Abstract: An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the primary system security features are incorporated into a video game system expansion device having a hard disk drive. The security system does not rely on the relatively insecure video game system. The present exemplary embodiment focuses security control in a disk drive/mass media controlling engine which is physically disposed within the expansion device housing as close as possible to the hard disk drive and the downloaded video games and other data it is designed to protect. Security features are incorporated into, for example, a disk drive controlling processing engine to provide security features which extend far beyond simplistic password systems which have heretofore been utilized in conjunction with disk drive controllers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward creating backup copies of previously saved data before it is modified by a crashed computer program executing in a preemptive multitasking operating system environment. The invention is advantageous in that it protects against data loss and corruption caused by operating system calls issued by malfunctioning, crashed computer programs.

Abstract: An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the primary system security features are incorporated into a video game system expansion device having a hard disk drive. The security system does not rely on the relatively insecure video game system. The present exemplary embodiment focuses security control in a disk drive/mass media controlling engine which is physically disposed within the expansion device housing as close as possible to the hard disk drive and the downloaded video games and other data it is designed to protect. Security features are incorporated into, for example, a disk drive controlling processing engine to provide security features which extend far beyond simplistic password systems which have heretofore been utilized in conjunction with disk drive controllers.

Abstract: A video game distribution network for use in airlines, trains, hotels, cruise ships, set top boxes, cable television systems, satellite and other wireless systems or other communications systems, distributes special purpose game binary image files to general purpose computing/display devices. Software emulators running on the general purpose computing/display devices model the game source platform and interpret and/or compile the game files to provide interactive video game play. Software emulators for emulating a handheld video game platform such as GAME BOY®, GAME BOY COLOR® and/or GAME BOY ADVANCE® on a low-capability target platform (e.g., a seat-back display for airline or train use, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone) may provide any number of features and optimizations to provide high quality graphics and sound that nearly duplicates the game playing experience on the native platform.

Abstract: A gesture-controlled video game is attachable to the frame of a pair of eyeglasses. A housing contains a miniaturized control unit and display, which can be attached to the user's eyeglasses without obstructing the user's vision through the eyeglasses. A control unit includes a memory that stores a game program and a processor that executes the game program. A display is coupled with the control unit. The image generated by the display is transmitted to an eyepiece disposed in a user's path of vision via a fiber optic bundle. A motion sensor secured to the housing detects linear and angular motion of the housing and communicates a corresponding motion signal to the control unit. Execution of the game program by the processor is thus performed according to a user's head gestures.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer method, that are generally referred to herein as ANTI-FREEZE.TM., are provided for controlling the operation of a computer running under a multitasking operating system (OS) such as WINDOWS.RTM. 95 or WINDOWS.RTM. NT operating system. When an application program becomes unresponsive to inputs from the keyboard and/or mouse, ANTI-FREEZE.TM. provides a user interface for identifying the unresponsive program and for causing the OS to send a message to the identified program. If the identified program responds to the message, ANTI-FREEZE.TM. determines if the identified program has any disabled windows and if so, enables a a disabled window. If the identified program does not respond to the message, ANTI-FREEZE.TM. modifies the stack or another part of the identified program in a way that causes it to become responsive to messages sent from the OS.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately determining a target distance in adverse weather conditions utilizing both LASER and RADAR is disclosed. The radar signals are used to determine an approximate range which is then used as a gating window for the determination of which laser reflection is from the actual target as opposed to a reflection from the atmospheric interference. The method basically comprises the steps of initiating a radar pulse in the direction of a target and receiving a reflection, transmitting a laser signal and receiving a plurality of reflections, determining an approximate range based on the radar signals, and using this approximate range to ascertain which of the laser reflections is from the target. This determination is preferably made by generating a gating signal and gate width from the radar signals and passing the set of laser range signals through the gate to eliminate the false signals and select the signal that survives the gate as the accurate target range.

Abstract: StackTrace refers generally here to an apparatus and computer method for use with multitasking operating systems (OS's) such as WINDOWS.RTM.95. StackTrace allows a program to again become responsive to OS messages after the program freezes. A user can then save work which was not yet saved at the time the program froze. In one mode, StackTrace identifies a special signature that appears in the virtual stacks of certain kinds of programs. This special signature is a consistently-used return address to a standard-for-type calling function of the OS. StackTrace locates the special signature in the virtual stack of the frozen program and then changes values stored in context registers of the frozen program to cause a return through the in-stack signature location as would have happened if the halted program function had successfully completed. StackTrace then initiates multitasked processing of the program so that the program will return by using the in-stack signature location.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and computer method for controlling the operation of a computer running under an operating system such as WINDOWS.RTM. 95 and WINDOWS.RTM. NT operating system, or their like, that do not require a footprint in the programs running under the operating system. A program, hereinafter referred to as CrashGuard.TM., is stored and installed in a computer thereby being established as the "debugger" in the user's systems. Once so established CrashGuard.TM. may be stored elsewhere then the computer memory. Whenever a fatal error occurs the "Just in Time" debugging facility of the WINDOWS.RTM. 95 and WINDOWS.RTM. NT operating system, or their like, will suspend the target program, will load CrashGuard.TM. as the designated "debugger" into memory space not allocated to the target program, identifies the target program to CrashGuard.TM. and executes CrashGuard.TM.. CrashGuard.TM. will cause additional memory space to be added to the virtual memory of the target program.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and computer method, generally referred to as ANTI-FREEZE.TM., for controlling the operation of a computer running under an operating system such as WINDOWS.RTM. 95 and WINDOW.RTM. NT operating system, or their like, for making responsive a program when that program becomes unresponsive to inputs from the keyboard and/or mouse. ANTI-FREEZE.TM. provides a user interface for the selection of an unresponsive program and then causes the operating system to send a message to the selected unresponsive program. If the selected unresponsive program responds to the message from the operating system, ANTI-FREEZE.TM. determines if the selected unresponsive program has any disabled windows and if so enabling a disabled window resulting in the selected unresponsive program to again become responsive. If the selected unresponsive program does not respond to the message from the operating system, ANTI-FREEZE.TM.

