Abstract: A data converter for a padded protocol interface performs, on a first data sample, decoding operations requiring data from second and third data samples, while buffering the second data sample without buffering the third data sample. A state machine controlling the decoding operation waits an additional clock cycle, until the second sample has become the current sample and the third sample has become the second sample and thus is available.

Abstract: An integrated processing box performs processing commonly to a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, or a plurality of storage devices. For example, the integrated processing box performs noise reduction processing on data received from an input device or a storage device or data supplied to an output device or the storage device. The integrated processing box also performs processing, for example, temporal/spatial processing or grayscale processing, variably to each type of input device, each type of output device, or each type of storage device. Accordingly, if the input device is, for example, a video camera, the video camera is formed only by a CCD, a sample-and-hold circuit for sampling and holding the output from the CCD, an AGC circuit for adjusting the gain of the output from the sample-and-hold circuit, and an A/D conversion circuit for converting the analog output of the AGC circuit into a digital output.

Abstract: A peripheral device of a host computer includes a microcontroller and two virtual devices. The first virtual device passes, to the microcontroller, commands of a first command set from any user of the host computer and preferably also commands of a second command set from only privileged users of the host computer. The second virtual device passes, to the microcontroller, commands of the second set from any user of the host computer. In one physical implementation of the invention, the two virtual devices are implemented as separate physical devices, and the second device is connected to an interface to the host computer only if the user is not privileged. In another physical implementation of the invention, the two virtual devices are implemented in a common physical device, and a sector of a memory of the peripheral device is reserved for handling commands of the second set from non-privileged users.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which discovers or identifies a type of device associated with an input/output (I/O path). Preferred embodiments define a type of device by a property file. The property file is utilized to identify executable code that determines whether the device associated with a particular I/O path is the type of device defined by said property file.

Abstract: A system is provided for switching the I/O channel for disk drives between multiple computers. The system incorporates the switch into removable drive modules, or a docking base for a removable drive module. The incorporation of switching into the system, such that it is integral with the drives, can reduce overall system failures, by reducing the number of elements which flow through a central switching element. Thus, even where a switch fails other drive modules of the system may continue to operate in the system and provide information to different computers of the system.

Abstract: A system and method provides for establishing a direct TCP/IP connection between a workstation and a storage system independent of a server to which the storage system is connected. A SCSI request is encoded with tags identifying the request as a SCSI request, and the request is structured with a request IP identification. The tagged SCSI request is then sent to the storage system, and the request IP identification of the SCSI request is returned from the target device to the workstation to thereby allow exchange of SCSI requests over a TCP/IP connection directly between the workstation and the storage system, independent of involving the server.

Abstract: In a connection form of PC-printer-digital camera, for example, to enable a printing function from a PC to a printer, a direct printing function from a digital camera to a printer, and a function of directly transferring image data on a memory card of the digital camera to storage means on the PC, without changing the connection of each device, a printer comprises a virtual USB function which receives data from a PC directly connected via a communication line, a USB host which requests a digital camera also directly connected via the communication line for a data transfer and obtains data, a USB function capable of inputting and outputting the data received by the virtual USB function and the data obtained by the USB host, respectively, and a virtual USB function which transfers the data obtained from the digital camera to the PC.

Abstract: A FIFO design interfaces a sender subsystem and a receiver subsystem operating on different time domains. The sender subsystem and the receiver subsystem may be synchronous or asynchronous. The FIFO circuit includes a put interface configured to operate in accordance with the sender time domain and get interface configured to operate in accordance with the receiver time domain. The FIFO circuit includes an array of cells having a register and state controller indicative of the state of the cell. Each cell also has a put component part configured to operate according to the sender time domain including a put token passing circuit and put controller circuit. Each cell has get component part configured to operate according to the receiver time domain including a get token passing circuit and a get controller circuit. A mixed-clock relay station design interfaces a sender subsystem and a receiver subsystem working at different time domains, and where the latency between sender and receiver is large.

Abstract: An information signal processing apparatus connected to a connection control network, has event reception instrument for receiving a predetermined event instruction irrespective of the type of high level protocol, and when the event reception instrument receives an event instruction, an event corresponding to the received instructionis generated.

Abstract: In a technology for dividing a file into a plurality of fragments which are distributed to a plurality of storage devices, to maintain a high level of security and fault tolerance, while storing the file on fewer storage devices than in the past. A file input/output control device 200, upon receiving a file from a client 100, constructs a plurality of fragments from a file with reference to a predetermined number of divisions and redundancy. A file input/output control device 200 allows a plurality of fragments to be stored on a single storage device, but distributes fragments to storage devices 300 in such a way as to avoid sending a single type of fragment to any one storage device, and to avoid sending all types of fragments to any one storage device. By so doing, file input/output control device 200 ensures security against cracking and system fault tolerance, while enabling files to be stored on fewer storage devices than in the past.

