Author: claimsbot

1. A 2-dimensional solid phantom for use with fluorescence imaging camera systems, where said phantom comprises: a stable fluorescent material wherein the stable fluorescence material comprises: a semiconductor material; quantum dots; or a combination thereof; and a calibrated diffuse reflectance target; and wherein said use comprises evaluating sensitivity of fluorescence detection of said camera systems; or quantitatively characterizing the transmission ratio and the signal-to-noise ratio of a said fluorescence imaging camera system.
2. The phantom of claim 1, wherein said phantom further comprises polyurethane.
3. A method of making the solid phantom of claim 2, said method comprising:
diluting a stable fluorescence material with a polyurethane solution and forming a solution of the stable fluorescence material with a first concentration; and
coating said reflectance target with said solution such that the reflectance value of said target is about 99%.
4. The method of making a phantom of claim 3, wherein said stable fluorescent material is sprayed on said reflectance target.
5. The method of making a phantom of claim 3, wherein said reflectance target is dipped in a solution comprising the stable fluorescent material.
6. The method of making a solid phantom of claim 3, wherein said stable fluorescent material is painted on said reflectance target.
7. The method of making a phantom of claim 3, wherein stable fluorescent material is sprayed on said reflectance target.
8. The method of making a phantom of claim 3, wherein said reflectance target is dipped in a solution comprising stable fluorescent material.
9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first concentration is about 0.01 \u03bcm to about 1 \u03bcm.
10. The method of claim 3, wherein the first concentration is about 0.1 uM.
11. The phantom of claim 1, wherein the target comprises a reflectance value of about 99%, 98%, 97%, 96%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70% 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 25%, 10% or 0%.
12. A method of training an operator of a fluorescence imaging camera system, said method comprising obtaining a phantom of claim 1, having one or more known optical characteristics; inserting the phantom into an imaging system; operating the system to image and analyze the phantom, thereby training the user.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the phantom comprises a reflectance value of a tissue.
14. The 2 dimensional solid phantom of claim 1, wherein said fluorescence imaging camera systems are designed to detect fluorescence in scattering media, wherein said scattering media is a living tissues.
15. A method of quantitatively characterizing the transmission ratio and the signal-to-noise ratio of a fluorescence imaging camera system, said method comprising:
(i) placing a 2 dimensional solid phantom for use with fluorescence imagine camera systems under said fluorescence imaging camera system;
(ii) determining the transmission ratio, and quantifying an excitation light leakage; and
(iii) determining the signal-to-noise ratio.
16. A method of evaluating the sensitivity of a fluorescence imaging camera system, said method comprising:
(i) placing a 2 dimensional solid phantom for use with fluorescence imagine camera systems under said fluorescence imaging camera system;
(ii) measuring reflected light from different portions of the phantom;
(iii) measuring fluorescent from different portions of the phantom; and
(iv) computing a ratio of fluorescent light versus backscattered excitation light, and quantifying the level of sensitivity of the system.
17. A method of validating that a fluorescence imaging camera system is operating at an acceptable level using a method of evaluating the sensitivity of a fluorescence imaging camera system, said method comprising:
(i) placing a 2 dimensional solid phantom for use with fluorescence imagine camera systems under said fluorescence imaging camera system;
(ii) measuring reflected light from different portions of the phantom;
(iii) measuring fluorescent from different portions of the phantom; and
(iv) computing a ratio of fluorescent light versus backscattered excitation light, and quantifying the level of sensitivity of the system, wherein the ratio of fluorescent light versus backscattered excitation light, is compared to a predefined standard.
18. A method of comparing two or more fluorescence imaging camera systems, said method comprising:
(i) obtaining a 2 dimensional solid phantom for use with fluorescence imagine camera systems having one or more known optical characteristics;
(ii) inserting the phantom into a first imaging system;
(iii) imaging the phantom in the first system to obtain first image data;
(iv) inserting the phantom into a second imaging system;
(v) imaging the phantom in the second system to obtain second image data; and
(vi) comparing the first and second image data to compare the two systems.

