1. Apparatus for presenting real-time event recommendations in the form of a list to a user, the apparatus comprising:
at least one user interface mechanism adapted to interact with the user; and
a processing device adapted to perform the following operations:
choosing at least one real-time event based upon at least one criterion, wherein the at least one criterion of the at least one real-time event is additionally weighted by multiple factors, a first factor being based on when the real time event is set to begin and to end relative to the user’s current time, a second factor being based on a specific penalty per unit time for causing said user to wait until a real time event starts, and a same or different penalty per unit time for an accumulated time a user misses a real-time event, to yield a list of real-time event recommendations; and
presenting the list of real-time event recommendations to the user at the user interface mechanism.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion is a function of a user profile.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion is a function of a user-selected category.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion and the weighted factor is a function of:
a minimum recommendation value for a show,
a maximum recommendation value of the show,
a current time,
a start time of the show, and
an end time of the show or a duration of the show.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a remote and the processing device is internal to the remote.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time event comprises broadcast or transmitted content.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time event is located at an assembly location external to a present locus of user activity.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein presenting occurs via a surf ring in which only recommended real-time events are assigned to the surf ring.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein presenting occurs via a graphical user interface including an EPG.
10. A remote control device for use with a consumer electronics device, comprising:
a display adapted to provide user interface elements to the user;
a communication outlet adapted to communicate with the consumer electronics device; and
a processor adapted to:
choose via the consumer electronics device at least one real-time event based upon at least one criterion, wherein the at least one criterion of the at least one real-time event is additionally weighted by multiple factors, a first factor being based on when the real time event is set to begin and to end relative to the user’s current time, a second factor being based on a specific penalty per unit time for causing said user to wait until a real time event starts, and a same or different penalty per unit time for an accumulated time a user misses a real-time event, to yield a list of real-time event recommendations; and
cause the display to communicate the list of real-time event recommendations to the user.
11. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein the real-time event is a television show and the consumer electronics device is a television.
12. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein the real-time event is a real-time Internet event and the consumer electronics device is an Internet browsing device.
13. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein the list of real-time event recommendations comprises an electronic program guide.
14. A content experiencing apparatus for real-time events of interest, comprising:
at least one user interface mechanism adapted to perform the following operations:
provide real-time events of interest to the user; and
receive input from the user as to the user’s selection of the real-time events provided;
a communication facility adapted to receive the real-time events of interest from an external provider;
a tuning facility for selecting the real-time events of interest to be received via the communication facility; and
a processor adapted to perform the following operations:
calculating at least one recommended piece of real-time event of interest from amongst a plurality of available real-time events based upon at least one criterion, wherein the at least one criterion of the at least one real-time event is additionally weighted by multiple factors, a first factor being based on when the real time event is set to begin and to end relative to the user’s current time, a second factor being based on a specific penalty per unit time for causing said user to wait until a real time event starts, and a same or different penalty per unit time for an accumulated time a user misses a real-time event, to yield a list of real-time event recommendations, and
in response to a user input that does not contain either a specific tuning specification or a request for recommendation, automatically tuning the tuning facility to receive the recommended piece of real-time event.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein
the apparatus is a TV;
the communication facility comprises at least one of an antenna or a cable connection; and
the user interface mechanism comprises a television screen.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user input is a channel up button actuation, but the automatic tuning does not go to the next channel up in sequence from a current channel.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user input is a channel down button actuation, but the automatic tuning does not go to the next channel down in sequence from a current channel.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user input is a power on actuation and the automatic tuning goes neither to a last channel previously viewed nor to a default channel.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
We claim:
1. A support device for a sample container, the device comprising:
a holder including shelf structure and associated frame structure at least partially defining a support area for supporting a sample container;
wherein the holder has a central opening that permits analysis of a sample to be carried out from below the holder; and
wherein the holder has an open end that permits a transfer device to enter the support area through a side of the holder, the transfer device being configured to transfer the sample container to the holder.
2. The support device of claim 1, wherein the sample container is a microplate.
3. The support device of claim 1, wherein the support area is generally rectangular.
4. The support device of claim 3, further comprising the transfer device, where the transfer device, after moving into the support area, can move down relative to the holder, thereby placing the sample container into the generally rectangular area of the holder.
5. The support device of claim 1 further comprising a removable connector portion configured to close the open end.
6. The support device of claim 1 further comprising a first releasable clamp mechanism that applies a force against a first side of the sample container, thereby securing the sample container in the holder.
7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a second releasable clamp mechanism that applies a force against a second side of the sample container, thereby securing the sample container in the holder from two sides.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second releasable clamp mechanisms operate in series.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the first and second releasable clamp mechanisms include releasable arm members.
10. The support device of claim 1 further comprising a first drive mechanism that moves the holder along an X-axis between a docking station outside an analyzer and an examination site inside the analyzer.
11. The support device of claim 10 further comprising a second drive mechanism that moves the holder along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis when the holder is at the examination site, so that the holder can function both as a sample delivery device in and out of the analyzer, and as a moveable stage for supporting the sample container at the examination site.
12. A support device for a sample container, the device comprising:
a holder;
a first drive mechanism that moves the holder along an X-axis between a docking station outside an analyzer and an examination site inside the analyzer; and
a second drive mechanism that moves the holder along a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis when the holder is at the examination site, so that the holder can function both as a sample delivery device in and out of the analyzer, and as a moveable stage for supporting the sample container at the examination site.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the holder includes shelf structure and associated frame structure at least partially defining a generally rectangular area for supporting a microplate, the generally rectangular area having a central opening so that analysis can be carried out from below the holder when the holder is functioning as a stage at the examination site.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein the first and second drive mechanisms are capable of optimizing the accelerationdeceleration profiles of the sample container to minimize shaking of samples contained within the sample container.
15. A method of automatically feeding sample containers in and out of an analyzer, the method comprising:
automatically delivering a sample container just outside an opening to the analyzer;
moving a gripping device from inside the analyzer, through the opening, to a location immediately below the sample container; and
placing the sample container onto the gripping device.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sample container is a microplate.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising clamping the sample container in the holder by applying a first force against a first side of the sample container.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising clamping the sample container in the holder by applying a second force against a second side of the sample container.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising serially performing the clamping steps.
20. The method of claim 15, the gripping device having a central aperture and an open end, wherein the step of placing the sample container onto the gripping device includes the steps of entering the central aperture through the open end and moving down relative to the gripping device until the sample container is supported by the gripping device above the central aperture.