Abstract: A field mountable controller boots by transmitting a seed letterbug to a server. The server responds with an initial operating system and program. The program reads configuration information about the controller and transmits it back to the server which responds with a particular letterbug for the controller. The controller then transmits the letterbug to a boot image server which returns a corresponding operating system image to the controller. The controller then boots using the operating system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed which allow software to communicate with a computer at run-time. The communication provided enables the software to execute at optimal speed on different computers. More particularly, software queries a computer at run-time to determine its hardware resources. Once the software knows the hardware resources available, the software optimizes its code performance in accordance therewith. Alternatively, the invention enables the software to specify the hardware resources to be used by the computer. This allows software developers to configure a computer to act as if it actually had the resources specified by the software.

Abstract: A hypertext network and a method for displaying user selectable information modules in a hypertext network are provided for use in an interactive data processing system. The hypertext network includes a plurality of user selectable information modules. At least some of the modules include a link reference phrase to an other user selectable target module. Responsive to a user selection input, a link reference phrase to an other user selectable target module is identified in a selected information module. The availability of the other user selectable target module corresponding to the identified link reference phrase is determined and the identified reference phrase link is selectively activated or deactivated responsive to the determined availability of other user selectable target module. The identified reference phrase link can be selectively activated or deactivated based upon user class or user authority.

Abstract: A computer system and method is described for improved storage of computer system configuration information. A ROM module includes both a BIOS ROM portion and a configuration ROM portion. The configuration ROM includes a backup copy of the system configuration parameters stored in a battery-powered configuration CMOS RAM. If the configuration CMOS RAM fails to provide valid configuration data, the contents of the configuration ROM are used to configure the computer system. If the contents of the configuration ROM are also invalid, default configuration values are provided by the BIOS ROM. User modification of the default values may be effected through a setup utility program, and the configuration ROM then programmed accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for downloading firmware upgrades to a targeted remote field configurable embedded computer system over a computer network. The targeted device need not be disconnected from the network and requires no human intervention at the remote site. The entire firmware, including the downloading mechanism, can be updated in an efficient manner.

Abstract: A file server architecture is disclosed, comprising as separate processors, a network controller unit, a file controller unit and a storage processor unit. These units incorporate their own processors, and operate in parallel with a local Unix host processor. All networks are connected to the network controller unit, which performs all protocol processing up through the NFS layer. The virtual file system is implemented in the file control unit, and the storage processor provides high-speed multiplexed access to an array of mass storage devices. The file controller unit control file information caching through its own local cache buffer, and controls disk data caching through a large system memory which is accessible on a bus by any of the processors.

Abstract: A software manager enables a computer user to administer software elements within a computer operating system. The software manager comprises a configuration database storing information including a prevailing state and a dependency listing for each of the software components within the system. The software manager also comprises a user interface which allows the computer user to view the stored information and permits the user to specify changes to the prevailing states. Finally, the software manager comprises a software manager server which communicates with the user interface and the configuration database, effects the user specified changes, and updates the stored information to reflect those changes. A user of the software manager can readily obtain an overall "picture" of a prevailing system configuration, use that picture to make intelligent decisions with respect to system modification, and thereby administer the operating system environment in a seamless, efficient, and robust manner.

Abstract: An improved process for updating a nonvolatile memory of a computer system includes selecting a logical area of the nonvolatile memory to update. Protected procedures are copied from one of the selected logical area and an update file. Information from the update file is copied to the nonvolatile memory in accordance with the copied protected procedures. Another method of updating the nonvolatile memory includes selecting at least a portion of the nonvolatile memory to update. Protected procedures including an updated memory map are copied from an update file. Information from the update file is copied to the nonvolatile memory in accordance with the copied protected procedures. An update file to facilitate the improved update processes includes a header section and a update information section. The update information section includes updated code and data for the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow, through a computer hardware resource, of information to and from computer applications. When a flow of information is initiated from one of the applications, a determination is made whether the resource is being accessed by another one of the applications and, if so, the flow of information from the first application is delayed. If not, then the flow of information is enabled. When a flow of information is initiated toward the applications, a determination is made to which one of the applications the information is flowing, and the flow is directed to that one application. A graphical interface associates, in the mind of a user, a computer hardware resource with a corresponding real office device, the computer resource enabling the computer to function like the consumer device.

Abstract: A request is received from a caller to perform a read of data from a storage area of a computer system, the data having master header data in a header portion. The master header data is replaced with alternate header data before returning the data to the caller. The data, including the alternate header data, is returned to the caller. A request is received from the caller to perform a write of caller data to the storage area, the caller data having caller header data in a header portion of the caller data. The write of caller data is allowed only if the caller header data is identical to the master header data.

