Abstract: Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to assist a user of a display device to more quickly recover from a distraction causing the user to look away from the display device. The user is also assisted when navigating hypertext documents by the invention indicating where the user last looked in a restored, previously viewed hypertext document.

Abstract: A combined file allocation table file system (CFAT file system) uses two or more FAT file systems with different cluster sizes to form a single user visible FAT file system to reduce disk fragmentation. The FAT file system having the largest cluster size is used to store all of the other small FAT file systems as files with holes. The clusters of the small FAT file systems thus do not occupy disk space until they are allocated. Files containing user data are stored in one or many of the large and small FAT file systems to achieve optimal storage. More clusters are available for storing files with sizes that are smaller than the size of one large cluster. A CFAT file system includes: a large file allocation table for large clusters, a file allocation table extension to provide holes within the CFAT file system, and any number of small file allocation tables providing a variety of small cluster sizes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing and configuring program properties of an application program by loading properties from several lists, applying a set of precedence rules to resolve conflicts among properties, and applying the properties to the application program. Properties are listed in a plurality of lists including a list of default property values, a list of host-specific property values, a list of user-specific property values, a list of application-specific property values, and final properties lists. Values in the final property lists override conflicting previously loaded property values. The default properties list is loaded, as is a host-specific properties list, but only values for the then-current host are loaded. The user-specific properties list is loaded. User-defined properties override conflicting default properties.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for mounting a user removable media in a computer system includes acquiring a media identifier input and a function identifier input from a user of the computer system. The media identifier input identifies the user removable media, and the function identifier input specifies a mounting operation to be performed on the user removable media. The media identifier and the function identifier inputs are processed to access a system media interface of the computer system, for example, by converting the media identifier input to a physical path of the user removable media in the computer system, and determining if the physical path of the media identifier input is valid within the computer system. A simulated media event is generated to mount the user removable media in the computer system. If desired, a determination may be made whether the user has valid permission to control the user removable media identified by the media identifier input.

Abstract: A large X-Y workspace, such as a table, serves as a support for a viewport flat panel display which moves over the surface of the table. The portion of the viewport display on the table determines the portion of information displayed on the viewport display. When the surface of the table is used as a backlit display, a low resolution image can be projected onto the surface of the table. The viewport display can then show selected information related to the underlying information it covers, such as high resolution views, infrared views and map information. Lifting a viewport off the table surface freezes the portion of the image on the screen. Images on one viewport can be transferred to another viewport.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling when a data phase in a burst transmission of data is about to end. The apparatus described interleaves dual adder circuits such that each dual adder circuit has more time to process incoming data. Distribution of the processing allows slower, lower cost components to be used in high speed applications. The described apparatus and method are particularly useful in peripheral component interconnect applications.

Abstract: In a client/server computing system, a method and apparatus for efficiently storing entries in a log file during disconnected client operations. An encoder utilizes a log file and a write file table for logging the write operations performed by the client during disconnected operations. The logging method employed by the encoding module logs in the log file only writes associated for different files. The encoding module tracks the status of the entries in the log file with a write file table containing the most recent sequence number associated with a file entry of the log file. Upon reconnection of the client to the server, a decoding module replays the events in the correct chronological order by transferring the file data modified during the period of disconnection in the order dictated by the write file table. A deferred write list is accessed by the decoding module for temporary storage any write operations whose replay should be delayed to preserve the relative order of events.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting ASCII path names to parsed path name structures provides downward compatibility so that program modules written for modern operating systems which provide parsed path name structure inputs may be run under older operating systems which provide ASCII path name inputs. The method includes, in its most basic form, the steps of converting the prefix and file name of an ASCII path name to a unicode string, then converting the unicode string to a parsed path structure. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is implemented in compiled object code written in the "C" computer programming language.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for translating an input character from a source codeset to a target codeset. Structurally, the present invention includes a list of translation tables each having one or more entries. Each entry in a translation table defines a translation from a character in the source codeset to a character in the target codeset. Each translation table also includes an entry condition function and an input normalization function. To translate an input character in the source codeset to the target codeset, the list of translation tables is traversed until an entry condition is found which returns a boolean value of true when called with the input character is passed as a parameter. Then input character is then passed to the input normalization function which returns the index or position of the translation for the input character in the translation table. The contents of the translation table, at the index, is then returned as the translation of the input character.

Abstract: A structure and method for controlling the junction temperature of a semiconductor chip in an electronic system. A temperature sensing device and the chip whose junction temperature is to be monitored are located adjacent to one another on the same interconnect structure. A thermally conductive lid can also be attached to the interconnect structure, thereby enclosing the temperature sensing device and the chip within in a closed cavity. Dedicated pins extend from the temperature sensing device through the interconnect structure, for connection to a temperature control circuit. By locating the temperature sensing device on the same interconnect structure as the chip, and within a common enclosure, the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing device is an accurate representation of the actual junction temperature of the chip. By obtaining an improved reading of the actual junction temperature, the operation of the temperature control circuit can be optimized.

