Abstract: A method and means for allocating memory for a multiple program structure is described. The present invention includes a method and means for specifying a connection between the programming structures. The present invention also includes a method and means for connecting the programming structures by pointing the input data location of one of the programming structures to the output data location of the preceding programming structure, such that the buffer location used for storing data output from one programming structure becomes the buffer location used to input data into the next programming structure. The present invention also includes a method and means for creating an inter-task buffer. The inter-task buffer is created by first adding a first task which opens the inter-task buffer. The inter-task buffer is completed by adding another task directly after the first task. This second task closes the inter-task buffer.

Abstract: A method for the loading and unloading of a FIFO in an isochronous transmission mechanism uses descriptor blocks which have both branch addresses and skip addresses. The method can recover from cycle loss by selectively resending or skipping a packet that should have been sent in the lost cycle. The method also works two cycles ahead of schedule, in an attempt to keep the FIFO loaded with all of the packets for two cycles of transmission. The FIFO is filled according to a DMA algorithm and drained according to a Link algorithm where the two algorithms are coordinated to communicate information about lost cycles and current demands or opportunities for transmission. If the Link algorithm detects a lost cycle, it communicates that to the DMA algorithm and the DMA algorithm seeks to compensate appropriately. These two algorithms describe mechanisms for the DMA and Link sides of an isochronous transmitter.

Abstract: Parsing routines extract from a conventional pronunciation dictionary an entry, which includes a dictionary word and dictionary phonemes representing the pronunciation of the dictionary word. A correspondence table is used to compress the pronunciation dictionary. The correspondence table includes correspondence sets for a particular language, each set having a correspondence text entry, a correspondence phoneme entry representing the pronunciation of the correspondence text entry and a unique correspondence set identifying symbol. A matching system compares a dictionary entry with the correspondence sets, and replaces the dictionary entry with the symbols representing the best matches. In the absence of a match, symbols representing silent text or unmatched phonemes can be used. The correspondence symbols representing the best matches provide compressed pronunciation dictionary entries. The matching system also generates decoder code sets for subsequently translating the symbol sets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting and retrieving computer data files from a remote computer includes an automatic file translation mechanism. In one embodiment, the data being retrieved and the file translation mechanism are located on the same computer. The method of the invention includes establishing a data transfer link with the remote computer, displaying the files available for retrieval from the remote computer, selecting a file to be transferred, and translating the file prior to transfer. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a pen-based computer and the remote computer is a desktop computer.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a hardware graphics accelerator for use in a computer system having a data processor, a system bus, and a memory subsystem including both main memory and video memory. The hardware graphics accelerator includes a datapath controller connected to the system bus and to the memory subsystem for receiving data from the memory subsystem, performing an operation upon the data, and returning the data to the memory subsystem; and a memory controller connected to the system bus, to the datapath controller, and to the memory subsystem for controlling the memory subsystem such that at one time the datapath controller receives the data from the main memory and at another time the datapath controller receives the data from the video memory.

Abstract: A system for efficiently supporting critical-word-first data transfers comprises a data storage device, a controller, a data selector, and a multiplexer. The data storage device is preferably capable of outputting data in one or more word orderings. The controller is preferably a state machine that processes data transfer requests by determining the orderings of data that the associated data storage device, data selector and multiplexer can provide, determining the ordering for the data requested and creating a response packet with the data ordered in critical-word-aligned order beginning with the word containing the requested address. The present invention also includes a method for efficiently supporting critical-word-first data transfers.

Abstract: Methods, apparati and computer program products prepare objects for display in a window. Objects which would otherwise not be displayed because they have a position outside the borders of the window are repositioned to be displayed inside the window at a position near the border of the window that indicates the original position of the object. Objects that have been repositioned according to the present invention may also have other characteristics modified, such as size, shape, color or display intensity. Where objects are arranged in a hierarchy, they may be displayed in a color corresponding to their level in the hierarchy.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently routing data packets in a computer interconnect includes a plurality of nodes forming a ringlet, generally including two connections between each pair of nodes configured to allow communication in either direction between each pair of nodes. One sequence of such connections forms a run moving,-for example left-to-right between a series of nodes. The other sequence of connections forms a right-to-left run. Selected nodes are configured to provide two cross-over paths, each from one run to the other, so the two runs are linked to form a circle or ringlet. One or more selected nodes provide an optional connection between the two runs, thus allowing a fast path or short cut to the opposing run. A fast path may include a uni- or bidirectional cross through path in an intermediate node.

Abstract: Portable electronic devices containing user's calendars have proliferated. Similarly, files, web pages, databases and information sources have become commonplace. The present invention combines knowledge of the current date and time with knowledge of entries in the user's calendar to automatically generate queries against those files, databases and information sources. The results of those queries are then made available to the user in order to provide the user with additional information about the subject of the meeting, the other attendees, their employers, etc. The present invention connects multiple devices together in a passive information retrieval model, leveraging off of mobile, desktop, and server systems, context data and search and retrieval technology. The present invention is thus an automatic search and retrieval system providing its user with relevant information to a scheduled meeting or event.

