Abstract: A host adapter contains a RISC processor, a local memory, and a memory management unit that permits the RISC processor and a host computer system to access a local memory. The host computer system writes command descriptions directly into the local RAM. The RISC processor retrieves and processes the command descriptions. The local RAM may be divided into numbered command description blocks having a fixed size and format. In standard bus protocols, such as SCSI-2, block numbers are used as tag messages. Such tag messages allow the host adapter to quickly identify information used when an SCSI I/O request is resumed. The command description blocks may be linked into lists, including an active list containing command description blocks that are ready for the RISC processor and a free list containing command description blocks that are available for use by the host computer.

Abstract: An array of direct access storage devices (DASD's) such as disk drive units includes a temperature sensor for sensing the operating temperature of each DASD. The operating temperatures of the DASD's of the array are equalized by allocating frequently accessed data to drives with relatively low operating temperature and allocating infrequently accessed data to drives with relatively high operating temperatures. Operating temperature information is used to identify a DASD that has a high probability of failure and the DASD can be shut down for replacement prior to actual failure by moving all data from that DASD to one or more other DASD's of the array.

Abstract: A method and system for information archiving on a network that is universally accessible to users. A stationary or mobile user may archive information on demand. A hook up into the network is established via a communication medium, and an initial protocol accesses the archiving service and communicates details of what is to be archived. The communication medium is then used to transmit and store the information in a specified fashion on the network, to be retrieved at a future time. The hook up may be initiated either by the user or by the network.

Abstract: This invention discloses a microprocessor device comprising an execution unit which is governed by a master clock signal and a repeatedly programmable master clock divider which is operative to divide the master clock signal. The microprocessor device is operative to execute instructions executed by an existing microprocessor, wherein said instructions being executed in a given number of machine cycles. Furthermore, the microprocessor includes a programmable instruction mapper containing a multiplicity of mapping schemes for controlling the microprocessor apparatus. A tamper-resistant execution device is included operative to execute instructions arriving from an instruction register. The microprocessor device also includes a pseudo-random access delay signal generator which generates a signal for determining the number of clock cycles elapsing from a memory access instruction cycle to actual memory access.

Abstract: A method of sharing network applications in a peer-to-peer computer network environment without use of a centralized repository of network application data. According to the method, a data structure is stored at each of a plurality of computers in the computer network. The data structure contains information on network applications and associated network resources residing elsewhere in the network. In response to a user selection of a network application at a local computer, a connection status of the local computer is stored. The information in the local data structure is then used to establish connections between the local computer and at least one of the plurality of computers where the selected network application resides. The local computer communicates over the connections as required to thereby run the network application. After the network application executes, the local computer is disconnected from the connections and returned to its prior connection status.

Abstract: An input-output control system for an external storage which has an information processing main frame having a CPU and a main storage, software loaded in the information processing main frame for holding data in an arbitrary record format, an external storage connected to the information processing main frame for recording data in a record format different from the record format of the software, and a record format converter mounted in the information processing main frame for writing in and reading from the external storage by emulating a command string of one or more commands, which is created by the software to access the external storage, and by emulating the data record format of the external storage as the data record format of the software.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch for computer peripheral devices, which is connected between the printer port of personal computer and a printer or a scanner. That is to say the personal computer transmits instruction signals to the switch for computer peripheral devices through the printer port according to the requirement of usage and signal linkage of the peripheral devices such as a printer and a scanner. The switch of the computer peripheral devices order the printer port to connect and communicate with the printer, scanner and other computer peripheral devices for the data input and output transmission, so that when the printer and the scanner are in operation, the computer form a information linkage and transmission structure according to the control of the instruction signal.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture which provides a set of frameworks for developing object-oriented desktop systems. The set of frameworks includes several framework subsystems for implementing input, output, graphics, documents, compound documents, and documents with graphics. The input system comprises a set of objects which handles the details of input, including receiving and distributing events. The input system also includes management of such events so that reception, distribution and handling of events is handled in an orderly manner. The input system include specialized objects for handling keyboard input and mouse input.

Abstract: An analog interface for a PC module and an electronic device which communicate through a standard 68-pin PC card digital interface. The PC module includes a cellular phone radio and an analog modem that provides cellular communication capabilities to both a notebook computer and a telephone handset that includes a PC card slot. The PC module and the notebook computer have modified the standard 68-pin PC card interface, while remaining compliant with the standard interface, to enable voice applications in the notebook computer. The PC card interface is modified by reassigning pin assignments on the 68-pin connector through the use of a switch and audio lines in both the notebook computer and in the PC module.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring a user in a user living area. The system includes a system controller and an activity detection subsystem. The activity detection subsystem monitors a daily living activity of the user and provides information representative of the daily living activity to the system controller. The system controller includes a control circuit which generates a control signal in response to the daily living activity information obtained by the activity detection subsystem. Control information from the system controller is applied by way of a control information communication channel both to the activity detection subsystem and to a remote monitoring site. The activity detection subsystem may be a system for determining the movement of the user around the home, medication compliance by the user, problems with usage of stoves or other potentially dangerous appliances, and selected auxiliary appliances.

