Abstract: A method and apparatus for instruction prefixing selectively reconfigures certain of the instructions in the microprocessor's instruction set so as to alter the nature of the operation performed by the instruction and/or the designation of operand or result locations accessed by the operation. A prefix instruction is inserted ahead of a "using" instruction and an operational parameter of the using instruction is modified in accordance with the contents of the prefix instruction. In one application, the prefix instruction may be used to specify a register location for storage of a result of the using instruction's operation or retrieval of an operand. In other applications, the prefix instruction may be used to modify other aspects of instruction execution.

Abstract: A manipulable icon is displayed with multiple faces having particular application to computer displays and systems. The icon, which represents information about an object available within the computer, can be manipulated by the user to display different faces or views which provide additional information about the object represented by the icon. The user has the ability to manipulate the icon to see additional views of the icon on the computer display device, either by a mouse stroke selection command, keyboard command or menu selection. This selection causes the icon to move from one view or face of the icon to another view or face of the icon. These additional views thus provide additional space in which the icon can supply additional information to the user. Iconic movement from one face or view to another is also typically accompanied by some sound which indicates execution of the movement.

Abstract: A digital phase lock loop circuit for synchronizing the phase of clock signals delivered to devices through clock tree circuitry with the phase of input clock signals including a first delay line, a second delay line, a phase detector circuit, apparatus for transferring the input clock signals through the first delay line to the phase detector circuit, apparatus for transferring the input clock signals through the second delay line and the clock tree circuitry to the phase detector circuit, apparatus responsive to the difference in phase detected between the clock signals transferred through the first and second delay lines for varying the delay of one of the delay lines to bring the clock signals transferred through the first and second delay lines into phase with one another.

Abstract: A mechanism for exchanging information between SCSI devices which allows for specifying multiple source or destination buffers. The mechanism includes a first apparatus for generating at least one move instruction which when executed by the SCSI manager either writes or reads the specified number of bytes to or from that buffer address and subsequently adds the offset field value to the buffer address to create a current buffer address. The current buffer address and the buffer address may be non-contiguous. The mechanism also has a second apparatus for generating at least one looping instruction by which the SCSI manager branches the offset number of instructions until the number is exhausted. This allows the SCSI manager to repeat instructions. During each repetition of the move instruction, the buffer address location gets incremented by the value in the offset field.

Abstract: A direct memory access controller including apparatus for storing an address to which information is to be written or from which information is to be read, apparatus for storing data related to the address, apparatus for storing a value indicative of a width of a block of data to be transferred, apparatus for storing a value indicative of a total amount of information to be transferred, apparatus for storing a value indicating a number of addresses to be bypassed during a transfer, apparatus for incrementing the address while decrementing the value indicative of the width of the block and the value indicative of the total amount of information to be transferred until the width of the block has been crossed, and apparatus for changing the address by the value indicating a number of addresses to be bypassed during a transfer when the width of the block has been crossed, and apparatus for resetting the value indicative of a width of a block of data to be transferred to the original value when the width of the bl

Abstract: A method for presenting help messages to a user in an interactive computer environment in which a help mode operates concurrently with other programs operating in the computer system. The user receives information about an icon by positioning a pointer on the computer's video display over the icon about which more information is desired. The computer then retrieves an appropriate help message based upon user sophistication from a database of help messages stored in its memory and displays it in a graphic bubble on the video display. The graphic bubble is placed so as to not overlap the object about which more help is requested. The graphic bubble is removed as soon as the pointer is moved away from the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the location of an entity using an alias (or entity name) in a communication system. A second node or entity transmits a first signal to a first router connected to a first local network of the communication system including the alias, wherein the alias includes a zone name. The first router forwards a second signal including the entity name from the first signal to other routers in the network until a second router connected to nodes having the zone name in the entity name is located. Each second router translates the second signal into a third signal which includes the alias, and using a first zone multicast address, multicasts the third signal to a first set of nodes. Each node of the first set of nodes determines whether the zone name contained within the alias is equal to a zone identifier for each node of the first set of nodes. Each node having the zone name determines whether the alias contained within the third signal is equal to alias information for the node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing high definition output images using an encoding scheme for differentiating between differing data types and context sensitive pixel modulation for dynamically shifting pixel growth direction during post-processing manipulation of the data.

Abstract: A method for bonding together liquid crystal cells using a transparent grease. The grease maintains a level of viscosity appropriate for physically bonding the cells while matching the indices of refraction of the cells or cell layers for proper optical coupling.

Abstract: A bi-directional data path apparatus coupled between a first bus and a second bus for allowing a plurality of data transfering devices contained on either one of the buses to transfer data to the devices contained on the other bus. The data path apparatus includes latching stations designed to receive data from the first and second buses. The data path apparatus includes a plurality of byte lanes interconnecting the byte latching stations. A control mechanism directs the transfer of data along specific byte lanes and in a specific temporal order depending on the databus size of the devices sending and receiving data.

Abstract: An arrangement for storing video and graphic information from video and graphics sources to be displayed on a computer output display including a single frame buffer having first and second separately addressable areas, the first of such areas being adapted to store pixel information, the second of such areas being adapted to store information regarding the type of information stored at each pixel of the first of such areas.

Abstract: A circuit for generating pixel values for an overlay for a bitmapped output display including apparatus for testing the color value of a background pixel, apparatus for setting the color value of the pixel of the overlay to a minimum value for the particular color if the color value of a background pixel is greater than a preselected value, and apparatus for setting the color value of the pixel of the overlay to a maximum value for the particular color if the color value of a background pixel is less than the preselected value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling intelligent post-processing of differing data types wherein different types of data are encoded with different sets of values such that a post-processing apparatus is able to recognize and delineate between the different types and perform post-processing procedures on only the appropriate type.

Abstract: A connector utilizing a number of electrical connectors wires equal to the number used to provide the static binary indications of the particular piece of equipment attached to the device, and further including diodes and direct connections between the electrical connectors arranged to provide a number of unique coded readouts when each of the individual ones of the electrical connectors are interrogated.

Abstract: An arrangement for addressing a frame buffer memory including apparatus for selecting from the address bits designating a position in the frame buffer of a pixel to be displayed on an output display the bits indicating the word address of the pixel in a particular row of the frame buffer, apparatus for multiplying the word address by a fraction to provide a new word address, apparatus for recombining the new word address with the row address to provide a new address in the frame buffer for the information regarding the pixel to be displayed, and apparatus for controlling the storage of a data word describing the pixel beginning at a selected byte of the data word whereby the storage in the frame buffer of an unused portion of a data word describing the pixel may be eliminated.

Abstract: A mechanically latching button for a cursor control device such as a mouse or trackball is disclosed. The latching mechanism improves performance during dragging operations, while not affecting the button's rapid response needed for ordinary clicking. A first embodiment uses a stepped button. In a second embodiment, a sliding latch button is used. In a third embodiment, a push latch button is used. In a fourth embodiment, a snap action latch with a latch release button is used.

Abstract: A method of removing frame redundancy in a computer system for a sequence of moving images. The method comprises detecting a first scene change in the sequence of moving images and generating a first keyframe containing complete scene information for a first image. The first keyframe is known, in a preferred embodiment, as a "forward-facing" keyframe or intra frame, and it is normally present in CCITT compressed video data. The process then comprises generating at least one intermediate compressed frame, the at least one intermediate compressed frame containing difference information from the first image for at least one image following the first image in time in the sequence of moving images. In a preferred embodiment, this at least one frame is known as an inter frame. Finally, detecting a second scene change in the sequence of moving images and generating a second keyframe containing complete scene information for an image displayed at the time just prior to the second scene change.