Abstract: An exchange system for intangible goods comprises a first user system, a second user system, a registry system, a clearinghouse system and a hash module coupled for communication with each other. The first and second user systems includes a content module for acting as a repository for intangible goods, a pricing module for setting the price of intangible goods, a transaction generator module for creating transactions between seller and buyer, and a transaction log module for recording any transaction in which the user system participates. These systems are used to consummate transactions with other users for exchanging intangible goods. As part of each transaction, the user and the transaction must be entered or registered in the registry system. The registry system comprises an account module and a transaction log module for maintaining the anonymity of the sellers and buyers.

Abstract: A minimal instruction set computer architecture (hyperscalar computer architecture) comprises a central memory, an instruction buffer, a control unit, an I/O control unit, a plurality of functional units, a plurality of register files, and a data router. In the hyperscalar computer architecture, the central memory transfers a plurality of instructions to the instruction buffer. The control unit receives multiple instructions from the instruction buffer, and automatically determines and issues the largest subset of instructions from those received that can be simultaneously issued to the plurality of functional units. Each functional unit receives data from and returns computational results to a corresponding register file. The data router serves to transfer data between each register file and any other register file, the central memory, the control unit, or the I/O control unit.

Abstract: To optimize system bus utilization in a computer system, a bus coordinator is included in the computer system to coordinate the transfer of information signals on the bus. Each time a source node wishes to transfer information to a destination node, the source node sends a request to the coordinator along with the identification of the destination node. Upon receiving this request, the coordinator determines whether the destination node has capacity to receive information signals. If the destination node has capacity, then the coordinator grants control of the system bus to the source node to allow the source node to send information signals to the destination node via the system bus. Otherwise, the source node is denied control of the system bus until the destination node has capacity to receive information signals.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for performing a parallel interpolation between corresponding pixel characteristics within a packed foreground pixel data word and a packed background pixel data word. A blending factor is used to indicate the extent to which the pixel characteristics are scaled, where the scaling is related to a power of two. The pixel characteristics within each packed data word are scaled simultaneously.

Abstract: A system for detecting and eliminating viruses on a computer network includes a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) proxy server, for controlling the transfer of files and a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) proxy server for controlling the transfer of mail messages through the system. The FTP proxy server and SMTP proxy server run concurrently with the normal operation of the system and operate in a manner such that viruses transmitted to or from the network in files and messages are detected before transfer into or from the system. The FTP proxy server and SMTP proxy server scan all incoming and outgoing files and messages, respectively before transfer for viruses and then transfer the files and messages, only if they do not contain any viruses.

Abstract: A computing system comprises a connection system for coupling wireless technologies to a computer. The connection system comprises a card connector and a matting internal connector cage/frame. The card connector provides an RF connector positioned above a 68 pin connector, which provides a connection to radio frequency (RF) signals. A card has devices which support RF operations for the computing system. The card connector is attached to the card and interfaces with the devices on the card. The housing of the computing system defines a card slot which receives the card and guides connection of the card with the computing system by mating the card connector with the internal connector.

