Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for bypassing defective sections with a memory array of a computer chip. The circuit in accordance with the present invention includes a register for controlling the effective size of the memory array based upon the detection of at least one defective section in the memory array, and a multiplexer for receiving an index address for the memory array and for the mapping of the index address based upon the register means. The circuit in accordance with the present invention does not use fuses to conduct repairs and thus does not require additional area on the chip for such fuses. As such, it eliminates the complications in the manufacturing process related to fuses and redundant cells. The circuit in accordance with the present invention dynamically manipulates the address of the array to bypass the defective regions of the array.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for receiving messages at a communications node from a communications network, which are directed to selected process queues within the communications node. The method makes use of a router table stored in the communications node, to direct incoming messages to selected process queues. The method provides flexibility in changing the configuration of a node or the configuration of a network, without altering communications management software which manages the exchange of messages between a communications node and the network.

Abstract: A method and device for adaptive echo cancellation in a voice communication system wherein a reference signal x is sent over the system from a transmitting device and comprising an adaptive filter for removing any echo signal from a primary signal d received in answer to reference signal x, and said adaptive filter having a plurality of coefficients the value of which at each time n being computed from the value of the same coefficient at time n−1 modified by a normalization factor depending upon the energy of said reference signal and provided by a normalization factor controlling unit. The normalization factor is the maximum value between a first value representing the energy of reference signal x at time n and a second value depending on a value of the normalization factor previously stored during a preceding predetermined interval time multiplied by an attenuation factor less than 1.

Abstract: A gear drive system for a printer designed to print upon a continuous roll of paper and having a blade used to cut off printed portions of paper from the paper roll is implemented. The gear drive system consists of a drive shaft 330, a slip clutch 401, a clutch gear 116, a drive gear 110, and a staggered gear 112 which controls the paper cutter blade 106. During printing, clutch 401 allows the drive shaft 330 shaft to slip relative to the clutch gear 116. When printing stops, clutch 401 locks clutch gear 116 which is engaged with the first portion of staggered gear 112 and causes staggered gear 112 to rotate until the second portion of staggered gear 112 engages the drive gear 110. Staggered gear 112 is then driven by the drive gear 110. A cutter blade is controlled by staggered gear 112, with the blade cutting off the paper as the drive gear 110 is in reverse rotation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are described. In particular two network interface devices that are connected over a path that includes a digital trunk using robbed-bit signaling use a technique to identify the presence of robbed-bit signaling. The network interface devices synchronize to bytes that are subject to robbed-bit signaling. The network interface devices must synchronize to the robbed-bit signaling to avoid transmitting information or receiving information in these signaling positions. The network interface devices then take advantage of the least significant bit positions of frames that are not used for robbed-bit signaling. This results in an increase in data carrying capacity from 56 kps to 62.7 kps.

Abstract: An apparatus to drive a ribbon carrying a printing medium in an impact printer is implemented. The apparatus accommodates manual tightening of the ribbon by decoupling the drive motor from the ribbon cartridge without use of a clutch mechanism. A gear train effecting the required speed reductions between a drive motor and the ribbon cartridge spool also implements the decoupling. Reliability of the ribbon drive is improved thereby, and manufacturing and assembly costs are reduced over ribbon drives now used in impact printers.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for exchanging data between an asynchronous network and a synchronous network is presented. Data is exchanged between the networks in a sequence of time frames which are partitioned into downlink, uplink and contention periods. These downlink, uplink and contention periods are further divided into time slots, each of which carries either data or control cells between the networks. Cells of data are allocated to the time slots according to their cell deadlines which are proportional to the transmission delay of the network connection over which the cells are to be carried. This cell allocation is then stored in a slot map and communicated to all nodes within the networks in order to facilitate the data transmission.

Abstract: Data communications apparatus is described comprising a general purpose computer and an adapter for enabling the computer to be connected to a data communications network. The computer and the adapter are interconnected by a data card interface. The general purpose computer comprises a first driver arranged to provide a first application program with a data transport connection to the data communications network via the data card interface using a serial COM port. A second driver is arranged to enable a second application program to communicate with the adapter simultaneously with said first application. The adapter is arranged to enable the second application program to make use of additional data services provided by said network via the second driver program. In this way, in addition to its serial communication channel an alternate communication channel is provided between the data card and the computer which allows other applications to make use of the additional data services provided by the network.

Abstract: A plurality of wireless data output mechanisms (LEDs) are loaded at different angles to each other into a wireless communication apparatus, and a movable shutter for selecting at least one of the LEDs is located in front of the LEDs. The shutter has an output hole that is so formed that the selection of an arbitrary LED is possible, and as the shutter is shifted to shield unnecessary LEDs, it is possible to select only a desired LED. To select all the LEDs, the shutter is moved to a position where it does not shield any of the LEDs. With this arrangement, the direction for wireless communication can be easily set and the directivity of communication can be improved without reducing the light emission output.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are described. In particular two network interface devices that are connected over apath that includes a digital trunk using robbed-bit signaling use a technique to identify the presence of robbed-bit signaling. The network interface devices synchronize to bytes that are subject to robbed-bit signaling. The network interface devices must synchronize to the robbed-bit signaling to avoid transmitting information or receiving information in these signaling positions. The network interface devices then take advantage of the least significant bit positions of frames that are not used for robbed-bit signaling. This results in an increase in data carrying capacity from 56 kps to 62.7 kps.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the best data path in a communication network is presented. A Least Cost Routing path between end users in a multi-network environment, including both public and private networks, is determined based upon a longest prefix match. At network activation time, the numbers or prefixes of numbers of end users attached to the public network (304, 305) are stored in entry node data bases A and C of the private network (303). Assuming an end user terminal U1 calls a target end user U3, an entry node B first checks for a longest prefix match between the called number and numbers already stored into its memory. If this is the first time U3 is called via node B, no match will occur and node B will then broadcast a Query to all nodes in the private network (i.e. Nodes A and C). Only those nodes providing possible access to U3 answer this Query.

