Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) is provided and is coupled to a display for displaying graphic and other data in multiple overlapping windows. The CPU is further coupled to one or more input devices which permits a user to selectively position a cursor and input and manipulate data within each of the windows on the display. The windows include defined areas having window features such as text, icons and buttons corresponding to functions to be executed by the CPU. Multiple applications may be executed concurrently by the CPU such that each application is associated with one or more windows. Each display element (“pixel”) comprising the display is represented by multiple bits in a computer frame buffer memory coupled to the CPU. An alpha value (&agr;) is associated with the intensity of each pixel of the display, such that multiple images may be blended in accordance with a predefined formula utilizing the alpha values.

Abstract: An active digital voltage regulator circuit is a two terminal device that is connected in shunt to first and second power supply input lines. The active digital voltage regulator circuit stores energy during times when the local power supply voltage is greater than a predefined voltage, e.g., during times when the parasitic inductances supplement the local power supply voltage. The active digital voltage regulator circuit uses the stored energy to supplement the local power supply voltage during times when the local power supply voltage starts to collapse, e.g., during periods when inductive losses are preventing the power supply from maintaining the local power supply voltage. Consequently, digital active voltage regulator circuit smooths the local power supply voltage by greatly ameliorating the ripple voltages associated with parasitic inductances and resistances. A control circuit within the regulator circuit is a combination of two self-biasing and off-set nulling power supply monitor circuits.

Abstract: A distributed filesystem operating on a distributed computing system uses existing local filesystems as building blocks. A cluster filesystem layer is added above the local filesystems to handle functions necessary for a distributed filesystem, such as data coherency. A meta-data stub is developed to flush meta-data from the local filesystem to a storage device. In one embodiment, the meta-data stub is a copy of the flush portion of the meta-data portion of a local filesystem. Additionally, the distributed filesystem supports a plurality of coherency algorithms and variable granularity. A user may select the coherency algorithm that best suits the computer system and granularity that best suits the access patterns of the computer system.

Abstract: A secure token device, such as a smart card or an ibutton, provides a user with a vehicle for accessing services that are provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The user places the secure token device in communication with a reader that is coupled to a computer system. The computer system includes a web browser for accessing the services provided by the ISP. The secure token device may perform an authentication protocol to authenticate itself to the ISP. The ISP may also be required to authenticate itself. The secure token device may hold an electronic currency token for payment of services rendered by the ISP. The secure token device may contain stored personal information about the user. The user may stipulate what portions of this personal information are provided to the ISP upon request. Contextual information regarding sessions with the ISP may also be stored on the secure token device and used to restore a context of a previous session during a subsequent session.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and circuit for prefetching direct memory access descriptors from memory of a computer system, and storing the prefetched direct memory access descriptors within a unified descriptor memory for subsequent access by direct memory access controllers. The descriptors are generated by a central processing unit of the computer system while executing software applications. The descriptors define data transfer operations between memory of the computer system and input/output devices via direct memory access controllers. The direct memory access controllers generate requests for descriptors. Upon generation of a request, the unified descriptor memory is checked to determine whether the requested descriptor is contained therein. If the requested descriptor is contained within the unified descriptor memory, the request descriptor is provided to the requesting direct memory access controller.

Abstract: By encoding an exception triggering value in storage referenced by an instruction in an otherwise unused slot (e.g., the delay slot of a delayed control transfer instruction or an unused instruction position in a VLIW-based architecture) coinciding with a safe point, an efficient coordination mechanism can be provided for multi-threaded code. Because the mechanism(s) impose negligible overhead when not employed and can be engaged in response to an event (e.g., a start garbage collection event), safe points can be defined at call, return and/or backward branch points throughout mutator code to reduce the latency between the event and suspension of all threads. Though particularly advantageous for thread suspension to perform garbage collection at safe points, the techniques described herein are more generally applicable to program suspension at coordination points coinciding with calls, returns, branches or calls, returns and branches therein.

Abstract: In a compression system, three-dimensional geometry is first represented as a generalized triangle mesh, a data structure that allows each instance of a vertex in a linear stream to specify an average of two triangles. Individual positions, colors, and normals are quantized, preferably quantizing normals using a novel translation to non-rectilinear representation. A variable length compression is applied to individual positions, colors, and normals. The quantized values are then delta-compression encoded between neighbors, followed by a modified Huffman compression for positions and colors. A table-based approach is used for normals. Decompression reverses this process. The decompressed stream of triangle data may then be passed to a traditional rendering pipeline, where it is processed in full floating point accuracy.

Abstract: A graphics system comprises a rendering unit, a sample buffer and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The rendering unit receives graphics data specifying three triangle vertices, generates sample positions, and determines which samples reside inside the triangle. The rendering unit computes an axial rate of change of an ordinate based on the positions and ordinates of the vertices, and, for each sample residing inside the triangle, (a) multiplies the axial rate by a edge-relative sample displacement resulting in a first product, (b) interpolates a projection value for a projection point on a first edge of the triangle, and (c) adds the first product to the projection value resulting in a sample ordinate value. The sample buffer stores the sample ordinate value the samples inside the triangle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically providing an adapter or a stub in a runtime environment are provided. An adapter generator is provided with input parameters that are in turn processed and input to a compiler. The compiler, in turn, is coupled to an adapter library used to store the generated adapters. The adapter library, in turn, provides adapters, on demand to a runtime system when executing a bytecode, or a series of bytecodes.

