Abstract: A system and method are configured to provide a videogame to one or more players. The videogame may involve a series of different sets of content within which players perform activities. A group of players may be associated with the content sets. The players may include virtual players controlled by artificial intelligence and one or more real world players. Players may progress through the videogame by moving from content sets to content sets, performing objectives in the various content sets, and interacting with the players within those content sets.

Abstract: A centralized social network tool is configured to interface with and integrates into one or more videogames and/or videogame series. The social network tool may be integral to the theme of the games and be pervasive within game play. The social network may drive progression of the story and interaction between characters. According to another aspect of the invention, the members of the social network may include actual members (corresponding to real people) and virtual members (e.g., artificial intelligence controlled bot members). The virtual members may be part of the social network and may interact with real members within and outside of the game as part of the theme of the game.

Abstract: A system and method are configured to provide a videogame to one or more players. The videogame may involve a series of different virtual geographic locations at which players perform activities. A group of players may be associated with each location. The players may include virtual players controlled by artificial intelligence and one or more real world players. Players may progress through the videogame by moving from location to location, performing objectives at the various locations, and interacting with the players at the locations.

Abstract: A method of relatively positioning a workpiece and a reference axis comprising effecting relative displacements of the workpiece and the reference axis along orthogonal axes so that an intersection of the reference axis with the workpiece is moved at substantially constant speed along a curvilinear path. The method is particularly applicable to SEE sensitivity mapping of a microchip memory using a pulsed laser, relative to the axis of which the chip is moved in a spiral path.

Abstract: A multimedia server includes a first transceiver that modulates a data signal to produce a first radio frequency (RF) signal and that transmits the first RF signal to a client over a first transceiver channel when the first transceiver is in a transceive mode. The first transceiver includes a first channel control that performs a first channel scan when the first transceiver is in a scan mode, that determines at least one performance parameter of the first transceiver channel and asserts a low performance signal when the at least one performance parameter compares unfavorably to a performance threshold, and that switches the first transceiver to a selected alternative transceiver channel when the low performance signal is asserted.

Abstract: A radio receiver includes a first diversity antenna structure, a second diversity antenna structure, a first RF receiver section, a second RF receiver section, a combining module, and a baseband processing module. The first diversity antenna structure provides the received inbound RF signals from one of the plurality of first antennas based on a first antenna selection signal to produce first received inbound RF signals. The second diversity antenna structure provides the received inbound RF signals from one of the plurality of second antennas based on a second antenna selection signal to produce second received inbound RF signals. The first and second RF receiver sections are operably coupled to convert the first and second received inbound RF signals into first and second inbound baseband signals, respectively. The combining module combines the first and second inbound baseband signals to produce inbound baseband signals.

Abstract: A centralized social network tool is configured to interface with and integrates into one or more videogames and/or videogame series. The social network tool may be integral to the theme of the games and be pervasive within game play. The social network may drive progression of the story and interaction between characters. According to another aspect of the invention, the members of the social network may include actual members (corresponding to real people) and virtual members (e.g., artificial intelligence controlled bot members). The virtual members may be part of the social network and may interact with real members within and outside of the game as part of the theme of the game.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a multimedia server module that is coupleable to a plurality of multimedia sources that produce at least one multimedia signal and that can transmit over a wireless communication path to at least one client module, the circuit includes an encoder module that encodes the at least one multimedia signal to produce an encoded signal. An RF server transceiver module produces a channel signal that includes the encoded signal, and that wirelessly transmits the channel signal at a link data rate over the wireless communication path, the RF server transceiver module including a first monitor module that generates first RF performance signals that are based on the performance of the wireless communication path, and a quality of service module that receives the first RF performance signals and adjusts both a range of the link data rate and the link data rate.

Abstract: An air intake system for an off-road vehicle includes an intake conduit upstream of a segmented debris removal device and a mail filter element. A baffle is disposed in the intake conduit and extends into the incoming air stream to avoid swirl in the air stream and provide more even air flow distribution into the segments of the segmented debris removal device. The baffle may have two generally parallel elements spaced from one another to reduce mixing of air regions separated by the baffle. The baffle reduces or eliminates vortices that adversely affect air flow into the segmented debris removal device.

