Abstract: The present invention provides a concrete structure for applying a crypt key system to a television system, a database system or an electronic commercial transaction system or the like. This system consists of a broadcasting station, a database, a receiving apparatus, a data communication apparatus and a user terminal. As a crypt key system, a secret-key cryptosystem, a public-key cryptosystem, and a digital signature system are used. The keys used in the system are either encrypted or remain uncrypted to be supplied by broadcasting. The present invention is effective in preventing an unjustified use of the database system, managing copyrights, and in a pay-per-view system and a video-on-demand system. Further, the present invention is effective in realizing an electronic market which uses an electronic data information system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying, predicting and reporting relationships. The present invention uses a quad structure to describe relationships between dramatic units. Story elements, characters and appreciations are mapped onto the quad structure to reveal and constrain relationships. A storyform whose structure is described by the quad structure configuration and choices is identified and provided to a user.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing data. In particular, the present invention provides a method for compressing color video data for storage on a CD-ROM for later playback on a computer system. The present invention uses an asymmetrical compression-decompression scheme that provides color compression, temporal compression, and spatial compression. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the color compression is accomplished in three stages. In the first stage, the colors are sampled from the source data. This generates a histogram that contains the colors of the source material. Next, these colors are quantized into the target colors. In the third step of the color compression, the actual colors on the film are mapped to the quantized colors. The temporal compression step specifies a target display rate. Only those pixels that have changed significantly from frame to frame are updated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering clock and data signals from a Manchester code is provided. The present invention uses a phase lock loop with a digital delay line wherein an adjustable delay is introduced into the Manchester coded signal for synchronizing the coded signal with the local clock of the decoding apparatus. This delaying technique enables the present invention to successfully receive Manchester coded signals having substantial jitter. The present invention also conserves energy by reducing power consumption when no signals are present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling multiplexer contention during scan. During a test scan of a multiplexer circuit, it is possible for multiple inputs of a multiplexer to be selected at the same time in what is referred to as multiplexer contention. If the selected inputs are of different logical values, this contention may result in high power consumption and damage to the circuit. The invention prevents the adverse consequences of multiplexer contention by disabling one direction of the driving capability for each driving gate in the multiplexer during a scan. Thus, the multiplexer output can be driven to only one logical value regardless of the logical values of the selected inputs. A controllable impedance element, such as a transistor, is coupled between an input driving gate of a multiplexer circuit and a voltage supply node. The impedance element is responsive to a scan control signal, such that the impedance element is disabled, i.e., at high impedance, during a scan procedure.

Abstract: A boot scraper of novel design and shape and incorporating a novel boot scraping surface that can be mounted to, or incorporated in, skiing implements such as skis and snowboards, as well as ski boot bindings, snowboard boot bindings, and ski boots and snowboard boots. In one embodiment, the boot scraper comprises an elongated polygonal molded rigid ABS plastic block that is mounted to the top surface of a ski. The block is mounted to the ski by an adhesive or by mechanical fasteners such as screws. The top surface of the boot scraper incorporates a two-dimensional grid of adjacent polyhedrons extending in an upward direction. The tips of the polyhedrons form a scraping surface consisting of a multi-dimensional array of spaced, generally rigid pointed surfaces. The underside of the block contains hollowed out cavities that reduce weight but maintain strength and rigidity of the block. The scraper is used by drawing the sole of the ski boot to be cleaned over the scraper.

