Abstract: In one example, a method for ranking items such as contest entries is provided. An exemplary method includes displaying sequential subsets of entries from a plurality of entries for a first user to vote on, e.g., making a selection of their preference of one over the other. The method further includes generating a first preference ballot of displayed entries based on selections by the first user, and ranking the plurality of entries based upon the first preference ballot and at least a second preference ballot received from another user. The ranking may be determined based on the first and second preference ballot by a Condorcet algorithm. Additionally, display of the entries may be determined based on previous selections associated with the contest entries, e.g., based on the state of the contest and/or the history of particular contest entries.

Abstract: A data warehouse is provided for gaming systems located in multiple jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction collects gaming data from one or more gaming devices. Data from each jurisdiction is extracted, transformed and loaded into a data warehouse. A network, such as the Internet, may be used to transfer the data to the data warehouse. An on-line analytical processing (OLAP) application provides analysis services, such as point-in-time data reports, summary data reports, comparison reports, trend analysis reports and profitability reports, and other data analysis and data mining applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting streaming video content in a gaming machine are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes acquiring, in a first gaming machine, access to a set of shared game assets. The method can also include providing a second gaming machine with access to the set of shared game assets. The method can also include conducting, in the first gaming machine, a first wagering game in which one of the set of shared game assets is consumed, and wherein during the first wagering game, the second gaming machine conducts a second wagering game in which another of the set of shared game assets is consumed.

Abstract: The SIP server can be comprised of an engine tier and a state tier distributed on a cluster network. Engine nodes in the engine tier can process SIP messages and can read/write state information from/to the state tier. State tier can maintain state information in a set of partitions of one or more replicas which contain duplicate information. The engine nodes can be adapted to detect and report replica failures and the replicas can in turn be adapted to detect and report engine node failures. Replicas can detect faults with an engine node if the engine node fails to poll the replica for a specified period of time and can then report the failure. The engine node can detect failures of a replica when reading or writing state information and can report the failure to another replica, which can be responsible for updating the partition view to exclude dead replicas.

Abstract: The SIP server can be comprised of an engine tier and a state tier distributed on a cluster network environment. The engine tier can send and receive messages and execute various processes. The state tier can maintain in-memory state data associated with various SIP sessions. For example, the state tier can store various long lived data objects and the engine tier can contain short lived data objects. The state data can be maintained in partitions comprised of state replicas. A load balancer can receive incoming message traffic and distribute it to the engine tier for processing. When processing a message, the engine can pull state data objects from the state tier, use the objects and push them back to the state tier after processing is complete. If one state replica is unavailable, such as during garbage collection, the engine can retrieve the objects from another replica in the partition.

Abstract: A distributed network identity is provided. An identity provider stores a portion of a user's personal information. A service provider accesses user information from one or more identity providers. System entities such as identity providers and service providers can be linked to enable information sharing and aggregation. User policies and privacy preferences are provided to control how information is shared. A single sign-on architecture is provided where an identity provider is used to facilitate cross-domain authentication and to enhance user convenience. Service delegation features are also provided.

Abstract: A distributed network identity is provided. An identity provider stores a portion of a user's personal information. A service provider accesses user information from one or more identity providers. System entities such as identity providers and service providers can be linked to enable information sharing and aggregation. User policies and privacy preferences are provided to control how information is shared. A single sign-on architecture is provided where an identity provider is used to facilitate cross-domain authentication and to enhance user convenience. Service delegation features are also provided.

Abstract: A slag conditioner containing MgO, up to 50% slag-making carbon, 10 to 60% particulates of bag house dust and dropout box particles and 2% to 25% binder is mixed and formed under pressure to produce aggregates which can have the form of a briquette. The MgO content of the mixture comprising: 20% to 90% burned aggregates comprised of particles less than 8 mm of which at least 30% is 0.2 mm or greater and containing between 35% and 94% MgO; and up to 50% light burned magnesite.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a retractable ledge socket is presented. In this regard, a socket ledge is introduced to receive a processor, and to reposition to allow the processor to contact socket connections. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an electronic assembly is provided. The electronic assembly includes a first substrate having an integrated circuit formed therein and a second substrate. The first and second substrates are interconnected by a plurality of bi-material interconnects that are electrically connected to the integrated circuit and have a first component comprising a conductive first material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second component comprising a second material with a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first and second components are connected and shaped such that when the temperature of the bi-material interconnects changes the interconnects each bend towards the first or second component. When the temperature of the second substrate increases, the second substrate expands away from a central portion thereof. The bi-material interconnects are arranged such that the bi-material interconnects bend away from the central portion of the second substrate.