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

1-20. (canceled)
21. A method, comprising:
displaying, on a display device, a plurality of wagering games played in respective distinct base game areas;
in response to a bonus game outcome associated with play of one of the wagering games, suspending, by at least one of one or more processors, play of the plurality of wagering games and displaying, on the display device, a bonus game in a bonus game area larger than any of the base game areas, the bonus game area extending across at least three-quarters of a width of a viewable area of the display device; and
in response to completion of the bonus game, removing the bonus game from being displayed in the bonus game area and resuming, by at least one of the one or more processors, the play of the plurality of wagering games in the respective distinct base game areas.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, in each of the base game areas, displaying on the display device a number of credits wagered on an outcome of the corresponding wagering game.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising, in each of the base game areas, displaying on the display device a participation indicator indicating that the corresponding wagering game is being played.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the wagering games portrayed in each of the base game areas are the same wagering game, each of the wagering games having an associated randomly determined outcome, and wherein the randomly determined outcome associated with each of the wagering games is determined mutually independently from one another.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an input from a game selection button indicating a selection of one or more of the wagering games to play.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
displaying in each of the base game areas a wager indicator indicating a wager being placed on the corresponding wagering game; and
applying the same wager for subsequent plays of the corresponding wagering game as long as serial presses of the game initiation button are detected.
27. The method of claim 21, wherein the bonus game includes multiple free spins or plays of the corresponding wagering game from which the bonus game was triggered.
28. One or more physical machine-readable non-transitory storage media including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
displaying, on a display device, a plurality of wagering games played in respective distinct base game areas;
in response to a bonus game outcome associated with play of one of the wagering games, suspending, by at least one of the one or more processors, play of the plurality of wagering games and displaying, on the display device, a bonus game in a bonus game area larger than any of the base game areas, the bonus game area extending across at least three-quarters of a width of a viewable area of the display device; and
in response to completion of the bonus game, removing the bonus game from being displayed in the bonus game area and resuming, by at least one of the one or more processors, the play of the plurality of wagering games in the respective distinct base game areas.
29. The one or more storage media of claim 28, the operations further comprising, in each of the base game areas, displaying on the display device a number of credits wagered on the outcome of the corresponding wagering game.
30. The one or more storage media of claim 32, the operations further comprising, in each of the base game areas, displaying on the display device a participation indicator indicating that the corresponding wagering game is being played.
31. The one or more storage media of claim 28, wherein the wagering games portrayed in each of the base game areas are the same wagering game, each of the wagering games having an associated randomly determined outcome, and wherein the randomly determined outcome associated with each of the wagering games is determined mutually independently from one another.
32. The one or more storage media of claim 28, the operations further comprising receiving an input from a game selection button indicating a selection of one or more wagering games to play.
33. The one or more storage media of claim 32, the operations further comprising:
displaying in each of the base game areas a wager indicator indicating a wager placed on the corresponding wagering game being portrayed in the respective one of the base game areas; and
applying the same wager for subsequent plays of the corresponding wagering game as long as serial presses of the game initiation button are detected.
34. The one or more storage media of claim 28, wherein the bonus game includes multiple free spins or plays of the wagering game from which the bonus game was triggered.
35. A gaming system configured to conduct a plurality of wagering games simultaneously, comprising:
one or more input devices;
a display device;
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to:
display on the display device a plurality of wagering games in respective distinct base game areas,
in response to a bonus game outcome associated with play of one of the wagering games, suspend play of the plurality of wagering games and display on the display device a bonus game in a bonus game areas larger than any of the base game areas, the bonus game area extending across at least three-quarters of a width of a viewable area of the display device, and
in response to completion of the bonus game, remove the bonus game from being displayed in the bonus game area and resume the play of the plurality of wagering games in the respective distinct base game areas.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the instructions further cause the gaming system to, in each of the base game areas, display on the display device a number of credits wagered on the outcome of the corresponding wagering game.
37. The system of claim 36, wherein the instructions further cause the gaming system to, in each of the base game areas, display on the display device a participation indicator indicating that the corresponding wagering game is being played.
38. The system of claim 35, wherein the wagering games portrayed in each of the base game areas are the same wagering game, each of the wagering games having an associated randomly determined outcome, and wherein the randomly determined outcome associated with each of the wagering games is determined mutually independently from one another.
39. The system of claim 35, wherein the operations further cause the gaming system to receive an input, via the one or more input devices, indicative of a wager, and wherein the instructions further cause the gaming system to receive an input from a game selection button indicating a selection of one or more of the wagering games to play.
40. The system of claim 39, wherein the instructions further cause the gaming system to:
display in each of the game areas a wager indicator indicating the wager being placed on the corresponding wagering game being portrayed in the respective one of the game areas; and
apply the same wager for subsequent plays of the corresponding wagering game as long as serial presses of the game initiation button are detected.