Abstract: A RAM with programmable data port configuration provides for programmable configuration of RAM data ports, and in the case of a multiport RAM, for independent programmable configuration of each data port. A single programmable RAM cell can be utilized in a variety of data port configurations, thereby reducing the number of combinations necessary in a standard cell library or gate array to implement the every possible configuration. In one embodiment of the invention, a dual port RAM is provided with a decoder, an input multiplexer and an output multiplexer for each data port. The input multiplexer for each data port provides several different selectable mappings of a RAM input word of varying sizes to the input bit lines of the respective data port. Similarly, the output multiplexer for each data port provides several different selectable mappings of the RAM output bit lines to the RAM output word.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and method for connecting Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) to communication networks. The present invention provides an adaptable universal modem that can be reconfigured to meet different specifications in different countries, thereby allowing a user to use a single universal modem across different specifications in different countries. The universal modem includes a microcontroller, a programmable data pump, and a programmable DAA. A user reads a particular country code on each country's unique identifier and provides the information to a modem setup program. The modem setup program configures the universal modem according to the country information entered by the user, thereby permanently storing the home country code in modem flash memory. The universal modem of the present invention reverts to a default home configuration upon power-up to meet the requirements of various PTT (Postal Telephone & Telegraph) authorities.

Abstract: The present invention employs a generative approach for configuring systems such that a system may be configured based on component or resource requests, or input in the form of need. The present invention provides a constraint-based configuration system using a structural model hierarchy. The structural aspects of the model provide the ability to define a model element as being contained in, or by, another model element. In addition, the structural model provides the ability to identify logical datatype and physical interconnections between elements and establish connections between elements. To configure a system, the present invention accepts input in the form of requests (e.g., component or resource) or needs, such as an expression of a need for a desktop computer system to be used in a CAD (i.e., computer-aided design) environment.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for transparent local and distributed memory management. The invention overcomes the prior art's requirement of keeping track of whether a memory space allocated to a new object or a new program or data structure can be reclaimed. According to the present invention an autorelease pool is created at the beginning of a new duty cycle. The autorelease pool retains the newly allocated memory space during the duty cycle. The autorelease pool is automatically disposed of at the end of the duty cycle. As a result of disposing the autorelease pool the newly allocated memory space is reclaimed (i.e., deallocated). The present invention is useful in distributed networks where different programming conventions on remote and local machines made the prior art's memory management task particularly difficult. The present invention is also useful in an object-oriented programming environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images on a computer display screen of a computer system is presented. The images may be of arbitrary size and shape, although a rectangular shape is typically used. A relationship is defined between the coordinates of points in one image and the coordinates of points in each of the other images. All or a portion of an image is shown in a window for each image. An indicator in one window determines the portion of an image shown in another window. Each image is an independent entity, although its content may be thematically related to the content of other windows. Each image is typically a bitmap. A cursor may be used to control the position of the indicator. Graphic objects and items may optionally be "drag-and-dropped" into any window.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the volume of an internal PC speaker. In the present invention, pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques are used to selectively reduce the signal power generated at the speaker. By substituting a high frequency signal having a symmetric duty cycle for portions of the digital audio signal, the average signal power is reduced. The frequency of the substitute signal is much higher than the speaker bandwidth, contributing negligible power to the output. The ratio of audio signal to high frequency signal determines the output signal level. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a three bit counter is used to separate the audio signal into intervals having eight states apiece. A signal providing -6 dB of attenuation is generated by substituting the toggling output from the least significant bit of the counter during four out of the eight states.

