Abstract: A stylus-aware computer system and method are provided for processing information obtained by moving a stylus over a tablet of the type that displays images as well as inputs stylus information. As a user moves the stylus with respect to the tablet, the tablet generates outputs describing the position of the stylus with respect to the tablet. A tablet driver converts this data into standardized packet objects recognized by the computer system and sends the packet objects to a stroke manager. The stroke manager converts the package objects to stroke objects which represent the trajectory of the stylus with respect to the tablet at times between two transitions such as placing the stylus on the tablet and lifting the stylus off the tablet. The stroke manager notifies an application of the stroke object through an event queue. The application may then issue stroke commands which dictate how the stroke is used. The stroke may, for example, be drawn on the tablet, erased from the tablet, removed from memory, etc.

Abstract: A speech recognition memory compression method and apparatus subpartitions probability density function (pdf) space along the hidden Markov model (HMM) index into packets of typically 4 to 8 log-pdf values. Vector quantization techniques are applied using a logarithmic distance metric and a probability weighted logarithmic probability space for the splitting of clusters. Experimental results indicate a significant reduction in memory can be obtained with little increase in overall speech recognition error.

Abstract: A program debugging system has a core unit that includes a plurality of debugger memory areas, each uniquely associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of debuggers. The core unit responds to an exception condition by selecting one debugger from the plurality of debuggers, selection being made by determining which one of the debuggers is associated with the program exception. Then, computer state information and debugger state information are stored into a selected one of the debugger memory areas that is exclusively associated with the selected debugger, and the selected debugger is activated. A new debugger may register with the core unit, so that the new debugger is added to the plurality of debuggers. The activated debugger may send a debugging command to the core unit, which responds by updating debugger state information based on the received debugging command, and storing the updated debugger state information into the selected debugger memory area.

Abstract: A system for distributing power throughout a computer system, preferably a portable computer, while still maintaining a desired power mode hierarchy so that the most critical components or circuits-within the computer system receive power before non-critical components. The system includes a micro-controller unit for controlling power allocations throughout the system. The system further includes a power connector for interfacing with a dual-line AC-to-DC adapter, a switching regulator for providing regulated DC power outputs to a central processing unit, memory unit and the like, a battery switching circuit having two battery packs to support simultaneous charging and sequential discharging of the battery packs in the event that the AC-to-DC adapter is decoupled from the computer system and an auxiliary battery source for supplying power to critical components in the computer system as a last resort.

Abstract: A protocol for transferring audio data and control/status data between audio functional units. The protocol involves multiplexing the audio data and control/status data. The multiplexed data is then transferred between a first audio unit and a second audio unit on two wires, each corresponding to the direction of data flow, and according to a clock rate and a synchronization pattern on third and fourth wires respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring control between application programs. A messaging means is provided which allows a first application program to indicate to the messaging means that a second application program should assume control. The messaging means receives the message and performs an orderly shutdown of the first application program and messages the second application program that it should commence operation. Upon valid and proper operation of the second application program, the first application program is caused to be suspended, and the second application program is invoked.

Abstract: A composite dictionary data compression process for use with a computer system comprising the steps of: receiving into the computer system an uncompressed input data string; searching a composite dictionary to detect for a dictionary data string matching the uncompressed input data string, the composite dictionary comprising a fixed dictionary and an adaptive dictionary; and modifying the adaptive dictionary in response to whether a matching dictionary data string is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an escape sequence to cause a modem to switch from a data transmission mode to a command mode. The escape sequence precedes a command instruction. The escape sequence comprises a first predetermined set of characters and a second predetermined set of characters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises the process and means for receiving input strokes made with a stylus on a screen of a pen-based computer and determining if the strokes comprise a text object. When the strokes do form a text object, a rating for each existing displayed paragraph is assigned to identify a probability level that an insert location is within the paragraph. Determining a rating involves comparing the bounds of the text object to extended bounds of the existing paragraph, and the input strokes of the text object to the input strokes of the preceding text object. When the rating is completed for each paragraph, an insert location within the highest rated or most probable existing paragraph is then identified, and the text object is inserted at this insert location. A new paragraph is formed with the text object at a location based on the input strokes when a most probable paragraph is not identified.

Abstract: An integrated and drop-in EMI filter that features common-mode and differential-mode noise filtering capabilities is disclosed. The common-mode portion and the differential-mode portion of the filter are independent of each other in that the two filter portions may be made out of different ferrites, also in that, the an increase in the filtering capability in one mode, such as having an increased number of turns in the winding, would not affect or reduce the filtering capability of the other mode, such as reducing the overall throughhole depths a conductor travels.

