Abstract: The present invention is directed to producing and reproducing an image using a tone reproduction curve which has been selected based on statistical evaluation of psychophysical data, such as psychophysically quantified subjective judgements. By providing a controlled acquisition and evaluation of psychophysical data to select a tone reproduction curve, visually improved imagery can be assured. Further, once a procedure for controlled acquisition and statistical evaluation of psychophysical data has been established for a given environment, lesser skilled technicians can be used to carry out selection of a tone reproduction curve.

Abstract: A network-oriented component system efficiently accesses information from a network resource located on a computer network by creating an encapsulated network entity that contains a reference to that resource. The encapsulated entity is preferably implemented as a network component stored on a computer remotely displaced from the referenced resource. In addition, the encapsulated entity may be manifested as a visual object on a graphical user interface of a computer screen. Such visual manifestation allows a user to easily manipulate the entity in order to display the contents of the resource on the screen or to electronically forward the entity over the network.

Abstract: A method and system for purging translation lookaside buffers (TLB) of a computer system are described. Directed write transactions can be used to avoid deadlock and avoid the need for additional bridge buffers. Broadcast emulation can be achieved by linking the nodes in a doubly-linked list and having neighboring nodes notify each other of changes in TLB entries.

Abstract: A data transmission system having a real-time data engine for processing isochronous streams of data includes an interface device that provides a physical and logical connection of a computer to any one or more of a variety of different types of data networks. Data received at this device is presented to a serial driver, which disassembles different streams of data for presentation to appropriate data managers. A device handler associated with the interface device sets up data flow paths, and also presents data and commands from the data managers to a real-time data processing engine. Flexibility to handle any type of data, such as voice, facsimile, video and the like, that is transmitted over any type of communication network with any type of real-time engine is made possible by abstracting the functions of each of the elements of the system from one another.

Abstract: The invention includes a cable assembly housing. The cable assembly housing may include a main shell that defines a first cavity. The main shell may have a collar. The cable assembly may also include a cable shell that defines a second cavity. The cable shell may have a neck disposed between a mating surface and a flange. The flange of the cable shell may be disposed through the collar and inside the first cavity. The cable shell may be located in different positions relative to the main shell and locked against relative motion by detents and slots.

Abstract: In a computer memory system, memory access operations are significantly enhanced by employing a data path between the read only memory (ROM) and the system processor that is separate and independent from the data path or paths between the system processor and the random access memory (i.e., RAM or DRAM). The separate ROM data path includes a full cache line buffer which stores the ROM data until the system data bus is available to transport the ROM data. With a separate ROM data path, that includes a full cache line buffer, memory access operations are more efficiently conducted because a RAM access (i.e., a read or write operation) and a ROM access (i.e., a read operation) can be executed concurrently.

Abstract: The data processing system loads three input operands, including two input vectors and a control vector, into vector registers and performs a permutation of the two input vectors as specified by the control vector, and further stores the result of the operation as the output operand in an output register. The control vector consists of sixteen indices, each uniquely identifying a single byte of input data in either of the input registers, and can be specified in the operational code or be the result of a computation previously performed within the vector registers. The control vector is specified by calculating the offset of a selected vector element of the input vector relative to a base address of the input vector and loading each element with an index equal to the relative offset. Alternatively, the generation of the alignment vector is made by performing a look-up within a look-up table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for intelligent scrolling. In a computer system that has a user interface which allows for the movement of items from a first open window to a second open window or to a second region, such as a desktop, the present invention allows a user to select one or more items in the first window, move the selected item(s) to within a predetermined distance from an edge of the first window for a predetermined period of time and cause the viewable portion of the data and/or document within the first window to scroll in a corresponding direction.

Abstract: In a mixed-protocol multiple-processor cache coherence computer system one processor may support read-only and read-write lists while another processor may support only read-write lists. Data copied to a cache is called a cache line while a copy of the same data remaining in memory is called a memory line. A memory line is stale when its associated cache line has been modified. The main memory of the system always points to the processor at the head of each list and includes indications of fresh and stale memory line states. The present invention deletes the head entry of a read-only cache-sharing list where the head entry supports read-only operations and the next-list entry supports only read-write operations. The head of the list informs the next-list entry that the next-list entry is about to become the head of the list. The main memory then repositions its head-pointer to the next-list entry and changes the memory state from fresh to stale.

