Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently performing data transfer operations in an electronic system preferably includes a plurality of buffers that may store data and commands during execution of data transfer operations. Initially, at least a portion of a plurality of commands defining data transfer operations between a memory and peripheral devices may be temporarily stored in a command buffer associated with a processor interface. The processor interface may then issue commands directly to a memory interface, peripheral devices, and peripheral interfaces within the electronic system. Commands received by the memory interface may be temporarily stored in a command buffer associated with the memory interface. When a memory associated with the memory interface is ready, the memory interface may access the memory, and transfer data to or from one or more buffers associated with a peripheral device.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively managing telephone functionality by utilizing a settop box may preferably include a television coupled to the settop box for displaying television programming from a television programming source, and a telephone coupled to the settop box for receiving telephone calls from a telephone network. The settop box may include a TV mute manager for controlling a television mute mode that may be activated to mute audio programming on the television when receiving incoming telephone calls. The settop box may further include a caller ID manager that controls a caller ID mode that may be activated to display caller identifications on the television when receiving incoming telephone calls. The settop box may also include a phone mute manager that controls a telephone mute mode that may be activated to mute telephone ringing when receiving incoming telephone calls.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-level context switching in an electronic network comprises a control state machine configured to implement a data priority scheme, a return address generator configured to hold and release return addresses for interrupted instruction modules in accordance with the data priority scheme and context information from the electronic network, and a processor configured to process data from the electronic network in accordance with the data priority scheme and the context information. Receive registers stores data received from the electronic network. The control state machine includes a switch address generator and a program counter select. The switch address generator outputs a switch address, which is an address for a first instruction for a selected-context instruction module. The return address generator holds and releases the return addresses, which are addresses of next consecutive instructions, when an instruction module is interrupted for a context switch.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic visual map device comprises a visual map application that provides selected route images for display upon a display device in an initial route mode. The visual map application may also provide selected destination images and related destination information for display upon the display device in a final destination mode. The route images and the destination images may be stored locally in a memory device, or alternately may be downloaded as needed from a distributed computer network using a network manager.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and displaying representations of holographic images comprises a display device, digital image data, a simulation module configured to create a representation of a holographic image and display the representation on the display device, and a processor configured to control the simulation module. The digital image data may include a sequence of images selected by a user by utilizing a selection module. An inspection module inspects the sequence of images for errors. An image sizing module manipulates the digital image data to conform to a size of a final stereogram, and a color module manipulates the digital image data to conform to a color of the final stereogram. A sequence repair module fills any gaps in the sequence of images. When the user determines that the representation is satisfactory, an image data formatter configures the digital image data to conform to requirements of a service provider.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficient memory utilization in an electronic system comprises a memory divided into memory units of equal size, a data source, and an interface between the memory and the data source, which manages storage and retrieval of data in the memory. The data source generates first data components and second data components, each of the first data components being larger than each of the second data components. Each memory unit is sized to contain one of the second data components. The memory units are configured as a continuous memory ring. The interface stores the data components sequentially in the memory ring as the data components are generated by the data source. The interface also retrieves the data components sequentially from the memory ring. A control module sends control signals to the interface to control read and write operations for the data components.

Abstract: In a multi-processor system having cache-coherent sharing list, initiating a request to obtain a read-write copy updates a head of a cache sharing list from read-only status to read-write status. If another cache joins the list before the updating transaction has been completed, the present invention allows a read-only copy and a read-write copy of the head to exist concurrently in two list locations. When prepending to each of the copies coded command sets are applied based on the different states of the copies, resulting in two prepending groups, a first group associated with the read-only copy and a second group associated with the read-write copy. The method then allows servicing the read-only group while the read-write group waits. After all services to the read-only group have been performed, the head is modified and stale cache copies are invalidated. The read-write group is then serviced.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide help and configuration information for a plurality of consumer electronic devices in an audio/video network. More specifically, each network device provides help information, identifying the device and its features to other network devices. A help utility program interfaces with a presentation device to provide help information to a user. Another implementation consistent with the present invention provides help information related to configuring two or more devices to perform an operation.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing isochronous processor cache comprises a memory device for storing high-priority isochronous information, an isochronous cache coupled to the memory device for locally caching the isochronous information from the memory device, and a processor device for accessing and utilizing the isochronous information that is stored in the isochronous cache. The isochronous cache is reserved for storing the isochronous information, and may be reconfigured into a selectable number of cache channels of varying size that each corresponds to an associated isochronous process.

Abstract: A method and system for deleting a head entry of a read-only list in a multi-processor computer system supporting mixed cache-coherence protocols involving both read-only and read-write processors. The head of the list first informs the next-list entry that the next-list entry is about to become the head of a read-only list. The next-list entry then responds with a status code indicating whether the next-list entry supports read-only. If the next-list entry does not support the read-only protocol, the system changes a memory line status from fresh to stale, thereby indicating a new read-write list. However, if the next list entry does support the read-only protocol, the memory line remains fresh, thereby maintaining a read-only list. A forward pointer of a memory is updated to point to the next-list entry as a new head-of-list. The previous head-of-list then informs the next-list entry that the previous head-of-list has been completely deleted from the list.

