Abstract: A method of continuously replenishing a four-transistor static RAM storage cell is described. Such method comprises biasing both the back gate terminals and the normal gate terminals of the two bit line coupling transistors in the static RAM storage cell to voltage levels for causing a flow of small compensating currents through such coupling transistors when they are in a standby or non-access condition. Such small compensating currents are supplied to the two storage transistors in the storage cell for replenishing leakage of charge from the parasitic capacitance in the storage cell. The bias voltages are supplied by adaptive bias circuits which adjust the bias voltages to track changes in the leakage of charge from the parasitic cell capacitance.

Abstract: A graphics system capable of super-sampling and performing real-time convolution. The graphics system may comprise a graphics processor, a sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor receives graphics data and generates a plurality of samples for each of a plurality of frames. The sample buffer stores the samples. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit is operable to generate output pixels by filtering the rendered samples using a filter. A display device then receives and displays the output pixels. A user may observe the displayed image and adjust properties of the filter according to the user's personal visual preferences. A display-monitoring device may be configured to capture the displayed image. The graphics system may then analyze the captured image and, in response to the captured image, perform filter adjustments.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing state machines as enterprise beans with reliable or transactional timers on an enterprise platform are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a state machine is arranged to be used within a computing system that supports an enterprise platform. The state machine includes an entity object, a home interface associated with the entity object, and a remote interface associated with the entity object. The home interface is arranged to create, find, and remove entity objects, while the remote interface is arranged to drive the state machine. The entity object is arranged to be deployed in a bean container, which includes a timer. In addition to including a timer, the bean container is arranged to invoke the entity object using the remote. In one embodiment, the timer is transactional.

Abstract: A computer system is described including a processor for executing instructions, a memory module for storing instructions and data, and a memory controller coupled between the processor and the memory module. The memory controller provides a differential clock signal and memory access signals which are routed to the memory module. The memory module includes multiple memory devices coupled to a clock buffer. The clock buffer produces a new single-ended “regenerated” clock signal from the differential clock signal. The clock buffer includes an input buffer circuit and a phase-locked loop (PLL). The input buffer circuit receives the differential clock signal from the memory controller and produces a single-ended reference clock signal from the differential clock signal. The PLL produces the regenerated clock signal substantially at the same frequency of, and in synchronization with, the single-ended reference clock signal produced by the input buffer circuit.

Abstract: A data storage system having a first storage channel, a first controller coupled to the first storage channel, a first storage device coupled to the first storage channel, a second storage channel, a second storage device coupled to the second storage channel, and a switch coupled to the first storage channel and the second storage channel. The switch separates the first storage channel from the second storage channel in a first state and connects the first storage channel and the second storage channel in a second state. Also described is a method of controlling a data storage system having a first storage channel, a first storage device coupled to the first storage channel, an operational controller coupled to the first storage channel, a second storage channel, a second storage device coupled to the second storage channel, and a switch coupled to the first storage channel and the second storage channel.

Abstract: A network-based authentication scheme is provided that performs authentication in a centralized manner for the stand-alone computers of a particular organization. Since authentication is centralized, the individual computers do not need to store authentication information, and control over all of the computers rests in a single location, enabling the system administrator to manage access and utilization of the computers from this location. The network-based authentication scheme includes an authentication manager, remotely located with respect to a local computer, that performs authentication for the local computer. The authentication manager receives login information from the local computer, verifies this information against an authentication file, and returns indications of the services on the local computer that the user is able to utilize. The local computer receives these indications and displays icons representing the services available to that user.

Abstract: Display of an icon is modified to permit information about at least four independent multiple valued variables to be readily received by a viewer. Frequency of blinking, degree of blinking, color and degree of fill of interior space of an icon are used to represent variable information. Classification of e-mail by “importance” of originator, by priority and by due date is reflected in the icon display is illustrated in one example. In another, the percent of files changing since the last access is displayed using a folder icon.

Abstract: A model and method that incorporates software into a network availability model is disclosed. An availability model models a platform having at least one software component having different classes of failures. The platform is within a network. The availability model includes a platform model for the platform parameters. The model also includes a software availability model within the platform model. The software availability model includes an aggregate failure rate for each of the classes of failures. The software availability model also includes an aggregate repair time for each of the classes of failures.

Abstract: A graphics system and method for displaying lines on a display device. The system may comprise a sample buffer, a rendering unit and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The rendering unit may (a) generate a plurality of sample positions in a two-dimensional space, (b) determine a sample normal distance for each of the sample positions with respect to a line defined by the line-draw command, (c) assign sample values to the sample positions based on the sample normal distance of each of the sample positions, and (d) store the sample values in the sample buffer. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit may read sample values from the sample buffer, filter them to determine a pixel value, and transmit the pixel value to the display device. The rendering unit may render the line sample values with a narrower width to pre-compensate for the line-expanding effect of the filtering performed by the sample-to-pixel calculation unit.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a process is provided for allocating and deallocating resources in a distributed processing system having a requester platform and a server platform. The process involves receiving a request from the requester platform referring to a system resource and specifying a requested lease period, permitting shared access to the system resource for a lease period, sending a return call to the requester platform advising of the lease period, and deallocating the system resource when the lease period expires.