1. A method for purchasing a media service from a media delivery service provider, the method comprising:
sending a request, by an application executing on a computer processor of a media distribution device, to the media delivery service provider requesting the media service;
authenticating, by the application, the media distribution device by comparing a permanent virtual circuit established between the media distribution device and the media delivery service provider with a predetermined permanent virtual circuit defined and programmed by the media delivery service provider;
upon determining the media distribution device is successfully authenticated, downloading a software key from the media delivery service provider to the media distribution device and automatically deleting the software key after a predetermined amount of time; and
upon determining the media distribution device is not successfully authenticated, downloading displayable data to the media distribution device from the media delivery service provider.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayable data includes an instruction to contact a service representative of the media delivery service provider.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
identifying information of the media distribution device; and
comparing the information to a customer record at the media delivery service provider;
determining whether the customer record indicates a customer associated with the customer record is in good standing; and
upon determining the customer is in good standing, permitting the media distribution device to purchase the media service.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein comparing the information to the customer record further includes matching a hardware serial number of the media distribution device with a registered hardware serial number of the customer record.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent virtual circuit comprises a predetermined physical communications path between the media distribution device and a communications component of the media delivery service provider.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent virtual circuit comprises a communications link utilizing a broadband connection with the media delivery service provider.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent virtual circuit comprises a communications link utilizing an asymmetric digital subscriber line with the media delivery service provider.
8. A computer program product for purchasing a media service from a media delivery service provider, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory storage medium containing instructions that when executed by a processing circuit perform a method, the method includes:
sending a request to the media delivery service provider for the media service;
authenticating a media distribution device by comparing a permanent virtual circuit established between the media distribution device and the media delivery service provider with a predetermined permanent virtual circuit defined and programmed by the media delivery service provider;
upon determining the media distribution device is successfully authenticated, downloading a software key from the media delivery service provider to the media distribution device and automatically deleting the software key after a predetermined amount of time; and
upon determining the media distribution device is not successfully authenticated, downloading displayable data to the media distribution device from the media delivery service provider.
9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the displayable data includes an instruction to contact a service representative of the media delivery service provider.
10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:
identifying information of the media distribution device; and
comparing the information to a customer record at the media delivery service provider;
determining whether the customer record indicates a customer associated with the customer record is in good standing; and
upon determining the customer is in good standing, permitting the media distribution device to purchase the media service.
11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein comparing the information to the customer record further includes matching a hardware serial number of the media distribution device with a registered hardware serial number of the customer record.
12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the permanent virtual circuit comprises a predetermined physical communications path between the media distribution device and a communications component of the media delivery service provider.
13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the permanent virtual circuit comprises a communications link utilizing a broadband connection with the media delivery service provider.
14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the permanent virtual circuit comprises a communications link utilizing an asymmetric digital subscriber line with the media delivery service provider.

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 screening deck for the screening of crushed stone material, comprising a plurality of screening elements arranged adjacent one another and forming an upper screening surface which defines a longitudinal direction in which the material travels; each screening element including multiple sides including two opposing ends and two opposing sides, each of the two opposing sides being arranged such that one end thereof is spaced from the other end in the longitudinal direction; at least one of said two opposing sides extending non-parallel to the longitudinal direction; the screening elements further including first and second screening elements of different respective heights arranged to create different elevations in the screening surface, and wherein at least one non-parallel side of the first screening elements is arranged to be in direct contact along the entire length of at least one non-parallel side of at least one of the second screening elements transversely adjacent to the first screening element.
2. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein both of said two opposing sides of each screening element are non-parallel with the longitudinal direction.
3. A screening deck according to claim 2, wherein the different-height screening elements are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.
4. A screening deck according to claim 3, wherein the different-height screening elements are arranged alternately in a transverse direction oriented transversely of the longitudinal direction.
5. A screening deck according to claim 1, wherein the different-height screening elements are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.
6. A screening deck according to claim 1, wherein the different-height screening elements are arranged alternately in a transverse direction oriented transversely of the longitudinal direction.
7. A screening deck according to claim 1, further comprising carriers for supporting the screening elements, each screening element provided with fastening structure configured to be fastened to the carriers.
8. The screening deck according to claim 7, wherein the carriers are provided with elongated stanchions to which are fastened ends of the screening elements, both ends of each screening element including a snap lock structure interacting with the stanchions.
9. The screening deck according to claim 8, wherein the elongated stanchions form, together with the different-height screening elements, steps spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the screening deck.
10. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein each screening element includes a framework supporting a screening membrane.
11. The screening deck according to claim 10, wherein the framework and the screening membrane comprise polyurethane.
12. The screening deck according to claim 11, wherein the framework and the screening membrane comprise polyurethane of different respective hardnesses.
13. The screening deck according to claim 7, wherein the carriers are arranged transversely of the longitudinal direction.
14. The screening deck according to claim 7, wherein the carriers are oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction.
15. The screening deck according to claim 1, further comprising carriers for supporting the screening elements, each carrier including a stanchion and one shelf extending therefrom, and further comprising an adapter provided with a stanchion interacting with snap locks on one end of the screening element.
16. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein the screening elements include holes, and wherein the holes are arranged with a transversal displacement.
17. The screening deck according to claim 16, wherein the transversal displacement is between groups of holes.
18. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein the screening elements include holes, and wherein the holes are mutually parallel and have a first density of holes in a first portion closest to a wide end of the screening element that is greater than a second density of holes in a second portion closest to a narrow end of the screening element.
19. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein each of two of the opposing ends being arranged such that one end thereof is spaced from the other end in the transverse direction.
20. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein the upper screening surface in each of the plurality of screening elements defines a plane, wherein each of two of the opposing sides of the screening element and each of two of the opposing ends of the screening element circumscribe the plane, and wherein one of the two opposing ends has a shorter distance in a direction transverse to the direction in which the material travels than a second of the two opposing ends.
21. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein at least one parallel side for one screening element is adjacent at least one non-parallel side for another of the plurality of screening elements.
22. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of screening elements at different heights having at least one non-parallel side creates narrowing passages or winding paths for the material on the screening deck.
23. The screening deck according to claim 1, wherein at least one screening element is at a lower height than at least two adjacent screening elements.