Abstract: In a video server a transport stream is generated. The transport stream is to be transported over a circuit of a network signalling at a constant bit rate. During generation, timed program content is encoded as a variable bit rate stream. The variable bit rate stream is transported over a constant bit rate circuit of a network. While transporting the variable bit rate stream, an accumulated difference between the number of bits transported in the variable bit rate stream and the number of bits required for the constant bit rate circuit is measured periodically. In response to the measured difference, a secondary untimed content is supplied to the constant bit rate circuit at a rate which minimizes the accumulated difference, and where the secondary content is evenly distributed over the transport stream.

Abstract: An interactive entertainment apparatus and a method for controlling the same are described, in which the apparatus presents to the user a branch structured narrative (90), and user input determines which path (A,B) is followed at at least one narrative branch point (92). The user is enabled to selectively capture predetermined pieces of narrative information at interaction points (72) and subsequently reintroduce them at a later interaction point (73). Branch point selection is then handled by the apparatus in dependence on which information was reintroduced and at what point in the narrative. On-screen guidance is provided to the user in terms of interaction point indicators, and reminder artefacts for captured information in the form of miniaturized still pictures from the narrative.

Abstract: A method of controlling the axis S of a rotary member 1 is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (a) sampling an inclined angle .theta. and it's rate d.theta./dt of the rotary member; (b) in response to the angle .theta. and rate d.theta.

Abstract: A Web server computer system provides for server based controlled management over a client reference to a resource locator independently selected by a client computer system and referencing a server external Web server. The Web server system provides a client system with a predetermined URL reference to the Web server system encoded with predetermined redirection and accounting data including a reference to a second server system On receipt by the first Web server system of the predetermined URL reference from the client system, the predetermined redirection and accounting data is decoded from the predetermined URL and processed by the Web server system to provide the client system with a redirection message including the reference to the second server system. The accounting data is processed by the Web server system and resulting data is selectively stored by the Web server system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enabling user interaction with a branch-structured narrative entertainment (90) in which branch path selection (A,B,C) is made at least partially in response to user input. A user is provided with a non-volatile memory, such as a smart card, in which memory is stored data specifying a record of past user interactions. This data is periodically checked and updated by the apparatus and, at one or more branch points (92) of the narrative, access to one or more branch paths (A,B,C) is enabled or denied on the basis of the stored user history.

Abstract: A display of a video received from a plurality of communication terminals or video input terminals is effected satisfactorily in accordance with a state at a transmission terminal side. A communication terminal connected to other communication terminals via a network, characterized by comprising receiving unit for receiving a video from the plurality of communication terminals, display unit for displaying the received video on a multi-window, command receiving unit for receiving a change indication command to change a display state of the video received from the plurality of communication terminals, and control unit for changing a display state of window displaying the video received from the communication terminals which have issued the change indication command, upon receiving the change indication command from the command receiving unit.

Abstract: A new computer implemented method for discovering structure-activity relationships has been discovered which utilizes weighted 2D fingerprints in conjunction with the PLS statistical methodology. This method produces a robust QSAR technique that can be automated. In addition, the MOLECULAR HOLOGRAM QSAR technique generates high quality QSAR models that are in many cases as good as or better than models arising from use of more complex and time consuming techniques such as CoMFA or Apex-3D.

Abstract: A method and system for compressing graphic data by dividing the data into segments is disclosed. The size of the divided segment is programmable. A frame buffer partitioned into a compressed frame buffer and an uncompressed frame buffer stores graphic data. Each segment of the graphic data is compressed by three different algorithms that encode the graphic data as a plurality of code-words. Each code-word for the segment is taken from the algorithm that can compress the largest number of pixels in the code-word. A header is used to indicate the number of code-words and the compression method used in each code-word. The total number of bytes obtained from the compression of a segment is compared to a pre-defined limit to determine if the compression of the segment is successful. The successfully compressed data of a segment are written to the compressed frame buffer. A compression status flag buffer is used to identify if a segment is compressed or not.

Abstract: A power control circuit and corresponding technique for reducing power consumption by an electronic device and thereby increasing performance. The power control circuit comprises a controller, a clock generation circuit and a power supply circuit. The controller detects whether a condition exists to scale the voltage and frequency of the electronic device and in response, signals the clock generation circuit to perform frequency scaling on the electronic device and the power supply circuit to perform voltage scaling on the electronic device. The condition may include a situation where the temperature of the electronic device is detected to have exceeded a thermal band. The condition may also include a situation where the electronic device is detected to be idle for a selected percentage of its run time.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing up a "socket communication log" of communications between processes in a multitask support system includes communication use libraries connected to the processes. Each of the communication use libraries includes a communication use library function for performing socket communications, and a socket communication log storing unit for storing a log of such socket communications. The log contains information identifying the socket-communication thereby facilitating debugging of programs created with the multitask support system.

