Abstract: A process for producing a glass body, the process including flowing oxygen gas from a burner in a furnace at a flow rate of greater than 12.0 standard liters per minute and flowing a precursor gas mixture from the burner. The process further including oxidizing the precursor gas mixture with the oxygen gas to form glass particles and depositing the glass particles on a collection cup to form the glass body.

Abstract: A wagering game system is described herein. In embodiments the wagering game system comprises a plurality of player terminals configured to present wagering games and to collect player activity information associated with the wagering games, the player activity information indicating player inputs and financial transactions. In embodiments, the wagering game system further comprises one or more account servers configured to receive the player activity information and to perform the financial transactions on player accounts and a monitoring system configured to receive the player activity information and to remotely disable ones of the plurality of player terminals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for tracking customer purchases using a unique anonymous identifier. Customer purchases are monitored by obtaining a unique anonymous identifier from the customer as part of a current transaction; and associating the current transaction with a prior transaction using the unique anonymous identifier. The unique anonymous identifier can be, for example, a purchase identifier associated with the prior transaction, and provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with the customer. The current or prior transaction (or both) can optionally be clustered with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic current and prior transactions.

Abstract: An integrated gaming and services system is disclosed. The system includes a gaming terminal and a server system. The gaming terminal may include a reader system connected to the gaming terminal, the reader system configured to read identification information of a player. The gaming terminal may further include an input/output system including one or more input components that permit a player to input at least voice commands to the gaming terminal, and one or more output components that output gaming and services information to the player in response to the voice commands. The gaming terminal may additionally include a communication interface connecting the gaming terminal to a communication network. The server system communicates with the gaming terminal via the communication interface, and provides enhanced services to the player based at least on the identification information of the player.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a document to generate a set of related documents. A system is provided that includes a textual analytics system that analyzes unstructured data contained in a source document and extracts a set of structured information about the source document; and a compare system that identifies a set of related documents by comparing the set of structured information with metadata indexed from a set of publications.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing patent documents. A system is disclosed that includes: an extraction system for extracting non-patent references from a patent document; a system for cross-referencing an extracted non-patent reference with a metadata database to identify metadata information associated with the extracted non-patent reference; and a system for annotating the patent document with the metadata information.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods allow a patron to play games from an off-site location via an online network. For example, a server may receive, from a client terminal, a purchase request for a plurality of wagers from a patron before a game play has begun. The server may determine the results of the plurality of wagers and store the results in a database before the game play has begun. Then, the server may adjust an account of the player based on the results before the game play has begun, and send the results to the client terminal before the game play has begun, in response to a request to reveal the results. Additionally, exemplary systems and methods allow a patron to play games using variable pay tables based on denomination amounts, number of wagers, amounts of previous wagers. Such systems and methods may, for example, establish a plurality of denomination levels and corresponding pay tables such that odds of winning increase as the denomination value increases.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention allow guests at a hospitality facility to communicate via VoIP from a remote terminal. For example, guests at a client terminal can place and receive phone calls, experience content, and receive targeted messages while continuing to play games at the client terminal. Based on the stored guest preference information, hospitality facility operators can selectively target information to each guest.

Abstract: Player information is received and a player is authenticated based on government regulations. Player deposits are compared to limits associated with player accounts. Upon reaching a limit associated with the account, the player may be prevented from depositing additional funds or playing games. In this way, gaming facilities may monitor gaming and ensure responsible gaming for all players.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed that comprise receiving, from one or more client terminals, two or more purchase requests, wherein each of the purchase requests identifies a wager for one or more multi-player games. A wager result is then determined for each wager at the time of purchase and stored in a database. Once all the wagers for an instance of a game are received, an outcome, such as a set of cards, is determined for each player and, if appropriate, the house (the host of the game). The outcome for each player is based on the previously determined wager result(s) and the type of game played. The outcome(s) are then stored with the wager(s) and wager result(s) in a transaction history file corresponding to each of the game's patrons (players) and in a game status file.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for interpreting scan data. A system is provided that includes: an input system for inputting scan data and associated subject data; a geographic information system (GIS) for generating spatial data from the scan data and allows for the mathematical integration of layered spatial data, and for calculating image attributes from the spatial data; a relational database for storing integrated attribute data from a plurality of subjects, wherein the integrated attribute data includes subject data and image attributes; and an analysis tool for interpreting image attributes of inputted scan data by identifying similar image attributes from the integrated attribute data stored in the relational database.

Abstract: A dynamically determined data-driven model for detecting fraudulent behavior is provided where statistically significant data elements are not known a priori. An initial model is developed using historical data, such as demographic, psychographic, transactional, and environmental data, using data-driven discovery techniques, such as data mining, and may be validated using additional statistical techniques. The noise within the data models determine appropriate initial control points needed for the initial model. These initial control points define an “electronic fence,” wherein data points within the fence represent acceptable behavior and data points outside the fence represent unacceptable behavior. Updated data is received. A fraud detection mechanism validates the updated data using data mining and statistical methods. The data model, or “electronic fence,” is refined based on the newly acquired data. The process of refining and updating the data models will be iterated until a set of limits is achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying a winner in a bingo game. Players may obtain bingo cards from point-of-sale (POS) terminals that physically prints bingo cards for players in an embodiment where the player appears in person to purchase tickets, or from point-of-sale (POS) terminals that permit players to play bingo in an on-line environment. A game processor maintains a linked list identifying each card in play containing each possible value. Each entry in a linked list includes a pointer to the next element in the linked list. Each bingo card is represented as a bitmap containing an entry corresponding to each square on the bingo card. Each entry in the linked list also identifies the particular square on the bingo card containing the corresponding value, thereby allowing the appropriate entry in the corresponding bitmap to be identified. As each number is drawn, the game processor utilizes the linked list to identify all of the bingo cards in play having the drawn number.

Abstract: A system and method for playing a wagering game uses a wireless gaming device including an identification code, entry apparatus for entering wagering information by a player, and a transmitter. A receiver receives the identification code and the wagering information transmitted by the transmitter of the wireless gaming device. The receiver polls the wireless gaming device to determine whether the player has entered wagering information to be transmitted to the receiver.

Abstract: A holster and shoulder-harness assembly for comfortably suspending a pistol or other instrument adjacent an arm of a wearer in a manner whereby the holster is free to swing and thereby accommodate itself to the contour of the wearer as well as to the demands imposed on the holster when the pistol is withdrawn therefrom. The harness includes a yoke which loops over a shoulder of the wearer and is strapped to the wearer's body, the dependent ends of the yoke having attached thereto the female components of a pair of directional snap fasteners. These compnents are coupled to and rotatable with respect to complementary male components secured at spaced positions on the holster whereby each fastener acts as a pivot and the holster is swingable with respect to the yoke to facilitate withdrawal of the pistol.