Abstract: A data processing system including a data storage device having data stored on a data storage medium. Within said data processing system, a system electronics is operatively coupled to a sensor and to said data storage device. When the sensor senses a change in gravitational or inertial acceleration of said data processing system, it alerts system electronics to temporarily park a read/write head in a safe position.

Abstract: A speech recognition device with a frequency range with an upper frequency limit fmax is provided. The speech recognition device has more than two microphones with distances between the microphones, wherein the greatest common factor of the distances between the microphones is less than the speed of sound divided by fmax. More particularly, where the microphones are spaced a total distance, the number of the more than two microphones is less than the one half the total distance times the upper frequency limit divided by the speed of sound.

Abstract: A method for speech recognition is provided. Generally, a first signal is generated from a first microphone. The first signal is transformed to coefficients. The coefficients from the first signal are inputted to a multiple channel noise rejection device. A second signal is generated from a second microphone. The second signal is transformed to coefficients. The coefficients from the second signal are inputted to the multiple channel noise rejection device. Coefficients from the multiple channel noise rejection device, which are dependent on coefficients from the first signal and coefficients from the second signal, are provided to an acoustic model selector. Acoustic model hypotheses are chosen based on the coefficients from the multiple channel noise rejection device.

Abstract: An improved speech recognition device is provided. The speech recognition device comprises a display with at least two built in microphones and a speech recognition module electrically connected to the display. The speech recognition module uses an algorithm that may take into account the position of the built in microphone on the display. The display may have a first axis of rotation where the microphones may be placed an equal distance from the first axis of rotation.

Abstract: A computer (10) having a monitor housing (12) within which is affixed a logic module (24) having thereon a processor (36), a memory module (38), a fixed disk drive (40) and an external connector panel (46) all generally housed within a sheet metal housing (42) having therein a plurality of perforations (44) for allowing air from a fan assembly (30) to pass therethrough. A power supply (28) and monitor screen (14) are provided in the monitor housing (12) such that when the logic module (24) is mounted and electrically connected within the monitor housing (12) a generally complete computer (10) unit is provided. An auxiliary drive (16) is optionally provided and affixed to the logic module (24) such that the auxiliary drive (16) is externally accessible when the logic module (24) is affixed within the monitor housing (12).

Abstract: Improved graphical user interfaces and techniques for requesting records from a shared database over a network are disclosed. One aspect pertains to a record range control that allows easy selection of a record range to be viewed. Another aspect pertains to a record range control that provides a graphical depiction of the record range to be viewed. In one embodiment, the record range control includes a background grid representing a complete set of records within a database, and a slider bar that slides over the background grid. The position of the slider bar with respect to the background grid identifies those records of the complete set of records to be retrieved or displayed.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed which may adopt one of many personas, depending upon the role that its owner is currently playing. The computer system includes a central repository of extensible personas available to all applications running on the computer system. Each such persona has associated therewith a suite of parameters, or specific values for parameters, which are appropriate for conducting computer implemented transactions under a particular persona. The computer system further includes a graphical user interface which allows the user to switch from persona to persona by selecting a particular persona from a list of available personas displayed on a display screen of the computer system. By selecting such persona, the user causes the computer system to globally change the entire suite of parameter values so that subsequent transactions conducted with the computer system employ the parameter values of the current persona.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing media data for transmission in a data communication medium. A set of data indicates how to transmit a time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, includes a time related sequence of data which is associated with the time related sequence of media data. The set of data may be utilized by a digital processing system to transmit the time related sequence of media data (e.g., by packets generated according to the transmission protocol and the set of data).

Abstract: The invention generally pertains to a computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to an improved keyboard arrangement for use in the computing device. One aspect of the invention pertains to a movable keyboard that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of the computing device. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a magnetic keyboard securing system suitable for holding the movable keyboard relative to the computing device. The invention is particularly useful in computing devices such as portable computers.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for awakening bus circuitry from an inactive state as needed are described. The bus circuitry forms part of a computer system and is placed in the inactive state (i.e., shut down) when not needed so as to conserve power. The bus circuitry is associated with a bus and can be awakened out of the inactive state when certain bus events, including resume, connect or disconnect, occur on the bus. The invention is particularly advantageous for computing devices (e.g., portable computers, desktop computers, server computers) where it is desirous to shut down bus circuitry as well as other circuitry (e.g., microprocessor) when not needed so as to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: An improved hinge mechanism for use with a portable computing device is disclosed. According to one aspect, a hinge mechanism includes a first assembly with a pivot connection, a cam follower, and a second assembly. The cam follower is used to produce a cam action. The second assembly includes a cam. The cam follower cooperates with the cam to produce a moment about an axis associated with the latching hinge mechanism. The cam follower and the cam also cooperate to effectively latch the first assembly with respect to the second assembly when the cam is in a first position. According to another aspect, a display screen of the portable computing device can be rotateably-hinged to a base such that the display screen is set back from the base when the display screen is opened.

Abstract: An improved hinge mechanism for use with a portable computing device is disclosed. The present invention relates to a hinge mechanism that is suitable for use in a portable computing device. According to one aspect of the present invention, a hinge mechanism that is used with a door in a portable computing device includes a spring coil, a stopper, and a pivot arm. The spring coil has a compressive state, e.g., the spring coil may be compressed or decompressed. The pivot arm is coupled to the stopper, and includes a first section as well as a second section. The first section is arranged to be positioned substantially within the spring coil, and the second section is arranged to be coupled to the door. Translational motion of the pivot arm causes the stopper to cause the compressive state of the spring coil to change. In one embodiment, the translational motion of the pivot arm causes the stopper to cause the spring coil to compress.

Abstract: In a computer system having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, a method for listening on multiple conferencing interfaces having the steps of loading a set of transport components into the memory; initializing each transport components of the set of transport components to listen on a particular conferencing interface using the network interface, each transport component of the set of transport components listening to a different conferencing interface; receiving an incoming call signal on the network interface having an incoming conferencing interface; processing the incoming call signal to detect the incoming conferencing interface; and launching an application based on the incoming conferencing interface.

Abstract: A computing device is disclosed. The computing device includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light emitting device disposed inside the housing. The light emitting device is configured to produce a light effect that alters the ornamental appearance of the computing device.

Abstract: A DVD authoring system in a processor-based system removes an author from consideration of the DVD Specification during authoring. According to a preferred embodiment, the authoring system provides an authoring engine having an interactive graphical authoring interface, a data management engine, an emulator, a compiler, a multiplexer and a simulator. Using summary authoring data, the compiler builds a skeleton-form PGC layout structure comprising control PGC abstractions and router PGC abstractions. The compiler then resolves the PGC abstractions according to source-target connections. During playback on a DVD player, the PGC abstractions form elements in a connection-switching abstraction superstructure. Accordingly, in response to DVD-consumer and other control events, a source PGC preferably determines target PGC information and then transfers control, via virtual connections through necessary router PGC abstractions, to a target PGC abstraction.

Abstract: A centralized queue for a network printing system is provided for allowing clients of a network printer to make job requests and enter a spot in a job queue without transmitting the actual print job data to the network. More particularly, an imaging device protocol (IDP) is provided which operates independently of the network layers below and only requires that a transport protocol/port be bidirectional. A wide variety of heterogenous network protocols may be supported by IDP for placing all of the incoming print job information in a print queue regardless of the protocol. Print job information from both IDP and non-IDP protocol/ports may be placed in the print queue by emulating IDP on the non-IDP protocol/ports. As a result, job information for all of the print jobs attempting to access a busy printer may be stored in the print queue so that the print jobs can be printed by the printer with a fair arbitration once the network printer becomes available.