Author: claimsbot

1. A method for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the method comprising:
preparing content to be written to a session in a Program Area of the CD;
generating control information for writing to a Program Memory Area (PMA) of the CD, which control information, when read by the unauthorized readout device, renders the unauthorized readout device incapable of properly reading the session from the CD; and
recording the content and the control information on the CD.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein recording the content and the control information comprises making the recording in a Disk At Once (DAO) mode.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the CD is not a rewritable CD.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating the control information comprises inserting erroneous data in the PMA.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein inserting the erroneous data comprises inserting parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip one or more tracks of the content on the CD.
6. A method according to claim 4, wherein inserting the erroneous data comprises inserting parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip the content in one or more time intervals in one or more tracks on the CD.
7. A method according to claim 4, wherein inserting the erroneous data comprises inserting parameters indicating that a track on the CD is incomplete.
8. A method according to claim 4, wherein inserting the erroneous data comprises inserting parameters identifying an audio track on the CD as a digital mode track.
9. A method for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the method comprising:
preparing a first Table Of Contents (TOC) with respect to an audio session to be recorded on the CD, the first TOC referring to track numbers in the audio session;
preparing a second TOC with respect to a data session to be recorded on the CD, the second TOC referring to the same track numbers as the first TOC; and
recording the audio and data sessions on the CD together with the first TOC and the second TOC.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein preparing the first TOC comprises recording timing information with respect to the track numbers, and wherein preparing the second TOC comprises modifying the timing information recorded in the first TOC, and recording the modified timing information with respect to the same track numbers in the second TOC.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the first TOC indicates that one or more of the tracks are audio mode tracks, and wherein preparing the second TOC comprises indicating in the second TOC that the one or more tracks are not audio mode tracks.
12. A method for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the method comprising:
preparing data to be written to a sector of the CD, the sector comprising a predetermined number of frames in accordance with an applicable standard, each of the frames comprising multiple symbols, such that in accordance with the applicable standard, each of the frames is to begin with first and second synchronization symbols;
arranging the symbols in at least one of the frames so that the second synchronization symbol occurs before the first synchronization symbol; and
recording the symbols in the sector on the CD.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein arranging the symbols comprises arranging the first and second synchronization symbols in the at least one of the frames so that they are not consecutive.
14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second synchronization symbols in the at least one of the frames are arranged so that the at least one of the frames does not begin with either the first or the second synchronization symbol.
15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the applicable standard comprises standard 908 of the International Electrotechnical Commission, such that the predetermined number of the frames in the sector is 98, and the first and second synchronization symbols comprise sub-code symbols S0 and S1.
16. A method for copy protection, comprising:
receiving data in a recording module representing content to be recorded on a recording medium, the data including an indication that the content is to be protected from unauthorized copying;
responsive to the indication, signaling a protection module to initiate a protection protocol in synchronization with the recording module;
generating control information using the protection module so as to prevent the unauthorized copying of the content that is to be protected;
conveying the control information from the protection module to the recording module, in accordance with the protocol;
combining the control information with the data representing the content in the recording module; and
recording the data combined with the control information on the recording medium.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein signaling the protection module comprises conveying sub-code channel information for use by the protection module in generating the control information.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the control sub-code channel information comprises a table of contents (TOC) of the data representing the content.
19. A method according to claim 17, wherein generating the control information comprises generating the control information responsive to the sub-code channel information, substantially without receiving the data representing the content at the protection module.
20. A method according to claim 16, wherein signaling the protection module comprises sending a synchronization signal from the recording module to the protection module, and wherein conveying the control information comprises generating the control information in synchronization with the data, responsive to the synchronization signal.
21. A method according to claim 16, wherein signaling the protection module comprises authenticating the protection module before proceeding with the protection protocol.
22. A method according to claim 16, wherein generating the control information comprises preparing the control information so as to cause the recording module, upon combining the control information with the data, to effect logical changes in a sub-code channel associated with the data.
23. A method according to claim 16, wherein generating the control information comprises preparing the control information so as to cause the recording module, upon combining the control information with the data, to modify the data so that at least a portion of the data will be identified as erroneous with respect to an error correcting code associated therewith.
