Abstract: A bus system uses separate clocks for arbitration and data transfer. The arbitration clock signal is used for synchronizing bus request and grant events, and the data clock signal is used for synchronizing data transmission and reception. In particular, the data clock signal, which is generated by a bus master node without any temporal relationship to the arbitration clock signal, is transmitted by the bus master node through the bus to a slave node, where the received data signal is synchronized with the data clock signal transmitted therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a unified data approach to performing computational services, particularly in pen-based computer systems. The approach employs object oriented functions and establishes common data structures employable in the standardized form in particular defined functional domains of the computer system. The functional domains in which the common data structures are employable without adaptation include the view system, the scripting system, and the object store functional domains of the computational system, which preferably is a pen-based computer system. The apparatus according to the invention further includes an object system for creating, eliminating and managing the predetermined data objects and structures. The object store functional domain provides external storage with respect to the externally located operating system with which it cooperates through a minimal, i.e., narrow interface.

Abstract: A method and system for reconstructing quantized signals is described. Non-linear filtering is applied to a quantized signal to distribute quantum changes over their respective time intervals to provide, for example, a smoother reconstructed signal. The quantization bounds are enforced for each refined signal point to ensure a reconstructed signal that is within the bounded uncertainty associated with the original signal. The process can be applied to selected control points of the quantized signal and non-overshooting splines can be used to interpolate therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for direct manipulation of 3-D objects on computer display. This method and apparatus provides for a 3-D bounding region wherein the 3-D bounding region has sensitive areas which the user can select with a reference pointer such that when the user manipulates the reference pointer after selecting a sensitive area the 3-D bounding region and the object within it are manipulated with direct kinesthetic correspondence between the user's manipulation of the reference pointer and the bounding region and object manipulation.

Abstract: A modular monitor architecture based on a CRT comprises a base, a tilt/swivel module, a display module, and an input module. The base is coupled to and supports the tilt/swivel module. The display module is mounted on the tilt/swivel module and also defines a cavity for receiving the input module. The input module is attached to the display module in the cavity. Each module may take a variety of forms depending on the features that are provided by a particular variant. The tilt/swivel module may have a first form that provides the coupling that allows rotation and tilting of the display module or a second form that provides audio input and output in addition to the mobility features of the first form. Similarly, the display module has a first form for housing a smaller sized CRT and a second form for housing a larger sized CRT. Finally, the input module may have three forms: one for no input, a second for audio input or alternatively IR input, and an third for audio and video input.

Abstract: The present invention is a printed circuit board design having a configurable voltage supply and a method for implementing a configurable voltage supply PCB with a family of circuit designs. The printed circuit board is designed such that voltage supply planes can be configured to match the device requirements for different ICs inserted into the PCB. The PCB comprises electrically isolated conductive layers that are split into a plurality of electrically isolated fixed and undefined voltage planes. The fixed voltage planes are each coupled to a different supply voltage provided by an external power supply. Undefined voltage planes are coupled to fixed voltage planes with insertable conductive jumpers to obtain the desired voltage supply for each voltage plane. The voltage plane configuration of a particular PCB can be changed depending on where jumpers are inserted to accommodate device voltage requirements over a family of devices.

Abstract: A status bar characterized by a template generated independently of an application program and displayed on a computer screen in contact with an application window. The template carries at least one active area that can include an icon for controlling the application program or an area which displays information generated by the application program. Alternatively, or additionally, the active area can include "global functions" of the computer system. A method for providing a status bar is characterized by the steps of creating a status bar template having at least one area to be activated, activating at least one area to create a status bar, and displaying the status bar on a computer screen in contact with an associated application window displayed on the computer screen. The step of creating a status bar template can include the steps of creating a plurality of status bar templates, one of which is chosen to be attached to a particular application window.

Abstract: A multi-state, one-button computer mouse includes a housing movable over a reference surface, a tracking mechanism coupled to the housing to provide positional coordinates relative to the reference surface, a single button, and a switch mechanism coupled to the button. The single button is movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on the button. The button is biased to the base position in absence of the force. The switch mechanism is coupled to the button such that it activates a first switch at the first button position and a second switch at the second button position. A computer system with the pointing device includes a processing unit, a visual display, a pointing device as described above, and a computer implemented process for indicating on the visual display when the button of the pointing device is in a locked button mode.

Abstract: A method for implementing I/O in a frame-based computer system, including the steps of: a) determining whether there is a communication pertaining to a frame-based computer system; b) determining which frame the communication is associated with, if any; and c) causing the frame to implement a script, including sequence of computer-implemented process steps which causes with input to or output from the frame-based computer system. The frame-based computer system includes a CPU, a memory system coupled to the CPU, an input system coupled to the CPU, and an output system coupled to the CPU. A frame system stored in the memory system and implemented on the CPU provides a basic data structure for the frame-based computer system. A mechanism for detecting an output request initiated within the frame-based computer system causes an associated frame to execute a sequence of computer-implemented process steps to cause the output system to make an output.