Abstract: A system and method for locally caching remote query replies in an electronic network comprises a local registry that performs a local query for a local software module to locate a target software element for a network messaging process. If the local query is unsuccessful, the local registry responsively creates a remote query based on the unsuccessful local query, and then broadcasts the remote query to remote registries across the electronic network. The local registry then evaluates the remote query replies and stores a remote element registration into a local cache for each successful remote query reply. The local software module may then locally identify those remote target software elements with which the local software module frequently communicates, to facilitate efficient network messaging processes.

Abstract: A system and method to effectively compensate for delays in an electronic interconnect comprises a controller that initially schedules a first transmission from a first talker device to several listener devices. The controller then schedules a second talker device to pre-roll a second transmission and selectively routes the second transmission to compensate for delays introduced by components of said electronic interconnect to thereby provide a seamless transmission stream to the several listeners.

Abstract: A system and method for incrementally updating remote element lists in an electronic network comprises a communication media manager that notifies an event manager whenever the electronic network is altered by a network event that adds or removes devices. The event manager responsively notifies a device-control module manager that is subscribed for notification when a network event occurs. The device-control module manager responsively generates a network analysis to various software elements in the electronic network to indicate either the addition or removal of a device on the network. A local registry element may then receive the network analysis and responsively generate an updated remote registry list, in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: An optical system and method for selective transmission of light between a source of light and set of storage disks along an optical path includes at least one polarization maintaining optical fiber optical fiber. Various noise reduction techniques are provided by substantially decreasing or eliminating spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at end faces and of an optical fiber. In particular, various techniques, such as index matching, a cover slip method, or laser modulation, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the front end face of the optical fiber. Various techniques, such index matching or multi-mode fiber splicing, may be used to eliminate spurious reflections (or the effects thereof) at the end face of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system and method for fast data transfers in an electronic network comprises a data transfer engine configured to independently execute data transfer instructions and a processor configured to forward the data transfer instructions to the data transfer engine. The data transfer engine preferably executes the data transfer instructions while the processor proceeds to execute a next instruction. The data transfer engine includes a transmit engine that executes transmit transfer instructions and a receive engine that executes receive transfer instructions. The transmit engine and the receive engine operate independently and thus may operate concurrently.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a topology detector to capture visual information comprises a topology detector that propagates a detection pulse towards a target object using a transmitter module, and then senses wave segments of the detection pulse with a sensor array as the wave segments are reflected back toward the topology detector. The topology detector may then generate contour values that correspond to localized areas of the target object. A detection manager may then access the contour values to responsively generate and store topology values that may be mapped to respective pixel values of a set of captured image data that represents the target object.

Abstract: A system and method for context switching in an electronic network comprises a memory configured to store instruction modules, each instruction module corresponding to a context, a processor that executes the instruction modules, and a control state machine. The control state machine selects one of the instruction modules for execution by the processor according to context information from the electronic network. The control state machine includes a switch address generator, a return address register, and a program counter select. The switch address generator outputs a switch address, which is an address for a first instruction for a selected-context instruction module. The return address register stores a return address, which is an address of a next consecutive instruction, when an instruction module is interrupted for a context switch.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a hierarchical remote query in an electronic network comprises a local registry that classifies remote registries into discrete categories based upon the relative capability of their host devices. The local registry then broadcasts a remote query to the discrete categories of remote registries in a hierarchical sequence. The present invention thus propagates the remote query in a sequence that produces optimal likelihood of a successful remote query reply, while simultaneously conserving network resources and minimizing messaging traffic across the electronic network.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for flexibly distributing timing signals. Timing signals may require varying delays when connected, via circuit paths of varying propagation delays, to multiple circuit elements in order to preserve circuit synchronization. In one embodiment of the present invention, multiple clock signal generators are programmed to produce clock signals of differing time delays. This programming may be accomplished after the design and fabrication of the circuits utilizing the clock signals. These clock signals are then distributed, via circuit paths of varying propagation delays, to the multiple circuit elements.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for speech verification using a confidence measure that includes a speech verifier which compares a differential score for a recognized word to a predetermined threshold value, where a recognized word is the word model that produced the highest recognition score. In one embodiment, a single threshold is used for each word in a vocabulary. In another embodiment, each word model has an associated threshold, so that a differential score for a recognized word is compared to a unique threshold associated with that word. In a further embodiment, pairs of confused words in the vocabulary are dealt with separately. If a confused word is the recognized word, the speech verifier compares the differential score to a threshold that depends on the word model that produced the next-highest recognition score. Different values for the various thresholds may maximize rejection accuracy or recognition accuracy.