24. A method according to claim 16, wherein the recording medium comprises a compact disk (CD).
25. A method for copy protection, comprising:
providing a protection module for processing data associated with content to be recorded on a recording medium, so as to inhibit, by processing of the data, unauthorized copying of the content;
downloading a script to the protection module over a communication link, the script providing an updated processing parameter for use in processing the data;
running the script at the protection module to determine the updated processing parameter;
processing the data using the protection module subject to the updated processing parameter; and
recording the processed data on the medium.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the protection module comprises a hardware logic unit dedicated to processing the data so as to inhibit the unauthorized copying.
27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the protection module comprises software program code for running on a general-purpose processing unit.
28. A method according to claim 25, wherein downloading the script comprises encrypting the script before downloading it to the protection module, and wherein running the script comprises authenticating and decrypting the script.
29. A method according to claim 25, wherein processing the data comprises effecting logical changes in a sub-code channel associated with the data.
30. A method according to claim 25, wherein the medium comprises a compact disk (CD).
31. Apparatus for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the apparatus comprising:
a protection processor, adapted to prepare content to be written to a session in a Program Area of the CD, and to generate control information for writing to a Program Memory Area (PMA) of the CD, which control information, when read by the unauthorized readout device, renders the unauthorized readout device incapable of properly reading the session from the CD; and
a recording device, coupled to receive the content and the control information from the protection processor and adapted to record the content and the control information on the CD.
32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the recording device is adapted to record the content and the control information in a Disk At Once (DAO) mode.
33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the CD is not a rewritable CD.
34. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the protection processor is adapted to insert erroneous data in the PMA.
35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip one or more tracks of the content on the CD.
36. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip the content in one or more time intervals in one or more tracks on the CD.
37. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters indicating that a track on the CD is incomplete.
38. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters identifying an audio track on the CD as a digital mode track.
39. Apparatus for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the apparatus comprising:
a protection processor, adapted to prepare a first Table Of Contents (TOC) with respect to an audio session to be recorded on the CD, the first TOC referring to track numbers in the audio session, and to prepare a second TOC with respect to a data session to be recorded on the CD, the second TOC referring to the same track numbers as the first TOC; and
a recording device, coupled to receive the first TOC and the second TOC from the protection processor, and to record the audio and data sessions on the CD together with the first TOC and the second TOC.
40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the protection processor is adapted to record timing information with respect to the track numbers in the first TOC, and to modify the timing information recorded with respect to the track numbers in the first TOC for inclusion in the second TOC with respect to the same track numbers.
41. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the first TOC indicates that the tracks are audio mode tracks, and wherein the protection processor is adapted to record an indication in the second TOC that the tracks are not audio mode tracks.
42. Apparatus for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the apparatus comprising:
a protection processor, adapted to receive data to be written to a sector of the CD, the sector comprising a predetermined number of frames in accordance with an applicable standard, each of the frames comprising multiple symbols, such that in accordance with the applicable standard, each of the frames is to begin with first and second synchronization symbols, the protection processor being adapted to arrange the symbols in at least one of the frames so that the second synchronization symbol occurs before the first synchronization symbol; and
a recording device, coupled to receive the symbols from the protection processor, and to record the symbols in the sector on the CD.
43. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the protection processor is adapted to arrange the first and second synchronization symbols in the at least one of the frames so that they are not consecutive.
44. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the protection processor is adapted to arrange the first and second synchronization symbols in the at least one of the frames are arranged so that the at least one of the frames does not begin with either the first or the second synchronization symbol.
45. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the applicable standard comprises standard 908 of the International Electrotechnical Commission, such that the predetermined number of the frames in the sector is 98, and the first and second synchronization symbols comprise sub-code symbols S0 and S1.
46. Apparatus for copy protection, comprising:
a protection module, adapted to generate control information using the protection module so as to prevent unauthorized copying of protected content; and
a recording module, adapted to receive data representing the content to be recorded on a recording medium, the data including an indication that the content is to be protected from the unauthorized copying, such that responsive to the indication, the recording module signals the protection module to initiate a protection protocol in synchronization with the recording module and conveys the control information from the protection module to the recording module, in accordance with the protocol, and then receives the control information generated by the protection module and combines the control information with the data representing the content, so as to record the data combined with the control information on the recording medium.
47. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the recording module is adapted to convey to the protection module sub-code channel information for use by the protection module in generating the control information.
48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the control sub-code channel information comprises a table of contents (TOC) of the data representing the content.
49. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the protection module is adapted to generate the control information responsive to the sub-code channel information, substantially without receiving the data representing the content.
50. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the recording module is adapted to send the protection module a synchronization signal, and wherein the protection module is adapted to generate the control information in synchronization with the data, responsive to the synchronization signal.
51. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the recording module is adapted to authenticate the protection module before proceeding with the protection protocol.
52. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the protection module is adapted to prepare the control information so as to cause the recording module, upon combining the control information with the data, to effect logical changes in a sub-code channel associated with the data.
53. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the protection module is adapted to prepare the control information so as to cause the recording module, upon combining the control information with the data, to modify the data so that at least a portion of the data will be identified as erroneous with respect to an error correcting code associated therewith.
54. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the recording medium comprises a compact disk (CD).
55. Apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the apparatus comprises a programmable processing unit, and wherein the recording and protection modules are implemented as processes running on the processing unit.
56. Apparatus for copy protection, comprising:
a network interface, adapted to download a script over a communication link, the script providing an updated processing parameter for use in processing data associated with content to be recorded on a recording medium so as to inhibit unauthorized copying of the content;
a protection module, adapted to run the script so as to determine the updated processing parameter and to process the data, subject to the updated processing parameter, so as to inhibit the unauthorized copying; and
a recording device, coupled to receive the processed data from the protection module, and to record the processed data on the medium.
57. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the protection module comprises a hardware logic unit dedicated to processing the data so as to inhibit the unauthorized copying.
58. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the protection module comprises a general-purpose processing unit, programmed with software code for processing the data.
59. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the script is encrypted before downloading it to the protection module, and wherein the protection module is adapted to authenticate and decrypt the script.
60. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the protection module is adapted to process the data so as to effect logical changes in a sub-code channel associated with the data.
61. Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the medium comprises a compact disk (CD).
62. A computer software product for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to prepare content to be written to a session in a Program Area of the CD, and to generate control information for writing to a Program Memory Area (PMA) of the CD, which control information, when read by the unauthorized readout device, renders the unauthorized readout device incapable of properly reading the session from the CD.
63. A product according to claim 62, wherein the instructions cause the computer to prepare the content and the control information for recording in a Disk At Once (DAO) mode, regardless of whether or not the CD is a rewritable CD.
64. A product according to claim 62, wherein the instructions cause the computer to insert erroneous data in the PMA.
65. A product according to claim 64, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip one or more tracks of the content on the CD.
66. A product according to claim 64, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip the content in one or more time intervals in one or more tracks on the CD.
67. A product according to claim 64, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters indicating that a track on the CD is incomplete.
68. A product according to claim 64, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters identifying an audio track on the CD as a digital mode track.
69. A computer software product for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to prepare a first Table Of Contents (TOC) to be recorded on the CD with respect to an audio session, the first TOC referring to track numbers in the audio session, and to prepare a second TOC to be recorded on the CD with respect to a data session, the second TOC referring to the same track numbers as the first TOC.
70. A product according to claim 69, wherein the instructions cause the computer to record timing information with respect to the track numbers in the first TOC, and to modify the timing information recorded with respect to the track numbers in the first TOC for inclusion in the second TOC with respect to the same track numbers.
71. A product according to claim 69, wherein the first TOC indicates that the tracks are audio mode tracks, and wherein the instructions cause the computer to record an indication in the second TOC that the tracks are not audio mode tracks.
72. A computer software product for preventing copying of a compact disk (CD) using an unauthorized readout device, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer that receives data to be written to a sector of the CD, the sector comprising a predetermined number of frames in accordance with an applicable standard, each of the frames comprising multiple symbols, such that in accordance with the applicable standard, each of the frames is to begin with first and second synchronization symbols, cause the computer to arrange the symbols in at least one of the frames to be recorded to the sector of the CD so that the second synchronization symbol occurs before the first synchronization symbol.
73. A product according to claim 72, wherein the instructions cause the computer to arrange the first and second synchronization symbols in the at least one of the frames so that they are not consecutive.
74. A product according to claim 72, wherein the instructions cause the computer to arrange the first and second synchronization symbols in the at least one of the frames are arranged so that the at least one of the frames does not begin with either the first or the second synchronization symbol.
75. A product according to claim 72, wherein the applicable standard comprises standard 908 of the International Electrotechnical Commission, such that the predetermined number of the frames in the sector is 98, and the first and second synchronization symbols comprise sub-code symbols S0 and S1.
