Abstract: A means and method for generating and displaying a contentbased depiction of a standard icon on the display of a computer is described. The depiction is generated upon the occurrence of predetermined events, such as the closure of the document or file associated with the icon, and is displayed in either a static or animated form in place of the standard icon in response to selection signals from a selection device. A single content-based depiction of an icon is generated by creating a representation of the object (file or document) to be depicted, and translating this representation into a scaled-down replica of the representation. This representation may be in the form of a bit-map, a full-scale image, etc.

Abstract: A method for formatting paragraphs on a screen of a computer system including the steps of: a) entering a word on a screen of a computer system using a pointing mechanism; b) finding an associated paragraph, if any, that the word is to be associated with; c) adding the word to the associated paragraph, if one exists; and d) starting a new paragraph with the word if there is not a closely related exiting paragraph. A newly-entered word can be added to an associated paragraph in basically four ways. The word can be added in a new line at the top of the paragraph, in a new line at the bottom of the paragraph, at the end of an existing line, or between words of an existing line. After a word has been entered, the text within the paragraph is repositioned as desired by the user, either implicitly or through an explicit command. For example, the words within a paragraph can be caused to "reflow" so that they are aligned between the left and right margins of the paragraph.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing computer-assisted implicit and explicit assistance. If no implicit assist actions are desired or indicated, a logical process is initiated to determine whether explicit assistance should be undertaken. If implicit assistance is indicated, a list of action alternatives is displayed for the user. If explicit assistance is desired by the user, particular object(s) from which the assistance may be inferred are entered into an assistance operation. An attempt is made to recognize possible intents expressed by the objects entered into the assistance process. If no user intent is, in fact, recognized, the assist operation is usually terminated. If a possible intent is recognized, the actual intent is hypothesized. A check is further undertaken, to determine whether a hypothesis is in fact available. If no hypothesis is found, the process permits the user to supply a proposed action. If no hypothesis is found and no user action is proposed, assistance efforts terminate.

Abstract: A system for pipelining bus requests includes a bus, at least one node coupled to the bus, and a bus coordinator coupled to the node. The node uses a single bus request signal to both request control of the bus from the bus coordinator, and to retain control of the bus. In response to an asserted bus request signal from the node, the coordinator sends an asserted bus grant signal to the node to grant the node control of the bus. This bus grant signal tracks the bus request signal so that as long as the bus request signal remains asserted, the bus grant signal also is asserted. To allow for pipelining, the bus coordinator maintains the bus grant signal in an asserted state for at least one clock cycle after the bus request is deasserted. By holding the bus grant signal in the asserted state for one extra cycle, the coordinator gives the node time to deassert and then to reassert the bus request signal before the bus grant signal changes state.

Abstract: A system for reconstructing a signal waveform from a correlogram is based upon the recognition that the information in each channel of the correlogram is equivalent to the magnitude of the Fourier transform of a signal. By estimating a signal on the basis of its Short-Time Fourier Transform Magnitude, each channel of information from a cochlear model can be reconstructed. Once this information is retrieved, a signal waveform can be resynthesized through inversion of the cochlear model. The process for reconstructing the cochlear model data can be optimized with the use of techniques for improving the initial estimate of the signal from the magnitude of its Fourier Transform, and by employing information that is known apriori about the signal during the estimation process, such as the characteristics of sound signals.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement and methods for sensing whether line terminator devices are present at terminal ends of high speed communications pathways, and enabling a switching terminator in accordance therewith, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the communications pathway comprises a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus comprising internal and external bus segments and bus control lines, including a reset line consisting of internal and external reset line segments. First and second system reset signals are supplied from a central processor unit (CPU) to various system components. Line terminator devices may or may not be coupled to the ends of the internal and external bus segments. The first system reset signal is directed to first and second transistors coupled together in an "upside down" collector-to-emitter configuration comprising a two-quadrant bidirectional switch which opens upon assertion of the first system reset signal.

Abstract: Housings for personal computers are assembled at a first site and then shipped in bulk to one or more configuring sites. At the configuring sites, electrical components are inserted into the housing, and the thus-configured computers are packaged in individual containers, along with packing material. Each container has an openable vertical wall. If the computers need to be reconfigured, the openable wall of the container is opened, and one or more of the electrical components are removed and/or replaced horizontally through that opened wall without having to remove the computer or packing material from the container.

Abstract: A scanning method for receiving a signal in a frequency hopped communication system that transmits a packet having N segments that are encoded with an error correction code that allows recovery of a packet even if e segments are erasures. A receiving station continuously scans the first p (1.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.e+1) channels, testing each channel for the existence of a transmission. If detected, a segment is received, and then the receiving station sequences through the remaining channels, receiving the segments if possible, and then applying error correction to the complete transmission. This technique of scanning the first several channels, receiving the first unimpaired segment, and thereby gaining the ability to recover all unimpaired segments enables the full theoretical power of a coded, slow frequency hopped system to be realized.

Abstract: An arbitrary curve formulated as a quadratic B-spline with a plurality of second order Bezier curves is approximated. Applying a forward differencing to the parametric equation of the second degree Bezier curves, a second order difference coefficient is derived. By defining the error from approximating the curve with forward differencing as the distance between the approximated point on the curve and the midpoint between the end points of the curve, the second order differential coefficient is directly proportional to the error. Additionally, the error resulting from increasing the number of parametric intervals for the forward differencing is proportional to the original error. It follows from the relationship established for the second order differential coefficient, the number of parametric intervals, and the error threshold that the user specifies, the number of parametric intervals is determined.

