Abstract: A system including a wireless transceiver receives multi-destination packets. The received multi-destination packets are sent either as multicast packets, replicated and sent as unicast packets to each member of a multicast group or both. Control logic of the system determines whether to send the received multi-destination packets as multicast packets or as replicated unicast packets based on which technique achieves higher throughput and/or lower latency.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving from a user interface, by a computing device, a request for execution of at least one lambda function in an operation of a geospatial application, the geospatial application having lambda functions for operating on one or more entities of an ad hoc geospatial directory accessible by the computing device, the lambda functions having strongly typed definitions according to a prescribed symbol manipulation language that is a non-Turing complete language, that does not permit partial functions, and that is independent of any attribute of any computing system; optimizing execution by the computing device of the operation on the ad hoc geospatial directory; and the computing device returning to the user interface a response to the request based on the optimizing execution of the operation, the response including a data structure including at least one of the lambda functions for a corresponding at least one of generating a query of the ad hoc geospatial directory, mod

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving an application that describes functions according to a prescribed symbol manipulation language, the prescribed symbol manipulation language a non-Turing complete language that does not permit partial functions and describes the functions independent of any attribute of any computing system; identifying, in the application, a distribution annotation that identifies a candidate element in the application, the candidate element configured for execution in a distributed computing operation by a distributed computing system comprising two or more distributed computing devices; generating one or more variants of the application based on executing a nondestructive transformation of the application relative to prescribed equality axioms, at least one of the variants containing a corresponding semantically-equivalent variation of the candidate element; and selecting one of the variants as an optimization for execution of the application by the distributed computing syste

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes a mesh point receiving mesh advertisement messages from advertising mesh points of a wireless mesh network having a mesh portal with a wired connection to a wired network. Each mesh advertisement message specifies a corresponding metric for reaching the mesh portal and has a corresponding signal strength indicator. An ordered group of parent access points, ordered based on the respective metrics, is generated from among the advertising mesh points, starting with a first parent access point having a corresponding optimum metric for reaching the mesh portal and independent of the corresponding signal strength indicator. A registration message is sent to each of the parent access points identifying a corresponding specified priority based on a corresponding position in the ordered group, for use by the corresponding parent access point in selecting a minimum interframe spacing for forwarding a wireless packet received from the mesh point.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes a mesh point receiving mesh advertisement messages from advertising mesh points of a wireless mesh network having a mesh portal with a wired connection to a wired network. Each mesh advertisement message specifies a corresponding metric for reaching the mesh portal and has a corresponding signal strength indicator. An ordered group of parent access points, ordered based on the respective metrics, is generated from among the advertising mesh points, starting with a first parent access point having a corresponding optimum metric for reaching the mesh portal and independent of the corresponding signal strength indicator. A registration message is sent to each of the parent access points identifying a corresponding specified priority based on a corresponding position in the ordered group, for use by the corresponding parent access point in selecting a minimum interframe spacing for forwarding a wireless packet received from the mesh point.

Abstract: Each mobile router in a mobile ad hoc network is configured for measuring a minimum interval of stable relative proximity (SProxMIN) between at least one neighbor before initiating convergence of a routing protocol. The minimum interval of stable relative proximity requires any variation in relative proximity between at least one neighbor to be stabilized below a prescribed stability threshold (S) for the prescribed minimum interval (SProxMIN) before initiating convergence of a routing protocol. Hence, mobile routers in a mobile ad hoc network can be configured to avoid prematurely initiating reconvergence according to a routing protocol due to an instability introduced into the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request for scheduling a meeting event between client endpoint devices in an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the meeting event having a starting time and duration, the meeting event requiring identifiable network resources from the network; determining whether the network will have available network capacity to supply the identifiable network resources during the meeting event; and selectively reserving the identifiable network resources for the meeting event, from the available network capacity, based on determining the network will have the available network capacity during the meeting event.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request for scheduling a meeting event between client endpoint devices in an Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the meeting event having a starting time and duration, the meeting event requiring identifiable network resources from the network; determining whether the network will have available network capacity to supply the identifiable network resources during the meeting event; and selectively reserving the identifiable network resources for the meeting event, from the available network capacity, based on determining the network will have the available network capacity during the meeting event.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a system in which multi-destination packets are sent either as multicast packets or replicated and sent as unicast packets to each member of a multicast group. Determining whether to send multicast packets or replicated unicast packets can be based on which technique achieves higher throughput and/or lower latency.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes a mesh point receiving mesh advertisement messages from advertising mesh points of a wireless mesh network having a mesh portal with a wired connection to a wired network. Each mesh advertisement message specifies a corresponding metric for reaching the mesh portal and has a corresponding signal strength indicator. An ordered group of parent access points, ordered based on the respective metrics, is generated from among the advertising mesh points, starting with a first parent access point having a corresponding optimum metric for reaching the mesh portal and independent of the corresponding signal strength indicator. A registration message is sent to each of the parent access points identifying a corresponding specified priority based on a corresponding position in the ordered group, for use by the corresponding parent access point in selecting a minimum interframe spacing for forwarding a wireless packet received from the mesh point.

