Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing atomic accesses in a data processing system (10). In one embodiment, a small number of control signals (e.g. 100-102; or 103-104; or 105-108 from FIG. 3 ) are used to provide information regarding the status of reservations between bus masters (e.g. 80), bus interfaces (e.g. 84, 86, and 92), and snoop logic (e.g. 82,88, and 90). Snoop logic (e.g. 40 in FIG. 2) is required if multiple bus masters (12 and 46) are used. The control signals allow atomic accesses to be performed in a multi-master data processing system (10), while minimizing the circuitry required to be built on-board each bus master integrated circuit processor (e.g. 152 in FIG. 3). The result is lower cost processors (152) which can operate in multi-processor systems, but which are optimized for use in single-processor systems.

Abstract: A computer system employing an interrupt coprocessor is provided. The interrupt coprocessor is signaled by an interrupt controller to service a particular interrupt request. The interrupt coprocessor may include limited functionality, such that if a particular interrupt request is beyond the capabilities of the interrupt coprocessor, the microprocessor is interrupted. Context saves may be avoided in the interrupt coprocessor. Interrupt latency is reduced, as well as interruption of one or more main microprocessors in the computer system. Several embodiments are shown with a range of interrupt servicing capabilities. A data pump is shown, which is configured to transfer data from a source to a destination. A microcontroller is shown, which may manipulate the data as it is moved from source to destination or access the interrupting device to determine the service needed. Finally, a microprocessor similar to the main microprocessors of the computer system is shown.

Abstract: A personal information display system is provided with a portable information display device for reading information to be used from a storage medium, a communication network for transmission of information, input/output apparatus for input/output of information, an input/output control apparatus connected between the communication network and the input/output apparatus, an information control apparatus having a hierarchical memory connected to the communication network, and an information output apparatus connected to the information control apparatus to transfer information to the storage medium of the portable information display device.

Abstract: A conference enabled X windows networking system using a method for determining the best match available for a conference owner's visual type is disclosed. In the system, the enabler determines if the visual type detected in the X protocol stream is the conference owner's default visual type, in which case it is matched to the participant's default visual type. If that is not the case, the system determines if a visual type is available on the participant which is compatible to that being referred to in the X protocol. If so, the system determines which of the compatible visual types is the best match to that being used by the application. If there is an exact match of compatible visual type, the system matches the participant's visual type to that of the conference owner. If there are no compatible matches, the system will determine if an incompatible match exists between the participant's available incompatible visual types and the visual type being used in the X protocol.

Abstract: A power conservation system for use in a computer system. The power conservation system has an activity mointor and a plurality of modes of operation. By controlling the power mode of operation in response to the activity of the computer system, the power consumption of the computer system is controlled. Coupling of circuit power and clock signals are used to control power consumption and both hardware and software components may separately or together monitor and control operation.

Abstract: I/O control modules (IOCMs 25-29) include pin/status buses (75-77) which allow simultaneity of control among the channels (e.g. 58) coupled to the same pin/status bus (e.g. 76). Thus, the operation of channels (e.g. 58) can be synchronized with each another. Pin/status buses (75-77) are modular in that they can be extended or alternately segmented to create separate buses carrying different signals. In one embodiment, each end of pin/status bus (75-77) is delineated by a pin control channel (PCCs 51-53). Pin/status buses (75-77) may be used to transfer event information between channels within an IOCM (e.g. IOCM 25), to transfer event information from one IOCM (e.g. 25) to a different IOCM (e.g. 26), and to transfer pin information between integrated circuit pins (31-35) and one or more channels in IOCMs (25-29).

Abstract: A digital data handling system handling display signal streams has a video processor which is capable of high performance due to vector processing and special addressing modes. The video processor is a single VLSI device having a plurality of processors, each of which has associated instruction and data caches, which are joined together by a wide data bus formed on the same substrate as the processors.

Abstract: A software product and method for operating a computer, so that a first program operating in a first operating mode having a first addressing format may call code located in a second program operating in a second operating mode having a second addressing format. An argument converter converts all arguments in a stack used in inter-process communication from the first addressing format to the second addressing format. A call gate converts the desired return address into the second addressing format. Thus the called second program properly recognizes the received data and upon completion generates the correct return address.

Abstract: This invention relates to personal computers, and more particularly to personal computers in which capability is provided for the usual system controlling processor to be reset, initialized and then isolated if an alternate system controller is provided for the system.