Abstract: A computer has a device driver and an operating system that call a consolidated buffer service routine to coordinate the transfer of data between a main memory and an external device. The consolidated buffer service routine includes a memory preparation service routine and a memory checking service routine. The memory preparation service routine coordinates data transfers between the external device and the memory with the operating system and a data cache, and with other data transfers. The memory preparation service routine ensures that the buffer remains assigned to the memory ranges until the memory checking service routine relinquishes the buffer. Before calling the memory preparation service routine, an I/O preparation table is set which defines the addresses and the type of addresses of the buffer, the size of the data to be transferred, the page size of the buffer, and flags defining data flow and type.

Abstract: A system is provided for managing code resources for use by client applications in a computer, wherein the computer has internal memory storing at least one client application. The apparatus comprises a resource set catalog stored in the internal memory. The resource set catalog identifies a plurality of function sets of functions by respective function set IDs. Further, the resource set catalog includes set records which characterize the functions within the respective sets. A dispatch engine, in the internal memory, linked with a client application, supplies a particular function set ID in response to a call by the client application of a particular function which is a member of a corresponding function set identified by the particular function set ID. A lookup engine in the internal memory, coupled with the resource set catalog and the dispatch engine, is responsive to the particular function set ID to look up a set record for a corresponding function set in the resource set catalog.

Abstract: Maintaining dynamic categories for speech rules in a speech recognition system which has a plurality of speech rules each comprising a language model and action. Each speech rule indicates whether the language model includes a flag identifying whether the words in the language model is dynamic according to changing data in the speech recognition system. At periodic intervals, such as system initialization or application program launch time, for each flag in each speech rule which indicates that words in the language model are dynamic, the words of each of the language model(s) are updated depending upon the state of the system. Concurrent with the determination of acoustic features during speech recognition, a current language model can be created based upon the language models from these speech rules.

Abstract: An open-loop speaker amplifier and a dynamic range reduction circuit are disclosed. The speaker amplifier includes a bridge driver and a bridge circuit. The bridge circuit includes a first set of switches and a second set of switches. When the first set of switches are activated, a positive current flows through a speaker load. When the second set of switches are activated, a negative current flows through the speaker load. The bridge driver generates a pulse width modulated signal and a delayed pulse width modulated signal to drive the first and second set of switches of the bridge circuit responsive to a modulation signal. The modulation signal maybe for example, a plurality of pulse code modulated samples representing sound. The dynamic range reduction circuit modifies a selected signal to reduce the dynamic range of the sound reproduced based on the modulation signal. The selected signal is either the modulation signal or a reference signal.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for verifying compatibility between components of a system which share a client-provider relationship. Briefly, according to the invention, a current version of a provider and a compatibility range are defined for each of a version of a client and a version of a provider. A version of a provider specifies an oldest implementation provider and an oldest definition provider. When a client is linked with a particular version of a provider it stores an identification for that provider, a current indicator for that version of the provider, called a definition provider, and the oldest implementation provider. At runtime, compatibility checks are performed between a client and available versions of the provider(s), called implementation providers, with which it has been linked. For each available version of each type of provider compatibility exists with the client in three situations.

Abstract: A gesture sensitive button for graphical user interfaces characterized by a digital computer, a screen coupled to the digital computer, a pointer mechanism used for pointing locations on the screen, a "button" image displayed on the screen, and a gesture recognizer for detecting gestures made on the screen by the pointing mechanism. The button is responsive to at least two different button gestures made on the screen on or near the button. A process implementing the gesture sensitive button of the present invention includes: providing a button image on a computer screen; detecting a gesture made on the screen by a pointer such as a stylus, mouse, or trackball; determining whether the gesture is associated with the button image; and initiating one of at least two processes if the gesture is associated with the button image. The gesture sensitive button conserves real estate on the computer screen by permitting a single button to control multiple functions and processes.

Abstract: A personal computer includes an outer housing which includes a front bezel that frames a monitor screen. A microphone assembly is attached to the bezel by a friction-fit. The bezel includes a cylindrical projection forming a socket. The microphone assembly includes a circuit board to which is mounted a microphone-carrying resilient body. The body is attached to the circuit board by spring fingers and includes a groove for receiving the cylindrical projection of the bezel.

Abstract: A method and system for automatic characterization of a color printer are described. A relatively few number of test samples are printed and measured to create an analytic model which characterizes a printer. This analytical model, in turn, is used to generate a multidimensional lookup table which can then be used at runtime to compensate image input and create desired visual characteristics in the printed image. A detector can be incorporated into the printer which measures at least one parameter of each printed sample so that characterization can be carried out internally to the printer in a manner which is transparent to the end user. In this way, changes in paper stock, inks, or environment can be custom compensated for each printing application.

Abstract: A system for custom context switching comprises a thread accounting unit, a switching routine registration unit, a thread scheduling unit, a custom context switching unit, and a default context switching unit. The thread accounting unit creates a thread object for each thread present in a multithreaded execution environment, where the thread object includes data fields for storing a unique thread ID, a reference to a custom context switching routine, and a switching parameter signal. The switching routine registration unit stores a reference to a custom context switching routine in a particular thread object. The thread scheduling unit determines when rescheduling operations for transferring execution from one thread to another are required, and directs rescheduling operations.