Abstract: Each mobile router in a mobile ad hoc network is configured for measuring a minimum interval of stable relative proximity (SProxMIN) between at least one neighbor before initiating convergence of a routing protocol. The minimum interval of stable relative proximity requires any variation in relative proximity between at least one neighbor to be stabilized below a prescribed stability threshold (S) for the prescribed minimum interval (SProxMIN) before initiating convergence of a routing protocol. Hence, mobile routers in a mobile ad hoc network can be configured to avoid prematurely initiating reconvergence according to a routing protocol due to an instability introduced into the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating databases is disclosed. A database is updated transparently using an IDL (Interface Descriptive Language) to interface with websites on the WWW (World Wide Web). Multi-media information is parsed such that the relevant information can be integrated into an application or application framework for a user's use. The update can be performed when the device moves to a new location or a particular event occur and can be used to re-configure an entire system or just a particular application. In some embodiments, the device checks to see if a particular database is already available before obtaining a new database. The device can purge unused databases to provide space for new or additional databases.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically assigning resources to a slave device inserted into a PCI backplane utilizes pairs of PCI GNT/REQ lines as bus lines of a time division multiplexed multiplexer control bus. The slave device generates a random delay number and utilizes the number to select an unassigned time slot to be assigned to the slave device. Configuration data is transferred to the slave utilizing the already existing PCI GNT/REQ lines so that no additional bus lines and card space are required to automatically assign resources to the slave device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimally controlling the operation of object oriented computer software applications use what we call “application wrappers”. An application wrapper is a software application that gives programmers the ability to extend their programs' functionality beyond the rigid constraints placed on them by the computer system's operating system. An application wrapper is associated with each software application stored on the computer system and is loaded when the system is powered up. An object oriented display of the application wrapper is generated for the computer user, which can take almost any identifiable form. Application wrappers provide a computer user more rapid modular access to the functional and data files contained within said software applications, saving computer system resources such as RAM and processing time.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimally controlling the operation of object oriented computer software applications use what we call “application wrappers”. An application wrapper is a software application that gives programmers the ability to extend their programs' functionality beyond the rigid constraints placed on them by the computer system's operating system. An application wrapper is associated with each software application stored on the computer system and is loaded when the system is powered up. An object oriented display of the application wrapper is generated for the computer user, which can take almost any identifiable form. Application wrappers provide a computer user more rapid modular access to the functional and data files contained within said software applications, saving computer system resources such as RAM and processing time.

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus for interconnecting hardware of an electronic device with application programs for controlling the electronic device. The apparatus is divided into three separate layers. The first layer interfaces the apparatus to the hardware of an electronic device and independently controls the hardware interface protocols necessary for interconnecting the apparatus with the hardware of an electronic device. A second layer interfaces the apparatus to application programs for controlling the electronic device. The second layer independently controls the software interface protocols necessary for interconnecting the apparatus with application programs for controlling the electronic device. A router layer routes data between the first and second layers or between independently created objects located within the first and second layers.

Abstract: A method and information processing device including a touch-responsive display for displaying a menu including at least one menu item, an information icon displayed adjacent the at least one menu item and showing an action which may be performed on the menu item, and a touch icon displayed adjacent the at least one menu item in a touch-responsive area of the display. A processor is coupled to the touch-responsive display, is adapted to detect contact with the touch-responsive area defining the touch icon, and is responsive to the detecting to perform the action shown by the information icon on the corresponding menu item.

Abstract: A method for maintaining data objects in memory introduces metrics for freshness and interestingness of the data object. A freshness estimate is defined as the length of time that the data contained within the data object is expected to remain correct from the date that the object was last known to be valid. The interestingness estimate is defined as the length of time that the data object is expected to retain its usefulness to the user from the time that the data object was last used. The freshness estimate and interestingness estimate are stored in the data object along with a reference date. The freshness estimate, interestingness estimate, and reference date are updated or confirmed each time the data object is accessed. A maintenance program is periodically invoked to determine whether the data objects are outdated by comparing the time estimates associated with each data object to that object's reference date. Objects found to be outdated are candidates for removal from the system.

Abstract: A method for processing information using a personal digital assistant utilizes a standardized status bar manager (“SBM”) and status bar interfaces. All applications and the operating system's launch pad support the status bar which can be uniformly used to both show and interact with status bar messages. The SBM links together all of the status bar areas of all applications (and the operating system launch pad as well) whenever necessary. The present invention routes global status messages corresponding to incoming events to each status bar of every active application. The SBM also routes all messages to the status bar, regardless whether the message requires an action by the user or is for information only. Minimized applications are displayed on and launched from a status bar of an active application without having to first access the operating system launch pad. Finally, the SBM creates an unanswered telephone call list that includes a reason code explaining why the call went unanswered.

Abstract: A UART including a logic unit is disclosed, wherein the logic unit automatically enables or disables the UART receiver port whenever data is being processed by the UART for wireless transmission. More specifically, a logic unit is connected to a data store, to a transmit FIFO and to a UART processing unit as well as to an external CPU, wherein the logic unit analyzes the logic states of each of the signals from each of the specified connections to determine whether to enable or disable the receiver unit. An inventive method is also disclosed wherein the logic unit only enables the receiver when the data store is empty and the transmitter FIFO is empty and a receiver enable flag is set to true and a half duplex mode of operation has been specified by an external CPU. Otherwise, the logic enables the receiver only when a full duplex mode of operation has been specified and the receiver enable flag is set to a logic one.