Abstract: A system for detecting underflow and overflow errors arising within a ring buffer. When the system receives a data word to be transferred through the ring buffer, the system generates a flow indicator value to be stored with the data word in the ring buffer. This flow indicator value contains information that facilitates determining if an underflow has occurred while reading from the ring buffer, or if an overflow has occurred while writing to the ring buffer. Next, the system writes the data word along with the flow indicator value into an entry in the ring buffer. At a later time, the system reads the entry from the ring buffer and generates a predicted flow indicator value. The system compares the flow indicator value read from the ring buffer with the predicted flow indicator value. If the flow indicator value differs from the predicted flow indicator value, the system generates an error signal indicating that an underflow or an overflow has occurred.

Abstract: A symmetrical multiprocessing system includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by a hierarchical bus. To allow for the transfer of data between nodes and to restrict the global transfer of local transactions, a plurality of address partitions are defined: global space, local space, remote read space, and remote read and write space. Process private and local data is accessed using local space. Global data is accessed using global space. In one embodiment, a kernel of the operating system is resident in the local space of each node. Because the memory space where the kernel resides is designated as local space, no other nodes can write to, or corrupt, the node's kernel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses a non-periodic signal to modulate the period of a clock signal. The system includes a latch with a latch input, a latch output and a clock input. Asserting the clock input of the latch causes a data value at the latch input to be stored into the latch, and to thereby appear at the latch output. The system also includes an inverting delay circuit that receives the clock signal from the latch output and generates an inverted and delayed clock signal, which feeds back into the input of the latch. The clock input of the latch is coupled to the non-periodic signal, so that the non-periodic signal is used to latch the inverted and delayed clock signal, so that the clock signal changes at a non-periodic interval. In one embodiment of the present invention, the inverting delay circuit includes a chain of an odd number of inverters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that permit an application to control data transfer from a memory object of a source device to a sink device. The application can request that an operating system establish a mapping between a fast buffer and a memory object storing the data. The operating system then establishes the mapping between the fast buffer and the memory object thereby permitting the application to direct that the data of the memory object be transferred to the sink device. Thus, the sink device can use direct memory access to the source device to transfer the data from the memory object. Furthermore, if the application modifies a portion of the data of the memory object prior to directing the transfer, only the modified portion of the data is copied to main memory prior to transfer to the sink device.

Abstract: A clock divider circuit having a fifty per cent duty cycle and multiple integer ratios for dividing an input clock signal. In one embodiment, a clock divider circuit may include a chain of serially-coupled flip-flops. The chain may include at least a first and a second flip-flop, both of which may be triggered by a first edge of an input clock signal. A third flip-flop, coupled to (but not part of) the chain may be configured to be triggered by a second edge of the input clock signal. The third flip-flop may be coupled to an output circuit. In addition to receiving the output signal from the third flip-flop, the output circuit may also receive signals from the chain of serially-coupled flip-flops. The output circuit may drive a second clock signal, which may be produced by dividing the first clock signal based upon the signals it receives. The first clock signal may be divided by an even or an odd integer ratio, or may be divided by an integer ratio (e.g. 2.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a network-based method and system for forwarding an email message to an updated email address. After a user changes his or her email address, the user sends information regarding the updated email address to an address-change server used in conjunction with the present invention. The address-change server stores the updated email information in its database. When a sender wants to reach a recipient whose email address has changed, the sender sends an email message to the address-change server. The address-change server forwards the updated email address to the sender. The sender's email program, modified in accordance with the present invention, programmatically forwards the sender's email message to the recipient's new email address.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that efficiently emulates sub-instructions in a very long instruction word (VLIW) processor. The system operates by receiving an exception condition during execution of a VLIW instruction within a VLIW program. This exception condition indicates that at least one sub-instruction within the VLIW instruction requires emulation in software or software assistance. In processing this exception condition, the system emulates the sub-instructions that require emulation in software and stores the results. The system also selectively executes in hardware any remaining sub-instructions in the VLIW instruction that do not require emulation in software. The system finally combines the results from the sub-instructions emulated in software with the results from the remaining sub-instructions executed in hardware, and resumes execution of the VLIW program.

Abstract: In order to support filtering operations in a CORBA system, the marshaling and unmarshaling process is encapsulated in a server invocation object created from a class which contains data, including the request ID, the marshal buffer and the marshal and unmarshal methods. Filtering is supported by extending the class with a subclass that overrides the marshal and unmarshal methods to invoke the filters at the proper points. During operation, the CORBA object request broker examines the request to determine whether filtering is requested and instantiates a server invocation object either from the parent class, if filtering is not requested, or from the subclass, if filtering is requested.

