Abstract: A method, apparatus and system is provided for secure anonymous proof of ownership of electronic receipts, wherein a sender sends a first message including a transaction request and referencing an owner of a receipt to be generated to a first addressee. The first addressee returns a signed receipt including the reference and details for what the receipt has been given. The sender sends a signed second message including the receipt to a second addressee. The second addressee obtains a public signature verification key on the basis of the reference to the owner of the receipt and authenticates the second message. A major advantage of the invention is that in a pseudonymous or anonymous transaction based system it is now possible to remain anonymous or pseudonymous when presenting electronic receipts, while securely proving ownership of the receipt.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for automatic insertion of a compressed GOP offset table within a previously encoded MPEG video file, for frame accurate random access of each individual video frame in play-from-offset mode. The method creates a compressed GOP offset table having an entry for each GOP header of every video packet of the MPEG video file, and modifies the MPEG video file by inserting the compressed GOP offset table before the MPEG video file as at least one padding packet, thereby preserving the MPEG compliance and compressed audio/video data of the MPEG video file. The method further has a step for estimating a number of padding packets needed for the GOP offset table, thereby limiting the MPEG video file reading to a single read.

Abstract: Remote tracing from a local data processing node of the execution of a process within an application program running on a remote data processing node in a distributed data processing network. The application program includes its own local trace facility and the nodes communicate by asynchronous messaging via mailboxes. Each node includes process-private interrupt handling means for indicating the presence of a command for the respective process in the mailboxes.

Abstract: Dynamically controlling and managing the power consumption and performance of energy consuming elements of a system to save energy while still providing the optimal system performance as required by the application(s) being executed. Both system performance and the applied system power are controlled by a specific convergence process which adjusts the system performance in real-time to the requirements of the application and the current operating situation.

Abstract: A master content generation unit generates information (master content) that is concretized based on the original idea of a content generator. An intermediate content generation unit re-constructs a complete and concrete content that has an adequate amount of information at a lower level, and generates a content to be sold. When a purchaser (a buyer) issues a request for a desired level, such as for the amount of information, to the intermediate content generation unit via the new content requesting unit, the content is re-constructed in accordance with the request. A content retailing unit provides a price for the master content and the content that is generated by the intermediate content generation unit, and collects the requested purchase price from a buyer. The buyer may select content equivalent to the compensation that corresponds to the buyer's request, and may purchase it from the content retaining unit.

Abstract: An embedded Smart Card reader for a handheld-computing device. In an example embodiment the invention comprises a protocol implementation unit connected to communicate with an I/O port of an expansion slot of the handheld-computing device; a first Smart Card interface unit connected to the protocol implementation unit; and a first installation, connected to the smart card interface unit, for securing the Smart Card. This reader has the advantageous of small size, low power consumption and high performance of security.

Abstract: Provided for, is an information terminal 1 and keyboard and system units thereof, capable of making the mounting of the keyboard unit into the system unit easier with reliable electrical and mechanical connections. The present invention is equipped with a keyboard unit 2 detachable to a system unit 5. The keyboard unit 2 in the information terminal 1 is equipped with a base plate 4; a keyboard-unit-side engaging member 7, disposed on the bottom surface of the base plate 4, for detachably engaging with the system unit 5; and a plurality of input keys 3 disposed on the top surface of the base plate 4 opposite to the bottom surface on which the keyboard-unit-side engaging member 7 is disposed. The system unit 5 is equipped with a system-unit-side engaging member 8 for detachably engaging with the keyboard-unit-side engaging member 7.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to provide a new deep trench collar process which reduces encroachment of strap diffusion upon array metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET's) in semiconductor devices. The invention allows a reduced effective deep trench edge bias at the top of the deep trench, without compromising storage capacitance, by maximizing the distance between the MOSFET gate conductor and the deep trench storage capacitor.

Abstract: A method of achieving automatic learning of an input vector presented to an artificial neural network (ANN) formed by a plurality of neurons, using the K nearest neighbor (KNN) mode. Upon providing an input vector to be learned to the ANN, a Write component operation is performed to store the input vector components in the first available free neuron of the ANN. Then, a Write category operation is performed by assigning a category defined by the user to the input vector. Next, a test is performed to determine whether this category matches the categories of the nearest prototypes, i.e. which are located at the minimum distance. If it matches, this first free neuron is not engaged. Otherwise, it is engaged by assigning the matching category to it. As a result, the input vector becomes the new prototype with the matching category associated thereto. Further described is a circuit which automatically retains the first free neuron of the ANN for learning.

Abstract: The operability in inputting data using a so-called software keyboard is provided wherein a computer displays a software keyboard and a target window to which data is to be inputted, determines whether or not either one of the two buttons of a mouse is clicked, selects data indicated by the pointed key when the left button is clicked and displays it in correlation to the cursor. By repeating the above processes, data is selected and displayed in a frame near the cursor. When the user clicks the target window, the computer supplies data of the character string so far selected to the target program as input data.

