Abstract: A method and apparatus including means for storing an executable file which includes a group of bits which define functional operations and cycle bits associated with each functional operation and means for completing a variable number of the functional operations in parallel during a single execution cycle in accordance with a state of the associated cycle bit. The method and apparatus eliminates the need for complex data dependency checking hardware and allows a minimum amount of control logic to complete execution of executable files. The method and apparatus further minimizes the necessity of adding null operations (NOPs) to executable files which reduces the amount of storage space necessary to store the executable files and allows executable files to be used on multiple hardware implementations and for register values to be used for multiple purposes during single execution cycles.

Abstract: A method for hot docking and hot undocking a portable computer and a docking station. The portable computer and docking station are physically coupled via a shared PCI bus and an expansion connector. Varying length pins in the expansion connector generate docking and undocking handshaking signals used by microcontrollers in the portable computer and docking station. The portable computer and docking station are functionally connected via low onresistance switches located in the portable computer. Following a docking event, closure of the switches connects the portion of the shared PCI bus in the docking station with the PCI bus in the portable computer. When the switches are open, the PCI busses are functionally isolated. Both the portable computer and the docking station also include a local arbiter for arbitrating and granting bus control requests from devices coupled to the shared PCI bus.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a peripheral controller for coupling a mass storage peripheral to a computer system. In a disclosed embodiment the peripheral controller is a disk array controller programmed for RAID. The peripheral controller includes a first messaging unit (FMU), a second messaging unit (SMU), and a peripheral interface which are connected by a local bus. The FMU responds to messages from a first operating system driver. The SMU responds to messages from a different second operating system driver. In one embodiment, the FMU responds to commands from the first operating system driver which is non-standard. In another embodiment, the SMU responds to commands from the second operating system driver which is compatible with the I2O standard. In the disclosed embodiment, the peripheral interface controls mass storage peripherals in response to messages sent to the FMU or the SMU.

Abstract: A computerized method is provided for connecting a remote computer to a local area network (LAN) via the Internet. An identification is sent to a gateway of a local area network using a publicly accessible communications network, either by a user or by a modem of the remote computer. The gateway uses the sent identification to index a database and read a profile record specifying an Internet Service Provider. The gateway makes a request of the specified Internet Service Provider to assign an IP address. Upon receiving the assigned IP address, the gateway sends a mail message including the Internet address to a mailbox at a mailbox address specified in the indexed profile record. The user of the remote computer reads the mail message to obtain the IP address, and the dynamically assigned IP address can then be used to connect the remote computer to a local area network (LAN) via the Internet.

Abstract: A portable computer system with planar speakers. The planar speakers are fabricated with a coplanar array of small, low cost, durable, electromagnetic speaker elements mounted on a panel. The planar speakers can be attached to the lid of the computer system. The planar speakers can slide into a compartment in the lid of the computer system when not in use and slide out of the compartment for use with greater physical separation than that of built-in speakers. Alternatively, the planar speakers are attached to the lid via a hinge and folded against the lid when not in use. The planar speakers are folded outward extending the planar speakers beyond the lid for use with greater physical separation than that of built-in speakers. The planar speakers can be detachable from the remainder of the computer system for greater spacing and variable positioning of the planar speakers for improved stereo sound reproduction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling the brightness level of an LCD display. The brightness of a display having two light bulbs may be controlled by illuminating only one bulb to provide a relatively low brightness level or by illuminating both bulbs to provide a relatively high brightness level. This method and apparatus may be particularly useful in AC/DC powered devices, as a single bulb may be lit when the device is operating on DC power to conserve battery power, and both bulbs may be lit when the device is operating on AC power to provide enhanced brightness.

Abstract: A new system and method for sharing graphical display information in a collaborative tool is disclosed which samples graphics display information regarding a shared display region on a server system. The disclosed system updates client systems regarding changes in the shared display region responsive to detection of a change in the shared display region contents. The disclosed system further modifies a polling rate used to sample the graphical display information on the server responsive to the frequency of changes to the shared display region. Specifically, in an example embodiment the disclosed system shares a display region among a plurality of users by selecting a first bit map from a series of bit maps used to display the shared display region on a server system. The server system then transmits said first bit map to a client system. The server system periodically selects a subsequent bit map from the series of bit maps at a polling rate.

Abstract: A docking system, including a portable computer and a docking unit, operates by latching the portable computer to the docking unit. A docking bay arrangement is used so that the portable computer's keyboard is accessible and usable by the user. A latch control system, which is controlled from the portable computer, provides security by preventing removal of the portable computer from the docking unit by unauthorized persons. This prevents theft, since the docking unit in turn is secured to the work area by a cable system.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for collecting state information associated with an execution path of recently processed instructions in a processor pipeline of a computer system. The apparatus identifies a class of instructions to be sampled. Path-identifying state information of a currently processed instruction is sampled when the currently processed instruction belongs to the identified class of instructions. A shift register stores a predetermined number of entries storing selected state information, the shift register is simultaneously sampled along with additional state information about the instruction being executed at the time of sampling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating test data is presented. A data generator produces data using element specifications contained in an input script. The data generator includes a specification analyzer and data synthesizer. The data generator produces the data that includes varied combinations of the element specification generated in a particular order. Both the combination and the particular order in the generated sequence may vary in accordance with a specified method of data generation. Three methods of data generation--carry-out method, grey code method, and all-change method--are described.

