Abstract: An electronic communications package is provided for use upon a plurality of terminals located remote from one another. The communications package provides an electronic mail system which allows a user at an authorized site to create an unlimited number of additional copies of the application package to be installed upon separate and remote terminals. Each copy created by an authorized "source" site, when recorded on a disk, is capable of installing itself onto another terminal through a self-installing routine. Copies of the application package which are created by a source terminal are considered "clones" and are afforded all of the communications capabilities of a source terminal when communicating with a source terminal. However, clone terminals are afforded limited communications capabilities with one another.

Abstract: A compiling method comprises the steps of analyzing the characters and phrases in the source code of a program, analyzing the syntax of the program, and analyzing the meaning of the program, a program division step of dividing the program into a plurality of processes, a data reference analysis step of analyzing the data reference relations among the individual processes obtained through the division of the program and extracting first data used only in one process of the program and second data the value of which need not be preserved in some processes of the program, a memory area allocation step of allocating the memory area for the above first data to another data in any process in which the above first data is not used and allocating the memory area for the above second data to another data in some processes in which the value of the above second data need not be preserved, and the step of generating and outputting the object code of the program.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention provide a computer docking station (12, 32, 58, 68, 76, 84, 90, 92, 94, 96) that can have its functionality reconfigured by a docked portable personal computer (10, 38, 62, 66, 74, 82). In at least one embodiment of the invention, the computer docking station is configured as a stand alone computer prior to docking with a portable computer, may have its functionality reconfigured when docked to the portable computer, and reconfigures itself to be a stand alone computer when undocked from the portable computer. In one embodiment of the invention, docking station resources are placed under the control of a docked portable computer. In another embodiment of the invention, docked portable computer resources are placed under the control of the docking station.

Abstract: A multi-standard video decompression apparatus has a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system.

Abstract: A computer system has a housing and a central processing unit located inside the housing. The computer system also has a peripheral unit mounted in and removable from the housing and a communication port connector exposed on the outside of the housing for connection of and communication with external devices. The computer system has a dedicated communication link in the housing for communication with the peripheral unit. The computer system also has a device for connecting the peripheral unit to the port connector when the peripheral unit is removed from the housing and circuitry for coupling the dedicated communications link to the port connector when the peripheral unit is connected to the communication port connector. The computer system has a device for holding a portable disk drive constructed for insertion into an internal drive bay of a computer unit having a shell for covering and protecting the disk drive.

Abstract: A system and method to efficiently deliver multimedia interactive and linear programming on a large-scale network is disclosed. The system is designed to be hierarchical in nature in order to avoid the huge processing and storage requirements of a system utilizing centralized storage and system control. The stored program material is segmented into portions and each program segment is transmitted to the receiving system component in less than real-time on an as-needed basis. Methods for efficiently using system resources such as bandwidth, storage and processing time to maintain an optimally-performing system that results in minimal latency for the end-user's interaction with the system are disclosed.

Abstract: A DS-PCI/ISA bridge device for controlling I/O devices on an external PCI bus and an external ISA bus has the two operation states of proceed and freeze. When the DS-PCI/ISA bridge device receives a serial GNT# from a DMAC core, the operation state is switched from proceed to freeze. In the freeze state, a serial REQ# cycle is only executed when a change has occurred in the state of a DMA request of the I/O device which the DACK# has notified. Execution of serial REQ# cycles for reporting state changes in DMA requests relating to other I/O devices is frozen. Further, the DMAC core is notified whether or not an initiated serial transfer cycle is a cycle for notifying that the DMA request from an I/O device for which notification of DMA cycle execution has been given is inactive, according to the length of the inactive time period of a serial REQ# from the I/O devices.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating extended information, including status information, from a hardware device to a computer operating system. An adapter detects changes in the status of hardware devices attached thereto, including inserted, removed or requested-to-be-removed status, places information regarding that status in registers accessible to the operating system, and generates an interrupt. In handling the interrupt, the operating system reads the status information from the registers and takes appropriate action. The described framework extensibly provides the operating system with the ability to issue commands to the adapter such as commands which obtain information on the capabilities of the adapter and the hardware devices attached thereto. Another such command enables the operating system to direct the adapter to mechanically eject a device attached thereto, such as in response to detection of request-to-be-removed status.

