Abstract: An end node for which sending and receiving are controlled by a hub is directly connected and used. When another end node is directly connected to the PMD control unit, the input control signal processor of the signal processor receives a receiving state signal indicating the state of a tone signal which is output from the PMD control unit and received from another end node, converts it to a receiving state signal indicating the state of a tone signal from the hub which has the same meaning as it, and transfers it to the MAC/PMI control unit.

Abstract: A data alignmentation apparatus and method in a LAN adapter. The arrangement includes a data aligner mechanism and a transfer control mechanism that transfer data between this RAM and a PCI bus. A transfer control mechanism pre-calculates the control parameters for the aligner/data-pipe, creates the necessary byte enables for data transfers, and determines the member of transfers needed. This allows the data aligner to create a stream of data words for any arbitrary byte transfer with full PCI data streaming (one 32 bit word every PCI clock cycle).The Data Aligner provides a shifter and data-pipe that is used to convert the RAMs 64 bit words into PCIs 32 bit words. It is bidirectional and is used to convert 64 bit data from the RAM into 32 bit PCI word(s) and vice versa.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for superimposing general usage interface characteristics upon a computing device configured with specialized interface characteristics to enable the particular computing device to control general purpose computing functions. The user may also establish control of a portion of the display of a particular computing device. The computing system may include multiple computing devices, users, and subsystems that may be controlled by control devices. A first event signals a request for a change of the particular computing device from specialized interface characteristics to general interface characteristics unrelated to the specialized interface, and the particular computing device is reconfigured to general interface characteristics. Control of the device may also be based on the context of the system and the environment of the particular device.

Abstract: The invention concerns using multiple computers to hold a conference. Under the invention, an application program can run on a single computer, yet remote participants can issue commands to the program. Remote participants can watch the program operate, because the invention replicates the display window of the running program onto the displays of the remote computers. Any participant can make annotations on the participant's own computer display. The invention copies the annotations to the displays of the other participants.

Abstract: An input/output control device controlling data exchange between computers and memory units includes transfer units connected to the computers and accessing the memory units so as to effect the data exchange, an exclusive-control unit for preventing more than one of the transfer units from having access to the same one of the memory units by denying all but one of the transfer units the access, and an expropriation unit for taking control of one of the memory units when one of the transfer units is denied access to the one of the memory units a predetermined number of times, so that the one of the memory units can be set aside for use by the one of the transfer units.

Abstract: An information handling system includes one or more processors, a system bus or network connecting the processors, a memory system connected to the system bus, an asynchronous signal controller connected to the system bus, one or more I/O bridges connected to the system bus, an I/O bus connected to each I/O bridge, one or more devices connected to the I/O bus, including perhaps another I/O-bus-to-I/O-bus bridge where additional devices may be connected to a second I/O bus, wherein the first or host bridge includes remote interrupt control logic having a register wherein an input to each position in the register is from one of the I/O devices downstream from the host bridge, and a shadow register address buffer, both under the control of a sample circuit connected to outputs of the register such that when a change in any register position is detected by the sample circuit, the entire contents of the register are sent to the shadow register indicated in the shadow register address buffer by a processor bypass t

Abstract: In a system which includes an input-output controller provided with channel paths for receiving input/output requests from higher-rank apparatus, and an external storage controller connected to the input-output controller through the channels, the input-output controller registers input-output requests issued for the external storage devices from the higher-rank apparatus in input-output request queues and transfer one or plural ones of the channel programs registered in the input-output request queues collectively to the external storage controller, which control execution of the transferred channel programs, so that channel command words included in each transferred channel program are executed at timings which are adapted to an operation of one of the external storage devices which is to be controlled by the channel program.

Abstract: An external time source is connected to a partitioned data processing system, having host processors controlled by a host hypervisor, and having operating systems in the partitions. The host processors each have a timer facility comprising a time-of-day (TOD) clock, and a clock comparator. When the hypervisor detects a need for synchronization between the external time source and a host timer facility, it insulates the operating system in the partition on that host from host synchronization, and synchronizes the host timer facility with the external time source. Subsequently, the operating system is placed into normal execution, with an adjustment value used for timer facility references, and with a synchronization interrupt pending if the operating system is aware of the external time source.

Abstract: An automatic sending-message processing device is applied to a computer network which is connected to a plurality of computer systems via communication media and capable of effecting message switching among the plurality of computer systems by use of an electronic mail system. The processing device includes a memory for storing a rule in which a processing condition for processing mail message data and a content of a process obtained when the processing condition is satisfied, which are described according to the language specification of the mail message.

Abstract: A plurality of media access control drivers are coupled to and provide a respective channel to connect a computer and the switched network. Each media access control driver has a first mode in which a connection is established in the switched network and a second mode in which the local area network protocol is passed over the switched network. The media access control drivers may also be placed in a third and fourth mode which allow communication in an unformatted and non-LAN based protocol. The architecture also includes at least one port connection manager which manages one of the channels when the respective media access control driver is in the first mode and a connection manager to manage a status of the connection. The media access control drivers are coupled to a protocol driver to send messages in the local area network protocol when the media access control drivers are in the second mode.

Abstract: A time-division multiplex communication system includes a link highway having a common data link channel and an address identification channel, a concentrator, and a distributor. The concentrator monitors signals from individual links connected to respective individual link terminators, connects one of the individual links from which an input signal is received to a common data link channel, and transmits address information of the individual link through an address identification channel. The concentrator processes input signals from the respective individual links and sends them to the common data link channel in a manner to multiplex them at variable data rates as viewed from the individual links. The distributor receives signals from the common data link channel, and successively transmits the signals to respective individual links according to address information from the address identification channel for thereby transmitting data represented by the signals.

