Abstract: A distributed voice user interface system includes a local device which receives speech input issued from a user. Such speech input may specify a command or a request by the user. The local device performs preliminary processing of the speech input and determines whether it is able to respond to the command or request by itself. If not, the local device initiates communication with a remote system for further processing of the speech input.

Abstract: A method for accessing and browsing the internet through the use of a telephone and the associated DTMF signals is disclosed. The preferred embodiment provides a system that converts the information content of a web page from text to speech (voice signals), signals the hyperlink selections of a web page in an audio manner, and allows selection of the hyperlinks through the use of DTMF signals generated from a telephone keypad. Upon receiving a DTMF signal corresponding to a hyperlink, the corresponding web page is fetched and again delivered to the user via one of the available delivery methods such as voice, fax-on-demand, electronic mail, or regular mail.

Abstract: The present invention provides a voice user interface with personality. In one embodiment, a method includes executing a voice user interface, and controlling the voice user interface to provide the voice user interface with a personality. The method includes selecting a prompt based on various context situations, such as a previously selected prompt and the user's experience with using the voice user interface.

Abstract: In one aspect, a network system includes a user interface which allows a user to interact with the network system. An agent server is coupled to the user interface. The agent server manages the operation of the network system. Furthermore, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface is operable to create or modify an agent in response to interaction by the user. In another aspect, a network system includes an agent server which manages the operation of the network system. An agent is operable to utilize a service within the network system. A service wrapper, associated with the service, cooperates with the agent server to mediate interaction between the service and the agent.

Abstract: Endian format affects the representation of both literal data and pointer data whether represented in a global data specification (i.e., in a data section) or as immediate operand values in-line with Intercode instructions. The present invention provides for endian-independent representation of literal data, pointer data, literal operands and pointer operands. For literal data represented in a data section, an associated data translation script provides an Intercode translator with translation instructions for transforming byte ordering within the data section on a unit-of-storage by unit-of-storage basis (if required for the particular target processor). In this way, literal data of arbitrary structure can be specified independent of endian format. For pointer data represented in the data section, the associated data translation script provides the Intercode translator with relocation expressions for transforming pointer data values to effective memory addresses.

Abstract: A distributed computing environment in which agent processes direct their own movement through a computer network. Place processes provide a computing context within which agent processes are interpreted. An agent process controls its movement from one place process to another within the network by using a ticket. An agent process which moves from one place process to another transports definitions of classes of which objects included in the agent process are members. An agent process which moves from one place process to a second place process avoids unnecessary transportation of objects included in the agent process by substituting equivalent objects which are found in the second place process. An agent process sends clones of the agent process to several place processes simultaneously.

Abstract: A low power, single master, variable clock rate, daisy-chainable, serial bus connects a bus dispatch (master) to a chain of one or more daisy-chained peripheral devices (slaves). The bus has a bidirectional serial data line, a bidirectional clock line, unidirectional interrupt line, power and ground lines. A method for configuring the bus includes detecting connection and disconnection of a peripheral device to the bus. In the method, a last peripheral device on the bus is assigned the second status and all other peripheral devices on the bus are assigned the first status. Each peripheral device assigned the first status is configured to pass therethrough an interrupt signal on the bus. The last peripheral device is configured to invert an interrupt signal on the bus from a peripheral device that is newly attached to the bus. A peripheral device newly connected to the bus generates an interrupt signal that is inverted by the last peripheral device and transmitted over the bus to a host computer for the bus.

Abstract: A graphical navigation user interface for enabling user control of a computer system may incorporate navigation levels. Each navigation level is based on a physical real-word metaphor. The navigation system includes a three four levels: a individual object level, a room level, a building level, a town level. An individual object level is the lowest navigation level and corresponds to specific function. The room level provides a user with options of specific functions. The building level includes a hallway metaphor where the user has options of choosing room objects through a doorway. The town level provides the user with options of choosing various building objects connect by a street metaphor.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed which includes a read only memory in which a first version of a data element is stored, a random access memory in which a second version of the data element is stored, and a shadow system for transparently determining whether to access the first or second version of the data element. In the disclosed system, separate areas of memory are maintained for a committed version of the data element and an uncommitted version of the data element. Bottleneck commit routines only allow the uncommitted version to become the committed version of the data element at certain times, such as when the data are not subject to modification. By disposing of the version of the data elements in the uncommitted area, the system effectively reverts to the state it was in at the time changes were last committed from the uncommitted area to the committed area.

Abstract: A low power, single master, variable clock rate, daisy-chainable, serial bus connects a bus dispatch (master) to a chain of one or more daisy-chained peripheral devices (slaves). The bus has a bidirectional serial data line, a bidirectional clock line, unidirectional interrupt line, power and ground lines. Each peripheral device includes a plurality of serial bus support structures. For example, the serial bus support structures can include an interrupt generation circuit, a power-on circuit, and a wake-up interrupt generation circuit, and a wake-up interrupt propagation circuit.

