Abstract: The disclosed invention reduces the possibility that an applicant who uses an unattended card issuing machine can change the contents of an application, intentionally or through error. Since the scanner device of an unattended card issuing machine also performs the image transmission function and a facsimile device is not necessary, there is a savings in the required space. Also, there is only one location where a document is positioned, whether an identification document or an application document, thus the operation will not confuse an applicant. The scanner device is so designed that it completely encloses and retains an inserted document, so that there are no problems when an application form is scanned and its image data are prepared. Thus, the possibility that the contents of an application may be changed intentionally or through error is substantially eliminated. According to another feature of the present invention, a shutter, which is freely opened and closed, is located along the paper feed route.

Abstract: A communications adapter receives and transmits simultaneously packet and/or isochronous data between two interfaces; a network and a host bus system. The adapter stores the isochronous and packet data in receive and transmit queues configured in a FDDI RAM buffer. A controller manages the transfers of the data into and out of the queues. A local bus interacts with the system to provide descriptors of addresses in the system for transfers of data out of the queues to the system or the network. The controller is programmable to provide a variable threshold for the transfer of data between the queues and the system or the network. A systems interface unit handles the transfer of data to/from the system and allows data to bypass the queues and directly access the system or the network.

Abstract: An adaptive equalization method and device which provides for the equalization of symbol sequences sent through fading multipath channels with time and frequency dispersion. By using a trainer system to supply an estimate of the received symbol sequence to a trainee system, equalization of the received symbol sequences is accomplished without the need for training sequences and with the ability of compensating for spectral nulls without a substantial increase in the noise in the system. The trainer system is configured as a decision directed equalizer with a feed forward filter having the received symbol sequence as input and connected to a decision element that outputs decided symbols. The trainee system is similar to decision feed back equalization in that it has a feed forward filter, a feedback filter and a decision element but, differs in that the input to the feed back filter is provided by the trainer system. The feed forward filter of the trainee system takes received symbol sequence as input.

Abstract: A method and system for placing annotations of various sizes on a display without overlapping the annotations is described. Each annotation is represented by its rectangular bounding box along with an identifying line or arrow that joins the rectangle with the display object that is to be annotated. These rectangles and lines are stored in a list. When an additional annotation is to be placed on the display, it is tested at various positions to determine if there is overlap with the annotations that are already on the display. The tested positions are chosen by varying the length of the identifying line and the angle it forms with the horizontal. When a position is found that yields no overlap, the annotation is placed on the display and added to the list of positioned annotations. This approach is very fast due to the simplicity of the overlap tests, which consist of simple geometric operations.

Abstract: A communications adapter receives and transmits simultaneously packet and/or isochronous data between two interfaces; a network and a host bus system. The adapter stores the isochronous and packet data in receive and transmit queues configured in a FDDI RAM buffer. A controller manages the transfers of the data into and out of the queues. A local bus interacts with the system to provide descriptors of addresses in the system for transfers of data out of the queues to the system or the network. The controller is programmable to provide a variable threshold for the transfer of data between the queues and the system or the network. A systems interface unit handles the transfer of data to/from the system and allows data to bypass the queues and directly access the system or the network.

Abstract: A system and method for passively measuring and correcting ring latency on a token or FDDI ring includes generating bits and token frames in a defined pattern according to the token ring protocol. A passive device coupled to the token ring measures CMIN, the minimum spacing, CMAX, the maximum spacing in bits and calculates Fi the frequency of changes in Cmin and Cmax between successive tokens or a token and a frame on the ring. A latency event vector Li is generated by the passive device. A controller responsive to the latency vector Li corrects the spacing between successive tokens or a token and frame to achieve a constant ring latency regardless of electrical or operational changes on the token ring.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing a plurality of databases are provided for a plurality of geographically dispersed computers in receive-only communication. Each change made to a master database in a central computer is broadcast to a plurality of remote computers, each containing a replica of the master database, via a packet having an assigned next-broadcast-number and a sequential next-sequence-number. Each remote computer has means for comparing the next-broadcast-number and next-sequence-number of each received packet with the last-broadcast-number-received and last-sequence-number-received from a previous packet, and for selectively updating its replica database.

Abstract: A printer employs a print head having a wire column arranged at an angle between 0.degree. and 90.degree. relative to a permitted line of motion of the print head. This angled print head allows for both portrait and landscape printing. Portrait mode printing is performed by controlling movement of the angled print head along the permitted line of motion during printing of each line of images. Landscape mode printing is controlled by maintaining a stationary position of the print head while the print receivable medium is moved in a direction perpendicular to the permitted line of motion of the print head.

Abstract: A Medium Access (MAC) Protocol is utilized for wireless access, preferrably over a radio frequency channel, for a plurality of remote stations to a base station on a LAN. The MAC protocol is based on a reservation scheme for user data traffic and a random access technique for control and signalling traffic. There is a time division frame structure in which time is slotted. Time slots are grouped into variable length periods. The variable frame structure consists of a frame header followed by interleaved periods of different types (type A, B or C). Type A periods are allocated to the outbound channel which is used for data transfer from the base station to the remote stations. Type B periods, are allocated to the inbound channel that is used for contention-free data transfer from the remote stations to the base station. Allocation of the data slots in the A and B periods is performed by the base station.

