Author: claimsbot

1. A system configured for an electronic gaming device, said electronic gaming device having at least a controller, memory, game player interface and display, comprising:
gaming device status detecting means configured to passively detect the status of the electronic gaming device and differentiate between detected status conditions associated with gaming machine activity and detected status conditions associated with gaming machine inactivity;
marketing content supplying means configured to transmit marketing content to the display responsive to the detection of status conditions associated with gaming machine inactivity, said marketing content supplying means further configured to transmit the marketing content after the passage of a preset period of time from the detection of status conditions associated with gaming machine inactivity and cease the transmission of said marketing content to the display responsive to detection of status conditions associated with gaming machine activity by said detecting means.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising preemption means configured to prevent pre-existing internal gaming machine inactivity content from being displayed on the display in favor of displaying said transmitted marketing content on the display until the transmission of the marketing content ceases.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the status conditions associated with gaming machine activity and gaming machine inactivity are preset to facilitate the differentiation thereof by the gaming device status detecting means.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising memory in communication with the markerting content supplying means for storing the marketing content.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said gaming device status detecting means further comprises connections with one or more components of the electronic gaming device.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data stream switch having multiple data stream inputs, wherein the data stream switch is configured for outputting the marketing content upon detection of the transmission of marketing content from the marketing content supplying means regardless of other data stream input.
7. A system configured for an electronic gaming device, said electronic gaming device having at least a controller, memory, game player interface and display, comprising:
a data processor operatively associated with the electronic gaming device for passively detecting conditions within the electronic gaming device, differentiating between conditions associated with gaming device activity and conditions associated with gaming device inactivity, actuating a transmission of marketing content in response to the passage of a preset period of time after detecting conditions associated with gaming device inactivity, and ending the transmission of marketing content in response to the detection of conditions associated with gaming device activity;
a data stream switch having multiple sources of data stream input and an output in communication with the display of the electronic gaming device, wherein the data stream switch is configured to receive the transmission of marketing content actuated by the data processor as a data stream input, wherein the data stream switch is further configured to facilitate the display of marketing content on the electronic gaming device display by outputting the marketing content for display and automatically preempting any pre-existing gaming device inactivity content input from being displayed on the display of the electronic gaming device while receiving the transmission of marketing content.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the data processor is further configured for determining the display characteristics of the pre-existing gaming device inactivity content and adjusting the display characteristics of the marketing content to substantially match the display characteristics of the pre-existing gaming device inactivity content for display on the electronic gaming device display.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the conditions detected include a data signal generated by a component within the gaming device.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the conditions detected include a voltage change associated with a component within the electronic gaming device.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the conditions associated with gaming device activity include one or more of the following: bill validator usage, game player interface usage, coin in detection, game card usage and touchscreen usage.
12. The system of claim 7 wherein the data processor and data stream switch are mounted within the electronic gaming device.
13. The system of claim 7 wherein the data stream switch is configured for receiving marketing content from a remote source.
14. The system of claim 7 wherein the data processor is further configured to record relating to the duration of time marketing content is transmitted.
15. A method of presenting marketing content via an electronic gaming machine, said electronic gaming machine including at least a controller, memory, game player interface and display, comprising the steps of:
detecting data signals generated by the electronic gaming device during play sessions and idle time;
tracking time after detecting a data signals associated with idle time;
triggering a transmission of marketing content to the display responsive to the tracked time after detection of the data signal exceeding a threshold period of time; and
ceasing the transmission of said marketing content to the display responsive to detection of a subsequent data signal associated with play sessions.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting marketing content to the display from a remote source.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising transmitting marketing content to the display from a local source.
18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of preempting pre-existing internal game idle content from being displayed in favor of displaying said marketing content.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting data signals related to one or more of the following: bill validator usage, game player interface usage, coin in detection, game card usage and touchscreen usage.
