Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment, the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.

Abstract: In some embodiments, methods and apparatus allow for a plurality of options to be displayed to a player for playing at least one round of a game in accordance with at least one advantage and/or disadvantage. The player may accept an option. For example, a player may accept an option to play at least one future round of play in accordance with a rule that is different from a rule used in a current round of play.

Abstract: A method of developing a software product, including steps of: receiving sets of parameters (e.g., manifests) describing computing environments for a plurality of customers, at least some of said sets of parameters for some customers differing from others of said sets of parameters for other customers; receiving an indication from at least one of said customers of a bug or condition that occurs with said software product running under one of said sets of parameters; and testing said software product in a computing environment configured in accordance with said sets of parameters including at least said one of said sets of parameters indicated by said one of said customers. The sets of parameters can also be sent back to customers to help with disaster recovery. Also, a method of distributing said software product and servers that perform these methods.

Abstract: To integrate audiovisual, encoded information into one predefined, frame-structured transmission standard, individual data streams are multiplexed into one or a plurality of data channels of the frame-structured transmission standard. In addition, the capabilities of the communicating terminals are exchanged.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data packets between motor vehicles includes transmitting individual data packets including vehicle data and generation data for the individual data packets. Other motor vehicles may combine the individual data packets into combined data packets and transmit them. The data packets may include fields, each of which may include data-packet generation data and vehicle data. To allow processing to be performed in the transmitting/receiving stations in motor vehicles. Permanently installed radio stations allow a main station to supply information columns at clearly defined points with traffic information to inform users outside of the roads.

Abstract: The use of a plastic foam system, which contains at least one filler capable of swelling in the presence of water, for sealing openings in buildings, which are in contact with the outside, especially wall, floor and ceiling channels of pipes and/or cables.

Abstract: For sealing an annular space (4) between opening (2) in a wall or similar, member (1) and an object (3), extending through the opening (2), by introducing a sealing agent into the space (4), at least one bag (9, 10), into which the sealing agent is introduced, is positioned in the space (4). For this purpose, a supporting element (5, 6) is used, which can be positioned in the opening and to which a bag (9, 10) is fastened. The annular space (4) can be sealed easily and also liquid-tight in this manner.

Abstract: The invention detects commercials interrupting television programs by comparing signals in a comparator (16) received from multiple regions (1, 6, 11) of a network. If one or more of the received signals differs from the other received signals by more than a preset amount, generating a signal via output (17) indicating the presence of a commercial. Because different commercials are inserted in different regions of a network, the signals are generally very similar during program transmission and very different during commercial transmission.

Abstract: A method of and a device for sealing a gap (4) between a leadthrough (2) arranged in a constructional element (1) and an object (3) extending through the leadthrough (2), according to which an elastic sealing element (6) which surrounds the object (3) is placed in the gap (6) and is compressed in an axial direction of the leadthrough (2) and is fixed in its compressed condition with a fastening element (7).

Abstract: A method for sealing a gap (4) between a leadthrough (2) provided in a constructional element (1) and an object (3) extending through the leadthrough (2), the method including placing in the gap (4) a plurality of elongate sealing elements, formed as hot melt elements (5) provided with heat-activated blowing agent, and applying heat to the hot melt element from outside; and a sealing element used by the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video recording apparatus and in particular video recorders incorporating improved user interface (6) and control means. A video recorder comprising recording means (1), tuning means (5), a controller (3) adapted to control the recording means and interface means adapted to communicate commands to and from said controller. The commands include commands to interrogate the operational state of the video recorder. Operational states include, inter alia, tuner frequency: transport mode such as recording, playing or stopped: and current position within the recording media, for example a timecode, elapsed time or time remaining. The commands can also include commands to interrogate the memory within the video recorder. information may thereby be discovered remotely, for example the time, date, channel and duration values corresponding to events that have been set for unattended recording.

Abstract: A system and process which renders commercials less intrusive by reducing the intensity of the sound or picture or both during a commercial break. Whereas prior-art commercial deleters disable the sound or picture of a program during commercials, the present invention offers the advantage of being able to watch listen to commercials if desired while reducing their intrusiveness.