76. A computer software product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to run a protection process and a recording process,
wherein the protection process generates control information so as to prevent unauthorized copying of protected content, and
wherein the recording module receives data representing the content to be recorded on a recording medium, the data including an indication that the content is to be protected from the unauthorized copying, such that responsive to the indication, the recording module signals the protection module to initiate a protection protocol in synchronization with the recording module and conveys the control information from the protection module to the recording module, in accordance with the protocol, and then receives the control information generated by the protection module and combines the control information with the data representing the content, so as to record the data combined with the control information on the recording medium.
77. A product according to claim 76, wherein the instructions cause the recording process to convey to the protection process sub-code channel information for use by the protection process in generating the control information.
78. A product according to claim 77, wherein the control sub-code channel information comprises a table of contents (TOC) of the data representing the content.
79. A product according to claim 77, wherein the instructions cause the protection process to generate the control information responsive to the sub-code channel information, substantially without receiving the data representing the content.
80. A product according to claim 76, wherein the instructions cause the recording process to send the protection process a synchronization signal, and cause the protection process to generate the control information in synchronization with the data, responsive to the synchronization signal.
81. A product according to claim 76, wherein the instructions cause the recording process to authenticate the protection process before proceeding with the protection protocol.
82. A product according to claim 76, wherein the instructions cause the protection process to prepare the control information so as to cause the recording process, upon combining the control information with the data, to effect logical changes in a sub-code channel associated with the data.
83. A product according to claim 76, wherein the instructions cause the protection process to prepare the control information so as to cause the recording process, upon combining the control information with the data, to modify the data so that at least a portion of the data will be identified as erroneous with respect to an error correcting code associated therewith.
84. A product according to claim 76, wherein the recording medium comprises a compact disk (CD).
85. A computer software product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to download a script over a communication link, the script providing an updated processing parameter for use in processing data associated with content to be recorded on a recording medium so as to inhibit unauthorized copying of the content, and further cause the computer to run the script so as to determine the updated processing parameter and to process the data for recording on the medium, subject to the updated processing parameter.
86. A product according to claim 85, wherein the script is encrypted before downloading it to the protection module, and wherein the instructions cause the computer to authenticate and decrypt the script.
87. A product according to claim 85, wherein the instructions cause the computer to process the data so as to effect logical changes in a sub-code channel associated with the data.
88. A product according to claim 85, wherein the medium comprises a compact disk (CD).
89. A data storage medium that is resistant to copying using an unauthorized readout device, the medium comprising a compact disk (CD) having a Program Area in which content is stored, and a Program Memory Area (PMA) containing control information which, when read by the unauthorized readout device, renders the unauthorized readout device incapable of properly reading the session from the CD.
90. A medium according to claim 89, wherein the content and the control information are written to the CD in a Disk At Once (DAO) mode.
91. A medium according to claim 90, wherein the CD is not a rewritable CD.
92. A medium according to claim 89, wherein the control information in the PMA comprises erroneous data.
93. A medium according to claim 92, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip one or more tracks of the content on the CD.
94. A medium according to claim 92, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters instructing a Compact Disk Rewritable (CD-RW) compatible readout device to skip the content in one or more time intervals in one or more tracks on the CD.
95. A medium according to claim 92, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters indicating that a track on the CD is incomplete.
96. A medium according to claim 92, wherein the erroneous data comprise parameters identifying an audio track on the CD as a digital mode track.
97. A data storage medium that is resistant to copying using an unauthorized readout device, the medium comprising a compact disk (CD) that is not a rewritable CD, the CD having a Program Area in which content is stored, and a Program Memory Area (PMA) containing control information.
98. A medium according to claim 97, wherein the content and the control information are written to the CD in a Disk At Once (DAO) mode.
99. A data storage medium that is resistant to copying using an unauthorized readout device, the medium comprising a compact disk (CD) having an audio session and a data session, the audio session including a first Table Of Contents (TOC) referring to track numbers in the audio session, and the data session including a second TOC referring to the same track numbers as the first TOC.
100. A medium according to claim 99, wherein the first TOC contains timing information with respect to the track numbers, and the second TOC contains modified timing information with respect to the same track numbers, different from the timing information in the first TOC.
101. A medium according to claim 99, wherein the first TOC indicates that the track numbers refer to audio mode tracks, and wherein the second TOC indicates that the same track numbers do not refer to audio mode tracks.
102. A data storage medium that is resistant to copying using an unauthorized readout device, the medium comprising a compact disk (CD) containing data in at least one sector thereon, the at least one sector comprising a predetermined number of frames in accordance with an applicable standard, each of the frames comprising multiple symbols, such that in accordance with the applicable standard, each of the frames is to begin with first and second synchronization symbols, while in at least one of the frames in the at least one sector, the second synchronization symbol occurs before the first synchronization symbol.