Abstract: An encoded signal is modulated to produce a first radio frequency (RF) signal that is transmitted to a client module over a first transceiver channel when a first transceiver module is in a transceive mode. A channel scan is performed when the first transceiver module is in a scan mode. The encoded signal is modulated to produce a second RF signal and that is transmitted over a second transceiver channel when a second transceiver module is in a transceive mode.

Abstract: The anti-Sudden infant death syndrome baby fan is a portable fan that can attach to a baby crib in order to provide air movement across an infant in order to prevent the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome. The portable fan comprises a housing, foam blades, rubber mat, knob, ON/OFF switch, and battery compartment. The inclusion of foam blades is a safety design in that foam blades will not inflict any substantive injury to anyone who touches said blades while in motion, i.e. the infant. The portable fan can also be integrated into the design of a crib mobile in order to circulate air from above the crib.

Abstract: A method and computer program product enable an email user to receive an update to a previously received email message. An email client receives an update to the previously received email message is received. Privacy information in the update is identified and that privacy information is associated with a first portion of the previously received email message. The privacy information indicates whether the user is permitted to view that first portion of the previously received email message. The privacy information may be used to update the previously received message.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for affiliating a wireless device with a wireless local area network (WLAN). An embodiment of the method of this invention comprises establishing, at a control node of the WLAN, access frequency(s) for affiliation with the WLAN. The control node periodically provides a beacon frame on the access frequency(s) that indicates the timing of affiliation with the WLAN. The wireless device determines the access frequency(s) for affiliating with the WLAN and the timing of affiliation with the WLAN based on the beacon frame. The wireless device provides self identification information via the access frequency during the beacon frame. This allows the control node to determine the access privileges of the wireless device based on the identification information. Finally, the control node affiliates the wireless device with an initial access channel from a set of access channels in accordance with the access privileges.

Abstract: A round trowel is disclosed which may be used to shape or work materials such as concrete, stucco, or plaster, where there is an interior corner which is concave.

Abstract: A method includes decompressing first compressed video data to provide uncompressed video data in a first order. The method includes compressing the uncompressed video data to provide second compressed video data in a second order. The decompressing and compressing are based on first and second compression rates, respectively. The first order may be based on fundamental blocks of a frame of video data and the second order is based on lines of the frame of video data. The compressing may include alternating compression of partial portions of a first line of uncompressed video data with compression of partial portions of at least a second line of uncompressed video data to thereby generate a first line of compressed video data corresponding to the first line of uncompressed video data and at least a second line of compressed video data corresponding to the second line of uncompressed video data.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods relating to antibodies specific for the soluble form of CTLA-4 (sCT-LA-4). Such antibodies have been shown to have a strong boosting effect on antigen-specific human immune responses.

Abstract: A system and method for uniquely identifying computer and support infrastructure equipment in a rack and to determine the physical location of the equipment within the rack. In one embodiment, a set of communication ports is installed in the rack, with each communication port representing a physical rack location unit. The equipment is queried via the equipment's communication port, which is coupled to one of the communication ports in the rack. Equipment which does not support identification through some protocol has its identification information stored in an intelligent device which can be queried through the same set of communication ports. A management module collects the equipment information and location and aggregates the information for the entire rack. This information can then be queried by a remotely over the network.

Abstract: A circuit for use in a multimedia server module includes an encoder module that encodes a multimedia signal to produce an encoded signal that includes a sequence of packets having a packet size. An RF server transceiver module, coupled to the encoder module, that produces a channel signal that includes the encoded signal, and that wirelessly transmits the channel signal at a link data rate over a wireless communication path to at least one client module The RF server transceiver module includes a quality of service module that adjusts the packet size based on first RF performance signals determined by the RF transceiver, based on second performance signals received from a client module and/or based on adjustments made to the link data rate.