Abstract: A differential input flash analog-to-digital converter in which an array of comparators is connected to compare reference signals within a parabolic distribution of such signals generated by the application of a differential input signal across an impedance network. Preferably, the comparator array comprises at least two pluralities of comparators, the first plurality of comparators comparing pairs of reference nodes separated by a first step size, and the second plurality of comparators comparing pairs of reference nodes separated by a second step size. Even more preferably, the comparator array further comprises a third plurality of comparators comparing pairs of reference nodes separated by a third step size, but only where necessary to maximize the available comparison range of the converter. The flash converter according to the invention provides increased gain from input without accumulation of comparator input currents and without sacrificing the number of actual comparisons of reference signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a perceptual audio signal compression system and method. One aspect of the invention described herein includes transforming the signal into a plurality of bi-orthogonal modified discrete cosine transform (BMDCT) frequency coefficients using a bi-orthogonal modified discrete cosine transform; quantizing the BMDCT frequency coefficients to produce a set of integer numbers which represent the BMDCT frequency coefficients; and encoding the set of integer numbers to lower the number of bits required to represent the BMDCT frequency coefficients.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus configured to enable the preservation and recovery of in-progress developments and changes as they are made in a system for development of content in the event of a process or system failure. The in-progress data developments and changes may be preserved while they are created, and may then be retrieved and recovered after the system or process is recovered. The in-progress data developments and changes may be preserved while they are created, and may then be retrieved and recovered after the system or process is recovered. In one embodiment, the cache memory contents are mirrored into a memory-mapped file, providing a redundant location for cache data. In the event of a failure, the mirrored cache information is available for recovery from a file. This extra cache location can be filled and flushed as needed by the system as the cache data is stored to disk or other memory location, obviating its preservation.

Abstract: A document management system for use in a computer system that affords convenient access to documents configured under incompatible formats. The invention allows the graphical depictions of documents configured under a universal format to be stored and maintained in a viewer server that can be accessed by a user on the system. This is accomplished by using a viewer server to extract a graphical image of a document while performing a print operation and storing the image in a separate viewer file. The system can therefore maintain files of a document under its original format and in a separate file under a universal format.

Abstract: A technique for forwarding multi-cast data packets in a communication network. Multi-cast packets are broadcast to every output port of the switch. The packet is thus buffered in each port. Then, all of the output ports, save those that are appropriate output ports for the packet, drop the packet. Accordingly, the output ports that did not drop the packet forward the packet to the network. A control packet that follows the packet may then instruct the ports regarding which ports are to drop the packet and which ports are to forward the packet. This technique has an advantage of efficiently handling multi-cast packets.