Abstract: A multiprocessor system includes a plurality of nodes and an interconnect that includes routers. Each node includes a reliable packet mover and a fast frame mover. The reliable packet mover provides packets to the fast frame mover which adds routing information to the packet to form a frame. The route to each node is predetermined. The frame is provided to the routers which delete the route from the routing information. If the frame is lost while being routed, the router discards the frame. If the packet is received at a destination node, the reliable packet mover in that node sends an acknowledgment to the source node if the packet passes an error detection test. The reliable packet mover in the source node resends the packet if it does not receive an acknowledgment in a predetermined time. The fast frame mover randomly selects the route from a plurality of predetermined routes to the destination node according to a probability distribution.

Abstract: Plural client computers 10 manipulated by individual users, a data management computer 200, and a host computer 100 are mutually connected through a network NW. The data management computer 200 manages the VRML file expressing a virtual space, and also transfers the VRML file to each client computer 10 through the network NW according to the request from each client computer 10. Each client computer 10 displays the virtual space according to the VRML file, and also displays in inside of the virtual space the object capable of updating the property data by the manipulation of the user. The host computer 100 manages the property data (position, shape, speech text, etc.) of the object changed by the operation inputted by the user at each client computer 10, so that the users of the client computers 10 sharing the same virtual space can communicate with each other through the behavior and speech of the objects in the virtual space.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of wiring formed on a lower insulating film to be spaced apart from each other, dummy patterns formed on the lower insulating layer between the plurality of wiring and spaced apart from each other, and an upper insulating layer formed to cover the plurality of wiring and the dummy patterns and having therein cavities formed in regions between the plurality of wiring and the dummy patterns.

Abstract: An interference checking method for checking the interference between two objects in the shape of non-convex polyhedrons, comprising the steps of producing a convex hull for each of the non-convex polyhedrons, and checking the interference of the convex hull of one object with the convex hull of the other object; covering each of polygons which constitute each of the non-convex polyhedrons with a plurality of leaf spheres which have a predetermined radius and which are arranged on each polygon when the distance between the convex hulls becomes not more than a preset value, and sequentially enveloping the leaf spheres with hierarchical spheres so as to produce a binary tree of hierarchical envelope spheres; obtaining a pair of nearby spheres closest by checking the interference between envelope spheres of an upper grade on the basis of the structure of the binary tree, disassembling the interfering envelope spheres into envelope spheres of a lower grade, checking the interference between the envelope spheres o

Abstract: A 3-dimensional graphics drawing apparatus having 3-dimensional drawing unit for drawing 3-dimensional graphics, the 3-dimensional drawing unit having a main bus and a local bus. A central processing unit supplies 3-dimensional drawing data to the 3-dimensional drawing unit through the main bus. A main memory control unit selectively receives memory accesses requests from the central processing unit and the 3-dimensional drawing unit via the local bus. A main storage unit stores information handled by the central processing unit and drawing information handled by the 3-dimensional drawing unit. The drawing information is stored in a previously allocated predetermined area.

Abstract: There is disclosed a licensee notification system for implementing a software sales system wherein license information for converting to executable form software that is presented to a user in non-executable form is communicated to the user from a management center on condition of payment of a charge, and the software is converted into executable form at the user terminal using this license information. The subject of the licensee notification system is software that decides whether or not the correspondence relationship between user identification information and signature information stored in the license file is legitimate, and, if it is legitimate, displays the user identification information to the user before starting proper operation; or, if it is not legitimate, does not start proper operation. The licensee notification system is constituted by connecting the management center and user terminals by communication circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning a temporary label to each connected area in an image by scanning the image by using a window which has a size of two pixels in the vertical direction and of a plurality of pixels in the horizontal direction. A set of values of pixels contained in the above window is obtained and one of predetermined temporary label assignment rules corresponding to the obtained set of pixel values is selected. A temporary label is assigned to each pixel contained in the window, based on the above one of the temporary label assignment rules determined as above, and based on temporary labels of pixels in the second group in the window at the above each location. In addition, the temporary labels are converted to true labels, by scanning the image pixel within the at least one circumscribing area only, where each circumscribing area is predetermined so that the at least one circumscribing area contains all pixels which do not belong to a background area in the image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus colors the conventional error codes of each word of a multiword transmission to facilitate the detection of words which are out of order or not part of the transmission, without affecting the data in the word. A 1-bit by n-bit matrix is assembled using the header word, and zeros for the header of the multiword transmission, or the data word, error code, if any, an identifier portion of the header word and zeros for each data word, and the 1-bit by n-bit matrix is multiplied by an n-bit by m-bit matrix assembled from a conventional error coding matrix and other matrices. The result either produces an error code to be sent with the header or data, or a check code to be verified as all zeros to indicate the absence of bit errors within the header or data word, and that the word is in the proper packet and in the proper sequence within the packet.