Abstract: A posterior stabilized/constrained reamer guide is provided that enables a surgeon to prepare a patient s distal femur to receive either a posterior stabilized or a constrained type femoral component. The instrument guide has an opening the largest anterior to posterior housing size. For example, a constrained housing has a longer anterior to posterior dimension than a posterior stabilized housing. The apparatus of the present invention provides an improved reamer guide that addresses differences in housing sizes and necessary bone removal. The apparatus provides a housing guide that accepts either a posterior stabilized collet or a constrained collet. Each of the collets accepts a rotary reamer or a box chisel. During surgery, the reamer is first used to form a cylindrically-shaped or oval shaped cut. The box chisel then removes additional bone to create a rectangular or squared opening. This insures that only the necessary bone is removed for each housing depending upon the one selected by the surgeon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately determining a target distance in adverse weather conditions utilizing both LASER and RADAR is disclosed. The radar signals are used to determine an approximate range which is then used as a gating window for the determination of which laser reflection is from the actual target as opposed to a reflection from the atmospheric interference. The method basically comprises the steps of initiating a radar pulse in the direction of a target and receiving a reflection, transmitting a laser signal and receiving a plurality of reflections, determining an approximate range based on the radar signals, and using this approximate range to ascertain which of the laser reflections is from the target. This determination is preferably made by generating a gating signal and gate width from the radar signals and passing the set of laser range signals through the gate to eliminate the false signals and select the signal that survives the gate as the accurate target range.

Abstract: A distal femoral sizing instrument includes an intramedullary rod for referencing the patient's intramedullary canal. A valgus module mounts to the intramedullary rod at a bore of the valgus. The bore of the module has a slant with respect to the flat reference surface of a valgus block. The module slidably connects to the block. The valgus block, referencing guide and a stylus (for connecting the valgus block and cutting together) are removed as a unit before shaping of the distal femur. An indexing system includes a gauge having a series of openings corresponding to "anterior" referencing and to "posterior" referencing. During anterior referencing, the gauge allows the surgeon to select the next smaller size prosthesis if the size falls in between available sizes. In posterior referencing, the gauge allows the surgeon to select the next larger size prosthesis if the gauge measures a size that falls in between available sizes.

Abstract: A modular tibial trial prosthesis for attachment to a patient's surgically cut proximal tibia includes a tibial tray having proximal and distal surfaces, the distal surface to be fitted against the patient's surgically prepared proximal tibia during knee joint replacement surgery. The proximal surface of the tray accepts any one of a plurality of plastic liner inserts that fits the tray at the proximal tray surface with an interlocking connection. The liner inserts each have a distal surface for attachment to the tray and a proximal articulating surface that is receptive of a distal femoral articulating surface. The proximal articulating surface has concavely-shaped portions. The concavely-shaped portions of the liner inserts provide different articular geometries for selection by the user. A plurality of spacers of different thicknesses can be positioned in between a selected one of the plastic liner inserts and the tibial tray. Each spacer has proximal and distal surfaces.

Abstract: Cellular telephone rental system and method wherein a point-of-purchase rental terminal capturing transaction data, obtains validation thereof, and communicates same to a collector which in turn instructs a switching system to enable the cellular phone to make and receive calls. The collector examines in real time automatic message accounting data in the switching system and calculates call charges in real time. The collector then transmits call data to the rental terminal which provides both the rental agency and the cellular phone user call data in real time, with the call data also being transmitted to an account administration system nightly. Also disclosed is an embodiment for entering credit card data at the rental phone to enable use on credit billing and remote programming of such rental phone all over the voice responsive communication of the cellular system.

Abstract: A distal femoral cutting instrument includes an intramedullary rod for referencing the patient's intramedullary canal. A valgus block with a flat reference surface mounts to the intramedullary rod at a bore of the valgus block. The bore of the block has a slant with respect to the flat reference surface on the valgus block. The reference surface defines a line that is normal to the mechanical axis of the patient while the bore of the valgus block tracks the patient's biomechanical axis. A distal femoral cutting block removably attaches to the valgus block and provides a flat cutting guide surface for shaping the patient's distal femur. The valgus block, intramedullary rod, and a stylus (for connecting the valgus block and cutting together) are removed as a unit before shaping of the distal femur. An indexing system includes a gauge having a series of openings corresponding to "anterior" referencing and to "posterior" referencing.

Abstract: A distal femoral cutting instrument includes an intramedullary rod for referencing the patient's intramedullary canal. A valgus block with a flat reference surface mounts to the intramedullary rod at a bore of the valgus block. The bore of the block has a slant with respect to the flat reference surface on the valgus block. The reference surface defines a line that is normal to the mechanical axis of the patient while the bore of the valgus block tracks the patient's biomechanical axis. A distal femoral cutting block removably attaches to the valgus block and provides a flat cutting guide surface for shaping the patient's distal femur. The valgus block, intramedullary rod, and a stylus (for connecting the valgus block and cutting together) are removed as a unit before shaping of the distal femur. An indexing system includes a gauge having a series of openings corresponding to "anterior" referencing and to "posterior" referencing.