Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product for encouraging customer loyalty is provided.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material is formed by slitting or perforating a web to separate the web into side by side strips and fan folding the web to form a plurality of side by side stacks of the strips. The strip of each stack is spliced to the strip of the next stack to form a continuous strip through the package which can be unfolded for supply continuously to an end use machine. The package while compressed is wrapped by a packaging material which includes a bottom header plate and heat shrink bag wrapped around the package and under a bottom header plate and heat sealed to a bottom surface of the bottom header plate. The spliced connecting portions are held attached to the end plane of the package by a series of spaced tie members formed of spare strip material each of which extends across the end plane and has opposed ends of the tie member tucked between two of the strip portions of respective ones of the outermost stacks.

Abstract: A TDMA system with a TDMA frame format that requires no guard time, or with a maximum guard time of one clock cycle of the high timing base is applied to a network with a fixed central base, or headend, and remote units, called Premises Interface Devices (PIDs), which have a fixed communication media, such as a cable, between the headend and PID. This TDMA system is particularly useful for increasing system efficiency for CATV applications. The system method works as follows: a remote PID attempting to access the system sends a short data burst to the headend. By measuring the time difference between the time reference and the beginning of the uplink signal received, the headend will send timing correction/adjustment information to the PID. The PID then adjusts the timing of its data bursts, optionally sends a trial message and, once a verified correct transmission is acknowledged by the headend, sends regular data.

Abstract: A Node "0" device for a Consumer Electronics Coaxial Bus (CXBUS) network is provided. The network has a plurality of internal cables coupled to a source of up-link signals located within a first frequency band. The up-link signals include first audio/video (A/V) signals (which may be digital or analog) and control signals. External cables provide second A/V signals located within a second frequency band. An active input section is coupled to the internal cables. The input section individually filters and amplifies the up-link signals and combines the amplified signals. The input section provides a down-link signal path. A block converter coupled to the input section converts the first A/V signal from the first frequency band to the second frequency band, and provides the converted signals at its output port. A control channel regenerator coupled to the input section receives the control signal, generates a down-link control signal, and transmits the down-link control signal to the input section.