Abstract: A method for searching the Internet is provided that includes generating search criteria for an Internet search utilizing a first search agent that is resident on a first computer, distributing search tasks related to the Internet search to other search agents that are resident on their computers, utilizing the other search agents to perform the distributed search tasks, and then reporting the results of each search task back to the first search agent. In a preferred embodiment, the other search agents also retrieve the results of their distributed search tasks, so that the search results may be more easily accessed by the person that initiated the search. In an embodiment, the computers that host the search agents have connections to a common intranet and the search tasks are distributed only to search agents that have been identified as being available to support Internet searching.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for managing vertex data in a vertex buffer. First, vertex data is received and stored in the vertex buffer. Thereafter, the vertex data is outputted from the vertex buffer to a processing module. During operation, a plurality of command bits is passed from the vertex buffer for determining a manner in which the vertex data is inputted and processed in the input buffer of the processing module. Such command bits are received from a command bit source. Further, a plurality of mode bits indicative of a status of a plurality of modes of process operations is passed. Such mode bits are received from a mode bit source. The mode bits are adapted for determining a manner in which the vertex data is processed in the processing module.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for detecting attacks on a network. Initially, data is received from a remote source which is destined for a target. A portion of such data is then discarded based on a predetermined set of rules utilizing a firewall which is coupled to the remote source. Remaining data is subsequently passed to an intrusion detection system coupled between the firewall and the target. Such data is parsed to identify data representing text (i.e. ASCII or UNICODE text) therein utilizing the intrusion detection system. Thereafter, the data representing text- is compared to a predetermined list of data representing text-associated with attacks utilizing the intrusion detection system. Based on the comparison, some of the data representing text are marked as hostile. The data representing text-that are marked as hostile are then acted upon in order to prevent an attack.

Abstract: A software virtual machine mechanism that increases the efficiency of context switching is disclosed. In an application to the networking environment, the software virtual machine is operative to increase the efficiency of handling input/output operations through the improved control of switching between contexts. The software virtual machine supports restartable instructions such that the resumption of a previously blocked context will continue at the instruction that had previously blocked.

Abstract: This invention includes a method of navigating a collection of nodes by selecting a first node, generating a context list and displaying first node and context list. Each context of the context collection includes a second node essentially referencing the first node. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of generating an address from a collection of contexts containing steps of receiving a selected attribute collection and generating the address. Each context includes a resolution address and an attribute collection. Each of the attribute collections contains at least one attribute. Whenever the attribute collection of a first context of the context collection is essentially the same as the selected attribute collection, the resolution address of the first context is selected as the generated address. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of navigating a hypergraph. The hypergraph includes at least one context list. Each context list contains at least one context.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for performing area rasterization using sense points. Upon receipt of a primitive, e.g. a triangle, line equation coefficients of line equations are determined for lines that define the primitive. Thereafter, a plurality of points is positioned on or near the primitive. Such points define an enclosed convex region. Next, the line equations are evaluated at the points. During operation, the points and convex region are moved based on the evaluation of the line equations for the purpose of identifying an area in the primitive for rendering pixels therein.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for decomposing surfaces for rendering purposes during computer graphics processing. Initially, an interior mesh of primitives is defined in a surface to be rendered. Next, a plurality of surrounding meshes is defined along sides of the interior mesh. The exterior sides of the surrounding meshes each include a plurality of equally sized segments and at least one fractional segment that is a fraction of the equally sized segments. With this configuration, a pattern of triangles is used that permits the number of triangles to be varied continuously from frame to frame while accommodating incremental evaluation techniques such as forward differencing without visual artifacts such as popping.

Abstract: A prototype development apparatus includes a logic board (LB) including a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) sites each adapted to receive an IC, logic traces coupled to each of the IC sites, and a plurality of logic board connector sites (LBCSs) configured to provide access to a number of the logic traces and each adapted to receive a connector. Additionally, a mezzanine board (MB) has a plurality of mezzanine board connector sites (MBCSs) each adapted to receive a connector and configured to provide access to a number of mezzanine traces interconnecting the LBCSs. The MB board is coupled to the LB and a portion of the logic traces are coupled to a portion of the mezzanine traces. In another embodiment the MB does not have any active components. This is because in this embodiment, the MB is configured to connect the pins of the connector sites according to a predetermined program.

Abstract: A method and computer executable program code are disclosed to verify the source of software downloaded from a remote site to a client computer over a computer network before the software can be executed on the client computer.