Abstract: An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically, without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service.

Abstract: A logic gate for producing an output signal representing a logical operation of a first logic signal and a second logic signal includes a first input terminal for receiving the first logic signal and a second input terminal for receiving the second logic signal. The logic gate further includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and an evaluation node which is connected to a pre-charge device. The first transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first input, a second terminal coupled to the evaluation node, and a third terminal coupled to the second input. The second transistor has a first terminal coupled to the second input, a second terminal coupled to the evaluation node, and a third terminal coupled to the first input. A change in either of the logic signals triggers the logic gate, and a change in both of the logic signals within a predetermined time period results in the logic signals simultaneously canceling each other out.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing connections between objects in a distributed object system includes a method and apparatus for terminating connections between objects. In one aspect, the method for terminating a connection, a connection end message is sent from a server to a client indicating to the client that the server will no longer accept requests before the connection is terminated. Preferably a connection end code is included with the connection end message. In another aspect, the invention includes a method for making connections between objects are formed by intelligently closing existing connections that meet the criteria of being established and across which no unfulfilled requests or unforwarded replies are pending. If several connections meet these criteria, the oldest unused connection is terminated.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.

Abstract: In a distributed system, a method and apparatus for automatically checking objects according to a specification which includes public contracts and private constraints. Public contracts are obeyed by both client and server, while private constraints are obeyed by either client or server, but for a given private constraint, not by both. At each and every stage of a client-to-server or server-to-client transaction or “call”, the objects or parameters related to call are automatically checked to ensure a specification is met. A client-side stub on the client automatically generates and executes checking code to check both private client-side constraints and public contracts on the client prior to network transfer to a server. The server has a server-side skeleton which intercepts the call and objects. The server-side skeleton performs checking by code automatically generated to check the public contracts, if any, with client and any private server-side constraints.

Abstract: The same “look and feel” of environment applications is given to non-environment, or foreign, applications. Like environment applications, a non-environment application is docked, launched and run in the environment. There is no need to modify a foreign application to run in the environment. When a foreign application is docked, a wrapper application is associated with the foreign application. The wrapper application launches the foreign application, awaits a notification regarding a change in status for the foreign application, and communicates with the environment's docking application regarding the status of the foreign application. The same menu that is created for environment applications is created for the foreign application that allows a user to manipulate the foreign application's windows and execution. The dock tile associated with the foreign application is modified to reflect changes in the status of the application.

Abstract: A computer graphics system may comprise a graphics processor, a sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor renders samples into the sample buffer in response to received graphics data. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit generates a plurality of output pixels by filtering the rendered samples based on a filter function. The pixels may be computed by generating a weighted sum of sample values (e.g. red sample values) for samples falling within the filter support. The coefficients used in the weighted sum may be added to form a normalization factor. One weighted sum of sample values may be computed per pixel attribute such as red, green, blue and alpha. The normalization factor may be computed in parallel with one or more of the weighted sums. Normalized pixel values may be obtained by dividing the weighted-sums by the normalization factor.

Abstract: A novel linked-list-based concurrent shared object implementation has been developed that provides non-blocking and linearizable access to the concurrent shared object. In an application of the underlying techniques to a deque, non-blocking completion of access operations is achieved without restricting concurrency in accessing the deque's two ends. In various realizations in accordance with the present invention, the set of values that may be pushed onto a shared object is not constrained by use of distinguishing values. In addition, an explicit reclamation embodiment facilitates use in environments or applications where automatic reclamation of storage is unavailable or impractical.

Abstract: A technique to detect and correct single bit errors and to detect paired bit errors in a data block. Two bits of the data block are paired and transferred on the same data path in different cycles. Check bits are computed prior to transferring the data block. A syndrome bits vector is computed when the data block is received. The syndrome bits vector includes a number of syndrome bits that is identical to the number of check bits. A value of the syndrome bits vector is used to detect and correct single bit errors and to detect paired double bit errors that occur in the data block without using an extended check bit. If the syndrome bits vector contains all zero bits, the data block is accepted without modification. If the syndrome bits vector is identical to a predetermined special vector V, a paired double bit error has occurred and either an unrecoverable error message is generated or a re-operation on the data block is requested.

Abstract: A system for providing real-time cluster configuration data within a clustered computer network including a plurality of clusters, including a primary node in each cluster wherein the primary node includes a primary repository manager, a secondary node in each cluster wherein the secondary node includes a secondary repository manager, and wherein the secondary repository manager cooperates with the primary repository manager to maintain information at the secondary node consistent with information maintained at the primary node.