Patents Assigned to Compaq Computer Corporation
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Patent number: 6269172Abstract: In a computerized method, a moving articulated figure is tracked in a sequence of 2-D images measured by a monocular camera. The images are individually registered with each other using a 2-D scaled prismatic model of the figure. The 2-D model includes a plurality of links connected by revolute joints to form is a branched, linear-chain of connected links. The registering produces a state trajectory for the figure in the sequence of images. During a reconstructing step, a 3-D model is fitted to the state trajectory to estimate kinematic parameters, and the estimated kinematic parameters are refined using an expectation maximization technique.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1998Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: James Matthew Rehg, Daniel D. Morris
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Patent number: 6269453Abstract: In a storage system having a plurality of disks arranged in a RAID array with one of the disks failed, a method of reorganizing the data on the RAID array at the time of failure to prevent both a decrease in performance of the array and reliability of the data and an increase in the cost of operation. Data from the failed disk is regenerated one strip at a time and written onto the original parity chunk for the strip. The resulting fully folded array has the characteristics of a RAID level 0 array. When a replacement disk is inserted into the array the process is reversed to bring the fully folded array back to a fully redundant condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1993Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventor: Joseph F. Krantz
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Patent number: 6266714Abstract: A computer system is capable of playing audio CDs in a CD-ROM drive independent of the operating system by using an embedded CD-ROM drive application or a CD-ROM drive controller. When an audio CD mode switch of the computer system is in an “on” state and the main power switch of the computer is in an “off” state, the computer system is in an audio CD mode. When the computer is placed in such an audio CD mode, the computer either loads the embedded CD application from a non-volatile memory region such as read-only-memory (ROM) region or enables the CD-ROM drive controller of the CD-ROM drive to receive a CD selection and transmit the selections to the CD-ROM drive.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2000Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: William E. Jacobs, Daniel V. Forlenza, James L. Mondshine, Tim L. Zhang, Gregory B. Memo, Kevin R. Frost, Lonnie J. Pope
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Patent number: 6266698Abstract: Methods and systems for interoperating a transaction processing system implementing the presumed abort variation of the two-phase commit (2PC) protocol with a system implementing the presumed nothing variation. The gateway process that is responsible for exporting a transaction branch to a foreign transaction management system from a system implementing the presumed abort variation records whether the foreign transaction manager is implementing the presumed abort variation or the presumed nothing variation. After system failure, the gateway process determines which variation is adopted for a specific transaction branch. If the foreign transaction manager is implementing the presumed abort variation, the transaction manager from which the transaction branch originated communicates with the foreign transaction manager through the gateway process in accordance with the presumed abort variation.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1998Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Johannes Klein, Albert C. Gondi, Sitaram V. Lanka, William J. Carley
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Patent number: 6266068Abstract: A computerized method and related computer system synthesize video from a plurality of sources of image data. The sources include a variety of image data types such a collection of image stills, a sequence of video frames, and 3-D models of objects. Each source provides image data associated with an object. One source provides image data associated with a first object, and a second source provides image data associated with a second object. The image data of the first and second objects are combined to generate composite images of the first and second objects. From the composite images, an output image of the first and second objects as viewed from an arbitrary viewpoint is generated. Gaps of pixels with unspecified pixel values may appear in the output image. Accordingly, a pixel value for each of these “missing pixels” is obtained by using an epipolar search process to determine which one of the sources of image data should provide the pixel value for that missing pixel.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1998Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Sing Bing Kang, James M. Rehg
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Patent number: 6266731Abstract: A high speed connection apparatus, method, and system is provided for peripheral components on digital computer systems. The peripheral component interconnect (PCI) specification is used as a baseline for an extended set of commands and attributes. The extended command and the attribute are issued on the bus during the clock cycle immediately after the clock cycle when the initial command was issued. The extended commands and attributes utilize the standard pin connections of conventional PCI devices and buses making the present invention backward-compatible with existing (conventional) PCI devices and legacy computer systems. The conventional PCI command encoding is modified and the extended command is used to qualify the type of transaction and the attributes being used by the initiator of the transaction. The extended commands are divided into four groups based upon the transaction type and the extended command type. Transactions are either byte count or byte-enable transaction types.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1998Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Dwight Riley, Christopher J. Pettey
