Abstract: A computer system, article of manufacture, and method direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a virtual pointing device. The method includes the steps of detecting a hand placed on the touchscreen, designating at least one area of the touchscreen under at least a portion of the hand as the virtual pointing device, in response to movement of the portion of the hand across the touchscreen, moving the activated area in substantial accordance with the movement of the portion of the hand, positioning a pointer on the touchscreen such that movement of the area on the touchscreen in a first direction causes the pointer to move in the first direction, and in response to activating the area by at least a second portion of the hand, executing at least one command on an object or text positioned substantially under the pointer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating a ratioed clock signal. A first clock signal having a first frequency is output. At least one gating signal indicating ratio is output. In response to the first clock signal and the gating signal, a second clock signal is output. The second clock signal has a frequency that is substantially related to the first frequency by the ratio.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system are disclosed for efficiently handling exceptions. The data processing system includes a register for storing indications of multiple instructions while the multiple instructions are being concurrently processed. An exception is generated within the data processing system. A determination is made whether the exception was generated by one of the multiple instructions. In response to a determination that one of the multiple instructions generated the exception, a determination is then made whether an indication of the instruction which generated the exception is stored in a particular position within a register within the data processing system. In response to a determination that the indication of the instruction is stored in the particular position within the register, the exception is associated with a first priority group.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system are disclosed for efficiently managing an indication of a status of each of a plurality of registers included with the data processing system. An array is established having multiple entry fields for storing multiple entries. Each of the multiple entry fields is associated with a different one of the plurality of registers. A status of each of the plurality of registers is determined. A plurality of partitions are established within the array. Each of the partitions are concurrently accessible by the data processing system. A plurality of the multiple entry fields are associated with one of the plurality partitions. An entry is stored in each of the multiple entry field. The entry includes the status of each of the plurality of registers. Each entry is associated with one of the partitions so that a plurality of the multiple entries may be concurrently accessed.

Abstract: A method and system in a graphical user interface in a data processing system for associating and displaying a plurality of objects are described. A creation of a visually perceptible enclosure having a translucent surface is specified. A plurality of objects within the graphical user interface are specified. Each of the objects are associated with the visually perceptible enclosure. The enclosure is then created. The enclosure and each of its associated plurality of objects are displayed within the graphical user interface. Each of the objects are displayed within the enclosure so that they are partially visible through the translucent surface. The objects are inaccessible while they are displayed within the enclosure. Once the enclosure is removed, the objects are accessible. A code field may be associated with the enclosure. An entry of a valid code is required in order to remove the enclosure and permit access of each enclosed objects.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a plurality of prefetch elements are provided for prefetching instructions from a group of memory arrays coupled to each prefetch element. A plurality of instruction words are sequentially stored in each group of memory arrays coupled to each prefetch element. In response to a selected prefetch element receiving a prefetch token, the selected prefetch element sequentially recalls instruction words from the group of memory arrays coupled to the selected prefetch element. Thereafter, the selected prefetch element transfers the sequence of instruction words to a central processing unit at a rate of one instruction word per cycle time. In response to a forthcoming conditional branch instruction, a plurality of prefetch elements may initiate instruction fetching so that the proper instruction may be executed during the cycle time immediately following the conditional branch instruction.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the efficiency of communication between one or more host computers and a storage system controller during a data search within either the associated storage systems or within the storage system controller itself. A storage system controller, coupled to one or more host computers via multiple communication channels, is utilized to control access to one or more direct access storage devices. A host computer authorizes the storage system controller to search within a range of data locations within the storage system, sets an initial location from which the data search will begin, and specifies a key field argument to search for. The host computer then permits the storage system controller to independently search the authorized range of data locations within the storage system or within cache memory within the storage system controller.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system are disclosed for improving video sequence image resolution when creating an enlarged final image from an initial image included within the video sequence. An enlargement factor is determined for creating a final image having a final image size from an initial image having an initial image size, where the enlargement factor is the quotient of the final image size divided by the initial image size. An intermediate factor is established to optimize the image resolution and minimizing the hardware required to produce the image. In response to the enlargement factor being less than the intermediate factor, the final image is created from the initial image utilizing the enlargement factor and bilinear interpolation. In response to the enlargement factor being greater than the intermediate factor, an intermediate image is created. The intermediate image has an intermediate size which is greater than the initial image size and less than the final image size.

Abstract: A method and system for the efficient determination of quality of service parameters for multimedia files accessed during operation of a specified multimedia application. Operation of the specified multimedia application is initiated. During operation, the multimedia application accesses multimedia files by reading the data stored in those files. The multimedia files are identified, and each read performed by the multimedia application is analyzed while each multimedia file is accessed. Quality of service parameters for each multimedia file may be automatically determined utilizing the analysis of each read of a multimedia file performed by the multimedia application.

Abstract: A method and system utilizing a data processing system for the efficient designation and retrieval of particular segments within a multimedia presentation. Operation of the multimedia presentation may be controlled by operation of a plurality of data processing system user interface commands. A digital counter is established for multimedia presentations which do not have an existing digital counter, or for multimedia presentations which have an existing digital counter whose output may not be accessed by the data processing system. Thereafter, a particular rate of change for the digital counter is correlated with each user interface command which has been registered within the data processing system, enabling a user to thereafter access and automatically position particular segments within the multimedia presentation in a random order utilizing the user interface commands.