Abstract: A write driver, having a pair of inputs for receiving write data signals, includes a TTL buffer circuit connected to one input and a PECL buffer circuit connected to both inputs. A detector, responsive to a voltage at one of the inputs, selectively operates either the TTL buffer circuit or the PECL buffer circuit. The detector preferably comprises a comparator, a switching circuit, and two current mirrors. The comparator compares the voltage at one of the inputs to a reference voltage and outputs a signal controlling the switching circuit. The switching circuit enables one of the current mirrors, thereby enabling either the TTL or the PECL buffer circuit. In the preferred embodiment, a Schottky diode isolates the TTL buffer circuit from the PECL buffer circuit.

Abstract: The system and method of this invention automatically manages a group of computers by automatically gathering data, storing the data, analyzing the stored data to identify specified conditions, and initiating automated actions to respond to the detected conditions. The invention, hereafter "SYSTEMWatch AI-L", comprises a SYSTEMWatch AI-L client which turns a computer into a managed computer, a SYSTEMWatch AI-L console, which turns a computer into a monitoring computer, a SYSTEMWatch AI-L send facility, which allows a system administrator to send commands to various SYSTEMWatch AI-L clients through the SYSTEMWatch AI-L console, and a SYSTEMWatch AI-L report facility which allows a system administrator to query information collected and processed by the SYSTEMWatch AI-L clients and SYSTEMWatch AI-L consoles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data processing system and a method of managing a queue 130 of items for processing in which the expected time an item will spend on the queue 130 is calculated 209 when an item is received to be placed on a queue 130. If this exceeds an upper limit, then the item is rejected 213 and the queue 130 is purged 215 of all items. An indication is provided to the sources of the items that were purged that this has occurred. In this way, it is possible to detect the difference between a queue 130 which is longer, but dynamic, and one which is shorter, but static. The method is applied to management of requests for a communications link between local and remote systems.

Abstract: A microcontroller is presented which is configurable to transfer data to and from one or more asynchronous serial ports (ASPs) using direct memory access (DMA). The microcontroller includes an execution unit, a DMA unit, one or more ASPs, and at least one input/output (I/O) pad formed upon a single monolithic semiconductor substrate. The execution unit is configured to execute instructions, preferably .times.86 instructions. Each ASP is configurable to generate an internal DMA request signal, which effectuates a DMA transfer of serial communication data, and multiple DMA control signals. Each I/O pad is adapted to receive an external DMA request signal generated by a device external to the microcontroller. The DMA unit includes selection logic coupled to one or more DMA channel circuits. The selection logic receives the internal and external DMA request signals as well as the DMA control signals, and produces a DMA request signal for each DMA channel circuit.

Abstract: A teleconferencing/videoconferencing system has (1) a plurality of AV device, each capable of originating and reproducing user related audio and video signals; (2) a plurality of communications ports, each supporting the switch connections of video in, video out, audio in, and audio out; and (3) a communication path arranged for transport of audio and video signals. The system controls communications, over the communications path, between two of the AV devices by creating a first and second call handles, respectively associated with the two AV devices. Each call handle defines a call state (Either active and/or hold), and the AV device's port's switch connections involved in the communication connection. The system also allows a user to remotely put another caller on hold or remotely disconnect another caller.

Abstract: A GPIB system for capturing GPIB signals at a predetermined rate and upon valid transitions of the data valid signal. A first sampling circuit samples the GPIB at the predetermined rate and a second sampling circuit samples the GPIB with transitions of the data valid signal. Capture logic preferably includes data valid logic for monitoring the data valid signal to assure valid transitions. The capture logic also preferably includes select logic for selecting between the GPIB signals sampled at the predetermined rate and upon assertion of the data valid signal, where data valid signal transitions preferably have higher priority. The capture logic monitors the sampled GPIB signals and the data valid logic to enable a first-in, first-out buffer to capture sampled data upon predetermined capture conditions and upon transitions of the data valid signal. In this manner, data signal transitions which might otherwise be missed by the predetermined sampling rate are sampled and captured.

