Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for anisotropic filtering during texture sampling. A description of a region, e.g. pixel footprint in a source image, to be texture sampled is initially received. Thereafter, the region is subdivided based on the description into a plurality of samples with a predetermined shape for mapping textures onto the samples. By subdividing the region in the source image into a plurality of samples having a predetermined shape, the region may be covered by samples that may be configured to be more suitable for an underlying process such as MIP mapping, thus allowing efficient texture sampling while reducing blurring, aliasing and other visual artifacts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided including a sheet formed of a transparent material. The sheet defines a template capable of having a pattern printed thereon. During use, the template is adapted for being removed from the sheet. Also included is at least a pair of alignment designators that are positioned on the template of the sheet for marking the material. The markings facilitate alignment of the material in a support frame that is adapted for use when embroidering the pattern on the material.

Abstract: A method for improving the performance and responsiveness of a computer program is presented. The system consists of a read-ahead mechanism that scans current data-sets and reads data-sets referenced within the current data-set prior to any actual request or access to the data set by the system. The determination of which data sets to access is made based upon a prioritization computed either through user defined settings or through heuristic observation of the system's behavior. The present invention has particular value in connection with Internet communications and access to remote data.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the security of a data guard is disclosed. The data guard is based on a multi-part proxy that includes a first proxy agent that communicates with an inside computer network region, a second proxy agent that communicates with an outside computer network region, and a content-based filter application that reviews information that is passed between the first proxy agent and the second proxy agent. Both the first and second proxy agents can be based on existing firewall proxies. The proxy agents listen for protocol operations (e.g., IIOP requests or replies) and translate those protocol operations into protocol-independent data. The protocol independent data is then analyzed by a protocol-independent content-based filter. The behavior of the multi-part proxy can be further constrained through the use of software wrapper technology.

Abstract: A computer system utilizing software to map content by determining a field of relevance and at least one topic in the field of relevance is presented. The system determines at least one content pertaining to the topic, retrieves a representation of the content and maps the representation of the content onto the field of relevance. Then, it provides an extremely flexible presentation mechanism where the content is organized by multi-dimensional mappings to present the information effectively. One of the features allows a vector to be assigned to each entity, queries a user or software agent for a particular focal element and displays the multiplicity of distinguishable entities based upon the assigned vectors utilizing the focal vector as a reference point to view the information. The system facilitates the organization of results of database interrogations, web searches and other large data situations, creating a multi-dimensional topic space of content.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning a source of suspicious network communications. Initially, network communications are monitored for violations of policies. Then, it is determined whether the network communications violate at least one of the policies. Further, a source of the network communications that violate at least one of the policies is identified. Upon it being determined that the network communications violate at least one of the policies, the source of the network communications is automatically scanned.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for generating a prioritized network site directory. A link to a site on a network is generated. The site is then added to a site directory that includes a set of categories. The site is categorized into one of the categories of the site directory. The site is also ranked in the category. Sub-categories may also be created into which the site is categorized under one of the categories of the site directory. The site may additionally be ranked in the category according to: the number of generated links to the site, the frequency that the site is accessed by selection of the generated links, and/or polling.

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 article of manufacture are provided for interweaving shading calculations and texture retrieval operations during texture sampling in a graphics pipeline. First, a shading calculation is performed in order to generate output. Next, texture information is retrieved, and another shading calculation is performed using the texture information in order to generate additional output. Texture information may be retrieved and shading calculations may then be repeated as desired. Thereafter, the generated output may be combined. As such, the repeated texture information retrieval and shading calculations may be carried out in an iterative, programmable manner.

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: 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: 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 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.