Abstract: Devices of a Bluetooth wireless communication system are adapted to include an L2CAP extension layer that calculates error control data for each packet of payload data. An error control data packet is transmitted immediately following each packet of payload data. The L2CAP extension layer checks incoming payload data packets using the associated error control data, to determine transmission errors such as caused by radio-frequency interference. A preferred example uses 32-bit Ethernet to generate an error control checksum, providing robust error checking for a high integrity transmission link such as between a computing device and a printer.

Abstract: A method of determining a registration offset in a hard copy apparatus, the apparatus comprising a pen arranged to mark a print medium and a sensor arranged to detect marks on the medium along a sensor path, the method comprising the steps of: marking a alignment pattern on the medium, the pattern being at least partially located along the sensor path; detecting the position along the sensor path of a portion of the pattern; and, determining a distance by which the pattern is offset from the sensor path in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sensor path, the pattern being configured such that the detected position is indicative of the offset distance.

Abstract: A mobile device is used to effect task-related communication with a remote entity via the communications infrastructure of a wireless hotspot through which the mobile device is moving. The device includes a first estimation arrangement for estimating the time remaining before the mobile device leaves the coverage zone of the hotspot having regard to the predicted movement of the device. The device further includes a second estimation arrangement for estimating the time needed to complete the task-related communication. These two time estimates are compared with each other by a monitor unit of the device to determine whether there is sufficient time to complete the task-related communication.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a pipelined synchronized circuit representation of a program loop. A dependence graph is generated from the program loop. The dependence graph represents operations and registers and connections therebetween. A minimum clock period and initiation interval are determined from the dependence graph. Until a scheduled graph is successfully generated, repeated attempts are made to generate a scheduled graph from operations and registers of the dependence graph using the minimum clock period and the initiation interval. With each failed attempt to generate a scheduled graph, the minimum clock period is increased prior to the next attempt to generate a scheduled graph.

Abstract: A method and system is used to determine the correct rounding of a floating point function. The method involves performing the floating point function to a higher precision than required and examining the portion of extra precision in the result known as the discriminant. If a critical pattern is found in the discriminant, this indicates that standard rounding may give an incorrect result and further calculation is needed. The method can work for various rounding modes and types of floating point representations. The method can be implemented in a system as part of a processor instruction set or any combination of hardware, microcode, and software.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed which permits dynamic reconfiguration of RTL implemented objects in a circuit simulation circuit employing high level language interfaces to redirect communication between RTL objects within a configuration. The high level language interface presents a mechanism for changing a configuration more rapidly and more conveniently than reconstructing the configuration by the RTL links between the various objects in the configuration. A method for building a configuration employing high level language interfaced RTL objects is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic flash is constructed with the ability to vary both collimation and direction allowing a user to direct the flash to a portion of the subject. Collimation and direction of the flash may be displayed in the viewfinder of the camera and may be independently controlled by the user.

Abstract: A magnetic tape includes plural diagonal tracks, each storing a preamble sequence close to user data such that a transducer for reading the track reads the preamble sequence immediately before reading the user data. The preamble sequence is such that when the track is read by the transducer the preamble sequence has a power sequence with a power spectrum substantially equivalent to the power spectrum of the user data. An AGC circuit responds to the transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of determining state of a device comprises a controller and a monitor executable on the controller. The monitor is capable of passively monitoring traffic between an initiator and the device, determining when the passively monitored traffic is insufficient for identifying state of the device, and actively issuing supplemental commands to the device to refresh device information when passively monitored traffic is insufficient. The monitor can also determine device state from the device information.

