Abstract: Presented are apparatus and methods for providing online health monitoring and accumulating data from patients applicable in both diagnosing and prescribing preventive medical treatment. Methods and devices include using a sensitive acoustic device to analyze a patient's health function from a location such as a public computer kiosk, a doctor's office or a patient's computer. The data may be downloaded to a central database, for example, via the Internet. The data may be retrieved by the patient, or accessed by doctors for purposes of diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. The data may include demographic data that can be stored while maintaining patient anonymity. The data may be accessible to researchers providing medical statistics on a wide variety of patients from various age groups, ethnic backgrounds, medical histories and the like.

Abstract: A system provides messages from deceased relatives and friends, which messages are readily accessible. Before death a person records various messages for loved ones. The system stores these messages at a location and associates PIN numbers with each individual for whom there is a message. Either the intended recipient is given information about the message or leaving of a message by a symbol located in a conspicuous place, e.g., on the headstone of the deceased. The person then calls a 900 number or logs onto a specific website. In response to the correct answers to certain questions, the intended recipient is given their PIN. Using the PIN, the person can contact the system and received the recorded message at any time, e.g., by cell phone at the grave site. Alternatively, the grave site itself can be wired to provide the message, e.g., from a tape recorder over headphones or at special kiosks at the cemetery.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for keeping track of the ownership of unique items in a system including a server computer connected to a database and at least one client computer connected to the server computer over a network. In operation information concerning the item is entered into the client computer. This information, includes at least a description of the item and its owner, is uploaded from the client computer to said server computer where the information is stored in the database. In response, the system provides from the server to the client computer a transaction identification number related to the information and an item number related to the item. A user at the client computer can use the transaction identification number to access the uploaded information at the database to determine the current owner of the item.

Abstract: A gaming system and method is provided for purchasing lottery tickets and tracking the results therefor over the Internet. End users can purchase lottery tickets of different states online. The lottery tickets are electronically tracked (win or lose) whose results are forwarded to the purchasers via the Internet, e.g., by electronic mail (e-mail) or posting the results on a designated website. Virtual groups (in the form of chat rooms) are formed online. Members of the virtual groups can access the chat rooms using an Internet service provider to purchase lottery tickets and check the results.

Abstract: A gaming system and method is provided for purchasing lottery tickets and tracking the results therefor over the Internet. End users can purchase lottery tickets of different states online. The lottery tickets are electronically tracked (win or lose) whose results are forwarded to the purchasers via the Internet, e.g., by electronic mail (e-mail) or posting the results on a designated website. Virtual groups (in the form of chat rooms) are formed online. Members of the virtual groups can access the chat rooms using an Internet service provider to purchase lottery tickets and check the results.