Abstract: In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bus interface unit of a microprocessor is provided with a Micro Request Sequencer (EBMRS) disposed between a bus scheduling queue (EBBQ) and external bus control logic (EBCTL). Under normal bus request traffic, the EBMRS is effectively transparent and allows normal communication between the EBCTL and the EBBQ. However, for misaligned bus transactions, which comprise memory accesses that cross a bus width boundary, the EBMRS intercepts such transactions for special sequencing, while blocking any further requests from the EBBQ. The EBMRS separates each misaligned bus transaction request into at least first and second split transaction requests, with each split request forming a memory access that does not cross a data bus width boundary of the external bus. It then issues the first split request to the EBCTL for processing on the external bus.

Abstract: A bus interface circuit is for coupling between a microprocessor having an architecture in which address and data buses are separated and peripheral equipment having a multiplexing bus architecture. The bus interface circuit includes a first delay circuit for delaying a first address strobe signal of a microprocessor to obtain a first data strobe signal, a second delay circuit for delaying the first data strobe signal to obtain a second data strobe signal for the peripheral equipment, a logic circuit for multiplying an inverted first data strobe signal and the first address strobe signal to obtain a second address strobe signal for the peripheral equipment, a first buffer enabled by the first data strobe signal for transmitting address data of the microprocessor, and second buffer means enabled by the second address strobe signal for transmitting and receiving data information between the microprocessor and the peripheral equipment.

Abstract: A bus-based apparatus and method for synchronous priority arbitration between modules in a computer system. The modules in the system have priority codes selected from the set B(m,r) of bounded weight codes. Arbitration is completed in, at most, r units of time. The design of the system can be optimized for speed, logic per module, and/or the number of modules connected to any bus line. Both arbitration time and arbitration logic may be decreased by increasing the bus width. The number of modules can be increased indefinitely by increasing only bus-width, while keeping arbitration time and arbitration logic fixed. The arbitration bus is a wired-OR bus.

Abstract: A data aligner transfers data from an input having N+1 byte lanes to an output having N+1 byte lanes. The data aligner includes a write data aligner and a read data aligner. The write data aligner includes a write shifter coupled to the N input byte lanes and a stage having N selector/registers S1(i). The N selector/registers each have a queuing register R(i) and bypass multiplexer M(i). The N selector/registers are coupled to the N output byte lanes. The write shifter and N selector/registers S1(i) are coupled to a control circuit. The read data aligner includes a stage having N selector/registers S2(i) and a read shifter. The S2(i) selector/registers are coupled to N+1 byte input lanes with the S2(i) outputs coupled to the N read shifter inputs. The read shifter outputs are then coupled to the N+1 output byte lanes. Finally, a control circuit is coupled to the selector/registers S2(i) and read shifter.

Abstract: A multi-domain, distributed arbitration system, and a method performed by a plurality of arbiters to control arbitration of requests for a multiprocessor system bus. The requests are generated by a plurality of nodes coupled to the multiprocessor system bus. The requests are presented on a plurality of arbitration request lines. Each node comprises one of the arbiters such that each arbiter is associated with a corresponding node. A plurality of domains are created by the arbiters based on a bit-wise combination of the requests on the arbitration lines. A priority is assigned to each domain relative to the other domains. Each arbiter monitors the requests on the arbitration request lines and generates an i.sub.-- win result that indicates whether or not the associated node is an overall arbitration winner if a request from that node is pending. In addition, the arbiters generate a who.sub.-- won result that indicates which node was the overall arbitration winner according to the assigned priorities.

Abstract: A method and system for the detection of microcalcifications in digital mammograms. Digital mammograms are obtained and regions-of-interest (ROIs) are selected therefrom which contain suspected microcalcifications, either individual or clustered microcalcifications. The suspect ROIs are background-trend corrected, followed by Fourier transformation and power spectrum calculation to perform detection in the frequency domain. Detection can also be carried out in the spatial domain by omitting the Fourier transformation and power spectrum calculation. The ROI is then scaled for input into a neural network trained to detect microcalcifications. The neural network outputs ROIs with detected microcalcifications. The method and system can also include normalizing the background-trend corrected ROIs and imputing the normalized ROI to a shift-invariant neural network trained to detect microcalcifications.

Abstract: An information processing system including processors, and an interrupt controller responsive to an interrupt request signal from the processors for executing an interrupt process control of processes carried out by the processors. The interrupt controller includes an interrupt process execution device that does not have a multiple interrupt processing function, and an interrupt acceptance device. The interrupt acceptance device has an interrupt reservation signal input terminal, and responds to an interrupt request signal for making determination whether an interrupt is permitted. If interrupt is permitted, an interrupt request generation signal is applied to a corresponding interrupt request generation signal input terminal of the interrupt process execution device. Each of the processors includes an interrupt request signal output circuit and a processing circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus to permit the sharing of interrupts between resident devices and removable PCMCIA peripherals overcomes a deficiency in the PCMCIA standards. By permitting interrupt sharing, the apparatus allows standard application software, which assumes the interrupt sharing capability of standard built-in peripherals to operate with PCMCIA cards. The invention is particularly suited to serial communication ports, where interrupts are routinely shared. An interface component 20 is coupled to an interrupt controller 12. A serial port COM1 is connected to a host interrupt IRQ4, which is shared by a PCMCIA card serial port 22, configured as COM3, through the interface controller 20. Through the use of an open-drain output and a conversion in the controller 20 of the level mode interrupt from the PCMCIA card to a low-going pulse of sufficient voltage swing and duration, the host interrupt is shared between the permanently installed COM1 and the removable COM3 serial ports.

