77results about How to "Improved odds" patented technology

The method of choosing and distributing enhanced odds includes 1) linking numerous electronic gaming devices, such as electronic Poker machines, on a local network, 2) gathering in a progressive amount a percentage of all the bets placed on those devices such as for progressive jackpots, 3) using a process based on a combination of randomness and criteria to distribute for at least one game to one randomly selected device, a set of enhanced odds and 4) using the progressive amount gathered to pay prizes awarded with the set of enhanced odds. In a local network of electronic Poker machines (2), five percent (5%) of the bets are gathered by the network. When a predetermined amount is gathered, one electronic Poker machine randomly selected, presents to a player one game with a set of enhanced odds. When a win occurs corresponding to one of the four (4) highest hands, the prize is paid in regards to the enhanced odds.

A method and a system for monitoring and characterizing a person's heart condition for various medically related purposes. The method includes the steps of (a) acquiring a selected person's acoustic heart signature, (b) acquiring, substantially simultaneously, that same person's electrical heart signature, (c) choosing elements of determined interest from these two acquired signatures and selectively processing and inter- and / or cross-relating such elements, and (d) employing the results of the relating step to create a heart-condition fingerprint useful in the characterization of that person's heart condition. From a systemic point of view, that system includes (a) acoustic and electrical data-gathering devices employable to collect acoustic and electrical data from a person, and (b) processing structure operatively connected to these devices, operable to process and inter- and / or cross-relate data gathered by the devices for the purpose of generating a reportable heart-condition fingerprint of a person from whom such data has been collected.

The system and methods described herein may exploit hardware transactional memory to improve the performance of a software or hybrid transactional memory implementation, even when an entire user transaction cannot be executed within a hardware transaction. The user code of an atomic transaction may be executed within a software transaction, which may collect read and write sets and / or other information about the atomic transaction. A single hardware transaction may be used to commit the atomic transaction by validating the transaction's read set and applying the effects of the user code to memory, reducing the overhead associated with commitment of software transactions. Because the hardware transaction code is carefully controlled, it may be less likely to fail to commit. Various remedial actions may be taken before retrying hardware transactions following some failures. If a transaction exceeds the constraints of the hardware, it may be committed by the software transactional memory alone.

A method for strategy independent optimization of a multi-objective function of a portfolio containing at least one investment is disclosed. The method involves the use of genetic algorithms to arrive at function optimization. A suite of strategies is provided enabling the user to select a strategy and optimize a function. Real world data is drawn from exchanges and is utilized for replication. The invention also discloses a novel combination of apparatus for carrying out the method of invention, typically, using parallel processing.

A two stage electronic messaging system and method of use that automatically and accurately responds to user queries (e.g., input documents) using a two stage searching and retrieval system. The two stages system includes fast document-matching techniques (e.g., "weak" search techniques) in combination with more advanced categorization and text-search techniques (e.g., machine learning and other semi-automated techniques). The two stage searching and retrieval system may be used via the Internet, an intranet, LAN or other similar system, and may be used for providing requested information to a user (e.g., customer, employee, customer representative and the like) via a content rich web site, a propriety database or any computer related help system.

In some embodiments a wagering game system comprises a personal area network device configured to render media content including results of a wagering game. The system can include a wagering game machine configured to determine and provide the wagering game results to the personal area network device. The wagering game machine can include a personal area network device transceiver configured to exchange data with the personal area network device, the data including the wagering game results, and a personal area network controller configured to detect the personal area network device, to procure an identification code for the personal area network device without player input, and to authenticate the personal area network device by use of the identification code. The system can also include a repository configured to store the identification code in association with a player identifier and to provide the identification code to the wagering game machine upon request.

The present invention comprises a system and method for communicating with a traffic signal by which at least one communication controller and integrated light controller are coupled by a high frequency (“HF”) coupler to a power line for transmission. In each of the directions of communication, specific transmission methods and data protocols are used over the communication link. The communication link protocol used for communication between the integrated light controller and the communication controller provides a robust method for framing data within a message structure that provides byte-by-byte synchronization and message integrity through a parity check per byte, and a checksum calculation.

