Abstract: A mass storage system has a host computer connecting over a standard bus to a storage controller. The storage controller connects also to an array of disk drives. The host computer and the storage controller modify standard bus diagnostic commands for transmitting selected, non-diagnostic commands, and responses to each other. In this manner, a standard bus protocol is expanded to enable a host computer and storage controller to communicate, for example, configuration data, status, and some command information, particularly enabling the user at the host computer to control operational aspects of the storage controller.

Abstract: A fully integrated system and method for production and presentation of dynamically linked electronic presentation of information to front end client computers, for providing dynamic access to information from front end client computers, and for formulating, transmitting and processing transactions based upon information presented and accessed is disclosed. The system and method provides for production of a system for presentation of information to front end client computers in the form of customized electronic books linked to databases of the information presented. The electronic books further include forms for entry of transaction requests based upon such information. The forms are coded for execution of the particular transaction requested thereon by a transaction management system connected to one or more transactional databases.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting a series of image collections for display on a video terminal at a user-selected time and sequence, with the series of image collections selected according to a user-defined indicia of images to collect. The apparatus includes means for generating a set of indicia used to select and create sets of image collections for subsequent display on a video terminal at a user-selected time and sequence; means for collecting sets of image collections based on the set of indicia; and means for displaying representative portions of each of the sets of image collections on the video terminal. Means are provided for displaying the sets of image collections.

Abstract: A multi-path channel interface for computer input-output systems includes the ability to define and activate unbalanced groups of unidirectional communications sub-channels for a user application. Protocol independent exchange identifications permit not only unbalanced transmission groups but also allow user-controlled extensions for negotiating the values of transmission parameters at the time the transmission group is activated. When error correcting re-transmissions force the re-segmenting of data blocks, second level sub-segment indexing assure the proper order of delivery of the various segments and sub-segments. The exchange identifications include an identification of the user protocol being supported and thus permit interfacing with any user protocol.

Abstract: A method and circuit for generating a selectively variable clock signal from one of 256 frequencies within a specified range from two fixed frequency oscillator source signals is provided. The method and circuitry maintain a substantially fifty-percent duty cycle in the output clock signal.

Abstract: A storage portion places data through a data output buffer on a data line D0.sub.P when a control line R00H becomes active, and places data through a data output buffer on a data line D0.sub.Q when a control line R03H becomes active. The storage portion further takes as input a signal on the data line D0.sub.P through a transmission gate when a control line W00H becomes active, and takes as input a signal on the data line D0.sub.Q through a transmission gate when a control line W003H becomes active. Thus, a storage device is provided to have the storage portion accessed by a plurality of access means at different addresses. It is thereby possible to select the optimal method of access to the storage portion, resulting in prevention of reduction of a program efficiency.

Abstract: Method, system and article of manufacture for connecting multiport object oriented components for use in an object oriented based applet or application. The component's ports are all polled to determine if a connection to any one of them has been initiated or ended. Port and variable information is stored and updated as connections are made or broken. If a connection is made, the type and suitability of the ports involved is checked as is the type and suitability of the variable they are to respectively transmit or accept. If the ports and/or the variable are mismatched, the intended connection is prevented and an error message to that effect is posted. If the ports and/or the variable are suitable, the intended connection is permitted and the stored port and variable information updated accordingly.

Abstract: A server computer (102) in a communication system (100) provides updated software programs to client computers (102) independent of the type of client (104) and the type of server (102). A polymorphic master object (300) has a predetermined structure known to all servers (102) and clients (104). Upon connection of the client (104) to the server (102), the server (102) provides the master object (300) to the client (104). The polymorphic master object (300) includes fields that indicate polymorphic package files that are available for transfer to the client (104). One such field is a distributed install file that includes, in a text format, instructions for instantiating the selected package file. Upon receipt, either the user or the client selects package file. The client (104) provides a request to the server (102) for the selected file, which the server (102) provides to the client (104). Using the distributed install file, the client (104) instantiates the selected package file.

Abstract: An electronic system comprises a plurality of components each having at least one communication node and being coupled together by communication links through the respective communication nodes so that the plurality of communication links and communication nodes form a bus which resembles an acyclic directed graph having established hierarchical parent-child relationships between adjacent nodes and a root node. Token passing style arbitration is implemented on the system, in one embodiment, in response to the root node sending out an unrequested bus grant, so that the node with the token has access to the bus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data storage processing apparatus and the object of the present invention is to provide storages including off-line media and to improve the usability of users as well as removing the unfairness among users. The resource of data storage processing will be divided and dynamically allocated and simultaneously various multiple storages in the resource of the data storage processing will be integrated in accordance with file systems and hierarchically arranged according to speeds and features, and file systems will be constructed on that hierarchical various multiple storages, and thus, users are able to access to the optional files making no distinction of various multiple storages and/or file system.

