Abstract: A portable GPS receiver unit is attachable to the underside of a portable computer and has a GPS antenna mounted for sliding movement into and out of a receiver housing. During periods of non-use, the antenna can be stowed within the receiver housing to provide a highly compact and portable unit. For usage, the antenna can be protruded from the housing to obtain a clear view of the sky. The antenna is made easily removable from its movable support surface so as to enable the antenna to be remotely placed. This can be accomplished by a magnet attached to the antenna which is attracted to the support surface, and which can be used to secure the antenna to other surfaces having a clear view of the sky, such as an automobile roof.

Abstract: A chassis cover of a host unit, which has a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation, includes a side cover and a stabilizing stand. The side cover has outer peripheral edges and a cavity. The stand is movable between a closed position and an open position and is coupled to the side cover. The stand fits within the cavity in the side cover to form a substantially contiguous surface when the host unit is in the horizontal orientation and the stand is in the closed position. The stand projects beyond the outer peripheral edges of the side cover in a direction transverse to the depth of the host unit to stabilize the host unit in the vertical orientation resting on the side cover when the stand is in the open position.

Abstract: A multifunction peripheral which can perform copying, printing, faxing and scanning. The MFP is made up of a hard output unit, essentially a copier, and a control unit, essentially a print server. User interface definitions for copying are embedded in the hard output unit. User interface definitions for printing, faxing and scanning are stored in the control unit. When the hard output unit resets, it loads the UI definitions from the control unit. The UI definitions in the control unit are stored as a file and are easily updated from a LAN.

Abstract: A data processing system comprising a single Host coupled by a communications channel to a single multifunction peripheral is disclosed. The multifunction peripheral comprises a paper tray, a display, a user input device, a processor, a first memory for long term storage and a second rewritable memory for short term storage, a communications interface, the multifunction peripheral for providing document scanning and hard output functions. The Host comprises a processor, a first rewritable memory for long term storage and a second rewritable memory for short term storage, a communications interface, and a network adapter for communicating with a computer network. The communications channel coupling the communications interface of the multifunction peripheral and the communications interface of the Host.

Abstract: A computer system includes a computer having an event detecting interface for detecting when an event occurs. Based on the occurrence of the event, a keyboard assignment scheme is dynamically reconfigured to an appropriate configuration. The computer also includes a user interface for sensing when a key combination of at least one standard key and a non-standard key of a keyboard is depressed and a look-up table for storing a plurality of key combinations and one or more applications corresponding to each key combination of the active configuration. A non-standard key application control in the computer determines the application corresponding to the depressed key combination according to the active configuration. If the depressed key combination corresponds to one application, the non-standard key application control launches the application via an application program interface.

Abstract: In a networked system having workstations, file servers and intelligent peripheral devices, the intelligent peripheral devices are capable of determining information concerning their device status and communicating the device status information via a communications line. The file server obtains the device status information from the peripheral device and stores this information as a file readable by the workstations.

Abstract: The PCI bus cannot support devices such as a direct memory access controller. By providing virtualization hardware, a computer system can be fooled into believing that the device actually exists on the PCI bus. Thus, access signals sent to an incompatible device, for example a channel on a direct memory access controller, which does not exist on the PCI bus can be processed and returned by the virtualizing hardware as if the PCI bus supports the channel.

Abstract: A method of recognizing correspondence between a pre-recorded sample announcement and the identical pre-recorded reference announcement is shown. The reference pre-recorded sample announcement is characterized in terms of: (1) Start of speech (SP) where the transition from silence to voicing occurs, (2) average frame power (AFP) for each power frame length of a voicing segment of speech (3) silence gap length (SGL), the duration of non-voicing between two consecutive voicing segments and (4) end of speech (EOS). The sample pre-recorded announcement is also characterized in terms of SP, AFP, SGL, and EOS. The SP, AFPs, SGLs, and EOS of the reference pre-recorded announcement is compared with that of the sample pre-recorded announcement to determine if a match exists.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a traveler can use a portable computer to automatically retrieve voice mail from a PBX-based voice mail system or a telephone answering machine. The computer has a modem, an audio output system (e.g., SoundBlaster card and speakers) and a special program. During a training phase of the method, the program creates a script of normal interaction with the voice mail system. The script is used during a message retrieval phase to retrieve voice mail messages. Multiple scripts may be recorded. During the retrieval phase of the method, the program uses word spotting to compare prompts received from the voice mail system to prompts in the script to ensure that the process is working properly. The program can create script commands for: dialing the voice mail system; entering a mail box number and password; making appropriate selections to listen to new messages; recording the messages from the voice mail system into the portable computer; and disconnecting from the voice mail system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a support system for varying the display angle of a monitor. The support system includes a hinge assembly for rotatably coupling the monitor to a base member, the base member having a lower surface for contacting a support surface. A spring assembly is coupled to the hinge assembly and an adapter connects the hinge assembly and spring assembly to the base member. The hinge assembly and the spring assembly provide angular positional control of the monitor with respect to the base member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing bottlenecks in a wireless communication system by allowing messages to be directly transmitted between wireless stations in certain circumstances instead of transmitting such messages through a centralized access point (AP) computer. Each AP computer maintains a connection list reflecting which stations are currently "connected" by wireless link to the AP by virtue of their being in its service area. As wireless stations move into and out of the service area for a particular AP, the AP updates this list, and any changes to the list are broadcast to all wireless stations in the service area. Thus, all stations (and the AP) have a current list of stations in the area. Each wireless station may periodically transmit a "keep alive" message to the AP, and thus the AP can determine which stations are in its area by noting which stations send such messages.

Abstract: A housing for an electronic device having an air circulation device. The housing includes an enclosure with a plurality of panels. One of the panels includes an air inlet port and an air outlet port. The air inlet port and the air outlet port are spaced from each other. The air inlet port and the air outlet port have openings in the first panel and a plurality of generally parallel vanes located in respective opening to pull air into, or exhaust air from, the enclosure. The vanes of the air inlet port and the air outlet port are angled in opposite directions to minimize the recirculation of exhausted air back into the air inlet.