Abstract: A computer system has a processor bus under control of the microprocessor itself, and this bus communicates with main memory, providing high-performance access for most cache fill operations. In addition, the system includes one or more expansion buses, preferably of the PCI type in the example embodiment. A host-to-PCI bridge is used for coupling the processor bus to the expansion bus. Other buses may be coupled to the PCI bus via PCI-to-EISA bridges, for example. The host-to-PCI bridge contains queues for posted writes and delayed read requests. All transactions are queued going through the bridge, upstream or downstream. The system bus is superpipelined, in that transactions overlap. A fast burst transactions are allowed between the bridge and main memory, i.e., requests which can be satisfied without deferring or retrying are applied to the system bus without waiting to get a response from the target. A range of addresses (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for efficient implementation of logic and arithmetic functions that generate sets of mutually exclusive output signals. Such a logic family includes a network of NMOS transistors that implements a desired logic function. Coupled to that network is a minimal number of PMOS devices for providing logic level restoration and for compensating for any voltage drops due to the NMOS transistors. With such a structure, the speed, area and power consumption characteristics of logic functions are improved.

Abstract: A run-time security methodology and apparatus for supporting complete access to the security features of a network computer by a network administrator. In a network computer according to the invention, various resources are secured by a security device. The resources are accessible by a computer user with knowledge of one or more user passwords stored in the security device. An administrator password is also stored in the security device. In addition to control access to specified resources, the administrator password also functions as a surrogate for the other passwords stored in the security device. An administrator password implemented according to the invention thereby allows a network administrator to remotely override any activated user security settings and receive complete access to a secured network computer.

Abstract: A proxy system that offers connection services and acceleration services is disclosed. The acceleration services provide for accelerated delivery of content to requestors (e.g., clients) while guaranteeing a minimum level of service (for content delivery) to the requestors. The acceleration services are facilitated by improved techniques for rapid and efficient delivery of objects from a network (e.g., the Internet) to users. The improved techniques can be utilized in a variety of apparatuses, including a proxy having an acceleration apparatus (e.g., an acceleration server). The acceleration apparatus manages and monitors its utilization of processing resources so that performance of the proxy system can during worst case conditions guarantee a minimum level of service (for content delivery) to the requestors. The proxy system is also well suited for being scaled to provide additional processing resources.

Abstract: A computer may have a management bus installed, where the management bus is coupled to sensors which monitor status of components of the computer. The management bus may also be coupled to a management bus processor, where the management bus processor receives status information from the management bus concerning status of components of the computer. An interface between the management bus and the network subsystem permits transmission of an error message in the event that the computer has a failure which inactivates the system CPU, the system bus, the system memory, or the system power supply.

Abstract: A computer system including a programmable bridge logic device to disable various peripheral device functions is disclosed. The bridge logic device preferably includes an address decoder and one or more peripheral bus controllers. The address decoder preferably includes a configuration disable unit comprising one or more programmable status bits. Each status bit is associated with a particular peripheral device function, such as a IDE or USB functions. When a status bit is set, configuration cycles to the function corresponding to that bit are disabled. In one aspect of the invention, the computer system comprises a laptop computer that can be docked to an expansion base. The laptop and the expansion base may duplicate one or more functions. When docked, the status bit in the bridge device associated with a function also provided in the expansion base is set disabling the duplicate function in the laptop in favor of the function in the expansion base.

Abstract: A method for providing a memory model for simulation which includes the steps of allocating from memory a block of contiguous memory cells, storing a model of memory corresponding to a memory device in the memory, associating the stored model of memory to a corresponding one of the memory cells of the block of contiguous memory cells and, storing a location of the associated one of the memory cells within the model of memory.

Abstract: Entries are cached in a function cache by statically assigning a primary key to each cache entry, and first grouping entries having identical primary keys, and dynamically assigning a secondary key to each cache entry, and then second grouping entries in each primary key group into sub-groups according to their secondary keys. The function cache is first accessed with a particular primary key to get the primary key group. Second, the primary key group is accessed with a particular secondary key to get a sub-group, and third, the sub-group is accessed with the same particular secondary key to get a matching cache entry.

Abstract: A computerized method is provided for generating passwords for password controlled access points. Provided are a master password, an access password, and a user name. The master password, the service name, and the user name are combined using an irreversible function to generate a unique password. The function can be a one-way hash function. The combining can be performed by a browser of a client computer. A similar combining can also be used to generate a user name from the master password and the user's real name.