Abstract: A low power, single master, variable clock rate, daisy-chainable, serial bus connects a bus dispatch (master) to a chain of one or more daisy-chained peripheral devices (slaves). The bus has a bidirectional serial data line, a bidirectional clock line, unidirectional interrupt line, power and ground lines. All bus transactions over the bus occur under bus dispatch commands. If a peripheral device interrupts the bus dispatch, bus dispatch issues commands over the bus to determine which device caused the interrupt and what service is being requested by the device. The bus dispatch may then turn control of the data and clock lines over to the peripheral device for a limited amount of time depending on the service requested. New peripheral devices can be connected onto the bus and unused peripheral devices can be disconnected from the bus while the bus is operating without causing a bus failure. Similarly, bus dispatch may enter a low power sleep mode from which it may be awakened by a peripheral device.

Abstract: A low power, single master, variable clock rate, daisy-chainable, serial bus connects a bus dispatch (master) to a chain of one or more daisy-chained peripheral devices (slaves). The bus has a bidirectional serial data line, a bidirectional clock line, unidirectional interrupt line, power and ground lines. Each peripheral device includes a first bidirectional signal line, a second bidirectional signal line coupled to the bus clock and data lines, respectively, and an interface circuit coupled to the first and second bidirectional signal lines. The interface circuit includes a first buffer circuit coupled to the first and second bidirectional signal lines, and a second buffer circuit coupled to the first buffer circuit.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed which includes a read only memory in which a first version of a data element is stored, a random access memory in which a second version of the data element is stored, and a shadow system for transparently determining whether to access the first or second version of the data element. The system includes a masterblock for accessing the first version of the data element. In the disclosed system, separate areas of memory are maintained for a committed version of the data element and an uncommitted version of the data element. Bottleneck commit routines only allow the uncommitted version to become the committed version of the data element at certain times, such as when the data are not subject to modification. By disposing of the version of the data elements in the uncommitted area, the system effectively reverts to the state it was in at the time changes were last committed from the uncommitted area to the committed area.

Abstract: A graphical navigation user interface for enabling user control of a computer system incorporating navigation levels, each of which is based on a physical real-world metaphor. The navigation system includes a first navigation level, a second navigation level and a third navigation level. The first navigation level includes a plurality of first level objects having a respective plurality of functions. When the first navigation level is accessed, a first level object is displayed. The presentation of the first level object is based on the appearance of a corresponding real-world device. From the first level, the second level is accessed by actuating a step back control. The second navigation level includes a second level object which represents a room or a similar architectural structure. This second level object includes a plurality of objects representing first navigation level objects. From the second level room object, navigation to a first level is performed by actuating one of the first level objects.

Abstract: A low power, single master, variable clock rate, daisy-chainable, serial bus connects a bus dispatch in a base station (master) to a chain of one or more daisy-chained peripheral devices (slaves). The bus has a bidirectional serial data line, a bidirectional clock line, unidirectional interrupt line, power and ground lines. Data and commands are sent from the base station to a peripheral device, and data is received from the peripheral device by the base station by configuring each peripheral device on the bus to receive data and clock signals from the base station in an idle mode of operation. Upon a command send being transmitted by the base station, all peripheral devices on the serial bus between the base station and an addressed peripheral device remain in the idle mode and the addressed peripheral device is connected to the bus so that clock and data signals on the bus to are passed to the peripheral device.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for changing characteristics, properties, or attributes of graphical objects in which particular values of particular characteristics are represented themselves as graphical objects called coupons. A user changes a characteristic of a graphical object by selecting a coupon representing a desired value of the characteristic and indicating that the coupon is to be applied to the graphical object. A coupon is selected and applied using a drag and drop technique. Particular values of particular characteristics of a first graphical object can be transferred to a second graphical object by use of a tinker window graphical user interface. A tinker window contains one or more coupons representing the state of the first object in terms of characteristics of the first object. The user selects a coupon from the tinker window and applies the coupon to the second object to transfer to the second object a characteristic of the first object.

Abstract: A distributed computing environment in which agent processes direct their own movement through a computer network. Place processes provide a computing context within which agent processes are interpreted. An agent process controls its movement from one place process to another within the network by using a ticket. An agent process which moves from one place process to another transports definitions of classes of which objects included in the agent process are members. An agent process which moves from one place process to a second place process avoids unnecessary transportation of objects included in the agent process by substituting equivalent objects which are found in the second place process. An agent process sends clones of the agent process to several place processes simultaneously.