Abstract: Notification of an executing object becoming idle is provided in a multitasking environment. As the object executes, a user can interface with a second object. When the executing object becomes accessible, a buoy icon object is displayed on the computer screen. The buoy icon has the name of the accessible object as well as a pointer line extending from the buoy icon to the accessible object. The buoy icon provides notification that the accessible object execution is complete or is ready to receive a user input. The user can either remove the buoy icon from the screen or select the buoy icon object to focused the accessible object. The newly focused accessible object can then be used. The buoy icon notification can be enabled or disabled on an object-by-object basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling an analog signal permits the identification of those samples in which data was lost in the sampling process. A data reference element is generated for each sample element, the data reference element having a corresponding sample element. A user friendly display technique is provided to permit the user to controllably display the sampled signal, clearly showing those portions of the signal in which information was lost contrasted with those portions of the signal that were sampled intact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling an analog signal permits the identification of those samples in which data was lost in the sampling process. A data reference element is generated for each sample element, the data reference element having a corresponding sample element. A user friendly display technique is provided to permit the user to controllably display the sampled signal, clearly showing those portions of the signal in which information was lost contrasted with those portions of the signal that were sampled intact.

Abstract: Automatic user interface object organization is provided. A user dependent user desktop map is maintained for objects a user manipulates. The user desktop map allows automatic object location, dimension and appearance changes to a newly spawned object according to the state of the object from its last existence on a data processing system user interface for that particular user. Objects not found in a desktop map have user desktop map entries automatically added to the desktop map, and the objects are maintained appropriately to ensure an organized user interface according to user preference.

Abstract: A sampler develops a digital representation of an analog signal at a predetermined sampling rate. The highest frequency of a period of samples is determined and, if sampling rate of the sampler exceeds the Nyquist rate, indicating oversampling, redundant sample points are discarded from the period and the reduced record is stored. A multiplicity of periods make up a recorded session. To reconstruct the original signal, a common time domain is determined and the reduced records are expanded based upon the common time domain.

Abstract: Automatic detection of security violation objects within distributions and appropriate handling of those violations is provided. A confidential object dictionary contains definitions of objects which violate security. Distributions are automatically searched for objects contained in the dictionary. A violation log may be used for summarizing violations and determining an appropriate predefined action for a violation. The appropriate predefined action for a violation may include third party notification, notifying third parties in priority order, safe storing the violation, or inhibiting distribution of the violation.

Abstract: On a network, access to individual data processing systems is remotely controlled from a host data processing system. A security request is provided at the host data processing system. The security request specifies the target data processing systems, whether those systems are to be locked or unlocked, the peripherals of the specified data processing systems that are affected and a password. The security request is communicated to all data processing systems in communication with the host data processing system. Each data processing system processes the security request to determine if it is a target. If so, then a lock status of a target set of data processing systems is changed in response to the security request. The change in lock status of the target set of data processing systems either facilitates or prohibits use of the target set of data processing systems.

Abstract: Method of, and apparatus for, providing automatic detection of potential information loss due to undersampling and automatic detection of potential storage waste due to oversampling based on automatic determination of an analog signal's Nyquist rate. The invention acquires an analog signal, determines a maximum frequency of the analog signal and a corresponding Nyquist rate, and allows a user to select a sampling rate based on either the automatically determined Nyquist sampling rate, a user specified sampling rate, a sampling rate determined by a user specified bandwidth, or a sampling rate determined by user specified available space. The invention also informs a user when a loss of information may occur due to a sampling rate being less than the Nyquist rate. The invention also informs a user when a waste of storage may occur due to a sampling rate being greater than the Nyquist rate.