Abstract: An audio interactive system including a plurality of terminals each having an audio input means for converting voices into aural signals and an audio output means for converting aural signals into voices, the plurality of terminals being connected to a communication line; and a server connected with the plurality of terminals via the communication line to perform collection and distribution of the aural signals, in which a conversation is made through voices between the plurality of terminals. The server comprises a buffer for temporarily storing the aural signals transmitted from the terminals, and a scheduler for controlling the distribution of the aural signals stored in the buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus which adds "opposite dispersion" to light, to compensate for chromatic dispersion of the light caused by travelling through an optical fiber. The apparatus includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA), and a light returning device. The light returning device is typically a mirror. The VIPA provides angular dispersion to the light, and the light returning device returns the light back to the VIPA to undergo multiple reflection inside the VIPA.

Abstract: A parallel computer system capable of arbitrarily selecting nodes participating in barrier synchronization while enabling an arbitrary number of node groups to independently execute a process requiring the barrier synchronization. A communication network for the parallel computer system includes a plurality of routing controllers. Each routing controller has a register for setting a predetermined number of receipts of barrier synchronization request messages from other routing controllers, a destination to which the barrier synchronization request message is transmitted, and a destination to which a barrier synchronization establishment message is transmitted.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus for document editing. The apparatus has multiple editors for editing documents according to the individual document type. An editing operation interlocking work identifier analyzes the meaning of a work corresponding to a give editing operation on a document. Editing operations for the documents, and information about associated works, are defined in an editing operation interlocking work correlating table. The associated work is done in parallel with, or later than, an editing operation for the document. The editing operation interlocking work identifier refers to the correlating table. A process starting controller refers to an interlocking work starting process correlating table in which information about the associated works and starting processes are defined.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape data transforming apparatus comprising a shape storage unit, an image generation unit, a frame buffer, a Z buffer and vertex determination unit. The image generation unit projects an original shape represented by shape data in the shape storage unit onto a predetermined projection surface (e.g., a cylindrical surface) to create an image. The frame buffer and Z buffer store color information (RGBA values) and depth values (Z values) respectively.

Abstract: A dual-level metalization method for ferroelectric integrated circuits includes the steps forming a planarized oxide layer over a partially formed integrated circuit ferroelectric device, forming a cap layer over the planarized oxide layer, forming vias into the planarized oxide layer and cap layer to provide access to the desired first-level metal contacts, and metalizing the selected first-level metal contacts with second-level metal. The cap layer can be doped or undoped titanates, zirconates, niobates, tantalates, stanates, hafnates, or manganates such as doped and undoped PZT (lead zirconate titanate), BST (barium strontium titanate), or SBT (strontium bismuth tantalate).

Abstract: A lapping apparatus for uniformly laps work pieces. The lapping apparatus includes a rotary lapping plate, a lapping base including a plurality of pads contacting the lapping plate, an adapter including first and second surfaces for supporting the mounting base contacting the lapping plate, and a supporting mechanism provided on the lapping base for supporting the second surface of the adapter by a supporting point. As the adapter supporting the work piece is supported on two points on the work piece and one supporting point of the lapping plate, the lapping surface of the work piece may follow as the lapping plate. Accordingly, it becomes possible to uniformly lap the work piece regardless of accuracy of the lapping base.

Abstract: A system and method providing a programmable hardware device within a CPU. The programmable hardware device permits a plurality of instructions to be trapped before they are executed. The instructions that are to be trapped are programmable to provide flexibility during CPU debugging and to ensure that a variety of application programs can be properly executed by the CPU. The system must also provide a means for permitting a trapped instruction to be emulated and/or to be executed serially.

Abstract: A method for a prediction correlation between a first group of branch instructions in a bunch of instructions and a second group of branch instructions in a bunch of instructions is disclosed. The method includes indicating a direction of a plurality of branch instructions in a bunch of instructions. More particularly, the method includes building an address composed of an instruction fetch address and bits in a history register. The method accesses a bunch of instructions using the fetch address and accesses a prediction bits set from a branch history table using the composed address. The accessed bunch of instructions are processed. Further, the history register and the branch history table are updated to correlate a first group of a branch instructions in the accessed bunch of instructions to a second group of branch instructions in a next group of branch instructions in the bunch of instructions.

Abstract: Arbitration apparatus and method coordinate access to an output of a routing device in a packet switching network. Access to the output is granted to requests having the highest priority in a current arbitration cycle. For requests having the same priority, access is granted to the first of such requests received. Before granting a request, the arbitration apparatus ensures a receiving input buffer has sufficient space for a data packet, as well as any higher priority traffic.

Abstract: An MPU of a second subcontroller in a library apparatus executes an intra-memory apparatus construction data creation program, thereby controlling operations of an accessor and of a bar code reader. Unit construction data is thereby obtained from a bar code label attached to each unit. It is therefore feasible to automatically input the data about a position where a drum unit is disposed, and the number of magnetic tape cartridges that can be housed in the drum unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling article distribution end which provides vague communication manners to casually distribute an article to unspecified readers with no designation of distribution and addresses from a user, even if there is no designation of distribution end address by the user, and also provides flexible communication manners to induce a formation of communication between users in such a way as to surprise a reader to whom an article is distributed that the article is distributed accidentally as well as to allow the reader to reply casually and almost anonymously because the users do not known each other, and further provides the flexible communication manners to give a joy to a distributor that he has received a reply to the article distributed to an unspecified distribution end even if the reply is a casual one such as impression or the like, by automatically obtaining a random distribution end address to which the user is irrelevant in selection, from data base of distribution end addresses.