Abstract: The present invention provides an object-oriented file structuring system. The invention provides a method of defining DATA objects and CONTAINER objects and SYSTEM objects that facilitates navigation through a file structuring system. Notation and nomenclature are defined for building files composed of CONTAINERs and DATA and SYSTEM objects and for defining relationships between and among files, CONTAINERs and DATA. A FOCUS LIST tracks objects of interest and aids in NAVIGATION. CONTAINER objects contain other objects. DATA objects enclose DATA in either machine-dependent or machine-independent value representations. Developers work with logical files and can freely create and modify the logical relationships of file objects. A RECONSTITUTION algorithm periodically updates the physical file to correspond to the logical file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating a modulated signal across an isolation barrier using capacitors is provided. The present invention allows low distortion communication of an audio signal across an isolation barrier without the need for a large and bulky isolation transformer. The present invention may be used to provide telephone line isolation for modem applications compliant with governmental regulations. A line interface integrated circuit (IC) may be connected directly to a telephone line and powered by the telephone line. The line interface IC may include a sigma delta modulator to communicate the receive signal across a capacitor over an isolation barrier and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter to provide an analog transmit signal from a sigma delta bit stream communicated across a capacitor over an isolation barrier. Circuitry on the opposite side of the isolation barrier includes similar components to process the transmit and receive signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for managing data copyright in the case when a primary user produces new data by editing a plurality of original data and supplies the new data to a secondary user. A public-key and a private-key of the primary user, and a first secret-key and a second secret-key of the original data, each of which is controlled by a copyright management center, and an edit program are used. The primary user, who is supplied a plurality of original data encrypted by each first secret-key thereof, decrypts the plurality of original data by each of the secret-keys and produces new data using the edit program. The primary user re-encrypts the new data by the second secret-key of each original data, respectively. The re-encrypted data is supplied to the secondary-user, together with editing process data which includes a digital signature generated using the private-key. The secondary user presents the editing process data with the digital signature to a copyright management center.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for providing secure access and execution of application software stored on a first computer by a second computer using a communication device while a communication link is maintained between the first and second computers. More specifically, the present invention is a secure software rental system. The system enables a user in a remote location using a personal computer and a modem to connect to a central rental facility, transfer application software from the central rental facility to the remote computer, and execute the application software on the remote computer while electronically connected to the central rental facility. When the communication link between the central rental facility and the remote computer is interrupted or terminated, the application software no longer executes on the remote computer. This is accomplished by integrating header software with the application software according to the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for navigating multiple independent windowed images on a computer display screen of a computer system is presented. The images may be of arbitrary size and shape, although a rectangular shape is typically used. A relationship is defined between the coordinates of points in one image and the coordinates of points in each of the other images. All or a portion of an image is shown in a window for each image. An indicator in one window determines the portion of an image shown in another window. Each image is an independent entity, although its content may be thematically related to the content of other windows. Each image is typically a bitmap. A cursor may be used to control the position of the indicator. Graphic objects and items may optionally be "drag-and-dropped" into any window.

Abstract: A method for adding a photograph or other still or animated image to any application program running in its own window in a windowed computer operating environment such as Microsoft Windows 3.1 is presented. A bitmapped or other image is "attached" to any application program capable of running in a windowed environment, without any modification to such application program, such that when the application program is started and its window is opened, the image is displayed at a predetermined location with respect to the application window. The displayed image, though "attached" to the application program's window, does not interfere to any significant extent with the operation of the application. Application programs are thereby customized and personalized by associating particular images, such as scanned-in personal photographs, with each particular application program. The image "attached" to an application may be chosen from a gallery of images.

Abstract: The present invention provides the ability to alter data definitions in a Database Management System (DBMS). The present invention provides the ability to maintain DBMS and application catalogs. Alterations can be made to the an application catalog, and the changes propagated to the DBMS catalog based on the differences between like information in the application and DBMS catalogs as identified by the present invention. The present invention provides the ability to test for data loss. That is, the present invention examines the requested alteration and the data that will be affected by the alteration to determine whether or not the alteration will result in the loss of data. If loss of data is possible, alerts can be generated to determine whether or not to proceed with the alterations. The present invention provides two techniques to perform-the alterations depending on the ability of the DBMS to perform an alter on the original table without using an intermediate table (i.e.

Abstract: The present invention is a method that enables single release of applications for multiple architectures and operating systems and to provide ease of use of applications in multiple architecture environments. The present invention provides a single file that contains separate object code each of multiple architectures. A special header on the file identifies each section of object code and includes pointers to its starting location. When the file is to be executed on a particular architecture, the resident operating system identifies that block of object code most suited for that particular architecture and environment. That section of code is then loaded into memory for execution. Each architecture in the file is specified by CPU-type and CPU sub-type. For each CPU type or CPU sub-type, file offset, file size and alignment is also provided. Padded bytes are provided to place each member on its specific alignment.