Abstract: A system and method update client computers of various end users with software updates for software products installed on the client computers, the software products manufacturered by diverse, unrelated software vendors. The system includes a service provider computer system, a number of client computers and software vendor computer systems communicating on a common network. The service provider computer system stores in an update database information about the software updates of the diverse software vendors, identifying the software products for which software updates are available, their location on the network at the various software vendor computer systems, information for identifying in the client computers the software products stored thereon, and information for determining for such products, which have software updates available. Users of the client computers connect to the service provider computer and obtain a current version of portions of the database.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for improving display characteristics in a computer graphics pipeline. Initially, color data is received from memory of the computer graphics pipeline. Thereafter, the saturation and/or sharpness of the color data is altered for improving display characteristics. Next, the color data is outputted for being displayed by a display device.

Abstract: Z-buffer rendering of three-dimensional scenes is made more efficient through a method for occlusion culling by which occluded geometry is removed prior to rasterization. The method uses hierarchical z-buffering to reduce the quantity of image and depth information that needs to be accessed. A separate culling stage in the graphics pipeline culls occluded geometry and passes visible geometry on to a rendering stage. The culling stage maintains its own z-pyramid in which z-values are stored at low precision (e.g., in 8 bits). The efficiency of hierarchical z-buffering is obtained through hierarchical evaluation of line and plane equations.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of a plug-in on a client computer; and if the plug-in is not present, downloading the plug-in to the client computer; loading the plug-in into a browser running on the client computer and processing events generated on the client computer using the code contained in the plug-in.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided with an integrated clipping operation. First included is a transform module adapted for being coupled to a buffer to receive graphics data therefrom. Such transform module is positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space. Also provided is a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module. The lighting module is adapted for performing lighting operations on the graphics data received from the transform module. A range clamp inversion function and a clipping operation are performed on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module and the lighting module.

Abstract: A system and method for managing scarce computer system memory resources has three aspects. A first aspect allows large data structures to be replaced by a pointer that causes an intentional fault to occur. The fault is trapped, and the invention interposes the required data. A second aspect associates data structures with both the task and the module that own the structure. The structure can be eliminated from memory when both the owning task and the owning module have terminated. A third aspect utilizes swapping techniques to maintain multiple local data areas for multiple tasks. In conjunction the three aspects of the invention provide improved resource availability and substantially unimpaired system performance.

Abstract: A system and method update client computers of various end users with software updates for software products installed on the client computers, the software products manufacturered by diverse, unrelated software vendors. The system includes a service provider computer system, a number of client computers and software vendor computer systems communicating on a common network. The service provider computer system stores in an update database information about the software updates of the diverse software vendors, identifying the software products for which software updates are available, their location on the network at the various software vendor computer systems, information for identifying in the client computers the software products stored thereon, and information for determining for such products, which have software updates available. Users of the client computers connect to the service provider computer and obtain a current version of portions of the database.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline system is provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module adapted for receiving vertex data. The transform module serves to transform the vertex data from a first space to a second space. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for performing lighting operations on the vertex data received from the transform module. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the vertex data received from the lighting module. During use, an antialiasing feature is implemented to improve a quality of the graphics rendering.

Abstract: A system and method for actively marketing products and services to a user of a client computer such as over a network are disclosed. A product information database comprising product summary files that facilitate determination of presence or absence of products associated with the client computer, a marketing rule knowledge base comprising opportunity rule files governing marketing opportunities, and an opportunity detection object for determination of marketing opportunities are utilized to determine active marketing opportunities and may be downloaded to the client computer from a service provider computer system. The opportunity detection object may comprise a scan engine, an opportunity analysis engine, and a presentation engine which collectively determine and present marketing information to the client computer user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for minimizing the number of look-ups in a page table entry (PTE) data structure during mapping of virtual addresses to physical addresses when the physical addresses consist of contiguous addresses. First, a primary virtual address in a PTE data structure is accessed for mapping physical memory. Next, it is determined whether a primary physical address corresponding to the accessed primary virtual address is associated with a physical page having at least one contiguous physical page. If it is determined that such contiguous physical page exists, information relating to both the primary virtual address and any virtual and physical contiguous addresses in the PTE data structure is retrieved in a single look-up.

Abstract: A method interfacing of a display and a pointing device employing regions of the display, sub-regions and objects with induced motion effects which alter the observed motion on the display of the content related to the pointing device are claimed. Induced motion effects include use of induced motion rules. The display may present one or more views of a 2-D, 3-D, 4-D or higher dimensional virtual space with regions, sub-regions and objects reflecting that dimensionality.