Abstract: Methods, systems, and software for efficiently creating virtual file systems including object files which contain data are described. In one aspect of the invention, a method for creating a virtual file system includes retrieving a data file from a file system. A snapshot of the data file is created and converted into an object data file. The converted object data file is linked to at least one other object file. The data file can be concatenated with at least one other data file to create the snapshot. A set of assembly instructions for creating an object file from the snapshot is generated. The assembly instructions include instructions to reserve space within the object file for data contained in the data file. The assembly instructions are converted into an object file and the snapshot of the data file is copied into the reserved space.

Abstract: Methods, software, and apparatus for customizing a component for use with an application builder tool are disclosed. A method for customizing a component which has at least one associated property with an associated data type involves obtaining the component, obtaining an editor that is arranged to modify the property, and adding the editor to a customizer that is associated with said component. Then, the property is modified using the editor. In one embodiment, the method further includes configuring the component by implementing the modified property. In another embodiment, the component is an instance of an associated component class, and obtaining the component involves obtaining the component class and creating the instance of the component class. In such an embodiment, each property associated with the component is identified.

Abstract: A logical address and a pointer entry for a file in an indirect address file system are translated into a physical address. A decision module tests a pointer flag in a present pointer entry. The pointer entry has a pointer and a pointer flag to identify whether the pointer points to a data storage area or a metadata storage area. The decision module indicates whether the pointer is a data pointer or a metadata pointer. In response to the decision module indicating the pointer is a data pointer, a set module combines the data pointer with the logical address to generate a physical address. A split module, in response to the decision module indicating the pointer is a metadata pointer, divides the logical address into a first portion as an index value and a remaining portion as an offset value. An update module then sets the logical address to the offset value. A retrieve module combines the metadata pointer with the index value to get the next pointer entry.

Abstract: A bus controller for a computer system. The controller comprises a monitor for monitoring request signals and response signals between a first component and a second component each connected to a bus of the computer system; and a terminator controlled by the monitor to terminate a request from one of the first and second components if a response to the request has not issued within a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program code visually constructs object-oriented application software to be installed on a distributed object system. The method of the invention includes the following steps. Initially, the method provides a catalog facility which contains components having references to pre-existing objects within a distributed object system. A component is selected from the catalog facility for inclusion in the application software. A part corresponding to the object referenced by the selected component is derived from the selected component. The part is then made available to an application construction environment. In this environment, the part can be linked to at least one other part that also references a pre-existing object in the distributed object system. Graphical facilities are provided within the application construction environment for selecting and defining links among parts.

Abstract: A module consists of a shroud or enclosure attached to a card containing heat-emitting electronic components or to a stack of two or more vertically spaced cards; one or all of which have heat sinks in thermal contact with at least some of the electronic components. The shroud is apertured to control air flow in many directions over the components and heatsinks. A hinge member extends along one edge of the module shaped to be inserted in a slot in a panel to establish a hinge. As the shroud is pivoted about the hinge, horizontal electrical contacts on the panel and at least one card interengage and vertical contacts on one of the cards remote from the hinge simultaneously interengage. The contour of the shroud aids in installing or removing the module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a hyperspacial document with multiple pages. Each of the pages is composed in a markup language, and a respective printing element is included in each of the pages. The printing element for a given page is either an indicator of which of the pages is to print after the given page or an indicator that there is no page that prints next. When the header portion of a given page is transferred, it is checked to determine whether it contains a printing element. If the printing element is present, then a command to print the multiple pages is activated. The pages are printed in the order specified by the printing elements.

Abstract: Improved word accuracy of speech recognition can be achieved by providing a scheme for automatically limiting the acceptable word sequences. Speech recognition systems consistent with the present invention include a lexicon database with words and associated lexical properties. The systems receive exemplary clauses containing permissible word combinations for speech recognition, and identify additional lexical properties for selected words in the lexicon database corresponding to words in the received exemplary clauses using lexical property tests of a grammar database. Certain lexical property tests are switchable to a disabled state. To identify the additional lexical properties, the exemplary clauses are parsed with the switchable lexical property tests disabled to produce an index of the lexical properties corresponding to the exemplary clauses.

Abstract: In the system of the present invention, a time critical program operating in a window system environment is implemented. The application program containing time critical procedures is divided functionally into two or more processes. The first process contains all of the CPU time slice sensitive or time critical procedures. This process operates independently of the window system interface and communicates directly with the operating system. The second process implements all procedures which require the user input and output through the window system but not including time critical procedures. This process communicates with and operates through the window system interface. The processes exchange data and synchronize execution through the interprocess communication mechanisms such as shared memory such that the two or more processes operate and appear as a single process to the user while insulating the first process from suspension due to window system operations and blocking procedures.

Abstract: A circuit used to control the modification of content within memory implemented within an address translation unit. This memory includes a plurality of entries which contain virtual and physical addresses associated with an address translation. The circuit includes an update control circuit coupled to the address translation circuit. The update circuit is configured to set an entry to an invalid state or point to an entry to be loaded with a new address translation. The circuit further includes a flush control circuit that is configured to control the update control circuit. Such control includes setting an entry to an invalid state upon detecting a particular event.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed that provide enhancements to client-side image maps in HTML based documents. These enhancements provide audio feedback to a user of a HTML capable application as to the hyperlinks associated with an area in an image. These enhancements also provide a visual representation of the areas defined by a client-side image map when the image is not available.

