from the heat generating components and then continue in sealed fashion through at least one flow-through path of a multi-flow heat exchanger having a plurality of flow-through paths in heat exchange coupling with one another. At least one of the other flow-through paths of the heat exchanger has ambient air flowing by or in it so as to remove heat energy from the clean thermal transfer gas. The gaming machine further includes a plurality of computer-controlled blowers operatively coupled to the heat exchanging flow-through paths.