Abstract: A standard platform independent messaging environment for use with devices is provided. The environment provides programming and operational building blocks that can be used to interface with existing data providing capabilities to identify, respond to, and report errors and failover conditions. Customizable decision logic is used to provide more sophisticated response and reporting capabilities, even though the basic device hardware and operation is not redesigned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus implementing a separate child context for each applet (or similar element) of a browser. A described embodiment of the present invention provides one or more child contexts that correspond to elements in the HTML for a web page displayed by a browser. For example, each applet executed by the browser has a corresponding and separate child context that points to an associated portion of a browser memory. The browser also has a parent context, which each child context points to. When a graphic is displayed via a widget, the widget draws the graphic (such as a panel or a non-pressed button) in the child context of the applet and sets a “damage” flag in the child context. When the browser performs its main browser loop, it checks the status of the damaged flag for each element (including each applet).

Abstract: A data transfer control system for a computer system having a packet-switched data bus, for controlling the transfer of data words from a device having one bus width to a device having a different bus width. The first bus may be the master bus, and the second bus is a bus of a functional unit, such as a memory or other device, connected to the computer system and coupled to the master bus. When the second bus is smaller than the first bus, the data transfer control system accommodates this by transferring only partial words per clock cycle to the second bus, effectively delaying the transference of data to a rate that the second bus can handle. The transfer rate factor is substantially equal to the ratio of the second bus width to the first bus width.

Abstract: A bracket having two parallel sides and an interconnecting crosspiece is attached to a disk drive or similar peripheral with the sides of the bracket extending longitudinally of the sides of the drive and the crosspiece extending across the front of the drive. A chassis of a computer or the like has internal parallel sides formed with horizontal guides to receive the bracket, a substantially open front face and an internal connector engageable with a mating connector on the rear of the drive when the bracket is fully inserted in the chassis. The sides of the bracket have features to protect the drive from horizontal and vertical vibrations. A handle is pivoted to the crosspiece near one end moveable between at least three positions: a first or latched position parallel to the crosspiece, a second position swinging out at about a 15° angle and a third position at about a 45° angle.

Abstract: The present invention supports drag and drop components of an emulated environment within a host environment. The look and feel of an environment's drag and drop functionality is emulated in a host environment. A drag window is created from the emulated environment's drag image. Modifier keys of the host environment are mapped to those used in the emulated environment. Windows are registered for drag and drop in the emulated environment's registered windows database. The host environment's drag and drop database is updated to identify the registered windows of the emulated environment.

Abstract: A cascadable state machine that observes the execution state machine of multiple client applications, aggregates the multiple execution states into a single execution state for the observation object, reports the aggregate execution state through the same execution state machine interface as the client applications, and cascades changes to the execution state machine of the observation object to the client applications.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide a development tool that enables computer programmers to design and develop a data flow program for execution in a multiprocessor computer system. The tool displays an interface that enables the programmer to define a region divided into multiple blocks, wherein each block is formed of a set of values associated with a function, and to define sets of the blocks, each block in a set having a state reflected by a designated portion of the program that when executed transforms the values forming the block based on the function. The interface also records any dependencies among the blocks, each dependency indicating a relationship between two blocks and requiring the portion of the program associated with a first block of the relationship to be executed before the portion of the program associated with a second block of the relationship.

Abstract: A cooling assembly for cooling chips is disclosed. The assembly includes a heat sink, a plate member, and a heat pipe. The heat sink is attachable to a first chip. The plate member is attachable to a second chip. The heat pipe is arranged between the heat sink and plate member such that one end of the heat pipe attaches to the heat sink and the other end of the heat pipe attaches to the plate member. A system for cooling chips and method for dissipating heat generated by chips are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for interfacing a disk drive to a computer system without requiring conventional power and signal cables between the apparatus and the disk drive. An interface assembly comprises a set of power connectors and a set of signal connectors for receiving corresponding connectors of a disk drive. One or more of the assembly connectors (e.g., the power connectors) are translatable in at least one dimension so that the assembly is not limited to disk drives having a particular spacing between their power and signal connectors. The interface assembly may comprise two printed circuit boards (PCB) or backplanes—one for the power connectors and one for the signal connectors. In this configuration one of the PCBs defines a set of apertures through which the connectors of the other PCB protrude, and the other PCB is slidably or otherwise translatable along a portion of the length of the first PCB so that the protruding connectors are movable within the apertures.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that efficiently propagates changes in hierarchically organized data to remotely cached copies of the data. The system operates by receiving an access to the data at a client. In response to this access, the system determines if the client contains a copy of the data. If so, the system sends a request to a server for an update to the copy. The server receives the request and determines differences between the current version of the data at the server and an older copy of the data at the client, which the server has stored locally. These differences are used to construct an update for the copy of the data, which may include node insertion and node deletion operations for hierarchically organized nodes in the data. Next, the update is sent to the client where it is applied to the copy of the data to produce an updated copy of the data. Finally, the original access is allowed to proceed on the updated copy of the data.