Abstract: An first apparatus for searching a collection of words based upon an input word, the first apparatus including means for generating a first set of words containing members that are lexically related to the input word, the first set of words including words that are other than regular inflectional nouns; and a search engine for searching the collection of words to detect the occurrence of any of the words from a group of search words, the group of search words comprising the input word and the first set of words.

Abstract: A multi-layer abstraction bucket mechanism connected between applications programs and at least one data source and providing to the users transformations of data and the results of processes performed on the data. The multi-layer abstraction bucket mechanism includes hierarchically connected abstraction layers, each including a methods object for storing methods for performing operations on data received from a data bucket of a hierarchically next lower abstraction layer, a data operation object for selecting a method to be executed by the method object, a data bucket for storing the results of an executed method, and a map for storing information for constructing the data bucket and for relating requests to methods residing in the methods object. The mechanism includes a data extraction layer and an abstraction layer. At least one abstraction layer is a data transformation layer while others include a data processing layer and a rules transformation layer for performing the rule based decision operations.

Abstract: An electronic mail facility for dynamically adding a direct electronic mail capability to applications programs in a computer system having an integrated operating environment and connected to a plurality of electronic mail systems and including mail modules providing a drivers and interfaces to the mail systems, an administrative module, a user interface and a data interface. The administrative module includes a mail system manger including a mail system detector for detecting each of the mail systems and a mail system table for selecting and enabling a current one of the electronic mail modules and an application program manager for detecting the invocation of an application program to be supported by the electronic mail facility. The user interface includes user interface modifiers, each including a user interface representation of an electronic mail operation and an electronic mail procedure, including resources, scripts and macros, and drag and drop icons.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an index for a collection of words, the apparatus including means for selecting an input word from the collection of words; means for generating words that are lexically related to the input word, wherein the input word and the lexically related words form a group of words; and an indexing engine for representing the occurrence in the collection of words of any of the members of the group by a single member of the group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to database data by applications programs executing on a computer system wherein a database bucket mechanism is interposed between one or more application programs and one or more databases. The bucket mechanism is comprised of an applications interface communicating with each of the applications programs in their native modes and a bucket engine generating "buckets" containing "bucket objects". Each bucket represents a group or class of database data members and contains one or more bucket data objects containing members of the databases, a database object mapping the bucket data object to the databases and an access object containing methods for accessing the databases in their native modes. Buckets and bucket data objects are constructed by the bucket engine according to information stored in an object map and a table map.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for interfacing a central processor (12) (CP) and an IO controller (30) (IOC) to a main memory (40). A CP and an IO write buffer each include a pair of memory input data registers, located in a pair of Memory Data Unit (MDU) integrated circuits (38a, 38b), and also two memory address registers, a previous memory address register, and an address comparator, located in a Memory Address Unit (MAU) (36). These registers, in conjunction with associated control logic, are used to buffer CP and IO write addresses and data to the main memory. If both address registers have a pending write, the last loaded address register is checked for a match against the current write address using the previous address register and the comparator. A match results in the combination of the previous write data and the current write data into one pending write, using write merge circuitry within the MDUs.

Abstract: An object based data processing system including an extensible set of object types and a corresponding set of "object managers" wherein each object manager is a program for operating with the data stored in a corresponding type of object. The object managers in general support at least a standard set of operations. Any program can effect performance of these standard operations on objects of any type by making an "invocation" request. In response to an invocation request, object management services (which are available to all object managers) identifies and invokes an object manager that is suitable for performing the requested operation on the specified type of data. A mechanism is provided for linking data from one object into another object. A object catalog includes both information about objects and about links between objects. Data interchange services are provided for communicating data between objects of different types, using a set of standard data interchange formats.

Abstract: A data processing system provides annotation of a document with annotations inputted through an electronic tablet, a keyboard and an audio assembly. The annotations are entered in a modeless operation of the three input streams. Input by the tablet utilizes a two ended pen. One end of the pen is used for writing annotations to be added to a document and the second end of the pen is used for erasing the added written annotations. Files record the annotations made to the document in a manner which allows a time sequenced playback of the annotations including handwritten, typed and voiced annotations. A state machine of various procedures and controllers which call the procedures is used for processing the annotations as they are made, for replaying the annotations at a subsequent desired time, and for printing the annotations.

Abstract: A server for executing operation calls by a client, including a dispatcher, a plurality of worker tasks, and a dispatcher shared memory area and worker control block for each worker task. Each operation call provided from a client is a sequence or one or more remote procedure call requests and each includes a packed buffer containing parameters. The dispatcher receives a buffer directly into the dispatcher shared memory space of the worker task selected to execute the remote procedure call request, sets the semaphore and sends a request acceptance response. The selected worker task unpacks the buffer into its memory space, executes the request, places the results into a packed buffer in its dispatcher shared memory area and sends a remote procedure call to the dispatcher. The dispatcher executes a remote procedure call to the client and sends the result buffer directly from the shared memory area.

Abstract: A circuit (10) for generating an output signal having a frequency that is a multiple of an input clock signal (CLKIN). The circuit includes a delay circuit (12) having an input port and a plurality of output ports (A,B,C). The input port is coupled during use to the input clock signal. Individual ones of the plurality of output ports output a signal that is delayed with respect to the input clock signal and also with respect to others of the plurality of output ports. The circuit further includes a logic network (20) having a first input for coupling to the input clock signal and a plurality of second inputs for coupling to the plurality of output ports. The logic network operates to logically combine signals emanating from the plurality of output ports with the input clock signal, and has an output port (OUTPUT) for outputting a signal having a frequency that is multiple of a frequency of the input clock signal.

