Abstract: An electronic postal scale displays operator prompt messages and generates reports in more than one language. The language to be used in selectable by the operator of the scale. In a preferred embodiment there are two languages, English and French.

Abstract: A technique is described for performing a fast write operation. A host write request, which would normally be serviced by an immediate physical write to a data storage device, is instead written to cache and nonvolatile storage in the data storage device controller. Then, the controller signals the host that the write operation is complete and does not update the physical data storage device until later. A journal log is also used to provide recovery capability in the event of system failure. This technique provides high performance for the units' operation while assuring integrity by keeping two copies of the write operation until the physical update transpires.

Abstract: A method for Direct (DASD) cache management that reduces the volume of data transfer between DASD and cache while avoiding the complexity of managing variable length records in the cache. This is achieved by always choosing the starting point for staging a record to be at the start of the missing record and, at the same time, allocating and managing cache space in fixed length blocks. The method steps require staging records, starting with the requested record and continuing until either the cache block is full, the end of track is reached, or a record already in the cache is encountered.

Abstract: A floral base is made by hot wire cutting a foam of expanded polystyrene beads, thereby forming a smooth skin over the cells at the cut surface; differentially wire brushing the hot wire cut surface, lightly in some areas so that the wires only slice the surface skin and more deeply in adjacent areas so that the wires gouge out beads to form cavities and roughly parallel channels; then coating the surface with a latex paint. The resultant material surprisingly simulates the appearance of rough weathered lumber.