Abstract: A programmable workstation for collaborative working in a network comprises a conventional operating system and a network control program layer. Additionally, the workstation includes a collaborative application support subsystem for interfacing with application programs. The subsystem is responsive to predetermined application program calls to create a logical network model of a collaborative environment. The model comprises sharing sets of application programs, which share data and resources across nodes and logical dedicated data channels connecting members of the sharing set. The subsystem cooperates with the network layer to establish the physical links necessary to implement the model in a physical network, transparently to the application program.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an analytic method for detecting trace elements in fluid solution. A cation exchange resin is packed with a radiolabelled exchange material having certain characteristics and replaces the trace element ions in the fluid which becomes labelled. The label is subsequently detected using sensitive and well known radiation detection methods.

Abstract: A color separator using three joined prisms for color separation in projection displays. The configuration is compact, relatively simple to assemble, and eliminates a requirement for complicated optical components such as crossed dichroic beam splitters and large retrofocus projection lenses. The configuration is particularly advantageous for projectors based upon liquid crystal, reflective light valves or spatial light modulators (SLM). A first prism has a dichroic coating on an interface between the first and a second prism which reflects one primary color and transmits the other two primary colors. The light path through the first prism has a second reflection (total internal reflection) off the side of the first prism, and emerges normal to the third face of the first prism to a first SLM. The second prism has a dichroic coating at an interface of the second and a third prism which reflects one of the remaining two primary colors and transmits the third primary color.

Abstract: The present application concerns a multiplexing device (12,14) for a redundant channel bus (13). It comprises two arrays (12,14) of cascaded crosspoint cells, connected to opposite ends of the bus (13). The crosspoint cells of the first (12) of said arrays have means for establishing n data paths from n input data lines to n channels of n+x channels, and the crosspoint cells of the second array (14) have means to establish n corresponding data paths from the n channels to n output data lines. Further, the crosspoint cells comprise means to identically alter data paths in both arrays, said means being controlled by the means to recognize a faulty channel. The multiplexer is designed with a minimum number of gates, thus, providing a fast device for circumventing faulty channels. It is useful for fast and secure data transmission, especially suitable as a backbone bus device between independent central processing units.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method that fits experimental pH titration data to a model titration curve. The model is designed to accommodate any practical number of weak acids or bases (i.e., buffers) with single or multiple pK.sub.a 's in the sample and/or the titrant. It is also possible by means of the present invention to use any choice of titrant, including weak acids or bases, buffered solutions, or either an acid or base titrant for the same sample. A non-linear curve-fitting procedure is used to fit the data to the model. Volume changes, ionic strength effects, and differences between measured pH and the proton concentration function p[H.sup.+ ] are taken into account. Mixtures of compounds with pK.sub.a 's less than 1 unit apart can be determined accurately. The results may be displayed in a deconvoluted form, facilitating the identification of compounds through their pK.sub.a 's.

Abstract: A generic high bandwidth adapter providing a unified architecture for data communications between buses, channels, processors, switch fabrics and/or communication networks. Data is carried by data stream packets of variable lengths, and each packet includes a header control information portion required by communication protocols used to mediate the information exchange, and normally a data portion for the data which is to be communicated. A packet memory stores data packets arriving at a plurality of generic adapter input/output ports. The packet memory is segmented into a plurality of buffers, and each data packet is stored in one or more buffers as required by the length thereof.

Abstract: A VOD scheduler maintains a queue of pending performance for each video. Using the notion of queue selection factor, a batching policy is devised that schedules the video with the highest selection factor. Selection factors are obtained by applying discriminatory weighting factors to the adjusted queue lengths associated with each video where the weight decreases as the popularity of the respective video increases and the queue length is adjusted to take defection into account.

Abstract: The use of a bi-layer thin film structure consisting of aluminum or aluminide on a refractory metal layer as a diffusion barrier to oxygen penetration at high temperatures for preventing the electrical and mechanical degradation of the refractory metal for use in applications such as a capacitor electrode for high dielectric constant materials.

Abstract: There is disclosed a planar antenna for very low frequencies. The antenna has a high impedance and can be matched to 50 ohm or higher impedance stages. The antenna may be used for applications which require a short range such as a wireless peripheral. The antenna operates only in its near-field and does not require a complex lossy impedance matching network, since the input impedance is large.

Abstract: Multiple reads are made from an array of single-read port memory cells. An array of single-read port memory cells is provided with "steering" devices located between a column of cells and the output drivers for the array. The steering devices are controlled by the read pointers such that the steering signal for a given output configuration is active only when read pointers for that output configuration are active. To complete the function, the read pointers are fed to OR gates, one per row, so that a given pointer will activate the read port of a plurality of consecutive memory cells. The read pointers represent the decoded read address and only one is active at a time.