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Patent number: 6262746Abstract: An image is stored as data representing the values of non-transparent pixels, and stored instructions corresponding to some pixels, resulting in a data structure. The image may be displayed by executing two types of instructions. A first type of instruction includes a command to skip pixels in a destination image. A second type of instruction comprises a command to copy pixels from the source data to the destination image.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventor: Roger S. Collins
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Patent number: 6263452Abstract: A computer system in a fault-tolerant configuration employees multiple identical CPUs executing the same instruction stream, with multiple, identical memory modules in the address space of the CPUs storing duplicates of the same data. The system detects faults in the CPUs and memory modules, and places a faulty unit offline while continuing to operate using the good units. The faulty unit can be replaced and reintegrated into the system without shutdown. The multiple CPUs are loosely synchronized, as by detecting events such as memory references and stalling any CPU ahead of others until all execute the function simultaneously; interrupts can be synchronized by ensuring that all CPUs implement the interrupt at the same point in their instruction stream. Memory references via the separate CPU-to-memory busses are voted at the three separate ports of each of the memory modules. I/O functions are implemented using two identical I/O busses, each of which is separately coupled to only one of the memory modules.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Douglas E. Jewett, Tom Bereiter, Bryan Vetter, Randall G. Banton, Richard W. Cutts, Jr., Donald C. Westbrook, Krayn W. Fey, Jr., John Posdro, Kenneth C. Debacker, Nikhil A. Mehta
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Patent number: 6263382Abstract: A computer system is implemented according to the invention when an computer process interactively allows a user to configure a computer system. The device according to the present invention abstracts functionality common to all application specific computer configuration problems and locates it in a single framework. In this way, multiple application specific configuration processes can be developed easily without duplicating the work of creating common features.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Charles A. Bartlett, Manoj J. Varghese, Christoph Schmitz, Keith L. Kelley
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Patent number: 6263386Abstract: A system for providing a signal indicating whether a processor is installed and providing improved voltage regulation. A contact is selected and isolated from an array of ground contacts and is further coupled with circuit for generating an INSTALL signal. A capacitor and pull up resistor coupled to a supply voltage, ground and the isolated contact form a signal line at a common node such that a circuit to ground is completed through the processor and the isolated contact when the processor is plugged in and a direct signal indication of the presence or absence of the processor is provided. Voltage sense lines of a Voltage Regulation Module (VRM) are coupled directly to processor contacts isolated from an existing voltage supply contacts coupled to the supply plane of a supply voltage within the circuit board providing improved regulation without adversely affecting power supply current capacity considerations.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventor: Michael C. Sanders
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Patent number: 6263345Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism for using statistics, in connection with various database query cost modeling techniques, to more accurately estimate the number of rows and UECs that will be produced by relational operators and predicates in database systems. The ability to accurately estimate the number of rows and UECs returned by a relational operator and/or a predicate is fundamental to computing the cost of a query execution plan. This, in turn, drives the optimizer's ability to select the query plan best suited for the desired performance goal. According to the present invention, histogram statistics are synthesized bottom up from the leaf nodes to the root node of a query tree.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computers, CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Farrar, Harry A. Leslie, Pedro Celis, Diana L. Shak
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Patent number: 6262713Abstract: A computer system comprising a computer operable in a computer mode for receiving and transmitting computer information, a television mode for receiving and transmitting television information, and a combination computer/television mode for receiving and transmitting computer and television information. A display is operably associated with the computer for displaying in the computer mode the computer information, in the television mode the television information, and in the computer/television mode the computer and television information. The computer system also comprises at least one television window displayed on the display for displaying the television information, at least one computer window displayed on the display for displaying the computer information, a computer focus for the computer window to control the computer information, and a television focus for the television window to control the television information independent of the computer focus.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Kevin J. Brusky, Christopher A. Howard