Abstract: Three-dimensional scenes are portrayed from different viewpoints by morphing two-dimensional images. Various key views of a scene are stored, along with offset maps that identify the correspondence of pixels in adjacent stored images. When an intermediate view of the scene is to be presented, one or more stored views are interpolated through a morphing technique. Since the key views and their offset data are pre-stored, the morphing and presentation of new views can be carried out at interactive rates. By providing the ability to quickly compute many closely spaced views, the disclosed morphing technique also facilitates the rapid computation of soft shadows and motion blur in images.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a color computer graphics system whereby mapping constraints are relaxed and redefined so as to allow out-of-gamut colors to be mapped to in-gamut colors in a manner that is significantly more visually pleasing than in conventional methods. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of mapping source device colors to destination device colors in a computer graphics system having a color image source device and a color image destination device having non-coincident color gamuts such that a plurality of colors within a color gamut of the source device are out of gamut colors outside a color gamut of the destination device. A color name is associated with an out-of-gamut color, which is mapped to a first in-gamut color within the color gamut of the destination device. A color name is also assiciated with the first in-gamut color.

Abstract: A hinge-EMI grounding conductor is disclosed for an electronic device which has hinged operating portions, for example, a portable computer having a display housing hingedly attached to a main body housing. The present invention not only allows the angle between the two portable computer housings be rotably adjusted for optimal user operations but also provides a compact and economical way of implementing a conductive grounding path for purposes such as EMI shielding.

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: A computing system comprises a connection system for coupling wireless technologies to a computer. The connection system comprises a card connector and a matting internal connector cage/frame. The card connector provides an RF connector positioned above a 68 pin connector, which provides a connection to radio frequency (RF) signals. A card has devices which support RF operations for the computing system. The card connector is attached to the card and interfaces with the devices on the card. The housing of the computing system defines a card slot which receives the card and guides connection of the card with the computing system by mating the card connector with the internal connector.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a printer which divides raw bands of print data corresponding to a page to be printed into a plurality of sub-bands. By generating sub-bands of print data for each page, a segmented page frame buffer can be used to store the print data non-contiguously in the memory segments of the buffer so that the memory may be used more efficiently. Also, a compressed data line representative of blank data is stored in the memory for eliminating redundant operations of processing and storing blank data lines (data lines containing no data). As a result, every time a blank data line is detected, the compressed blank data line stored in the memory can be pointed to and the performance of the printer is enhanced by reducing the printing time.

Abstract: A differential-to-CMOS level signal converter which receives a first differential signal having a small amplitude difference between the binary signals. The differential-to-CMOS level converter amplifies and level shifts the binary differential signal and outputs a single-ended CMOS level signal suitable for use by digital CMOS logic. A circuit for biasing the differential-to-CMOS level converter is coupled to the level shifting circuitry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneous retrieval of multiple pixels from a texture map storage means. Multiple texture maps are generated and stored in a modified M/P (multum in pravo--many things in a small space) map form. Even and odd numbered pixels are stored in different memory banks so that adjacent odd and even pixels may be retrieved simultaneously. The MIP maps are stored so that the pages of the MIP maps having the same resolution are stored contiguously. This arrangement has the effect of reducing the number of unique address signals needed for accessing any two adjacent pixels in the texture map and simplifying the generation of texture map pixel addresses.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive static random access memory is utilized to store persistent data in a computer. To provide the SRAM with this capability, it is connected to a source of power within the computer that includes a battery. The source of power is connected to the SRAM in a manner such that the SRAM is in an enabled state whenever any power is available to it, from either a battery or a power supply connected to a regulated voltage source. When the computer is turned off, to prevent devices connected to the SRAM from draining current being provided by the battery, a chip select terminal of the SRAM is isolated from other circuits on the computer, to prevent leakage.

Abstract: A system for sending and responding to information requests in a wireless communications network includes a display device, a central processing unit, memory means including random access memory and read-only memory, an input device, and a transmitter/receiver. The random access memory further comprises routines for processing, sending and receiving messages over the wireless network.The present invention also comprises a method for requesting information and a method for responding to requests for information. The preferred method for handling information requests comprises the steps of: monitoring the communications channel for availability; sending an information request over the channel; receiving the information request at each node within the network; preparing responses to the information request at each node; and sending the response to the information request over the channel if it is available.

Abstract: To accelerate the process of installing software on a number of computers, an image is created with the same formatting as the target drive in each computer onto which the software is to be installed. To do so, a controller determines the manner in which target drives on the computers are formatted. The image drive is then created with the same formatting, using the known target drives as a frame of reference. Once the image drive has been created and the desired software bundle loaded onto it, the software is installed on the computers from the image file, on a block-by-block basis, rather than utilizing individual file transfer under the control of a higher level file management program.