Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods that automatically collect data associated with system-identified errors as well as data associated with events associated with user-initiated actions. A data collection profile defines data to be collected and a user-initiated trigger. When the user-initiated trigger is sensed, data is collected according to the data collection profile. The collected data can be uploaded immediately, or stored for some period of time before being transmitted to a collection system. A user recognizes an event which may not be recognizable by the system and the user provides an input defined as the user-initiated trigger. Data may be collected for a brief time before, during and a brief time after sensing the user-initiated trigger and may be uploaded to a system. The user may annotate the collected data by explaining the error, after which the explanation is correlated with the collected data.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.

Abstract: A communication device and a data server record and collect events and event-related data to create an activity record. A user of the communication device may request that events and related data be recorded and collected using a configuration option on the communication device or through an interaction with the data server. Data are grouped into data sets and uploaded to the data server either automatically or upon user approval. The data server uses the uploaded data to create an activity record which the user may access through a website. The user uploads additional data which are associated with the activity record. In some instances, the data server embeds a link pointing to the additional data in an entry in the activity record corresponding to an event associated with the additional data.

Abstract: Systems and methods that automatically collect data associated with system-identified errors as well as data associated with events associated with user-initiated actions. A data collection profile defines data to be collected and a user-initiated trigger. When the user-initiated trigger is sensed, data is collected according to the data collection profile. The collected data can be uploaded immediately, or stored for some period of time before being transmitted to a collection system. A user recognizes an event which may not be recognizable by the system and the user provides an input defined as the user-initiated trigger. Data may be collected for a brief time before, during and a brief time after sensing the user-initiated trigger and may be uploaded to a system. The user may annotate the collected data by explaining the error, after which the explanation is correlated with the collected data.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided for establishing real-time communications between computer users connected by a communications network. An invitation is created by a first computer. An invitation is data that proposes a communication session. An invitation can indicate the status or availability of the sending user or of some other resource. Creation of the invitation is followed by the transfer of the invitation from the first computer to at least one second computer. The invitation can be transferred electronically through the network, or physically, by the transfer of a magnetic medium bearing the invitation. The invitation contains parameters to configure an invitation communicator application for communications between the first and second computers. The second computer accepts the invitation and invokes an invitation communicator application to allow communication.

Abstract: A method and server to make advertisement banners, at destination sites in a client-server computer network supporting a uniform hypertextual protocol, more attractive for client-users to explore are provided. Upon receiving a request for information related to an advertisement banner at a destination site, the server delays sending the requested information at least until the client user completes the task that he logs on to the destination to perform.

Abstract: The present invention is a means and method for synchronizing closed free-running systems, such as graphics systems, with no external synchronization signals required. Video games and most computer display controllers are closed free-running systems. Because most such systems have the means to switch between an interlaced and non-interlaced operation, and because interlaced and non-interlaced modes have a relative timing variation, the timing between two or more such closed free-running systems can be synchronized. This method allows synchronization with an imprecise timing reference. The vertical display timing is the free-running oscillator and the interlaced/non-interlaced mode transition is used as the timing adjustment means. The actual arrival time of data in a communication medium connecting two systems being synchronized is used in relation to an expected arrival time to provide the clock reference.

Abstract: A computer system including a first component operated in response to the timing of a first clock, apparatus for storing information, apparatus for transferring information from the first component to the apparatus for storing information utilizing the clock of the first component, a second component operated in response to the timing of a second clock, apparatus for utilizing the clock of the second component to transfer information from the apparatus for storing information in a condition in which it is synchronized for use by the second component whereby the information may be immediately utilized by the second component without the need for storage by the second component.

