Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method that facilitates compression of video data in a computer system by performing the time-consuming task of computing the difference between successive frames of video data independently from the central processing unit. This frees the often-overburdened central processing unit from performing this time-consuming compression operation and can thereby improve the handling of video data. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention can be characterized as a method for compressing video data in a computer system. This method includes receiving a stream of data from a current video frame in the computer system. It also includes computing a difference frame from the current video frame and a previous video frame “on-the-fly” as the current video frame streams into the computer system. The method additionally includes storing the difference frame in a memory in the computer system.

Abstract: A method for automatically switching a computer to a password protected screen saver mode when a computer user leaves the proximity of the computer. A proximity sensor determines whether or not an individual is located proximate the computer. The proximity sensor interfaces with either the computer a bus bridge, a keyboard controller, a keyboard, or some another component of the computer to cause the computer to start executing a screen saver program responsive to an output signal from the proximity sensor. A variety of proximity sensors may be used, including ultrasound, infrared, or electromagnetic proximity sensors. A proximity sensor may also detect the presence of a computer user by detecting the weight of the user at a location proximate the computer.

Abstract: A method that employs a ROM shadowing circuit to transfer ROM data to the RAM in order to implement the ROM shadowing process required during the initialization of a PC. When the ROM shadowing circuit detects a system reset signal, the ROM shadowing circuit holds the CPU in a reset state while the ROM shadowing circuit copies the ROM data to the RAM. When the data copy is completed, the ROM shadowing circuit releases the CPU, which then begins fetching and executing instructions that comprise firmware initialization routines from the RAM.

Abstract: Described are methods of tissue marking using microparticles that have carbon surfaces, and that contain a contrast agent. Preferred microparticles include a permanently radiopaque particle substrate and a pyrolytic carbon surface.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer system that maintains status information for several peripheral devices in a status register, which is located within a core logic unit in the computer system. In this embodiment, a peripheral device updates the status register if its status changes by performing a bus master operation to transfer status information to the status register. It then generates an interrupt to indicate to a processor that it requires servicing. When the processor services the interrupt, the processor merely has to read the status register to determine which peripheral device requires processing. This is a very fast operation because the status register is internal to the core logic. No time-consuming polling of peripheral devices is required to determine the status of the peripheral devices. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus within a core logic device that maintains status information for peripheral devices in a status register.

Abstract: A method for automatically switching a computer to a password protected screen saver mode when a computer user leaves the proximity of the computer. A proximity sensor determines whether or not an individual is located proximate the computer. The proximity sensor interfaces with either the computer a bus bridge, a keyboard controller, a keyboard, or some another component of the computer to cause the computer to start executing a screen saver program responsive to an output signal from the proximity sensor. A variety of proximity sensors may be used, including ultrasound, infrared, or electromagnetic proximity sensors. A proximity sensor may also detect the presence of a computer user by detecting the weight of the user at a location proximate the computer.

Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.

Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.

Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method that maintains status information for several peripheral devices in a status register, which is located within a core logic unit in the computer system. In this embodiment, a peripheral device updates the status register if its status changes by performing a bus master operation to transfer status information to the status register. It then generates an interrupt to indicate to a processor that it requires servicing. When the processor services the interrupt, the processor merely has to read the status register to determine which peripheral device requires processing. This is a very fast operation because the status register is internal to the core logic. No time-consuming polling of peripheral devices is required to determine the status of the peripheral devices.

Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.

Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.

Abstract: A system for automatically switching a computer to a password protected screen saver mode when a computer user leaves the proximity of the computer. The system includes a proximity sensor that determines whether or not an individual is located proximate the computer. The proximity sensor interfaces with either the computer a bus bridge, a keyboard controller, a keyboard, or some another component of the computer to cause the computer to start executing a screen saver program responsive to an output signal from the proximity sensor. A variety of proximity sensors may be used, including ultrasound, infrared, or electromagnetic proximity sensors. A proximity sensor may also detect the presence of the computer user by detecting the weight of the user at a location proximate the computer.

Abstract: Described are methods of embolization using an embolizing agent composition that includes microparticles with carbon surfaces, and comprising a contrast agent. Preferred microparticles include a permanently radiopaque particle substrate and a pyrolytic carbon surface.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method that maintains status information for several peripheral devices in a status register, which is located within a core logic unit in the computer system. In this embodiment, a peripheral device updates the status register if its status changes by performing a bus master operation to transfer status information to the status register. It then generates an interrupt to indicate to a processor that it requires servicing. When the processor services the interrupt, the processor merely has to read the status register to determine which peripheral device requires processing. This is a very fast operation because the status register is internal to the core logic. No time-consuming polling of peripheral devices is required to determine the status of the peripheral devices.

Abstract: A method that employs a ROM shadowing circuit to transfer ROM data to the RAM in order to implement the ROM shadowing process required during the initialization of a PC. When the ROM shadowing circuit detects a system reset signal, the ROM shadowing circuit holds the CPU in a reset state while the ROM shadowing circuit copies the ROM data to the RAM. When the data copy is completed, the ROM shadowing circuit releases the CPU, which then begins fetching and executing instructions that comprise firmware initialization routines from the RAM.

Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.

Abstract: A computer system, method, and controller bus agent for control access to a computer bus. The computer system includes a parallel architecture in which plural bus agents are directly coupled to the computer bus. Each bus agent includes plural bus requester ports each coupled to a different bus requester. As such, the computer system employs a relatively flat, parallel architecture that handles bus requests from the bus requesters in parallel. The controller bus agent includes an internal arbiter and an external arbiter. The internal arbiter arbitrates between bus requests received from the plural bus requesters coupled to the controller bus agent. The external arbiter arbitrates between the bus requests received from other bus agents and from the internal arbiter.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus within a computer system that maintains status information for peripheral devices in a status register, which is located within a central processing unit in the computer system. In this embodiment, a peripheral device updates the status register if its status changes by performing a bus master operation to transfer status information to the status register. It then generates an interrupt to indicate to a processor that it requires servicing. When the processor services the interrupt, the processor performs an internal read of the status register to determine which peripheral device requires processing. No time-consuming polling of peripheral devices is required to determine the status of the peripheral devices. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus within a central processing unit that maintains status information for peripheral devices in a status register.

Abstract: A computer system and method is described for improved storage of computer system configuration information. A ROM module includes both a BIOS ROM portion and a configuration ROM portion. The configuration ROM includes a backup copy of the system configuration parameters stored in a battery-powered configuration CMOS RAM. If the configuration CMOS RAM fails to provide valid configuration data, the contents of the configuration ROM are used to configure the computer system. If the contents of the configuration ROM are also invalid, default configuration values are provided by the BIOS ROM. User modification of the default values may be effected through a setup utility program, and the configuration ROM then programmed accordingly.