Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A method of growing a single crystal material using a device that includes a conical plug. The conical plug includes a first portion defining a first conical hole about an axis, the first conical hole having a first angle, and includes a second portion contiguous with the first portion and defining a second conical hole about the axis, the second conical hole having a second angle having the same sign as the first angle and being greater than the first angle. The device includes an upper tube comprising the conical plug fused therein and a seeding well plug. The device includes a lower tube including the seeding well plug fused therein. A single crystal KPb2Cl5 material is grown from the oriented single crystal KPb2Cl5 seed through the first conical hole and then the second conical hole and then with continuing growth in the upper tube.

Abstract: A quasi-three level laser system having crystalline YAG or YLF doped with trivalent Dysprosium can be pumped with a laser diode in the UV, and produce a pulsed laser blue emission from the 4 F9/2 energy level at 490 nm, a red emission at 660 nm, or a yellow emission at 570 nm. The system can operate at room temperature or be cooled. The system can include Q-switching. A suitable laser diode is GaN.

Abstract: The method described herein allows for melt stabilization and vapor-phase synthesis of a cesium germanium halide utilizing germanium dihalides formed in situ. This disclosure allows for the melting of cesium germanium halides without decomposition, which allows for growing crystals of these materials from the melt. This disclosure allows for a direct synthesis of these materials without the use of water or the introduction of other possible contaminants.

Abstract: The method described herein allows for melt stabilization and vapor-phase synthesis of a cesium germanium halide utilizing germanium dihalides formed in situ. This disclosure allows for the melting of cesium germanium halides without decomposition, which allows for growing crystals of these materials from the melt. This disclosure allows for a direct synthesis of these materials without the use of water or the introduction of other possible contaminants.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: The method described herein allows for melt stabilization and vapor-phase synthesis of a cesium germanium halide utilizing germanium dihalides formed in situ. This disclosure allows for the melting of cesium germanium halides without decomposition, which allows for growing crystals of these materials from the melt. This disclosure allows for a direct synthesis of these materials without the use of water or the introduction of other possible contaminants.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement. In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.

Abstract: The method described herein allows for melt stabilization and vapor-phase synthesis of a cesium germanium halide utilizing germanium dihalides formed in situ. This disclosure allows for the melting of cesium germanium halides without decomposition, which allows for growing crystals of these materials from the melt. This disclosure allows for a direct synthesis of these materials without the use of water or the introduction of other possible contaminants.

Abstract: A quasi-three level laser system having crystalline YAG or YLF doped with trivalent Dysprosium can be pumped with a laser diode in the UV, and produce a pulsed laser blue emission from the 4 F 9/2 energy level at 490 nm, a red emission at 660 nm, or a yellow emission at 570 nm. The system can operate at room temperature or be cooled. The system can include Q-switching. A suitable laser diode is GaN.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing a single crystal Kb2Cl5 material in a growth furnace comprising an upper zone set at 480° C. A single crystal Kb2Cl5 material is grown from a single Kb2Cl5 grain until a eutectic point is reached. The upper zone is cooled at 1°/hour to 380° C. The single crystal Kb2Cl5 material is annealed. The single crystal Kb2Cl5 material is cooled at 10°/hour to room temperature. Optionally, the method further includes loading an ampoule with Kb2Cl5 powder, the ampoule including a plug, which includes a seeding well and an aperture. The Kb2Cl5 powder is melted, thereby generating a melt. The melt is frozen to capture a polycrystalline Kb2Cl5 material in the seeding well, thereby generating a polycrystalline Kb2Cl5 seed. The ampoule is loaded into the growth furnace. The polycrystalline Kb2Cl5 material is melted except for the polycrystalline Kb2Cl5 seed, the polycrystalline Kb2Cl5 seed including the single Kb2Cl5 grain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing a single crystal KPb2Cl5 material using a device including a plug including an axis. The plug includes a first portion defining a cylindrical hole about the axis. The plug includes a second portion defining a first conical hole about the axis. The first conical hole has a first angle. The plug includes a third portion defining a second conical hole about the axis. The second conical hole has a second angle opposite in sign relative to the first angle. The plug includes a fourth portion defining a third conical hole about the axis. The third conical hole has a third angle, the third angle having a same sign as the second angle and being greater than the second angle. The device further includes an ampoule including the plug fused therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to television, systems and methods, and more particularly, to interactive television systems having user equipment that includes a point of deployment. (“POD”) host device and POD modules for use in conjunction with the POD host device. The interactive televisions systems may have different user equipment arrangements for supporting one or more POD modules. The POD modules may provide a user of the interactive television system with access to various programs and services. The POD module may also implement a back-channel communications link with a service provider. The POD module may also receive modules which may upgrade the hardware or software of the interactive television system.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant volume damper apparatus for use in gas- and vapor-handling duct systems, installed between existing external duct flanges without having to custom cut or otherwise modify the duct system or the volume damper itself. The retrofittable volume damper has a housing or framework with an aperture extending therethrough and a corrosion-resistant damper blade having integral pivot arms. The aperture or bore is of a suitable size and shape to match the duct system within which the volume damper is to be installed. The housing preferably comprises a pair of corrosion-resistant plates of suitably rigid materials. The two plates have a series of through holes permitting the two plates to be bolted together with a damper blade to be rotatably sandwiched between the plates such that one of the pivot arms of the damper blade extends beyond the two plates on a plane perpendicular to, and away from, the axis of the bore.