Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for allowing a data controlling object to interface with any number of user interface objects without requiring separate interface code for each user interface object and without restricting the user interface to certain predetermined designs. The present method provides objects called association objects that are interposed between a data controlling object and each user interface object. Each kind of user interface object has a corresponding association object. The association object for a particular kind of user interface object contains code that allows the association object to interact with the specific kind of user interface object with which it is associated. Each association object also presents a standard interface to a data controlling object, regardless of the kind of user interface object with which the association object is associated.

Abstract: The present invention creates a model that maps object classes in an object-oriented environment to a data source. The model maps the relationship between properties of each object class and data of the data source. The present invention can be used with a data source such as a relational database, user interface, file system, or object-oriented database. An application's object classes and data source schema are designed independent of the other since the model can be used to map one to the other. The model is comprised of entities and attributes. An entity maps to an object class and to at least one table of the DBMS. An entity contains attributes either simple or derived. A simple attribute maps to a DBMS column. A derived attribute is a combination of other attributes and does not directly map to a DBMS column. A relationship creates a link between entities of the model. A relationship can be used to flatten an attribute or flatten a relationship.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for symmetrically compressing and decompressing video information in real time by coupling block and wavelet techniques. In the compression pipeline, the image is divided into blocks comprising 2k×2k pixels (in the preferred embodiment, k=1). The average color of each block is computed. The system computes an average luminance for each block and differential luminances of each pixel of the plurality of pixels of each block. A first plurality of frequency details of each block are determined by Haar transforming the differential luminances. The system computes an average color difference between each block and the preceding block, and quantizes the average color difference and the first plurality of frequency details using Lloyd-Max quantization. In an alternate embodiment, skip codes are generated for blocks having the same quantized average color difference and second plurality of frequency details.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for allowing a data controlling object to interface with any number of user interface objects without requiring separate interface code for each user interface object and without restricting the user interface to certain predetermined designs. The present method provides objects called association objects that are interposed between a data controlling object and each user interface object. Each kind of user interface object has a corresponding association object. The association object for a particular kind of user interface object contains code that allows the association object to interact with the specific kind of user interface object with which it is associated. Each association object also presents a standard interface to a data controlling object, regardless of the kind of user interface object with which the association object is associated.

Abstract: A method for providing stand-in objects, where relationships among objects are automatically resolved in an object oriented relational database model without the necessity of retrieving data from the database until it is needed. A “fault” class is defined, as well as fault objects whose data haven't yet been fetched from the database. An object that's created for the destination of a relationship whenever an object that includes the relationship is fetched from the database. When an object is fetched that has relationships, fault objects are created to “stand-in” for the destination objects of those relationships. Fault objects transform themselves into the actual enterprise objects—and fetch their data—the first time they're accessed. Subsequently, messages sent to the target objects are responded to by the objects themselves.

Abstract: The present invention improves speed and reduces complexity in a digital signature scheme that uses elliptic algebra. The signature scheme generates two points that are compared. If the points do not match, the signature is not authentic. The present invention reduces computations by comparing only the x coordinates of the two generated points. The invention provides a scheme for deducing the possible values of the x- coordinate of a sum of two points using only the x coordinates of the original two points in question. The present invention provides a scheme that limits the possible solutions that satisfy the equation to two (the authentic signature and one other). Because of the large number of possible inauthentic solutions, the chance of a false authentic signature is statistically insignificant.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for transparent local and distributed memory management. The invention overcomes the prior art's requirement of keeping track of whether a memory space allocated to a new object or a new program or data structure can be reclaimed. According to the present invention an autorelease pool is created at the beginning of a new duty cycle. The autorelease pool retains the newly allocated memory space during the duty cycle. The autorelease pool is automatically disposed of at the end of the duty cycle. As a result of disposing the autorelease pool, the newly allocated memory space is reclaimed (i.e., deallocated). The present invention is useful in distributed networks where different programming conventions on remote and local machines made the prior art's memory management task particularly difficult. The present invention is also useful in an object-oriented programming environment.

Abstract: The object-oriented approach used by the present invention provides the ability to develop and manage Internet transactions. Local applications can be accessed using any workstation connected to the Internet regardless of the workstation's configuration. Some or all of a Web page can be generated dynamically using input received in a returned page, generated at runtime, or retrieved from an external data source (e.g., database or electronic mail system). When the Web page definition is rendered, the information contained in template(s), declaration file(s), and object(s) are used to generate standard definitions. State information is maintained across transactions. Using state information, virtual applications, sessions, transactions, and pages can be implemented. Self-contained modules, or components, provide the ability to share implementations and create multi-content documents. Event objects can be used to assist in event handling management.

Abstract: A network database. The network database is arranged in a plurality of domains in a logical hierarchy. Each domain of the hierarchy represents a body of information associated with a logically related group of users or related group of computers. A relative naming scheme is implemented in which a domain stores the names of only its parent domain and child domains. This permits reconfiguration of the network to be accomplished without changing the database structure. Each domain stores information in a hierarchical structure known as a "directory." Each directory consists of a list of zero or more "properties," each having an associated name and ordered list of values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the distribution of objects and the sending of messages between objects that are located in different processes. Initially, a "proxy" object is created in the same process as a sender object. This proxy acts as a local receiver for all objects in the local program. When the proxy receives a message, the message is encoded and transmitted between programs as a stream of bytes. In the remote process, the message is decoded and executed as if the sender was remote. The result follows the same path, encoded, transmitted, and then decoded back in the local process. The result is then provided to the sending object.