20. An electronic gaming machine configured for providing an interactive game, comprising:
a display;
memory containing display content including game play content;
a player interface for inputting information and player selections relating to the interactive game;
a game controller configured for facilitating game play of the interactive game, including receiving information from the player interface and providing game content on the display during game play;
a data processor configured for passively detecting data communication within the gaming machine, differentiating between the data communication associated with game play and the data communication associated with a game idle state, actuating a transmission of marketing content in response to the detection of data communication associated with a game idle state and ending the transmission of marketing content in response to the detection of data communication associated with game play; and
a data stream switch having multiple data stream input sources and an output in communication with the display, the data stream switch being configured to receive the transmission of marketing content actuated by the data processor as a data stream input, preempt any other display content input from being outputted by the data stream switch for display and outputting the marketing content being received by the data stream switch for display while the transmission is received.
21. An electronic gaming machine as recited in claim 18, wherein the display content further includes game idle content and the game controller is further configured to present the game idle content on the display during the game idle state.
22. An electronic gaming machine as recited in claim 19, wherein the data stream switch is further configured to automatically preempt the display of game idle content upon receiving the transmission of marketing content.
23. An electronic gaming machine as recited in claim 20, wherein the data processor is further configured to actuate the transmission of marketing content after a preset period of time from the detection of data communication associated with a game idle state.
24. An electronic gaming machine as recited in claim 18, further comprising a data storage device containing the marketing content.
25. An electronic gaming machine as recited in claim 18, wherein the data processor records the duration of each transmission of marketing content.

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.-25. (canceled)
26. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage;
wherein the implant has a flow controlling wire or rod located in the tube passage;
wherein the flow controlling wire or rod has a non-circular cross-section and the angular orientation of the flow controlling wire or rod within the tube passage is adjustable with respect to at lease one inlet side hole which opens into the tube passage to adjust the flow characteristics through the implant.
27. An implant according to claim 26 wherein the flow controlling wire or rod has an external groove on its outer surface.
28. An implant according to claim 27 wherein the external groove is straight.
29. An implant according to claim 27 wherein the external groove is helical.
30. An implant according to claim 25 wherein the flow controlling wire or rod has a flat surface.
31. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage;
wherein the implant has a flow controlling wire or rod located in the tube passage;
wherein the tube has at least one side hole which opens into the tube passage and the longitudinal location of the flow controlling wire or rod is adjustable relative to the at least one side hole to adjust the flow characteristics through the implant.
32. An implant according to claim 31 wherein the flow controlling wire or rod is biased by a spring within the tube passage so that it is longitudinally adjustable in response to increased pressure at the inlet end.
33. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage;
wherein the implant has a flow controlling wire or rod located in the tube passage;
wherein the tube has at least one side hole which opens into the tube passage and the flow controlling wire or rod is flexible within the tube passage to adjust the flow characteristics through the implant in response to increased fluid pressure at the inlet end.
34. An implant according to claim 33 wherein the at least one side hole is occluded.
35. An implant as claimed in claim 34 comprising at least two side holes wherein the at least two side holes are located at different distances from the outlet end of the implant and wherein the side holes may be occluded or open to provide the implant with different flow characteristics.
36. An implant according to claim 34 wherein the occlusion of at least one side hole is temporary.
37. An implant according to claim 36 wherein the temporary occlusion is caused by material in the hole which is later removed.
38. An implant according to claim 37 wherein the temporary occlusion is caused by an absorbable material located in the hole.
39. An implant according to claim 37 wherein the temporary occlusion is caused by a material located in the hole which is later removed by one of a tool or laser.
40. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage; and
means for increasing an area of flow through the tube passage in response to an increase in pressure of fluid at the inlet end, thereby permitting increased flow of fluid through the tube passage in response to the increased pressure at the inlet end.
41. An implant according to claim 40 wherein the means for increasing an area of flow through the tube passage in response to an increase in pressure of fluid at the inlet end comprises a flow controlling rod that is movable within the tube passage.
