Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a signal is presented. An accumulator receives an input signal and generates an accumulated value. A hysteresis controller sets an adjustable upper and lower limit. The upper and lower limits are compared with the accumulated value in a comparator. The comparator outputs a result, which is fed back into the hysteresis controller through a feedback loop. Once the input signal stays within the upper and lower limits, a test signal is considered within specification. When the input signal is outside of the boundary limits, a corrupt test signal is detected.

Abstract: Mechanisms have been developed for synchronizing information, e.g., password or other access credential information, amongst replicated directory spaces or repositories. In some exemplary realizations, directory spaces are embodied as directory servers, services or similar components of computer operating systems, including LDAP, UDDI, Active Directory or other standardized or proprietary directory environments. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a method includes invalidating an entry of at least one replica store. The invalidation of the entry of the replica store triggers information synchronization of a corresponding invalidated entry of a master store to a corresponding entry of an authoritative store on a next attempt to authenticate against the invalidated entry of the replica store. The method may include propagating information of the synchronized master store entry to at least one other replica store.

Abstract: Mechanisms have been developed for synchronizing information amongst directory spaces or repositories that employ dissimilar protective transformations. In some exemplary realizations, directory spaces are embodied as directory servers, services or similar components of computer operating systems. In some exemplary realizations, dissimilar protective transformations include differing hashes (or encryption) techniques or facilities employed by products available from Sun Microsystems, Inc., on the one hand, and Microsoft Corporation on another. However, the inventive techniques are not limited thereto. The mechanism is responsive to a change in the second store, invalidating a corresponding entry in the first store. Upon receipt, by the first store, of an authentication request that includes a credential and which corresponds to the invalidated entry, the method chains the authentication request to the second store.

Abstract: Mechanisms have been developed for synchronizing information, e.g., password or other access credential information, amongst directory spaces or repositories, that employ dissimilar protective transformations, e.g., hashes, encryption, etc. In some exemplary realizations, directory spaces are embodied as directory servers, services or similar components of computer operating systems. In some exemplary realizations, dissimilar protective transformations include differing hashes (or encryption) techniques or facilities employed by products available from Sun Microsystems, Inc., on the one hand, and Microsoft Corporation on another. However, the inventive techniques are not limited thereto. The mechanism includes detecting changes to information encoded in a first information store and invalidating a corresponding entry of a second information store. The invalidating triggers information synchronization upon a subsequent attempt to authenticate against this entry in the second store.

Abstract: A method of manipulation of data information trees, and software and systems therefore, allow the mapping of information models for support of markup-oriented registry services. For example, a first business entity may provide a service. Service information regarding the service is stored in a hierarchical directory information tree at a node corresponding to the business entity. Another business entity may desire to provide the service of the first business entity. Service projection information regarding the service offered by the first entity is stored in a hierarchical directory information tree at a node corresponding to the second business entity.

Abstract: A cable management device traps and provides support for at least one electrical cable end connector which is located below an existing cable management hole through a work surface. In one embodiment, the cable management device includes a plate defining at least one aperture adapted to releasably receive an electrical connector. The plate is mountable directly to an underside of the work surface across a portion of the existing cable management hole such that the electrical connector is accessible from the top side of the work surface. Another embodiment of the cable management device includes a cylindrical sleeve adapted for mounting in a standard size cable management hole in a work surface, the sleeve including a lip protruding outwardly at a first end, the lip retaining the sleeve in the cable management hole, and at least one aperture defined by the sleeve, the aperture adapted to releasably receive an electrical connector.

Abstract: A registry service is described which uses a partitioned publisher assertion recording and accessing scheme. A publisher assertion regarding a relationship between entities (e.g., business or other types of entities) is encoded within a directory information tree in a memory. The publisher assertion includes publisher assertion part nodes corresponding to entity nodes in the directory information tree. The publisher assertion is complete if all publisher assertion parts corresponding to entities in the relationship are present in the directory information tree. The service may include a network including directory servers and registry servers. The publisher assertions are manipulated by authorized publishers and accessed by users using a variety of techniques, the operations of which are performed by such parties and/or are encoded upon computer-readable media.

Abstract: Two interfaces or operating modes are designed into the hardware and firmware. Selection between these two interfaces, or operating modes, is indicated by the position of a jumper on an IDE/ATAPI-style jumper block. A pull-up resistor and interface type detection signal are connected to a pin on the IDE/ATAPI-style jumper block associated with a jumper that is not monitored by the IDE/ATAPI master/slave selection detect (or other configuration) hardware or used to pull-down or pull-up another jumpered pin on the jumper block. When a jumper is placed between this pin, and a pin used to pull-up or pull-down another jumpered pin the interface type detection signal will be read as being at the pulled-up or pulled-down logic level, respectively. Otherwise, the IDE/ATAPI master/slave selection (or other configuration) detect hardware will function normally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a serial connection is presented. A serial data stream is transmitted from a sending device to a receiving device. The serial data stream is generated using sending device timing information and input data. A receiver in the receiving device recovers both the timing information and the input data and then inputs them back into a transmitter located in the receiving device. The transmitter in the receiving device then generates a second serial data stream based on the recovered input data and the sending device timing information. A receiver in the sending device receives the second serial data stream and outputs the sending device timing information and input data to a FIFO buffer, for alignment of the input data. Since the input data and timing information are generated based on a sending device timing information, the FIFO can provide a signal for testing by performing phase alignment on the data. There is no need to re-synchronize the data in the sending device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism for detecting the correct or incorrect attachment of cabling between a host computer and a peripheral device and more generally between any two information processing products. A host computer uses signal transmission and/or particular electrical characteristics to uniquely identify particular pins, and a peripheral device checks the location of these signals and characteristics in its input wires to determine the actual position of a connector in relation to its proper position. Information from the detection can be developed either by the peripheral device or by the host to identify the required corrective action to place the connector in the correct position.

Abstract: A CD changing method (and drive for carrying out said method) enables information stored on an information-containing CD to be transferred to a blank space-containing CD in order to duplicate the information on said information-containing CD without a human having to be in attendance in order to manually remove the information-carrying CD from a CD transport tray and then replace said information-containing CD with a blank space-containing CD.

Abstract: A device for connection to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) signals connection and disconnection from the bus without physically removing or reinserting the USB cable. The devices system controller controls the signaling so that connection or disconnection may be signaled in a variety of situations to accomplish certain tasks. Connection signaling may be delayed until power-up reset procedures are complete to prevent the device from being polled by the host. A disconnect then a connect may be signaled to help recover from certain error conditions. The same data lines may also be used for interfaces other than the USB bus. A switched connection from a USB data line through a pull-up resistor to a positive supply voltage. The switched connection is controlled by a logic function so that it will not be connected when the power supply on the USB cable is not present. The switched connection is also controlled by a logic signal that may be supplied by the USB device's system controller.

Abstract: A female combination connector for connecting a computer storage drive to a printed circuit board includes a plurality of female connector elements affixed to a base. The plurality of female connector elements correspond to a plurality of male connectors on the computer storage drive. The female combination connector also includes a printed circuit board connector. The printed circuit board connector includes a plurality of conductors, each of which is supported by the base, and each of which is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of female connector elements. The female connector elements may be elements such as a data connector (e.g., an IDE or SCSI data connector), a power connector, a digital audio connector, an analog audio connector, or a select connector (e.g., an IDE master/slave cable select connector or a SCSI identification select connector).