Abstract: Decoding and encoding of variable length data words and data strings is accelerated by testing for and processing more than one word or string per encoding or decoding cycle. In an encoding scheme wherein fixed length data words are encoded into variable length data strings, decoding is carried out by first receiving a data stream having a plurality of encoded data strings contained therein, and then testing at least a portion of the data stream to determine whether the portion contains one of a number of selected sets of multiple data strings. If the portion of the data stream contains one of the selected sets of multiple data strings, the multiple data strings are decoded into a corresponding set of multiple data words. This decoding procedure allows a plurality of encoded data strings to be decoded in a single decoding cycle. The procedure may be implemented using either a single lookup table or a set of split-level lookup tables.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for maintaining information in a network of computer systems and for controlling the display of searchable information. The apparatus includes a first processor having a first display device and being coupled to an information storage device having information stored in at least one information source, where the first processor is coupled to a network. An input device is coupled to the first processor, where the input device is for selecting the information source to provide a selected information source which is to be unavailable for searching. A second processor having a second display device is coupled to the network to communicate with the first processor. The second display device is for displaying an indicia of information source, where the second display device displayed the indicia of the information source when the information source has not been selected by the input device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the power consumption of a processor in a computer system where a programming structure running on the processor determines when the processor is in an inactive state to cause clocking signals and the power supply to be disabled to the processor. The processor is again coupled to the power supply and the clock signals in response to a periodic interrupt signal, a non-periodic interrupt or a bus request from a peripheral device. Thereafter, the programming structure signals the control logic again when the processor reenters the inactive state, such that the control logic disables the clock signals and decouples the power supply to the processor when the processor returns to the inactive state. The method is extended to offer the ability to shut down the processor from programming structures running on alternate masters or subsystem controllers within the same system.

Abstract: A power system fault handling mechanism for portable electronic devices having multiple power supplies. A safety-net circuit is triggered when a power fault condition is detected. The safety-net circuit is a diode-based bridging circuit which couples all available power supplies to the power load, yet avoids feeding power back from any of the supplies to one another. This ensures that the load continues to receive power after a fault condition occurs without interruption. A microcontroller may then implement a routine to switch to a working power supply so that the device may resume normal operation. The power system fault detection mechanism therefor allows for the switching between system power supplies without disrupting a running process.

Abstract: A method of modifying a display matrix in a matrix display area in a window on a computer display screen. The method includes the steps of displaying data in a matrix format, thereby forming a display matrix in the matrix display area, the matrix display area having a first dimension, and increasing, responsive to a selection of an increase activator, the number of existing columns of matrix cells in the display matrix by adding an additional column of matrix cells to the display matrix. The method further includes the step of computing, using a central processing unit, a computed width of a column of matrix cells in the existing columns of matrix cells if the column of matrix cells is reduced in width to accommodate the additional column of matrix cells.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for inexpensive phase coherent subcarrier generation. The subcarrier sequence has a fairly short periodicity (two lines), allowing a relatively short lookup table to hold coded values precisely representing the sampled subcarrier. A variety of modulation techniques may be employed to minimize the error between the reconstructed subcarrier sine wave and an "ideal" subcarrier sine wave. The SCH phase may be easily varied by using a different table of subcarrier sine wave values.

Abstract: An interactive audio-visual (A/V) transceiver is advantageously coupled to a television and/or telephone (T/T) cable, a TV, a video recorder (VCR), and other A/V devices. The A/V transceiver switches data between a program/service provider and the connected A/V devices. In one embodiment, the transceiver includes three primary modules, a main module including a CPU, a system bus, system memory, an infra-red (IR) control unit, an audio-visual bus, an A/V decoder, an A/V processor, and an A/V encoder, an A/V connect module including a number of tuner/demodulators and a switch, and an optional CD ROM module. The A/V transceiver hardware is complemented with an operating system and software program which supports the functions provided in the A/V user interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing shapes characterized by a stroke grouper receptive to a plurality of strokes formed on a screen of a pen-based computer system; a shape recognition engine receptive to a stroke group produced by the stroke grouper; and a knowledge base coupled to the shape recognition engine, where the knowledge base includes, at a minimum, knowledge concerning closed polygons and closed curves. Preferably, the closed curves of the knowledge base include both circles and ellipses. A method for recognizing digitized shapes in a computer system includes the steps of receiving at least one user-initiated stroke; grouping the user-initiated stroke with related strokes to form a stroke group; and analyzing the stroke group to make a best-guess shape represented by the stroke group. Preferably, the method also looks for other shapes which are related to the best-guess shape and modifying at least one of the location, size, or shape of the best-guess shape to conform with the other shapes.