Abstract: A means and method for generating and displaying a content-based depiction of a standard icon on the display of a computer. The depiction is generated upon the occurrence of predetermined events, such as the closure of the document or file associated with the icon, and is displayed in either a static or animated form in place of the standard icon in response to selection signals from a selection device. A single content-based depiction of an icon is generated by creating a representation of the object (file or document) to be depicted, and translating this representation into a scaled-down replica of the representation. This representation may be in the form of a bit-map, a full-scale image, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking audio data as it is recorded, and a user interface for the audio data in a computerized system, is disclosed. A recorder, such as a tape recorder, having a plurality of marker buttons is provided. The audio data is recorded on one channel of a magnetic tape. Any time one of the marker buttons is pressed, a distinct tone is recorded on another channel of the tape as a marker. The audio data and markers are then transferred to the computer system. The user interface provides a graphical display of the audio data, and provides graphical markers which correspond to the marker buttons on the recorder. The audio data can be accessed at any random point, including a point marked by a marker. Without changing modes, a user can access the data at any random point, stop play, select a new point to initiate playback and restart playback, and change the speed of playback.

Abstract: A method for deleting objects displayed on the screen of a display assembly of a pointer based computer system is described. The method includes the steps of detecting a pointer created stroke and processing the stroke for gesture recognition. Thereafter, the processed stroke is checked to determine whether it meets the path definition requirements of a scrub gesture. In another step, a determination is made as to whether an object displayed on the screen has been selected. If an object is selected and the processed stroke meets the requirements of a scrub gesture, the selected object is deleted. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the selected object determining step includes the substep of determining whether any objects were preselected at the time the scrub gesture was made. When no suitable objects are preselected, a determination is made as to whether the scrub gesture substantially overlaps a displayed object. If a displayed object is substantially overlapped, it is selected for deletion.

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: A method and apparatus for retaining objects having equal Z-values. 1. A method of retaining objects having equal Z-values in a Z-buffer. The Z-buffer includes a first object. The method comprises the steps of: a) receiving a second object having a second Z-value; b) generating a second tag for the second object; c) storing the second object and the second tag in the Z-buffer; d) receiving a third object causing an overflow (the third object has a Z-value equal to the second Z-value); e) generating a fourth object, the fourth object includes a composite of the first and second objects, the fourth object being stored in the Z-buffer with a fourth tag corresponds to the second tag; f) resubmitting the third object; g) receiving the third object; h) generating a third tag for the third object, and i) storing the third object and the third tag in the Z-buffer responsive to comparing the fourth tag and the third tag.

Abstract: A new behavior in a graphical user interface allows the user to open and close enclosures, while dragging an object. When the user pauses, gestures, or rolls over a hot spot on top of an icon or text representing a closed enclosure, a temporary window for the closed enclosure is "sprung open" to allow the user to browse inside the enclosure and possible open another enclosure contained within the temporary window. This process can be carried on throughout a hierarchy of windows as the user browses for a destination window for the drag operation. All of the temporary windows except the destination are closed when the mouse button is released, signaling the end of a drag. The user may close sprung open windows by simply moving the cursor out of the sprung open window, or by making some other gesture.

Abstract: A method for resetting a real-time clock of a pen-based computer system characterized by the steps of: displaying an image of an analog clock face with an hour hand and a minute hand on the screen of a pen-based computer system; determining whether a clock-setting stroke has been made with a stylus upon the image of the analog clock face; resetting the real-time clock to correspond to the clock-setting stroke; and moving at least one of the hour hand and the minute hand in response to the clock-setting stroke.

Abstract: A method for synchronously sharing data among a plurality of computer systems includes the step of determining the initiation of a shared space session. Upon initiation, a message is transmitted to remote computer systems to announce the initiation. A shared space view is then displayed on a screen of the computer system. The input into the shared space view of data is then determined and this data is shared among the computer systems in the shared space session. The method further includes determining whether a message has been received from remote computer systems and incorporating these messages into the shared space view. A further method of the present invention resynchronizes a participant into communication with a shared space session. The method includes the steps of selecting a close box in the shared space view, closing the view to terminate participation in the session and reinitiating participation to reestablish synchronous communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing a gesture input on a display screen of a computer system. A method of recognizing an ellipse gesture comprises the steps of receiving a stroke input by a user onto a computer screen, smoothing the stroke by reducing the number of points that represent the stroke, determining whether the smoothed stroke includes at least a predetermined minimum number of points, and, if so, calculating angles between adjacent segments of the smoothed stroke and calculating derivatives of the angles. It is determined if the stroke substantially represents an ellipse by utilizing the angles and the derivatives of the angles. The method preferably includes selecting an ink object on the screen if the ink object is substantially overlapped by the smoothed stroke.

Abstract: An appliance such as a personal computer includes an outer housing, including a front bezel which frames a monitor screen of the computer. The bezel carries speakers which are secured to the bezel by snap arms that are integrally molded with the bezel from a plastic material. The bezel also includes locator pins which engage locator holes of the speakers, and ribs which engage the speakers to resist speaker vibration.

Abstract: A system in which line reflections in a clock distribution network are cancelled by providing the clock distribution network with a branching point and suitably arranging recipient devices with respect to the branching point to provide for clock pulse reflection cancellation and attenuation. Moreover, the system can be arranged so that clock pulse reflections are not received as pulses which are discrete from legitimate clock pulses. The system also provides capability for reducing electromagnetic interference.