Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a water sensing device is equipped with a water-sealed sampling chamber enclosing the sensing probes of the sensing device. When the device is placed into its water habitat, water flow into and out of the sampling chamber is controlled such that water is present in the sampling chamber only during a relatively brief period of time when water quality measurements are taken by the probes. After the water quality measurements have been taken by the probes, the water sample is substantially pumped out of the sampling chamber so as to minimize the time during which the probes are in contact with the water being analyzed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a water sensing device is equipped with a water-sealed sampling chamber enclosing the sensing probes of the sensing device. When the device is placed into its water habitat, water flow into and out of the sampling chamber is controlled such that water is present in the sampling chamber only during a relatively brief period of time when water quality measurements are taken by the probes. After the water quality measurements have been taken by the probes, the water sample is substantially pumped out of the sampling chamber so as to minimize the time during which the probes are in contact with the water being analyzed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which broadcast signals are received and converted into data streams for processing. A user is enabled to select preferred broadcast stations for monitoring and signals from the selected stations are converted into digital data streams which are input to first-in first-out (FIFO) memory units to enable a local storage of a segment of predetermined duration of broadcast signals on different FIFO tracks in a user receiving device. The FIFO is dynamically allocated for the selected stations and as each FIFO memory for each selected station becomes full, old information or content is moved out of memory as new information or content is applied to the FIFO. The receiving device includes means for enabling a user to move forward or backward within the stored segment. Partitions or markers are provided to separate broadcast content items, such as sequentially played songs within the stored segment, to enable incremental movement to selected positions within the stored segment.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided which allows for significantly improved input/output (I/O) subsystem designs in all systems which include serialized I/O transactions such as so-called Express specification systems. Transaction control methodology is implemented to improve Express design requirements for Express devices such as an Express switch, Express-PCI bridge, endpoint, and root complex. This is accomplished by utilizing improved transaction ordering and state machine and corresponding buffer design and improved flow control credit methodology which enables improved processing for controlling transactions flowing through Express devices including Express switches and Express-PCI bridges. An Express-PCI/PCIX transition bridge design is also provided, along with the flow control credit methodology and implementation within the Express-PCI/PCIX bridge design to enable efficient interfacing between Express and legacy or existing PCI/PCIX systems.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) Life Cycle Service FactoryFinder capabilities are combined with CORBA Naming Service resolve operations on a Naming Context. The methodology allows EJBHomes in a distributed network to be found using CORBA Life Cycle Services while maintaining support for the EJB (Enterprise Java Bean) programming model of using JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) lookup calls to locate EJBHomes. Usage of Life Cycle Services in an EJB environment for finding EJBHomes by using Naming interfaces is enabled while using Life Cycle Service semantics. An exemplary embodiment is provided to allow deployment in different environments (including environments without Life Cycle support) and reconfiguration of the FactoryFinder being used, without requiring changes to source code.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) Life Cycle Service factory finding capabilities are combined with CORBA Naming Service resolve operations on a naming context. The methodology provides a performance enhancement when compared with a typical CORBA programming model usage of these two services. In addition, EJBHomes in a distributed network are allowed to be found using CORBA Life Cycle Services while maintaining support for the EJB (Enterprise Java Bean) programming model of using JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) lookup calls to locate EJBHomes. Usage of Life Cycle Service semantics is provided in an EJB environment for finding object factories while having access to only Naming interfaces.

Abstract: Account transaction reports from a bank card account for example, are assembled and sent by electronic mail or “email” to the email address of the account owner. An input screen is presented to allow the user to input the user preferences with regard to the substance of the report. The account owner is enabled to approve or disapprove each of the listed charges and return a user-approved marked-up report showing which of the listed transactions have been approved and/or disapproved by the user. The user-approved listing is returned to the account administrator and a printed acknowledgement of receipt of the user-approved listing is returned to the user by electronic mail.

