Abstract: A method and mechanism for automatically correlating a device to its appropriate driver within a computer system utilizing candidate matching. A device tree indicating devices coupled to a computer system is available from an operating system. Within the device tree are device nodes which specify a particular device's name (device name) and a property which indicates compatible device names (compatible names) to the particular device. Drivers for devices can be located in RAM, ROM, or in another storage media (such as disk drive). Drivers can include a data field indicating a driver name indicative of a corresponding device with which they operate. For a particular device, the system constructs a candidate list of drivers by comparing (1) the device name and (2) the compatible names from the device tree against all the driver names of data fields of all known drivers. The candidate list is sorted so that matches by device name and proper version number are higher priority.

Abstract: A user interface system and method for traversing a database. In one aspect the present invention includes providing a plurality of command options, each of the command options represented by a set of descriptive option index terms characterizing that command option. The set of descriptive option index terms characterizing the command options selected by a user are compared with sets of document index terms. Each set of document index terms being compared characterizes an electronic document in a hypertext-type database which is selectively linked in that database with the user's present position. The comparisons result in a ranked list of the selectively linked electronic documents. The electronic documents are ranked in accordance with the relevancy of each document with respect to the selected command option.

Abstract: To optimize system bus utilization in a computer system, a bus coordinator is included in the computer system to coordinate the transfer of information signals on the bus. Each time a source node wishes to transfer information to a destination node, the source node sends a request to the coordinator along with the identification of the destination node. Upon receiving this request, the coordinator determines whether the destination node has capacity to receive information signals. If the destination node has capacity, then the coordinator grants control of the system bus to the source node to allow the source node to send information signals to the destination node via the system bus. Otherwise, the source node is denied control of the system bus until the destination node has capacity to receive information signals.

Abstract: In a computer system having a digital signal processor for processing tasks in real-time within a series of frames, a method is described for determining whether there is enough processing time available within each frame to process the task such that the frame's total processing time is not exceeded. First, the task's processing time requirement is determined. The time for executing the current task list is then calculated. Next, the remaining amount of processing time available in the frame is determined. This is accomplished by subtracting the current task list execution time from the frame's total processing time. The new task is installed in the task list if the frame's available processing time is at least as great as the task's required processing time. Otherwise, the task is not installed in the task list and an error indication is generated.

Abstract: A method for processing equations in a graphical computer system characterized by the steps of: receiving at least one unit comprising an equation which was derived from a graphical user input device; parsing the units into a parsed tree utilizing a constrained attribute grammar; and deriving a result of the equation utilizing the parsed tree. Preferably, the graphical user input device is a table or the screen of a pen-based computer system, where stroke units derived from strokes made by a stylus on the screen are passed to at least one recognition domain. The process preferably also includes the steps of: receiving at least one stroke unit comprising an edit to an equation on the screen; determining whether the edit changes the structure of the parsed tree of the equation; and editing the parsed tree if the edit does not change the structure of the parsed tree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing color LUTs that are utilized for converting color data from a first display device having a corresponding first color space to a second display device having a corresponding second color space is described. The method of the present invention includes initially displaying on an editor display screen, a graphical representation of a first draft of a previously created color LUT. The graphical representation of the previously created table is embodied as a lattice structure, where each element in the lattice structure represents one or more color values stored in the color LUT. Also displayed on the editor display screen is a set reference images and a set of sample images. The reference images represent the appearance that the user wants the color image to look like on the second display device. Initially, sample images reflect the manner in which the reference image would be displayed on the second device when processed through the previously created color LUT.

Abstract: A signalling mechanism is used by a telecom adapter for interfacing a telephone line to a computer so as to exchange signalling information, such as pulse dialing information, ring indication information, or both. In accordance with one embodiment, the telephone line is sampled to produce a series of data samples. A signal is produced indicative of whether or not a ring signal is currently present on the telephone line, and the signal is combined with at least one of the samples in a single data unit. The single data unit is then transmitted to the computer. In another embodiment, a single data unit is received from the computer and separated into a data sample position and a pulse dialing control position. In one mode of operation the data sample position is converted to an analog signal; in another mode of operation, pulse dialing control position of the single data unit is used to perform pulse dialing.

Abstract: A directional microphone intended for use in a computer visual display monitor, and methods for construction of same. The integral directional microphone assembly comprises a cardioid electret microphone capsule retained therein by acoustically transparent foam. The microphone housing is mounted internally within a display monitor housing facing the user and adjacent to the top surface of the monitor housing. The microphone housing comprises a frontal opening and a plurality of nonfrontally facing openings which together maximally preserve sound pressure gradient applied to the microphone capsule, resulting in a hypercardioid spatial response.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a user with increased flexibility and control over the appearance of objects on a user interface. Drawer objects can be created in at least two different ways. A graphical user interface can automatically place and size an extended portion of a drawer title bar when an active window is selected for conversion into a drawer. Alternatively, a user can drag a window toward an edge of a display space where a drawer will be created. Sizing and placement of the extended portion of the drawer title bar is accomplished according to various rules described herein.

