Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a computer. One embodiment of the invention combines all of the prior art control panels related to networking into a consolidated Network Setup Control Panel. In addition, the invention provides for computer configuration by scripting. The configuration may be for a type of system setting or for network configurations and protocols. Through scripting, a computer may be configured locally or remotely on a network. One embodiment of the invention provides for a centralized database or Configuration Library consisting of collected data relating to available configuration settings. This database is not limited to configuration information and can be used as a general database containing information the user desires to store. To modify a configuration by scripting, the invention provides for a Scripting Interface consisting of a Scripting Server and Scripting Plug-In.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for rendering 3D-graphics images preferably includes a port for receiving commands from a graphics application, an output for sending a rendered image to a display and a geometry-operations pipeline, coupled to the port and to the output, the geometry-operations pipeline including a block for performing transformations. In one embodiment, the block for performing transformations includes a co-extensive logical and first physical stages, as well as a second physical stage including multiple logical stages. The second physical stage includes multiple logical stages that interleave their execution.

Abstract: The present invention uses titanium and titanium alloys to form the main and display housings of notebook computers. Specifically, the present invention glues injection molded frames to titanium or titanium alloy sheet metal casings. Continuous beads of glue used to overcome the problems formerly associated with shearing. Bayonet recptors formed in the interior of the main casing's bottom case reduce the number of screws needed to attach components forming the main and display housings. Bayonet structures formed in an exterior portion of an injection molded frame slidably mate with the bayonet receptors to look the bottom case of the main housing in position. In some embodiments, the edges of the bottom case are beveled to form a strong five-sided box.

Abstract: High-speed data streams are exchanged between two digital computing devices one or both of which lacks DMA. Data transfers are performed by the devices using High-Level Datalink Control (HDLC) frames. An initiating device indicates that it wishes to exchange data with the other device by sending an HDLC frame with data stream indentification and other information. The initial HDLC-frame is sufficiently short that at least an essential portion of the frame can be stored in a receive buffer of the interface circuitry. Although the receiving device may not receive the entire HDLC frame correctly because of the possibility of an overrun condition, enough information is preserved in the interface circuitry to complete the transaction. The responding device then proceeds to read or write data at high speed using a series of exchanges with the initiating device.

Abstract: An integrated searching/browsing mechanism employs user-constructed information hierarchies that represent a cognitive framework for the organization of information. The hierarchies are independent of the information itself. This feature permits them to be shared among multiple users, and applied to any of a variety of different sources of information. The hierarchical organization that is provided by the framework gives the user the ability to browse around any available document database in a manner that is intuitive to the user. Two or more hierarchies can be combined to locate documents which match the criteria of both hierarchies, and thereby refine search results to an appropriate level. A relevance feedback mechanism further enhances the browsing experience, by concentrating the search results in areas that are most relevant to documents selected as being of particular interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for decoding a compressed video stream. In one aspect of the invention, a method to decode a variable length encoded bit stream includes: concurrently processing first data obtained from variable length decoding a first code word in a register while variable length decoding a second code word in the register. In one example, processing the first data includes: looking up an inverse zigzag index; computing an Inverse Direct Cosine Transformation (IDCT) coefficient; storing the IDCT coefficient in a buffer in a transposed inverse zigzag order; and branching conditionally based on a condition encountered in variable length decoding the first code word.

Abstract: An interactive computer-controlled display system having a processor, a data display screen, a cursor control device for interactively positioning a cursor on the data display screen, and a window generator that generates and displays a window on a data display screen. The window region provides status and control information in one or more data display areas. The individiual data display areas may be controlled through the use of controls and indicators on the control strip itself using cursor control keys.

Abstract: Undesirable artifacts appearing in color images, such as blooming or smudging around the edges of text, are avoided through selective reduction of the color gamut for objects which form the image. Individual component color values are modified by taking into account combinations of colors and their effect upon the artifacts to be eliminated. Only those parameter values which contribute to the artifact are modified. Other parameter values are left intact, to maintain the original image characteristics. When a color value is modified, all components of that color are modified in a symmetrical manner, to preserve the hue of the original color. The impact on the image is further minimized by selectively applying color correction only to those objects in which the artifact is pronounced.

