Abstract: A plug-in computer card includes an audio generator circuit having an audio analog output and an enclosure around the audio generator circuit. An audio speaker element is contained within the enclosure, and is in electrical communication with the audio analog output of the audio generator circuit. The audio speaker element is preferably a piezoelectric element fixed to a cover of the enclosure or a loudspeaker mounted within the enclosure. There is an input/output connector fixed to the enclosure and in electrical communication with the audio generator circuit. The card is also provided with a disabling circuit that electronically disables the audio speaker element responsive to an electronic signal.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically allocating space within a data storage system for multiple data sets which may include units of data, databases, files or objects. Each data set preferably includes a group of associated preference/requirement parameters which are arranged in a hierarchical order and then compared to corresponding data storage system characteristics for available devices. The data set preference/requirement parameters may include performance, size, availability, location, portability, share status and other attributes which affect data storage system selection. Data storage systems may include solid-state memory, disk drives, tape drives, and other peripheral storage systems. Data storage system characteristics may thus represent available space, cache, performance, portability, volatility, location, cost, fragmentation, and other characteristics which address user needs.

Abstract: In a data transfer method, virtual handshake busy data is transferred to an I/O register when data is transferred through a parallel interface between data processing and printer units connected to the I/O register through a bus and a transfer storage area in the printer unit has an empty area having a predetermined amount or more.

Abstract: A state machine that can be tested easily is disclosed. A state machine has a latch for storing data representing an intended state and a state control unit for producing data representing a subsequent state according to an intended state provided by the latch and a detection signal, and makes state transitions consecutively. The state machine comprises a state data input unit for inputting data representing an intended state directly from an external unit, a selector for selecting either data provided by the state control unit or data provided by the state data input unit so as to supply selected data as data representing a subsequent state to the latch, and a control data input unit for externally inputting control data for use in controlling the selection performed by the selector.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an infrared code generating and transmitting device adapted to be coupled to or incorporated in a microcomputer system, commonly referred to as a personal digital assistant (PDA). The IR code generating and transmitting device comprises a CPU separate or incorporated into the microcomputer system of the PDA; a memory separate or incorporated into the microcomputer system; an LED output; LED driver circuitry coupled between the CPU and the LED output; an interface connector; an interface buffer circuit coupled between the interface connector and the CPU; and an interface data buffer circuit coupled by data lines between the interface connector and the CPU.

Abstract: In a ring transmission path, a synchronous multiplexing technique using pointer control is employed. To stabilize pointer values, at least one node is set as a master node. At the master node, the amount of delay by which to delay transmit data is made variable in order to place the transmit data in a fixed position in a transmitted frame regardless of its position in a received frame. At other nodes, the position of the transmit data in the transmitted frame is made variable in order to delay the transmit data by a fixed amount of delay. When the master node is bypassed because of a failure of the master node, etc., the adjacent node downstream detects that state and switches, automatically, to a master node.

Abstract: A method for performing a hierarchial timing driven layout of a circuit based upon gate-level design data and circuit timing constraints, the circuit including a plurality of cells, includes: partitioning the plurality of cells into a plurality of logical blocks, a first logical block including a first plurality of cells; budgeting a block timing constraint for each of the plurality of logical blocks in response to the gate-level design data, to the circuit timing constraints, and to the partitioning of the plurality of cells into the plurality of logical blocks; placing the plurality of logical blocks within a circuit floorplan, each logical block associated with a block location within the circuit floorplan; rebudgeting the block timing constraint for at least one of the plurality of logical blocks in response to the placement of the plurality of logical blocks within the circuit floorplan; placing the first plurality of cells within a block location associated with the first logical block; and rebudgeting

Abstract: An on-line services network includes application servers and Gateway microcomputers that are interconnected by a LAN. The Gateway microcomputers receive service requests which are transmitted over a WAN from client microcomputers operated by end users. Upon receiving a request to open a service, the Gateway microcomputers access a periodically-updated service map to locate the replicated application servers that are currently running the corresponding service application, and then apply a load balancing method (using server load data contained within the service map) to select an application server that has a relatively low processing load. A communications protocol between the client and Gateway microcomputers enables users to access multiple services simultaneously. A hot redirection technique allows a user service session to be transferred from one application server to another (replicated) application server without termination of the service session.

Abstract: Described herein is a system for transferring a binary data stream in a serial edge-based transmission format between a computer and a portable device such as the Timex.RTM. Data-Link.TM. watch. In the edge-based format expected by the Data-Link.TM. watch, individual data bits have first and second binary values which are represented by the presence or absence of signal edges at mark times which occur at a pre-selected bit rate. The system includes a computer having a digital output line which can be turned on and off by the computer at any time. The computer also has an internal timer which is programmed to generate timing signals at a frequency which is an integer multiple n of the pre-selected bit rate. An LED is operably connected to the digital output line so that the computer can switch the LED on and off at any time through the digital output line. An application program runs on the computer.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining load capacity of a system. Physical components of the system and their interconnection are identified. The physical components are converted into logical components such that at least one logical component is created by grouping a plurality of the physical components and such that a load on the logical component will result in an approximately fixed proportional load on the plurality of physical components. Links between the logical components and a proportion of the load placed on each link between a source and destination pair are determined. A model of the logical components and interconnection of the logical components in is then stored in an electronically accessible data structure formed in a memory. A system and method for determining a path for routing data between a source and a destination pair in a system are also provided.