Abstract: The power management system tracks the total amount of power drawn from a bus by devices connected to the bus and to the bus itself, based on the individual operational status of each device. The power manager system also tracks the total amount of power supplied to the bus. From this information the power manager system determines whether a power surplus exists sufficient to allow an additional device to operate or to allow a currently operating device to draw more power. Power usage requests received from devices connected to the bus are granted or denied by the power management system based on the determination of available power. The power management system additionally is capable of sequencing the use of several devices to allow the devices to each operate while maintaining the total power draw within an acceptable range. The system provides for efficient use of a limited amount of power to allow operation of more devices than conventionally allowed with a bus.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying movement in three-dimensional space in response to input from a conventional two-dimensional pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. The three-dimensional space is projected onto a two-dimensional plane for display in a window on a display screen. A viewpoint position, which may be the center of the window, is defined as the current virtual position of the "camera" through which the three-dimensional space is viewed. The user manipulates an on-screen cursor across the window to specify a direction of movement in the two-dimensional plane. A three-dimensional direction of movement is derived from the user's input by defining a sphere having a center corresponding to a the center of the two-dimensional plane, and determining the intersection of a line perpendicular to the plane at the cursor location with the surface of the sphere. The direction of movement is then defined as a vector from the origin to the determined intersection.

Abstract: A computer system user interface provides a document summary which allows the user to more easily identify the contents and subject matter of the document.

Abstract: Electronic paper which has two sides, reverse of one another, which can be flipped over in response to user generated flip commands is described. When a piece of electronic paper is flipped over, a number of transition views of the paper are generated to give the user the impression that the paper is actually being turned over to reveal a reverse side. Different information can be stored on either side, and the composition of either side can be linked so that changes made to the graphic information on one side affects the graphic information on the other side. In addition, when the amount of graphic information on the reverse side of the paper exceeds the amount of available space normally available on the reverse side when the paper is flipped over, approximately the same amount of space available on the top side, the reverse side is expanded to fit the quantity of information to be displayed on the reverse side.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing large-vocabulary speech recognition employing an integrated syntactic and semantic statistical language model. In an exemplary embodiment, a stochastic language model is developed using a hybrid paradigm in which latent semantic analysis is combined with, and subordinated to, a conventional n-gram paradigm. The hybrid paradigm provides an estimate of the likelihood that a particular word, chosen from an underlying vocabulary will occur given a prevailing contextual history. The estimate is computed as a conditional probability that a word will occur given an "integrated" history combining an n-word, syntactic-type history with a semantic-type history based on a much larger contextual framework. Thus, the exemplary embodiment seamlessly blends local language structures with global usage patterns to provide, in a single language model, the proficiency of a short-horizon, syntactic model with the large-span effectiveness of semantic analysis.

Abstract: Explicit support for custom gadgets is provided, at a system software level, in a manner that is essentially application-transparent. Specific support is provided for the addition of one custom gadget per window. The custom gadget is identified by a specific numeric code in the same manner as the close and zoom boxes. An application simply tells the system software what the custom gadget for a particular window should look like. The code responsible for drawing that window's frame then knows where to find the image of the custom gadget and will render it appropriately. When a user clicks in the custom gadget, the system software notifies the application of the event by means of the numeric code associated with the custom gadget. More particularly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a custom interactive user-interface element is provided in a title bar of a window of an application program in a graphical, event-driven computer system having a computer display.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for smoothing out high frequency information in an interlaced computer generated display. A computer generated RGB signal is converted into a YUV signal, which is separated into its Y, U, and V components. The Y component is convolved by averaging a current scan line with a line above and a line below the current scan line so that black lines are lightened and white lines are darkened, thus avoiding flicker. Since convolution is only performed on the Y part of the YUV signal, only two line buffers, each having a width equal to the number of bits in the Y component only, are required.

Abstract: A communication system encodes input data by comparing the data to records in a lossy codebook to determine the closest match. An index corresponding to the record that most closely matches the input data is retrieved from the codebook and transmitted to a receiver. For a predetermined sampling interval, the communication system collects statistics of the frequency of occurrence of each record matching the input data. The records are sorted in descending order by the frequency of occurrence. Using either a predetermined error rate or a predetermined subtable size, the communication system creates a subtable of the records having the greatest frequency of occurrence. To reduce the search time of finding a record matching the input data, the communication system searches only the subtable for records until the error of the match in the subtable exceeds a preselected threshold or until a preselected period of time has elapsed. The communication system again collects statistics of the frequency of occurrence.

Abstract: A system includes a requesting agent coupled to a system bus. The system bus includes an address bus, control lines for indicating a requested transfer type, a data bus, address bus arbitration control lines and data bus arbitration control lines. The system further includes a system bus arbiter coupled to the system bus for resolving competing requests for access to the address bus and for separately resolving competing requests for access to the data bus. A graphics controller for enabling the requesting agent to access a frame buffer has a memory, which may be a FIFO, responsive to a first control signal, for storing data received from a frame buffer. The memory is further responsive to a second control signal for supplying the stored data to the data bus. The graphics controller also includes a controller coupled to the system bus and to the memory means.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and dispatching selected events in an application program comprises an application routine which registers selected events of interest to form a series of handler tables, an event manager which evaluates each new event as it occurs to determine whether any new events are registered in the series of handler tables, and a series of event handlers for responsively handling new events which are registered in the series of handler tables.

Abstract: A method and system for managing color profiles is disclosed in which unique identifications are created that have at least two parameters identifying a corresponding color profile. The unique identifications are then used to specify a particular color profile in a computer document by placing the unique identification in the document at each location where the color profile is used, eliminating the need in some cases to embed the entire color profile in the document multiple times.