Abstract: A multilingual database system is disclosed in which data can be searched and retrieved by a user whether or not that data is in the user's own language. The data to be stored in the database is first encoded according to a master (or universal) sort order.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the alphabetical dictionary sorting, by computer, of words based upon characters from a multilingual alphabet, especially the repertoire of characters defined in the new standard alphabet known as ISO 8859/1. This invention uses an encoding scheme to determine the language dependent sort orders for the characters defined in ISO 8859/1. This encoding scheme removes the dependency of sorting on the character set's internal collating representation. This method allows the same sorting software to support many (if not all) of the languages supported by the alphabet. By storing the language dependent sort orders as data files, the sorting software is immune to the user's language and hence is highly portable. The number of languages supported is directly proportional to the number of data files available.

Abstract: A snap-together enclosure comprises a cover, a shutter mechanism, and a base plate. The enclosure is designed to encase a jack receptacle body which is heat staked to a terminal block. The shutter mechanism is snapped into a hole in the cover and is held in place by means of tabs on the shutter and interfering ridges on the cover. The terminal block is snapped into the base plate by means of tabs on the base plate and interfering ridges on the terminal block. Finally, the cover is snapped onto the base plate, again by use of tabs and interfering ridges on the cover and base plate respectively. When the cover and shutter assembly is attached to the base plate, the jack receptacle body, enclosed therein, pushes against back walls of the tabs on the shutter to prevent the shutter from disengaging with the ridges on the cover.

Abstract: A FIFO (first in first out) control circuit for providing address information to a FIFO memory uses two up counters--one to provide the write address and one to provide the read address. A multiplexer selects which addresses (read or write) are used. Two comparators along with a simple logic circuit provide two status output signals; namely full (or not) and empty (or not ).

Abstract: A FIFO (first in first out) control circuit for providing address information to a FIFO memory uses two up counters--one to provide the write address and one to provide the read address. A multiplexer selects which addresses (read or write) are used. Two storage registers are used to temporarily "hold" the output from the counters. This enables the counters to be re-loaded with their original "count" to enable either a re-reading or a re-writing of a message stored in the FIFO memory. Comparators and logic circuitry are used to provide two status output signals, namely full (or not) and empty (or not).