Abstract: A system and method for using real mode BIOS calls to load an executable program for execution on a dedicated I/O processor before device drivers which communicate with the I/O processor have been loaded by an operating system. In the preferred embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of x86 processors coupled to a system memory. One of the x86 processors is designated as a dedicated I/O processor. A storage device stores an operating system for execution on the remaining processors, an executable program for executing on the dedicated I/O processor, such as a real-time kernel, and a device driver which is operable to execute on the remaining processors and to communicate with the real-time kernel executing on the I/O processor to perform I/o operations on an I/O device. The storage device also stores a loader program which is loaded by the operating system executing on a first of the remaining processors early in the process of booting the operating system.

Abstract: Techniques for obtaining information about dynamic properties of a first program. The techniques involve making a static analysis of the first program to determine what instrumentation is needed to produce the desired information and then producing a second program which causes a programmable instrumentation apparatus to produce an instrumented version of the first program. The programmable instrumentation apparatus may be a programmable binary editor or a a debugger. Execution of the instrumented program provides the information about the dynamic properties. The program for the instrumentation apparatus is produced by a source code analyzer which statically analyzes the source code. The source code analyzer is in turn produced by a code analyzer generator. Output from the instrumentation may be provided to a graphical display system.

Abstract: A status parameter is set for a storage area of a computer system to a read-only status. An access key is received from an access key call by a caller. The status parameter is changed to a write-permissible status if the access key matches a master access key. A request to perform a write to the storage area is received, and the write is allowed only if the status parameter has been set to the write-permissible status. The status parameter is reset to the read-only status after the write is performed.

Abstract: Single users or workgroups interact with the reconfiguration engine through the software reconfiguration workbench. The target source code is reconfigured through a collection of semi-automated and fully automated processes in a step-by-step iterative technique. The system maintains a repository of data corresponding to the software entities being reconfigured. Several modules within the reconfiguration engine access this repository allowing the modules to perform a rigorous reconfiguration through a series of iterative refinements. The target source code is analyzed based on a user-configurable lexicon of keywords and also based on attribute tables maintained in the repository. Software entities undergoing change are tagged using a tagging system that denotes the type of change operation to be performed and the degree of certainty that the tag has been properly assigned. Impact analysis across the entire software system detects entities subject to change by monitoring data flow between software systems.

Abstract: An interface that allows the host CPU and the keyboard controller in a PC to share a common BIOS ROM includes a logic circuit that receives a set of input signals and produces a set of signals that emulates a jump instruction op-code that causes the host CPU to vector to a specified address location in the system memory map normally reserved for the system ROM BIOS code, whenever both the host CPU and keyboard controller are contending for access to the BIOS ROM.

Abstract: A control system adaptable for use in controlling internal combustion engines has a microcomputer and a hardware circuit reconfigurable in internal logic circuitry in such a manner that the setting of configuration is completed before the microcomputer is rendered operative upon application of a power supply voltage. The microcomputer is assembled in a 4-V guarantee circuit block with its operating guarantee power supply voltage of 4 volts. A 3-V guarantee block includes a random logic circuit and an EEPROM for storage of circuit configuration set data. The 3-V guarantee block also includes a first power-on reset circuit for providing respective sections with a reset-release command signal when an applied power supply voltage potentially rises at 3 volts, and a second power-on reset circuit for forcing the random logic circuit in the reset state until completion of the reconfiguration of the hardware circuit.

Abstract: A synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) device having a master control circuit for accepting a first command and a second command and having an initialization and reprogramming circuit. The master control circuit generates an initialization signal in response to the first command and generates a reprogramming signal in response to the second command. The initialization and reprogramming circuit responds to the initialization signal to control initial programming of a control operation feature and responds to the reprogramming signal to control a reprogramming of the control operation feature.

Abstract: A shared queue is provided to allow any of a plurality of systems to process messages received by clients of a data processing environment. A received message is enqueued onto the shared queue. Any of the plurality of systems having available processing capacity can retrieve the message from the shared queue and process the message. A response to the message, where appropriate, is enqueued onto the shared queue for delivery back to the client. A unique list structure is provided to implement the queue. The list structure is comprised of a plurality of sublists, or queue types. Each queue type is divided into a plurality of list headers. List entries, containing data from the received messages, are chained off of the list headers. A common queue server is used to interface to the queue and to store messages thereon. The common queue server stores message data in storage buffers, and then transfers this data to the list entries. Thus, common queue server coordinates the enqueuing of data onto the shared queue.

Abstract: A method for providing dual booting capabilities to a computer system is disclosed. The invention facilitates the installation of a plurality of operating systems on a computer system in any order such that the computer system is able to boot from any of the installed operating systems. The invention is particularly well suited for providing dual booting capabilities in both a DOS-based operating system and Windows NT when the DOS-based operating system is installed on the computer system subsequent to installation of Windows NT.

Abstract: Configuration data indicative of interface requirements for interfacing to a host adapter card are automatically serially loaded on reset from an external device on the card into a host adapter integrated circuit on the card. A driver program can then read the configuration data from the host adapter integrated circuit and thereby determine how to interface with the host adapter card.