Abstract: A pausing and resuming utility in a computer graphics application allows the user to temporarily suspend a user-interactive operation without completing it. The user may resume the operation where it was suspended and continue in the same manner as if it had not been suspended. While the operation is suspended, the user need not maintain the system input device in any particular state and may use a Help function to obtain system operating instructions.

Abstract: A mechanism and a method for integrating first data created by a first application program and residing in a first data object belonging to the first application into a second data object where the first data is result data generated by operation of the first application program upon source data of the first application program. A computer system includes an integrated operating environment. A user creates and stores a script identifying the source data and directing the operation of the application program to generate the result data from the source data and inserts a reference to the script in the second data object, wherein the reference identifies the script, the application program and an operation of the application program to execute the script.

Abstract: In a portable computer the BIOS software slows the system clock frequency during idle periods. The BIOS software returns the system to its normal operating frequency when an awaited event such as a keystroke occurs. In the event of an interrupt while the system clock is at the lower frequency, a hardware clock control circuit responds to the interrupt to promptly increase the system clock frequency to the normal value. By decoding the old frequency, new frequency and the several available frequencies, the change in frequency is timed to maintain proper phase and duty cycle without interruption.

Abstract: A connection mechanism for providing connections between a client and a server including a connection control block for each connection, at least one client control block, and at least one session control block. Each connection control block identifies a connection and each client control block a client. Each session control block corresponds to a client control block establishes a session between a client and a connection and identifies the session, tile connection, and the server. Each session is established solely through a corresponding session control block and each operation is identified by the corresponding session identification. The connection mechanism includes a stack mechanism for storing at least one operation stack. Each operation stack corresponds to an operation to be executed through the corresponding connection and includes the session identifier and at least one operation request that is to be executed to execute the operation.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus for executing the method, for processing digitized image data representative of a page. The method includes the steps of (a) processing the image data on a scanline by scanline basis to partition the image data into a plurality of rows and columns of N.times.M arrays (14a) of image pixels. The step of partitioning includes the steps of, for each row of an N.times.M array of image pixels, (b) detecting occurrences, if any, along any scanline of an image pixel having a foreground value; for a non-zero number of detected occurrences within one N.times.M array of image pixels, (c) incrementing a corresponding array row count and a corresponding array column count; and (d) for at least one detected occurrence, adjusting the boundary of a bounding box so as to enclose the at least one detected occurrence and substantially all previously detected occurrences.

Abstract: A circuit that enhances the performance of the execution of a read-modify-write instruction type. The circuit provides hardware detection and decoding of various options specified by the instruction, and greatly improves the performance and conserves space within a micro-code control store (14). The circuit also detects anomalous cases and reports them to micro-code for special handling. The detection of the anomalous cases occurs dynamically and in parallel to instruction execution, thereby improving performance. Resulting condition codes are also provided simultaneously to the control program. The circuit operates in concert with a micro-code controlled mechanism to read a memory variable and, based on the specification of the instruction, the circuit selectively adds 1, subtracts 1, adds a 16-bit mask specified by the instruction, or subtracts the 16-bit mask, and returns the result to a central processor (12).

Abstract: A document processing system (10) includes a user interface (22, 24, 25) and a memory (18) for storing bitmap data (18a) representing a document (14) that includes text. The user interface includes a display (22, 22a) for visualizing an image of the bitmap data and an input device, such as a mouse (25), for specifying locations within the displayed image corresponding to locations within the stored bitmap data. The document processing system further includes a bitmap data processor (20) that is responsive to a first specified location designating a start of an area of the image containing text to a second specified location designating a termination of the area of the image containing text, for processing bitmap data corresponding to the area.

Abstract: An interferometer mirror drive system compensates for velocity and tilt errors induced by ambient vibration, as well as providing long-term automatic alignment of the mirrors. A uniquely configured .lambda./8-thick step on the fixed mirror of the interferometer introduces a 90-degree phase shift in one of two reference light beams, to produce quadrature signals which characterize the relative motion between the fixed and the driven mirrors. An electronic circuit extracts velocity and tilt data from the quadrature signals and develops error signals indicative of deviations from the desired coordinates of the moving mirror. The error signals are used to generate a set of control signals which in turn are supplied to an arrangement of drive coils attached to the moving mirror, to restore the mirror to the desired coordinates.

Abstract: A process control instrument, in which the resonant frequency of a vibrating string varies in accordance with changes in a process parameter being monitored, employs a pneumatic drive system to induce the string into oscillation. Pressurized gas is discharged through a port, such as a jet nozzle, which is disposed to allow the gas to impinge on the outer surface of the string. Variations in the alignment between the gas discharge port and the string permits different modes of vibration, one of which is particularly suitable for process measurement purposes. In a particular embodiment of the apparatus, an optical sensor detects the frequency of vibrations, resulting in an intrinsically safe instrument for use in explosive environments.

Abstract: A body for improved shedding of vortices within a flowing fluid has a very short downstream length, e.g. 1/8 inch, yet is capable of excellent flow metering performance. The body includes an upstream elongate thin plate spanning the inner diameter of a conduit, and one or more sections projecting downstream of the plate. Generally, these sections are in the form of cylindrical rods having circular, rectangular, or oval cross-sections, with their longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plate. Although these sections may be separated from the plate, in certain embodiments they are rigidly attached to the downstream side thereof. By simultaneously maintaining the ratio of the width (i.e., transverse to the flow direction) of the thin plate to the overall width of the downstream sections within the range from 1.0 to 2.2, and the ratio of the width of the thin plate to the diameter of the conduit within the range from 0.1 to 0.