Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method for redeeming coupons, comprising:
identifying products, including at least first, second and third products being purchased, at a purchasing outlet, said first and second products being produced by first and second product providers, respectively;
reading firstly a first coupon from a first customer at the purchasing outlet;
determining, at the purchasing outlet, that said first coupon is to be redeemed;
modifying, at the purchasing outlet, said first coupon after said determining step for said first coupon, wherein said determining step cannot again be conducted for said first coupon after said modifying step because of one or more modifications made to said first coupon during said modifying step;
providing said first coupon, after said modifying step, in a first container;
reading secondly a second coupon from the first customer at the purchasing outlet, wherein said second coupon is the next coupon read after said first coupon;
making a determination related to whether said second coupon is to be redeemed after said reading secondly step;
storing, after said making step, said second coupon in a second container, different from said first container;
reading a third coupon at the purchasing outlet;
ascertaining that said third coupon is to be rejected;
deciding not to reject said third coupon; and
locating said third coupon in a third container, different from said first and second containers;
reimbursing firstly for said first coupon;
reimbursing secondly for said second coupon at a time different from said reimbursing firstly step, wherein each of said reimbursing firstly and said reimbursing secondly steps is made by a third party different from the first and second providers of the first and second products associated with said first and second coupons, respectively.
2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:
recording transaction information related to said third coupon;
retrieving said third coupon from said third container; and
checking whether reimbursement is to be made for said third coupon.
3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said second coupon is stored depending on a number of factors including whether said second coupon is submitted for redemption at a particular store and whether said second coupon is submitted for redemption during a particular time.
4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:
removing said third coupon from said third container;
obtaining information from said third coupon using a coupon redemption subsystem at a location different from the purchasing outlet; and
using said information in determining whether to reimburse for said third coupon.
5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said identifying step is conducted using a product reader device and each of said reading firstly and secondly steps is conducted using a coupon reader device.
6. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said reimbursing firstly step is made to an entity associated with the purchasing outlet within about one day after said providing step and said reimbursing secondly step is made to the entity more than one day after said storing step.
7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said first container includes a modified coupon lock box unit, said second container includes an audit coupon lock box unit and said third container includes a rejected coupon lock box unit.
8. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:
reimbursing the third party service provider by the first product provider after said reimbursing firstly step.
9. The method, as claimed in claim 1, further including:
removing said third coupon from said third container and taking said third coupon to a coupon redemption subsystem that includes an auxiliary coupon reader device that reads said third coupon.
10. A system for redeeming coupons, comprising:
a device that reads a first coupon, a second coupon, and a third coupon, wherein at least said first and second coupons are from a first customer and said second coupon is read next after said first coupon;
processing apparatus in operative communication with said device, said processing apparatus determining that said first coupon is to be redeemed and modified, determining that said second coupon is to be redeemed and audited, and determining that said third coupon is to be rejected;
a first storage unit that stores said first coupon;
a second storage unit that stores said second coupon;
a third storage unit that stores said third coupon, wherein said device, said processing apparatus, and each of said first, second and third storage units are located at purchasing outlet at which said first, second, and third coupons are presented for redemption; and
means for issuing payment related to reimbursement for redemption of said first coupon and said second coupon, said means for issuing payment being operated to reimburse for said second coupon at a time different from being operated to reimburse for said first coupon.
11. A system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:
said processing apparatus generates a report that includes information related to said second coupon including an identity of the purchasing outlet, an identity of a purchasing outlet lane at which said second coupon was submitted for redemption, and a time at which said second coupon was submitted for redemption.
12. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:
said device is a coupon reader device and the system further includes a product reader device different from said coupon reader device.
13. A system, as claimed in claim 10, further including:
a coupon redemption subsystem that is provided at a location different from the purchasing outlet, said coupon redemption system including an auxiliary coupon reader device and a processor that receives information obtained by said processing apparatus related to said third coupon.
