Abstract: This invention proposes an output apparatus for storing a plurality of internal character code data for accessing character fonts corresponding to input code data and outputting a character pattern on the basis of the internal character code data, wherein input command data is identified and some of the plurality of internal character code data may be changed on the basis of a change command.

Abstract: A character pattern signal generator for generating a signal corresponding to a character being formed as a plurality of dots forming an outline body includes an outline memory for storing character code data corresponding to an outline of a standard size character. An outline data calculating circuit receives the outline data and a magnification signal and calculates character outline data in response thereto. A dot pattern generating circuit converts said character outline data into dot pattern data representing the character outline. A dot pattern compensating circuit detects a number of dots separated by a space from the body of the character outline and compensates the dot pattern data by a number of dots to be added to the dot pattern data at the space when the magnification factor is less than one and the number of dots is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An interface, adapted for receiving information composed of symbols, characters, and diagrams representing a spatial positional relationship and used as a retrieval request, comprises an entry device for entering a two-dimensional image, and a retrieval request interpreting device for recognizing elements forming the entered image, such as symbols, characters, and diagrams, and determining a two-dimensional spatial relationship between elements so as to determine retrieval conditions. Information retrieval is executed on the basis of the retrieval conditions determined by the retrieval request interpreting device. Thus, a user is allowed to enter a retrieval request in two-dimensional image form, namely, in an easily intelligible form and in a timesaving manner. This enables makes it possible to retrieve easily sophisticated information as well.

Abstract: The present user interface for a golf green and golf putt modelling system includes actuators which allow a user to select camera positions and illumination of a golf green. The user also may select, using the interface, a location of a golf ball and a golf cup on the green. The interface also displays the path trajectories of the golf ball on the green.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually comparing two files or portions thereof by visually indicating to the user areas of identity and differences between the items being compared. The items are stored in a video RAM which controls the visual presentation on the screen. The respective pixel settings in the video RAM are exclusively or'ed and the results are then stored in the video RAM so that the difference between the two items are displayed. A user can edit each item, while the comparison is being made, so that the effect of the editing on the differences, is immediately shown and apparent to the user.

Abstract: A document creating apparatus for creating and editing a document in which a plurality of different types of descriptive element data, such as text data, graph data, pattern data, image data and other data, coexist. Plural types of edit sections are provided in correspondence with the types of data to be handled. Various types of data are edited under coordination by selecting edit sections corresponding to the types of data, respectively, while maintaining the editing function of the editing section once selected and activated so that the editing section can be selected again without losing its editing function.

Abstract: Method and apparatus provide for collecting execution status data in the execution of an object program. In compiling a source program described in a structured format to an object program, a PROBE instruction for starting a data collecting program for collecting the execution status data, with a block identification number in an operand field thereof, is inserted at a position of an exit sentence indicating an exit of the program block. When the PROBE instruction is registered in an instruction execution register of an execution unit during a period of the execution of the object program, the data collecting program is started to collect the execution status data, which is then stored in a store table.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer system user interface that includes an application or object window with a mini-icon representing the application or object. The mini-icon is available for use in direct manipulation and context menu operations while the window is open.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer system user interface that includes a window frame with a window title bar icon. The title bar icon replaces the conventional window title bar and it increases the usable client area of the window without decreasing the number of functions available to the user.

Abstract: A method and means are provided for utilizing, in a color imaging environment, such as ray tracing, display adapter hardware which is capable of interpolating color values for pixels lying in an area between previously color imaged pixels. A computer system CPU performs ray tracing calculations, or the like for a predetermined number of the total pixels, rather then each pixel, as is the case with conventional ray trace image systems. The system CPU then turns over the color imaged pixels to a display adapter, capable of color interpolating therebetween. In this way, previously idle display adapter hardware can be utilized to determine pixel color values and allow the system CPU to continue color imaging other more critical areas of a scene to be displayed. Therefore, an image can be rendered at a much faster rate than possible with conventional systems, with relatively no visible loss in quality.

Abstract: A graphics system uses a programmable tile size shape supported by a frame buffer memory organization wherein (X, Y) pixel addresses map into regularly offset permutations on groups of RAM address and data line assignments. This allows one RAM in each group to be accessed with a memory cycle in unison with one RAM in each other group, up to the number of groups. During such a memory cycle each RAM can receive a different address. A tile is the collection of pixel locations associated with a collection of addresses sent to the RAM's. Because of the regular nature of the permutations these locations may be regions bounded by a single boundary that may be rectangular and of varying size and shape. Changing the mapping of (X, Y) pixel addresses to RAM addresses for the groups changes the size and shape of the tiles. Tiles are cached. Tiles for RGB pixel are cached in an RGB cache, while Z values are cached in a separate cache.