Abstract: A point of sale printer includes a magnetic reader for processing transactions and payment by check at a checkout point of a retail establishment. The printer includes a magnetic or MICR reader located at a predetermined point on the printer's document travel path and a print head located at the same point on the document travel path but laterally offset from the MICR reader to allow the printer to print customer receipts and a journal as well as reading MICR information from checks and endorsing the check after it is cleared. A pressure pad is used with the magnetic read head of the MICR reader which utilizes a pressure film which flexes when a document is inserted between the magnetic read head and the pressure film to provide a spring loading force on the magnetic read head while still allowing the document to be moved smoothly past the magnetic read head.

Abstract: A system and method monitors and controls an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network having at least two ATM stations. An event driven interface is coupled to the ATM network for monitoring the selected ranges of contiguous non-empty cells and of contiguous empty cells communicated between the ATM stations and outputting count values for selected ranges of contiguous non-empty cells and of contiguous empty cells. An analysis computer is coupled to the output of the event driven interface, for analyzing the count values and outputting control signals. The control signals are used to reorder or change the time of transmission of data at a transmitting ATM station on the communications link, in response to the control signals.

Abstract: A hardwired, dynamically reconfigurable counter array counts occurrences of different traffic events having different rates of occurrences monitored on a high speed data network by an Event Driven Interface (EDI). The array includes a plurality of "N" bit counters, where "N" is a binary multiple. The counters are arranged in an array of size "m,n", where "m" is the number of rows and "n" is the number of columns in the array. A signal input is provided to each counter as a first input, each signal being definitive of a specific traffic event occurring on the high speed network. Each counter is connected to the adjacent counter in the column through a multi-terminal logic element, each logic element in a column receives the output of a counter as a first input and provides an output to the succeeding counter as a second input. A counter logic switch responsive to an input signal generates a counter logic vector as an output.

Abstract: A point of sale printer includes a magnetic reader for processing transactions and payment by check at a checkout point of a retail establishment. The printer includes a magnetic or MICR reader located at a predetermined point on the printer's document travel path and a print head located at the same point on the document travel path but laterally offset from the MICR reader to allow the printer to print customer receipts and a journal as well as reading MICR information from checks and endorsing the check after it is cleared. A pressure pad is used with the magnetic read head of the MICR reader which utilizes a pressure film which flexes when a document is inserted between the magnetic read head and the pressure film to provide a spring loading force on the magnetic read head while still allowing the document to be moved smoothly past the magnetic read head.

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.

Abstract: A transaction processing system comprises at least one transaction terminal (10, 11, 12) having means to receive characteristic data from a user, which characteristic data is required to generate a characteristic image associated with the user, such as an image of the user's signature, from data stored in a data processing system (14); and logic for generating a transaction message by combining transaction data with the characteristic data in such a way that the transaction data is required to recover the characteristic data from the message. The data processing system (14) comprises means to store the user data, to receive and store the message, to recover the characteristic data from the message using the transaction data, and to reconstruct the characteristic image from the user data using the characteristic data to establish that the transaction was valid by associating the characteristic image with the transaction data.

Abstract: A communication adapter transfers synchronous or multimedia and asynchronous or packet data between a network which may be of a FDDI type and a host system in real time. The adapter can manage data transfer in both directions between the system and the network and automatically switches between multimedia and packet data while holding the token. The adapter includes a queue manager having a synchronous threshold register and counter and a packet data threshold register and counter. The queue manager is coupled among a host bus; a storage means; a FDDI network; and bandwidth control logic. The queue manager in conjunction with the bandwidth control logic can dynamically switch the adapter from transmitting packet or synchronous data to the FDDI without exceeding bandwidth. The queue manager is also adapted to initiate capture of the token on a FDDI and commence transmission of synchronous or packet data frames to the ring as early as possible.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for radio communication containing all the electronic components necessary for radio transmission/reception, which can alternatively be connected to a device for voice communication and to a device for data communication.The device for voice communication with the assembly (which, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, is implemented on a reduced dimension PCMCIA integrated circuit card) plugged therein, has more or less the same dimension and the same weight of a usual cellular phone device.When radio data transmission is desired the PCMCIA integrated circuit card is to be unplugged from the telephone handset and plugged into a data processing device properly arranged. In this way the data processing device is provided with the capability of radio transmitting and receiving data.

Abstract: The invention includes indirect addressing which is the realtime calculation of the location of variably offset fields in a frame in a high speed medium. Data frames in a communication medium, include a presence bit which indicates the presence of a variable length field whose length is defined by a length field in the data frame. In accordance with the invention, an Event Driven Interface has its input coupled to the data communications network, to receive the data frame and to identify the presence of the presence bit. In response to this, the Event Driven Interface branches to a first logic path which ignores the plurality of bits in the variable length field corresponding to the length field. Then, the Event Driven Interface branches to a second logic path after the plurality of bits have been ignored, to locate the variably offset field being sought in the data frame. This enables the realtime location of data at variable offsets in the data frame.

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.

Abstract: A workstation manages and controls a plurality of communication networks using different protocols coupled to a common bus. A programmable digital filter connected between the workstation and the networks examines frame information using real time calculation for identifying protocols in the frames. The filter identifies and counts addresses, security conditions and other information of interest on the bus and occurring in the networks. The protocol, address, security data and other information of interest counted by the filter are stored in storage for access by an interpreter. The stored data for the networks accessed by the interpreter is compared to network models for identification of traffic problems and conditions and load balancing. The network interpreter contains a graphical user interface which displays selected information at a monitor for an operator to examine and initiate corrective action by initiating commands.