A system and method for detecting and filtering non-violation events in a traffic light violation prediction and recording system, including at least one violation prediction image capturing device, such as a video camera, and a violation prediction unit. The prediction unit generates a prediction reflecting a probability that the vehicle will violate a red light phase of the traffic signal. A non-violation event filter determines whether the vehicle approaching the traffic signal is actually performing a non-violation action. Non-violation events may include a variety of actions performed by the vehicle, and are fully configurable to meet the needs and policies of various specific intersections and jurisdictions. When the non-violation event filter determines that the vehicle is performing a non-violation action, it causes some number of resources that may have been allocated to recording the non-violating vehicle, and / or prevents further resources from being allocated to such recording.

A marine oil and gas exploration system used for measuring telluric currents as a natural electromagnetic energy source flowing beneath an ocean and sea floor. The marine exploration system includes a towed fish adapted for being pulled behind a survey ship. The coordinates of the ship and the towed fish can be controlled by a GPS satellite and time data. The fish includes an aerodynamic waterproof housing, somewhat reminiscent of a shape of a fish. Metal sheet electrodes of electric field sensors are mounted on the surface of a tubular nose extending outwardly from the housing. The electric field sensors are in direct contact with the sea water. Typically, the fish is towed approximately 100 feet above the sea floor. The positioning of the fish is maintained by the use of an acoustic “pinger” on the fish. The pinger transmits signals up a towed cable to the survey ship. The fish can also include a cesium magnetometer connected to the electric field sensors. The magnetometer provides for detecting low frequency magnetic components of the electromagnetic fields generated by the telluric currents flowing under the sea floor. A filtering of the magnetic component signals is used to provide a phase and amplitude references for the electric fields. The amplitudes of the electric field at each frequency are ratioed against the amplitudes of similarly filtered components of the magnetometer.

A new business model incorporating the advantages of endowing a remote field agent with sole discretion to legally bind an insurance carrier to a renewal insurance policy contract is provided. Policy data associated with eligible renewal policies is generated according to specified criteria on a periodic basis. The policy data relating to a given policy subscriber is transmitted over the Internet to a data memory of a remote computer, where a field agent updates the policy data, as necessary, with new information gained about the policy subscriber. The field agent legally binds an insurance carrier to a resulting renewal policy reflecting the evaluated policy data, where the binding step is accomplished by the field agent acting independently without prior underwriting analysis, rating, or authorization by the insurance carrier, and where the entire transaction is accomplished in not more than five minutes.

A system for monitoring detectability of a watermark message produced by a watermarking encoder includes an input that receives a watermarked signal having spectral channels in which the watermark message is embedded. The system also includes channel separators each associated with a respective spectral channel of the watermarked signal and configured to separate the watermarked signal into spectral channels. The system also includes bin separators configured to separate the spectral channels into frequency bins. The system also includes a detector configured to detect a frequency bin corresponding to a symbol that appears in a plurality of the spectral channels. The system also includes a detectability estimator configured to establish a measure of the detectability of the watermark message embedded in the watermarked signal based at least in part on the frequency bin corresponding to the symbol that appears in the plurality of the spectral channels.

A method preferably implemented using a digital computer provides payments to a provider rendering service individually and sequentially to a plurality of patients via telephone based on the individual time duration for performance of the telephone consultation services.

A conditional breakpoint for debugging computer programming code includes a condition identifying of one or more expected code paths used to reach the breakpoint. The breakpoint is triggered if it is reached during execution using an unexpected code path. Preferably, an expected code path is identified by specifying the expected preceding breakpoint, by specifying basic code blocks which should or should not be encountered before the breakpoint, or some combination thereof. The expected code path condition may be used alone or in conjunction with any conventional breakpoint condition.

A female urinary device including a urine stream collection container having a discharge opening and a stream collection opening, the stream collection opening being configured to surround and isolate a urethral opening, an internal baffle that cooperates with at least a urine sample container to provide a spillway to the discharge opening, where the spillway provides urine passage to a collection tank, and a probe configured for interior engagement with a vaginal opening for placement of the stream collection opening relative to the urethra opening.

An apparatus for roulette table games aims to dynamically increase payout odds of a roulette table game. The apparatus includes an electronic display panel which has at least one display zone to indicate a corresponding betting area and display a dynamic raised odds. Banker can give a payout for player's bet according to the dynamic raised odds. By providing frequent changes of the dynamic raised odds which might be greater than the payout odds of the betting area the odds is greater, therefore increases the expected value of the roulette table game and offers more incentives for players to continuously place bets. The players are motivated to expect extra awards from the roulette table game, hence the appeal of the game is greater. As a result higher utilization of roulette table game can be achieved and idle time can be reduced to avoid wastes.

