Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a set of variations of control points of a symbol image, such as a glyph, for display of at least one variation of the symbol image on a display device of a computer controlled display system. The method includes providing a first plurality of control points specifying the outlines of the symbol image; providing variation data for specifying a set of variations for at least one of the control points, the variation data identifying the at least one control point and indicating a spatial manipulation of the at least one control point; modifying the first plurality of control points which specify the outline of the symbol image to spatially manipulate the at least one control point so as to provide a second plurality of control points; scan converting the second plurality of control points to provide a displayable representing of the symbol image; and displaying the displayable representation on the display device.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides for automatic cutoff control in a DC coupled CRT video drive using a low DC supply voltage and circuitry that is lower in power consumption than conventional circuitry for the comparable video performance. A simple, easy to implement solution is achieved with an extremely low component count. Cutoff control response is fast, allowing discontinuous operation of auto cutoff control. In one embodiment of the invention, a cutoff control signal is applied to individual CRT G1 terminals. Fast response cutoff control drive is realized using an IC current source and a single transistor current-to-voltage (CTV) converter. Supply voltage variations on the video driver are clamped via a clamping device to the negative supply voltage of the G1 CTV converter.

Abstract: An interactive user interface for a computer controlled system to simplify browsing and navigating through information structures. The interface uses a split-pane icon on a window scroll bar, or input and output icons on a window title bar. When activating the split-pane icon by dragging a selected object to it, a new pane opens up displaying the contents of the object. Where a first or second pane exists, dragging a selected object to the first or second panels input icon, or dragging the output icon of the first pane to the second panels input icon, will display the contents of a selected object in the first or second pane respectively. Other ways of controlling the displays in the same or different windows or panes are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing information in a data processing system which is coupled to an information storage device having information stored therein. The method includes defining on a first processor a first search request which includes at least one parameter which specifies a first desired type of information, then performing a first search using the first request to determine whether the first type of desired information is stored in the information storage device. While performing the first search the first processor executes another process associated with searching for information in the data processing system. This other process typically includes defining a further search request and performing a further search using the further search request while the first search is being performed. The apparatus of the present invention includes a first processor coupled to the information storage device and a second processor coupled to a network to the first processor.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing and enforcing a maximum size for a directory in a file server. The system and method includes setting a quota size for the directory, and in response to a request to write to the directory, determining if the size of the directory is less than the quota size. If the size of the directory is less than the quota, then it is determined if the write request will exceed the quota size. The system and method further includes processing the write request if the write request does not exceed the quota, thereby preventing the size of the directory from exceeding the set quota size.

Abstract: A method for correcting textual material recognized on a pen-based computer in accordance with the present invention includes the step of receiving an input on a screen of the computer system. The input is then recognized, and a bounding box defining the bounds of the input is defined. A determination of the intention and placement of the recognized input is then made according to the relationship between the bounding box of the recognized input and the bounding boxes of the already existing textual objects. When a substantial overlap is found of the recognized input with an existing textual object and the number of characters of the recognized input is less than a predetermined number, the recognized input is considered as an overwrite of the existing text. If the conditions are not met, the recognized input is considered as an insertion of a new textual object, i.e., a new word.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing the data between two separate computer systems is described. In a first aspect of the invention, the method includes the step of identifying each record stored in the memory of the first computer system that is intended to be synchronized. The records are identified with a unique identification indicia and an indicia that indicates the last time that the record was altered. Using the time of the last synchronization information, each of the selected records that was added to or deleted from one of the computer systems since the last synchronization is identified and added to or deleted from the other computer system. Further, each of the records that was modified on one computer system is modified on the other. If conflicting actions have occurred on the two computer systems, then the conflicts are handled in accordance with a predetermined protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing dynamic classification of objects. The system provides for dynamic classification of objects within a simulator environment and also contains a graphical user interface related to the simulator environment. The apparatus includes a display, a processor, and an input device. A processor generates a simulation environment on a display screen and a user interfaces to the system with a user input device. Objects within a simulation take on user specified rules and properties that define their behavior. A graphical representation is provided for categorizing classes of objects. A graphical representation of a jar provides a label for defining the identity of the jar and a first region into which items (e.g., icons representing instances or classes of objects) can be dragged and dropped. These items become members of the dynamic class defined by the jar.

Abstract: A method for searching the contents of a memory device for a pen-based computer system, where the contents of the memory device are organized as one or more files, where each file contains records, and where a file has an associated "button" proved on a surface of the housing of the computer system. The method includes the ,steps of: receiving a find-command from a user; receiving a selection search string from the user; searching the records of each file in the memory device for the search string; making a list of target files and the number of hits in each file; displaying indicators showing a summary of the list; and processing a user input with the summary. All of the records in all of the files are searched. The number of hits for each file are displayed.

Abstract: A data bus arbiter for supporting pipelined transactions employs a circular FIFO for storing bus requests. The arbiter includes two pointers which reference the entries of the FIFO. A first pointer is incremented upon detection of the end of a bus cycle. A second pointer is incremented when a new bus cycle is started.