14. A system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:
said means for issuing payment includes at least one of a check writer and a wire transfer to an account.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of reusing media storage space via partial file deletion, the method comprising:
identifying, by one or more processors, multiple friends, in a same social circle, that together have control of multiple media storage devices that are storing all segments of a media file;
identifying, by one or more processors, a last friend, from the multiple friends, who has control of a last media storage device to have a last copy of a particular segment of the media file, wherein the last media storage device is the only media storage device, from the multiple storage devices, to have a copy of the particular segment of the media file; and
preventing, by one or more processors, the last media storage device from deleting the particular segment of the media file until another of the multiple storage devices stores a copy of the particular segment of the media file.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media storage device is from a group consisting of a Videocassette Recorder (VCR), a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD), a hard file, and a video surveillance media.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media file is from a group consisting of a text document, a video file, a data stream, and an audio file.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media file is in a first format, and wherein the method further comprises:
locating, by one or more processors, a copy of the particular segment of the media file in a second format in a different media storage device, wherein the different media storage device is different from the last media storage device, and wherein the different media storage device is one of the multiple media storage devices; and
in response to one or more processors determining that said another of the multiple storage devices does not have a copy of the particular segment of the media file in the first format, retrieving the copy of the particular segment of the media file in the second format from the different media storage device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple media storage devices contains a different media file from multiple media files, wherein a particular media storage device stores a particular media file, and wherein the method further comprises:
determining, by one or more processors, which of the multiple media files is overwritten according to criteria of:
a ratio of watched to unwatched space for the particular media file;
an amount of time since the particular media file was last viewed;
a percentage of watched space in the particular media storage device as compared to each other media storage device from the multiple media storage devices; and
a historical analysis showing a propensity to rewind and replay, in its entirety, the particular media file based on a genre of the particular media file.
6. A computer system comprising:
a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage medium;
first program instructions to identify multiple friends, in a same social circle, that together have control of multiple media storage devices that are storing all segments of a media file;
second program instructions to identify a last friend, from the multiple friends, who has control of a last media storage device to have a last copy of a particular segment of the media file, wherein the last media storage device is the only media storage device, from the multiple storage devices, to have a copy of the particular segment of the media file; and
third program instructions to prevent the last media storage device from deleting the particular segment of the media file until another of the multiple storage devices stores a copy of the particular segment of the media file; and wherein said first, second, and third program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.
7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the media storage device is from a group consisting of a Videocassette Recorder (VCR), a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD), a hard file, and a video surveillance media.
8. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the media file is from a group consisting of a text document, a video file, a data stream, and an audio file.
9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the media file is in a first format, and wherein the computer system further comprises:
fourth program instructions to locate a copy of the particular segment of the media file in a second format in a different media storage device, wherein the different media storage device is different from the last media storage device, and wherein the different media storage device is one of the multiple media storage devices; and
fifth program instructions to, in response to one or more processors determining that said another of the multiple storage devices does not have a copy of the particular segment of the media file in the first format, retrieve the copy of the particular segment of the media file in the second format from the different media storage device; and wherein said fourth and fifth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.
10. The computer system of claim 6, wherein each of the multiple media storage devices contains a different media file from multiple media files, wherein a particular media storage device stores a particular media file, and wherein the system further comprises:
fourth program instructions to determine which of the multiple media files is overwritten according to criteria of:
a ratio of watched to unwatched space for the particular media file;
an amount of time since the particular media file was last viewed;
a percentage of watched space in the particular media storage device as compared to each other media storage device from the multiple media storage devices; and
a historical analysis showing a propensity to rewind and replay, in its entirety, the particular media file based on a genre of the particular media file; and wherein said fourth program instructions are stored on said computer readable storage medium for execution by said processor via said computer readable memory.

1. A method for determining an angle-of-rotation position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
detecting information about at least incremental angles of rotation of the shaft and running times for each incremental angle of rotation, the detecting being performed on the basis of signals that indicate a rotation of the shaft and are spaced with an interval between them and stored at least temporarily as stored information; and
determining an instantaneous angle-of-rotation position in a period of time between two signals by extrapolation of the angle-of-rotation position thus detected, taking into account at least one of an angular velocity and a change in angular velocity extrapolated from the stored information.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
forming mean values for at least one of the angular velocity and the change in angular velocity to reduce an influence of short-term fluctuations in a rotational speed.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
defining an instantaneous period for sequences that repeat during operation of the internal combustion engine; and
analyzing, for the extrapolation, information from at least one of the instantaneous period and at least one period in the past.
4. The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising:
selecting the instantaneous period as one of a working cycle of the internal combustion engine, a crankshaft revolution, and a firing interval.