Abstract: In a client/server computing environment where the server controls the creation and allocation of file numbers for newly created files, transparent creation by the client of new file numbers while the server is unavailable. A file number table is created and maintained in the client for storing and mapping file numbers. Responsive to requests for the creation of a new file while the server is unavailable, the client creates a new file number for the new file, stores it in the table, and maps it to the file number later assigned by the server. Conflicts between file numbers created by the server and client are also flagged, detected, and resolved.

Abstract: A single in-line memory module (SIMM) having on-board regulation circuits is disclosed. The present invention includes a plurality of inputs. These inputs include a first reference voltage signal. The present invention employs a plurality of memory elements that are arranged to form a datapath having a predetermined width. These memory elements operate at a second reference voltage signal that is different from the first reference voltage signal received by the SIMM. On-board regulation circuits are provided to translate the first reference voltage signal into the second reference voltage signal so that the memory elements of the SIMM can use the first reference voltage signal. A driver for providing an interface between the memory elements and a computer system is also provided. This driver may also operate at the second reference.

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 requestor 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 requestor platform advising of the lease period, and deallocating the system resource when the lease period expires.

Abstract: In a computer system implementing state transitions that change logically and atomically at an address packet independently of a response, the coherence domain is extended among distributed memory. As such, memory line ownership transfers upon request, and not upon requestor receipt of data. Requestor receipt of data is rapidly implemented by providing a ReadToShareFork transaction that simultaneously causes a write-type operation that updates invalid data from a requested memory address, and provides the updated data to the requesting device. More specifically, when writing valid data to memory, the ReadToShare Fork transaction simultaneously causes reissuance of the originally requested transaction using the same memory address and ID information. The requesting device upon recognizing its transaction ID on the bus system will pull the now valid data from the desired memory location.

Abstract: Traps from network devices are filtered and prioritized. Filtering and prioritization can be performed on specific types of traps, traps from specific devices and traps from specific enterprises. Filtering is performed to reduce the number of traps that are processed, and prioritization is performed to indicate the relative importance of the traps. The filtering and prioritization can be performed by a trap daemon, which is executed by a network manager. Priorities and filters can be assigned to the traps, devices and enterprises by a network administrator. This provides the network administrator with great flexibility in managing the traps according to the situation at hand.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of handling short setup and hold time input signals. The apparatus separates the processing of the data signals into an input flip-flop portion, a state machine portion, a combinatorial logic mapping portion and a rapid selecting circuit. The input flip-flops capture the signals allowing processing when the hold times are very small. The state machine portion generates a new current state from the input signals. The combinatorial logic mapping circuit generates a set of possible outcomes based on the result of the state machine and moderate setup time inputs. A rapid selecting circuit quickly chooses among the possible outcomes based on received short setup and hold time signals.

Abstract: Apparatus and programmed method is disclosed, providing for the creation of a circular file of use in conjunction with the UNIX.TM. operating system or other layered and modular operating system architectures. The circular file uses an inode field to identify the file as circular and writes fill data to the file to allocate physical blocks to the file at the time of its creation. Thereafter, blocks already allocated to the file are re-allocated when more file space is needed and the file size does not increase.

Abstract: A pipelined process execution control system for multiprocessors is disclosed that enables multiple processors to cooperatively execute one or many software processes so that cache locality is not violated and extensive state, or context, information need not be saved and restored for each small piece of work performed on multiple data items. The present pipelined process execution control system incorporates (1) a software procedure defined as a pipelined sequence of normal or parallel steps, (2) multiple threads running on the multiprocessor, each of which executes the entire sequence of steps on one datum or data item from a received data stream, and (3) a process control structure to control the threads executing the sequence of steps, so that the normal steps are executed by only one thread at a time and the threads begin executing (or "enter") subsequent normal steps in the sequence in the same order as the threads entered the first step of the sequence.

Abstract: Each node of a failing distributed computer system, e.g., as a result of a split-brain failure, races to achieve a quorum by successfully reserving two shared storage devices which are designated quorum controllers. During normal operation of the distributed computer system, each of the quorum controllers is associated with and reserved by a respective node. During the race for quorum in response to a detected failure of the distributed computer system, each node which has not failed forcibly reserves the quorum controller which is associated with the other node. If a node simultaneously holds reservations for both quorum controllers, that node has acquired a quorum. The forcible reservation of a shared storage device does not fail even if another node holds a valid reservation to the same storage device. Accordingly, a failed node which does not relinquish a reservation to the node's quorum controller cannot prevent another node from acquiring a quorum.

Abstract: A coherence transformer for allowing a computer node and one or more external devices to share memory blocks having local physical addresses at a memory module of the computer node. The coherence transformer includes logic for ascertaining whether a memory access request from the external device for a memory block should be responded to using a snoop-only approach or an Mtag-only approach. The snoop-only approach requires a tag in a snoop tag array of the coherence transformer be available to track the memory block for an entire duration that the memory block is cached by the external device. The Mtag-only approach only temporarily stores the memory block until a global state associated with the memory block can be written back into the memory module of the computer node. The snoop tag array allows the coherence transformer to snoop the bus of the computer node to intervene and respond to memory access requests pertaining to a memory block externally cached and tracked by the snoop tag array.