Abstract: A programmable interrupt delay in a communication circuit enables accurate timing of an interrupt delay without tying up processor CPU cycles in the execution of a delay loop. The interrupt delay comprises a memory containing the program delay value. A communication circuit which generates an interrupt output corresponding to the transmission of a communication data stream is coupled to a timing circuit having a time value. This timing circuit also has a timing start input, which triggers timing of the timing value upon receipt of the interrupt output. A comparator coupled to the memory and to the timing circuit compares the time value to the delay value and generates a delayed interrupt when the time value and the delay value are equal.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a computer system in a low power mode in which the central processor unit (CPU) responds only to system events that require CPU operation is described. The invention inclues providing register banks on system logic coupled to the CPU which determines whether interrupt signals generated on the system require CPU attention and the priority to be accorded to the processes associated with the interrupt signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating pixel shading values in a computer controlled display system. Generally, the apparatus is embodied in a rendering pipeline, where each stage of the pipeline performs a particular pixels shading function, so that pixels are shaded in a distributed and direct fashion. The method of the present invention includes the steps of: deriving a pixel interpolation value from an object description, providing a first and second shading parameters and the pixel interpolation value to a first shader, generating the first shading value for the pixel, providing second and third shading parameters and the pixel interpolation value to a second shader and generating second shading value for the pixel.

Abstract: A method of constructing a new active list of phone models from an existing active list of phone models during acoustic matching of a speech recognition system is described. A vector quantized speech vector is compared against each of the phone models in the existing active list to obtain a phone best score for each of the phone models of the existing active list. A best phone best score is determined among all the phone best scores of the phone models to obtain a global best score. A phone model of the phone models from the existing active list is added to the new active list of phone models if the phone best score of that phone model is within a first predetermined value of the global best score. A next phone model of the existing phone of the existing active list is added to the new active list if the phone ending score of that existing phone is within a second predetermined value of a best score of the existing phone model. A next (e.g.

Abstract: In a computer graphic system a method and apparatus for dynamically maintaining an overflow flag in a multi-layer buffer. A circuit for maintaining an overflow signal is provided. This circuit is provided new pixel data from the computer system and old pixel data from a memory and in response dynamically asserts or de-asserts the overflow signal. An increment and decrement generator, which is coupled to the new overflow generator, is provided a new overflow signal and an old overflow signal and in response generates an increment signal and a decrement signal. An overflow tracking circuit, which is coupled to the increment and decrement generator, is provided. The overflow tracking circuit uses the increment and decrement signals to maintain an overflow count value.

Abstract: Utilization of one or more voice sources in a speech synthesizer to provide improved synthetic speech. Having a speech synthesizer with the capability to select among and between a multiplicity of voice sources provides a higher quality and greater variety of possible synthetic speech sounds. This is particularly true when the multiplicity of voice sources are predetermined to have particular speech qualities and spectral content such as may be desired to convey emotional vocal content in synthetic speech.

Abstract: A method for reducing colorflashing by performing residual color allocation and default colormap sharing in a computer system that employs a default colormap to display color. The residual color allocation technique copies color values from a private colormap into corresponding non-allocated (free) cells within the computer system default colormap. While copying into the free cells in the default colormap the free cells are temporarily set to have an allocated status. After copying, the copied cells are reset to a free status. In this way, other clients may allocate the default map's free cells to perform residual colormap allocation. Since the default colormap's copied cells are the same as corresponding cells in the private map they do not flash when switching color focus between the default colormap and the private colormap. The default colormap sharing technique is employed in the case in which a private colormap does not require a specific set of colors, and can adapt to a given set of colors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directly evaluating a parameter interpolation function in a computer graphic system that renders a geometric entity (such as a polygon) by partitioning a display device into a number of local regions. The computer graphic system initially determines that a first set of pixels in a first local region of the display device is covered by a geometric entity. A geometric entity's boundary defining data (e.g., the geometric entity's vertex coordinates defined relative to a display device coordinate system) is employed to generate a local set of coordinates that are defined relative to a first local coordinate system of the first local region for all pixels of the first set of pixels. A first local parameter interpolation function, which represents the parameter values for all pixels of the first set of pixels when these pixels are defined relative to the first local coordinate system, is then generated.

Abstract: Resolution independent methods for rendering a graphic image on a display device include: a method for re-gridding an image for fast off screen to on screen transfers; and a method for modifying an image to encompass all pixels of the device resolution for both local and global gridding.

Abstract: An analog interface for a PC module and an electronic device which communicate through a standard 68-pin PC card digital interface. The PC module includes a cellular phone radio and an analog modem that provides cellular communication capabilities to both a notebook computer and a telephone handset that includes a PC card slot. The PC module and the notebook computer have modified the standard 68-pin PC card interface, while remaining compliant with the standard interface, to enable voice applications in the notebook computer. The PC card interface is modified by reassigning pin assignments on the 68-pin connector through the use of a switch and audio lines in both the notebook computer and in the PC module.