Abstract:
A method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips using a media player and related readable media is disclosed. In one form, the total number of entries in the set of clips is a prime number. An initial current clip value is randomly generated between one and the total number of entries in the set. A jump value is randomly generated between one and the total number of entries in the set minus one. To select a subsequent current clip, the current clip value and the jump value are added together. This sum is divided by the number of entries in the set. The remainder from this division is saved as the subsequent current clip value.
Abstract:
A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a multi-filamentary superconducting wire comprises making a laminate of an expanded base metal lamina and a reactant metal lamina, tightly wrapping the laminate around a metal core and then hydrostatically extruding it. The expanded base metal may be either niobium or vanadium, the reactant metal may be one of tin, aluminum, germanium, gallium, and titanium. In the making of Nb3Sn superconducting wire, the reactant metal may be an alloy of tin, for example, Babbitt metal. A third lamina may be added to the laminate to prevent radial movement of the reactant metal during processing.
Abstract:
An expanded television program delivery system is disclosed which allows viewers to select television and audio program choices from a series of menus. Menus are partially stored in a set-top terminal in each subscriber's home. The menus may be reprogrammed by signals sent from a headend or from a central operations center. The system allows for a great number of television signals to be transmitted by using digital compression techniques. An operations center with computer-assisted packaging allows various television, audio and data signals to be combined, compressed and multiplexed into signals transmitted on various channels to a cable headend which distributes the signals to individual set-top terminals. Various types of menus may be used and the menus may incorporate information included within the video/data signal received by the set-top terminal. A remote control unit with icon buttons allows a subscriber to select programs based upon a series of major menus, submenus, and during program menus. Various billing and statistics gathering methods for the program delivery system are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention, electronic book security and copyright protection system, provides for secure distribution of electronic text and graphics to subscribers and secure storage. The method may be executed at a content provider's site, at an operations center, over a video distribution system or over a variety of alternative distribution systems, at a home subsystem, and at a billing and collection system. The content provider or operations center and/or other distribution points perform the functions of manipulation and secure storage of text data, security encryption and coding of text, cataloging of books, message center, and secure delivery functions. The home subsystem connects to a secure video distribution system or variety of alternative secure distribution systems, generates menus and stores text, and transacts through communicating mechanisms. A portable book-shaped viewer is used for secure viewing of the text. A billing system performs the transaction, management, authorization, collection and payments utilizing the telephone system or a variety of alternative communication systems using secure techniques.
Abstract:
A fire and/or water resistant enclosure is provided for housing an operable digital data storage device. The enclosure is a low cost, preferably molded enclosure having various embodiments for providing resistance to fire and/or water. In one embodiment, a fan cooperates with one or more hatchless ventilation passageways to cool the digital data storage device. Passageways are sized to be sufficiently small to limit the transfer of heat through those passages sufficiently to prevent damage to the data storage device and to prevent loss of data stored thereon. Another embodiment provides a water resistant pouch surrounding the data storage device which may be made of flexible foil or of finned relatively robust and non-flexible thermal conductor. The enclosure in some embodiments utilizes a fan and in some embodiments operates without a fan. Similarly, the enclosure in some embodiments utilizes movable hatches and in other embodiments is hatchless in design.
Abstract:
Collapsible tables, including collapsible table tops, and collapsible table frames. The table top comprises multiple, relatively rigid, leaf elements which interlock with each other and/or articulate, and pull apart or fold for storage. Optional recesses in the edges of the table top releasably receive mounting structure on the table frame, or resilient mounting structure on edges of the table top is received in corresponding receivers on the table frame, thereby to releasably couple the table top and frame to each other. The frames include support arms underlying the table top. Loads from the table top typically pass through the support arms and thence to the frame. Improved structure supports the support arms from the frame body, passes loads to the frame body, as well as guiding and controlling movement of the support arms when the frame is being collapsed or expanded.
Abstract:
A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.
Abstract:
A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.
Abstract:
A DVD player-readable medium bearing DVD player-executable instructions for carrying out a game on the DVD player is presented. The game, as implemented by the DVD player-executable instructions comprises selecting a puzzle from a plurality of puzzles stored on the DVD player-readable medium. Once a puzzle is selected, the puzzle is displayed to a player via an output device connected to the DVD player. A graduated timer is started/output. The graduated timer includes at least two gradations, and each gradation corresponds to a scoring value. A player's response is obtained. A response value is determined according to the current gradation of the graduated timer in which the player response is obtained. The player's score is incremented according to the determined response value.