Abstract: The display system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or trackball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The windows include defined areas having window features such as menu bars, command options, text, icons and/or button functions to be executed by the CPU. The help system includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined which results in the CPU generating and displaying a presentation window on the display.

Abstract: A printed circuit board is installable into a slot of a cardedge connector such that contacts of the connector ride along electrically conductive, raised pads of the card. Each pad includes frontal edge segments which are inclined generally rearwardly toward a center axis of the pad so that if any of the contacts are laterally offset with respect to the center axis of its respective pad during installation, the offset contact will be re-directed toward the center axis in response to making engagement with one of the frontal edge segments.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting representations of color pixels in a twenty-four bit color format to representations in a fifteen bit color format including an individual circuit for data representing each component of a color, each of the individual circuits including apparatus for selectively incrementing the value the five highest order bits of a value representing a component of a color, apparatus responsive to a value of the lowest order bits of a value representing a component for providing a signal to cause the apparatus for selectively incrementing the five highest order bits, and apparatus for selectively enabling the apparatus responsive to a value of the lowest order bits depending on a desired pattern of pixels.

Abstract: In a computer system having an input device for controlling a position of a cursor on a display screen, a method of compensating for a physical orientation of the input device relative to the display screen. Initially, the physical orientation of the input device in relation to the display screen is determined. If the input device has been rotated, a first set of values corresponding to movement in the X axis is swapped with a second set of values corresponding to movement in the Y axis. Next, the sign of the first set of values corresponding to the Y axis is changed. Thereby, a horizontal movement indicated by the rotated input device produces a horizontal movement of the cursor. Likewise, a vertical movement indicated by the rotated input device corresponds to a vertical movement of the cursor.

Abstract: Signal transactions are conducted between nodes coupled to a bus, without causing bus deadlock during split transactions. Deadlock avoidance is achieved by rendering a node effectively unavailable at such times to serve as a bus slave for a new bus master. When the "locking" node serves as a transaction source, deadlock is avoided by deasserting, during a split transaction, a buffer-available signal, which is used normally to indicate receiver buffer availability. Additionally, when the "locking" node serves as a transaction destination, deadlock is avoided by deasserting a bus-ownership request signal, which is used normally for requesting bus ownership. After completion of the split transactions, such signals may be unmasked.

Abstract: A housing and ejection mechanism for PCMCIA electronic "smart cards" is disclosed. The ejection mechanism comprises a pair of cooperating lever arms and springs. When a "smart card" is inserted into the housing, the two lever arms pivot into the housing, extending an ejection spring. As the spring is pulled back by means of the lever arms, insertion of the card requires only slightly more force than would be needed to connect a "smart card" with its socket were no spring present. Full insertion of the card leaves the two lever arms coupled, but with only one of the lever arms locked in position. When the user triggers the ejection process, the two levers are mechanically separated and one of them applies the full spring force to the "smart card", freeing it from its socket and starting to push it out of the housing. After the first arm frees the "smart card" from its socket, it frees the second lever arm from its latch. The two lever arms then cooperate to push the "smart card" further out of the housing.

Abstract: A data compression process and system that identifies the data type of an input data stream and then selects in response to the identified data type at least one data compression method from a set of data compression methods that provides an optimal compression ratio for that particular data type, thus maximizing the compression ratio for that input data stream. Moreover, the data compression process also provides means to alter the rate of compression during data compression for added flexibility and data compression efficiency. Furthermore, a system memory allocation process is also provided to allow system or user control over the amount of system memory to be allocated for the memory intensive data compression process. System memory allocation process estimates the memory requirement to compress the input data stream, and allocates only that amount of system memory as needed by the data compression for memory allocation efficiency.

Abstract: The de-skewer utilizes a delay line to generate a set of delayed versions of an input clock signal. A bank of flip-flops compares pulses within the delayed clock signals to a synchronization pulse provided within an input data signal. A detector receives outputs from the flip-flops and selects the delayed clock signal having the least amount of skew based on the values of the output from the flip-flops. A multiplexer outputs the selected delayed clock. The de-skewer provides a simple, open-loop circuit for eliminating skew between parallel transmission paths. The de-skewer is ideally suited for eliminating skew from sources which do not vary significantly as a function of time. In particular, the de-skewer is well-suited for use in a data transmission system providing short bursts of high data rate transmissions. A double-edged de-skewer is also described which is capable of generating a pair of clock signals for use in eliminating duty cycle distortion.

Abstract: A method for manipulating an inked object with a pointing device on a pen based computer system includes receiving an ink stroke made with a pointing device, displaying the ink stroke on a screen of the computer system and creating a representative stroke within the computer system from the ink stroke. Upon the receipt of a user-initiated command, the representative stroke is first manipulated and then the ink stroke is manipulated in accordance with the representative stroke. Only the ink stroke is displayed on the screen. Examples of manipulation of the inked object include sizing, distorting, and deleting segments of the inked object. The method of the present invention is preferably practiced as a computer implemented process on a pen-based computer system.