Abstract: A system for providing a centrally planned, completely general routing system that assigns traffic routes to maintain optimal traffic system stability. The system includes a plurality of fixed computers, linked by a wide area network, which can communicate seemlessly with all vehicles in a region via a wireless communication system. The system is interactive, in that the fixed computers receive data such as desired route, position and segment transit time data from individual in-vehicle computer units and determine and communicate the system optimal route to each such in-vehicle unit.

Abstract: A method of bonding faceplates (20) to VDU screens is provided in which an adhesive material is dispensed (80) onto a surface of either the faceplate or the VDU (40), the faceplate and the VDU are brought together (90) to force the adhesive material outwards to fill the gap between the surfaces, and the adhesive material layer (41) which is formed is then cured. In a first curing step (100), curing is carried out around the edges of the faceplate to form a seal around the edges. This first step may be carried out in a dedicated positioning tool. A later curing step (120) ensures that all of the adhesive material layer is eventually cured. Positioning (90) in the dedicated tool may use specific reference points on the faceplate and the VDU rather than relying on physical spacers, and may be carried out under servo control of a system for detecting the onset of undesirable gas entrapment conditions within the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A CAM/SRAM structure (44) performs address translations that are compatible with a segmentation/paging addressing scheme yet require only a single look-up step. Each entry in the effective-to-real-address-translator (ERAT) has two CAM fields (ESID, EPI) that independently compare an input segment identifier and an input page identifier to a stored segment identifier and a stored page identifier, respectively. The ERAT outputs a stored real address field (DATA) associated with a stored segment-stored page pair if both comparisons are equivalent. The ERAT can invalidate stored translations on the basis of segment or page granularity by requiring either a segment or a page CAM field match, respectively, during an invalidate operation.

Abstract: Beacon recovery is performed separately on each module. After a module recognizes that a beacon condition has occurred, each module checks to determine if the defect or fault is on its module. If the defect is on the respective module, the module disconnects itself from the remaining modules in the network and transmits a beacon frame onto an upstream end of the group of stations on that module. Each port on the module is then tested to determine if the error lies in the corresponding station. This testing is based on the presence or absence of the beacon frame.

Abstract: A projection display which includes reflective light valves such as liquid crystal spatial light modulators, and a 1.times. optical relay lens system. The 1.times. optical relay lens system eliminates the requirement for a projection lens having a large retrofocus distance. Projection displays based upon reflective liquid crystal light valves (spatial light modulators) require dichroic beam splitters necessary for color separation and a polarizing beam splitter necessary for light valve operation positioned between the light valves and the projection lens. The 1.times. optical relay lens produces a relayed intermediate image of the light valves, and incorporates therein the dichroic beam splitters and the polarizing beam splitter. The 1.times. optical relay lens produces an intermediate image which is projected by the projection lens at a given magnification with minimal working distance, which results in relatively less residual lateral color and an inexpensive projection lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus authenticates and provides non-repudiability for analog messages which renders it impossible for a person, including the recipient, who is not in possession of a (cryptographic) key belonging to the claimed sender, to forge the message. The recipient is able to verify that the sender possessed the correct key, and a third party (judge) can establish whether the message was forged or not. This is accomplished by interposing a digital signature generator/verifier/recorder (DS-GVR) module in the sending apparatus, such as a facsimile machine. The receiver, using another DS-GVR, can verify that a received document comes from the purported sender and has not been altered enroute. The receiver's DS-GVR module can be made to produce a machine-readable record of the signed transmission.

Abstract: A distributed processing, interactive computer network and method of operation is described. The network is designed to provide very large numbers of simultaneous users access to large numbers of applications which feature interactive text/graphic sessions. The network includes one or more host computers having application data stores; a plurality of concentrator computers, also including application data stores, the concentrator computers being connected in groups of one of more to each of the host computers; and a plurality of reception system computers connected in groups of one or more to each of the concentrator computers, the reception system computers being arranged so that respective users can request interactive applications at the reception system computers. In accordance with the design, the reception system computers also include application data stores.

Abstract: A multilevel electronic package comprising at least two levels, each level including a poly(aryl ether benzimidazole), a polymide and copper. A process of preparing this package is disclosed. Several novel poly(aryl ether benzimidazoles) useful in preparing this package are also set forth.

Abstract: A visual conceptual map is displayed on each window of a program for accomplishing a complex task. In the preferred embodiment, the conceptual map includes all of the program's action dialogs and the potential paths between the action dialogs. The action dialog corresponding to the current window, the action dialogs that can presently be selected from the current window, and the other action dialogs are visually distinguished from each other. In addition, the potential paths from the action dialog corresponding to the current window to the action dialogs that may presently be selected from the current window are visually distinguished from the other potential paths.