Abstract: A dictionary in a distributed transaction processing system. The dictionary is implemented as an escrow-locking multithreaded process-pair resource manager (PPRM) dictionary which is produced as an escrow-locking object implemented in the context of a PPRM and inheriting its functionality. A process pair in the PPRM is responsive to multiple concurrent transactions and including a concurrent aspect, a serial aspect and an escrow-locking dictionary. The concurrent aspect is a front-end multithreaded process of the process pair for concurrently servicing the multiple concurrent transactions. The serial aspect is a single-threaded process of the process pair for serializing the multiple concurrent transaction. Each of the concurrent aspect and the serial aspect includes an instance of the escrow-locking dictionary. That is, each of the concurrent aspect and the serial aspect has it own copy of the escrow-locking dictionary and, combined, the two copies maintains an appearance of a single virtual dictionary.

Abstract: Techniques using process-pair protection of complex applications are disclosed which provide fast and stateful application failover.

Abstract: A keyboard controller provides power management for a portable computer system. The keyboard controller both receives data from the keyboard and controls powering of a direct current/direct current converter. The keyboard controller may include a means for receiving data from the keyboard, a means for turning on power to the direct current/direct current converter, and a means for turning off the power to the direct current/direct current converter.

Abstract: Energy-aware software control in a computer system requires a plurality of displays. At least two of the displays have diverse attributes that enable reduction in the energy consumption of the computer system. The energy-aware software control involves profiling screen usage patterns and their impact on energy consumption by the displays and in turn by the computer system. The profiling results in an energy model. A determination is made when to activate (or deactivate) the energy-aware software control of the displays in order to decrease their energy consumption. Under the energy-aware software control, and guided by the energy model, a screen fashioned by one or more applications is divided up into sub-screens. Then, the energy needs associated with the sub-screens are matched to particular displays in accordance with their respective attributes and the energy model. The idea is to put the sub-screens on view by matched and likely different displays without significantly diminishing the user experience.

Abstract: An operational data store consists of an insert table for storing new data and a history table, partitioned by range and further sub-partitioned, for storing historical data. Transfer logic periodically transfers new data from the insert table to the history table. The transfer logic includes a secondary table and fill logic for filling the secondary table with selected data from the insert table. Secondary transfer logic transfers the secondary table into the history table, such that the selected data is transferred into the history table. Indexing logic applies the history table indexing scheme to the secondary table. Table logic creates a new partition the history table, for swapping with the secondary table, by exchanging respective pointers. A query engine may apply a database query to both the history table and the insert table, so that all data is available. An aggregator accumulates new data into an aggregation buffer.

Abstract: A networking modem capable of full duplex communication over a telephone line is adapted for use as a component of a computer system. The modem comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) capable of implementing a plurality of digital modulation and demodulation techniques, including pulse position modulation (PPM), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The DSP implements a digital phase locked loop (DPLL), including a carrier NCO and a carrier detector to synchronize local demodulation timing to an incoming carrier signal. Available processing options include spectral agility for optimizing channel capacity, symbol shaping to compensate for evolving channel conditions, and echo cancellation.

Abstract: The circuit includes a first power supply coupled to power supply sensor, which is in turn coupled to a first switch and to a third switch. A second power supply is coupled to a second power supply sensor, which is in turn coupled to a second switch and a fourth switch. A first disk drive sensor couples the first and second switches to a first disk drive. A second disk drive sensor couples the third and fourth switches to a second disk drive. The first power supply sensor examines the first power supply to recognize when a failure occurs. When the first power supply is functioning, the first power supply sensor drives the first switch to remain closed and drives the third switch to remain open. Accordingly, the first power supply powers the first disk drive. Upon recognition of a failure, the first power supply sensor drives the first switch to open and the second switch to close. The second power supply then powers the first disk drive and the second disk drive clusters.

Abstract: Energy-aware software control in a computer system requires a display capable of supporting control of individual portions thereof so at to reduce its energy consumption. The energy-aware software control involves profiling screen usage patterns and their impact on the energy consumption by the display. The profiling results in an energy model. A determination is made when to prompt the energy-aware software control of the display. As well, a determination is made as to which screen portions of the display and what display parameters to control based on the energy model. Then, for each portion of the display to be controlled, controlling its display parameters, wherein the screen portions are controlled to attain energy conservation.

Abstract: An EMI clip retaining system comprising a flexible EMI clip with a center contact portion that bows upwards and inwards from acute bends situated at the outer ends of the EMI clip and also comprising enlarged end portions that extend flatly inwards from the acute bends. The EMI clip is captively installable in a planar mounting surface with tapered mounting holes through which the enlarged end portions of the EMI clip are inserted, such that once the EMI clip is installed, the enlarged ends of the EMI clip reside on a bottom side of the mounting surface while the center contact portion bows upward from the opposite, top side of the mounting surface. When the center portion is compressed flat against the top side of the mounting surface, the EMI clip lies flat against both the top and bottom sides of the mounting surface.

Abstract: A computer interface extension configuration that includes a host having a motherboard, an extension transmitter card, and an extension receiver. The motherboard includes a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host, and a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host. The extension transmitter card is positioned within the host and is electrically connected to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector and the second connector. The extension transmitter card has a graphics controller that interfaces with the second connector independent from communications that occur on the first connector. The extension receiver is connected to a plurality of user interface devices and extensibly connected to the extension transmitter card.

