Abstract: A connection dialog component of an extensible and replaceable network-oriented component system enables a user to specify address information of a particular resource coupled to a computer network. The network-oriented system includes novel application programming interfaces for the connection dialog component that facilitates integration with an underlying software component architecture. Such a highly-modular cooperating layered-arrangement between the network component system and the component architecture allows the connection dialog component to be replaced, extended or modified by other connection dialog-type components, while ensuring that these latter components "seamlessly" interact with existing components and component editors of the system.

Abstract: Variable-ratio transmission configurations are derived from a basic balanced-reaction configuration which is known to operate with inherently lower power flow in the reactive path for a given ratio range than the more common split-input or split-output configurations. A pair of planetary gear sets having different base speed ratios, are configured to each provide a power transmission path from the input shaft to the output shaft while the reaction gear elements are cross-coupled to each other through an auxiliary variable ratio power-transfer device. A particular two-planetary-set configuration uses the ring gear elements as the reactors, one mounted to rotate around the input shaft and the other mounted to rotate around the output shaft. The ring gears are thus readily coupled to an auxiliary variable ratio power-transfer device, which may be a pair of hydraulic pump/motors.