Abstract: A method for Voltage Stability Analysis of a bulk power supply system is taught. Briefly stated, a computationally efficient method is disclosed which is appropriate for low and high voltage applications as well as differing types of loads and load changes, i.e. reactive or otherwise, and which is usable with a multitude of different bulk power supply system systems. More particularly, a nose point of a curve for which MVAr, MW or MVA distances to voltage are calculated, using a generalized curve fit in order to compute an equivalent or surrogate nose point. This is done by approximating a stable branch and creating a voltage versus power curve, determining a plurality of stable equilibrium points on the curve, using the plurality of determined stable equilibrium points to create and fit an approximate stable branch, calculating an approximate voltage collapse point and thereafter a voltage collapse index.

Abstract: The following invention is primarily concerned with new and improved systems for viewing a sporting event. In particular, systems which combine images of a real scene with computer generated imagery where the computer generated imagery is particular to the position and pointing attitude of the device. Being useful to spectators of the game baseball, the device can produce images showing where a strike zone is relative to the position of the players; can produce images of ball tracks; of replays and many other forms of information having characteristics dependent on a viewer's position and attitude.

Abstract: A hydroelectric power generation system (20) generates electrical power for an electrical utilization system (72). A controller (42) obtains a requested output electrical power level from a hydro-turbine unit (70) by using a signal indicative of water head (h.sub.meas) to control speed of an asynchronous rotary converter (50) coupled to the hydro-turbine unit and to control gate position of the hydro-turbine unit. The requested output electrical power level is applied from the hydro-turbine unit via the rotary converter to the electrical utilization system. In one embodiment, the controller (42B) accesses an updatable memory wherein Hydraulic Hill Chart information is stored. In another embodiment, the controller (42C) also includes a real-time automatic governor which uses a signal indicative of ac transmission frequency to the electrical utilization system to control the output electrical power level of the rotary converter.

Abstract: An ATM network interface comprising a physical layer interface having transmit and receive line interfaces, transmit and receive framers and overhead processors coupled to respective ones of the transmit and receive line interfaces and transmit and receive cell processors coupled to respective ones of transmit and receive framers and overhead processors. The interface further includes a segmentation and reassembly interface coupled to the physical layer interface having transmit and receive ATM and adaptation layer processors coupled to respective ones of the transmit and receive ATM cell processors and a transmit ATM Traffic Shaper coupled to said Transmit ATM and Adaptation Layer Processor, and a coupler to couple the segmentation and reassembly interface to a PCI bus. By incorporating the SAR unit on the same monolithic device as the remainder of the interface, one is able to eliminate the need for expensive external static RAM or SRAM for connection context memory.

Abstract: The invention concerns ascertaining whether the successful accomplishment of a defined task by a simpler model of a complex system implies that the complex system will also accomplish the defined task. The invention performs the ascertainment by checking language containment of the two models.

Abstract: In an appliance having a nominally required product load and control components for controlling functions not directly related to those of the nominally required product load, the control components operating at voltages which are relatively low in comparison with those utilized by the nominally required product load, a portion of the nominally required product load is connected in series with the control components to serve as a voltage step down circuit whose output corresponds to the relatively low voltages required by the control components.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for user interaction with a branch-structured narrative entertainment, where user input influences the selection of paths at branch points. A user interface (14) holds a record of the narrative structure (48) with the audio and video components being called up from remote or local storage as required. A record is kept (52) of previous user interactions during a narrative and, for one or more branch points, path selection is made by the apparatus at least partially on the basis of the accumulated record.

Abstract: In the method, the evaluation of messages for performance feature control is independent of the position, plurality and sequences of performance feature control elements. This is enabled in that the performance feature control elements are embedded in sequences in a message, and the performance feature control is implemented using a processing sequence that has flexibly allocatable processing routines and that takes the type of performance feature control element into consideration.

Abstract: In an X window system in which a work station 10 and a plurality of X terminals are connected, screen information managing means 50, upon actuation of a program 70 from an X terminal, if the preset number of X terminals on which screens of the program 70 can be displayed is greater than the number of X terminals in a screen information managing file 60, or information concerning the X terminal which has requested actuation of the program 70 is already present in the screen information managing file 60, or there is any X terminal whose process number is 0 is present in the screen information managing file 60, updates the screen information managing file 60, and at the same time notifies operation possible/impossible judging means 30 that screens of the program 70 can be displayed on that X terminal; and the operation possible/impossible judging means 30 controls the execution and interruption of the program 70.

Abstract: A forms based browser interface system for configuring and administering a network server from a remote location. Using forms, such as hyper-text markup language forms, the system provides a graphical user interface that allows a novice user, unaware of the platform, architecture or even operating system of the network server, to transact administrative tasks on the network server. An interfacing computer, at which the novice user performs administrative tasks upon the network server, is connected to the network server via network connections. The interfacing computer is equipped with a browser program that can display and interact with the forms created by the network server. The forms allow the user to select among various administrative tasks to be performed on the server. The forms also allow the user to input parameters for administration of the server such as new account names when adding new accounts for the server.