5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a desired angle-of-rotation position resolution is selectable through a number of items of information analyzed in the extrapolation.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
performing the extrapolation of at least one of the angular velocity and the change in angular velocity in a time range.
7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
performing the extrapolation of at least one of the angular velocity and the change in angular velocity in a frequency range.
8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the extrapolation is performed in accordance with a Fourier series whose coefficients are determined by a recursive method.
9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
assigning a point in time to each of values determined for the angle-of-rotation position.
10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
when using a sensor wheel that rotates with the shaft and has a tooth gap, determining estimated angular velocities at virtual positions for teeth missing in the tooth gap.
11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the angle-of-rotation position of the shaft includes a crank angle of a crankshaft.
12. A device for determining an angle-of-rotation position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a signaling device that indicates a rotation of the shaft on the basis of signals having time intervals between them;
a detection device allocated to the signaling device and ascertaining information concerning at least incremental angles of rotation of the shaft and running times for each incremental angle of rotation;
a memory for storing at least temporarily the incremental angles of rotation and the running times as stored information; and
a logic circuit for determining an instantaneous angle-of-rotation position in a period of time between two signals by extrapolation of the angle-of-rotation position detected, the determining taking into account at least one of an angular velocity and a change in angular velocity extrapolated from the stored information.
13. The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the angle-of-rotation position of the shaft includes a crank angle of a crankshaft.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A composite structure comprising:
a first unit fiber composite layer having a respective relative fiber directions of about 0\xb0, and 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0;
a second unit fiber composite layer having a respective relative fiber directions of about 0\xb0, and 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0 with respect to the fiber directions of about 0\xb0 of the first unit fiber composite layer and a first side adjacent the first fiber composite layer and a second opposed side in relation to the first composite layer, the layers being secured together adjacent each other in an overlapping manner such that a portion of the fibers from the first unit composite layer is disposed through the second unit fiber composite layer and in locking contact with the second opposed side;
at least a third unit fiber composite layer having a plurality of third fibers having a respective relative fiber directions of about 0\xb0, and 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0 with respect to the fiber directions of about 0\xb0 of the first unit fiber composite layer and a third side adjacent the second fiber composite layer and a fourth opposed side, such that a portion of fibers from the second unit composite layer is disposed through the third layer and in locking contact with the fourth opposed side; and
resin secured to each of the composite unit layers, the unit layers being three-dimensionally woven together with fibers from the first unit composite layer being mechanically linked to fibers from one of the third unit fiber composite layer and a deeper composite layer.
2. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite unit layers comprise at least one of a curved or non-planar section.
3. The composite structure of claim 2, further comprising a fourth skin composite layer attached to only a tangent of the one of the curved or non-planar section.
4. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite layers define a cylindrical shape.
5. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite layers define a substantially semi-spherical shape.
6. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite layers define a repeating corrugated shape.
7. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite layers provide aircraft armor operable to substantially stop complete projectile perforation.
8. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein the composite layers provide land vehicle armor operable to substantially stop complete projectile perforation.
9. The composite structure of claim 1, wherein fibers in one of the composite layers are oriented at or between 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0 relative to an adjacent composite layer.
10. A composite structure comprising:
a first fiber composite layer having a first reinforcing layer having a plurality of first fibers having a respective relative fiber directions of about 0\xb0, and 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0;
at least a second fiber composite layer having a plurality of second fibers having a respective relative fiber directions of about 0\xb0, and 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0 in relation to the relative fiber direction of about 0\xb0 of the first composite layer, the second layer having a first side adjacent the first fiber composite layer and a second opposed side, a portion of the fibers from the first unit composite layer being disposed through the second layer in contact with the second opposed side;
a third fiber composite layer having a third reinforcing layer having a plurality of third fibers having a respective relative fiber directions of about 0\xb0, and 60\xb0 and \u221260\xb0, in relation to the relative fiber direction of about 0\xb0 of the first composite layer, the third layer having a third layer opposed side, a portion of the fibers from the second unit composite layer being disposed through the third layer and in contact with the third layer opposed side;
resin secured to each of the composite unit layers.
11. The composite structure of claim 10, further comprising an optically clear matrix, and wherein the first fibers and second fibers are optically clear.