42. An implant according to claim 41 wherein the flow controlling rod is bendable within the tube passage.
43. An implant according to claim 41 wherein the flow controlling rod is biased by a spring within the tube passage.
44. An implant according to claim 40 wherein the implant is an intraocular implant adapted for implantation into an eye to permit drainage of aqueous humor.
45. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage; and
a movable flow controlling rod adapted to move to increase an area of flow through the tube passage in response to an increase in pressure of fluid at the inlet end, thereby permitting increased flow of fluid through the tube passage in response to the increased pressure at the inlet end.
46. An implant according to claim 45 wherein the flow controlling rod is bendable within the tube passage.
47. An implant according to claim 45 wherein the flow controlling rod is biased by a spring within the tube passage.
48. An implant according to claim 45 wherein the implant is an intraocular implant adapted for implantation into an eye to permit drainage of aqueous humor.

1. A developing apparatus comprising:
a housing that has a pair of wall portions, and a top cover which extends between the pair of wall portions;
an additional-developer storage portion that is detachably mounted to the housing and stores additional developer to be supplied into the housing;
a developing roller that is rotatably supported, by the housing, between the pair of wall portions, and that carries developer;
a developer conveying path that includes a first conveying path which is disposed in the housing so as to be spaced from the developing roller, and in which the developer is conveyed in a first direction, and a second conveying path which is disposed between the developing roller and the first conveying path, in which the developer is conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and by which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, the developer conveying path having an upper portion defined by the top cover;
a divider that is disposed in the housing and that divides the first conveying path and the second conveying path from each other;
a first communication path disposed between one of the paired wall portions and a corresponding one of end portions of the divider, and a second communication path disposed between the other of the paired wall portions and the other of the end portions of the divider, the first communication path having a function of delivering the developer from the first conveying path to the second conveying path, the second communication path having a function of delivering the developer from the second conveying path to the first conveying path;
a developer reception opening that is formed in the housing so as to oppose a position on a downstream side, in the first direction, of the first conveying path, and that allows the additional developer to be received therethrough and supplied into the developer conveying path;
a conveying member that is disposed in the first conveying path, is driven to rotate, and conveys the developer in the first direction such that the developer passes by a position where the developer reception opening opposes the first conveying path;
a downstream-side conveying capability reduction portion that is disposed, in the conveying member or the housing, downstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction, and that locally reduces a developer conveying capability, for the developer, of the conveying member, to form a first accumulation portion in which the developer is accumulated at a position opposing the developer reception opening; and
an upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall that is disposed upstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction so as to project from the top cover toward the conveying member, and that locally reduces a developer conveying capability, for the developer, of the conveying member, to form a second accumulation portion in which the developer is accumulated upstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction.
2. The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downstream-side conveying capability reduction portion is a downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall disposed downstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction so as to project from the top cover toward the conveying member.
3. The developing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when H1 represents a height by which the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall projects from the top cover, and H2 represents a height by which the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall projects from the top cover, a relationship of H2\u2266H1\u22662\xd7H2 is satisfied.
4. The developing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the conveying member includes: a rotation shaft; screw blades formed around the rotation shaft; and elimination portions, disposed in regions that oppose the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall and the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall, in which the screw blades are locally eliminated, and
the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall and the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall are disposed such that an end of each of the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall and the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall is closer to the rotation shaft than outer circumferential edges of the screw blades are.
5. The developing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the conveying member includes: a rotation shaft; screw blades formed around the rotation shaft; and elimination portions, disposed in regions that oppose the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall and the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall, in which the screw blades are locally eliminated, and
the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall and the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall are disposed such that an end of each of the downstream-side conveying capability reduction wall and the upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall is closer to the rotation shaft than outer circumferential edges of the screw blades are.
6. The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the conveying member includes a rotation shaft, and screw blades formed around the rotation shaft, and
the downstream-side conveying capability reduction portion is a paddle member disposed between the screw blades adjacent to each other.