Abstract: An audio system is provided for generating audio sound for a host computer. It includes an interface connector for connection with the host computer; an interface controller for communicating with the host computer using the interface connector; a trap adapted to trap audio instruction signals from an application running on the host, such as a game having an audio portion; a trap controller adapted to control the trap; and an audio output. The system operates with an interface communicator which is adapted to respond to a request from the interface controller to read information from the trap and send audio output instruction to the audio output to generate audio sound.

Abstract: PowerPC external control instructions are utilized to pass a translated address to a transfer engine located in the system memory controller, together with previously transferred parameters into control registers within the memory controller. An accelerated data movement is accomplished between system memory and an input/output device with a minimum of processor overhead and bus bandwidth utilization. This method is useful for transferring large amounts of data between memory and such devices as graphics adapters or multimedia devices.

Abstract: A modular digital dictation system that can be easily modified to service a variable number of dictation stations and transcription stations. The modular digital dictation station comprises a central station for receiving digitized dictation signals from a network of dictation stations, storing the voice portion of the digitized dictation signals as digitized dictation segments, and routing the digitized dictation segments to a network of transcription stations. The central station includes a plurality of line interface and signal processing cards. The number of line interface and signal processing cards connected to the central station determines how many dictation stations and transcription stations the modular digital dictation station can service. The line interface cards may be removed from or connected to the central station during operations. A fast search program is provided to quickly find files containing desired digitized dictation segments stored in the central station.

Abstract: A bridge circuit adapted to be associated with a first faster bus circuit and a second slower bus circuit which bridge circuit includes a first path for transferring data between the first and second buses including a plurality of individual buffers each capable of storing a plurality of separately addressed increments of data destined for a plurality of sequential addresses, apparatus for storing data in the buffers at addresses provided by a bus master on the second bus, apparatus for detecting when data in a buffer is ready to be transferred to the first bus, apparatus for flushing any buffer which contains data ready to be transferred to the first bus, and apparatus for transferring data from the second bus to another of the plurality of buffers when a first buffer contains data ready to be transferred to the first bus until all of the buffers contain data ready to be transferred to the first bus

Abstract: A host apparatus has examination-period changing means for monitoring the state of use of a data input unit, such as how frequently a user is using the keys on a keyboard, and for changing, in dependence upon the monitored state of use, a period at which a check is performed to determine whether a recording medium has been loaded in an external storage unit and medium-loading monitoring means for performing the check, at the checking period decided. The examination-period changing means lengthens the checking period if frequency of use of the data input unit is high and shortens the checking period if frequency of use is low. In a case where a plurality of external storage units have been connected to the computer system, the checking of medium loading is executed only with regard to external storage units in which a recording medium has not been loaded. The host apparatus executes predetermined processing upon detecting that a recording medium has been loaded in an external storage unit.

Abstract: Systems allowing smooth, trouble-free, "transparent" switchover from a "Primary clock" to a "Secondary clock", with no loss of clock or essential pulse-width, and where the "Secondary clock" may be completely separate from, and independent of, the "Primary clock.

Abstract: A radio frequency control technique for use in a wideband communications system, such as a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system in which the use of several wideband forward channels is allocated in each cell depending upon the apparent location of the mobile station in the cell. In particular, a first set of forward channel frequencies is reserved for the mobiles located within a first certain radius of the base station antenna, and a second set of channels serve the area forming mobiles located in a concentric annular ring centered around the base station antenna. Third, fourth, and subsequent concentric rings may be used to provide successively longer radii from the base station to support the use of additional frequency sets in each cell.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a CPU stop clock interrupt of a computer system. The device includes an idle detector and a control processor. A CPU having a stop clock interrupt mode receives a stop clock interrupt signal and initiates and terminates the stop clock interrupt mode according to a logic state of the stop clock interrupt signal. The control processor receives a signal representing an idle condition of the computer system from the idle detector, an alternate signal for idle detector control of the CPU stop clock interrupt mode, and a control signal for forcing the CPU to resume a normal mode by clearing the stop clock interrupt mode. The idle condition can be defined by a computer user according to a selection of predetermined times during which no user inputs are received by the computer system.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for remotely and optically programming a portable information device, such as a programmable watch, using a visual display device, such as a CRT monitor. The monitor displays a sequence of changing optical patterns used to optically transmit a serial stream of data. The optically programmable watch has an optical sensor which detects the sequence of optical patterns to optically receive the data stream. The optical patterns transmit machine-readable information that can be detected by the optical sensor, but no meaningful information to a user. The visual display device therefore also displays a human-readable image that explains to a user the sequence of optical patterns being used to transmit the data stream. The human-readable image is displayed in a manner that renders it undetectable by the optical sensor of the programmable watch.

Abstract: A workflow system that automates the definition and execution of a procedure that can be carried out according to defined rules among agents. Agents may be individual users, work groups, organizations, or automatic systems. Automation is used to guarantee that all the individual activities are taken in the defined sequence, form, and time. The system separates the three basic elements necessary to perform a procedure--a co-ordination service, an organization service, and a transport service. The coordination service ensures proper sequence of the activities of the procedure. The organization services identifies a particular agent to perform a task within a procedure. The agent selection can be made when the procedure is defined, or it can be deferred until an instance using the procedure is performed. The transport service is used to move information between agents and an information service, which holds instance data, while processing an instance.