Abstract: Signals identifying the content of television programs are served to the internet by a central server and received from the internet in viewers' homes. A controller uses these signals to control recording or viewing of a television program according to the identifying signals received.

Abstract: A system for controlling recording of television programs utilizing a TV guide, which is provided as a web page and used to select programs to be recorded, and realtime control signals transmitted via the Internet or other medium. Recording is started and stopped according to the content of the realtime control signals.

Abstract: For sealing an annular space or space (4) between an opening (2), in a wall or similar member (1), and an object (3) extending through the opening (2), at least one sealing element (6) is placed in the annular space (4). Initially, the sealing element (6) is placed in the compressed state between the wall (1) and the object (3) and subsequently is released from the compressed state to an expanded state. For this purpose at first, the sealing element (6) is compressed by a sheath (7) which, after the sealing element (6) is positioned in the annular space (4), is destroyed and makes the expansion of the sealing element (6) possible.

Abstract: A one-component polyurethane foam composition is described, which contains at least one prepolymer (isocyanate prepolymer), which has isocyanate groups, at least one blowing agent and known auxiliary and additive materials containing at least one ester, free of reactive hydrogens, of a polycarboxylic C2 to C7 acid and a monohydric C1 to C7 alcohol and/or a monocarboxylic C1 to C7 acid with a multihydric C2 to C7 alcohol as means for improving the complete and embrittlement-free curing even at low temperatures and/or low ambient humidities, as well as the use of these esters, which are free of reactive hydrogen atoms, for improving the embrittlement-free curing of such one-component polyurethane foam compositions under unfavorable conditions (low temperature and little available ambient humidity).

Abstract: A panel fastener includes a metallic screw insert with an overmolded plastic cap. The screw insert is preferably manufactured by means of cold forming process which allows fabrication of the internal drive recesses and dog point ends for easy location of the mating threads while providing increased thread strength. The plastic cap is in the form of a knob which has large flutes on its outer diameter for ergonomic finger operation. In addition the knob may have a slot molded into its top to allow screwdriver or coin operation. The metallic insert may also be accessed by a drive through a central cavity in the knob. Assembly of the screw to the ferrule is achieved by passing the screw threads through the ferrule body which includes an internal annular retaining ring. The ring is very narrow and dimensioned to allow the screw to be easily pressed through the annular opening since the ring elastically expands as the thread portion of the screw passes through it.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data packets between motor vehicles includes transmitting individual data packets including vehicle data and generation data for the individual data packets. Other motor vehicles may combine the individual data packets into combined data packets and transmit them. The data packets may include fields, each of which may include data-packet generation data and vehicle data. To allow processing to be performed in the transmitting/receiving stations in motor vehicles. Permanently installed radio stations allow a main station to supply information columns at clearly defined points with traffic information to inform users outside of the roads.

Abstract: A method of and an implement for sealing a space (4) between an inner wall of a leadthrough (2) formed in constructional component (1) and at least one object (3) extending through the leadthrough (2) and including providing a support member (6; 15) fixedly and sealingly attachable to the constructional component (1), and a resilient diaphragm (7; 16) for sealingly connecting the support member (6; 15) with the constructional component (1).

Abstract: A coder for segmented coding of an input signal (b) by using of a controllable quantizer (1C) and a buffer memory (6) is described. Data of the input signing (b), which are quantized and VLC-coded in operation, are buffered in the buffered memory (6). To avoid the conventional control, beset with drawbacks, of the quantizer (1C) by using of the filling state of the buffer memory (6), a controller (3, 4, 7, S1, S2, S3) provided with which a single adjustment of the quantizer (1C) for a signal segment to be coded is determined in that the signal segment is trial-coded at different adjustments of the quantizer (1C), the bit volume (the number of bits) is determined at each trial run, resulting in a VLC coding of the signal segment at the actually selected adjustment of the quantizer (1C), and that adjustment of the quantizer (1C) is used for the final coding and transmission of the signal segment which, during the trial runs, has yielded a bit volume which substantially corresponds to a nominal bit volume.