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Patent number: 6260073Abstract: A network switch including one or more network ports for receiving and transmitting data is disclosed. The network switch also includes a processor, a switch manager, and memory. Each port includes a network interface, a data bus interface, and a processor port interface. A data bus is coupled to the data bus interface of each of the ports and the switch manager. A processor bus is coupled to a processor, the switch manager, and to the processor port interface of each of the ports. A memory bus is coupled to the memory and the switch manager. The switch manager periodically polls each of the network ports to determine the status of each port. The switch manager controls the flow of data between the network ports and memory based on the port status. The separate processor bus allows the processor to perform overhead functions, such as monitoring, determining status and configuration, without consuming valuable data bus bandwidth.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: William J. Walker, Gary B. Kotzur, Patricia E. Hareski, Dale J. Mayer, Michael L. Witkowski
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Patent number: 6259971Abstract: A portable electronic system which obtains power from a dry-electrolyte fuel cell. Water which is produced by the fuel cell is atomized by an ultrasonic transducer, to avoid user inconvenience due to reservoirs or dripping.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Nathan Mitchell, Joseph F. Freiman
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Patent number: 6259440Abstract: A electronic convergence device system comprising a computer for generating indications of a first mode of operation and for generating indications of a second mode of operation, and an output device coupled to the computer to receive the indications of the first and second modes of operation, which output device is provided for at least alternately outputting the indications of the first and second modes of operation, based on a user/viewer selection.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Mark P. Vaughan, Thomas J. Brase, Drew S. Johnson, Kevin J. Brusky, Brian V. Belmont
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Patent number: 6260158Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a communications within a computer system after a data transport failure across a first link. Fail-over capability is attained by re-establishing communications across a secondary link using different transport mechanisms. Between two Input/Output Processors (IOPs) within a computer system, such as a server, a series of data transactions therebetween are queued until transaction completion. Upon detection of a failure condition between the TOPs across the first link, the IOPs engage fail-over mechanisms to preserve uncompleted data transactions until communications are re-established across the secondary link.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Brian T. Purcell, Jay C. Brinkmeyer
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Patent number: 6260166Abstract: An observability register used in the testing of integrated circuits includes a configurable data path for allowing data to pass directly from the input port to the output port. Such a configuration is referred to as a bypass mode. The invention allows selected ones of a serial chain of observability registers to be configured in the bypass mode such that data from the remaining observability registers can more easily be analyzed.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Dilip Kantilal Bhavsar, Michael Karl Gowan
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Patent number: 6260095Abstract: A method for transferring data through a bus bridge. The bus bridge includes a number of data buffers for storing data, prefetching data and write posting data. A device communicating with the bus bridge may reserve a buffer by one of two reservation mechanism. The reservation mechanism provides the bus bridge with the address and byte count. The reservation may also be forwarded to any upstream bus bridges. The reserved buffers are prefetched for efficient use of bus access. Data is prefetched and flushed according to alternative algorithms if a buffer is not reserved.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventor: Alan L. Goodrum
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Patent number: 6259726Abstract: A cordless modem system where a mobile station unit (MSU) is located in the computer and a base station unit (BSU) is connected to the telephone line. A radio frequency (RF) link is developed between the two units to allow a cordless connection. A series of commands are used between the two units to allow the MSU to request a channel, the BSU to grant a channel, the BSU to notify of a ring, and the MSU to request the BSU to go off hook. In addition, there is preferably a command sequence to allow authorization of a particular MSU or BSU. There are two full duplex channels in each MSU and BSU. This allows multiple BSUs and MSUs to be utilized in a small area. Communications between the two units are secure based on address values for each unit contained in the various commands. The communications software utilized in the computer is not even aware of the presence of the cordless connection.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Said S. Saadeh, Paul R. Fulton
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Patent number: 6260127Abstract: A memory controller capable of supporting heterogeneous memory configurations enables seamless communications between a bus and memory modules having different characteristics. Thus, owners of computer systems need no longer replace entire memory arrays to take advantage of new memory modules; some memory modules may be upgraded to a new type while other memory modules of an older type remain. The memory controller receives memory requests from multiple processors and bus masters, identifies a memory module and memory access parameters for each request, accesses the memory and returns the resulting data (during a read request) or stores the data (during a write request). In some systems, the memory controller of the present invention is a two-tier memory controller system having a first memory controller coupled to the bus and to the second tier of memory controllers or RAM personality modules that translate between the first memory controller and a particular type of memory module.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Compaq Computer CorporationInventors: Sompong Paul Olarig, David J. Koenen, Chai S. Heng