Abstract: An improved electronic spreadsheet is provided for applications requiring conditional expression execution behavior. Each cell having an executable expression is cooperative with an implicit conditional execution wrapper. The execution of each cellular expression is implicitly conditioned on the state of an individually assigned logical switch expression. The improved electronic spreadsheet also includes a user interface by which a user can assign logical switch expressions to a cell, or to a range of cells. The improved electronic spreadsheet facilitates the use of spreadsheets for wider range of applications than was possible with conventional electronic spreadsheets.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for generating a tree-style graphical representation that depicts simultaneously hierarchical and non-hierarchical interrelationships among a set of entities. Two sets of specifications are acquired. One set describes a set of hierarchical interrelationships. The other set describes a set of non-hierarchical interrelationships among the same set of entities. Based on the two sets of specifications, a tree-style graphical representation is generated that depicts both hierarchical and non-hierarchical interrelationships. The generated tree-style graphical representation is displayed, as a graphical user interface, on a display device.

Abstract: A network information management system includes, among other elements, a traffic reporting system, a switch shell, and a scheduling mechanism. The traffic reporting includes a database which holds traffic-related data collected from a network switch. The switch shell facilitates communication between the traffic reporting system and multiple digital telecommunications switch types. More specifically, the switch shell translates between a high layer generic interface protocol which defines a common set of switch interaction functions to unique portions of code uniquely compatible with the various switch types. The high layer generic interface protocol may comprise a set of query and response subsets, including a query and response subset for submitting an inventory request and for receiving in response to the submitted request, inventory information from the switch.

Abstract: An apparatus mitigates inter-symbol interference effects on an oscillating signal from which digital data will be obtained at a receive end of a channel. The inter-symbol interference is introduced into the oscillating signal as a result of transmitting the oscillating signal through the transmission channel over a substantial distance from a transmit device to the receive end of the channel. A filter element receives an input signal from the transmit device and outputs a filtered signal within a predetermined frequency band. The filter element has a mechanism for adjusting a gain for a given range of frequencies within the predetermined frequency band. The given range of frequencies corresponds to higher frequencies in the predetermined frequency band. An amplitude determining mechanism determines a peak amplitude of the filtered signal.

Abstract: A hard disk is provided with tools for limiting the duty cycle (a group of variations of load with time). The write current is controlled by, e.g., limiting the duration of a given write cycle. The write cycle may involve writing data continuously along adjacent portions of the disk media (e.g., writing of data in adjacent segments of a track in the outer diameter (OD) region of a platter), with an intermittent duty write current.

Abstract: DC offset introduced into a differential signal is compensated for by DC offset correction circuitry. The DC offset correction circuitry receives a known training pattern of alternating logic high and logic low levels (i.e., 10101010 etc.). In one embodiment, the received signal is integrated and the result compared to a predetermined reference level. The result of the comparison is used to adjust a DC offset correction value that is added to the received signal. This process is iteratively performed until successive results of the comparison indicate that the DC offset has been compensated for in another embodiment, the duty-cycle of the received signal is calculated. The result of the duty-cycle calculation is used to iteratively adjust the DC offset correction value.

Abstract: Gel-based medium compositions and a method of use thereof in normothermic, hypothermic or cryopreservative storage and transport of cell samples are described. These gel-based compositions contain a cell maintenance and preservation medium together with a gelling agent. Such gel-based medium compositions protect various cell samples, such as animal or plant organs, tissues and cells, from the mechanical, physiological and biochemical stresses inherently associated with liquid preservation techniques.

Abstract: For iterative detection, an ISI decoder is provided to receive an input waveform comprising an input sequence of symbols and to output an intermediate waveform. The ISI decoder comprises a branch metric generation mechanism and a cost function update mechanism. A code decoder is provided to receive the intermediate waveform via a permutation path, to output an output waveform with the effects of ISI mitigated, and to output new information concerning the input waveform with less influence of the effects of ISI. The cost function update mechanism is adapted to receive branch metric information from the branch metric mechanism and to receive the new information via a repermutation path. A substitute mechanism is provided to substitute the branch metric information received by the cost function update mechanism with substitute information independent of the branch metric information when a given group of symbols of the input waveform are subject to a burst error.

Abstract: Cache history is extended by retaining access history information for storage locations in the underlying level that are no longer represented in the cache. A cache is provided having a plurality of cache entries. Each of the cache entries has cache entry address information. A cache extender is provided having, a plurality of extender entries. Each extender entry has an extender address portion and an extender auxiliary portion. Each extender address portion may have extender entry address information. The cache entry address information of each of the cache entries relates to the extender entry address information of one among the extender address portions, and a storage area of an underlying level of a memory hierarchy is related to the extender entry address information of each of the extender address portions. Additionally, each of the extender auxiliary portions has historical information.