Abstract: A data processing system includes one or more processors connected to a common bus, one or more I/O controllers connected to the common bus and to one or more storage subsystems and one or more storage subsystems for storing data for use in the data processing system. One or more master controllers are included in each I/O controller for communicating with a memory controller referred to as a slave which controls data flow to and from a memory subsystem. The data bus between the I/O masters and the memory controller is a multi-drop operating synchronously on a two-by-two byte parallel interface.

Abstract: An apparatus including a system bus coupled to an I/O interface which includes a pointer register and a rejecting circuit which determines whether a write to the pointer register will be accepted or rejected. The I/O interface is further coupled to at least one I/O bus having at least one I/O device connected thereto. The system bus is further coupled to a main memory and to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) which is capable of executing software instructions, providing a command structure corresponding to an access of an I/O device, and writing to the pointer register an address of a location in main memory of the command structure. The CPU further includes a hardware indicator responsive to the rejecting circuit for providing a status signal indicating the status of a write to the pointer register. The CPU executes the software in accordance with the status signal. The apparatus allows the software being executed by the CPU to software pend accesses to devices not directly connected to the system bus.

Abstract: A computer system is provided which includes a plurality of Work Areas. Each Work Area represents an individual user's computer system preferences. The computer system preferences include application programs and operating system preferences. A Work Area Manager is provided to allow a user to navigate the plurality of Work Areas. All Work Area settings are saved to a Work Area Settings Profile file which is stored in a nonvolatile memory. A novel embodiment of the Work Area Manager employed as a Desktop Manager in a Multiple Desktop computer system is also provided.

Abstract: A service offering system of this invention comprises a service management table, a module drive section, an accounting compensating section and an accounting section. The service management table stores a service implementing class and a resources availed quantity per service. The module drive section allocates a prescribed resources quantity based on the implementing class of the service management table and drives a service module corresponding to the service. The module drive section stores the service management table with the resources availed quantity availed by the relevant service with the drive of the service module.

Abstract: An image data management system includes a communication circuit network, and an image data input output apparatus and an image data registration apparatus connected to this communication circuit network. The image data output apparatus includes an image input device for taking in information represented on paper as image data, a management information input device for reading image data management information from a portable memory device, the image data management information being needed to register and manage image data inputted from the image input device, an input device for inputting command information given by a user, and an input output processing device for processing image data inputted from the image input device and sending processed image data onto the communication circuit network, on the basis of the command information inputted from the input device and the image data management information read from the management information input device.

Abstract: A digital computer includes a plurality of processing elements, a command processor, a diagnostic processor and a communications network. The processing elements each performs data processing and data communications operations in connection with commands. The processing elements also performing diagnostic operations in response to diagnostic operation requests and providing diagnostic results in response thereto. The command processor generates commands for the processing elements, and also performs diagnostic operations in response to diagnostic operation requests and providing diagnostic results in response thereto. The diagnostic processor generates diagnostic requests. The communication network includes three elements, including a data router, a control network and a diagnostic network. The data router is connected to the processing elements for facilitating the transfer of data among them during a data communications operation.

Abstract: A system for network support of supplemental local applications allows one workstation application, communicating with a host computer on a network, to invoke a second workstation application that takes control of the first application's connection to the network. The first application waits for the second application to terminate and then resumes control of the network connection so that the user is returned to the same point in the work session. The transitions between the workstation applications are automatic and facilitated by the network through a protocol known by both workstation applications and the network. Although the user is aware of the change in applications, the user may never know that an online service host facilitated the transition between the applications.

Abstract: A system and method for providing on-line, real-time, transparent data migration from a first data storage system to a second data storage system. The first data storage system which had previously been coupled to a host, network or other data processing system is disconnected from the host and connected to a second data storage system. The second data storage system is coupled to the host or data processing system. The second data processing system includes a data map or table which indicates which data elements are stored on the second data storage system and which corresponding data elements on the first data processing device have been copied to the second data storage system. When the host, network or data processing system requests data from a data storage system, the second data storage system determines whether or not the data is stored on the second or first data storage system. If the data is stored on the second data storage system, the data is made available to the requesting device.

Abstract: A trackball enable/disable system is disclosed for use in a personal computer to permit selective activation and deactivation of a trackball or mouse device. The system includes a keyboard controller that detects the selection of a hot key (or combination of keys) by the operator, and in response either enables or disables the trackball. In one embodiment, the controller includes an associated flag, and sets or reset a the flag in response to hot key selection. Signals from the trackball are received by the keyboard controller and assembled in preparation for transmission to the CPU. Before the trackball data is transmitted to the CPU, the status of the flag is checked to determine if the trackball is enabled or disabled. If disabled, the trackball data is not sent to the CPU. In an alternative embodiment, a pair of switches are provided between the trackball and the controller.

Abstract: A plurality of special multi-element registers, called "vector registers" herein, are incorporated into a scalar computer. The vector registers are controlled to sequence the transfer of vector data between a main memory and a processing unit of the computer to occur one element at a time until an entire array of vector data has been processed. The vector registers operate concurrently with the processing unit and the main memory. A common address scheme is used between the vector registers and the scalar registers of the computer so the vector registers are visible in the scalar register address space. Pointers are used in the vector registers to keep track of the order of the array elements during processing. Vector registers are used to store intermediate results of the vector processing operations.