Abstract: A method and implementing system is provided in which multiple nodes of a Peripheral Component Interconnect PCI bridge/router circuit are connected to corresponding plurality of PCI busses to enable an extended number of PCI adapters to be connected within a computer system. Multiple enhanced arbiters are implemented to enable non-blocking and deadlock-free operation while still complying with PCI system requirements. An exemplary PCI-to-PCI router (PPR) circuit includes the arbiters as well as PPR buffers for temporarily storing transaction-related information passing through the router circuit between adapters on the PCI busses and/or between PCI adapters and the CPUs and system memory or other system devices. A buffer re-naming methodology is implemented to eliminate internal request/completion transaction information transfers between bridge buffers thereby increasing system performance.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which a user is able to customize pointer movements on a display screen corresponding to physical mouse movements. In an exemplary embodiment, a menu is presented on a display screen to allow a user to select and customize sensitivity settings for mouse movements. Further controls are selectively implemented to limit pointer movement along predetermined axes. Another feature enables a user to define screen areas surrounding function buttons or hyperlinks such that a user-controlled pointer movement in proximity to any sensitized area will automatically highlight the closest hyperlink or function for subsequent selection and/or actuation by the user. Another user selection enables a user to select various features regarding scroll boxes presented on a display screen within a browser program. The scroll box controls enable a user to define the size of scroll boxes as well as pointer interaction with regard to displayed scroll boxes.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which a request from a client for the display of a web page is processed by initially separating device-dependent display data from device-independent display data. The device-independent data is first sent back to the requesting client while the device-dependent data is being processed prior to being returned to the client. The device-dependent data processing includes separating bitmaps with text and bitmaps without text. The bitmaps are modified to suit the client system and the device-dependent modified bitmaps are returned to the client following the return of the device-independent data.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided which enable a process for implementing a coherency system for bridge-cached data which is accessed by adapters and adapter bridge circuits which are normally outside of the system coherency domain. An extended architecture includes one or more host bridges. At least one of the host bridges is coupled to I/O adapter devices through a lower-level bus-to-bus bridge and one or more I/O busses. The host bridge maintains a buffer coherency directory and when Invalidate commands are received by the host bridge, the bridge buffers containing the referenced data are identified and the indicated data are invalidated.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system is provided in which specific device identification information is acquired when a faulty condition is detected during an information transfer transaction, and the condition is reported to the device driver of the identified device for corrective action without initiating a system shut-down. In one example, PCI adapter sequence information, including tag number, requester bus number, requester device number and requester function number is captured and used in reporting an error condition in order to identify and isolate the adapter in a recovery operation.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system is provided in which the actual frequency of system timing signals is determinable. In one example, an output from a programmable interrupt timer is selectively sampled and a determination is made of the actual frequency of the interrupt signal. A user may indicate the number of samples upon which the frequency calculation will be based and the determined actual frequency in real time is saved for reference as needed by system requirements and other applications. In one embodiment, the number of samples and the calculated actual interrupt timer frequency, as well as other related information such as time and date of the latest calculation, is presented on a user display device.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are described in which a tri-plate chip carrier is effective to significantly reduce electromagnetic signal radiation and provide enhanced noise immunity. The tri-plate structure includes a ground layer, a middle signal conducting layer upon which an integrated circuit is mounted, and a top reference potential layer. The middle layer includes groups of printed circuit conductors extending from the chip to the outer edges of the carrier. The top layer is arranged to have separate electrically isolated conducting areas for VDD and ground reference potential connections. The conducting areas are arranged such that each group of signal conductors in the middle signal layer has a ground potential area above it and a ground potential area below it to provide enhanced signal isolation and reduced electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A method and implementing apparatus is provided for transferring data from memory to a file decoder which is effective to decode the file for further processing. In an illustrated example, a video file is decoded for presentation on a display device. The methodology includes enabling a plurality of control functions for access by a user or a user system in controlling the identity, sequence and flow of file transfers in order to optimize transfer efficiency in a data transfer transaction. Application programming interface (API) calls are provided by which playlists are constructed for transfer to the decoder. Further API calls are provided to enable pause and seek functions to be activated during a file transfer. A registration methodology is also provided by which predetermined processing events may be selected and recorded as they occur.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system is provided in which a user program-linking interface is presented on a computer screen to enable a user to select an input or source program, as well as one of several available functional operators. The linking program is effective to receive data from the input program, perform a selected functional operation on the data as may be selected by a user, and deliver the resulting information in a manner chosen by the user. In one exemplary embodiment, the resulting information is delivered to a selected output or target program which may be coupled to the linking program. In another example, the linking program is effective to provide a display window to show the results of the functional operation performed on the source program as selected by the user.

Abstract: A method and implementing electronic tri-plate connection system are provided including a nested set of RF Faraday cages within the system with integrated circuit packages containing the core drivers and receivers as the innermost Faraday cage, and additional Faraday cages being implemented at each outward level through card, board, backplane and unit level and into the network level. There is no distinction between power ground, signal ground or shield ground. All grounds throughout the system are at the same level and all package ground levels are interconnected.

Abstract: A method and implementing apparatus is provided for transferring data from memory to a file decoder which is effective to decode the file for further processing. In an illustrated example, a video file is decoded for presentation on a display device. The methodology includes enabling a plurality of control functions for access by a user or a user system in controlling the identity, sequence and flow of file transfers in order to optimize transfer efficiency in a data transfer transaction. Application programming interface (API) calls are provided by which playlists are constructed for transfer to the decoder. Further API calls are provided to enable pause and seek functions to be activated during a file transfer. A registration methodology is also provided by which predetermined processing events may be selected and recorded as they occur.

Abstract: A method and implementing system is provided in which multiple nodes of a PCI bridge/router circuit are connected to corresponding plurality of PCI busses to enable an extended number of PCI adapters to be connected within a computer system. Multiple enhanced arbiters are implemented to enable non-blocking and deadlock-free operation while still complying with PCI system requirements. An exemplary PCI-to-PCI router (PPR) circuit includes the arbiters as well as PPR buffers for temporarily storing transaction-related information passing through the router circuit between adapters on the PCI busses and/or between PCI adapters and the CPUs and system memory or other system devices. A buffer re-naming methodology is implemented to eliminate internal request/completion transaction information transfers between bridge buffers thereby increasing system performance.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which multiple nodes of a PCI bridge/router circuit are connected to corresponding plurality of PCI busses to enable an extended number of PCI adapters to be connected within a computer system. An exemplary PCI-to-PCI router (PPR) circuit includes the arbiters as well as PPR buffers for temporarily storing transaction-related information passing through the router circuit between adapters on the PCI busses and/or between PCI adapters and the CPUs and system memory or other system devices. A buffer re-naming methodology is implemented to eliminate internal request/completion transaction information transfers between bridge buffers thereby increasing system performance.