Abstract: A biased arbitration technique utilizes a transpose table to arbitrate access to a shared resource. Each column of transpose table is a binary bias vector encoding a bias value assigned to one of the requesters. The rows of the table are fetched to assure that requesters having high bias values are granted more frequent access to the shared resource.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the mounting of circuit boards within an enclosure. The system includes one or more standoffs that are each received through appropriately formed corresponding openings through a printed circuit board. A flexible clip is attached to the printed circuit board proximate each opening. Each clip includes a retainer portion designed to receive the head of the standoff. Thus, the printed circuit board may be attached to the standoffs simply by placing the circuit board openings over the standoffs and moving the printed circuit board laterally until the clips and standoffs are engaged.

Abstract: A short circuit protection device, which includes a comparator with a non-inverting input port, an inverting input port, and an output port, is used with first and second voltage reference signals obtained from a power supply to indicate a short-circuit condition in the power supply when the reference signals are the same. A first voltage divider is connected to the power plane of the power supply and provides the first reference signal to the non-inverting input port, and a second voltage divider is connected to the output port of the power supply and provides the second reference signal to the inverting input port, where the second reference signal is normally smaller than the first reference signal.

Abstract: A system for protecting circuit board mounting devices within an enclosure. The system includes one or more protective housings that are disposed about corresponding openings through a printed circuit board. A flexible clip is attached to the printed circuit board proximate each opening. Each clip includes a retainer portion designed to receive the head of the standoff. The protective housings extend around the retainer portion, and protect the secure mounting of the circuit board to corresponding standoffs.

Abstract: An apparatus generates one-dimensional dither values for dithering linear digital signals where each digital signal having an address and a signal value. The apparatus includes a counter incremented for each sequential address of the digital signals. A predetermined number of least significant bits from the current values of the counter are selected and reversed wired to generate dither values that are applied to the corresponding signal values.

Abstract: A system and method that implement a strategy for automatically generating self-checking tests of source-to-source translation. The tests make certain that software components produced by a source-to-source computer language translator continue to be binary-compatible with all other software components with which they previously interacted correctly, including components that remain in the original programming language. To that end, the correctness of procedure interfaces in a target computer program is also verified. With this strategy, correct translation of text preprocessor mechanisms such as macros, conditionally compiled regions of code, and source file inclusion can be achieved. The target program is the result of translating a source program written in a different language from the target program. The system creates a set of procedure calls to each procedure in the source program. The system also creates a set of callable procedures with the same interface specification as in the source program.

Abstract: A technique for differencing an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by measuring light values in a scene to generate a first image and a second image. The first image is separated into first luminance and chrominance components, and the second image is separated into second luminance and chrominance components. A difference is determined between the first and the second luminance components to generate a luminance mask. Similarly, a difference is determined between the first and the second chrominence components to generate a chrominance mask. The luminance mask and the chrominence mask are combined to determine a difference between the first and the second images.

Abstract: A digital imaging system is provided for interpolating a full color image from a camera having an array of single color sensors. Measured color values are stored as an array of data elements in a memory of the system. Each data element corresponds to the measured color value from one sensor. A set of gradient values is determined for each data element at a specific location in the array. The gradient values correspond to color value differences in a plurality of directions from the data element. From the set of gradient values, a threshold value is determined. Using the threshold value, a subset of gradient values is selected so that the members of the subset have gradient values less than the threshold. Additional color values for each data element are interpolated according to the subset of gradient values.

Abstract: An improved home location register (HLR) that includes a switch capability mediation module for implementing switch capability mediation between different mobile switching centers (MSCs). According to the invention, when one MSC (home MSC of a receiving party) attempts to communicate with another MSC (serving MSC) via the HLR serving the home MSC, the mediation module determines whether the two MSCs are provided by different vendors and whether they implement different capabilities, based on the MPCM (MSC ID Point Code Map) file records of both the originating and serving MSCs. The MPCM files store MSCs' network configuration information.

Abstract: A screwless technique for mounting a circuit board in a computer chassis is provided in which circular portions of keyhole-shaped mounting openings in the circuit board body are first moved downwardly over notched chassis mounting bosses. The circuit board is then forwardly moved transversely to the bosses to move opening edge portions of the circuit board body into the boss notches in a manner releasably preventing the circuit board from being lifted off the bosses. A retaining bracket is placed adjacent a body edge of the installed circuit board to block the board against rearward releasing movement relative to the chassis bosses.