Abstract: A method for deducing user intent and providing computer implemented services characterized by the steps of: a) noticing a significant new event occurring within the computer system; b) deducing an intent from the significant new event and from the context in which the new event occurred; and c) providing a service based upon the new event and its context. Significant events are those which the computer might be able to assist a user, and can be determined by matching the event into a database of recognizable events to make a significant observation. The deduction step takes a delimited set of significant observations and attempts to match the set against a number of intent templates. If there are multiple matches to the intent templates, the matches are ranked and a best guess is made to determine a deduced intent. Service is provided fulfilling all preconditions of a plan associated with the deduced intent, and by sequentially executing the steps of the plan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting data in an application which is not a currently active context. The method comprises a user selecting information within a window under control of a first application program and moving the information to a second window under control of an active application program. This operation is performed providing a simple select, drag-and-drop operation. The active application program can arbitrate and communicate with a handler installed for the first application program to cause data from the first application program to be provided without activating the first application program.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for recording digitized component television signals onto analog video tape. The present invention directly implements the frequency division multiplexed signal of a VCR, and avoids many of the artifacts of composite television signal encoding. An additional benefit of digital processing is the ability to realize video filters with two dimensional isotropic response, which allows for smear compensation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a variety of methods and apparatus for providing patches within a computer operating system. A patch structure in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a patch block which serves to link the patch structure into a patch chain, and a patch which contains the desired functionality of the patch structure. The patch chain includes a root patch structure and a final patch structure. The root patch structure has a root patch block and a given function which has the root functionality.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling DRAM is described. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a memory subsystem can be populated by end users with any of a variety of DRAM chips. A memory controller will size each memory bank and determine whether paired memory banks are to be configured as interleaved or non-interleaved based upon the detected DRAM population. Bank selection logic is designed to account for both size and status (interleaved or non-interleaved) when determining which memory bank contains a memory location of interest. Row and column addressing is selected to minimize decoding of an incoming system address and reduce DRAM access time.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vector quantization. A threshold generator generates an i threshold (Threshold.sub.i) to be associated with each i quantized vector of n quantized vectors in a vector quantization codebook. The vector quantization codebook and the thresholds are used by a vector quantizer to encode a set of input vectors (V.sub.1 -V.sub.TOT). The determination that a distance between a vector to be encoded and a quantized vector in a codebook is less than the associated threshold causes a search for the closest vector to terminate for a nearest neighbor vector quantizer. In some embodiments, the vectors comprise samples of continuous signals for sound containing speech, or display signals. In other embodiments, codebook vectors are arranged from most frequently encoded vectors to least frequently encoded vectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus read an existing computer vector shape and modify that vector shape to be scribble filled. The method includes the steps of receiving data defining a vector shape, creating a series of intersection lines overlaying the vector shape, generating intersection points that indicate where the intersection lines and the vector shape intersect, connecting by lines the intersection points at consecutive intersection line locations, and verifying that all the connecting lines are located within a boundary defined by the vector shape.

Abstract: The delay line separator extracts a clock signal from a combined data/clock encoded signal received over a serial data bus, despite the presence of significant duty cycle distortion. Such distortion affects the width of symbols within received data packets but does not affect the timing between successive rising edges within the received pulse string. To extract the chock signal from the distorted signal, the separator exploits a pre-filter circuit which generates 2 -nanosecond pulses synchronized with each rising edge in the received signal. A 20-nanosecond pulse train is transmitted down a delay line having twelve delay elements. Circuits are connected to every other delay element within the delay line for generating 10-nanosecond pulses, synchronized with each rising edge of the pulse train. Outputs from the circuits are combined using an OR gate to yield a 10-nanosecond clock signal.

Abstract: A power connecting device for electrical appliances having two metal prongs for use with standard North American mains outlets; the prongs rotate to fold into a recess in the device. The recess protects the prongs for storage and transport, and is designed to accept slip-on adapters that slide into the recess, surrounding and mating with the folded down prongs and providing connection to the local mains connections in differing international locations.

Abstract: A pattern recognition system which continuously adapts reference patterns to more effectively recognize input data from a given source. The input data is converted to a set or series of observed vectors and is compared to a set of Markov Models. The closest matching Model is determined and is recognized as being the input data. Reference vectors which are associated with the selected Model are compared to the observed vectors and updated ("adapted") to better represent or match the observed vectors. This updating method retains the value of these observed vectors in a set of accumulation vectors in order to base future adaptations on a broader data set. When updating, the system also may factor in the values corresponding to neighboring reference vectors that are acoustically similar if the data set from the single reference vector is insufficient for an accurate calculation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for linking GUI sliders displayed on a computer screen. A master slider and a slave slider are displayed, each including a knob and a guide. The master knob can be moved along the master guide in response to input from a user, such as with a pointing device. The movement of the slave knob of the slave slider is influenced along the slave guide based on the position and/or movement of the master knob. The slave slider can preferably be in a full slave mode or in a partial slave mode. In full slave mode, the slave knob tracks the movement of its master knob and cannot be selected directly by the user. In partial slave mode, a slave knob can be directly selected and moved by the user, but includes a limit to its movement based on the master knob's current position. Graphical indications of the limits and/or influence on the slave slider are displayed, such as half tone displays on the screen and lines indicating the limits to movement.

Abstract: A method for the angle-independent recognition of handwritten objects including: a) receiving a handwritten stroke; b) normalizing the stroke; c) matching the normalized stroke against a stroke database to obtain at least one character part interpretation; and d) recognizing a handwritten object using one or more of the character part interpretations. Preferably, the step of normalizing the stroke includes the step of normalizing an angle of the stroke by first determining a stroke angle and then rotating the stroke by the stroke angle until the stroke is at a normalized position.