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 changes to the data located on the server, and applying the changes to the data on the server. These changes are propagated to remotely cached copies of the data on a client in response to an event on a server, and independently of events on the client, by (1) determining 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; (2) using the differences 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; and (3) sending the update to the client where the update is applied to the copy of the data to produce an updated copy of the data.

Abstract: A network portal system includes a web-top manager and a universal content broker system. The web-top manager is configured to receive a content request from a user device, where the content request includes a content provider identifier. The universal content broker system is coupled to the web-top manager. The universal content broker system includes a plurality of content providers. Each content provider in the plurality of content providers is associated with a different content provider identifier. Also, each content provider accesses content having a different raw data format. A universal content broker is coupled to the web-top manager and to the plurality of content providers. Upon the receipt of the content request from the web-top manager, the universal content broker passes the request to a content provider in the plurality of content providers that is associated with the content provider identifier.

Abstract: A computer graphics system that utilizes a super-sampled sample buffer and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit for refreshing the display. The graphics system may have a graphics processor, a super-sampled sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor renders samples into the sample buffer and may utilize a window ID that specifies attributes of pixels on a per object basis. The window ID may specify one or more of a sample mode, filter type, color attributes, or source attributes. The sample mode may include single sample per pixel mode and multiple samples per pixel mode. The graphics system may be further operable to generate a single sample per pixel for certain windows of the screen in order to provide backwards compatibility with legacy systems.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for chording. One embodiment of an apparatus comprises a user-wearable support element, in the form of a glove having finger and thumb portions. An output generating element in the form of a switch is provided corresponding to each finger and thumb portion of the glove. An activator is provided for each finger and thumb portion of the glove. In one embodiment, each activator comprises a wire having one end connected to the glove and a second end arranged to activate the switch corresponding to its respective finger or thumb portion. Movement of each finger and thumb into one or more positions causes the respective activator to activate its respective switch. In one embodiment, the outputs generated by the switches are input to a signal controller. The signal controller is arranged to provide a second output dependent upon the inputs from the various switches. In one embodiment, the second output is determined from a map and comprises alphanumeric data.

Abstract: One or more embodiments provide the ability to use multiple path formats in an object oriented system. A path maintains the ability to translate itself into a recognizable format for use by applications. The recognizable format may be a standard Bezier Path format or an iterator that provides the ability to iterate along the path, one curve segment at a time. Multiple applications may use the self-translation ability. In one embodiment, when an application desires to perform a transform, it determines if the transform may be performed on the path (i.e., whether the path is recognizable). If the path is recognizable, the transform is performed directly on the path. If the path is not recognizable, the path translates itself into a recognizable format and the transform performs the action on the recognizable path (the transform must maintain the ability to perform the transform on the standard format). Determining whether the path is recognizable may consist of a two stage negotiation process.

Abstract: Three-dimensional compressed geometry is decompressed with a unit having an input FIFO receiving compressed data bits and outputting to an input block state machine and an input block, whose outputs are coupled to a barrel shifter unit. Input block output also is input to Huffman tables that output to the state machine. The state machine output also is coupled to a data path controller whose output is coupled to a tag decoder, and to a normal processor receiving output from the barrel shifter unit. The decompressor unit also includes a position/color processor that receives output from the barrel shifter unit. Outputs from the normal processor and position/color processor are multiplexed to a format converter. For instructions in the data stream that generate output to the format converter, the decompression unit generates a tag sent to the tag decoder in parallel with bits for normals that are sent to the format converter.

Abstract: A portion of the global memory of a multiprocessing computer system is allocated to each node, called local memory space. Data from a remote node may be copies to local memory space of a node such that accesses to the data may be performed locally rather than globally. The copies data is referred to as a shadow page. The global address of the data is translated to a local physical address for the node to which the data is copied. To reduce the size of the translation tables for converting between global addresses and local physical addresses, the page to which shadow copies may be stored and which global addresses may be converted to local physical addresses may be restricted. Multiple page of local memory space may be allocated to one entry of a local physical address to global address (LPA2GA) table. When a page is allocated to store shadow pages, an entry in the LPA2GA table associated with that page is marked as unavailable.

Abstract: An integrated solid state memory device includes addressable memory locations. In use, an address port receives an address identifying at least one memory location and associated verification information (e.g., parity or error correcting information) for verifying the address. Decoding logic is responsive to a received address to decode the address and verification logic is responsive to a received address and a received verification portion to verify the received address. By providing address verification within a solid state memory device, it is possible to ensure a higher security of operation of a computer system incorporating such a memory device, as errors which might develop, for example, between a memory controller and individual memory devices can be detected. As well as being useful for normal operation, such a memory device facilitates checking of the operating limits of a system as bus speeds and memory access speeds increase.

Abstract: A method for dynamically adding new functionality to a first set of instructions that processes Web documents. The invention includes the first step of the first set of instructions decoding a first statement of the Web document. The first statement includes a first command and at least one instruction provided as an argument to the first command. In response to executing the first command, the first set of instructions decodes the instruction provided as the argument to the first command and issues the instruction to be executed. Executing the instruction provided as an argument to the first command, results in new Web document processing functionality being added to the first set of instructions.

