Abstract: A system for translating receipt data output by a point of sale system of the present invention. The system includes a first electrical interface coupled to said point of sale system; an electronic encoder circuit coupled to said first interface, said encoder circuit being adapted to receive receipt and translate alpha-numeric receipt data into two-dimensional bar code data; and a second electrical interface between said encoder and an output device for displaying said two-dimensional bar code data on an electronic or physical medium. A digital embodiment includes an electronic circuit operationally coupled between the point of sale system and a device, such as a printer, adapted to output a purchase receipt. Memory fixed in a tangible medium is coupled to the electronic circuit and code is stored therein.

Abstract: A method includes instantiating, by one or more processors, a queue comprising a finite number of queuing slots configured to provide prioritized access to a host system, and receiving, by the one or more processors from devices associated with a plurality of requesting users, a plurality of queuing requests, each queuing request comprising information that identities a quantity of tokens. The method also includes allocating, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of the finite number of queuing slots to at least a portion of the requesting users according to the quantity of tokens identified by each queuing request, and authorizing, by the one or more processors, access to the host system in accordance with the allocation of the finite number of queuing slots.

Abstract: A high density interactive media guide interface (100) provides for the selection of a source from a dense array of available sources (105, 110) by displaying an array of available sources (105, 110) in a dense format that illustrates the availability of a high number of sources and expanding the display of selected sources (120, 130) to provide additional information regarding that source. “Clickless selection” is provided by either positioning the cursor over the desired selection or positioning the desired selection under a pre-designated position.

Abstract: A system for translating receipt data output by a point of sale system of the present invention. The system includes a first electrical interface coupled to said point of sale system; an electronic encoder circuit coupled to said first interface, said encoder circuit being adapted to receive receipt and translate alpha-numeric receipt data into two-dimensional bar code data; and a second electrical interface between said encoder and an output device for displaying said two-dimensional bar code data on an electronic or physical medium. A digital embodiment includes an electronic circuit operationally coupled between the point of sale system and a device, such as a printer, adapted to output a purchase receipt. Memory fixed in a tangible medium is coupled to the electronic circuit and code is stored therein.

Abstract: An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing television schedule information to a viewer, and for allowing the viewer to link, search, select and interact with information in a remote database, e.g., a database on the internet. The television schedule information can be displayed on a variety of viewer interfaces, such as televisions screens, computer monitors, PCTV screens and the like. The television schedule information may be stored on the viewer's computer, television, PCTV, or a remote server (e.g., a website), or the television schedule information may be downloaded from a remote database to the viewer's computer, television or PCTV.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: A high density interactive media guide interface (100) provides for the selection of a source from a dense array of available sources (105, 110) by displaying an array of available sources (105, 110) in a dense format that illustrates the availability of a high number of sources and expanding the display of selected sources (120, 130) to provide additional information regarding that source. “Clickless selection” is provided by either positioning the cursor over the desired selection or positioning the desired selection under a pre-designated position.

Abstract: A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

Abstract: An electronic game and method are set forth wherein the objective of the electronic game, playable by one or more persons, is to select moving or stationary game elements and move them to or otherwise cause them to make contact with a matched or otherwise associated goal and thus score points, and do so among a game space containing other moving and/or stationary game elements which themselves may be selected and moved by the player, and which if contacted by a user-controlled game element may result in either beneficial or detrimental consequences to the configuration of the playing field, the elements themselves, scoring, and progression of the game.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: An electronic programming guide generator utilizes filters to select only programming filtered to display in an electronic programming guide display.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.

Abstract: A television schedule system and method for displaying television schedule information on a television screen includes a program guide having a schedule information area that depicts the programs that are being presented on each channel at each time during the day. An input device allows the viewer to browse through the schedule information area and/or obtain more information about programs of particular interest. In one aspect, the viewer may watch a program on the currently-tuned channel, while browsing through the other channels on a portion of the television screen. In another aspect, the viewer may watch programs currently being shown on the television, while he or she browses through the program guide. In yet another aspect, the system includes a database, a processor and associated software for automatically customizing the television schedule guide to an individual viewer or a group of viewers, e.g., a family, to facilitate use of the television schedule.