Abstract: A filter comprises a first device, a second device, a dynamic filter, and a device monitor. The dynamic filter is coupled to the first device and the second device, and selectively directs commands to the first device and to the second device based on dynamic status of the first device. The device monitor is coupled to the dynamic filter and to the first device and capable of determining the first device dynamic status.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a data path capable of coupling a physical device to a plurality of initiators. An interface is coupled to the data path and forms a command pathway between the plurality of initiators and the physical device. The controller is coupled to the data path and coupled to the interface. A controller comprises an executable process that creates a virtual device object that resolves conflicting concurrent attempts to access the physical device by a plurality of initiators. The virtual device object is capable of protecting state of the physical device during successive data transfer and media movement operations by emulating responses of the physical device and redirecting access to the physical device when the physical device becomes available.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing lines of extraneous text from a document. Similarities are identified between lines of text on each page and corresponding lines on a selected subset of pages. Different weight values are associated with different line numbers of text on a page, each weight value indicating a degree of likelihood that a line of text contains extraneous text. One or more lines of text are selectively removed from a page as a function of the similarities and associated weight values of line numbers of the lines of text.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for capturing a variable length of sensory data in association with still image data. Manipulation of the camera is detected prior to image-capture, and sensory data are generated in response to detecting the manipulation. The sensory data are stored in temporary storage. When a control signal to capture a still image is active, still image data are generated and stored in non-volatile storage. A subset of the sensory data in temporary storage is selected and stored in non-volatile storage in association with the still image data.

Abstract: A PKI includes an off-line registration authority that issues a first unsigned certificate to a subject that binds a public key of the subject to long-term identification information related to the subject and maintains a certificate database of unsigned certificates in which it stores the first unsigned certificate An on-line credentials server issues a short-term disposable certificate to the subject that binds the public key of the subject from the first unsigned certificate to the long-term identification information related to the subject from the first unsigned certificate. The credentials server maintains a table that contains entries corresponding to valid unsigned certificates stored in the certificate database. The subject presents the short-term disposable certificate to a verifier for authentication and demonstrates that the subject has knowledge of a private key corresponding to the public key in the short-term disposable certificate.

Abstract: A method for detecting displacements of a micro-electromechanical sensor including a fixed body and a mobile mass, and forming a first sensing capacitor and a second sensing capacitor having a common capacitance at rest. The first and second sensing capacitors being connected to a first input terminal and, respectively, to a first output terminal and to a second output terminal of the sensing circuit. The method includes the steps of closing a first negative-feedback loop, which is formed by the first and second sensing capacitors and by a differential amplifier, feeding an input of the differential amplifier with a staircase sensing voltage through driving capacitors so as to produce variations of an electrical driving quantity which are inversely proportional to the common sensing capacitance, and driving the sensor with the electrical driving quantity.

Abstract: A network layer bridge for connection between network segments with different data link layer addressing. The bridge has a plurality of ports, each for connection to a different network segment, wherein a first port is for connection to a first network segment and a second port is for connection to a second network segment. The bridge also has a memory for storing network layer addresses for nodes together with corresponding port identifiers and data link layer addresses, and the memory is adapted to store data link layer addresses of more than one type. The bridge also has a means for discovering corresponding port identifier and data link layer address for a network layer address for which these are not already known.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing a synchronizer is provided. The initialization circuitry includes a pattern generator for generating an initialization pattern, a pattern detector for recognizing the initialization pattern, and a read select circuit. After recognition of an initialization pattern, the write pointer is set to a predetermined location in the data buffer of the synchronizer to be read. A predetermined number of cycles after receipt of a unique clock cycle identifier signal (the global frame clock) by the read select circuit, valid data in lockstep with other bitsliced interfaces can be read from the synchronizer.

Abstract: To provide a more manageable security system for protecting cable-connected peripheral devices, a computer system is described having a removable peripheral device that is connectable to the computer system via a flying lead and a plug and socket combination, characterized by a lock member that is movable under the control of software running on the computer system to release or secure the plug to the socket.

Abstract: A portable modular electronic system comprises a controller module, at least one memory module; and at least one application module that are mechanically connectable and disconnectable with respect to each other and include mating electrical connectors for communicating electrical signals between modules when the modules are mechanically connected.

Abstract: A system and method for redeeming a coupon. The method includes determining that a coupon is valid, determining that the valid coupon is still available for use, and determining that the available valid coupon is tied to a user. The method additionally comprises determining that an ID for the user matches an ID for the user stored for the available valid coupon, and adding the available valid coupon to an order by the user to redeem the coupon.