Abstract: In a distributed information network, a broker server is coupled to a plurality of child servers and to a plurality of clients in the network. The broker server connects clients to a child server in a queue on a FIFO basis and provides the client with a key identifying the child server. The client provides the server with a copy of its key at the time of the initial service request. Both the child server and the client retain a copy of the other's key upon disconnect. The child server returns to the bottom of the queue after disconnect. On a subsequent client service request, the client includes the child server key in the service request and the broker automatically re-connects the client to the child server wherever S1 may be in the queue, provided the child server is not busy serving other clients. When reconnected, the client send its key to the child server which compares the key to the retained copy of the client key.

Abstract: A system and method to implement callback for unanswered telephone calls in an Internet Telephony Callback system. A calling station and a called station are each connected to the system through a local and remote service provider, respectively, each provider including a voice gateway and callback server. A telephone call originated at the calling station by a calling party is processed by the local service provider and the local callback server generates a control message which accompanies the telephone call. The remote service provider processes and connects the telephone call if answered by the called party and sends a message to delete the control message from the local callback server. If the telephone call is unanswered the remote callback server stores the control message and waits for the called party to initiate a return call. When the return call is initiated, the remote callback server sends a message to the local callback server to extend the return call to the calling party.

Abstract: Secure communication may be conducted between two or more parties over a network, e.g the Internet without prior security arrangements among the parties or agreed to encryption/decryption software. A sending party is connected to a data network through a computer and has access to a communications network, e.g. a public switched telephone network. The sender prepares a file designated, e.g. “X” containing confidential information for secure transmission over the Internet or the like to one or more receivers. In one embodiment, the sender downloads encryption/decryption or “crypto” software stored at a location on the Internet e.g. location “U” in a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The “crypto” software is written in executable code or an interpretive language such as JAVA. The sender selects a key “K” and encrypts the plain text file “X” into cipher text.

Abstract: A system and method to avoid transmit underruns from a host system to a communication network using an adjustable threshold on a frame basis. The host system includes a device driver, host descriptors and host buffer. The host descriptor define the number of blocks of data to be transferred from the host to the network via a Media Access Control (MAC) device. The MAC device includes a processor, a transmit storage device, and a medium independent interface coupled to the network. The MAC device is connected to the host system via a data bus. A host descriptor is generated for each frame of data transferred by the MAC device from the host to the network. The descriptor is generated by the device driver and provides the MAC processor with a block size of data to be transferred and a threshold in each frame indicating the number of blocks of data to be transferred from the host system to the MAC device to avoid an underrun before transmission to the communication network.

Abstract: In a local area network, a system and a method to detect transmit underruns and retransmit frames between a sending station and a receiving station using a Media Access Control (MAC) device in lieu of a sending processor. The MAC device includes a MAC processor for transmitting data in blocks from a host buffer to a storage device, e.g., RAM for retransmission to the network via a Media Independent Interface (MII) unit. The MAC device includes a transmit logic unit which uses a control word set by the MAC processor to transmit data by frames from the storage device to the network. The transmit logic unit includes pointer control logic to identify the start address of the data and to track the data as read from the storage device to the network. When a transmit underrun occurs, the transmit logic recognizes the condition and resets the pointer logic to the start of the first frame for retransmission to the receiving station.

Abstract: An information retrieval system and method translates a single search request or query across heterogenous databases independent of the database search grammar(s). A client uses a process to express the query in a powerful programming language, i.e., Generalized Query Language (GQL) which has a wide variety of operators to precisely specify the conditions of the query and enable a fused response to be provided by the databases to the query. The process translates the query into phrases contained in a GQL and constructs a complex search query which bridges the gap between the query and the low level of functionality provided in search engines associated with the databases. A search broker receives the GQL query and using a process (i) checks for syntax errors; (2), if correct, parses the complex query into individual search or partial queries and associated logical operations, and (3) forwards the partial queries and operations to the database search engines.

Abstract: An apparatus and method reduces the number of rename registers for a floating point status and control register (FPSCR) in a superscalar microprocessor executing out of order/speculative instructions. A floating point queue (FPQ) receives speculative instructions and issues out-of-order instructions to FPQ execution units, each instruction containing a group identifier tag (GID) and a target identifier tag (TID). The GID tag indicates a set of instructions bounded by interruptible or branch instructions. The TID indicates a targeted architected facility and the program order of the instruction. The FPSCR contains status and control bits for each instruction and is updated when an instruction is executed and committed.

