Abstract: A video display, which may be a television receiver with associated set top device, an intelligent television receiver, or a personal computer system enabled for television display, has associated therewith a remote control of the three axis type which controls modification of the visual images displayed. The remote control cooperates with a microcontroller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gateway system and method for controlling same which allows a video conference to be held with a participant (node) being on a plain old telephone system by using a conventional private telephone system and a LAN. The gateway system relays data, via a private branch exchange, to an information processing unit that is on an external plain old telephone system, and an information processing unit that is connected to an extension telephone and a LAN. The system includes a modem for receiving a call from, or transmitting a call to, the plain old telephone system, and for modulating and demodulating a signal. A multiplexer/demultiplexer is used to multiplex voice information and computer data to prepare a packet, or demultiplex a packet to acquire voice data and computer data separately. A LAN adaptor is used for transmitting and receiving computer data via the LAN.

Abstract: A computer system having four states of power management: a normal operating state, a standby state, a suspend state, and an off state. A control unit controls transitions between the various states. The standby state is characterized by devices, such as a video controller and a hard drive, being placed into a low-power mode transparent to the operating system and the applications executing on the computer system. The suspend state is characterized by executing code being interrupted and the state of the computer system being saved to a file on the hard drive in such a manner that system power may be removed after the state of the computer system is saved to the hard drive. Later, after system power is restored, the state of the computer system is resumed by reading from the hard drive and loading it in such a manner that the operating system and application programs are not adversely affected.

Abstract: A network protection method and apparatus are disclosed for alerting an operator when a terminal device is disconnected from the network. A network controller adapter is connected to a network control computer. The network controller periodically stops normal data communication and scans some or all of the network ports to ascertain the present and absent status of a terminal device at each port. Status is detected by passing a current through a port and measuring the feedback voltage. If the status changes between scans, an operator is alerted by sounding an alarm at the network control computer or by other steps such as dialing a telephone number and transmitting a stored message or by transmitting an alarm message over the network to one of the terminal devices such as a personal computer.

Abstract: A computer system having a peripheral controller interconnect (PCI) bus and an industry standard architecture (ISA), with ISA compatible devices coupled to the ISA bus, is provided with a first bridge coupled between the PCI and ISA buses. The first bridge has a first direct memory access (DMA) control circuit for controlling DMA transfers with the ISA devices. In order to achieve expanded compatibility with other types of devices, the system is also provided with an expansion bus, such as a Microchannel bus, with Microchannel compatible devices coupled to the Microchannel bus. A second bridge is coupled between the PCI and the Microchannel buses. This second bridge has a second DMA control circuit that controls DMA transfers with the ISA devices and with the Microchannel devices. Software disables the first DMA control circuit such that only the second DMA control circuit controls DMA transfers within the computer system.

Abstract: A video display, which may be a television receiver with associated set top device, an intelligent television receiver, or a personal computer system enabled for television display, has associated therewith a remote control which controls modification of the visual images displayed. By use of the remote control, a human observer may cause a processor controlling the video display to execute a control program formulated in a particularly concise language and controlling the display of menus and the like. Menus are displayed as overlays onto a live motion video image. A display controller and video reception circuitry cooperating for displaying full motion video visual images occupying substantially the entirety of a viewable screen area and a menu display occupying a minor portion of the screen area and overlying the full motion video visual images.

Abstract: A video display, which may be a television receiver with associated set top device, an intelligent television receiver, or a personal computer system enabled for television display, has associated therewith a remote control which controls modification of the visual images displayed. By use of the remote control, a human observer may cause a processor controlling the video display to execute a control program formulated in a particularly concise language and controlling the display of menus and the like.

Abstract: A computer system having a CPU, a non-volatile storage device, a power management processor having a volatile power management configuration, and a power supply in circuit communication. Responsive to the AC power to the power supply being interrupted, the CPU restores the volatile power management configuration to said power management processor. The power management configuration comprises a value corresponding to a wake alarm and whether the power management processor responds to external events.

Abstract: A video display, which may be a television receiver with associated set top device, an intelligent television receiver, or a personal computer system enabled for television display, has associated therewith a remote control which controls modification of the visual images displayed. By use of the remote control, a human observer may cause a processor controlling the video display to execute a control program formulated in a particularly concise language and controlling the display of menus and the like. Menus are displayed as overlays onto a live motion video image. A display controller and video reception circuitry cooperating for displaying full motion video visual images occupying a minor portion of a viewable screen area and a menu display occupying a major portion of the screen area.

Abstract: In a computer system including a video subsystem, a method for storing and displaying a power on graphical image, comprises the steps of: storing a compressed graphical image in a programmable read-only memory (PROM); initializing a power-on self test (POST); decompressing the compressed graphical image;loading the decompressed graphic image into a random access memory (RAM); and displaying the graphical image during the POST. Also in accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for adding a user selected graphic image to a system ROM image, comprises the steps of: searching the Flash image file for the graphical image signature (GIS); locating the actual graphical image data with the graphical image header; reading the new graphical image data; overlaying the old graphical image data into a Flash image file; and recalculating the system ROM checksum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for combining first and second video signals to produce a composite video signal for display. First and second video sources generate first and second video signals. A chroma key circuit is included for comparing each pixel of the first video signal with a preselected color and generating logic signals indicating whether or not each pixel matches the preselected color. An input lock map stores each of the logic signals when field data is in a first state and provides the logic signals on an output line thereof when the field data is in a second state. A frame buffer selectively receives (1) a complement of the logic signals when the field data is in the first state and (2) the logic signals when the field data is in the second state.

Abstract: A computer system having a CPU, a switch, a power supply, and power supply control logic for controlling the state of the power supply via a control signal. The power supply control logic comprises circuitry to interface control of the power supply between the CPU and the user via the switch. The power supply control logic further comprises a fault circuit that detects a fault condition in the power supply and negates the control signal, thereby clearing the fault condition in the power supply.