103. A medium according to claim 102, wherein the at least one of the frames does not begin with either the first or the second synchronization symbol.
104. A medium according to claim 102, wherein the applicable standard comprises standard 908 of the International Electrotechnical Commission, such that the predetermined number of the frames in the sector is 98, and the first and second synchronization symbols comprise sub-code symbols S0 and S1.

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 for producing a chemically-modified graphene, comprising subjecting a cyclic anhydride and graphite to a Friedel-Crafts reaction in the presence of a Lewis acid,
wherein
the cyclic anhydride is selected from the group consisting of a maleic anhydride-based compound, a succinic anhydride-based compound, and the combination thereof;
the Lewis acid is selected from the group consisting of aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, trifluoroborane, boron trichloride, borontribromide, trimethylboron, iron(III) chloride, magnesium bromide, and combinations thereof; and
the Friedel-Crafts reaction is conducted in a polar aprotic solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and combinations thereof;

wherein the Friedel-Crafts reaction includes:
(a) adding the Lewis acid into a cyclic anhydride solution that contains the cyclic anhydride so as to contact the cyclic anhydride with the Lewis acid to form a ring-opened intermediate at a temperature ranging from 70\xb0 C. to 120\xb0 C.; and
(b) adding the graphite into the cyclic anhydride solution so as to graft the ring-opened intermediate to the graphite at a temperature ranging from 120\xb0 C. to 180\xb0 C.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cyclic anhydride is selected from the group consisting of maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, and the combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of the cyclic anhydride to the Lewis acid ranges from 1:0.5 to 1:10.

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a device comprising a processor, a first input from equipment of a user representing desirable performance metrics associated with a video game environment;
constructing, by the device, a game profile in accordance with the desirable performance metrics;
performing, by the device, first performance metric measurements relating to the video game environment;
comparing, by the device, the performance metric measurements with the game profile;
determining, by the device, a game environment quality level based on the comparing;
providing, by the device, a display at the equipment of the user representing the game environment quality level; and
receiving, by the device, a second input from the equipment of the user indicating whether a game session is to be initiated.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises user preferences regarding performance of a network coupled to the equipment of the user, location of the game session, identity of a video game, participants in the game session, or a combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user and the participants communicate via a social network.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first performance metric measurements are performed for a local video game environment to obtain a local game environment quality level, and further comprising:
performing second performance metric measurements for a remote video game environment to obtain a remote game environment quality level; and
displaying the local game environment quality level and the remote game environment quality level at the equipment of the user.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second input comprises a location of the remote video game environment, and wherein the second performance metric measurements are performed in response to the second input.
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the local game environment quality level and the remote game environment quality level at a remote database.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
retrieving from the database a historical local game environment quality level and a historical remote game environment quality level; and
displaying the local game environment quality level, the remote game environment quality level, the historical local game environment quality level, and the historical remote game environment quality level at the equipment of the user.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a graphical user interface for display at the equipment of the user, and wherein the first input and the second input are received via the graphical user interface.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
initiating the game session in response to the second input, the game session engaging the user and another participant;
receiving a first gaming quality level of the user;
receiving a second gaming quality level of the other participant; and
providing the first gaming quality level and the second gaming quality level to the user and to the other participant.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
receiving a signal from the equipment of the user in accordance with the first gaming quality level being higher than the second gaming quality level; and
in response to the signal, adjusting performance metrics of the equipment of the user to decrease a capability of the equipment of the user, thereby facilitating an equalized gaming experience with respect to the user and the other participant.
11. A server comprising:
a memory to store instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising:
receiving a first input from equipment of a user representing selection of a video game and desirable performance metrics associated with a video game environment,
constructing a game profile for the selected game in accordance with the desirable performance metrics;
performing first performance metric measurements relating to the video game environment;
comparing the performance metric measurements with the game profile;
determining a game environment quality level based on the comparing; and
receiving a second input from the equipment of the user indicating whether, based on the game environment quality level, a game session is to be initiated;
wherein the first input comprises user preferences regarding performance of a communication network including the server and the equipment of the user, location of the game session, participants in the game session, or a combination thereof.
12. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise performing, in response to the second input, second performance metric measurements for a remote video game environment to obtain a remote game environment quality level.
13. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving information from a social network regarding the participants in the game session.
14. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise
determining a location of the user relative to the server and to another server communicating on the network; and
in accordance with a determination that the other server is in closer proximity to the user, delegating initiation of the game session to the other server.
15. The server of claim 11, wherein the first performance metric measurements are performed for a local video game environment to obtain a local game environment quality level, and wherein the operations further comprise:
performing second performance metric measurements for a remote video game environment to obtain a remote game environment quality level; and
displaying the local game environment quality level and the remote game environment quality level at the equipment of the user.
16. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:
initiating the game session in response to the second input, the game session engaging the user and another participant;
receiving a first gaming quality level of the user;
receiving a second gaming quality level of the other participant;
providing the first gaming quality level and the second gaming quality level to the user;
receiving a signal from the equipment of the user in accordance with the first gaming quality level being higher than the second gaming quality level; and
in response to the signal, adjusting performance metrics of the equipment of the user to decrease a capability of the equipment of the user, thereby facilitating an equalized gaming experience with respect to the user and the other participant.
17. A machine-readable storage device comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a first input from equipment of a user representing selection of a video game and desirable performance metrics associated with a video game environment local to the user;
constructing a game profile for the selected game in accordance with the desirable performance metrics;
performing first performance metric measurements relating to the video game environment;
comparing the performance metric measurements with the game profile;
determining a local game environment quality level based on the comparing;
providing a display at the equipment of the user representing the local game environment quality level; and
receiving, by the device, a second input from the equipment of the user indicating whether a game session is to be initiated,
wherein the first input comprises user preferences regarding performance of a communication network including the processor and the equipment of the user, a physical environment of the game session, participants in the game session, or a combination thereof, and
wherein the first input and the second input are received via a graphical user interface displayed at the equipment of the user.
18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:
performing second performance metric measurements for a remote video game environment to obtain a remote game environment quality level; and
displaying the local game environment quality level and the remote game environment quality level at the equipment of the user.
19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:
storing the local game environment quality level and the remote game environment quality level at a remote database;
retrieving from the remote database a historical local game environment quality level and a historical remote game environment quality level; and
displaying the local game environment quality level, the remote game environment quality level, the historical local game environment quality level, and the historical remote game environment quality level at the equipment of the user.
20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving information from a social network regarding the participants in the game session.

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 cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge comprising:
an anode;
a cathode placed in such a manner as to form a discharge space together with the anode; and
a member configured so that, in voltage application to the anode and the cathode, an electric field should be concentrated at the member to a larger extent than an electric field at the cathode is, wherein
the member is provided inside the discharge space in such a manner that the member has a floating potential.
2. The cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 1, further comprising a support member to which the member is provided.
3. The cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 2, wherein
the support member is connected to at least one of the anode and the cathode, and
the support member itself is an insulator, or at least a connecting portion between the support member and the member is insulative.
4. The cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 3, wherein
one of the anode and the cathode is a rod-shaped electrode,
the other one of the anode and the cathode is a cylindrical electrode provided in such a manner as to surround the rod-shaped electrode,
the support member has a disk shape and has an opening,
the member is a protrusion extending from an edge of the opening toward the rod-shaped electrode,
the rod-shaped electrode is placed through the opening, and
the protrusion is provided to the disk-shaped support member while being insulated therefrom.
5. The cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 4, wherein the disk-shaped support member is mounted in the discharge space by bringing an edge of an outer circumference of the disk-shaped support member into pressure contact with an inner wall of the cylindrical electrode.
6. The cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 4, wherein
one protrusion is provided as the protrusion, and
a distance between a tip of the protrusion and the rod-shaped electrode is not smaller than 0.05 mm but not larger than 3.0 mm.
7. The cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 4, wherein
one protrusion is provided as the protrusion, and
a thickness of the protrusion is not larger than 1 mm.
8. An auxiliary discharge starting electrode plate used in a cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge which includes: a rod-shaped electrode as one of an anode and a cathode; and a cylindrical electrode as the other one of the anode and the cathode, the cylindrical electrode being provided in such a manner as to surround the rod-shaped electrode, the auxiliary discharge starting electrode plate comprising:
an opening for penetrating the rod-shaped electrode;
a protrusion which is provided to the auxiliary discharge starting electrode plate while being insulated therefrom, and which projects in the opening; and
a support claw for attachment to the cylindrical electrode.
9. A vacuum processing apparatus comprising the cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge according to claim 1.