Abstract: A superscalar microprocessor chip includes a core processor with a distributed memory surrounding the perimeter of the processor. The distributed memory is arranged in sub-memory elements, each memory sub-element including check bits for each word stored in the sub-element. The number of check bits for each word is based upon the check bits required for a memory word formed from each word in each memory subelement, the number of ECC bits required for the combined word being less than the total number of bits available in the distributed memory. The difference in ECC bits and available bits provides spare bits which are used to route the ECC bits to ECC circuity positioned within the distributed memory for single error correction and double error detection. The position of the ECC circuity and the layout of the sub-memory elements with respect to the ECC circuitry are arranged to minimize the travel of the ECC bits for data correction or detection purposes, and does not adversely affect processor cycle time.

Abstract: A data processing system and method for the correction of address information on mail. The method makes use of a contextual predictive keying method for enabling an operator to read the image of an addressee mailing address and type in a minimum number of keystrokes necessary to sort the mail piece down to the final sorting level at the destination post office.

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.

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: This method improves the user-friendliness of command-line driven programs by having a correspondence set up between possible commands which may be entered on a command line and a series of Graphic User Interface "buttons". These buttons are graphical symbols that appear on the screen and are selectable via a mouse. A display screen is divided into work areas, one of which is associated with the screen which a user would have seen while using the application program without the invention and a second of which displays an array of "buttons," each of which are associated with commands. When the user selects the specific button with a mouse pointer moving the mouse, the related "command" is identified. A message is then created, the message comprised of the same data that would have been created by the series of keystrokes to spell out that command. The command is passed to the application program, which receives it in the same manner that it would have received input from the keyboard.

Abstract: A continuous speech recognition and voice response system provides a natural sounding and effective interactive, speech-driven dialogue from a data processing system. A concatenation of words into phrases and sentences improves recognition and mimic natural language processing. The system uses speaker-independent, continuous-speech to initiate the playback of audio files. The system employs high-speed context switching to modify the active vocabulary and applies high-speed context switching to modify or activate Audio WAV voice response files. The system uses dialogue history to activate selected context, Baukus-Naur Form (BNF) grammars and WAV files and provides phrase or sentence long dialogue prompts to improve accuracy. The system also provides audio prompts to improve accuracy and provides speech-activated buttons to navigate between menus.

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 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: A system and method are disclosed for dynamically labeling touch sensitive buttons in a digitizing display. The display is partitioned into a main panel display region and a button panel display region. A touch overlay is also partitioned into a main panel touch region and a main panel display region. A button panel driver program defines button touch areas and button display areas enabling the dynamic labeling and relabeling of the touch sensitive buttons and the simultaneous touching of combinations of the buttons with either a touch input or a stylus input to the overlay.

Abstract: A method and system for a pen-based computer system allow a user to automatically cancel a gesture in progress under several different conditions and terminate the operation of the system in a gesture recognition motion. In a first condition, a gesture cancel timeout period is stored in a memory of the system. The cancel timeout period is definitive of holding the input device in a motionless condition. When the timeout period is exceeded, a software application program recognize the excessive time period, terminates the operation of the system in gesture recognition mode. In another condition, a motion area is defined in the program for the input device. When the gesture executed by the input device exceeds the pre-defined motion area, the application program recognizes the excessive motion and terminates the operation of the system in the gesture recognition mode. In another condition, each input device is identified and stored in memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the transfer of data between computers of different types and architectures is disclosed. The Serial Channel Adapter (SCA) includes four primary functional components: 1) low-end parallel bus interface; 2) data staging buffer; 3) serial interface; and 4) adapter controller, all of which are under microprocessor control and fully programmable to achieve maximum flexibility. Two buses are provided, a Local Data Bus and Local Processor Bus, to minimize processor overhead on the data bus and maximize data throughput.

Abstract: A peripheral circuit interface adapter for a computer system is defined whose function is established programmatically rather than being designed, laid out and fabricated uniquely for each different function the interface adapter might perform. A designer can program the interface adapter function and then cause that function to be defined dynamically through downloading on the interface adapter when the system on which it resides is powered on. The interface adapter contains rudimentary bus interface elements and external interface section and a control section. The control section establishes the overall function of the adapter and is defined by a field programmable gate array that assumes specific wiring characteristics as a result of downloading from the hosting system.

Abstract: Improvements in the art of sensor and display technology now make the implementation of a workpad concept feasible. While prior art touch displays are acceptable for short, casual use tasks, they may not be feasible or suited for intensive use tasks. Recent improvements in the optical qualities (brightness, contrast, viewing cone) of flat panel displays, such as LCDs, allow implementing a touch screen for use in a horizontal orientation. This greatly improves the human factors for applications involving extensive pointing, drawing, or writing.