Abstract: A network manager automatically sends certain requests in response to selected events generated by network devices. When a device generates an event, the network manager can send stop requests to the device; send different event requests to the device; or send the same event request to the device, but over a different path. The stop request is sent to cut down on network management traffic. The different event requests can be sent to determine why the event was generated by the device in the first place. The same event request can be sent over a different path to determine whether a problem exists with the device itself or with the path to the device.

Abstract: A high performance microprocessor bus protocol for improving system throughput. The bus protocol enables overlapping read burst and write burst bus transactions to a cache, and interleaved bus transactions during external fetch cycles for missed cache lines. The bus protocol is implemented in a system comprising a CPU, and a secondary cache. The secondary cache comprises an SRAM array cache, and a cache controller. The CPU contains an instruction pipeline and a primary cache system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low threshold asymmetric MOS device having a pocket region with a graded concentration profile. The pocket region includes a relatively high dopant atom concentration (of the same conductivity type as the bulk region) abutting either the device's source or its drain along the side of the source or drain that faces the device's channel region. The pocket region's graded concentration profile provides a lower dopant concentration near the substrate surface and an increasing dopant concentration below that surface. This provides a relatively low resistance conduction path through the pocket region, while allowing the device's threshold voltage to be somewhat higher at the pocket region. The asymmetric device can also include a counter dopant region located beneath its substrate surface. This forces current to flow in the substrate but just above the region of high counter dopant concentration, where the resistance is relatively low.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting an integrated circuit chip to a main printed circuit board is disclosed. The mounting apparatus is particularly suitable for situations in which a cooling device of significant mass is used to cool the integrated circuit chip. In one embodiment, the mounting apparatus mounts the integrated circuit chip onto a daughter or sub-printed circuit (PC) board, attaches the cooling device to the integrated circuit chip, supports the cooling device (as well as the integrated circuit chip and the daughter or sub-PC board) with support members, and uses flexible conductors to electrically connect the daughter or sub-PC board to the main printed circuit board. In another embodiment, the mounting apparatus attaches the cooling device to the integrated circuit chip, supports the cooling device (as well as the integrated circuit chip) with support members, and uses a flexible connection means to electrically connect the integrated circuit chip to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Fees due from transactions in electronic commerce are processed by building a transaction information database with transaction event objects based on events in each transaction. After retrieving fee rules from a fee rule database, a determining step detects if the fee rule applies to information in a transaction event object. Then, if the fee rule applies, a calculating step calculates the fee based on the fee rule and the information in the transaction event object. A fee object for a recipient entity is created based on the fee calculated by said calculating step and is stored in a payment database. An accumulating step sums the payments for a recipient entity from the fee objects in the payment database. The fee rules are general fee rules and specific fee rules. The general fee rules are applied to information in a transaction event object, and a calculating step calculates a general fee based on the general fee rule and the information in the transaction event object.

Abstract: An interprise computing manager in which an application is composed of a client (front end) program which communicates utilizing a network with a server (back end) program. The client and server programs are loosely coupled and exchange information using the network. The client program is composed of a User Interface (UI) and an object-oriented framework (Presentation Engine (PE) framework). The UI exchanges data messages with the framework. The framework is designed to handle two types of messages: (1) from the UI, and (2) from the server (back end) program via the network. The framework includes a component, the mediator which manages messages coming into and going out of the framework.

Abstract: A virtual disk simulator combines memory space from a given process address space in user space to form a virtual disk with contiguous memory space. The virtual disk may be accessed in the same manner as a physical hardware disk. The specific components of the virtual disk simulator are a virtual disk device driver in kernel space and a multi-threaded application running in user space. The virtual disk device driver supports the disk abstraction (e.g. simulation of the virtual disk having what appears to be unlimited disk space) and the multi-threaded application performs actual physical storage management in cooperation with the virtual disk device driver. The virtual disk device driver and the multi-threaded application interact using a special set of communication protocols.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a tactile stimulus to a part of the body of a physical operator when a virtual operator, created by movements of the physical operator, encounters a virtual object defined by a computer. A signalling unit communicates with the computer and emits a signal when the virtual operator encounters a virtual object. A stimulus unit responsive to the signalling unit is disposed in close proximity to a part of the body of the physical operator for providing a tactile stimulus when the virtual operator encounters a virtual object. The stimulus unit may comprise a segment of memory metal which undergoes a martensitic transformation to a different form or a solenoid having a member which moves in response to a signal emitted by the signalling unit. A vibrating member, such as a piezoceramic bender may be used instead of or in addition to the solenoid or memory metal.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for dynamically loading a gateway server into a client machine if one is needed for the client machine to communicate directly with a program in another domain. In brief summary, when a new machine receives an object reference, this new machine must determine whether it can use the object reference as is for further communications or whether it must try to modify the object reference before using it. The new machine makes this determination by seeing if the front handle of the object reference points to a gateway object that is located on the new machine. If so, then the new machine can use the object reference as is. If the front handle pointer indicates that the designated gateway object is on another machine, then the task is to find or create a new gateway object on the new machine for use in further communications and to modify the object reference accordingly.