Abstract: A system for sending and responding to information requests in a wireless communications network includes a display device, a central processing unit, memory means including random access memory and read-only memory, an input device, and a transmitter/receiver. The random access memory further comprises routines for processing, sending and receiving messages over the wireless network.The present invention also comprises a method for requesting information and a method for responding to requests for information. The preferred method for handling information requests comprises the steps of: monitoring the communications channel for availability; sending an information request over the channel; receiving the information request at each node within the network; preparing responses to the information request at each node; and sending the response to the information request over the channel if it is available.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling smooth free-form shapes using B-splines over irregular meshes, in a simple and efficient manner, to generate a display of aesthetically pleasing shapes is disclosed. A low degree parametric polynomial representation is generated. As a result, techniques for surface-surface or ray-surface intersection are faster and more robust than possible with existing techniques. In accordance with the present invention, an input mesh M.sup.0 is initially simplified by isolating irregularities and constraining geometry. First, the input mesh M.sup.0 is subjected to general refinement, whereby a new mesh M.sup.1 is constructed, which in turn is subjected to constrained refinement, whereby another new mesh M.sup.2 is constructed. After the general and constrained refinement steps, the mesh M.sup.2 is broken up into a set of "quad-nets" corresponding to each of its vertices. Finally, these quad nets are used as local geometry, over which, 4 cubic Bezier triangles are constructed.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for continuous Mandarin Chinese speech comprises a microphone, an A/D converter, a syllable recognition system, an integrated tone classifier, and a confidence score augmentor. The syllable recognition system generates N-best theories with initial confidence scores. The integrated tone classifier has a pitch estimator to estimate the pitch of the input once and a long-term tone analyzer to segment the estimated pitch according to the syllables of each of the N-best theories. The long-term tone analyzer performs long-term tonal analysis on the segmented, estimated pitch and generates a long-term tonal confidence signal. The confidence score augmentor receives the initial confidence scores and the long-term tonal confidence signals, modifies each initial confidence score according to the corresponding long-term tonal confidence signal, re-ranks the N-best theories according to the augmented confidence scores, and outputs the N-best theories.

Abstract: A system for changing the display characteristics of a drawing has one model style, a top graphics table memory for storing a top graphics table, a chart table memory for storing a chart table, a default box graphics table memory for storing a default box graphics table, and a level table memory for storing level tables, display routines for displaying the drawing on a display device, and model routines for changing the model style of a drawing. The model routines, when changing the model style, retrieve a model style from a model style library. The model routines re-configure the chart table, the default box graphics table, and the level tables according to the retrieved model style. The system includes a set of filters that control the application of a model style. As the model routines re-configure the chart table, the default box graphics table, and the level tables, the model routines analyze the filters.

Abstract: A modular monitor architecture based on a CRT comprises a base, a tilt/swivel module, a display module, and an input module. The base is coupled to and supports the tilt/swivel module. The display module is mounted on the tilt/swivel module and also defines a cavity for receiving the input module. The input module is attached to the display module in the cavity. Each module may take a variety of forms depending on the features that are provided by a particular variant. The tilt/swivel module may have a first form that provides the coupling that allows rotation and tilting of the display module or a second form that provides audio input and output in addition to the mobility features of the first form. Similarly, the display module has a first form for housing a smaller sized CRT and a second form for housing a larger sized CRT. Finally, the input module may have three forms: one for no input, a second for audio input or alternatively IR input, and an third for audio and video input.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for emulation routine pointer prefetch are disclosed. The apparatus includes an emulated program counter (EPC), a prefetch state machine, a summing device, an opcode storage device, and a pointer storage device. The EPC, opcode storage device and pointer storage device are coupled to a bus to receive, store and output an emulated program counter value, an opcode value and a pointer to a next emulation routine. The EPC, opcode storage device, and pointer storage device are controlled by the prefetch state machine, which also is coupled to the bus to detect a reference to a reserved memory address and stores an updated emulated program counter value in the EPC using the summing device. The prefetch state machine uses the EPC value to prefetch the next source instruction to be emulated in a first memory operation. A portion of the prefetched source instruction is the opcode value and is stored in the opcode storage device.

Abstract: A system for producing a set of dither matrix signals having local correlation comprises a processor, an input device, a display device, a hard output device, an incremental threshold generator, a pattern generator, an optimizer, a dither matrix storage, and a pixel activator. The incremental threshold generator determines a maximum tolerable error and generates an incremental threshold signal. The maximum tolerable error is the greatest tolerable variation between dither matrices for adjacent gray levels. The incremental threshold signal controls the transition of cells of dither matrices for adjacent gray levels. The pattern generator receives the incremental threshold signal and a dither matrix signal for the previous gray level and generates the possible pattern signals based on a dither matrix signal for an adjacent gray level and the incremental threshold signal.