Abstract: Explicit support is provided at the system software level for application program tear-off menus in a manner that is essentially application-transparent. All menus are transformed into windows and grouped in a single menu layer for each application, greatly simplifying many of the complexities of navigating through hierarchical and tear-off menus. Each application has its own menu layer that is shown and hidden as the application moves to the foreground and background. Tear-off menus, as with all menus, are hidden and shown with the menu layer, generating the desirable "floating-window" behavior. More particularly, menus are managed in a graphical, event-driven computer system having a computer display by representing the menus as windows, providing a menu layer for containing menus of a computer program, and displaying a menu. Events occurring with respect to the menu layer are detected, in response to which display of the menu is varied.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for interleaving display frame buffers is disclosed. The system includes a processor providing CPU addresses for peripheral access, a display system, a single memory system for storing multiple frame buffers, data buses for transferring image information and a video controller for processing the image information received and for converting CPU addresses into memory addresses for accessing the memory system. The multiple frame buffers stored in the memory system in accordance with the present invention provide either overlay images for a display or separate images for separate displays or both.

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides a powerful yet easy to use electronic publishing tool for information providers and online service operators. The electronic publishing tool allows information providers to manage the content they provide to online services. It also reduces the effort required by operations staff of online services to support a growing number of information providers. Finally, the electronic publishing tool allows content to be captured from information providers (and, by extension, subscribers) so that it can be published onto a variety of platforms with minimal additional effort. For example information, in addition to or in lieu of being published on an online service, may be published on CD through a facility such as AppleLink CD (AppleLink CD allows a portion of the "static" content of an online service such as AppleLink to be published and distributed in CD form, with the result that the content is infinitely reusable without incurring connect charges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provides for automatic generation of an intuitive, logical focusing order for items in a dialog window in a computer system. The focus ordering can be generated dynamically at runtime or statically. In particular, the focusing order is based on the locations and types of the items in the dialog box and is generated as follows. A customizable spatial comparison function, called herein "comparison function", is generated such that two items can be compared and an ordering of the items determined. The spatial comparison function extrapolates or imposes on each item being compared a region which is defined by the extent of the item's bounds. The regions are then compared to determine the focus ordering of the item. The items in the dialog box are sorted using the comparison function. The items are then grouped based on their locations and their types. Items that are of a similar type and in the same horizontal or vertical line are grouped together.

Abstract: A system has a system resource, such as a frame buffer, coupled to a system bus, the system bus conveying a request for access to the system resource from another system element connected to the system bus. An apparatus for presenting the access request to the system resource from the system bus includes a queue, a multiplexor that is preferably glitchless, and a controller. The queue has an input for receiving access request information from the system bus; one or more storage elements, each for storing access request information, wherein the one or more storage means are connected to form a queue having a head and a tail; and a queue output for supplying data stored in the head of the queue. The multiplexor has a first input coupled to the queue output, a second input for receiving the access request information from the system bus, and a multiplexor output for supplying the access request to the system resource.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing natural language and deducing meaning from a natural language input characterized by the steps of (a) receiving an ordered string of word objects having a natural language meaning, (b) selecting a word window length, and (c) successively moving the word window along the ordered string and analyzing the meaning of a substring of word objects that fall within the word window. The substring is removed from the ordered string if the substring has a recognized meaning, until all substrings of the ordered string that fit within the window have been analyzed. In a step (d), the word window length is reduced and step (c) is repeated until only an unrecognized residual of the ordered string remains. The meaning of the substring is analyzed by mapping the substring against a database using one or more mapping routines.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for performing a parallel interpolation between corresponding pixel characteristics within a packed foreground pixel data word and a packed background pixel data word. A blending factor is used to indicate the extent to which the pixel characteristics are scaled, where the scaling is related to a power of two. The pixel characteristics within each packed data word are scaled simultaneously.

Abstract: The method of the present invention includes the steps of executing a process to support a number of temporal-based functions and activating at least one of these temporal-based functions. Temporal-based functions of the present invention include a scheduler, to-do list, and a note function. Temporal-based entries can then be moved within and/or between the temporal-based functions. Further, temporal-based entries can be edited for each temporal-based function. Moving temporal-based entries involves the selection of an entry with a pointer mechanism, dragging the entry to a new location, releasing the entry at the new location, and updating a database to reflect the entry's change in position. Editing an entry involves direct editing of an entry, editing through an editing window, or editing of a duration bar associated with an entry. Data entered into a scheduling field of the scheduler function is processed according to its placement within the scheduling field.

Abstract: A personal computer includes an outer housing, including a front bezel to which frames a monitor screen of the computer. Speakers are mounted to the back of the bezel, and apertured speaker covers are disposed in front of the speakers. The speaker covers are of smaller size than the bezel, and are non-releasably mounted to the bezel by tamper-resistant snap-in couplings.

Abstract: Emulator performance can be improved by recognizing repeated sequences of the same instruction, or commonly groups of instructions. For example, it is very common to see a three instruction sequence of MOVEM, UNLK A6, and RTS instructions for a 68020 processor in procedure exit code. By looking for these sequences, and combining the operations performed by the separate sequences, overhead of decoding and dispatching the individual instructions in the sequence can be eliminated, and performance improved. Common instruction sequences or repeated sequences in a guest program are detected during emulation of the guest program on a host processor, and performance of the emulation optimized based on the detected sequences.

Abstract: A battery cell having a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a power producing core section (e.g., electrolyte) for systems, such as computer systems, cellular phones, etc. The battery cell also includes an internal circuit to monitor the state of the battery cell. The state that is monitored may include the temperature, charge level of the battery core section, the discharge/charge rate. The circuit may control the battery cell (e.g., cause charging of the battery cell). This internal circuit may be an integrated circuit, such as a microprocessor.