Abstract: In a client/server computing system, a method and apparatus for efficiently storing entries in a log file during disconnected client operations. An encoder utilizes a log file and a write file table for logging the write operations performed by the client during disconnected operations. The logging method employed by the encoding module logs in the log file only writes associated for different files. The encoding module tracks the status of the entries in the log file with a write file table containing the most recent sequence number associated with a file entry of the log file. Upon reconnection of the client to the server, a decoding module replays the events in the correct chronological order by transferring the file data modified during the period of disconnection in the order dictated by the write file table. A deferred write list is accessed by the decoding module for temporary storage any write operations whose replay should be delayed to preserve the relative order of events.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable, low-power automated bypass device for passing a signal between a first point and a second point on an electrical conductor when an electrical discontinuity exists thereon. The bypass device has two terminals for connection to the electrical conductor, and a continuity detector and a controllable switch. The continuity detector detects a continuous electrical connection between the points along the conductor and supplies a bypass control signal indicating when a discontinuity between the points is detected. The switch is connected to the first and second input terminals and responds to the bypass control signal for providing an electrical connection between the terminals. The bypass device can cycle between an ON time interval and an OFF time interval.

Abstract: For an interactive communication system, a method and apparatus for processing requests for video-on-demand versions of interactive applications. One embodiment initially receives a request to transmit a video on-demand version of a particular interactive application. This embodiment then determines if transmission of this video-on-demand version would constrain resources of the interactive communication system. If the system's resources would not be constrained, the interactive system provides the viewer with the video-on-demand version of the interactive application. On the other hand, if the system's resources would be constrained by the transmission of the VOD version, then the invention (1) denies the request for the video-on-demand version, and (2) directs the requesting viewer to view a near video-on-demand version of the particular application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding a serial number into a program event. The encoder embeds the serial number into the program event so that it is imperceptible to the user when the program event is played to the user. The embedded serial number is unique to the user so that any storage medium storing the program event can be traced back to the user. This encoding technique is especially useful in interactive systems where a server at the head end receives subscriber identification numbers along with subscriber requests for program events. Thus, in response to a subscriber request for a program event, the server can generate a serial number unique to the user. The serial number can include a time and date stamp, and a cyclic redundancy check code. In an interactive system, the encoder may be located in a set-top terminal, which receives the serial number from the server in the head end.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel method for addressing processing units in a network where some of the processing units are connected to a shared communications medium. In an embodiment of the present invention, the network comprises a head end, a plurality of modulators connected and addressable by the head end, and a plurality of set-top processors. The set-top processors are partitioned into subsets where each subset is assigned to a modulator. The modulator takes information streams from the head end and multicasts the streams to its assigned subset. In one embodiment, the information streams comprise packets that have address fields for facilitating delivery from the head end to a receiving set-top processor. One address field enables the routing of the packet from the head end to the modulator assigned to the receiving set-top processor.

Abstract: An interactive application on a set top computing is downloaded to the set top computing system from a headend in an interactive television network. The interactive application is automatically executed by the set top computing system currently running a video program for display on a television set connected to the set top. The automatic begins by waiting for an application token embedded in the video program and detecting the application token. In response to the detection of the application token, the video program is terminated and the application downloaded to the set top is captured. The application is then executed in the set top computing system for display on the television set. In addition, a warning token also embedded in the video program is detected. Then in response to detection of the warning token, the downloading of the ITV application to the set top computing system is initiated.

Abstract: An interactive cable TV system includes a large number of set-top terminals that are connected to a system headend by way of a low-speed, time division multiplexed, channel. The headend includes the mass storage of multimedia data-assets that each contain a large number of individual data-items that may be of interest to various set-top users. A set-top user initiates an inquiry to the data-asset storage by way of an item-descriptor comprising a word-picture of the item. When this set-top query is received at the headend, a table or list is established whereby the query and its set-top ID are associated with related data assets. As the headend's data-asset storage is changed from time to time, the changes that relate to listed set-top queries result in an update of the query list. This updated data-asset information is sent to the related set-tops immediately, or is sent only when the headend receives a request from the related set-top.

Abstract: An interactive integrated application, having a broadcast portion and an on-demand portion, is provided to a user station via a communication network. The broadcast portion of the application is broadcast over a first channel to a plurality of user stations from an application source. The broadcast portion has an interactive option embedded in it. This interactive option is displayed with the broadcast portion at a user station to provide a viewer at the user station an option to request the on-demand portion of the application. When the viewer at the user station selects the option displayed with the broadcast portion, the user station exercises the option and requests the on-demand portion of the application. An interactive communication session is established between the on-demand portion of the integrated application and the user station exercising the interactive option in the broadcast portion.