Abstract: Correlation of two-dimensional displayed points of an axonometric projection with corresponding three-dimensional points of the projected shapes. A point on a display screen surface is selected and the screen coordinates of the points of the three-dimensional shape are found by converting successive points of the shape to two-dimensional screen equivalents. Comparing the converted coordinates to those of the selected point identifies the shape point corresponding to the selected shape.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mouse for use as a peripheral device in conjunction with a host computer wherein power for driving the circuitry of the mouse is obtained directly from signal lines interconnecting the mouse and the host computer.

Abstract: Help is provided to the user of a data processing system having a work station, including a display, and input means including a visible on-screen indicator and a selection means, in response to a request from the user, information on the current state of the system is used to address a store of hierarchical help text information, thereby providing contextual help text which is displayed in a separate window on the display screen alongside information related to the task in hand. A help map function is available which displays concurrently, separately from the help text, a portion of a hierarchical map of the stored help text to be replaced by new help text corresponding to the selected map entry.

Abstract: An error log request is generated by a component of a communication software system. The error log request is analyzed and compared to entries in one of a plurality of records in a message look-up table. If there is a match between the fields of the error log request and selected entries of a record in the look-up table, a user message request is generated which facilitates the display of a pre-existing user friendly message as modified with data included in the generated user message request.

Abstract: A sequence controller of an instruction processing unit (IPU) in a data processing system places the IPU is either a ready, go, hold-on-old, hold-on-new, or cancel state. If the IPU is ready to execute another instruction, the sequence controller places the IPU in the ready state. When an instruction is received for execution, and execution commences, the sequence controller places the IPU in the GO state. If at least one or more operands associated with the execution of an instruction are not ready when execution is scheduled to commence, the sequence controller places the IPU in a hold-on-new state, holding the pendency of the execution of the particular instruction, until the operands are available.

Abstract: A declarative object-oriented approach to menu construction provides a mechanism for specifying the behavior, appearance and function of menus as part of an interactive user interface. Menus are constructed from interchangeable object building blocks to obtain the characteristics wanted without the need to write new code or code and maintaining a coherent interface standard. The approach is implemented by dissecting interface menu behavior into modularized objects specifying orthogonal components of desirable menu behaviors. Once primary characteristics for orthogonal dimensions of menu behavior are identified, individual objects are constructed to provide specific alternatives for the behavior within the definitions of each dimension. Finally, specific objects from each dimension are combined to construct a menu having the desired selections of menu behaviors.

Abstract: Central processing unit, responsive to the commands and print data signals, selectively stores the reference pattern signals from a pattern memory into a page memory. The central processing unit provides the first page pattern signal stored in the page memory to the laser printer engine for use in printing the first page while simultaneously providing the second page pattern signals from the pattern memory to the page memory to build the second page in the page memory. After the first page pattern signals have been provided to a laser printer engine, the central processing unit provides the second page pattern signals stored in the page memory to the laser printer engine for printing while simultaneously providing the subsequent page pattern signals from the pattern memory to the first page memory to build the subsequent page in the page memory. A bus interconnects the computer and the central processing unit, the pattern memory and the page memory and the page memory and the laser printer engine.

Abstract: Graphics display systems are used to display animated images, generated from a sequence of images (D) developed by an artist, and projected using a conditional replacement technique, in a manner as directed by a series of commands (E), given to the program by the artist. The method works for systems of any resolution and number of colors. To facilitate the process is broken into two steps, development (A) and projection (B). This eliminates all activities from the actual projection effort that do not directly contribute to it, enabling faster operation. In combination with the storage and display techniques, which only note any changes from one image to the next, this allows true animation displays not normally attainable with given equipment.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for a control system including a microcomputer which can output a microcomputer reset signal only once or repeatedly if a program run pulse signal outputted from the microcomputer stops oscillating for longer than a first predetermined time interval T.sub.1 and an additional trouble detection command signal if the program run pulse signal stops oscillating for longer than a second predetermined time interval T.sub.2 which is longer than time interval T.sub.1. In response to this trouble detection command signal, an alarm lamp is lit up and/or the control system is disabled.