Abstract: A circuit-based digital communications network is provided for a large data center environment that utilizes circuit switching in lieu of packet switching in order to lower the cost of the network and to gain performance efficiencies. A method for transmitting data in such a network comprises sending a setup request for a path for transmitting the data to a destination node and then speculatively sending the data to the destination node before the setup request is completed.

Abstract: A stylus system and method for determining the three-dimensional position and orientation of a stylus operating within a volume located above a surface of a display device is described. In some embodiments, the stylus system includes a stylus and a display device. The stylus senses one or more magnetic fields generated from a set of transmitting coils associated with the display device and transmits sensing information over an RF channel to a receiver in the display device. The display device determines the three-dimensional position of the stylus by applying a cell-based position reconstruction technique that compares the received sensing information with predetermined magnetic field values associated with one or more predetermined regions located above the surface of the display device. The cell-based position reconstruction technique accommodates magnetic field distortions due to the presence of conductive elements within or near the display device.

Abstract: Optical user input technology comprises three-dimensional (3D) input sensors and 3D location emitters to enable high-precision input in a 3D space, and the 3D location emitter may be a stylus or other writing or pointing device. Certain implementations may comprise an orientation assembly for transmitting orientation of the 3D location emitter in addition to location within a 3D space, and some implementations may also use selectively identifiable signaling from the 3D location emitters to the 3D input sensors to distinguish one 3D location emitter from another, to transmit data other data from a 3D location emitter to a 3D location sensor, or as a means of providing orientation information for the 3D location emitter with respect to the 3D location sensor. Also disclosed are position fixing, indoor navigation, and other complementary applications using 3D input sensors and/or 3D location emitters.

Abstract: A stylus device receives light from a display though an optical element that is adapted to increase the field curvature of an image formed on an image sensor of the stylus device. Based on the size and shape of a portion of the image that is in focus, a distance, orientation, and/or azimuth of the stylus device with respect to the display can be determined. In addition, a position corresponding to each pixel, or groups of pixels, is encoded into blue light emitted by each pixel or group of pixels of the display. Upon initialization, or after a loss of synchronization, the stylus device can determine its position with respect to the pixels by decoding the encoded position. After synchronizing its position with the display, the stylus device can determine its subsequent positions by tracking pixels of the display.

Abstract: A circuit-based digital communications network is provided for a large data center environment that utilizes circuit switching in lieu of packet switching in order to lower the cost of the network and to gain performance efficiencies. A method for transmitting data in such a network comprises sending a setup request for a path for transmitting the data to a destination node and then speculatively sending the data to the destination node before the setup request is completed.

Abstract: Optical user input technology comprises three-dimensional (3D) input sensors and 3D location emitters to enable high-precision input in a 3D space, and the 3D location emitter may be a stylus or other writing or pointing device. Certain implementations may comprise an orientation assembly for transmitting orientation of the 3D location emitter in addition to location within a 3D space, and some implementations may also use selectively identifiable signaling from the 3D location emitters to the 3D input sensors to distinguish one 3D location emitter from another, to transmit data other data from a 3D location emitter to a 3D location sensor, or as a means of providing orientation information for the 3D location emitter with respect to the 3D location sensor. Also disclosed are position fixing, indoor navigation, and other complementary applications using 3D input sensors and/or 3D location emitters.

Abstract: A stylus system and method for determining the three-dimensional position and orientation of a stylus operating within a volume located above a surface of a display device is described. In some embodiments, the stylus system includes a stylus and a display device. The stylus senses one or more magnetic fields generated from a set of transmitting coils associated with the display device and transmits sensing information over an RF channel to a receiver in the display device. The display device determines the three-dimensional position of the stylus by applying a cell-based position reconstruction technique that compares the received sensing information with predetermined magnetic field values associated with one or more predetermined regions located above the surface of the display device. The cell-based position reconstruction technique accommodates magnetic field distortions due to the presence of conductive elements within or near the display device.

