Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: A system for collecting program data from television systems is provided. The program data is collected at a main facility that distributes the program data to television distribution facilities for use in passive or interactive electronic television program guides. The system allows personnel at television station office computers to access a database of program data maintained at the main facility and to construct program schedules electronically using this database. The system error checks the program schedules in real time as they are constructed. The system allows reports, such as ad trafficking reports for use by television station personnel, to be generated based on the program schedule of a given television system.

Abstract: Embodiments of a microwave dryer are disclosed which may be used to dry or heat materials such a sewage sludge. The microwave dryer uses a reciprocating ram to push the material through a loading section and into a treatment section where the material is subjected to microwaves to drive of liquid content. The material is then pushed into an unloading section where it is removed from the microwave dryer. The dryer may be tilted to adjust the rate of flow of material through the dryer. Air nozzles on the bottom of the dryer direct air such that air flow through the nozzles may also be used to adjust the flow rate of material.

Abstract: Robust sustained release formulations, solid dosage forms comprising robust sustained release formulations, and methods for making and using these formulations and solid dosage forms are provided. Robustness of the sustained release formulation is related to the particle size of the hydrophilic gum. Sustained release formulations resist dose-dumping when ingested with alcohol. The formulations are useful for treating a patient suffering from a condition, e.g., pain. The formulations comprise at least one drug. In one embodiment, the drug is an opioid, e.g., oxymorphone.

Abstract: Robust sustained release formulations, solid dosage forms comprising robust sustained release formulations, and methods for making and using these formulations and solid dosage forms are provided. Robustness of the sustained release formulation is related to the particle size of the hydrophilic gum. Sustained release formulations resist dose-dumping when ingested with alcohol. The formulations are useful for treating a patient suffering from a condition, e.g., pain. The formulations comprise at least one drug. In one embodiment, the drug is an opioid, e.g., oxymorphone.

Abstract: An identifier corresponding to an object is used in establishing links to related electronic resources. The identifier can be obtained by decoding a watermark, performing a hashing algorithm on content data, reading a bar code, etc. The object can be physical (e.g., a magazine page) or electronic (e.g., music or image data). Suitable devices useful with this technology include cell phones, PDAs, and the like, which may include sensors for capturing object data. The associated electronic resource can be a web site from which information, image/audio content, etc., is provided. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Costs associated with accessing the internet from a public terminal are borne by one or more sponsors. The terminal thus sponsored may, in exchange, be limited in the internet domains it is capable of browsing. If a user wishes to browse beyond the sponsored domains, a usage charge may be assessed. In other arrangements, web cards (like pre-paid phone cards) may be sold at retail establishments (or issued by libraries), to permit web browsing from compliant terminals. A variety of other arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: An automated batch identifier registration and embedding system for media signals, such as image, video and audio files. A batch identifier registration system enables a user to submit a request for a batch of unique identifiers to be embedded in media signals. The user submits a request for a batch of IDs. The batch registration system verifies the accuracy of the request, sends a confirmation, allocates IDs, creates corresponding entries in a registration database, and creates embedder files used in a batch embedding process. The user may then submit a request for embedder files. To perform automated batch embedding, a watermark embedder takes the embedder files and corresponding list of media signal files as input and automatically embeds identifiers supplied in the embedder files into corresponding media signal files.

Abstract: A method of linking a content object with a network resource presents a content object to a reader, discerns an identifier associated with the content object, transfers the identifier to an indexing system, and in response receives an internet address corresponding to the content object. To enhance the response of the indexing system, it includes multiple routers, which it selects based on location relative to the reader. For example, the method sends user location data to a master system, and in response, receives an address of an indexing system close to the user location.

Abstract: A method and system that registers data carried by a watermark with a server, reads watermark data from a document and generates an action string if a watermark read from a document matches registered data. In one embodiment the system includes two servers. Registration is done on one server via the internet the registration data is sent to a second server. The second server is interrogated via a local area network (LAN) to determine if particular watermark data is registered. The LAN allows data carried on documents such as tickets to be authenticated very quickly. In a second embodiment, there are multiple registration servers, each of which registers a different sets of watermark data. The compartmentalization of data increases security and privacy of data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reflector for a lighting assembly comprised of a series of discrete facets connected to form an optical reflector. Each facet includes subdivisions that extend uninterrupted along substantially the length of the facet and serve to multiply the image of the light source for increased illumination. Further, the curvature of the facets are selected to maximize the length of the reflected image of the light source to further enhance optical output.

Abstract: Invoices, bank statements, checks, and other transactional paperwork is encoded with a steganographic digital watermark that encodes identification information. When a user shows such a paper (e.g., an invoice) to an optical input device associated with a computer, a browser session is initiated that uses the identification information to transport the user to a web page corresponding to that invoice. The web page provides a variety of functionality, including account review and payment, and customer service.

Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: A hybrid passive-interactive program guide is generated by combining the features of an interactive program guide with the passive video portion of a passive program guide. The interactive guide may replace passive listings with interactive listings, replace passive features with interactive features, provide supplemental advertisements, or replace passive tagging information with interactive tagging information. Users may be provided with an opportunity to purchase a program or product being advertised, to view listings for segments aired in the video portion of the passive guide, to schedule reminders for listings or video segments that are displayed by the passive guide, or to schedule video segments and related information for recording.

Abstract: Embodiments of a microwave dryer are disclosed which may be used to dry materials such a sewage sludge. The microwave dryer uses a reciprocating ram to push the material through a loading section and into a treatment section where the material is subjected to microwaves to drive of liquid content. The material is then pushed into an unloading section where it is removed from the microwave dryer.

Abstract: A system for collecting program data from television systems is provided. The program data is collected at a main facility that distributes the program data to television distribution facilities for use in passive or interactive electronic television program guides. The system allows personnel at television station office computers to access a database of program data maintained at the main facility and to construct program schedules electronically using this database. The system error checks the program schedules in real time as they are constructed. The system allows reports, such as ad trafficking reports for use by television station personnel, to be generated based on the program schedule of a given television system.

Abstract: A method and system that registers data carried by a watermark with a server, reads watermark data from a document and generates an action string if a watermark read from a document matches registered data. In one embodiment the system includes two servers. Registration is done on one server via the internet the registration data is sent to a second server. The second server is interrogated via a local area network (LAN) to determine if particular watermark data is registered. The LAN allows data carried on documents such as tickets to be authenticated very quickly. In a second embodiment, there are multiple registration servers, each of which registers a different sets of watermark data. The compartmentalization of data increases security and privacy of data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system where collateral information stored in an image (or in some other data) is used together with other information such as information from a cookie on the machine used to access the collateral data, to direct a user to a particular web site. The site to which a user is directed is selected based both upon the collateral information in a web site, information from the computer that was used to read the collateral data, and information from a data base. The result is that user is directed to a web site that is more appropriate for the user at that particular time.