A method of playing a casino wagering card game, featuring multiple rounds of dealing poker hands, out of the same deck(s), and before a new shuffle, and or a new deck(s) of cards being used. Joker(s) are not used in the preferred way of playing the game, but may be used in a different version. The method will use at least a 52 standard poker deck (s) of cards, and allow the players to wager against an Ante against the dealer, and or wager against a predetermined payout schedule, and or wager on a bonus event. Additional options of wagers may be made available. Multiple Round Poker will offer the method of playing a poker wagering game, wherein the number of rounds dealt to the players and the dealer before a shuffle is two or more.

A fishing lure shaped like a snake that mimics the undulating, swimming action of a snake. It incorporates this original action into an extremely versatile lure specifically designed to be fished on water's surface, under water's surface, diving, bouncing around on floor bottom, and swimming back up to surface simply by adjusting rod position / retrieval speed. Furthermore, consisting of not only replaceable (soft plastic) snake bodies, but replaceable (soft plastic) lizard bodies and replaceable (soft plastic) frog bodies as well that all attach to the same hard plastic head and neck via a snap-on / squeeze-off connection. Furthermore, it's design enables each body to have it's own swimming action. The snake body, aforementioned, undulates like a real snake swimming. The lizard body wiggles and sways like a real lizard swimming. And the frog body wobbles and kicks it's legs like a real frog swimming.

A yoga ball controller communicates motion signals to a game console and a video game executing on the game console to progress play of a game in response to the motion signals. An individual positions himself on the yoga ball and begins to move his body. The controller detects the motion of the individual and communicates signals to the console. The game console recognizes the motion and advances the game play. Motion may be detected using various devices such as a stress ball, a motion sensing mat, and a controller attached to the yoga ball using a harness. The video game may be a well-known, entertaining video game such as one involving car racing, combat, exploration, or puzzle solving. By using a subject other than exercise, game play may be seen as more fun by participants thereby encouraging physical activity.

Providing feedback regarding detectability of a watermark message produced by a watermarking encoder may include receiving a watermark detectability indication corresponding to detectability of the watermark message, and determining an enhancement indication corresponding to a prescribed enhancement to a watermark signal in which the watermark message is embedded based on the watermark detectability indication.

A system and method of inventorying and managing users and their computer workstations in large organizations through automation. Data is organized in two distinctive ways into two computer database directories to allow for compatibility with other key organization databases and different approaches of locating and accounting for users and their computer objects. One directory that is based on organizational structure can be synchronized with the Human Resources (HR) database to determine people movement or job changes. The other directory that is based on physical location of computer workstations can be synchronized with network subnet databases to determine any Internet Protocol address changes. Automatic updating after synchronization in either directory keeps the data as current and accurate as possible. Organizational policy based on an organization's requirements can be applied and enforced when incorporated into the synchronization process. Exception handling allows for maximum flexibility.

A fishing rod illumination system for fishing lures that utilize fiber-optics to attract fish. The fishing rod illumination system includes a fishing reel, a light source within the fishing reel, a control pad in communication with the light source to control the light source, and a length of fiber optic fishing line connected to the fishing reel.

A computerized system and method for the creation and management of fundraising events. The system and method support creation of fundraising groups comprising team members that participate in physical activity to raise donations for a certain entity or organization. Individual team members utilize a device (e.g., pedometer) that measures activity during a specified time period. Pledges for donations are made by sponsors that log into a website and pledge to donate a certain amount of money based on the physical activity performed by a fundraising team member. Some fundraising groups may comprise multiple teams. Different teams of the same group may have different fundraising goals or objectives. The website of the system may link a fundraising group to its different fundraising teams. All teams of a fundraising group may raise money for a single entity or the teams of a fundraising group may raise funds for different entities.

A screen saver utilizing screen content that is provided from a remote server and optionally selected based on the end-user's inferred interest in previous content. Further functionality in the screen saver that would monitor the level of usage (such as time that the screen saver is active) and report this to a central server where a “lottery like” selection of a winner(s) would be made. The winner(s) would then be provided a prize and optionally featured in subsequent screen saver content. The purpose of the above scheme being to create an incentive for usage of the screen saver which would include content that has advertising or other value to a sponsoring entity.