Abstract: A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. Training information may be stored in a memory. A plurality of packets may be generated, including the training information. The plurality of packets may also include audiovisual information. The plurality of packets may include first information identifying a first training pattern of a plurality of possible training patterns. The first training pattern may specify one or more locations of the training information in the plurality of packets. The first information may be usable by a receiver to determine the first training pattern of the plurality of possible training patterns. The plurality of packets may be transmitted in a wireless manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing image editing operations may divide an input image into overlapping patches and assign those patches to locations in a reconstructed output image such that visual artifacts are minimized. The methods may use belief propagation to compute a joint probability for the assignment of active patch labels to output image nodes. The computation may include an exclusivity term, steering the solution such that each patch is preferably only used once in the output image. The methods may include a pre-computation of a pruned list of candidate patches for placing next to each patch in the output image, dependent on local evidence (e.g., color, intensity, or user-driven placement) for each patch. The pre-computation may include determining groupings of patches, each forming a highly compatible loop of neighboring patches for a given candidate patch. The methods may be implemented as program instructions executable by a CPU and/or GPU.

Abstract: Evaluation of graphical program nodes. A first graphical program may be displayed on a display. The first graphical program may include a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually specifies functionality of the first graphical program. User input may be received which selects at least one of the plurality of interconnected nodes while editing the first graphical program. A second graphical program may be automatically generated based on the user input. The second graphical program may include the at least one node. The second graphical program may be executable to allow the user to evaluate the at least one node. The second graphical program may be displayed on the display.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that removes noise from an image. During operation, the system first identifies blobs in the image, wherein a blob is a set of contiguous pixels which possibly represents a character or a portion of a character in the image. Next, the system analyzes the blobs to dynamically determine a “noise threshold” for the blobs. The system then removes blobs from the image which are below the noise threshold.

Abstract: System and method for generating hard and soft extruded image shadows with ray-coherent integration of extruded transparency maps. The ends of rays are positioned along a set of spokes radiating from the background point to be illuminated. In some embodiments, the weighted sum of integrals along a dense cone of rays from each point on the background is computed to determine the fraction of light obscured by the extruded artwork. The end points of the rays may be placed on lines that converge to the background point, according to some embodiments. Thus, intermediate line integrals of the alpha matte may be used to compute values for multiple rays. In other words, since the endpoints of multiple rays are placed along a single line, the results of computing the weighted sums for shorter rays may be used when calculating the sums for longer rays.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a circular FIFO (first-in, first-out) queue in an I/O (input-output) subsystem of a computer system such as a server, workstation, or storage machine. The queue is coupled to a bypass circuit, used to provide access to data items out of the order in which they were stored in the queue, thus bypassing the latency inherent in retrieving the items from the queue. Control logic maintains write and read pointers indicating locations in the queue for writing and reading data items. The write pointer is incremented upon every data event to the queue, thereby maintaining a history of data that has been written to the queue, which is useful for diagnostic purposes. A history flag is maintained to indicate whether the write pointer has wrapped around the addresses in the queue, indicating whether all data items in the queue are valid for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus forming a computer system or such-like is disclosed that includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a power supply unit. The CPU provides a digital voltage ID (VID) signal output indicative of the power supply voltage that it desires to receive. The power supply unit has a control input for receiving a digital VID signal from the CPU. The power output from the unit is then provided to the CPU at a voltage level in accordance with the received digital VID signal. A VID offset generator is interposed between the CPU and the power supply unit. This receives the digital VID signal from the CPU, and modifies it by applying a positive or negative offset. The modified digital VID signal is then passed to the power supply unit, which supplies a voltage to the CPU as per the modified VID signal, rather than the VID signal originally output by the CPU.

Abstract: A system and method that enables a user to configure a customizable product for purchase in an E-Commerce system. A user may launch a web browser on a client computer system to access a vendor's web site to purchase a customizable product. The user may customize the product for purchase by selecting one or more customizable components of the product. A user may select one or more customizable components of the product by using a forms/menu interface or a visual graphical user interface. The vendor's web site may receive the one or more user selections for the customized product and may, in response, send data and information to client computer system to visually depict the ‘as purchased’ customized product for user verification and product checkout.

Abstract: A tunnel device for an input/output node of a computer system. A tunnel device includes a first interface, a second interface and a control unit. The first interface may receive a plurality of data bytes associated with a command packet on a first external input/output bus. The second interface may be coupled to the first interface by an internal data path configured to convey up to a maximum number of data bytes in a given cycle. The control unit may be coupled to control the conveyance of the data bytes from the first interface to the second interface upon the internal data path. The first interface may further align the smaller number of data bytes on a corresponding number of designated bits of the internal data path with no intervening invalid data bytes when conveying a smaller number of data bytes than the maximum number of data bytes.

Abstract: Tensegrity units may be used to form a tensegrity structure. Each tensegrity unit may include n face tension members, n continuous tension members, and n compression members. A bracket for the tensegrity unit may allow for adjustment of position of portions of the tension members when the tensegrity unit is not in a deployed state. The tension members may be coupled to the tensegrity unit so that there are no loose tension member ends. The unit may be deployed from a collapsed state by positioning the compression members and tension members in a proper orientation and adjusting the length of at least one compression member. Adjusting the length of at least the one compression member may allow tension to be applied to each tension member. A tensegrity structure may be formed from tensegrity units by joining a number of tensegrity units together.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the required decoupling capacitors for a power distribution system using an improved capacitor model. In one embodiment, a method for determining the decoupling capacitors for a power distribution system includes creating a model of the power distribution system using circuit simulation software, such as SPICE. The power distribution system model includes a plurality of cells interconnected at predetermined nodes. The method then selects one or more decoupling capacitors for the power distribution system. The decoupling capacitors are represented in the power distribution system model by a capacitor model, which is a mathematical model of an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit upon which the capacitor model is based is a ladder circuit. Following the selecting of the decoupling capacitors, the power distribution system model is update based on the selections, and operation of the power distribution system is then simulated.

Abstract: A filter driver for implementing disk space quotas is described. Quota limits on disk space taken up by files in the file system are established for users and directories, and an internal database is established to track quotas against actual disk space utilization. A driver in accordance with the invention uses kernel resources of the operating system to prevent execution of file system I/O operations which would violate any established quota. In doing so, the driver executes a logic in kernel mode which serializes file allocation operations and also serializes access to the internal database. The first step in this logic is to intercept file system I/O requests before they reach the file system driver. Then the driver determines propectively—before the I/O request is completed—whether any quota would be exceeded by completion of the I/O request. If a quota would be exceeded, completion of the I/O request is blocked and an error status is issued.