Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm John D. Flynn
  • Patent number: 5802151
    Abstract: A telephone interface protection circuit and modem incorporating the telephone interface protection circuit. The circuit includes a sensing circuit and a determining circuit. The interface protection circuit checks for an active telephone line and checks the line for over-current conditions caused when a modem designed for the public switched telephone network is plugged into a private digital telephone network. The circuit functions when the modem is operating to provide continuous monitoring. It can be built as a stand-alone device or incorporated into a modem. The circuit notifies the user of the line condition either with LEDs or with a status message sent to the user via the host computer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Beymer Bevill, Jr., William James Kalin, Todd Morgan Rasmus, James William Sylivant, Peter Roy Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 5793802
    Abstract: A mobile radio station for communicating with a beta system can be constructed without providing means for calculating optimum tap gains, the size of a device can be reduced, and power consumption can be saved. A mobile station which tries to start communication sends a communication slot assignment request to a base station at a transmission speed which is so low that a transversal filter is not needed. The base station assigns this mobile station a communication slot and sends information on this communication slot assignment to the mobile station at the transmission speed which is so low that a transversal filter is not needed. The mobile station sends a training sequence to the base station with the assigned communication slot at a high speed. The base station calculates optimum tap gains of the transversal filter from the training sequence held therein and a signal actually received by the an adaptive equalizing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kanada, Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5784298
    Abstract: An adaptive, active monitor invention is useful in detecting characteristic data patterns in messages on a high speed data network, such as starting delimiters, tokens, various types of frames, and protocol information. Such serial data streams include serial patterns of binary bits, and can also include serial patterns of multiple state symbols, such as in token ring networks and FDDI networks.The adaptive, active monitor includes two finite state machines (FSM) which are constructed to detect the occurrence of a characteristic data pattern having multiple component bit patterns. A first FSM is the predecessor FSM, and it is configured to detect the first occurring component pattern. A second FSM is called the successor FSM, and it is configured to detect the second occurring component pattern. The first FSM will send a starting signal to the second FSM, when the first FSM has successfully detected the first component pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul C. Hershey, John G. Waclawsky
  • Patent number: 5784633
    Abstract: A system and method for providing for simultaneous transmission of user data (the I/O data between a source DTE and a destination DTE) and control and/or status data (the data that the DTE conveys for DCE control and the data the DTE retrieves from the DCE for status purposes, respectively) comprises multiple data paths for the user, control and status data. The user data path utilizes an I/O space while the status and the control data utilize a memory space. Further, an interrupt generator is implemented to indicate to the DCE that a new control command has been received by the DCE. The implementation of this system and method foregoes the requirement of disrupting user data flow or modifying user data flow if there is a need for retrieving DCE status data or for sending to the DCE new control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John Stewart Petty
  • Patent number: 5774247
    Abstract: An optical signal data transceiver comprises a convex mirror to direct received optical signals onto at least one detector responsive to corresponding optical wavelengths. At least one optical emitter is arranged to irradiate the convex mirror such that the emitted optical radiation is reflected from the convex mirror in a diffuse manner. The specific shape of the convex mirror is selected to obtain a desired transmission and reception specificity and suitable shapes include, as non limiting examples, segments of spheres, hemispheres, paraboloids of revolution, right cones, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John V. Taglione, Maurus Cappa
  • Patent number: 5771152
    Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism having an upper housing, a lower housing and a shaft assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly receives the gears which are pressed on either end of shaft. The shaft fits through locating slots in the lower housing. Each of the gears are activated by internal gears located on each side of the upper housing. The internal gears are integrally formed with the upper housing. The upper housing is hinged on the lower housing and can rotate 20 degrees. The shaft assembly mechanism provides a torsion bar function to insure that the upper housing moves evenly with respect to the lower housing. Even motion in the upwards and downwards directions of the housing is provided by even rotational torsional motion and opposite rotational torsional motion of the shaft assembly of the tilt adjustment mechanism. The shaft assembly mechanism decouples the frictional load in the two different rotational directions about its shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Crompton, Richard Hunter Harris, Herbert Gene Leonard, George Hufford, III, Jeff David Thomas
  • Patent number: 5767807