Abstract: A stylus device receives light from a display though an optical element that is adapted to increase the field curvature of an image formed on an image sensor of the stylus device. Based on the size and shape of a portion of the image that is in focus, a distance, orientation, and/or azimuth of the stylus device with respect to the display can be determined. In addition, a position corresponding to each pixel, or groups of pixels, is encoded into blue light emitted by each pixel or group of pixels of the display. Upon initialization, or after a loss of synchronization, the stylus device can determine its position with respect to the pixels by decoding the encoded position. After synchronizing its position with the display, the stylus device can determine its subsequent positions by tracking pixels of the display.

Abstract: A subscription-based computing device has hardware and a subscription enforcer implemented in the hardware. The enforcer has an accumulator that accumulates a usage value as the computing device is being used and an expiration value register that stores an expiration value. The enforcer allows the computing device to operate in a subscription mode without hindrance and with full use when the usage value is less than the stored expiration value, and allows the computing device to operate in an expiration mode with hindrance and without full use when the usage value reaches the stored expiration value to signal that the subscription for the computing device has expired.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reducing a potential thief's motivation to steal an electronic device, by rendering the device inoperative at some time after it is stolen. The mechanism used to deter theft may include a modified primary integrated circuit chip in the electronic device, such as the central processing unit (CPU), a memory controller chip, or a primary input/output (I/O) chip. The chip may be important enough to the normal operation of the electronic device such that without normal operation of the chip, the electronic device also would not operate normally, thus rendering the electronic device partially or fully disabled. A “recharger” device may be used to recharge, or reset the operability of the chip.

Abstract: A user interface allows a user to input handwritten, key-press, and spoken text in a seamless, synchronized manner. A text input panel accepts soft keyboard presses and handwritten words, characters, and gestures. A text recognizer/synchronizer integrates textual input from various sources while recognizing and preserving the order in which a user entered text via the soft keyboard, via handwriting, and/or by speaking. Synchronized text may be displayed in a stage area of the text input panel before being passed to an operating system message router and/or an application program. While in handwriting recognition mode, various permutations and combinations of a word recognition area, a character recognition area, and a keybar/keypad may optionally be displayed.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: An electromagnetic digitizer arrangement that may include a comb-like pattern of sensing traces that form various sensing loops depending upon the configurations of various switches is described. The comb arrangement of traces may be fabricated using only a single layer per sensing axis. Thus, the digitizer may be fabricated in a technology, such as indium tin oxide on glass, that cannot provide plated-through holes.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve the read/write performance of a hard drive is presented. The hard drive includes solid state, non-volatile (NV) memory as a read/write cache. Data specified by the operating system is stored in the NV memory. The operating system provides a list of data to be put in NV memory. The data includes data to be pinned in NV memory and data that is dynamic. Pinned data persists in NV memory until the operating system commands it to be flushed. Dynamic data can be flushed by the hard drive controller. Data sent by an application for storage is temporary stored in NV memory in data blocks until the operating system commits it to the disk.

Abstract: Dynamic pagination for electronic documents, such as electronic books, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first processes a document made up of at least text, as a number of segments. Second, the method determines a number of page breaks within a predetermined segment. This segment, for example, may be entered into the memory of a viewing device, such as an electronic book device. Third, the method renders a predetermined page within the predetermined segment, and finally displays the predetermined page. For example, the page can be displayed on a display device such as a flat-panel display of an electronic book device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reducing a potential thief's motivation to steal an electronic device, by rendering the device inoperative at some time after it is stolen. The mechanism used to deter theft may include a modified primary integrated circuit chip in the electronic device, such as the central processing unit (CPU), a memory controller chip, or a primary input/output (I/O) chip. The chip may be important enough to the normal operation of the electronic device such that without normal operation of the chip, the electronic device also would not operate normally, thus rendering the electronic device partially or fully disabled. A “recharger” device may be used to recharge, or reset the operability of the chip.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing annotations for a non-modifiable document is disclosed. Once it is determined that an annotation is to be created, the system determines the file position of the selected object. The file position of the selected object is stored along with the created annotation in another file or a non-read only portion of a file storing the document. Using the file position, the annotation may be properly identified with the selected object without modifying the non-modifiable document.