Abstract: In an information processing method of causing a plurality of information processing apparatuses to process information, the contents of a processing operation for data are stored in an information processing apparatus main body, the stored contents of the processing operation are recorded in a portable recording medium, and the data in another information processing apparatus is processed in accordance with the contents of the processing operation recorded in the recording medium.

Abstract: A difference/compression ratio calculating means 76 in a data processing means 71 of a data transmitting apparatus according to the present invention calculates an actual difference and an actual compression ratio based on the data length of pre-compression data received from a data source 2 through pre-compression data receiving means 74 and the data length of compressed data outputted from a data compression circuit 67. If the actual difference is equal to or greater than a preset difference .alpha. and the actual compression ratio is equal to and greater than a preset compression ratio .beta., then the compressed data is transmitted to a data destination 3 through a transfer request data output means 79. Otherwise, the pre-compression data is transmitted to the data destination 3.

Abstract: An overflow control unit stores, in a FIFO buffer, data generated by a processor. The overflow control unit sets a predetermined flag, upon detecting that a FIFO buffer is full or nearly full. The overflow control unit stores, in a saving buffer, data sent from the processor, while the flag is set. Thereafter, the overflow control unit notifies the processor, by an interrupt, of an effect that an available capacity of the FIFO buffer rises above a predetermined threshold.Upon receiving an interrupt, the processor transfers to the FIFO buffer data saved in the saving buffer. Upon a completion of transferring to the FIFO buffer all data saved in the saving buffer, the processor resets the flag. This allows the overflow control unit to again store in the FIFO buffer, data sent from the processor. The overflow control unit also monitors the volume of data stored in the saving buffer, and notifies the processor, by an interrupt, of an effect that the saving buffer is full.

Abstract: The parallel or printer port in a personal computer can receive data from the memory under the control of the direct memory access (DMA) controller, releasing processor resources. The processor enables the parallel port, which then indicates to the DMA controller the desire to transfer data. A state machine in the parallel port, along with associated circuitry, responds to the transfer of the data to the parallel port and then controls the transfer of the data to the attached device, usually a printer. The state machine causes an interrupt to the processor when the transfer is complete or on receipt of errors from the external device. The state machine also communicates with the DMA controller to repeat the transfer process until the transfer is complete or an error occurs. Various DMA channels and parallel port locations can be used. Direct transfers by the processor are blocked during DMA controller handled transfers.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a Web site log file and generating an expanded log file that compensates for information caching and gateway based Web site access. More particularly, the log file expansion procedure of the present invention works with a log file stored in memory on the server computer. The log file contains a sequence of log records, each log record representing an object request by a client computer. Each log record includes data identifying the requested object as well as some data, such as an Internet address, associated with the client computer or a gateway through which the client computer requested the object. The log expansion procedure analyzes the sequence of log records so as to detect object request patterns indicating that object requests not represented by the log records were satisfied by cached object copies, and then supplements the sequence of log records with inserted log records representing object requests for the objects corresponding to the cached object copies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying images and/or reproducing sound on a PC card. According to one aspect of the invention, a PC card is disclosed that includes an interface to a data processing device to obtain data representing a set of one or more images from the data processing device. The PC card further includes a memory to store the data, and a display to display the set of images. According to another aspect of the invention, the data may represent sound data, which could be processed by circuitry included in the PC card to reproduce sound. According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for displaying images on a PC card is provided, by storing a first set of data representing a set of one or more images to a storage area of the PC card, and displaying the set of one or more images on a display of the PC card. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for transferring sound data to the PC card for sound reproduction by the PC card.