    Abstract: A reactively controlled directive antenna array that has a single central monopole or dipole as a radiating element excited directly by a feed system. A plurality of parasitic elements surround the radiating element and through changing the state of the parasitic impedance causing the antenna to be in an omni directional or beam pointing mode according to whether the parasitic elements are open circuited or short circuited. A computer modem and memory including stored programs control the antenna array in an omnidirectional or directive mode to locate, identify and communicate with nodes in a wireless communication network. A stored table is created in the memory indicating the antenna direction for communicating with each node in the network. Using the stored table, the computer initiates a communication sequence with a selected node, the sequence having the advantages of improved signal sensitivity and angular discrimination for wireless communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Don Michael Pritchett
  • Patent number: 5764392
    Abstract: A node for an access control system for a multi-channel data transmission ring is disclosed. Access to a channel is controlled exclusively by one node, which is the only data receiving node connected to that channel. The receiving node generates slots so that other connected nodes can transfer data to the receiving node. The receiving node can provide balanced access to the channel by all connected nodes. Further embodiments feature prevention of congestion in the buffer of the receiving node. The invention is particularly useful for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harmen Roelof Van As, Hans Rudolf Schindler
  • Patent number: 5761237
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus and method for reducing the multiuser-interference of input signals. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a multivariate predictor (81) and a decision quantizer (82), said multivariate predictor (81) operating on interference signals .eta.'(D) provided by means for extracting interference signals (83), said interference signals .eta.'(D) being obtained from said input signals and output signals b(D) which are available at an output of said decision quantizer (82) and fed back from there to said means for extracting interference signals (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent R. Petersen, Eleftheriou Evangelos
  • Patent number: 5761259
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for compensating for carrier frequency error is disclosed. An FM signal is received from an antenna and the received FM signal is provided to receiver. The receiver takes the FM signal at the carrier frequency and outputs a baseband signal. This baseband signal is then processed by a DSP which provides carrier frequency compensation and decoding to produce a data stream that a microprocessor provides to a host device. Frequency differences between the FM carrier frequency and the frequency used to demodulate the FM signal can shift the DC bias level of the baseband signal. The DSP compensates for such frequency difference by using a receive compensation value and applying it to each received signal sample. When transmitting, data to be transmitted is provided from the host device to the DSP via a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Dwight Dingsor
  • Patent number: 5757417
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic access control to multimedia presentations at the receiver in accordance with a viewer selected access mode and access classification data encoded into the multimedia presentation. Screening classification codes (SCCs) are embedded in the Audio Visual Material (AVM) delivered to a subscribers home station. The screening classification codes identify the type of content that follows in the AVM stream. For instance, violent content (video and/or audio) provided to a home station may contain a SCC that indicates violent scenes or violent action is forth coming in the AVM stream. The home station takes the SCC that are encoded and/or embedded in the AVM stream and applies a subscriber selected screening criteria. The screening criteria or suppression criteria are AVM manipulation commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Caglan M. Aras, Luther B. Griffin, Fuyung Lai, Arthur James Stagg, Kian-Bon Kho Sy
  • Patent number: 5756280
    Abstract: A multimedia information distribution system includes one or more servers, each server having access to a database storing multimedia information for distribution to subscribers, each of the servers connected to a network such as an Asynchronous transfer Mode (ATM) packet switching network, a number of switching points connected to the network, each switching point accepting digital information from the ATM network and under the control of a resource manager providing one or more multimedia information streams through a coaxial switching network to one or more modems, wherein each modem is connected to a user's terminal by existing transmission media such as telephone twisted pair wires using Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL). In an alternate embodiment, the digital switching may be distributed using a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) cable technique to extend effective range of transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gopalaswamy Soora, Vernon Lawton Tice
  • Patent number: 5757528
    Abstract: A universally directionally adjustable optical transceiver. The transceiver comprises a platform for mounting a light emitting diode array and photodiodes. The platform is connected to a mounting ring to provide a first axis of rotation. The mounting ring is connected to a support plate to provide a second axis of rotation. The first and second axis intersect and are mutually perpendicular to provide an omni-directional pointing capability for the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Bradley, Albert J. Kerklaan, Andris Lauris
  • Patent number: 5751114
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for compensating for carrier frequency error is disclosed. An FM signal is received from an antenna and the received FM signal is provided to receiver. The receiver takes the FM signal at the carrier frequency and outputs a baseband signal. This baseband signal is then processed by a DSP which provides carrier frequency compensation and decoding to produce a data stream that a microprocessor provides to a host device. Frequency differences between the FM carrier frequency and the frequency used to demodulate the FM signal can shift the DC bias level of the baseband signal. The DSP compensates for such frequency difference by using a receive compensation value and applying it to each received signal sample. When transmitting, data to be transmitted is provided from the host device to the DSP via a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Dwight Dingsor