Abstract: By encoding an exception triggering value in storage referenced by an instruction in the delay slot of a delayed control transfer instruction 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: A code generating system generates, from code in a program, native code that is executable by a computer system. The computer system includes a memory subsystem including a heap in which objects are stored and a stack in which method variables are stored. The code generating system may be included in a just-in-time compiler used to generate native code that is executable by a computer system, from a program in Java Byte Code form, and specifically determines, in response to Java Byte Code representative of an operator for enabling instantiation of a new object, whether the object to be instantiated contains a variable to be used in processing of the received program code portion which can be promoted to a method variable, and, if so, generates native code to enable said variable to be instantiated on the stack.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for viewing a plurality of objects on a graphical display. The graphical display includes space for displaying objects and a sink that contains objects that are not visible on the graphical display. The system operates by receiving a command from a user of the graphical display. When the command is a compress command, if an object is inside the sink, the system moves the object a level deeper into the sink. If the object is located outside the sink on the graphical display, the system moves the object closer in a radial direction towards the sink. If the object moves very close to the sink, the object leaves the graphical display and enters the sink. When the command is an expand command, if the object is located inside the sink, the system moves the object a level higher in the sink. If the object is already at a highest level of the sink, the object leaves the sink and enters the graphical display at a location near the sink.

Abstract: A CPU is provided with an ability to modify its operation in accordance with an encryption key. When a program is compiled, the program is modified in order that execution may be performed with the CPU with its operation modified. As a result, it is unnecessary to decrypt the program into standard op codes prior to execution. The keyed program operation permits secure transfer of program data through open channels such as the Internet. A programmable instruction decoder programmable decodes encrypted instruction op codes, without decrypting them into standard op codes. Logic is used to accomplish network handshaking. The network handshaking further used to provide additional key information for continued operation the CPU.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing generational garbage collection within computer memory. According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for dynamically managing memory which includes a first memory section and a second memory section that is divided into a plurality of blocks each having an associated marker, includes performing a first garbage collection on the first memory section. The method also includes performing a second garbage collection on a selected one of the blocks in the second memory section. A third garbage collection is performed on the selected block in the second memory section. The third garbage collection includes determining whether the selected block includes a first object which references a second object which is not included in the selected block based at least in part on a status indicated by the marker associated with the selected block.

Abstract: A system and method for rapid processing of scene-graph-based data and/or programs is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may be configured to utilize a scene graph directly. In another embodiment, the system may be configured to generate a plurality of structures and thread that manage the data originally received as part of the scene graph. The structures and threads may be configured to convey information about state changes through the use of messaging. The system may include support for messaging between threads, messaging with time and/or event stamps, epochs to ensure consistency, and ancillary structures such as render-bins, geometry structures, and rendering environment structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sharing resources in a network environment. Typically, a computer linked to the Internet may have resources or may provide services, that are usable by other computers. A user, using one or more embodiments of the invention, can access those resources or services as if they were locally situated. An application running on a client can access a resource on a remote computer by submitting a request via an Internet browser. The request is analyzed, converted to proper format and is transferred over the network lines to a server that can satisfy the request. For security reasons, an application may not be authorized to submit a request directly to a server on the Internet. For example, limitations have been implemented that prohibit a requesting application from obtaining access to resources of a server computer unless that application is a trusted application. If a requesting application has a trusted status, then its request for connecting to the server is granted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a programmable soft fuse for disabling a signal line using an electronic switching circuit, a latch, a control circuit, and a reset circuit. In another preferred embodiment, a precharge device is included.

Abstract: A web document based GUI for use on a client computer that is networked with server computers. The GUI enables a user of the client computer to initiate specific operations that are performed on the client computer and that define a particular application. The GUI comprises GUI Web documents and a Web browser. Each GUI Web document is located at the client computer or one of the server computers and comprises one or more links and one or more applets. Each link provides a link to a corresponding GUI document when selected by the user with the client computer while being displayed on the client computer. Each respective applet generates, when executed on the client computer, an interactive image that is displayed on the client computer.

Abstract: A heat sink structure includes a fan, a heat sink and a fan mounting bracket. The heat sink includes a base section having a lower surface and an upper surface. A first fin and a second fin extend from the upper surface of the base section. The fan mounting bracket includes a faceplate, a first side extending from the faceplate, and a second side extending from the faceplate. The first side and second side of the fan mounting bracket are fastened to the first fin and the second fin, respectively. The fan is mounted to the faceplate of the fan mounting bracket such that the fan is mounted horizontally to the heat sink.

Abstract: A tower-type computer power supply is supported from the top of the chassis by tracks so that it may be slid horizontally outward of the back of the chassis. A motherboard is vertically supported between the power supply and a vertical side of the computer. Upon sliding the power supply outwardly to a position where it is still supported by the tracks, the power supply cables may be plugged into the motherboard. When the cables are so connected, they limit outward movement of the power supply. When the power supply is moved inward, the cables are concealed behind the power supply. Outward movement also provides access to sockets on the motherboard for installation or removal of DSIMMs (such as memory cards).