Abstract: One embodiment of this mechanism provides a system that reduces network traffic and other system overhead for remote file append operations. This system generally operates by keeping track of file append operations on a local computer system when possible instead of always communicating with a remote file server. More specifically, the system operates by receiving a request at the local computer system to append additional data to a file residing in non-volatile storage on the remote file server. If sufficient space has been allocated to accommodate the additional data on the remote file server, the system writes the additional data to the end of a locally cached copy of the file in the local computer system. Next, the system updates a file length value stored in the local computer system to reflect the additional data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a local server computer of a client-server network includes a technique to receive a request from a client computer of the client-server network. A determination is made whether the request requires dynamically generated information from a servlet object of the client-server network. If so, a specified servlet object corresponding to the request may be uploaded from a remote server computer of the client-server network. The specified servlet object is then executed to obtain dynamically generated information corresponding to the request.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for securely mixing and splitting multiple audio data streams and determining the order of processing the audio streams. A audio server and an audio device driver are in kernel space of a given computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system has a data flow checker and adjuster for checking the flow of data into data queues and a setup application for connecting the audio server and the audio device driver. The data flow checker and adjuster adjusts the flow of data by sending a message up or downstream instructing the up or downstream processes/devices to send more data or stop sending data depending on how full the data queues are.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for displaying multiple, user preferentially linked pages of at least one document on a display screen adapted for Web or network viewing of pages of data by a browser program. This is accomplished by creating at least a template page having substantial portions thereof of user data and defining a first predetermined substantially static area on a display screen. A second predetermined static area on the template page is created to give the appearance of a window on the screen, the window having the capability of receiving a plurality of variable but user requested subsection of data therein, the subsections being linked to the template page and to each other. The user may choose a selectable control on the static portion of the display screen to permit the selection of specific linked subsections of data for viewing in the second predetermined static area on the template page.

Abstract: A memory look up table receives a first portion of an input data signal via an address input, and in response provides an output data signal corresponding to one of a plurality of memory locations. The output data signal includes a mathematical approximation of the input data signal, at least one first stage delta signal, and at least one second stage delta signal. Random logic is coupled to the first stage delta signal and the second stage delta signal, and receives a second portion of the input data signal on an input. In response to the second portion and the first and second stage delta signals, the random logic calculates an incrementing or decrementing signal. An incrementor coupled to the random logic increments or decrements the mathematical approximation of the input data signal according to the incrementing or decrementing signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide resources adapted to at least one of a number of user environments. Execution of a program is initiated, the program having a session object and a resource identifier that is associated with a number of resource data stored in the session object. While the program is executing, it is determined from the session object which of the number of user environments the program is executing in, and it is identified which of the resource data is suitable for the determined user environment by using both the resource identifier and the determined user environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for locating buried objects prior to digging at a current location. According to the invention, a positioning device is taken to the location where digging is to take place. The positioning device receives positioning signals from one or more positioning stations, and based upon the positioning signals, determines the current location of the positioning device and hence the location of the dig site. Once the current location is determined, a registry database containing the locations of previously buried objects is accessed. The registry database is queried for all locations within a selected distance of the current location which have buried objects. If this query returns no records, then it is probably safe to dig at the current location. On the other hand, if the query returns one or more locations, then further digging at the current location should either be avoided or performed with great caution.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates a clock signal within an integrated circuit. This system includes four clocking elements organized into a ring, wherein each clocking element includes at least one input and at least one output, and wherein a signal at an input is complemented at a corresponding output. These clocking elements are spatially distributed throughout the integrated circuit, so that each clocking element provides the clock signal to a different region of the integrated circuit. These clocking elements are also coupled together though a plurality of interconnections, so that each output of each clocking element is coupled to at least one input of a neighboring clocking element. Furthermore, a given signal is inverted an odd number of times in traversing a closed path beginning and ending at any output of any of the four clocking elements and passing through a neighboring clocking element.

Abstract: The present invention discloses improved cooling designs and methods for the cooling of heat sources. One embodiment of the present invention is a cooling system comprising a housing and at least one divider disposed within the housing. The at least one divider creates a plurality of airflow channels through the housing. Another embodiment of the invention is a method for dissipating heat from heat sources within an electrical assembly comprising at least partially separating the heat sources with a divider. Separate airflow channels are created whereby the separated heat sources are disposed within the separated airflow channels. Forced airflow streams are generated through the separated airflow channels, thereby dissipating heat from the heat sources into the forced airflow streams.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for detaching Java applets from the constraints of the application such as a browser which provides the Java engine for executing those applets. Thus, the applets, when detached, can appear in a detached window which is more easily controllable by the operating environment desktop. The Java applets continue to run under the application's virtual machine but do so without regard to the graphical interface limits of the application. Further, if the application that launched the applet proceeds to a new URL location, the Java applet continues to run. Also, the applet, once detached, can be reattached into the application to appear in the application history.

Abstract: A method for providing network device status notification includes providing at least one auditory cue to indicate at least one device status. According to one aspect, distinct auditory cues are provided when a device begins looking for a federation, when a device has connected to federation and when a device has disconnected from a federation. A network device includes a network interface and an auditory cue unit coupled to the network interface to provide at least one auditory cue to indicate at least one activity status.

Abstract: SYSTEM V utilities enable software developers to provide delivery of complex packages onto a UNIX operating system. An enhancement to the UNIX System V ABI format called class archive format enables sets of files to be combined into archives, these files being compressed or encrypted. The compressed/encrypted ABI package install with behavior defined in System V ABI. The class archive format allows a manufacturer to combine files from the ABI format reloc directory and root directory, into an archive directory. Class action format adds a directory called archive to the ABI format. Any class of files that are intended for archive is combined into a single file, and each file is then placed into the archive directory as class1, class2, etc. All files that are archived in this manner are removed from the standard ABI reloc directory and root directory, and an install class action script is placed into the scripts portion of the standard ABI install directory.