Abstract: A circuit for maintaining the order of transmission of information in a computer interconnect including control circuitry for sending a signal from a source of data to a destination for data indicating that data is ready for transfer, the control circuitry comprising a plurality of buffers for storing information relating to the data, the information including information regarding the order in which the information was received by the control circuitry, means for incrementing the information regarding the order in which the information was received by the control circuitry, and apparatus for sending the information relating to the data to the destination for data in the order of receipt by the control circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention is a means and method for synchronizing closed free-running systems, such as graphics systems, with no external synchronization signals required. Video games and most computer display controllers are closed free-running systems. Because most such systems have the means to switch between an interlaced and non-interlaced operation, and because interlaced and non-interlaced modes have a relative timing variation, the timing between two or more such closed free-running systems can be synchronized. This method allows synchronization with an imprecise timing reference. The vertical display timing is the free-running oscillator and the interlaced/non-interlaced mode transition is used as the timing adjustment means. The actual arrival time of data in a communication medium connecting two systems being synchronized is used in relation to an expected arrival time to provide the clock reference.

Abstract: The present invention is a means and method for synchronizing the execution of multiple video game systems in a networked environment with no external synchronization signals required. Video games and most computer display controllers are closed free-running systems. Because most such systems have the means to switch between an interlaced and non-interlaced operation, and because interlaced and non-interlaced modes have a relative timing variation, the timing between two or more such closed free-running systems can be synchronized. This method allows synchronization with an imprecise timing reference. The vertical display timing is the free-running oscillator and the interlaced/non-interlaced mode transition is used as the timing adjustment means. The actual arrival time of data in a communication medium connecting two systems being synchronized is used in relation to an expected arrival time to provide the clock reference.

Abstract: Apparatus for allowing a component of a computer system to which data is to be written to control the order of transfer of that data including circuitry for providing a numbered signal signifying that a particular component has a set of data which is to be transferred to the destination component, circuitry associated with the destination component for choosing among all of the numbered signals to select from all sets of data a next set of data in a particular numerical order, and circuitry associated with the destination component for selecting other than the next set of data in the particular numerical order.

Abstract: An arrangement for transmitting information from a first component of a computer system to a second component of the computer system including a source channel associated with the first component of the computer system; a destination channel associated with the second component of the computer system; apparatus for interconnecting the source and the destination channels; the source channel including apparatus for creating a stream of information in a prescribed format, apparatus for designating a destination channel as an address for the stream of information, and apparatus for transferring the stream of information to the apparatus for interconnecting the source and the destination channels; and the destination channel including apparatus for receiving a stream of information in the prescribed format from the apparatus for interconnecting the source and the destination channels, apparatus for receiving control signals apart from the stream of information, and apparatus for controlling the use of the stream o

Abstract: A computer interconnect including a plurality of nodes, each node capable of joining to a component of a computer, each node including apparatus for transferring signals between the component and the node, apparatus for storing packets of data, apparatus for signalling each other node that a packet of data exists for transfer to a component associated with that node, apparatus for sensing signals from another node indicating that a packet of data exists for transfer to a component associated with that node, and apparatus for transferring packets of data stored at one node to the apparatus for transferring signals between the component and the node of another node.

Abstract: A video game enhancement system for modifying and enhancing the operation of a video game is disclosed. The system includes: 1) a processor interface for coupling the video game enhancement system with a processor; 2) a memory interface for coupling the video game enhancement system with a first memory having executable game logic residing therein; 3) a second memory having executable enhancement logic residing therein; and 4) control logic including: a) logic for detecting an access to a patch address by the processor; b) logic for directing the processor to access an exception region in the second memory upon detection of the access to the patch address, the access to the exception region causing activation of an exception mode; and c) redirection logic for redirecting memory accesses by the processor from the first memory to the second memory for a plurality of memory accesses upon activation of the exception mode, the processor thereby executing a portion of the executable enhancement logic.

Abstract: A computer system including a first component operated in response to the timing of a first clock, apparatus for storing information, apparatus for transferring information from the first component to the apparatus for storing information utilizing the clock of the first component, a second component operated in response to the timing of a second clock, apparatus for utilizing the clock of the second component to transfer information from the apparatus for storing information in a condition in which it is synchronized for use by the second component whereby the information may be immediately utilized by the second component without the need for storage by the second component.