Abstract: A direct memory access (DMA) descriptor table to control DMA of information in a memory is disclosed. The DMA descriptor table includes one or more DMA descriptor lists stored in the memory. Each DMA descriptor lists may include one or more pointers and information regarding the type of data being directly memory accessed. The pointers may point to a starting address in the memory from which to directly memory access data, prior state information, or program code from and to the memory.

Abstract: A portable information device capable of processing data input from an external device and a method thereof. The portable information device has an interfacing unit in connection with the external device for receiving an input of key data therefrom, and a key code converting unit for converting the input key data into key code values that can be input to the portable information device. As a user can input data through a keypad of a mobile telephone with which he/she is familiar, the user can input data with speed and convenience.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing distributed configuration storage are presented. The configuration storage is divided into distributed configuration target modules that are physically located in each design section of a device that uses configuration storage. A distributed configuration master module, physically located near the host interface, controls access into and out of each target module via a distributed configuration bus. The creation of each storage array in the distributed configuration storage can be automated using a scripting tool that converts each register specification into hardware description language code.

Abstract: To improve a throughput of information storage devices by reducing the number of discontiguous information files, in an MO drive, a CPU operates in accordance with a program stored in a program storage circuit to determine whether transmission of instructions from a host is intermitted and, if the transmission is intermitted, the CPU rearranges information files discontiguously stored on an MO disk.

Abstract: A system and method for low impact backup. In one embodiment, a method may comprise monitoring utilization of a system resource and a data management process selectively performing I/O operations dependent upon the monitored utilization of the system resource. The data management process may include functionality to backup desired data from a storage medium to a backup medium. In one particular implementation, the I/O operations may be allowed to be performed in response to the utilization of the system resource falling below a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment a method may comprise performing a plurality of I/O operations to complete a data management process executed by an application. The application separates said plurality of I/O operations with intermittent delays to achieve time-slicing of the data management process with respect to one or more other applications.

Abstract: According to one embodiment a system is described. The system includes a direct memory access (DMA) controller and an input/output (I/O) device coupled to the DMA controller. The DMA controller is adaptable to operate in a normal mode and a descriptor mode.

Abstract: An integrated processing box performs processing commonly to a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, or a plurality of storage devices. For example, the integrated processing box performs noise reduction processing on data received from an input device or a storage device or data supplied to an output device or the storage device. The integrated processing box also performs processing, for example, temporal/spatial processing or grayscale processing, variably to each type of input device, each type of output device, or each type of storage device. Accordingly, if the input device is, for example, a video camera, the video camera is formed only by a CCD, a sample-and-hold circuit for sampling and holding the output from the CCD, an AGC circuit for adjusting the gain of the output from the sample-and-hold circuit, and an A/D conversion circuit for converting the analog output of the AGC circuit into a digital output.

Abstract: A method to simultaneously configure a plurality of adapters disposed within a computer system, where that computer system includes one or more external computers, and/or one or more data input devices, and/or one or more data output devices, and/or one or more data storage devices. A computer system which includes a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to implement Applicants' method to simultaneously configure a plurality of adapters disposed within said computer system. A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein for simultaneously configuring a plurality of adapters disposed within a computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting internally defective devices by routing signals on an I/O line to a spare internal network. Such devices enable a system designer to substitute good internal networks, e.g., memory arrays, for failing internal networks without loss of functionality at the I/O level. A device includes a plurality of I/O lines, a plurality of internal networks, a plurality of multiplexers for routing signals from the individual I/O lines to the individual internal networks, and a multiplex controller for controlling the signal routing. Routing can be performed using multiplexers that operatively interconnect any I/O line with any internal network, multiplexers that shift signals on an I/O line to and adjacent internal network, and/or multiplexers that can shift signals on an I/O through a multiplexer to any other multiplexer, and then to any internal network.

Abstract: Systems and methods, for providing distributed configuration storage are presented. The configuration storage is divided into distributed configuration target modules that are physically located in each design section of a device that uses configuration storage. A distributed configuration master module, physically located near the host interface, controls access into and out of each target module via a distributed configuration bus. The creation of each storage array in the distributed configuration storage can be automated using a scripting tool that converts each register specification into hardware description language code.