Abstract: A 3-D effect is added to a single image by adding depth to the single image. Depth can be added to the single image by selecting an arbitrary region or a number of pixels. A user interface simultaneously displays the single image and novel views of the single original image taken from virtual camera positions rotated relative to the original field of view. Depths given to the original image allow pixels to be reprojected onto the novel views to allow the user to observe the depth changes as they are being added. Functions are provided to edit gaps or voids generated in the process of adding depth to the single image. The gaps occur because of depth discontinuities between regions to which depth has been added and the voids are due to the uncovering of previously occluded surfaces in the original image.

Abstract: A technique provides data from an information signal. The technique involves receiving the information signal in the forwarded clock device synchronously with a forwarded clock signal. The technique further involves recovering data contained within the information signal synchronously with a recovery clock signal such that the data is recovered with (i) a particular cycle latency when the recovery clock signal has an optimal rate for the forwarded clock device, and (ii) a different cycle latency when the recovery clock signal has a sub-optimal rate. The particular cycle latency may include more cycles than the different cycle latency. As such, the time latency may be shorter when the recovery clock signal has the sub-optimal rate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of managing conditions in a network of network devices. A management system identifies conditions on the network by periodically polling the network devices or in response to a message from a network device. The management system maintains an event list that keeps track of the network conditions. The event list is automatically updated (entries added or removed) by the management system as conditions appear or become resolved.

Abstract: A computer security system whereby access is controlled by remote enablement or disablement. The system can be coupled with third-party products to accommodate satellite transmissions for long-distance access control.

Abstract: A highly reliable computer memory storage system that is divided into subsystems, each of which is provided in triplicate: a primary subsystem, a backup subsystem and a spare subsystem. Upon detection of a non-recoverable failure in a primary subsystem, the backup subsystem substantially immediately assumes the tasks of the primary subsystem while the spare subsystem is integrated into the operation of the computer memory storage system. The triple replication of all subsystems and mechanisms for detecting failures in at least the primary and secondary subsystems provides an overall memory system which is highly reliable and substantially never requires servicing. In an alternative embodiment, three subsystems can share a load equally, for example a cooling or power supply load requirement.

Abstract: A system for running in, in which multiple PCI bus connections are each bridged to multiple boards-under-test. The presence or absence of power in each of these bus connections is monitored, and the boards-under-test are correspondingly powered up (or not). Multiple test-bed subboards are preferably used, each with multiple sockets for receiving boards-under-test with high-insertion-force connectors, and the independent power control permits the boards-under-test on one subboard to be powered off and swapped while the boards-under-test on the other subboard are still being exercised. Preferable a single movable extractor mechanism is mounted on each subboard, and can be positioned (with respect to any one of the high-insertion-force connectors) for linear extraction of the board-under-test without any torque.

Abstract: A sense amplifier for sensing an input voltage level of a data signal. Such a sense amplifier pre-charges, and subsequently discharges, a pair of nodes through a respective pair of discharge paths. Each of those discharge paths is capable of performing the discharge operation at a rate that is related to either a system voltage supply or an input logic level of the data signal. Because the discharge path that is associated with the data signal includes a greater amount of conductance, it can perform the discharge operation at a faster rate, even where the input logic level does not exceed the voltage of the system voltage supply. A determination is made as to which of the discharge is the faster and, responsively, a rail-to-rail output signal having the same polarity as the data signal, is generated.

Abstract: A method for aiding use of a computer includes receiving a home base signal, and in response to the home base signal, transferring control of the computer to a user home base application.

Abstract: A method and system for compressing video data in a computer has video processing that is distributed between preprocessing hardware in a video capture/controller card and a central processing unit of the computer. Frames of video data are passed to a motion estimation unit of the preprocessing hardware. This unit generates motion information describing inter-frame changes in the video data. Next, motion-compensated temporal filtering is performed on the frames of video data using the motion information. A video frame processing unit of the controller card, used for processing video data to the monitor, is reused for the temporal filtering of the input video data. Finally, the temporally-filtered video data is passed to the central processing unit, which performs inter-frame and/or intra-frame compression with reference to the motion information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer system for correcting errors and defects in a storage device. The storage device includes media for storing data. A periodic read scan is performed to test the data. If a repeatable error is found, the data is moved to a new sector from a pool of available sectors. Defects are counted and identified in a defect list for reporting to the host. The storage device is scannable is small segments to minimize impact on performance.