Abstract: A synchronization arrangement provides writer and reader entities access to an information resource, such as a trace buffer, located in a registry of a computer. The arrangement comprises a counter upon which atomic increments are performed to allocate entries of the trace buffer for temporarily storing trace message fragments provided by the writer entities. The arrangement also comprises reassembly queues for temporarily storing the message fragments sequentially retrieved from the trace buffer by the reader entities.

Abstract: Unique identifications are assigned to entities in a network and items in a database. In general, unique identifications are assigned to entities or data items within a network by a plurality of server entities, each server entity capable of obtaining a unique subset of identifications from other server entities, assigning an identification from its subset to another server entity, subdividing its own subset to form other unique subsets and assigning a unique subset to another server entity. Each server entity receives its own server entity identification when it is installed and also may request to receive a unique subset of entity identifications. A subset of entity identifications, also referred to interchangeably herein as a "block" of entity identifications, comprises one or more entity identifications. Each server entity controls the assignment of the entity identifications within the subsets it receives.

Abstract: Tone-sensitive acoustic models are generated by first generating acoustic vectors which represent the input data. The input data is separated into multiple frames and an acoustic vector is generated for each frame which represents the input data over its corresponding frame. A tone-sensitive parameter is then generated for each of the frames which indicates the tone of the input data at its corresponding frame. Tone-sensitive parameters are generated in accordance with two embodiments. First, a pitch detector may be used to calculate a pitch for each of the frames. If a pitch cannot be detected for a particular frame, then a pitch is created for that frame based on the pitch values of surrounding frames. Second, the cross covariance between the autocorrelation coefficients for each frame and its successive frame may be generated and used as the tone-sensitive parameter.

Abstract: A vibration-isolating system for mounting a cathode ray tube monitor to an enclosed audio base includes an annular vibration-isolating grommet having an axial bore; a snap cap including an annular portion having a surface for supporting the grommet and an axial aperture, at least two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the annular portion opposite the surface astride the aperture to distal ends, and a nub extending radially from the distal end of each leg; and an elongated member configured to fit about the legs, through the axial aperture and through the axial bore, and to attach to a cathode ray tube housing.

Abstract: A tilting, swiveling, locking base apparatus tilts, swivels and locks to a computer monitor. The base apparatus comprises a tiltball unit including a slot opening which has a key opening portion, a recessed ledge disposed about the slot opening, and a locking rib disposed on the recessed ledge adjacent the key opening portion. The base apparatus further comprises a support unit having support points lying in a plane and including a shaft extending in a direction substantially perpendicular from the plane to an outer end, teeth on the outer end of the shaft configured to fit through the slot opening only in the key opening portion, a locking rim configured to slideably engage the recessed ledge, and an elastic locking snap formed to be deflected by the locking rib when the teeth are inserted into the key opening and to rebound when the shaft is displaced in the slot from the rib. The base apparatus uses a special tool to deflect the locking snap for detaching the tiltball unit from the support unit.

Abstract: A color printing system with reduced bleed includes a computer and a color printer. The computer has a digital processor and memory accessed by the digital processor, where the memory stores printable objects selected from the group comprising graphic objects and non-graphic objects and pixel maps corresponding to the graphic objects and the non-graphic objects. The color printer is coupled to the computer and is capable of printing the pixel maps using color pixels and black pixels. An image processor implemented on the computer identifies the graphic objects among the printable objects, adjusts pixel densities of the graphic objects, and renders the printable objects as the pixel maps, such that black pixel densities of pixel maps of the graphic objects are reduced without reducing black pixel densities of pixel maps of the non-graphic objects.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically generating printer profiles for color printers to evenly distribute translation errors between device color spaces are described. Since the color spaces of source devices, e.g., monitors and scanners, differs from that of destination devices, e.g., printers, translation is necessary. As some colors may be available to source devices which are not available to destination devices, this translation is inherently imperfect. Moreover, conventional techniques apply imperfect models of the color space which further skew the results. According to the novel methods and systems described herein, a nonlinear regression technique is applied in an automated system which reduces perceptual changes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an enhanced visual appearance to a graphical user interface are described. Control elements portrayed by the graphical user interface on a display are associated with at least two states. When transitioning between states, an animated transition effect can be provided to provide further user or designer customization of the interface appearance.

