Abstract: A system and method for rapidly identifying the existence and location of an item in a file using an improved hash table architecture. A hash table is constructed having a plurality of hash buckets, each identified by a primary hash key. Each hash entry in each hash bucket contains a pointer to a record in a master file, as well as a secondary hash key independent of the primary hash key. A search for a particular item is performed by identifying the appropriate hash bucket by obtaining a primary hash key for the search term. Individual hash entries within the hash bucket are checked for matches by comparing the stored secondary keys with the secondary key for the search term. Potentially matching records can be identified or ruled out without necessitating repeated reads of the master file. The improved hash table system and method is employed in a contextual text searching application for determining the intersection of a text search with a hierarchical categorization scheme.

Abstract: Improved housings for computing devices are disclosed. The improved housings are provided with a movable keyboard (e.g., removable keyboard) that can be opened or removed to gain easy access to internal components of a computing device. The movable keyboard can be secured to the computing device using a keyboard securing system. An actuator can also be used to dislodge the movable keyboard from the computing device when the movable keyboard is to be opened or removed. A lock arrangement can additionally be used to lock the movable keyboard to the computing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing actions while selecting objects on a user interface display. A user may select a first item in an area of a display controlled by a first process and drag that item to a second area on a display controlled by a second process. The second process may negotiate with the first process to provide certain data types, and based upon those data types, the second process will determine a list of actions in hierarchical fashion which may be performed upon the data. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, printing, sending electronic mail, and performing other actions in the computer system. Alternative and primary actions may also be specified by a user, such as by selecting various keys on a keyboard or other input device. Further, a user may specify that the second process display a list of actions which may be performed upon the selected item and allow the user to select an action from a list.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for command recognition using data-driven semantic inference includes recognizing a sequence of words received as the voice command. Data-driven semantic inference is then used with the recognized sequence of words to recognize the voice command. Thus, the command is identified on the basis of the semantics of words of the spoken command rather than the particular grammar of each of predetermined different ways the command could be worded.

Abstract: A media ejection system includes a peripheral unit having a housing, an ejection mechanism, and a memory wire coupled to the ejection mechanism. The system further includes a digital processor for issuing ejection commands, and a controller responsive to the ejection command for controlling a current flow through the memory wire. When sufficient current flows through the memory wire, it contracts to activate the ejection mechanism, thereby ejecting a removable medium (such a PCMCIA card) from the housing of the peripheral unit. A method of the invention includes the steps of receiving an ejection request, issuing a ejection command in response to the ejection request, where the ejection command includes parameters for controlling current flow through the metal alloy, and electrically energizing the memory alloy in accordance with the parameters such that the memory alloy undergoes a dimensional change to activate a removable medium ejection mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for attaching a letter to a contact in an organizer contact list. The method includes the operations of selecting a contact from the organizer contact list that is controlled by an organizer program. The method then stores a plurality of identifying information associated with the selected contact into a temporary memory location. Next, a letter is selected from a plurality of standard letters provided by the organizer. The plurality of identifying information associated with the selected contact is then integrated into the selected letter.

Abstract: A method and system for providing cyclic redundancy check (CRC) functions within a ringlet-type interconnect of a computer system are described. By time multiplexing CRC checking and generating functions, the number of CRC units can be reduced.

Abstract: A suppression layer made from material that reduces EMI is placed between an circuit board and a heat sink. At least one opening in the suppression layer allows the top surface of at least one electronic component to be thermally coupled to the heat sink. In addition to reducing EMI, the suppression layer fills in the space created between the various components on the circuit board. Filling in the gaps prevents the heat sink from rocking and moving, thereby protecting the at least one component coupled to the heat sink from damage. Filling in the gaps with the suppression layer also allows the heat sink to achieve and maintain secure thermal contact with the at least one electronic component on the circuit board.

Abstract: Techniques to converting source text (e.g., Unicode text) to multiple different encodings are disclosed. The disclosed techniques operate without any font or style information that could suggest the original encoding types. For a given source text, the techniques intelligently determine which of a variety of available target encodings are most appropriate. The determination of the most appropriate target encodings is flexible enough to accommodate different criteria or tolerance levels in performing the conversion as may be desired. The conversion out of Unicode into multiple different encodings also requires the determination of where and when to switch between the available target encodings. Also disclosed is a technique to automatically identify those target encoding that are available.

Abstract: Information presented to a user via an information access system is ranked according to a prediction of the likely degree of relevance to the user's interests. A profile of interests is stored for each user having access to the system. Items of information to be presented to a user are ranked according to their likely degree of relevance to that user and displayed in order of ranking. The prediction of relevance is carried out by combining data pertaining to the content of each item of information with other data regarding correlations of interests between users. A value indicative of the content of a document can be added to another value which defines user correlation, to produce a ranking score for a document. Alternatively, multiple regression analysis or evolutionary programming can be carried out with respect to various factors pertaining to document content and user correlation, to generate a prediction of relevance.

