Abstract: Techniques for providing improved data distribution to and collection from multiple memories are described. Such memories are often associated with and local to processing elements (PEs) within an array processor. Improved data transfer control within a data processing system provides support for radix 2, 4 and 8 fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithms through data reordering or bit-reversed addressing across multiple PEs, carried out concurrently with FFT computation on a digital signal processor (DSP) array by a DMA unit. Parallel data distribution and collection through forms of multicast and packet-gather operations are also supported.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference position photosignal. The reference position photosignal can be read by a controller to determine when the spinner is in the reference position and used by the controller as a signal to deactivate the laser source.

Abstract: Techniques for using imaging information computed from examining a scanner signal are described. When one or more objects passes within a field of view of a scanner, scan patterns emerging from one or more scanner windows and reflected from the objects back into the scanner windows produce one or more scanner signals. The scanner signals are processed to obtain beam position and beam length information to improve the accuracy of bar code decoding and to compute imaging information for objects within the field of view of the scanner. The imaging information for the objects is compared with bar code information for the objects. The expected number, size and shapes of objects indicated by the bar code information is compared with the actual number, size and shapes of objects in order to determine if valid scans occurred or if missed, double or otherwise erroneous scans occurred.

Abstract: Techniques for determining, by external means, the internal pressure of a pneumatic tire. From fundamental relationships, pressure in a tire can be measured as a function of the weight on the wheel divided by area of the tire on the ground. Area and weight sensors can be configured into a low profile package or mat. As a vehicle is driven across the mat, the sensors extract weight and area information from each tire. Then a computational device calculates the tire pressure in each of the four tires of the vehicle and presents this information to the driver visually or aurally. Operation of the device is transparent to the driver, requiring him or her only to drive over or stop on the designated area containing the sensors.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying labels appearing in images are described. A digital image is analyzed to identify individual components. Each of the individual components is analyzed to determine whether or not it is a text component by comparing it against criteria such as size, aspect ratio, and proximity to other components. Each component identified as a text component is compared against criteria such as size in order to identify it as a label or not. Location coordinates of each label are stored in association with the label and optical character recognition is performed on the labels. Once the labels are identified, each image can be used as an online catalog page. For example, an image may be used to construct a web page containing pictures of available products with each label serving as a hypertext link to retrieve further information about the product or to enter an order for the product.

Abstract: Techniques for achieving the effects of significantly reducing the amount of computer memory needed to simulate the behavior of a multi-stage pipelined processor, as well as, significantly increasing the performance of the simulation process by eliminating the storing and copying of redundant information are described. These beneficial effects are achieved by reordering the chronological sequence of execution of software models of the various pipeline stages with respect to the actual instruction-flow sequence implemented by the processor hardware. This approach takes advantage of the independence of the stages within a cycle to make the results computed by a previous stage directly available to its subsequent stage without the use of transient data space or data copying. In particular, it is shown how to apply this technique to the simulation of a multi-parallel-stage VLIW array processor, such as the manifold array (ManArray) processor.

Abstract: An information system. The system provides a user interface for selecting subject matter of interest to a user as well as various components for retrieving information items, for classifying information items to identify information items relating to the selected subject matter, for rating the identified information items, and for notifying the user about identified information items meeting a predetermined criteria. The system also includes components for requesting a subject mailer expert (SME) to apply a rating to the retrieved information items. The predetermined criteria typically include the information item having a rating exceeding an interest value set by the user.

Abstract: In a digital wireless communication system wireless communication stations or radio base stations constitute frames to be conveyed over an air-interface for simultaneously comprising full rate speech data and dedicated user data. A speech coder in the digital wireless communication system generates the speech data while operating at a full rate. A user data application in the digital wireless communication system generates the dedicated user data. The system can set different service configurations supporting simultaneous transmission of speech data and dedicated user data, and can also include signaling data in the frames.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved accuracy of bar code detection and decoding are described. A bar code scanner employs a rotating spinner to reflect a laser beam used to produce one or more scan patterns emerging from scan windows. The scanner produces a scanner signal in response to light entering the scan windows, and processes the scanner signal to detect and decode bar codes within a scan field of the scanner. The rotational position of the spinner is continuously monitored and adjustments to processing parameters are made and other actions are taken based on the rotational position of the spinner, so as to improve reliability and accuracy of bar code detection and processing.

Abstract: Processing element to processing element switch connection control is described using a receive model that precludes communication hazards from occurring in a synchronous MIMD mode of operation. Such control allows different communication topologies and various processing effects such as an array transpose, hypercomplement or the like to be efficiently achieved utilizing architectures, such as the manifold array processing architecture. An encoded instruction method reduces the amount of state information and setup burden on the programmer taking advantage of the recognition that the majority of algorithms will use only a small fraction of all possible mux settings available. Thus, by means of transforming the PE identification based upon a communication path specified by a PE communication instruction an efficient switch control mechanism can be used.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for more efficient checkout are described. A triangular carousel having a relatively small footprint is employed proximate a bar code scanner and point of sale (POS) terminal so that a checker can efficiently load scanned items into bags, and a customer on the other side of the checkout counter and proximate the bar code scanner can also efficiently load filled bags into his or her shopping cart.

