Abstract: Reversible encoding with a high compression rate is fast performed for images produced by a computer. The following processing is performed for each line. First, prediction is performed based on a first prediction method, it is determined whether the prediction value matches the pixel value of a target pixel, and if so, a code indicating the first prediction method is outputted. If a prediction value by the first prediction method does not match the pixel value of the target pixel, prediction values by second and subsequent prediction methods are obtained for the first time, and these values are compared with the pixel value of the target pixel. If there is a matching prediction value, a code indicating a corresponding prediction method is outputted. If the pixel value of the target pixel does not match any prediction values, a prediction error is outputted.

Abstract: A computer system implements a standard modem without the use of a microcontroller. Instead, a digital signal processor is provided on an expansion card, but with direct links to the computer system itself. The code usually implemented in the microcontroller is instead implemented as a virtual modem controller to be called by the operating system of the computer itself. Further, this virtual modem controller includes a virtualized UART, that appears to the operating system software as a hardware UART, and the operating system driver software need not even have its input and output instructions replaced. Instead, debug registers are provided as breakpoints whenever an input/output instruction is executed to the I/O port range at which the UART would normally appear.

Abstract: A SCSI cable including first and second SCSI cable segments, a SCSI Y connector that includes connector contacts to couple corresponding SCSI signal conductors of each of the SCSI cable segments together and to corresponding ones of the connector contacts of the SCSI Y connector, a first resistor coupled between the SCSI request signal conductor of each of the SCSI cable segments and a corresponding connector request signal contact of the SCSI Y connector, a SCSI end connector including connector contacts that couples corresponding SCSI signal conductors of the second SCSI cable segment to corresponding connector contacts, and a second resistor coupled between the SCSI request signal conductor of the second cable segment and a corresponding request signal contact of the SCSI end connector. In this manner, the request signal asserted by any one of the targets is effectively filtered to reduce or otherwise eliminate reflections on the SCSI request signal.

Abstract: An improved operating system for a personal computer including a method for controlling a parallel I/O port for peer-to-peer communication is disclosed. The improved operating system includes a port driver which supports communication with multiple peripheral devices through a single parallel port. The peripheral devices are connect to the parallel port via a multiplexer and may include non-interrupt devices, master/slave devices, and peer-to-peer devices. The parallel port driver includes a port arbitrator and a plurality of class device drivers to control access to the parallel port. Each class device driver communicates with a particular class of devices connected to the port. The port arbitrator controls access to port by the various class device drivers. The parallel port includes configurable control registers that include interrupt control bits for enabling and disabling interrupts communicated by peripheral devices.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method, and circuits that operate in accordance with the method, for decoding data received from a communications channel. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving a modulated communications signal that conveys block encoded data having at least a data field and a syndrome data field; and (b) determining transition metrics and path metrics for the block encoded data. The step of determining path metrics includes a step of retaining path metrics only for a Maximum-Likelihood (ML) path and for a second best ML path. The method further includes a step of: (c) decoding the block encoded data by performing either a full or a partial traceback operation for both the ML path metrics and also for the second best ML path metrics.

Abstract: The interactive entertainment network system has a headend connected to multiple user interface units in individual homes via a distribution network. The user interface units are operable in a video-on-demand (VOD) mode to order and receive video content programs from the headend. The VOD mode is activated when the viewer tunes to a designated VOD channel. In the event that a viewer orders a video content program, the headend transmits the ordered video content program to the particular user interface unit. The viewer can watch the program at their leisure. In the event that the viewer changes from the VOD channel to a non-VOD channel prior to completion of the ordered program, the headend automatically pauses transmission of the ordered video content program. When the viewer once again tunes to the VOD channel, the headend automatically resumes transmission of the ordered video content program to the user interface unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a server capable of providing a system in which a client can be reconnected to one server to another to use any output unit in the system without any prior knowledge thereof. The server can select an output unit to which the job request should be sent by referring to correspondence information held therein when the server receives a job request that specifies neither a type of an output unit nor a data format. Also, the server can select an available output unit for data-output in an adequate data format when it receives output data alone, Further, the server can assign a certain output unit to job requests of the same kind sent from the same client, manage the accesses to the output units, distribute output loading according to an output queue to the server, and select the most appropriate server as per condition set by a user.

Abstract: A file input/output control device for a computer system of the present invention can, even in an environment where magnetic storage and semiconductor storage devices with quite different access speeds are concurrently used as the external storage, cancel exclusive control for film blocks without deteriorating the performance of higher speed storage. For this purpose, this device is provided with block write means to write the blocks in the buffer to the external storage block by block when a quiet point of the processing program is established and exclusion cancellation means to, each time the block write means terminates writing for a block, cancel exclusive control for that block.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the removal of a removable storage medium from a removable storage media mechanism of a computer environment having set protocols and for obtaining parameter information of a newly inserted removable storage medium in an efficient and flexible manner. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention contemplate that parameter information is obtained only subsequent to detection of the removal of a removable storage medium. This allows removable storage media to be swapped quickly and efficiently and also allows various types of components comprising the removable storage media mechanism to be used.

Abstract: A splitter cable provides a means for simultaneously connecting a data terminal's communications port to a plurality of peripheral devices. The cable provides for the flow of data between the data terminal and the peripheral devices. A diode connected to each peripheral device's receive data line protects the device from electrical current associated with data being transmitted by the other peripheral devices. The connected peripheral devices each respond to unique data characteristics. The invention uses the data characteristics to control the transmission of data between the data terminal and the peripheral devices. Communication with the desired peripheral device is accomplished under program control without manual intervention by the user.

Abstract: An input/output request control system in a multi-processor system includes a plurality of information processing modules (PM). The system comprises a plurality of input/output adapters (ADP) commonly used by each of said information processing modules and a plurality of input/output devices (DVC) divided into groups, each group controlled by one of the input/output adapters. An input/output request maintaining table (LDVC) manages input/output requests from respective information processing modules for each of the input/output devices controlled by said information processing modules by using a queue. Input/output requests from respective information processing modules are processed based on the state of the input/output request maintaining table and the input/output devices.

Abstract: The method of changing system files to be able to change either the primary or secondary language or both on a rigid disk to another language, and to provide the operator with the option of selecting either the primary or secondary language as the medium for the display messages and prompts by providing the language requirements on a floppy disk, identifying the specific files of the control to be altered to produce the language requirements, loading the floppy disk into a floppy disk drive, and transferring the language requirements to the rigid disk.