Abstract: Software executing in a hard disk drive's host computer system increases the perceived efficiency and performance of the hard disk drive. The host computer system implements a “virtual disk” that models physical parameters associated with the actual hard disk drive, such as seek time and physical location of the read/write heads. These parameters are used to implement host based disk drive optimization techniques such as command reordering and read-on-arrival commands.

Abstract: A phase difference to duty-cycle circuit converts a phase shifted signal and a reference signal into a single signal having a duty cycle that is a function of the phase difference between the two signals. The single signal may be further converted to a single direct current (DC) value before being transmitted to external measurement circuitry. The external measurement circuitry, by simply measuring the magnitude of the DC signal, can determine the phase difference between the phase shifted signal and the reference signal. In an alternate embodiment, the phase shift in the target bit of a bit pattern is determined based on measurements of the DC voltage value of the shifted target bit pattern, the DC voltage value of first bit pattern comprising a non-shifted bit pattern representing a zero phase shift of the target bit, and a DC voltage value of a bit pattern comprising a non-shifted bit pattern representing a 100% phase shift of the target bit.

Abstract: A three dimensional image is derived from two-dimensional images. At least one of the two-dimensional images has a predetermined number of pixels. Depth measurements are derived from the two-dimensional images. The number of derived depth measurements is substantially equal to the predetermined number of pixels. The three-dimensional image is derived from the two-dimensional digital images and the depth measurements.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image is derived from two-dimensional images. At least one of the two-dimensional images has a predetermined number of pixels. Depth measurements are derived from the two-dimensional images. The number of derived depth measurements is substantially equal to the predetermined number of pixels. The three-dimensional image is derived from the two-dimensional digital images and the depth measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus subsamples, in a constraint satisfying manner, an image for subsequent processing of the subsampled image. The subsampling is based on constraints provided for the subsequent image processing. A subsampling factor or pair of factors are determined for the image and the image is subsampled by the subsampling factor(s). The constraints comprise at least time constraints, uncertainty constraints, accuracy constraints or implementation constraints. When time constraints are given, the constraints specify a function of the time needed for the subsequent image processing along with at least a maximum and a minimum time that the subsequent image processing should take. When uncertainty constraints are specified, the constraints give a function of the uncertainty in the subsequent image processing and at least a maximum and a minimum uncertainty required from the subsequent image processing.

Abstract: A method and system detect for the presence of a defect or a non-conforming object of unknown shape, configuration, and location within a semi-opaque enclosure. The semi-opaque enclosure has a pattern which is visible on at least a first of its external surfaces. The semi-opaque enclosure may comprise, for example, a labeled plastic or glass bottle, and the visible pattern may be print and graphical information provided on the bottle's label. A first digital image is captured from first channel light reflected off the first external surface of the enclosure; and a second digital image is captured from second channel light navigating the object inside the enclosure and emanating from the first external surface of the enclosure. A difference image is formed substantially devoid of information representing the visible pattern on the first external surface, by subtracting one of the first and second digital images from the other.

Abstract: An arrangement of discrete objects is analyzed. First and second characteristics are extracted from an actual arrangement of discrete objects and an ideal arrangement of points, respectively, and the first and second characteristics are compared. Each characteristic is invariant, to within an angular constant, under an affine transformation of the respective arrangement.

Abstract: An image of an actual pattern of discrete objects is analyzed with respect to a model representing a predefined ideal pattern of objects. Initial processing is performed on only a portion of the image associated with ones of the objects located in an original neighborhood within the image to determine information about an affine transformation of the actual pattern of the discrete objects relative to the predefined ideal pattern. Additional processing is performed on other portions of the image based on the results of the initial processing. Initial processing is performed with respect to a first part of the image by operating on only a first portion of all of the digital data that represents that first part of the image.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a computer program enables a user to define a model representing a predefined ideal pattern of objects, the model being useful in analyzing an image of an actual pattern of discrete objects with respect to the model. In the interface, a fragment of the ideal pattern of objects is displayed, the displayed fragment including a graphical indicator of a key distance between objects in the fragment. A device which is visually associated in the fragment with the indicator enables the user to specify a value for the distance. The interface also includes a displayed image representing the pattern of objects, and an interactive device that enables a user to turn on or turn off an object in the image as an indication of its inclusion or exclusion in the pattern.

Abstract: An improved vision system is provided for identifying and assessing features of an article. Systems are provided for developing feature assessment programs, which, when deployed, may inspect parts and/or provide position information for guiding automated manipulation of such parts. The improved system is easy to use and facilitates the development of versatile and flexible article assessment programs. In one aspect, the system comprises a set of step tools from which a set of step objects is instantiated. The set of step tools may comprise machine vision step objects that comprise routines for processing an image of the article to provide article feature information. A control flow data structure and a data flow data structure may each be provided. The control flow data structure charts a flow of control among the step objects.

Abstract: Pixels of an image are classified (e.g., into foreground and background pixels). In a set of possible values for the pixels, each value is able to serve as a threshold for classifying the pixels. From among the set, a value is selected for the threshold that causes the classification of the pixels to emphasize a characteristic of the image.