Abstract: An apparatus includes a programmable device that has an interface and command ports that can each receive commands, each command requesting an information transfer through the interface. A technique relating to the device involves: selecting during field programming a number of priority definitions; configuring each of the priority definitions during field programming to specify an order of priority for a group of the command ports; and using the priority definitions in succession and, for each of the priority definitions, causing a command to be accepted from the command port of highest priority that contains a command.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involves operating a circuit having a test circuit interrupt input terminal (INTERRUPT), having a test circuit clock output terminal (DUT_CLK), and having first and second operational modes. In the first operational mode the circuit supplies a test circuit clock signal to the test circuit clock output terminal. The circuit responds to receipt of an occurrence of a test circuit interrupt at the test circuit interrupt input terminal by then operating in the second operational mode. In the second operational mode the circuit refrains from supplying the test circuit clock signal to the test circuit clock output terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involve operating a circuit that includes a first portion and a second portion, including: operating the first portion in synchronism with a clock signal; maintaining in the first portion a logical value that can vary dynamically; and operating the second portion in a selected one of first and second operational modes. The operating of the second portion includes: responding to the occurrence of a control signal during operation in the first operational mode by causing the second portion to force the logical value in the first portion to a predetermined logical state in a manner asynchronous to the clock signal; and responding to the occurrence of the control signal during operation in the second operational mode by causing the second portion to force the logical value in the first portion to the predetermined logical state in a manner synchronized with the clock signal.

Abstract: A computer system has a processing unit with suspend/resume capability, a memory, and a hard disk drive. In response to a first command from the processor, the hard disk drive sends its status to the processor and the processor stores it in the memory. In response to a second command from the processor, the hard disk accepts from the processor the status retrieved by the processor from the memory, and restores itself to this status. In an alternative embodiment, the hard disk drive response to the first command by storing its status on its own hard disk, and responds to the second command by restoring this status from the hard disk. In each case, an output line from the hard disk used to control a light emitting diode is also selectively used to create an interrupt to the processor which facilitates the systems entry into the suspend mode.

Abstract: An abstract manager system (12) and method for managing an abstract database (40) are provided. The abstract manager system (12) may be implemented using a computer that includes a mass storage device (44) and a processor (34). The processor (34) is responsive to one or more computer files stored in the mass storage device (44) such as an abstract manager program (32). The processor (34) is responsive to generate an abstract manager input form (96) and to receive input abstract information in the abstract manager input form (96). The processor (34) is also responsive to generate a record in an abstract database (40) that includes the input abstract information and to generate a file, such as an abstract file of abstract files (42), that includes the input abstract information.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and system for distributing an electronic publication. The invention allows the distribution of customized publications, including customized advertising, customized content, or both. In accordance with the method for distributing an electronic publication, a version of an electronic publication is retrieved from storage. The electronic publication is delivered to the consumer by electronically sending the electronic publication to the consumer's electronic mail address with a return receipt requested. A receipt is then generated in response to the retrieval of the electronic publication from the consumer's electronic mailbox.

Abstract: A system and method (10) for deriving access codes for billing customers includes a load process (12) receiving a set of system attributes (20) and using at least one of the system attributes (20) for looking up in at least one lookup table (16, 18, 22, 24) for an access code and at least one formula value, and further storing the access code and at least one formula value in an access code lookup table (26, 28). The system (10) further includes a derivation process (14) which receives a specification of values for the set of system attributes from a billing record (30), uses the specification of values for looking up in the at least one lookup table (16, 18, 22, 24) for a derivation formula, uses the derivation formula for looking up in the billing record (30) for an attribute value, and further uses the attribute value for comparing with the formula value stored in the access code lookup table (26, 28).

Abstract: A method (1000) of automatically managing travel service information is provided. The method generates a business entity profile and individual profile for customers (1004, 1006), and stores the information in a relational database. Customer reservation services information retrieved from all available sources is also stored in the same database (1010). Consequently, the customer reservation services information and the profile information is made available, simultaneously, for use by an agent in processing a customer's travel request (1013).

Abstract: A system and method (10) for collecting and processing input data (16) and generating output data (24). The system (10) uses a plurality of dictionary tables (22) to control the reading, processing, and outputting of data. The system (10) includes at least one input processing table (32) having format and content information of the input data (16), and at least one output processing table (34) having format and content information of said output data (24). A multi-tasking process (60) is used to spawn a plurality of subtasks (90), each subtask processing one type of data, said subtasks accessing said input processing table (32) for determining how said input data (16) are to be read, and further accessing said output processing table (34) for determining how to create and format said output data (24). Other data dictionary tables (22) are used to track system activity and statistics, define the system that generated the data, and avoid duplicate processing of data.

Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.

Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. When running a multi-tasking operating system where an application program is being executed in a restricted mode, a suspend/resume operation can be carried out in which the system is substantially powered down and then powered back up, and will resume the interrupted application with the restricted mode back in effect. Further, set-up changes such as adjustment of the processor speed can be made without exiting the application program running in the restricted mode.

Abstract: A computer system has a memory and has a processor coupled to the memory, the processor having an access control arrangement for delaying completion of a memory access until the occurrence of a control signal. A deterministic circuit coupled to the-processor and the memory has a register arrangement containing control information loaded by the processor, the deterministic circuit having a signal generation arrangement for generating the control signal. The signal generating arrangement includes a selective delay arrangement which can selectively delay generation of the control signal during an access to the memory by a time interval having a duration which is a function of the control information in the register arrangement.

Abstract: A laptop computer system includes a protected mode microprocessor capable of operating in restricted and unrestricted modes, and an arrangement which in response to a predetermined condition saves information from the processor and then forcibly switches the processor to its unrestricted mode of operation. The system includes a first interrupt mask register having a bit for indicating whether an interrupt is to be recognized by the processor, a second interrupt mask register having a bit for indicating whether the interrupt is to be recognized by a further circuit, and an arrangement responsive to a load of the first mask register for conforming the bit of the second mask register to the bit of the first mask register in a manner invisible to an application program being executed by the processor.

Abstract: A computer system has a processing unit with suspend/resume capability, a memory, and a hard disk drive. In response to a first command from the processor, the hard disk drive sends its status to the processor and the processor stores it in the memory. In response to a second command from the processor, the hard disk accepts from the processor the status retrieved by the processor from the memory, and restores itself to this status. In an alternative embodiment, the hard disk drive response to the first command by storing its status on its own hard disk, and responds to the second command by restoring this status from the hard disk. In each case, an output line from the hard disk used to control a light emitting diode is also selectively used to create an interrupt to the processor which facilitates the systems entry into the suspend mode.