Abstract: A branch prediction scheme predicts whether a computer instruction will cause a branch to a non-sequential instruction. A prediction counter is selected by performing an exclusive or (XOR) operation between bits from an instruction address and a hybrid history. The hybrid history, in turn, is derived by concatenating bits from a global history register with bits from a local branch history table. The bits from the local branch history table are accessed by using bits from the instruction address.

Abstract: A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Abstract: A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Abstract: A transistor is added to prior art domino logic circuits to create a modified domino logic circuit with a resistor divider connected between a first internal node and a second internal node. The resistor divider keeps the second internal node at a voltage that is higher than a second supply voltage VSS at the beginning of the evaluation phase of modified domino logic circuit. Consequently, the first internal node of the modified domino logic circuit will not start discharging until a higher voltage is reached by input signals. Thus, the input noise rejection of the modified domino logic circuits of the present invention is improved compared with prior art domino logic circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus processes a video image signal to generate one or more random number generator seeds. Preferably, the video image signal represents a scene that is both unpredictable and “live”. As a result, potential interceptors of signals encrypted with a random number sequence derived from the seed will find it difficult, if not impossible, to determine the random number sequence. To further obscure the random number sequence from potential interceptors, a seed derived by processing a first video image signal is determined and is stored. Then, a second video image signal is received and a third video image signal is received. A difference is determined between the third video image signal and the second video image signal. If the difference exceeds a threshold (indicating that the scene represented by the video image signals is “live”), then the third video image signal is processed to generate a seed.

Abstract: A variety of methods, apparatus and data structures for managing collections of objects are described. In one aspect of the invention, an object that is intended for use in a distributed object operating environment has a structure including a group designation, a co-activation designation and a co-process designation. The group designation is arranged to identify a group to which the object belongs. The group is defined as a collection of objects which share a common persistent state. The co-activation designation is arranged to identify a co-activation set to which the object belongs. The co-activation set is a collection of objects which are to be activated at the same time. The co-process designation is arranged to identify a co-process set to which the object belongs. The co-process set is a collection of objects which are to be activated within a single process.

Abstract: A system is provided that facilitates space and time dimensional execution of computer programs through selective versioning of memory elements located in a system heap. The system includes a head thread that executes program instructions and a speculative thread that simultaneously executes program instructions in advance of the head thread with respect to the time dimension of sequential execution of the program. The collapsing of the time dimensions is facilitated by expanding the heap into two space-time dimensions, a primary dimension (dimension zero), in which the head thread operates, and a space-time dimension (dimension one), in which the speculative thread operates. In general, each dimension contains its own version of an object and objects created by the thread operating in the dimension. The head thread generally accesses a primary version of a memory element and the speculative thread generally accesses a corresponding space-time dimensioned version of the memory element.

Abstract: A computer system provides an improved graphical user interface by defining a view space in which graphical user interface windows from separate computer processes can be selectively located by a user. This view space has a plurality of discrete portions each large enough to hold a plurality of such user interface windows. The system enables users to selectively associate view space portions with physical locations external to the system's computing apparatus. The system also enables users to selectively locate a variable number of the user interface windows in each of the view space portions associated with such a physical location, including enabling the user to selectively move windows between such view space portions.

Abstract: A graphics system configured to operate on a collection of vertices to determine mappings from an initial order to secondary and tertiary ordering. The initial order corresponds to the ordering of the vertices in an input buffer. The secondary (tertiary) ordering corresponds to the ordering of the vertices along a triangle major (minor) axis. The graphics system computes horizontal and vertical displacements along edges of the triangle in the initial ordering, and uses the signs of the horizontal displacements and vertical displacements to access a mapping table which determines the mappings. The mappings may be used to rasterize the triangle in terms of pixels (or samples).

Abstract: A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Abstract: A multiprocessing computer system employs local and global address spaces and multiple access modes. A portion of the global memory of the multiprocessing computer system is allocated to each node, called local memory space. Two logical address spaces are mapped to the local memory of each node. A coherent memory replication (CMR) address space stores shadow pages of data from remote nodes and a local address space stores local data. A bit within a local physical address identifies whether data is a shadow page, which is stored in CMR space, or local data, which is stored in local address space. When a transaction requiring a coherency operation is performed, the CMR bit indicates whether a local physical address to global address translation is required. In one embodiment, if the CMR bit is clear, the local physical address is the same as the global address and the local physical address is used for the coherency operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for a front end navigating tool that may access and manipulate files distributed across different physical machines and platforms. The front end navigating tool communicates with a plurality of server processes, resident on networked servers, to perform all types of file manipulations such as such as debugging and editing. The server processes communicate with gateway processes resident on the same machine as the calling server process that perform the desired function on any of a plurality of program segments that may distributed across a plurality of computers. The present invention supports any type of function, such as debugging, browsing and editing, that may be applied to a file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote access to a network server, using a secured and self-contained environment is described. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the needed software for transmission of information is readily available on portable media. The portable media can be used in conjunction with any compatible computer system to securely transfer or access information to or from Internet resources. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the operating system needed for accessing the remote server is stored on bootable media, such as a floppy disk for example. A user can reboot a computer or public terminal using the bootable media. Other portable and easily accessible media with larger memory storage capacity, such as a memory flash card, are utilized to store the necessary software for information communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging an electronic device, such as an integrated circuit chip (8), includes an intermediate device carrier (6) with a substantially planar upper surface (16) and a plurality of bonding pads (18) for coupling the carrier to the integrated circuit chip. A ceramic ring (38) is attached to the upper surface of the device carrier and a thermally conductive cover plate (36) is attached to the ceramic ring to form an inner cavity for receiving the chip therein. The ceramic ring comprises a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to or as the same as the device carrier to minimize stress therebetween during thermal expansion or contraction of the package device. The thermally conductive cover plate provides a path for dissipating heat generated during electrical operations of the chip.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for managing security on a server that receives code for execution. A security manager resides on a server and determines whether to permit the execution of a servlet based on a characteristic of the servlet. The security manager makes this determination by performing a number of security checks implemented as a security policy that is configured based on the servlet's network source.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for compiling a source file and to generate a unitary data structure (UDS) containing information relating to symbols and associated global registers. The UDS permits assessment of symbol conflicts for global registers. The compiler also generates object files from related source files. The object files include the global symbol information relating to particular global registers, to enable diagnosis of conflicts between global symbols and registers.

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. Each child context has an associated memory buffer. An orphan context is provided for behind the scenes drawing, where contents of the orphan context is indirectly drawn on a display screen via the buffer associated with the child context. 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.

Abstract: Innovative managers of persistent data are provided. As an example, in a client/server environment, a persistent manager object may be initialized on both the client and server subsystems. The persistent manager objects may be instances of the same persistent manager class. The persistent manager object on the client subsystem may receive a request to store persistent data and the persistent manager object on the client sends the request to the persistent manager object on the server subsystem. The persistent manager object on the server subsystem may then store the persistent data to make it subsequently be available for the client subsystem.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention assist a programmer in the optimization of an application program by displaying information about memory use in a manner useful to the programmer. A programmer selects an application program that he wishes to optimize. The application program is submitted to an instrumentation process that inserts additional instructions into the code of the application program so that, when executed, the instrumented code produces an output file, called a trace output file. The trace output file contains information about memory accesses. The trace output file is then submitted to a second program, or visualizer, that visually displays the memory accesses using a different visual effect for each type of memory access operation. The visualizer may be run at different speeds, forwards or backwards, paused, or may step through the memory accesses frame-by-frame.