Abstract: A process and system for transferring data including at least one slave device connected to at least one master device through an arbiter device. The master and slave devices are connected by a single address bus, a write data bus and a read data bus. The arbiter device receives requests for data transfers from the master devices and selectively transmits the requests to the slave devices. The master devices and the slave devices are further connected by a plurality of transfer qualifier signals which may specify predetermined characteristics of the requested data transfers. Control signals are also communicated between the arbiter device and the slave devices to allow appropriate slave devices to latch addresses of requested second transfers during the pendency of current or primary data transfers so as to obviate an address transfer latency typically required for the second transfer.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a real time multimedia data stream with accurate time stamps for decoding. Time stamps are provided which compensate for a difference between a video frame rate corresponding to a video frame within the real time multimedia data stream and the oscillator clock. The video frame is then stamped with the time stamp which compensates for the difference between the theoretical presentation time stamp corresponding to the video frame and the oscillator clock.

Abstract: A gear mechanism containing a clutch assembly made of an outer member and an inner member wherein the rotation of the inner member is less than one revolution. The inner member has a chord surface, and when inserted in the outer member a wedge shaped space is created. Rolling elements are mounted in the wedge shaped space such that when there is rotation of one of the members, the rolling elements are driven into one of the corners of the wedge shaped space causing the inner member to rotate with the outer member. A protrusion at a fixed location is used to dislodge the rollers. With the rollers dislodged, the inner member ceases rotation. Four embodiments are disclosed. In the first embodiment, two magnetic rollers are used to provide an engagement mechanism between the rollers and the corner of the wedge shape. The second embodiment discloses a single magnetized roller. The third embodiment discloses a spring separator positioned perpendicular to the chord to position two non-magnetic rollers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit socket 41 with built in EMC grounding for a heat sink 16 is provided. The socket 41 may be used with an electronic assembly 10 packaged with or without a planar card 20. The socket 41 includes or accepts one or more conductive fingers 53. The conductive fingers 53 are designed to extend down from the lug 81 of the socket 41 and form a pin. The socket body 41 may have two opposed side walls 71. Each side wall has a lug 81 that projects laterally out from the wall 71. A surface of each lug is coated or covered with a conductive material which forms the conductive finger 53. Each finger forms a pin which extends down from the socket 41 like other socket pins 50. Alternatively, the EMC fingers 55 are electrically coupled to one or more of the socket pins 50 via conductive traces 91/93. A curved upper portion of the finger 53/55 is designed to fit within the lug 81 such that solid electrical contact with the retainer clip 19 is maintained.

Abstract: Method of reinitializing dictionaries in a data transmission system using data compression having a transmit device and a receive device, and in which strings of characters have to be transmitted in a compressed form, the transmit device having a transmit dictionary storing codewords associated with the strings of characters which are transmitted instead of the strings of characters, the receive device having a receive dictionary storing codewords associated with the strings of characters, and both dictionaries being updated each time a new string of characters has to be transmitted so that the contents of the dictionaries remain identical.

Abstract: A modular approach to the mapping of data in and from a standard SDH/SONET signal is described. A module has interfaces (T0-T8) which allows to connect to it to other of its kind and thereby achieving higher data rates, i.e. access to standard signals of higher levels. By choosing among different interconnection schemes, arrangements comprising a plurality of modules are also able to support concatenated data traffic.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided which includes a DMA controller coupled to a slave bus controller through a processor local bus. The slave bus controller is also coupled to a memory unit. The memory unit is connected directly to a peripheral device. The DMA controller is arranged to receive a data transfer request from the peripheral unit and initiate a transfer cycle with the slave bus controller. The slave bus controller is selectively operable to assert a transfer signal to the memory unit which enables data movement directly between memory and the peripheral device in accordance with the request from the peripheral device. Upon completion of the address transfer and prior to the completion of the data transfer, the slave bus controller generates a transfer complete signal back to the peripheral device. This technique allows for a DMA FlyBy transfer to be overlapped with a subsequent processor local bus transfer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for fixed length bursts of data on a bus within a data processing system. The method and system in accordance with the present invention provides a burst transfer protocol which includes the providing of length information of a fixed length burst of data on a signal from at least one master device to at least one slave device when the at least one master device requests the fixed length burst of data. It also includes the asserting of a burst termination signal by the at least one slave device one cycle prior to a last cycle in the fixed length burst, and the asserting of a burst complete signal during the last cycle in the fixed length burst for a write burst, or one cycle prior to the last cycle in the fixed length burst for a read burst, based on the value of the signal. This burst transfer protocol enables burst transfers of a maximum length to be performed across a local bus between a master and a slave without dead cycle penalties after the transfer.

Abstract: A method and system in a data communications system are disclosed for the establishment of multiple, related data links and the utilization of one of the data links for error correction of transmission errors occurring on the other data link. A first data link is established between a first computer system and a second computer system. In response to the establishment of the first data link, a second, related data link is established between the first and second computer systems. A plurality of data packets are transmitted from the first computer system to the second computer system utilizing the first data link. A determination is made whether each of the plurality of data packets is received correctly. In response to each determination that one of the plurality of data packets is not received correctly, the second computer system transmits a selective rejection packet for the one of the plurality of data packets to the first computer system utilizing the second data link.