Abstract: The present invention removes restrictions on the maximum data transfer rate provided by the Centronics.RTM. and PC-compatible parallel interface (i.e., standard parallel interface). Further, the present invention retains complete compatibility with the standard parallel port and peripheral device cable. With the present invention, a computer (i.e., host) is able to send data through a standard parallel port at a high rate by eliminating the Busy handshaking signal. Further, one to three Input/Output (I/O) instructions can be eliminated for each byte of data transfer.

Abstract: In a data delivery server apparatus to which a plurality of terminal equipments each having a unique identifier are connected, a storage section stores a plurality of data, each of which includes one or more data blocks. A quantizing section receives an access request as pre-quantization access request from each of the plurality of terminal equipment. The pre-quantization access request requests a data stored in the storage section. The quantizing section also quantizes the access request to produce one or more post-quantization access requests associated with one or more data block of the data. A reducing section produces a collective access request from the post-quantization access requests belonging to each of quantization regions of the quantizing section. An access section accesses the storage section in accordance with each of the collective access requests to read out the corresponding data block from the storage section.

Abstract: An MPEG video decompression method and apparatus utilizing a plurality of stages interconnected by a two-wire interface arranged as a pipeline processing machine. Control tokens and DATA Tokens pass over the single two-wire interface for carrying both control and data in token format. A token decode circuit is positioned in certain of the stages for recognizing certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and for passing unrecognized control tokens along the pipeline. Reconfiguration processing circuits are positioned in selected stages and are responsive to a recognized control token for reconfiguring such stage to handle an identified DATA Token. A wide variety of unique supporting subsystem circuitry and processing techniques are disclosed for implementing the system, including memory addressing, transforming data using a common processing block, time synchronization, asynchronous swing buffering, storing of video information, a parallel Huffman decoder, and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing system functionality through a predefined interface is disclosed. Signal lines which are not used or which are not used in certain modes are connected to an interconnection device instead of being connected to an interface wherein the output of the interconnection device is connected to the interface where such lines would have been connected. The interconnection device also has a set of inputs for receiving signals from a device providing the desired functionality. A controller chooses between the two sets of inputs to control what signal lines are connected to the predefined interface. Accordingly, during certain modes of operation, the added functionality from a device whose output is being switched into the interface can be supported. In one embodiment, speaker phone capability is provided for even though the predefined PCMCIA interface does not support such capability.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting data, using a source synchronous clocking scheme, over a communication (or data) link. A source synchronous driver (SSD) receives a micropacket of parallel data and serializes this data for transfer over the communication link. The serial data is transferred onto the communication link at a rate four times as fast as the parallel data is received by the SSD. A pair of source synchronous clocks are also transmitted across the communication link along with the serial data. The pair of clocks are the true complement of one another. A source synchronous receiver (SSR) receives the serial data and latches it into a first set of registers using the source synchronous clocks. The serial data is then latched into a second set of registers in parallel. The second set of registers are referred to as "ping-pong" registers. The ping-pong registers store the deserialized data.

Abstract: A system is provided for storing data for a plurality of host computers on a plurality of storage arrays so that data on each storage array can be accessed by any host computer. A plurality of adapter cards are used. Each adapter has controller functions for a designated storage array. There is an adapter communication interface (interconnect) between all of the adapters in the system. There is also a host application interface between an application program running in the host computer and an adapter. When a data request is made by an application program to a first adapter through a host application interface for data that is stored in a storage array not primarily controlled by the first adapter, the data request is communicated through the adapter communication interface to the adapter primarily controlling the storage array in which the requested data is stored.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for managing objects in a networked computer system. The networked computer system includes a client and a server. Data is persistently stored in the server in the form of an object. Each object includes attributes and methods and is accessible to a plurality of clients. An object is instantiated and materialized in a client when the client accesses the object. When a client desires to take an action in connection with an object, the server sends an updated object to the client. After receiving the updated object from the server, the client determines whether an existing object has been previously received from the server and stored in the client. If an existing object has not been previously received from the server and stored in the client, the client stores a pointer to the updated object in the client. In either case, the client then merges the existing object and the updated object and notifies windows in the client of changes to the existing object.

Abstract: A primary object is to provide a communication apparatus, in particular, its buffer memory which conforms mainly to specifications of SAE-J1850 or ISO-9141.

Abstract: Even in the case where a microcomputer according to the present invention is directly connected to a bus in a LAN, it is possible to upgrade the data transfer speed of the LAN. When a built-in exclusive-OR circuit in the SIO of the microcomputer detects the discordance between a signal at an R.times.D terminal and a signal at a T.times.D terminal, a D flip-flop circuit generates and sends out an interrupt signal to the CPU. The CPU is made to recognize the collision of signals by the generation of the interrupt signal.

Abstract: An I/O memory card includes a first unit for storing card attribute information describing a plurality of card attributes of the I/O memory card, the card attributes respectively corresponding to different functions of the I/O memory cards. A second unit selects one of the plurality of card attributes in response to and as specified by a setting signal so that the I/O memory card provides a function corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of card attributes.