Abstract: An apparatus for synchronizing data retrieval is described. The apparatus comprises a storage media storing data, a storage control device coupled to the storage media for retrieving the data from the storage media, memory coupled to the storage control device for storing the data; and a scheduling unit coupled to the memory for scheduling retrieval of the data from the storage media before a specified time. A storage media for storing computer instructions is also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing queues without disabling interrupts or using locks are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a queue structure, which is accessible to a plurality of threads, that is suitable for use in a computer system includes a head node and a first data-containing node. The head node includes a head field and a disruption field that is arranged to indicate a number of times the queue structure is accessed. The first data-containing node, which is identified by the head field in the head node, includes a link field and a data field. In one embodiment, the head node also includes a rank field, which is arranged to identify a preference level associated with the plurality of threads. In such an embodiment, the head field may be the first field in the head node, the rank field may be the second field in the head node, and the disruption field may be the third field in the head node.

Abstract: Aspects for achieving enhanced glyphs of a font are presented. In a method aspect, the method includes determining a glyph layer description for a selected glyph, and accessing at least one contour for the selected glyph. The method further includes accessing at least one layer style for the at least one contour of the selected glyph, and rendering the selected glyph in accordance with the at least one layer style to produced an enhanced glyph. In a system aspect, the system includes a mechanism for providing a hinted path. A glyph layer processor is coupled to the mechanism for providing and receives the hinted path. The glyph layer processor outputs enhanced glyph data. A drawing client for receiving the enhanced glyph data from the glyph layer processor for output from a computer system is further included.

Abstract: A method and system for matching color displayed by source and destination display devices and particularly for providing color matching between a computer monitor and an ink printer. The technique of the present invention initially determines the combination and color value ratios of single destination color components that will cause the destination device to display a color that essentially matches each of fully saturated single and dual colors of a source display device. These combinations of single destination color components and their corresponding color value ratios determine the best available blends of destination device color components for printing source device colors. A color matching algorithm is employed to derive the color value ratios--one for each of the single destination color components.

Abstract: A network system includes a font resource server that is accessible to all devices that communicate via the network. The font server contains the necessary information pertaining to the various types of fonts that may be required by users. This information describes the characters in a font in both a bitmap form and an outline form, so that either type of font information can be selectively employed at any given site. When a document is transmitted from the site of its creation to a remote site, the computer at the remote site first determines whether information pertaining to all of the fonts contained in the document is stored at the remote site. If not, the necessary font resources are downloaded from the font server to the remote site, via any suitable communication network. Once the resources have been downloaded, the document can be viewed and printed at the remote site.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on the base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on the translucent image with reference to the base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for returning windows to an original location are described. When springing already open windows to a new location on a display space, it is desired to return that window to its original location for certain situations. A list is provided when the springing operation is initialized which captures information used to return the sprung window. According to exemplary embodiments, the relocation of various windows is tracked to ensure that each window is returned to an original location.

Abstract: Aspects for achieving and utilizing synchronization among end stations in a wireless local area network (WLAN) are provided. In a method aspect, the method includes receiving a packet with a time synchronization field value from a first end station in a second end station of a communication group. The method further includes comparing upon receipt of the packet the time synchronization field value with a local time value in the second end station to determine whether the local time value requires updating to maintain synchronization between the first and second end stations. The comparing further determines whether a difference between the time synchronization field value and the local time value is greater than zero, and when the difference is greater than zero, the local time value is updated to the time synchronization field value.