Abstract: A servo loop control apparatus having a master microprocessor and at least one autonomous streamlined signal processor is disclosed. The architecture provides a general purpose controller for use in systems where intensive servo signal processing is required and is well suited to applications where multiple servo control loops operate simultaneously. The operation of the streamlined signal processors is autonomous from the master processor so that critical functions can be dedicated to the streamlined signal processors. This eliminates complex interrupt management and tedious real time scheduling constraints, simplifies system design and improves system performance. The architecture provides an integrated mechanism for implementing multiple, concurrent, complex signal processing and embedded control functions, such as complete servo-mechanism management for high performance disk storage systems.

Abstract: An apparatus control system where a major terminal for inputting a user's request is connected via a communication path to at least one apparatus terminal which has an apparatus for implementing the user's request. Such apparatus control system comprises a request accepting unit for accepting the user's request written in a certain form, a storing unit for storing a correspondence table which corresponds a control procedure written in a certain rule to each request, a retrieving unit for retrieving the control procedure, a corresponding apparatus identifying unit for interpreting the retrieved control procedure to identify the apparatus, an implementation directing unit for transmitting to the identified apparatus a command which directs an implementation of the user's request, and an implementation controller for receiving the command and controlling an operation of the apparatus according to the received command.

Abstract: A name mapper, name servers, and multimedia servers are connected to a multimedia manager. Each client has the name of a multimedia server, i.e., a virtual host name, from which it can obtain multimedia service. The name server stores associations of server host names to layer-3 addresses. When a client initiates a multimedia session, it requests the layer-3 address of the server that corresponds to its server's name. The name server sends the layer-3 address of the one of the multimedia servers that is currently designated as corresponding to that name. The multimedia client stores the name-to-layer-3 address binding in it's cache. The multimedia client then establishes communications with the multimedia server at that layer-3 address and clears its cache. The dynamic name-to-layer-3 address binding in the name server is managed by the name mapper, which may be collocated with the multimedia manager or may be located on a separate server.

Abstract: In an input/output circuit of a microcomputer, an output latch is connected to an internal bus for latching an output data signal. An output tristate buffer has an input connected to receive a latched output data signal from the output latch and an output connected to the input/output terminal. An input tristate buffer is connected at its input to the input/output terminal. An input/output switchover latch is connected to the internal bus for generating a switchover signal, which is supplied directly to a control input of the output buffer and also through an inverter to a control input of the input buffer, so that the output buffer and the input buffer are alternatively activated by the switchover signal in a complementary manner. The input/output switchover latch is initialized in response to an active reset signal.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for superimposing prespecified locational, environmental, and contextual controls on user interactions, including interactions of mobile users, with computational resources. A system is described for electronically monitoring contextual information concerning users and machines, including state and locational information including proximity. Interaction policies, including user specified interaction policies, may be registered on an identifiable address path. Methods are described for detecting, selecting and controlling computercontrolled devices, based on the proximity of the device to the user, the current context of the user, the location of other nearby users and devices, and the current state of the devices. Temporary transfer of control, including exclusive control, of particular computers and computer controlled devices to individual users based on the context and environment in proximity to those computing devices is also described.

Abstract: Multicast and broadcast frames transmission rate logic limiting the rate at which multicast or broadcast frames are forwarded by a MAC layer device interconnecting local area networks such as a bridge or switching hub, so as to prevent multicast or broadcast storms from propagating from one local area network to another local area network. Such logic is distributed among a plurality of local area network (LAN) ports of a switching hub, allowing the overall maximum rate at which such frames may be transmitted to be individually tuned on a per LAN port basis. The transmission rate logic includes a burst capability, in which the overall rate to which multicast and broadcast frames may be limited can be exceeded for a finite number of such frames. The burst capability may also be individually tuned on a per LAN port basis.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for superimposing prespecified locational, environmental, and contextual controls on user interactions, including interactions of mobile users, with computational resources. A system is described for electronically monitoring contextual information concerning users and machines, including state and locational information including proximity. Interaction policies, including user specified interaction policies, may be registered on an identifiable address path. Methods are described for detecting, selecting and controlling computercontrolled devices, based on the proximity of the device to the user, the current context of the user, the location of other nearby users and devices, and the current state of the devices. Temporary transfer of control, including exclusive control, of particular computers and computer controlled devices to individual users based on the context and environment in proximity to those computing devices is also described.

Abstract: A high performance Local Bus Peripheral Interface (LBPI) for a computer local bus and its high performance peripheral interface(s) uses a pipelined architecture to increase the use of the available data transfer bandwidth. In one embodiment, the LBPI can be selectably configured to couple on the host side to either a VL bus or PCI bus. The LBPI maintains a countdown of the number of words of a data sector already transferred and/or "snoops" the peripheral device commands from the computer to predict the occurrence of subsequent read data transfers commands. The Controlling State Machine also "snoops" the peripheral device commands to maintain its record of the operating parameters of the peripheral devices and also keeps track of which of the devices is currently active. In one embodiment, the LBPI supports DMA and PIO data transfers on the peripheral side. In another embodiment, the LBPI translates memory data transfers into IO data transfers to improve efficiency of IO data transfers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for synchronizing multiple independent data streams in a networked computer system is disclosed.