Abstract: A computer interface extension configuration that includes a host, an extension transmitter, an extension receiver, and user interface devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and video devices. The host has a motherboard with a first connector that allows motherboard signals to be shared internal to the host. The motherboard also has a second connector separate from the first connector that supports communications with the host. An extension transmitter card is inserted within the host and is connected to the motherboard of the host via at least the first connector. The extension transmitter card has an extension controller or transmitter core that adapts to the functionality distribution of the extension transmitter. An extension receiver is included in the computer interface extension configuration as an interface to a plurality of user interface devices.

Abstract: A telecommunications network management system is disclosed that continuously monitors compliance with a service level agreement. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a data collector, a performance data manager, and a service level objective monitor. The data collector receives service information from one or more sources in a telecommunications network, and converts the service information into values of primary parameters in a service model. The performance data manager receives the primary parameter values from the data collector, and calculates values of secondary parameters in the service model from the primary parameter values. The parameter values are stored in a performance database. The service level objective (SLO) monitor verifies that parameter values satisfy parameter objectives, and initiates a specified action for that parameter objective if a violation is detected.

Abstract: A telecommunications network management system that continuously monitors aggregated service performance is disclosed. The system preferably employs a service model having a hierarchy of user-defined service components, each having one or more parameters. A given service may have multiple instances, each instance corresponding to a different locality. Alternatively, or in addition, the service parameters may have customer-dependent values. The system o includes a data collector component and a performance data manager component. The data collector component receives service information from one or more sources in a telecommunications network, and converts the service information into values of primary parameters of a service model. The performance data manager component calculates values of secondary parameters of the service model, and stores the parameter values in a database.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring service performance are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises: (a) collecting service information from one or more sources in a telecommunications network; (b) converting the service information into values of primary parameters of a service model; and (c) calculating values of secondary parameters of the service model from the primary parameter values, wherein the calculating is performed using relational database tables based on calculation clusters. The calculation clusters are preferably determined from a hierarchical model of the service by dividing the hierarchy in a manner that separates shared service components from the service components that share them, and that separates service components related by 1-to-n and n-to-1 relationships.

Abstract: A system for pivotably coupling components. The system comprises a pivot structure having a head, a body, a deformable retention feature and a stop. The stop is positioned to limit movement of a cooperating deformation tool to ensure predictable pivot spacing.

Abstract: A secure environment for entering and storing information necessary to conduct encryption processes. In a computer system according to the invention, session keys, passwords, and encryption algorithms are maintained in a secure memory space such as System Management Mode (SMM) memory. In one disclosed embodiment of the invention, a user password is entered via a secure keyboard channel. The password is maintained in a secure memory space that is not accessible during normal computer operation. In addition to the user password, optional node identification information is stored in secure memory. The node identification information is appended to the user password, and both are subsequently encrypted by an encryption algorithm and encryption keys that are also stored in secure memory. Following the encryption process, the encrypted password and node identification information are communicated directly from secure memory to network interface circuitry for communication over a network.

Abstract: A computer-based detection (e.g. speech recognition) system combines a word decoder and subword decoder to detect words (or phrases) in a spoken input provided by a user into a speaker connected to the detection system. The word decoder detects words by comparing an input pattern (e.g., of hypothetical word matches) to reference patterns (e.g., words). The subword decoder compares an input pattern (e.g. hypothetical word matches based on subword or phoneme recognition) to reference patterns (e.g., words) based on a word pronunciation distance measure that indicates how close each input pattern is to matching each reference pattern. The word decoder and subword decoder each provide an N-best list of hypothetical matches to the spoken input. A list fusion module of the detection system selectively combines the two N-best lists to produce a final or combined N-best list.

Abstract: Massive amounts of multimedia data are stored in databases supporting web pages and servers, including text, graphics, video and audio. Searching and finding matching multimedia images can be time and computationally intensive. A method for storing and retrieving image data includes computing a descriptor, such an a Fourier-Mellin Transform (FMT), corresponding to a multidimensional space indicative of each of the stored images and organizing each of the descriptors according to a set similarity metric. The set similarity metric is based on Locality-Sensitive Hashing (LSH), and orders descriptors near to other descriptors in the database. The set similarity metric employs set theory which allows distance between descriptors to be computed consistent with LSH. A target image for which a match is sought is then received, and a descriptor indicative of the target image is computed. The database is referenced, or mapped, to determine close matches in the database.

Abstract: A computer system is implemented according to the invention when an computer process allows a user to determine a desired computer configuration by in part determining performance relative to price candidate configurations.

Abstract: An audiovisual help documentation system for applications running on a multimedia computer workstation or personal computer includes a graphical documentation interface which allows a user to easily access audiovisual or textual documentation related to the application. A pop-up menu model is used to eliminate complexity. Textual and audiovisual “filmclip” documentation are stored in separate subject-specific files. The documentation menu includes a topic field for indicating a topic for which documentation is available, and a user selectable function associated with the topic field. The topic field is associated with a multimedia data file storing audio and video data streams representing the audio and video documentation for that topic. The documentation menu also includes a user selectable function associated with the topic field for retrieving text related to the associated topic.