Abstract: The present invention is an elliptic curve cryptosystem that uses elliptic curves defined over finite fields comprised of special classes of numbers. Special fast classes of numbers are used to optimize the modulo arithmetic required in the enciphering and deciphering process. The class of numbers used in the present invention is generally described by the form 2.sup.q -C where C is an odd number and is relatively small, for example, no longer than the length of a computer word (16-32 bits). When a number is of this form, modulo arithmetic can be accomplished using shifts and adds only, eliminating the need for costly divisions. One subset of this fast class of numbers is known as "Mersenne" primes, and are of the form 2.sup.q -1. Another class of numbers that can be used with the present invention are known as 14 "Fermat" numbers of the form 2.sup.q +1. The present invention provides a system whose level of security is tunable.

Abstract: A network database. The network database is arranged in a plurality of domains in a logical hierarchy. Each domain of the hierarchy represents a body of information associated with a logically related group of users or related group of computers. A relative naming scheme is implemented in which a domain stores the names of only its parent domain and child domains. This permits reconfiguration of the network to be accomplished without changing the database structure. Each domain stores information in a hierarchical structure known as a "directory." Each directory consists of a list of zero or more "properties," each having an associated name and ordered list of values.

Abstract: The present invention is a method that enables single release of applications for multiple architectures and operating systems and to provide ease of use of applications in multiple architecture environments. The present invention provides a single file that contains separate object code each of multiple architectures. A special header on the file identifies each section of object code and includes pointers to its starting location. When the file is to be executed on a particular architecture, the resident operating system identifies that block of object code most suited for that particular architecture and environment. That section of code is then loaded into memory for execution. Each architecture in the file is specified by CPU-type and CPU sub-type. For each CPU type or CPU sub-type, file offset, file size and alignment is also provided. Padded bytes are provided to place each member on its specific alignment.

Abstract: A network database. The network database is arranged in a plurality of domains in a logical hierarchy. Each domain of the hierarchy represents a body of information associated with a logically related group of users or related group of computers. A relative naming scheme is implemented in which a domain stores the names of only its parent domain and child domains. This permits reconfiguration of the network to be accomplished without changing the database structure. Each domain stores information in a hierarchical structure known as a "directory." Each directory consists of a list of zero or more "properties," each having an associated name and ordered list of values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for supporting one or more memory requestors (CPU's and I/O DMA) accessing a plurality of DRAM memory banks. The present invention is a multiplexer that functions as a 16-bit slice of the interface between the CPU and a 64-bit slice of DRAM memory array. The invention includes an error correction (ECC) module, a 64-bit DRAM I/O channel, an 8-bit ECC "syndrome" I/O channel and an 8-bit slice of a DMA bus I/O channel. In a write operation, the CPU transmits data through the I/O channel to write the data to the DRAM. Each word is routed by the four-way multiplexer to one of the four memory registers. When the four registers have been filled with data words, the words are assembled into a multiple word burst and sent to the DRAM bank. The data is also passed through an error correction module. For a read operation, DRAM data is latched into the CPU register and transported to the CPU while the DRAM is potentially being accessed for another memory read.

Abstract: The present invention is an elliptic curve cryptosystem that uses elliptic curves defined over finite fields comprised of special classes of numbers. Special fast classes of numbers are used to optimize the modulo arithmetic required in the enciphering and deciphering process. The class of numbers used in the present invention is generally described by the form 2.sup.q -C where C is an odd number and is relatively small, for example, no longer than the length of a computer word (16-32 bits). When a number is of this form, modulo arithmetic can be accomplished using shifts and adds only, eliminating the need for costly divisions. One subset of this fast class of numbers is known as "Mersenne" primes, and are of the form 2.sup.q -1. Another class of numbers that can be used with the present invention are known as "Fermat" numbers of the form 2.sup.q +1. The present invention system whose level of security is tunable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a processor or other system device to map processor words to an associated random access memory. In one case, processor words are mapped directly to RAM with no modification. In another case, 32-bit pixels (eight bits each of red, green, blue and alpha) are converted to or from 16-bit pixels (four bits each of red, green, blue and alpha) using an ordered dithering technique. The ordered dithering technique spatially distributes the information that would otherwise be lost by truncation. This is accomplished by replacing exact pixel values with their pseudo-random average. This reduces the required pixel storage requirements by half, while maintaining a higher image quality than would be achieved by truncation alone.

Abstract: A graphic interface configuration system is allows a user to create a graphic interface for a computer program in which graphic elements in the interface are linked to variables or functions in any one of a number of programming elements.

Abstract: The present invention is an elliptic curve cryptosystem that uses elliptic curves defined over finite fields comprised of special classes of numbers. Special fast classes of numbers are used to optimize the modulo arithmetic required in the enciphering and deciphering process. The class of numbers used in the present invention is generally described by the form 2q-C where C is an odd number and is relatively small, for example, no longer than the length of a computer word (16-32 bits). When a number is of this form, modulo arithmetic can be accomplished using shifts and adds only, eliminating the need for costly divisions. One subset of this fast class of numbers is known as "Mersenne" primes, and are of the form 2q-1. Another class of numbers that can be used with the present invention are known as "Fermat" numbers of the form 2q+1. The present invention provides a system whose level of security is tunable. q acts as an encryption bit depth parameter, such that larger values of q provide increased security.