Abstract: A modified stream-based protocol implementation is employed within a network environment to compensate for inefficiencies associated with conventional stream based protocols, such as TCP. Characteristics of a transaction-based protocol are advantageously utilized in client/server data transactions to reduce the number of acknowledgment signals sent upon receipt of data, as well as eliminate delays associated with the buffering of data at the server. These results are accomplished without requiring changes to servers using standard stream-based protocols.

Abstract: A supervisory arrangement for a networked multimedia computing system provides features which facilitate the use and control of the networked system. One disclosed feature enables slave workstations to request attention from a master station. At the master workstation, multiple requests are prioritized in order of receipt, so that a supervisor or administrator is prompted to respond to the oldest pending request. As soon as the request is responded to, for example by audio communication with the slave station, the request is automatically cleared without the need for any input by the administrator or the person who made the request.

Abstract: A system measures the color output of a computer monitor by using predetermined phosphor characteristics of the monitor that are stored in monitor memory. The relationship between beam current and pixel values is then determined and stored in computer memory. When a color output measurement is taken, the average pixel values are determined. The beam currents associated with the average pixel values are then accessed from the computer memory and multiplied by the phosphor characteristics to obtain an accurate color output measurement.

Abstract: An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect comprises a first node and a second node coupled to the first node. The interconnect is initially configured to include the first and second nodes. A third node is added to the interconnect after the interconnect is initially configured, and the first node responds to the addition of the third node by initiating a new connect handshake with the third node. The first node begins by transmitting a first signal to the third node. The first node signals that the third node has been added to the interconnect if the third node responds to the first signal by transmitting a second signal. The first node causes the interconnect to be reconfigured if the third node transmits a third signal in response to receiving the first signal.

Abstract: A method and system for providing “just-in-time” dynamic loading and unloading of libraries. Library code is loaded into memory just prior to the actual execution of a routine in that library and is unloaded from memory after the execution of the library routine is completed. According to the present invention, a library structure having a library loader and a library implementation module. The library loader provides the same entry points as the library itself and contains code to drive the loading and unloading of the library implementation module which actually contains the code to implement the library call. At the beginning of the execution of an application or other software module, the library loaders for libraries needed by that application or other software module, are loaded into memory and unloaded upon completion of that application or other software module.

Abstract: Improved techniques for controlling buses of a computer system are disclosed such that peripheral devices (and/or their associated buses) can be connected or disconnected to the computer system while the computer system is active. The peripheral devices are connected to the computer system by being inserted into a slot or other receptacle of the computer system. The peripheral devices are disconnected from the computer system by being removed from a slot or other receptacle of the computer system. The slots or receptacles typically includes connectors designed to receive peripheral devices, such as PC CARD slots, expansion bays, and the like. Given that the peripheral devices can be inserted or removed while the computer system is active is active, the computer system according to the invention permits “hot-plugging” of peripheral devices. The invention is particularly well suited for controlling PCI buses for peripheral devices connecting to a computer system by way of peripheral ports.

Abstract: Assigning meanings to spoken utterances in a speech recognition system. A plurality of speech rules is generated, each of the of speech rules comprising a language model and an expression associated with the language model. At one interval (e.g. upon the detection of speech in the system), a current language model is generated from each language model in the speech rules for use by a recognizer. When a sequence of words is received from the recognizer, a set of speech rules which match the sequence of words received from the recognizer is determined. Each expression associated with the language model in each of the set of speech rules is evaluated, and actions are performed in the system according to the expressions associated with each language model in the set of speech rules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing need based synchronization of a time clock maintained by a computer system. A number of computer systems are connected to a network, such as the Internet. Each computer system synchronizes its time clock by accessing a time server via the network. The time server may service a large number of client computer systems for purposes of providing accurate time of day readings and may therefore be subject to substantial loading. Accordingly, in each client system, the time clock is synchronized at least twice, and an amount of drift in the time clock is determined based on the two or more synchronizations. The synchronization interval for future synchronizations of the clock or the specific time of the next synchronization is then determined based upon the amount of drift, such that the time clock of each client computer system is synchronized only when necessary, and such that the loading on the time server is reduced.