Abstract: A method for the control of wafer surface temperatures during post exposure bake on hot plates of wafers which carry integrated circuits. Also disclosed is a method of maximizing image size uniformity for integrated circuits through the zonal control of temperatures of hot plates during post exposure bake processes for effectively modulating the wafer surface temperatures. Images within a semiconductor wafer integrated circuit line pattern are repeated to process a wafer through the photolithographic patterning process, including post exposure baking, to measure the image linewidths and compare these with an experimentally derived correlation chart; for instance, PEB temperature vs. linewidth for a given or specified photomasking process.

Abstract: The invention involves an optical wireless communication system comprising a transmitter and a receiver wherein the transmitter has a three-dimensional optical emission characteristic and the receiver has a three-dimensional optical reception characteristic. According to the present invention, the shape of the optical emission characteristic matches the shape of the optical reception characteristic at least within one two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: A method for recovering a computer system from a loadsource direct access storage device located at a remote location. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, after a catastrophic damage and the installation of a local loadsource direct access storage device, an indicator within the local loadsource direct access storage device is set such that the local loadsource direct access storage device cannot be utilized for initial program load. Thereafter, the contents of the entire loadsource direct access storage device located at a remote location are copied to the replacement local loadsource direct access storage device. The indicator within the replacement local loadsource direct access storage device is reset such that the replacement local loadsource direct access storage device can be utilized for initial program load again. Finally, an initial program load is performed from the replacement local loadsource direct access storage device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital filter which is capable of preventing filter outputs from being discontinuous when a filter characteristic is changed. Initially, a servo assistant (SA) computes parameters for computing servo data, and based on the computed parameters, the SA judges an operating mode. If the mode has been changed, the SA will advance in processing. Next, the parameters of a filter are changed in correspondence with the judged operating mode, and the initial values of the interior variables of the filter are set to appropriate values.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying a correct orientation of a module during installation of the module into a circuit board mounting site. The module housing is symmetric in at least one respect such that the module may be positioned in at least one alternate orientation with respect to the mounting site in addition to the correct orientation. Within the module, a module test contact is electrically connected to a common plane mode contact. A mounting site test contact that engages the module test pin when the module is correctly aligned with respect to the mounting site is preselected to be tested upon placement of the module onto the mounting site. A test signal is applied to a conductive common plane within the mounting site to which a common plane mounting site contact is connected. Prior to installation of the module into the mounting site, the mounting site test contact is electrically isolated from the conductive common plane to which a test signal is applied.

Abstract: The present invention switches a source of a streaming session between a primary server and its client, from the primary server to another server at arbitrary points during the progress of the streaming session. The switching of the source is accomplished through the use of a virtual socket capable of simultaneously phasing in a new streaming connection while phasing out an old streaming connection during a streaming session that preserves the temporal progress of the session. The virtual socket acts as a client-based intermediary between the client and one or more streaming servers, thus enabling a client application to establish a streaming connection with respect to content and not to the end-party, i.e., server.

Abstract: A system and method for seamlessly combining client-only rendering techniques with server-only rendering techniques. The approach uses a composite stream containing three distinct streams. Two of the streams are synchronized and transmit camera definition, video of server-rendered objects, and a time dependent depth map for the server-rendered object. The third stream is available to send geometry from the server to the client, for local rendering if appropriate. The invention can satisfy a number of viewing applications. For example, initially the most relevant geometry can stream to the client for high quality local rendering while the server delivers renderings of less relevant geometry at lower resolutions. After the most relevant geometry has been delivered to the client, the less important geometry can be optionally streamed to the client to increase the fidelity of the entire scene.

Abstract: A latch device having a selectable feedback path includes a retaining device and system isolation device. The retaining device retains within the feedback path a logical value to be written out. The logical value is latched during an active clock signal. The system isolation device disconnects the retaining device from the feedback path during a write operation. Then, when the logical value is written out, the system isolation device reconnects the retaining device. Thus, the feedback path of the latch device may be disconnected to allow for a change in the latch state without overdriving a feedback inverter.

Abstract: The image data transferring apparatus of this invention determines that the change in the image is very small when a change in the image is not detected during a given time period, for example, and generates transmission data which causes image data displaying a full color image of, for example, 24 bits per pixel to be displayed in the receiving side in a relatively small number of frames in a unit time for transmission. Conversely, the image data transferring apparatus transmits reduced color data which is reduced from 24 bits per pixel to 4 bits per pixel in a relatively large number of frames in a unit time to the receiving side when it is determined that many changes are included in the image.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to cooperative computing environments and information retrieval and management methods and systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for capturing and generating useful information about a user's access and use of data on a computer system, such as in the form of documents stored on remote servers, and making such useful information available to others. Documents on the computer system are accessible through a plurality of different methods, such as by specifying an identifier or locator for the document, activating a hyperlink in another document which points to the document, or navigating to the document through navigational commands in an application program such as a browser.