Abstract: A slag conditioner containing MgO, carbon or a filler and a binder is mixed and formed under pressure to produce aggregates which can have the form of a briquette. The slag conditioner is used to improve the operating performance and refractory life in steel melting furnaces. A slag conditioner comprising by weight a mixture and 2% to 25% binder for bonded agglomerates or larger particles of said mixture, the mixture comprising: 20% to 90% burned aggregates comprised of particles less than 8 mm of which at least 30% is 0.2 mm or greater and containing between 35% and 94% MgO; up to 50% slag-making carbonaceous or other additive; and up to 50% light burned magnesite.

Abstract: A system and method for adapters to provide nodes of a network access to a distributed search mechanism. Network nodes operating as consumer or requesting nodes generate search requests. Nodes operating as hubs are configured to route messages in the network. Individual nodes operating as provider nodes receive search requests and may generate results according to their own procedures in return. Hub nodes may resolve the search requests to a subset of the provider nodes in the network, for example by matching search requests with registration information from nodes. Communication between nodes in the network may use a common query protocol. Adapters may be implemented in the network to reformat messages exchanged in the network. Adapters may customize results. Adapters may enable nodes to function in a distributed search mechanism.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a plurality of common objects, a plurality of application objects, and a central system. The common objects are shared by a plurality of applications and include gaming devices and games. Each gaming device includes at least one of the games. The application objects are used in one of the applications. The central system is linked to the gaming devices and includes a common database and an application database. The common database defines the common objects and first associations between the common objects. The application database defines the application objects, second associations between the application objects, and third associations between the common objects and the application objects. The central system is adapted to dynamically configure the one of the applications based on a change to one or more of the first, second, and third associations.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plurality of electronic devices is provided. Each one of a plurality of first conductive terminals on a plurality of integrated circuits formed on a device wafer is connected to a respective one of a plurality of second conductive terminals on a carrier wafer, thereby forming a combination wafer assembly. The combination wafer assembly is singulated between the integrated circuits to form separate electronic assemblies. Each electronic assembly has a respective die from a separated portion of the device wafer and a carrier substrate from a separated portion of the carrier wafer. The process of fabricating electronic assemblies is simplified and costs are reduced because the dies are connected to the carrier substrate at wafer level, i.e. before singulation. The combination wafer assembly also allows for an underfill material to be introduced and to cured at wafer level and for thinning of the device wafer at wafer level without requiring a separate supporting substrate.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an electronic assembly is provided. The electronic assembly includes a first substrate having an integrated circuit formed therein and a second substrate. The first and second substrates are interconnected by a plurality of bi-material interconnects that are electrically connected to the integrated circuit and have a first component comprising a conductive first material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second component comprising a second material with a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first and second components are connected and shaped such that when the temperature of the bi-material interconnects changes the interconnects each bend towards the first or second component. When the temperature of the second substrate increases, the second substrate expands away from a central portion thereof. The bi-material interconnects are arranged such that the bi-material interconnects bend away from the central portion of the second substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to wagering games and, more particularly, to a gaming network linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming network has a plurality of servers dedicated to providing a shared game to a plurality of gaming terminals. The shared game may be either competitive or collaborative between players and may be a combination of both competitive and collaborative game play. The dedicated game servers are connected to a core support network that has commonly used computer resources. The communication link between the gaming terminals and servers are supported by a communication server with message directing software that allows events that occur at individual gaming terminals to be broadcast to all other gaming terminals and servers associated with that shared gaming events.

Abstract: An interposer, between a die and a substrate, has a body with a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a channel that passes from the first surface, through the body to the opposite second surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving search queries to information providers in a distributing search network. In a network including nodes generating search requests and nodes providing information, a node may operate as hub to route search requests from requesting nodes to provider nodes. Providers may register with a network hub. Registration information may include address information and data indicating the queries or type of queries for which that provider may have relevant data. A hub may resolve search queries against provider registrations to determine a set of providers to which to route each search query. Several systems and methods of selecting some of the providers are described, including the use of bidding, ranking, and statistical data.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a plurality of common objects, a plurality of application objects, and a central system. The common objects are shared by a plurality of applications and include gaming devices and games. Each gaming device includes at least one of the games. The application objects are used in one of the applications. The central system is linked to the gaming devices and includes a common database and an application database. The common database defines the common objects and first associations between the common objects. The application database defines the application objects, second associations between the application objects, and third associations between the common objects and the application objects. The central system is adapted to dynamically configure the one of the applications based on a change to one or more of the first, second, and third associations.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing search requests in a network. The system and method may also route search responses. Network nodes operating as consumer or requesting nodes generate the search requests. Nodes operating as hubs are configured to route the search requests in the network. Individual nodes operating as provider nodes receive the search request and in response may generate search results according to their own procedures and return them. Communication between nodes in the network may use a common query protocol. Hub nodes may resolve the search requests to a subset of the provider nodes in the network, for example by matching search requests with registration information from nodes. Search results may be customized at various stages in the network.