Abstract: A power system fault handling mechanism for portable electronic devices having multiple power supplies. A safety-net circuit is triggered when a power fault condition is detected. The safety-net circuit is a diode-based bridging circuit which couples all available power supplies to the power load, yet avoids feeding power back from any of the supplies to one another. This ensures that the load continues to receive power after a fault condition occurs without interruption. A microcontroller may then implement a routine to switch to a working power supply so that the device may resume normal operation. The power system fault detection mechanism therefor allows for the switching between system power supplies without disrupting a running process.

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: Accurate measurements of the misconvergence of a color CRT are obtained using a monochrome CCD camera or the like and a common image. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, color misconvergence of a color video display is determined using a monochrome camera, by capturing a monochrome image of an output display displayed on the color video display. For each of multiple different colors, information from the monochrome image is processed to identify a displayed feature or feature pattern of that color, and a position of that displayed feature or feature pattern is determined. Then a difference in position of a feature or feature pattern of a first color and a feature or feature pattern of a second color is determined. The effects of color crosstalk, video/image jitter, and lens distortion are all eliminated or minimized.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for searching for an optimal codevector from a plurality of codevectors in a codebook, the optimal codevector having a minimum distance to a given vector, are provided. The aspects determine a partial distance with a current vector component of a current codevector and of the given vector, compare the partial distance to a saved renormalized minimum partial distance, and proceed to a next codevector when the saved renormalized minimum partial distance is smaller than the partial distance. In addition, the present invention proceeds to a next vector component when the partial distance is smaller than the saved renormalized minimum partial distance. When the partial distance computed with each next vector component is smaller than the saved renormalized minimum partial distance, the present invention calculates a full weighted distance value, compares it to a saved minimum full weighted distance, and updates chosen values.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating universal resource locator links in a graphical user interface based HTML file. The method includes the operations of selecting one of a picture object and text contained within the graphical user interface based HTML file. Once one of the picture object and text are selected, a short-cut universal resource locator icon is selected. Upon selecting the short-cut universal resource locator icon, a nested menu is displayed. Preferably, the nested menu contains a list of most recently used universal resource locators, and a list of open HTML files. Next, one of the universal resource locators is selected from the list of most recently used universal resource locators and the open HTML file from the list of open HTML files.

Abstract: An improved binary tree and decoder are disclosed wherein all the codewords are moved to one side of a binary tree. A compressed bit stream is fed to a decoder. The decoder uses a parser, an address generator, and the binary tree to determine the codewords contained in the compressed bit stream. The decoder examines the variable length encoded bits and compares them with the binary tree at each level to determine if the codeword is complete. The parser detects the end of the codeword and generates an offset for the address generator. The address generator uses the binary tree and offset to generate a block address for each unique codeword. The block address is then used to output uncompressed data from a pattern look up table.

Abstract: An improved socket connector has flexible interior barriers to prevent incorrect insertion of smaller sized plugs, where a flexible internal barrier is formed on a side of the socket entry leading into the socket cavity, and is composed of a flexible ramp attached from the socket entry, the ramp extending into the socket cavity and having a inner movable end with a vertical barrier, sized and disposed within the socket cavity so that the insertion of a correctly sized wide plug will engage the flexible ramp, riding along and moving the flexible ramp so that the vertical barrier is moved out of a stopping position, allowing the correctly sized wide plug to be fully and properly seated in the cavity, but further sized and disposed within the socket cavity so that the insertion of an incorrectly sized narrow plug will fail to engage the ramp, will not flex the ramp, and will leave the vertical barrier in the stopping position, where it prevents the incorrectly sized narrow plug from being fully inserted into the

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g. a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The present invention allows the resource library to be selectively used only by authorized end user software programs. The present invention can be used to enforce a “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library whereby the resource library is licensed only for use with particular software programs. In one embodiment, a license text string and a corresponding license key are embedded in a program that has been licensed to use a resource library. The license text string and the license key are supplied, for example, by a resource library vendor to a program developer who wants to use the resource library with an end user program being developed.

Abstract: In a computer system having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, a method for dynamically launching a conferencing application upon the receipt of an incoming call having the steps of: receiving an incoming call signal on the network interface; processing the incoming call signal to detect an intended recipient application; and launching the intended recipient application. An apparatus for dynamically launching a conferencing application upon the receipt of an incoming call having a call directing module; a process manager coupled to the call directing module; and, a conferencing component coupled to the network interface; and the call directing module; the conferencing component containing a circuit for notifying the call directing module upon receipt of an incoming call and causing the call director to signal the process manager to activate a conferencing application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance and behavior of objects on a user interface are described. Sets of objects can be grouped into themes to provide a user with a distinct overall impression of the interface. These themes can be invoked by calling a corresponding theme engine. Theme engines can be hard-coded or data-driven.