Abstract: A polycyclic timing system and an apparatus for pipelined computer operation comprises a master state machine and a slave state machine. The master state marine produces a plurality of control signals in response to a clock signal. The master state machine comprises an oscillator, a plurality of data storage elements, and a next state feedback network. The oscillator is used to produce a clock signal that triggers the storage elements. The next state feedback network determines the control signals to output based on the current output data storage elements using logic in the next state feedback network. The slave state machine receives the control signals and uses them to produce several asynchronous pulse streams. The slave state machine preferably comprises a plurality of pulse forming state machines and a plurality of pulse transmission amplifiers.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and executing interactive interpersonal computer simulations comprises an authoring editor. The authoring editor presents an authoring user interface with a comic book metaphor form for the creation of simulations. The authoring editor also provides constructs that represent chapter objects, cell objects, character objects, message objects, and thought objects to create a simulation. The authoring editor interprets the constructs and their arrangement and creates an executable simulation stored in an active simulation memory. The system also includes an engine that reads the active simulation memory, recognizes the data objects, and executes subroutines corresponding to the data objects. The engine outputs the results of the execution of the objects to the user through a simulation user interface.

Abstract: A water cooler and dispensing system comprises a housing, a pump, a cap, a siphon tube, a reservoir, a cooling unit, control circuitry and a faucet. The housing includes a frame and detachable panels for supporting the reservoir above a water bottle. The cap substantially seals the bottle and is coupled to the pump. The pump forces air into the bottle and water upward through the siphon tube to the reservoir. A liquid pumping system may also be used. The reservoir is divided into two portions, and the lower portion contains a cooling unit for chilling the water. The reservoir has an output port from each portion of the reservoir coupled to a faucet formed by a manifold, two valves and a nozzle. The dispenser also includes control circuitry for selectively operating the pump to maintain a predetermined water level in the reservoir. The controller also lights an indicator when the bottle is empty.

Abstract: The system and method disclosed herein relates to digital halftoning where a threshold array is used to control individual pixels in a halftone cell. The threshold array is replicated to tile the entire device space so that each pixel in device space is mapped to a particular location in the threshold array. By tiling the threshold array with overlap, the size of the overall threshold array is reduced. A CPU interface couples a FIFO buffer, registers, and RAM to a CPU for receiving pixel data, control signals and other values, respectively. An engine control unit is coupled to control a video processing unit and an output device for producing halftone images with a halftone matrix of reduced size. The engine control unit controls threshold logic that applies the threshold matrix to the pixel data to produce the data stream sent to the output device.

Abstract: A note taking system that integrates word-processing functionality and computerized drawing functionality for processing ink strokes comprises novel methods that provide this functionality such as: a method for modeless operation of the note taking system that automatically switches between providing word-processing functionality and drawing functionality; a novel method for processing ink strokes as drawings, a unique method for processing ink strokes as writing, and other methods for parsing the ink strokes into words, lines, and paragraphs. The present invention also includes additional methods for manipulating figures such as a division between line and shape type figures, and a special handle performing either rotation or re-sizing.

Abstract: An independent windowing system that eliminates gridding comprises a method for performing windowing operations directly in device space for a graphics system which specifies all drawings in coordinate space. The re-sizing effects of rendering an object in different places on the coordinate grid are absorbed in the window borders, allowing the window contents to be moved without re-drawing them. The window can be moved without re-drawing it even when the resolution of the device the window is displayed in differs from the source resolution of the rendering system. Furthermore, window contents are drawn relative to the coordinate of the top left of the window to provide each window with its own device grid independent of the window position on the device.

Abstract: A system and method for documenting and displaying computer program code comprises a token annotation unit, a comment analyzer, a token parsing library, and a code outline unit. The token parsing library parses a program comprising related program code files into a set of constituent tokens. The token annotation unit selectively associates one or more annotations with tokens in a program by creating a token annotation object. When program code is displayed, the token annotation unit visually identifies each annotated token present according to a display style. The token annotation unit presents annotations corresponding to an annotated token in response to the selection of the annotated token during program code display.