Abstract: A user interacts with a computer system having a display unit, a processor, a memory and a Cartesian selection device by activating a first major feature; displaying a plurality of labels representing a plurality of options for said first major feature; selecting one of the options by manipulating the Cartesian selection device in a first axis; displaying a plurality of suboptions for the selected option; selecting one of the suboptions by manipulating the Cartesian selection device in a second axis; and selecting a second major feature by either selecting an indicia of the second major feature displayed on the display unit or using a hardbutton coupled to the processor. Both the first and second major feature comprising one of faxing, scanning, and voice mail functions. The user interface system for the computer system comprises a grid of possible user functions. The grid is made up of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a novel approach to facial imaging synchronized with synthetic speech. Mapping viseme images to a diphone requires the same `transitioning` in that the imaging associated with a diphone is not a static image, but rather, a series of images which dynamically depict, with lip, teeth and tongue positioning, the sound transition occurring in the relevant diphone. Each series of lip, teeth, and tongue positioning transitions is referred to herein as a `diseme.` A diseme (like a diphone) thus begins somewhere during one viseme (phone) and ends somewhere during a following viseme (phone). Due to lip, teeth and tongue position imaging commonality, phones are grouped into archiphonic families. A single diseme, which depicts the transition from a phone in one archiphonic family to another phone in a different archiphonic family, can be used for displaying the transition between any phone in the first archiphonic family to any phone in the second archiphonic family.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing scalers to support multiple font formats in a graphics system that processes data having a specified font format. The method and system includes actively registering each of the scalers with a font scaler manager by specifying a primary font format and one or more secondary font formats that are supported by each of the scalers. The font scaler manager then selects one of the scalers to process the data by finding a match between the specified font format and the primary font formats registered by the scalers. If a match is not found, then one of the scalers is selected by finding a match between the specified font format and the secondary font formats registered by the scalers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capturing images on screens which display multiple windows. Exemplary embodiments eliminate unnecessary reading and writing of information pertaining to display data that is not visible. A user designates an arbitrary region of a screen to be captured, which can cross windows that are displayed at different layers within the image. A snapshot of the selected region is obtained by retrieving data for each of the pixels in the region, converting them into standard values, and storing them in an off-screen pixel map. Before the data for the pixels is obtained, a listing is made of all windows that are encompassed by the designated region. For each window a record is made of the portion of the window that is visible within the designated region. If no portion is visible, the window is removed from the list.

Abstract: An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect includes 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: A method and apparatus for synchronizing the presentation of time dependent data to a first dock having a first frequency is disclosed. First, a rate conversion is performed on a data stream for a first time period. Second, the rate of conversion is modified to provide a modified rate of conversion. Third, a rate of conversion having a modified rate of conversion is performed on the data stream for a second time period. The second and third steps are repeated until all samples in the data stream are presented. The rate of conversion is modified from one period to the next based on a measurement of the difference between a rate for the first clock and the rate of a second less precise clock.

Abstract: When a method implemented in native compiled code is called from a object-oriented program, the parameters associated with that method are marshaled to convert them from the format of the object-oriented code into one which is appropriate for the compiled code. The marshaling of parameters is carried out in dependence upon the particular type of object with which the parameters are associated. When an aggregate object is marshaled, a pointer to the object is adjusted to point directly to variables for an instance of that object. When an array is marshaled, the pointer is adjusted to point to its individual elements.

Abstract: According to the system and method disclosed herein, the present invention provides a system and method for organizing information to perform accurate and efficient collation for information such as languages of various nationalities and regions. This invention provides a number of improvements over the existing string comparison routines: portability, improved performance, ability to handle Unicode, and improved linguistic capability.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of arbitrating bus conflicts is disclosed. The system can use information about the status of a data stream to switch between more or less restrictive prioritization schemes. In one particular embodiment, the arbitration system can also be programmed by causing it to store information on overall system requirements for data which the arbitration system can then use to set a current prioritization scheme.

Abstract: A client sends a state information message such as an error message or a state information manipulation request to a logging system server. The logging system server prioritizes the messages and requests, and sends them to the appropriate components. A notification engine and a notification manager control notifying the user of the state information message. A plugin server and plugins control logging the state information message and control other state information manipulation such as generating statistical analysis data and paging a user. The plugin server enables additional plugins to be added to the system. An external notification manager sends the state information message and possibly other information such as the statistical analysis data to an external system such as technical support. A system fatal error controller locks up the system during a system fatal error to prevent any additional data corruption.