Abstract: This invention provides a method for connecting a mobile computer to a computer network by using an address server. The mobile computer connects itself to a network and requests an address server to represent it on the network. The address server accepts packets intended for the mobile computer and redirects them to the current actual address of the mobile computer. As the mobile computer moves, it reports its new actual address to the address server, so that packets intended for the mobile computer can be redirected to the new actual address.

Abstract: An interpretive language comprises instructions making up part of the first sequence of instructions (a test "script"). The first language comprises a first set of instructions, the first set of instructions causes a first computer system (a "host" in a preferred embodiment) to issue a series of commands to a second computer system (a "target") in order to cause the second computer system to emulate user activity on the second computer system. User activity includes emulating typing text and/or moving a mouse cursor position. The language further comprises a second set of instructions which cause the first computer system to issue a series of commands to the second computer system in order to cause the second computer system to respond to the first computer system with its state. This state includes user interface objects, and applications running in the target, etc.

Abstract: An improved multi-codebook phase-in coding process for coding electronic data wherein for each received electronic input data, the coding process detects whether that input data exceeds a current coding maximum, then selecting a codebook coding method from one or more codebook coding methods in response to detecting whether that input data exceeds the current coding maximum, and then encoding that input data in accordance to the selected codebook coding method to generate a coded output data. A corresponding codebook indicator is inserted into a generated coded output data stream to indicate which codebook method to use to decode the coded output data. During decoding, the decoding process detects for a decode method indicator associated with each encoded input data, and decodes in accordance to a decode method corresponding to the detected decode method indicator to generate a decoded output data.

Abstract: An apparatus for emulation routine control transfer creates a jump host instruction (JHI) containing the address of a next emulation routine during the execution of a current emulation routine and outputs the JHI at the end of current emulation routine for transfer of host processor control. The apparatus preferably comprises: an emulated program counter (EPC), a summing means, a state machine, a pointer storage means, an opcode storage means, and a jump instruction circuit. The state machine is preferably coupled to control the loading of the EPC, the loading of the opcode storage means, the summing means, the pointer storage means and the operation of the jump instruction circuit. The pointer storage means is preferably coupled between the data bus and the jump instruction circuit.

Abstract: A distributed time synchronization system and method synchronizes nodes within a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) local area network (LAN) group to a virtual master clock value. Each node system of the present invention comprises a CPU, an input device, a display device, a printer or hard copy device, a given amount of RAM and ROM memory, a data storage device, a local clock, a transmitter/receiver, an antenna, a virtual master clock processor, and a common data bus. The method of the present invention comprises the inclusion of a node's local clock value in a message just prior to transmission over the network, storage of a node's local clock value in RAM after an incoming message has been received, and the calculation of the time delay between the sending node and the receiving node by the virtual master clock processor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lossless compression and decompression of video image data. Video data is composed of the RGB, YUV or gray scale (color) information for each pixel of each frame of the video data. Storage of such video data can require large amounts of data. The present invention provides for lossless compression and decompression of the individual frames of video image data. Each individual frame of video image data is processed in n.times.n pixel blocks. The combination of colors (called the color list) and the number of different colors in the pixel block is then determined. If the number of colors is above a predetermined threshold, no compression occurs. If the number of colors is below a predetermined threshold, searches for prior occurrences of the combination of colors is than performed. In some instances, a color list for contiguous pixel blocks will be the same. In this instance, a pixel map representing the positioning of the colors in the pixel block is output.

Abstract: A user interface system and method for traversing a database. In one aspect the present invention includes providing a plurality of command options, each of the command options represented by a set of descriptive option index terms characterizing that command option. The set of descriptive option index terms characterizing the command options selected by a user, are compared with sets of document index terms. Each set of document index terms being compared characterizes an electronic document in a hypertext-type database which is selectively linked in that database with the user's present position. The comparisons result in a ranked list of the selectively linked electronic documents. The electronic documents are ranked in accordance with the relevancy of each document with respect to the selected command option.

Abstract: A method for fabricating liquid crystal shutters using a laser exposure system. An output beam from the laser is split into multiple exposure beams and a photoresist coated substrate having a metallic layer is caused to traverse the beams. The substrate is then processed leaving multiple parallel electrodes on the substrate surface.

Abstract: In a communication system including a plurality of networked stations that communicate using a slow frequency hopping system, a method for encoding a packet of data in a transmitting station and decoding the data in a receiving station. In the transmitting station, the packet is divided into data segments. Error correction segments are added to correct the data segments. The segments are fragmented into a series of fragments, and a data error control field is calculated for each fragment and appended thereto. The data units including the segments are transmitted, and in a receiving station all or a portion of the bursts are received. The DEC field for each received fragment is calculated and compared with the received DEC field to determine whether each fragment is good or bad. If there are a sufficient number of fragments in each column, then the data can be reconstructed.