Abstract: A near-synonym generating method generates near-synonyms of a target character string by retrieving a near-synonym file based on the target character string, where the near-synonym file defines near-synonyms for one or a plurality of words.

Abstract: A self-contained power control module for controlling power to the peripheral output devices of an electronic data processing system. The power control module automatically interrupts power to the peripheral output devices of the system after a predetermined interval has elapsed without detection of data input, and restores power to the peripheral output devices upon detection of data input. A pulse detection circuit, connected to the peripheral input devices, monitors the peripheral input devices for data pulses. A timing module, connected to the pulse detection circuit, is reset upon the detection of a data pulse. After a predetermined interval has elapsed without detection of a data pulse, the timing module outputs a control signal to two switches. A power switch, disposed between the power supply and the peripheral output device, controls power to the peripheral output device in response to the control signal from the timing module.

Abstract: In order to display the surfaces of internal structures within a solid body from non-intrusively acquired data sets, it is useful to segment the data sets into the internal structures of interest before searching for the surfaces of such structures. To accomplish this, a data segmentation system uses a plurality of sample data points to construct a statistical probability distribution for a plurality of internal structures. Using these probability distributions, each data point is labeled with the most likely structure identification. Searching the thus-segmented data points for surfaces is considerably faster than is possible with the entire data set and produces surface renditions with fewer anomalies and errors. A non-intrusive imaging means is used to obtain a 3D data set. The probability distribution is bivariate and the two data sets are plotted against each other to assist in identifying tissue types.

Abstract: A co-occurrence dictionary is built through a process for calculating three kinds of co-occurrence information and a real number vector corresponding to each category. The co-occurrence dictionary is updated through a process for selecting the opposite phrase of the co-occurrence for the additional co-occurrence information and a process for calculating a real number vector corresponding to an additional word on the basis of the additional co-occurrence information. A co-occurrence analysis is effected through a process for calculating in real number the degree of the co-occurrence on the basis of the real number vectors corresponding to two categories to be checked in the co-occurrence relation, and a semantic analysis is effected through a process for indicating, by a numerical value, the propriety of the interpretation on the basis of the degree of each co-occurrence.

Abstract: Using geologic hydraulic fracturing methods and subterranean waste injection and disposal processes well known in the petroleum production industry, hazardous wastes are pulverized, mixed to create a slurry, and injected into a subsurface hydraulic fracture rock formation via a perforated deep well. Injection of the slurry at pressures exceeding the rock's minimum principle stress generates microseismic signals whose sources correspond to the locations and geometry of an expanding hydraulic fracture zone. These signals are detected with seismic sensors. Advanced, Real Time, Passive Seismic Imaging (PSI) methods are applied for automatic data acquisition, compression, analysis and calculation to locate the sources of the signals and to map the dimensions and geometry of the fracture zone in real time. Computer visualization codes are employed to present injection data and the fracture zone location, dimensions and geometry for human interpretation and decisions.

Abstract: An inexpensive manual reader for transcription of DNA sequence information from autoradiograms in computer data files is comprised of a gel code reader, electronic interface in software driven computer which provides full input and screening capability as well as storage and retrieval of DNA sequence data in predetermined DNA data base formats. The gel code reader comprises a linear optical magnifier and a thumb activated encoder. The electronic interface converts the data entered through the gel code reader into a plurality of computer compatible formats. The software driven computer then provides interactive voice synthesized editing and DNA data base storage.

Abstract: A method for determining depth to basement from aeromagnetic data utilizes neural networks to automate the laborious process of profile interpretation. The neural networks provide consistency, accuracy and overall quality without bias of interpretation.

Abstract: Evaluation of thinly laminated shaly sand reservoirs has long been one of the most difficult problems of log analysis. A primary reason is that only shallow shale indicators such as a Dipmeter, other microresistivity devices, or an ultra high frequency dielectric tool, etc. accomplish resolutions compatible with the most thinly bedded shale or sand laminae. To overcome this problem a technique has been developed to reconstruct deep Induction conductivity and to compute effective porosity and water saturation consistent with the high vertical resolution tools such as the Dipmeter.To achieve greater accuracy in the evaluation of shale content and porosity, the volumes of shale are initially estimated from both a density-neutron crossplot and a high resolution shale indicator which has been integrated to the vertical resolution of the density and neutron logs.