Abstract: Improved housings for computing devices are disclosed. One improvement pertains to a multi-axis ventilation system. Another improvement pertains to a push button latch for a portable computer. Still another improvement pertains to a media bay ejection system provided with a dampener. These improvements can be provided separately or in any combination in a given computing device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for transparent local and distributed memory management. The invention overcomes the prior art's requirement of keeping track of whether a memory space allocated to a new object or a new program or data structure can be reclaimed. According to the present invention an autorelease pool is created at the beginning of a new duty cycle. The autorelease pool retains the newly allocated memory space during the duty cycle. The autorelease pool is automatically disposed of at the end of the duty cycle. As a result of disposing the autorelease pool, the newly allocated memory space is reclaimed (i.e., deallocated). The present invention is useful in distributed networks where different programming conventions on remote and local machines made the prior art's memory management task particularly difficult. The present invention is also useful in an object-oriented programming environment.

Abstract: Improved approaches for users of computing devices to interact with graphical user interfaces are described. According to one aspect, a rotational user action supplied by a user at a user input device is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical user interface. According to another aspect, a portion of an extended list of items is displayed by a graphical user interface and, through rotational user actions at a user input device, the portion of the list being displayed can be varied with welcomed ease of use. Although the type of computing device can vary, the improved approaches are particularly well-suited for use with a portable media player.

Abstract: Authentication of a request by a computer for access to a resource is accomplished by means of a randomly generated password that can only be used a limited number of times. In a disclosed embodiment of the invention, a network computer sends a boot request to a network server. In response, the network server generates a random password, and sets a use counter to a value which indicates the number of times that the password can be used for access to network resources. This password is transmitted to the network computer, which uses it to initiate a session with a network file server, and access network resources. The network server then invalidates the password, by decrementing the use counter to zero. As a result, even if the password becomes known to an unauthorized user as it is being transmitted from the network server to the network computer, it cannot be improperly employed to gain access to any network resources.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a casing enclosing a computer core unit and a latching system including a handle mechanism for removably securing the computer core unit within the casing; wherein the handle mechanism is configured in a first position for securing the core unit into the casing and in a second position for removing the core unit from the casing.

Abstract: A method and system for deleting a head entry of a read-only list in a multi-processor computer system supporting mixed cache-coherence protocols involving both read-only and read-write processors. The head of the list first informs the next-list entry that the next-list entry is about to become the head of a read-only list. The next-list entry then responds with a status code indicating whether the next-list entry supports read-only. If the next-list entry does not support the read-only protocol, the system changes a memory line status from fresh to stale, thereby indicating a new read-write list. However, if the next list entry does support the read-only protocol, the memory line remains fresh, thereby maintaining a read-only list. A forward pointer of a memory is updated to point to the next-list entry as a new head-of-list. The previous head-of-list then informs the next-list entry that the previous head-of-list has been completely deleted from the list.

Abstract: Computer system performance may be significantly enhanced by optimizing data throughput during input/output (I/O) operations. In turn, data throughput, during an I/O operation, may be optimized by adaptively modifying the I/O strategy at runtime, and/or continuously throughout the I/O operation, regardless of the specific hardware configuration associated with the I/O devices involved with the I/O operation, as well as additional factors that might otherwise impact the efficiency of the I/O operation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handwriting recognition system for ideographies characters and other characters based on subcharacter hidden Markov models. The ideographies characters are modeled using a sequence of subcharacter models and by using two-dimensional geometric layout models of the subcharacters. The subcharacter hidden Markov models are created according to one embodiment by following a set of design rules. The combination of the sequence and geometric layout of the subcharacter models is used to recognize the handwriting character.

Abstract: Improved approaches for users to with graphical user interfaces of computing devices are disclosed. A rotational user action supplied by a user via a user input device can provide accelerated scrolling. The accelerated nature of the scrolling enables users to scroll or traverse a lengthy data set (e.g., list of items) faster and with greater ease. The amount of acceleration provided can be performed in successive stages, and/or performed based on the speed of the rotational user action. In one embodiment, the rotational user action is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical user interface. The resulting acceleration effect causes the linear action to be enhanced such that a lengthy data set is able to be rapidly traversed.

Abstract: Improved techniques for interaction between a host computer (e.g., personal computer) and a media player are disclosed. According to one aspect, interaction between a host computer and a media player, such as automatic synchronization of media contents stored on a media player with media contents stored on a host computer, can be restricted. According to another aspect, management of media items residing on a media player can be performed at and by a host computer for the media player. According to still another aspect, media content can be played by a media player in accordance with quality settings established for the media content at the host computer.