Abstract: For an interactive communication system, a method and apparatus for processing requests for interactive applications. One embodiment of the invention initially receives a request to transmit a first presentation of a particular interactive application. This embodiment then determines if transmission of the first presentation would constrain resources of the interactive communication system. If the system's resources would be constrained, then this embodiment causes a second presentation of the particular interactive application to be transmitted. This second presentation expends less resources of the system than the first presentation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for measuring central processing unit (CPU) usage required to execute a predetermined workload that includes system overhead usage of the CPU as well as direct usage of the CPU. The CPU is driven to run processing cycles to perform a workload task or to perform a CPU bound task. The CPU bound task is a cycle soaker; a cycle soaker task runs directly on the CPU and has no system overhead. The cycle soaker task runs whenever there is no workload task ready to run. A monitor module measures the total of all cycles run by the central processing unit from beginning to end of execution of the workload and measures the soaker cycles run by the CPU from beginning to end of execution of the workload. CPU usage attributable to the workload is measured by deducting the soaker cycles from the total of all cycles.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel apparatus for amplifying upstream and downstream signals, the signals comprising different portions of a communications spectrum and wherein at least two portions require amplification in opposing upstream and downstream directions.

Abstract: Various versions of a computer file are provided without requiring copying the file or logging changed data, so that the files have consistent user data. A program module responds to a system call argument and allocates another node in file system tables and copies metadata information from the old node into the new node, so that both nodes contain the same data block allocation information. Portions of the module set shadow pointers in the old node to point to the new node, and in the new node to point to the old node. Changes to data are made with respect to the new node and fresh physical data blocks are allocated for the changed blocks. A method includes the steps of allocating a new node for storing file allocation information for another version of an existing file; logically connecting the new node to the existing node for file name and other purposes; and replacing node identification information in the directory with the new mode identification.

Abstract: In the tagged, hashed file system, each finite portion of a file of the user's data is tagged with a pathname (filename and path) and a logical offset of the data within the file. A hint, as to where the portion is located in storage in the THFS, is computed by hashing the pathname and the logical offset. Once the hint is provided, then the THFS commences to search storage from the location suggested by the hint until it finds a match between the tag on the portion with the pathname and logical offset. When a portion is to be written, the intended location for placement of the portion must be read to ensure that it is available for writing, i.e. empty. If the location is not available, then a search must be made for the closest available (empty) location, and the user data is written there. If during a read operation a matched tag is not found until an empty area is read, the search will terminate, and the user application will be notified that no file was found.

Abstract: A shopping cart metaphor is emulated on a network of server and client computing systems. A browser at the client station has a request module to send a shopping page request to the server. A shopping page module in the server sends a shopping page file to the browser in response to the shopping page request. The shopping page file contains items selectable by a user using the browser. A shopping module at the browser generates an add request and sends the add request to the server. This add request contains selected items from the items that were selectable in the shopping page file. A receiver at the server receives the add request from the browser, and a cart list module at the server initializes a shopping cart list. An add module at the server adds the selected items to the shopping cart list.

Abstract: In a client/server computing system, a method and apparatus for efficiently storing entries in a log file during disconnected client operations. An encoder utilizes a log file and a write file table for logging the write operations performed by the client during disconnected operations. The logging method employed by the encoding module logs in the log file only writes associated for different files. The encoding module tracks the status of the entries in the log file with a write file table containing the most recent sequence number associated with a file entry of the log file. Upon reconnection of the client to the server, a decoding module replays the events in the correct chronological order by transferring the file data modified during the period of disconnection in the order dictated by the write file table. A deferred write list is accessed by the decoding module for temporary storage any write operations whose replay should be delayed to preserve the relative order of events.

Abstract: Programmable options for a mount command are checked for compatibility with file system types when attaching a media file system to a existing file system in a computing system. The options are programmed into a mount entry in a configuration file. The configuration file is used to generate the mount command. The mount entry defines file system types for the media file system and programmable options to control operation of the computing system with the media file system. The file system types, the programmable options and the compatibility of the programmable options with the file system types are all verified.

Abstract: Installation of a multi-package distribution software pack is split into installation of each dominant, or primary, package and installation of the dependent, or secondary, packages dependent on that dominant package. The dependent packages are installed before or after installation of the dominant package depending upon the constraints of the target system for the installation. As the dominant package is installed or delayed for later installation, an action list of dependent packages to be installed is built, and a trailer script executable by the installation utility is created to install the dependent packages on the action list. Since a dependent package may also be a dominant package, the flow of operations in the invention are layered to add additional entries on the action list for additional dependent packages dependent from a dominant package that is dependent from another dominant package.

Abstract: Software systems such as file systems in a computer are tested by scatter load testing. Scatter load testing is accomplished by the computer system applying randomly selected operative test situations to the software system. The operative test situations are randomized by the computer randomly selecting a geometry, or configuration, for the software system under test and randomly selecting a workload on the selected software system configuration. The randomization of workload selection can be further enhanced by expanding the workload to one or more tasks and randomly selecting objects, actions and parameters that make up each workload task to be performed during the test. As the random operative situation is run on the system, operation test results are output from the computer to indicate the performance of the software system being tested. Choice constraints may be placed on the random selection of the various test elements of the operative test situation.

Abstract: A computing system operates a volume management system to manage accesses to the storage of information and provides to the users of the volume management system parallel process paths for accessing a storage device is as an access volume operation or as an access device operation. Further the volume management system prevents the two parallel logical operations from conflicting with each other by performing an open volume operation and an open device operation. These operations indirectly communicate by setting and clearing characteristics in stored volume data characteristics that they share for each device being accessed. The characteristics include an open count to track the open status of a device and an exclusive flag to track whether the storage device has been opened exclusively by either the open volume or the open device operation request from a user.