7. A developing apparatus comprising:
a housing that has a pair of wall portions, and a top cover which extends between the pair of wall portions;
an additional-developer storage portion that is detachably mounted to the housing and stores additional developer to be supplied into the housing;
a developing roller that is rotatably supported, by the housing, between the pair of wall portions, and that carries developer;
a developer conveying path that includes a first conveying path which is disposed in the housing so as to be spaced from the developing roller, and in which the developer is conveyed in a first direction, and a second conveying path which is disposed between the developing roller and the first conveying path, in which the developer is conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and by which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, the developer conveying path having an upper portion defined by the top cover, and allowing the developer to be circulated and conveyed therein;
a developer reception opening that is formed in the housing so as to oppose a position on a downstream side, in the first direction, of the first conveying path, and that allows the additional developer to be received therethrough and supplied into the developer conveying path;
a conveying member that is disposed in the first conveying path, is driven to rotate, and conveys the developer in the first direction such that the developer passes by a position where the developer reception opening opposes the first conveying path; and
a conveying capability reduction wall that is disposed downstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction so as to project from the top cover toward the conveying member, and that locally reduces a developer conveying capability, for the developer, of the conveying member, to form an accumulation portion in which the developer is accumulated at a position opposing the developer reception opening.
8. The developing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
the conveying member includes: a rotation shaft; screw blades formed around the rotation shaft; and an elimination portion, disposed in a region that opposes the conveying capability reduction wall, in which the screw blades are locally eliminated, and
the conveying capability reduction wall has a lower end that is closer to the rotation shaft than outer circumferential edges of the screw blades are.
9. The developing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
the conveying capability reduction wall is a plate-like member that extends in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft, the developing apparatus further comprising
an agitating paddle that projects from the rotation shaft in a radial direction so as to oppose the conveying capability reduction wall, and passes below the conveying capability reduction wall according to rotation of the conveying member.
10. The developing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
an end portion, on an upstream side in the first direction, of the agitating paddle, is positioned downstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction, and upstream of the conveying capability reduction wall in the first direction, and
an end portion, on a downstream side in the first direction, of the agitating paddle, is positioned downstream of the conveying capability reduction wall in the first direction.
11. The developing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a minimum distance between the agitating paddle and the conveying capability reduction wall according to rotation of the conveying member is longer than or equal to 0.5 mm, and not longer than 2.0 mm.
12. The developing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a minimum distance between the agitating paddle and the conveying capability reduction wall according to rotation of the conveying member is longer than or equal to 0.5 mm, and not longer than 2.0 mm.
13. The developing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
the conveying capability reduction wall is a plate-like member that extends in a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft, and
the lower end of the conveying capability reduction wall horizontally extends, and is positioned so as to be lower than upper ends of the screw blades that rotate, by a distance that is longer than or equal to 1.5 mm, and not longer than 2.0 mm.
14. The developing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein,
in a case where a cross-section orthogonal to the rotation shaft is viewed,
the conveying capability reduction wall has such an arched shape as to surround the conveying member, and
in a case where H1 represents a height by which a center portion of the conveying capability reduction wall projects from the top cover, and H2 represents a height by which both end portions of the conveying capability reduction wall each project from the top cover, a relationship of H1<H2 is satisfied.
15. The developing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the number of the conveying capability reduction walls is plural, and the plural conveying capability reduction walls are spaced from each other in the first direction.
16. The developing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein,
the plural conveying capability reduction walls include a first reduction wall that is disposed on a downstream side in the first direction, and a second reduction wall that is disposed on an upstream side in the first direction, and
in a case where H3 represents a height by which the first reduction wall projects from the top cover, and H4 represents a height by which the second reduction wall projects from the top cover, a relationship of H3>H4 is satisfied.
17. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developing apparatus;
an image carrier which has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and to which developer is supplied from the developing apparatus, and
a transfer device that transfers an image from the image carrier to a sheet, wherein
the developing apparatus includes:
a housing that has a pair of wall portions, and a top cover which extends between the pair of wall portions;
an additional-developer storage portion that is detachably mounted to the housing and stores additional developer to be supplied into the housing;
a developing roller that is rotatably supported, by the housing, between the pair of wall portions, and that carries developer;
a developer conveying path that includes a first conveying path which is disposed in the housing so as to be spaced from the developing roller, and in which the developer is conveyed in a first direction, and a second conveying path which is disposed between the developing roller and the first conveying path, in which the developer is conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and by which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, the developer conveying path having an upper portion defined by the top cover;
a divider that is disposed in the housing and that divides the first conveying path and the second conveying path from each other;
a first communication path disposed between one of the paired wall portions and a corresponding one of end portions of the divider, and a second communication path disposed between the other of the paired wall portions and the other of the end portions of the divider, the first communication path having a function of delivering the developer from the first conveying path to the second conveying path, the second communication path having a function of delivering the developer from the second conveying path to the first conveying path;
a developer reception opening that is formed in the housing so as to oppose a position on a downstream side, in the first direction, of the first conveying path, and that allows the additional developer to be received therethrough and supplied into the developer conveying path;
a conveying member that is disposed in the first conveying path, is driven to rotate, and conveys the developer in the first direction such that the developer passes by a position where the developer reception opening opposes the first conveying path;
a downstream-side conveying capability reduction portion that is disposed, in the conveying member or the housing, downstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction, and that locally reduces a developer conveying capability, for the developer, of the conveying member, to form a first accumulation portion in which the developer is accumulated at a position opposing the developer reception opening; and
an upstream-side conveying capability reduction wall that is disposed upstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction so as to project from the top cover toward the conveying member, and that locally reduces a developer conveying capability, for the developer, of the conveying member, to form a second accumulation portion in which the developer is accumulated upstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction.
18. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developing apparatus;
an image carrier which has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and to which developer is supplied from the developing apparatus, and
a transfer device that transfers an image from the image carrier to a sheet, wherein
the developing apparatus includes:
a housing that has a pair of wall portions, and a top cover which extends between the pair of wall portions;
an additional-developer storage portion that is detachably mounted to the housing and stores additional developer to be supplied into the housing;
a developing roller that is rotatably supported, by the housing, between the pair of wall portions, and that carries developer;
a developer conveying path that includes a first conveying path which is disposed in the housing so as to be spaced from the developing roller, and in which the developer is conveyed in a first direction, and a second conveying path which is disposed between the developing roller and the first conveying path, in which the developer is conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and by which the developer is supplied to the developing roller, the developer conveying path having an upper portion defined by the top cover, and allowing the developer to be circulated and conveyed therein;
a developer reception opening that is formed in the housing so as to oppose a position on a downstream side, in the first direction, of the first conveying path, and that allows the additional developer to be received therethrough and supplied into the developer conveying path;
a conveying member that is disposed in the first conveying path, is driven to rotate, and conveys the developer in the first direction such that the developer passes by a position where the developer reception opening opposes the first conveying path; and
a conveying capability reduction wall that is disposed downstream of the developer reception opening in the first direction so as to project from the top cover toward the conveying member, and that locally reduces a developer conveying capability, for the developer, of the conveying member, to form an accumulation portion in which the developer is accumulated at a position opposing the developer reception opening.

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 data receiving apparatus, comprising:
a loss decision unit that decides whether or not there are packets missing among received packets;
a priority decision unit that distinguishes between packets that are indispensable for playback and packets that are not indispensable for playback based on information of an application by which said packets are played back;
a retransmission request decision unit that decides, after retransmission of said missing packets is requested, whether a packet playback time for each of the missing packets is before or after an expected retransmission reception time of the missing packet; and
a retransmission request unit that: (i) transmits a retransmission request for each of the missing packets that are indispensable for playback and expected to be received through retransmission before the corresponding playback time of said missing packet and (ii) transmits a retransmission request for each of the missing packets that are not indispensable for playback when an amount of data received from a transmission apparatus is less than a threshold.