Abstract: A wireless hoist system including a first hoist device having a first motor and a first wireless transceiver and a second hoist device having a second motor and a second wireless transceiver. The wireless hoist system includes a controller in wireless communication with the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless. The controller is configured to receive a user input and determine a first operation parameter and a second operation parameter based on the user input. The controller is also configured to provide, wirelessly, a first control signal indicative of the first operation parameter to the first hoist device and provide, wirelessly, a second control signal indicative of the second operation parameter to the second hoist device. The first hoist device operates based on the first control signal and the second hoist device operates based on the second control signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of gaming implementable on or in connection with a computer social network prose for accepting entries, until a volume of those entries exceeds a prescribed limit; generating a winning value; identifying one or more of the entries nearest the winning value; and designating one or more of the entries nearest the winning value as winning entries. The entries can be accepted from one or more contestants and/or they can be generated on behalf of those contestants. Each of the entries can comprise one or more values from a predefined enumeration of values. That enumeration of values can, according to related aspects of invention, comprise values, each between a low numerical value and a high numerical value.

Abstract: A method is described which permits a computer programmer to write a program with the assistance of the computer itself. The computer will provide instant feedback, following the procedures herein described, to the result of performing each instruction. Therefore, the programmer may instantaneously observe the working of the program as the computer will perform it. Thus any difference in the result produced by the computer from what the programmer expects to happen may be recognized and, if appropriate, corrected. In a higher order implementation of this method the computer will display icons to link the in-process programming to a working routine resident on a remote computer. Thus, the tools and benefits of so-called Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) can be made available to the programmer. Employing the method of this invention, the computer becomes an integral part of the creative process of writing a program.

Abstract: A method is described which permits a computer programmer to write a program with the assistance of the computer itself. The computer will provide instant feedback, following the procedures herein described, to the result of performing each instruction. Therefore, the programmer may instantaneously observe the working of the program as the computer will perform it. Thus any difference in the result produced by the computer from what the programmer expects to happen may be recognized and, if appropriate, corrected. In a higher order implementation of this method the computer will display icons to link the in-process programming to a working routine resident on a remote computer. Thus, the tools and benefits of so-called Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) can be made available to the programmer. Employing the method of this invention, the computer becomes an integral part of the creative process of writing a program.

Abstract: A method of encoding and decoding calendar dates in multiple centuries to allow date data to be stored in a six-character format in a digital data processor. In an embodiment designed to allow existing programs to process date data correctly in the year 2000 and beyond, dates occurring before the year 2000 are characterized by two digit representations of each of the day, month, and year, while dates in the year 2000 and years thereafter are characterized by a year representation of "99" and a four-character month/day representation which is greater than 1231.The method comprises an Input Phase, in which date data are encoded from a conventional form into a six character format suitable for storage in a digital data processor, a Processing Phase, in which arithmetic and logical manipulation of date data may be performed, and an Output Phase, in which encoded date data are decoded into conventional numerical date designations.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of completely sorting an unsorted data table in a single pass through the data. The method uses a relatively large amount of computer memory, but sorts the data at great speed. Specifically, each unsorted data word is scaled to a size equal to or less than the number of address locations in a sort table. The scaled value created for each unsorted data word is converted to an address increment which is added to the initial address of the sort table. The unsorted data word is then stored into the sort table at the above calculated address that is related to the value of the data word. In this way, most words are placed in a sorted arrangement without comparison or iteration. The invention also comprises a method for resolving conflicts where a calculated address for an unsorted data word already contains a sorted data word. In this case both words are then sorted with respect to each other to create a data subclass and stored in an auxiliary storage table.