  • Patent number: 5746103
    Abstract: A cash drawer having a coin roll opening device for opening a roll of coins quickly, conveniently and safely. The device includes a cash drawer having guides for receiving a coin roll. The cash drawer further includes a receptacle for receiving a blade assembly. The blade assembly having a blade and a blade holder. The blade assembly easily inserted and removed from the receptacle by use of the flexible arms of the blade holder. The blade holder is formed by two identical halves each having a male post, a post slot, a snap post and a snap arm for securing the blade. The blade having notches for receiving the male posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Hugh Addison, George Hufford, III, Charles Martin McCray, Kevin L. Schultz, Craig Walton Turner
  • Patent number: 5742641
    Abstract: Described is a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture to minimize radio data modem receive errors when a base station keys up. It applies to an intermittently keyed, multiple base station, single frequency reuse, FM modulated, radio data network such as the ARDIS network. Compensation is provided for the fact that each base station in the network may have a different transmit FM deviation level. Since these networks typically use the same base station to transmit to any one radio data modem over periods of time, and since the modem receiver can measure and remember the FM deviation level of each base station, a modem can compensate by using the FM deviation value of its "present" base station as the starting value for its automatic deviation control algorithm. By seeding the algorithm with the actual value for the "present" base station, receive data errors are reduced during the critical time when the base station is keying up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Dwight Dingsor
  • Patent number: 5734887
    Abstract: Logical Data Access to the physical structure of a relational database is provided for one or more Applications. Applications are developed using the logical entity types and logical entity type attribute names as described in a logical data model. The Applications then use a Logical Data Access Interface to access each of the required physical relational database tables via the Logical Data Access Layer. Applications then use logical entity type and logical entity type attribute names as specified in the Logical Data Model in making Logical Data Requests to the Logical Data Access Layer. The Logical Data Access Layer provides a rich set of functions for allowing an Application to control and manage a database, build and execute database queries and interface with physical database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Denis G. Kingberg, Ellen Margaret McCubbin, William John Martin
  • Patent number: 5734676
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for compensating for carrier frequency error is disclosed. An FM signal is received from an antenna and the received FM signal is provided to receiver. The receiver takes the FM signal at the carrier frequency and outputs a baseband signal. This baseband signal is then processed by a DSP which provides carrier frequency compensation and decoding to produce a data stream that a microprocessor provides to a host device. Frequency differences between the FM carrier frequency and the frequency used to demodulate the FM signal can shift the DC bias level of the baseband signal. The DSP compensates for such frequency difference by using a receive compensation value and applying it to each received signal sample. When transmitting, data to be transmitted is provided from the host device to the DSP via a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Dwight Dingsor
  • Patent number: 5729250
    Abstract: A front cover assembly is provided for use with a touch sensitive display device. The touch sensitive display device includes a display such as a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) or Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The front cover assembly has a top cover, an infrared bezel and a piece of glass. The top cover is inserted into a mold along with the piece of glass. The top cover and glass are then held in place by a vacuum while polyurethane is injected to fill the void between the glass and the top cover and the mold. The polyurethane is injected using injection molding techniques. The polyurethane used must have the properties of flexibility, durability and must also be transparent to infrared light. The polyurethane provides a mechanical lock around the glass and top cover and thus the polyurethane compensates for the different rates of expansion and contraction of the glass and the top cover due to temperature variations in the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward H. Bishop, Alfred William Connor, Aaron Roger Cox, Dennis Crompton, Mark Gehres McDonald
  • Patent number: 5715395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a apparatus and method for reducing resource location traffic in a compute network. The reduction in location traffic is obtained by a method and apparatus such that a node which has initiated a search for a resource which cannot be found starts a timing cycle interval during which subsequent initiating requests at the node are automatically failed without performing the network search. This reduces network traffic for searches that are likely to fail. Also disclosed is a threshold counter that alleviates possible difficulties that this may cause for high demand resources. The threshold counter is incremented each time a search for a specific resource is automatically failed. A network search is performed when either the interval expires or the threshold counter exceeds a threshold count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roy Frank Brabson, James Corvin Fletcher