Abstract: An operating system software architecture, implemented in an object-oriented design, supports and processes color. The object-oriented design has two levels, one being a class (TColor) defining a virtual abstract base class and being a container class containing calibrated colors, the other being a class (TDeviceColor) defining a virtual abstract base class and a container class containing uncalibrated colors. Several calibrated color classes including a class (TXYZColor) defining XYZ color space descend directly from class (TColor), several uncalibrated color classes including a class (TRGBColor) descending directly from class (TDeviceColor), a class (TColorGamut) storing color gamut information of peripheral devices that may interface with the architecture, and a class (TColorProfile) storing tonal reproduction curves of the peripheral devices provide data structures, together with method functions for various color processing.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing interactive references having pages which can be displayed on the screen of a pointer-based computer system. Some of the reference's pages have "live" features or icons which the user can select to cause various actions such as moving to other locations within the reference, displaying dialog boxes on the screen, etc. The present invention converts a document containing appropriate comments into a set of instructions for an interactive reference according to a defined sequence of steps. First, the document is separated into content blocks delineated by content commands. Each such block can be separately formatted for use in the interactive reference. Next, the system creates page descriptions in which the content blocks are arranged on pages whose boundaries are defined by the display screen of the computer system on which the interactive references will be displayed.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for efficiently translating data from one known data sequencing arrangement to an alternative sequencing arrangement. The method consists of the steps of generating a source sequence signal which identifies the ordering of units within the source sequence, generating a destination sequence signal which identifies the ordering of units within the destination sequence, and combining the source signal and destination signal to produce a permutation signal which defines the relationship between the source sequence and the destination sequence. Once the permutation signal has been defined, this permutation signal is applied to the source sequence to allow the reordering of the source sequence into the desired destination sequence. A reordering circuit is used to rearrange the source sequence units into the desired destination sequence units utilizing the permutation signal generated in the present invention.

Abstract: A method for selecting objects displayed on a screen of a pen-based computer system characterized by the steps of: (a) determining that a selection gesture has been made on the screen of the pen-based computer by a stylus; (b) detecting a path made by the stylus across at least a portion of an object depicted on the screen; (c) displaying a line image on the screen along the path; (d) determining a selection of at least a portion of the object as indicated by the path; and (e) displaying selection indicia on the screen representing the selection. The step of displaying the selection indicia can occur concurrently with or after the complete path is made by the stylus on the object. Preferably, the line image is removed after the step of displaying the selection indicia.

Abstract: A method of implementing a multicast routing protocol in routers is provided to manage the assignment of multicast transport addresses and to forward data from a single transmitting endpoint to multiple receiving endpoints. This method in conjunction with a method for implementing the multicast routing protocol as a transport protocol layer service for endpoints provides an internet wide multicast transport service. The multicast transport service provides the capability of transmitting data from a single source to multiple receivers on interconnected networks efficiently and without having to send duplicate copies of the data on any single network. Routers and endpoints transmit and receive multicast packets in a manner which is independent of the network layer datagram protocols used by the multicast transport service.

Abstract: A rendering device for providing 3-D graphics rendering in a computer system. A hardware scanline rendering approach is utilized. Using a hardware scanline rendering approach the bandwidth requirements between a system frame buffer and the rendering device are minimized. The minimization of bandwidth requirement allows for the rendering device to be used with existing computer system designs while keeping design changes at a minimum. The result is that for a given desired performance of a combined computer system and rendering device, the cost of both the computer system without the rendering device, and the cost of the rendering device itself may be reduced. The rendering device is generally comprised of a bus attachment for coupling to the system bus of the computer system; a scanline rendering device and a scanout device for transferring the scanline of shaded pixel values to the system frame buffer.

Abstract: An independent windowing system that eliminates gridding comprises a method for performing windowing operations directly in device space for a graphics system which specifies all drawings in coordinate space. The re-sizing effects of rendering an object in different places on the coordinate grid are absorbed in the window borders, allowing the window contents to be moved without re-drawing them. The window can be moved without re-drawing it even when the resolution of the device the window is displayed in differs from the source resolution of the rendering system. Furthermore, window contents are drawn relative to the coordinate of the top left of the window to provide each window with its own device grid independent of the window position on the device.

Abstract: Audio signal connection and conditioning circuitry employs a resistive drop across the ground input for the signal source to generate a common mode voltage on both input lines. A differential amplifier subtracts the generated common mode voltage on the ground line from the common mode voltage on the source input line, leaving only the source voltage as an output. The differential amplifier output is generated with respect to a positive, stable voltage reference instead of a floating ground.