Abstract: The invention is a cryptographic system using chaotic dynamics. A chaotic system is used to generate a public key and an adjustable back door from a private key. The public key is distributed and can be used in a public key encryption system. The invention can also be used for authentication purposes. The adjustable back door of the invention can be used in conjunction with the public key to derive the private key. The degree of difficulty involved in deriving the private key is dependent on the adjustable back door. That is the value of the back door can be adjusted to vary the difficulty involved in deriving the private key.

Abstract: A database is used to store user interface state information. The database is accessed by a key having a service ID field, a caller ID field, and a caller context ID field. The caller context ID is used to identify the context in the application program from which the user interface is called. In this manner, the system can differentiate between calls from different portions of the application program which can have different user expectations of the desirable user interface state.

Abstract: A method for determining and communicating the existence of a hybrid bus In a full-duplex communications system having plurality of nodes, wherein one of the nodes is compliant with the P1394b standard and receives a Self-ID packet from the bus, comprising the acts of examining received Self-ID packets by the P1394b compliant node for the absence of a Speed Code; and presuming the existence of a hybrid bus if any of the received Self-ID packets do not contain a Speed Code.

Abstract: A recognition process for handwritten characters, including generating sub-segments representing at least one character stroke, the sub-segments each having a boundary enclosing the at least one stroke of the sub-segment, merging the sub-segments when the distance between centroids of the sub-segments are less than a predetermined threshold, and generating segments representing possible characters from the sub-segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described that allows edited media to be recorded to a sequential storage device. An edited time based stream of information of a source media is displayed. The edited time based stream is transferred to a sequential storage device to be recorded using an icon where the icon represents a function to be performed on the storage device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for quantifying a number of identical consecutive digits starting from a fixed position within a string of n digits. The system operates by converting the string of n digits into a thermometer code, wherein the thermometer code uses m bits to represent a string of m identical consecutive digits within the string of n digits. Next, the system converts the thermometer code into a one-hot code in which only one bit has a logical one value. Finally, the system converts the one-hot code into a logarithmic code representing the number of identical consecutive digits.

Abstract: A three state icon for a computer is disclosed. The icon prevents inadvertent starting of an operation on a computer. The icon has a first state which conceals a second state. Upon selection of the first state with a computer pointing device (i.e., mouse), the icon will change to the second state. Upon selecting the icon in the second state, the operation on the computer will start. Accordingly, only upon selecting the icon in the first state and then the second state, the operation will commence on the computer thereby preventing accidental startup of the operation. Once the second state has been selected, the icon will change to a third state which indicates that the operation is proceeding on the computer.

Abstract: A dynamic cursor for a computer graphical user interface changes according to the processing state of applications over which the cursor is located, or with respect to an operating system element. A normal cursor is displayed when either the operating system element, or an application over which the cursor is located, can be accessed in a normal manner. A standard wait cursor is displayed over busy applications that require a user to wait until interacting with the application, when the application is active in the foreground of the computer system. When the application is busy and operating in the background, a hybrid wait cursor is displayed that indicates to the user the busy state of the application and the user's ability to interact with operating system elements or other applications regardless of this busy state. Other forms of hybrid cursors are disclosed that indicate the results of a drag operation, and quantitative data pertaining to objects being dragged.

Abstract: The present invention provides convenient access to items of information that are related to various descriptors input by a user, by means of a unitary interface which is capable of accessing information in a variety of locations, through a number of different techniques. Using a plurality of heuristic algorithms to operate upon information descriptors input by the user, the present invention locates and displays candidate items of information for selection and/or retrieval. Thus, the advantages of a search engine can be exploited, while listing only relevant object candidate items of information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for signal line termination with minimum current flowing through a termination node. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator is connected between a termination node and a system potential reference plane, which is typically system ground or Vss, to regulate a terminating potential, which can be used as a reference potential for the input buffers to receive the signals. The voltage regulator continuously adjusts the reference potential that will be used by the signal line input buffers to minimize the current flow into and out of the termination node of the signal lines.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for transposing a matrix using a vector look up unit. In one aspect of the invention, a method for matrix transposition includes: rotating in a vector register a first row of a matrix to generate a first row, of elements; writing simultaneously into a plurality of look up units the first row of elements indexed by a first row of indices in a vector register; looking up simultaneously from the plurality of look up units a second row of elements indexed by a second row of indices in a vector register; and rotating in a vector register the second row of elements to generate a third row of elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing with a preferred processing application having a preferred identifier, an event associated with an object created by a dedicated creator application is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving the event, intercepting the event with a relay application program, and forwarding, with the relay application program, the intercepted event to the preferred processing application program.

Abstract: A dongle for interfacing between a DSL/analog combo modem with a single RJ-11 jack and each of a DSL and analog phone outlets. The dongle in combination with the combo modem can be used in both DSL spluttered environments and DSL splitterless environments. The dongle includes a DSL microfilter, and a switch to turn the filter on and off. When the filter is off, the dongle acts as a wire router and DSL splittered signals received from a DSL outlet are passed to the DSL outer twisted pair of the dongle's RJ-11 combo jack. Analog splattered signals received from the analog outlet are passed to the analog inner twisted pair of the dongle's RJ-11 combo jack. When the filter is on, the DSL and analog signals are received on the same DSL twisted pair and are filtered by the filter so as to split out each of the DSL and analog signals. The filtered signals are then passed to each of the DSL outer twisted pair and to the analog Ainner twisted pair, respectively, of the dongle's modem RJ-11 combo jack.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating a synchronous digital output signal stream from two digital input signal streams. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to generate a digital output signal stream from two digital input signal streams includes: detecting a first transition edge in a first digital input signal stream; and generating a third transition edge in a digital output signal stream. The third transition edge corresponds to the first transition edge; and the third transition edge is synchronized substantially with a second transition edge in a second digital input signal stream. In one example according to this aspect, a third digital signal stream is generated from synchronizing substantially transition edges of the first digital input signal stream with transition edges of the second digital input signal streams; and the first transition edge is detected using the third digital signal stream (e.g.