Abstract: An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium including a telephone line that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium preferably including the Internet that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system.

Abstract: A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers.

Abstract: An amusement toy including a head having at least a partial facial image, and an elastically deformable mouth associated with the head. The mouth has an undeformed dimension in the absence of a deforming force and is capable of deforming such that a deformed dimension of the mouth is at least 20% greater than the undeformed dimension of the mouth. The deformation of the mouth of the toy alters the facial image presented by the head, making a “scary face.” The removal of the force causes the mouth to return to substantially its undeformed dimension. A body of the amusement toy is preferably attached to the head such that the center of gravity of the toy is below the elastically deformable mouth.

Abstract: A method for providing an e-mail system including providing a server connected to a network; inputting a message from a sender into the server to be sent as e-mail to at least one recipient mail box on the network; enhancing the e-mail message with a self-executing programmable enhancement; and delivering the e-mail over the network to the at least one recipient mail box. Optionally, the method may provide a number of e-mail boxes on the server assigned to a number of members for the receipt of e-mail addressed to the members at the server, and a menu listing a number of the self-executing programmable enhancements. An e-mail system including a server coupled to a wide area network, and a web site hosted by the server that is capable of at least temporarily storing a message to be sent as e-mail over the wide area network to at least one recipient mail box.

Abstract: A voice web browser system includes a telephone, an access system coupled to a TCP/IP network, a telephone system coupling the telephone to the access system, and a speech-to-text system for “reading” text that had been sent over the TCP/IP network to the telephone user. Preferably, the access system receives TCP/IP packets from web pages accessible over the TCP/IP network and parses the HTML code of the web pages into text and non-text portions, such that the text portion can be read to the telephone user.

Abstract: A network browsing system includes a host computer coupled to a client computer by a network. A network browser process implemented on the client computer is capable of establishing a connection with the host computer and of generating a request for desired data from the host computer which is to generate desired images on the display of the client computer. A server process implemented on the host computer services the request for desired data received from the client computer by modifying the desired data into modified data such that no additional connection between the client computer and the host computer is required to receive the entirety of the modified data. The browser process of the client computer can generate the desired images from the modified data to the same extent that it could from the originally requested desired data.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium including a telephone line that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system.

Abstract: An amusement toy including a head having at least a partial facial image, and an elastically deformable mouth associated with the head. The mouth has an undeformed dimension in the absence of a deforming force and is capable of deforming such that a deformed dimension of the mouth is at least 20% greater than the undeformed dimension of the mouth. The deformation of the mouth of the toy alters the facial image presented by the head, making a “scary face.” The removal of the force causes the mouth to return to substantially its undeformed dimension. A body of the amusement toy is preferably attached to the head such that the center of gravity of the toy is below the elastically deformable mouth.

Abstract: A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers.

Abstract: A network browsing system includes a host computer coupled to a client computer by a network. A network browser process implemented on the client computer is capable of establishing a connection with the host computer and of generating a request for desired data from the host computer which is to generate desired images on the display of the client computer. A server process implemented on the host computer services the request for desired data received from the client computer by modifying the desired data into modified data such that no additional connection between the client computer and the host computer is required to receive the entirety of the modified data. The browser process of the client computer can generate the desired images from the modified data to the same extent that it could from the originally requested desired data.

Abstract: An exercise system includes a local system having an exercise apparatus and an associated local computer, where the local computer controls and monitors the operation and use, respectively, of the exercise apparatus. The system further includes a remote system having a remote computer, and a transmission medium including a telephone line that couples the local system to the remote system for data communication between the local system and the remote system. The remote system may receive local system data from the local system concerning the use of the exercise apparatus, and the local system may receive remote system data from the remote system concerning the operation of the exercise apparatus. The local computer preferably controls the operation of the exercise apparatus based upon a modifiable script stored in a read/write memory of the local computer, which can be updated by the remote system.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductor assembly includes preparing a first bulk ceramic superconductor having a first essentially random pattern of superconductor domains of a copper-oxide ceramic superconductor and non-superconductor domains at a critical temperature, and preparing a second bulk ceramic superconductor having a second essentially random pattern of superconductor domains of a copper-oxide ceramic superconductor and non-superconductor domains at the critical temperature. The method further includes juxtaposing a first surface of the first bulk ceramic superconductor proximate with a first surface of the second bulk ceramic superconductor to form a superconductor assembly where superconductor domains of the first bulk ceramic superconductor and superconductor domains of the second bulk ceramic superconductor are only randomly aligned due to the different first essentially random pattern and second essentially random pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communication configuring in digital equipment based on the location of the equipment includes a mechanism determining the location of the digital equipment and a mechanism configuring a communication channel of the equipment based on the location. The location may be determined using a Global Positioning System, Global Paging System, or similar wireless communication system, or by connection to a wired network. User input may also be used in determining, in part or in whole, the location of the digital equipment. Once the location of the digital equipment has been determined, the communication channel for the digital equipment is configured based upon the location using configuration data stored with the digital equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communication configuring in digital equipment based on the location of the equipment includes a mechanism determining the location of the digital equipment and a mechanism configuring a communication channel of the equipment based on the location. The location may be determined using a Global Positioning System, Global Paging System, or similar wireless communication system, or by connection to a wired network. User input may also be used in determining, in part or in whole, the location of the digital equipment. Once the location of the digital equipment has been determined, the communication channel for the digital equipment is configured based upon the location using configuration data stored with the digital equipment.

Abstract: An amusement toy including a head having at least a partial facial image, and an elastically deformable mouth associated with the head. The mouth has an undeformed dimension in the absence of a deforming force and is capable of deforming such that a deformed dimension of the mouth is at least 20% greater than the undeformed dimension of the mouth. The deformation of the mouth of the toy alters the facial image presented by the head, making a "scary face." The removal of the force causes the mouth to return to substantially its undeformed dimension. A body of the amusement toy is preferably attached to the head such that the center of gravity of the toy is below the elastically deformable mouth.