Abstract: In circuitry which transfers data in streams in which a plurality of individual discrete groups of data are all addressed to the same address, apparatus for manipulating the data appearing in streams including a manipulation engine responsive to some portion of each group of the data transferred to cause the data to be manipulated in a particular manner.

Abstract: Text, graphics, or other selected objects of a computer screen are selected and converted into a "visual clipboard" which is attached to a convenient boundary of the screen. The visible clipboard is preferably implemented on a pen-based computer system where the object is selected by a stylus, is dragged to a boundary, and is converted to a clipboard icon at the boundary. Multiple clipboard icons may be produced by the user, and can be moved from one boundary location to another. The contents of the clipboard can be inserted or "pasted" into an application program by dragging the clipboard icon with the stylus to the desired insertion location. Preferably, each clipboard is provided with indicia representative of the contents of the clipboard.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a correctly signed result of a linear interpolation (LIRP) function in a compute controlled display system. A correctly signed LIRP evaluation may be performed by simply adding a bias to each of the operands of the LIRP function and subtracting the bias to the result. Adding the bias is achieved by inverting the high (sign) bit of each of the operands. Subtracting the bias is achieved by inverting the high (sign) bit of the result.

Abstract: An interface device for a point-to-point connected serial bus in which bus clock and bus data transmissions on the bus cease between transmissions of packets of data, includes a low latency resynchronizing circuit and an end of packet detector which is independent of control data within the packet. The resynchronizer is based on an interface which receives bus data and bus clock from a transmission of a packet on the bus. A circular input buffer stores bus data received from the bus in data locations indicated by an input pointer in response to the bus clock. An input pointer generator supplies the input pointers to the input buffer in a circular sequence, beginning in a particular location during a first bus clock in a packet. An output selector supplies bus data from one of the N data locations in the input buffer to the selector output in response to an output pointer and in response to the local clock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for demodulating a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal previously modulated with either a first or second data value comprises sensing an actual duration of the first period of the bit cell, and generating an actual first signal value that is proportional to the actual duration of the first period of the bit cell. Using the actual first signal value and an expected first signal value, a first adjustment amount is determined and used for adjusting the actual first signal value. Then, an actual duration of the second period of the bit cell is sensed. The adjusted actual first signal value is further adjusted by a second adjustment amount to produce a final adjusted signal value, the second adjustment amount being proportional to the actual duration of the second period of the bit cell. Finally, a signal is generated which alternatively has a first value or a second value in correspondence with the final adjusted signal alternatively being greater than or not greater than a reference value.

Abstract: A high quality stereophonic sound enclosure system high resolution intended for computer visual display monitors employing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) having a vertical aperture grill, and methods for construction of same. The aperture grill has a natural frequency centered within the musical scale. The stereo speaker system comprises a ported speaker enclosure within which are mounted two conventional cone speaker assemblies. A stereo audio amplifier and control unit for controlling the audio signals delivered to the speakers is mounted within the speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure is internally mounted within the monitor with a minimum number of attachment members incorporating vibration isolation material to remove vibration components near the natural frequency of the aperture grill. The speaker enclosure is internally reinforced to reduce structural deformations which contribute to airborne transmitted vibration within the monitor housing when the speaker system is operating.

Abstract: A method for manipulating notes on a screen of a computer display is provided. Each note area may include graphical, text, and data objects. An initial note area is provided with a header bar which includes the date of creation, the note number, and/or other indicia. When a user desires to make a new note, a division gesture is made on the computer display by moving a stylus horizontally across the screen. Once a division gesture is detected, the height of the preceding note is determined, and the height of the new note is considered to be indefinite or infinite. Each new division gesture creates a new header bar for the new note indicating the date of creation, the note number, and/or other pertinent information.

Abstract: An open-loop speaker amplifier and a dynamic range reduction circuit are disclosed. The speaker amplifier includes a bridge driver and a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit includes a first set of switches and a second set of switches. When the first set of switches are activated, a positive current flows through a speaker load. When the second set of switches are activated, a negative current flows through the speaker load. The bridge driver generates a pulse width modulated signal and a delayed pulse width modulated signal to drive the first and second set of switches of the bridge circuit responsive to a modulation signal. The modulation signal may be, for example, a plurality of pulse code modulated samples representing sound. The dynamic range reduction circuit modifies a selected signal to reduce the dynamic range of the sound reproduced based on the modulation signal. The selected signal is either the modulation signal or a reference signal.

Abstract: A computer controlled graphics display system that treats graphical objects in a uniform fashion for consistent, non-modal and direct manipulation of graphics objects. The user, by operating in a visual "point and click" fashion, may select a graphical object or shape and manipulate it in a number of ways without having to activate different modes for different manipulations. Possible manipulations include dragging, scaling, rotating and skewing. More than one shape can be selected and manipulated by compositing intersected shapes with a selection rectangle. The graphic manipulations are platform independent and thus are all carried out by directing the point and click tool.