Abstract: Techniques for arrangement of components in a bar code scanner so as to make efficient use of space are described. A scanner includes a single scan window, a laser source for producing a laser beam, a rotating optical spinner to reflect the laser beam to produce a scan beam and a collection of fixed mirrors to reflect the scan beam in order to give it a desired optical length and to direct it out of the scan window. In order to make efficient use of space within the scanner, the spinner comprises a multifaceted hollow reflector, and a collector mirror is placed within a volume bounded by the reflector. The space made available by placement of the collector within the volume bounded by the collector makes it possible to arrange the collection of fixed mirrors such that the scan beam experiences at least three reflections after leaving the spinner.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for improving reproducibility in a pre-splice heat treatment. A heat treatment station is described for applying a pre-splice beat treatment to a lead end of a first optical fiber having a first modefield diameter. The heat treatment station comprises a base, and a fiber clamp for holding the first optical fiber such that a length of the lead end of the first optical fiber is positioned over a heat source mounted to the base. The heat source causes a controlled expansion of the first fiber modefield at the first fiber lead end to form an internal bridge. The heat treatment station further includes position adjustment means for adjusting the length of the first fiber lead end that is exposed to the heat source.

Abstract: Techniques for installing and orienting liquid crystal display screens in terminals so as to provide improved visual quality and readability are disclosed. A suitable screen is chosen for a terminal and installed in the terminal in an orientation which will provide superior display quality from the perspective of an intended user. The screen may be installed in an orientation rotated 90 or 180 degrees from the expected orientation for which it was designed by the manufacturer. In order to provide a correctly oriented display, display adjustment software rotates the display appropriately in order to compensate for the rotation of the screen so that the information displayed on the screen is correctly oriented.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for electronic shelf label (ESL) battery replacement are described. A first embodiment includes an ESL having a single battery and two battery compartments. A replacement battery is placed within the empty battery compartment before the old battery is removed. In a second embodiment, an ESL includes a single battery situated in a single battery compartment, and a large value capacitor connected in parallel with the battery which maintains the contents of the ESL's volatile RAM while the single battery is changed. In a third embodiment, an ESL includes two battery compartments, a single battery and a large value capacitor connected in parallel with the battery. In another aspect, an ESL displays instructions for changing the ESL battery. The ESL includes a pushbutton for user input which allows the user to cycle through multiple battery change instructions. These instructions may be stored in locally in the ESL or may be transmitted to the ESL from a host system.

Abstract: The invention ensures that a single and consistent reply is made to ARP request in a system of connected IP networks. When an adapter (A) becomes active, the owning host sends an ARP advertisement into the network over the adapter. If the advertisement is also received at the sending host over a different adapter B, then the host knows that adapter B is on in the same physical network as adapter A and B can be designated as a backup adapter for A and A can be designated as backup adapter for B. If adapter A fails or becomes inactive, the host resets the backup adapter field for any adapter it owns for which A is marked as the backup adapter. If a backup adapter B has been designated for A, the host also sends an ARP advertisement associating MAC-B with IP-A. This allows network connections originally served via adapter A to continue non-disruptively over adapter B and it also provides access to the host for subsequent new connections.

Abstract: An electronic price label is described which can be secured to a product by attaching the label to a theft prevention tag and securing the tag to the product. The label includes a display portion attached to an extension which can be retained within the theft prevention tag when the tag is closed and which extends out of the theft prevention tag so that the label is visible outside of the theft prevention tag.

Abstract: A ManArray processor pipeline design addresses an indirect VLIW memory access problem without increasing branch latency by providing a dynamically reconfigurable instruction pipeline for SIWs requiring a VLIW to be fetched. By introducing an additional cycle in the pipeline only when a VLIW fetch is required, the present invention solves the VLIW memory access problem. The pipeline stays in an expanded state, in general, until a branch type or load VLIW memory type operation is detected returning the pipeline to a compressed pipeline operation. By compressing the pipeline when a branch type operation is detected, the need for an additional cycle for the branch operation is avoided. Consequently, the shorter compressed pipeline provides more efficient performance for branch intensive control code as compared to a fixed pipeline with an expanded number of pipeline stages.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for fabricating a varying-waveguide optical fiber. In one described method, a preform is fabricated having a core and at least one cladding region. The cladding region has a higher viscosity and the core region has a lower viscosity. The relative viscosities of the cladding region and core are chosen such that, when tension is applied to an optical fiber drawn from the preform, the applied tension is primarily borne by the cladding region thereby causing a viscoelastic strain to be frozen into the cladding region, while creating a minimal viscoelastic strain in the core. The method further includes drawing the preform into an optical fiber under an applied tension, such that a viscoelastic strain is frozen into the cladding region the frozen-in viscoelastic strain decreasing the cladding region refractive index.

Abstract: A manifold array topology includes processing elements, nodes, memories or the like arranged in clusters. Clusters are connected by cluster switch arrangements which advantageously allow changes of organization without physical rearrangement of processing elements. A significant reduction in the typical number of interconnections for preexisting arrays is also achieved. Fast, efficient and cost effective processing and communication result with the added benefit of ready scalability.