Abstract: The invention provides quality-of-service (QoS) delivery services over a computer bus having isochronous data transfer capabilities. A transmitting node on the bus transmits a message to an intended recipient indicating a requested bandwidth for a connection. If the intended recipient has sufficient resources, it allocates an isochronous data channel on the bus and notifies the transmitter of the allocated channel. Thereafter, the transmitter transmits the data on the allocated channel. If the recipient cannot allocate a channel, it does not respond, and the transmitter thereafter detects a time-out condition and begins transmitting using a “best efforts” scheme (i.e., non-guaranteed time delivery). In a second variation, a receiving node detects that it is receiving large quantities of data from a transmitting node. In response, the receiving node allocates an isochronous data channel on the bus and notifies the transmitter of the allocated channel.

Abstract: Preparing one or more secure media effect programs, generating a binary image of the programs and associated data, loading the binary image into memory of a secondary processor, and executing the programs of the binary image with the secondary processor, substantially independent from a primary processor. A binary image builder automatically maps one or more programs and data to secondary processor memory by changing encoded binary instructions of each program before execution by the secondary processor. The changes identify locations at which the programs and data will be stored in secondary processor memory, identify locations of parameters that can be updated in real time, and enable execution control to return to a secondary processor execution kernel. The secondary processor execution kernel polls flags in a main memory to determine whether to download new or updated state data and/or program code from main memory to the secondary processor memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing distributed debugging in an extensible SOAP environment of asynchronous software web services are disclosed. Such a system may include a message originator, a diagnostics tagger, an intended message receiver, and a debug controller, which may communicate with one another via SOAP messages. The message originator originally puts the SOAP message onto the network. The diagnostics tagger modifies the SOAP message to include certain diagnostics elements that cause a breakpoint to be triggered. The intended message receiver eventually receives the message and is expected to trigger the breakpoint. The debug controller is a process that is called by the intended message receiver when a breakpoint is detected. The header of the SOAP message may include a security element and a diagnostics element. The diagnostics element may include one or more breakpoint elements. Each breakpoint element may include a debugging controller element, and one or more condition elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically loading drivers on computers for devices coupled to a communication medium such as an IEEE 1394 serial bus. Operating systems running on the computers detect when a device is connected to the communication medium. The operating systems then determine whether one of the drivers stored in memory on the device will enable the computers to utilize the device. The operating systems will then load the appropriate drivers for their respective computers and allow access to the device. If none of the drivers on the memory are suitable for a particular computer, then its operating system will prompt a user to manually insert a computer-readable medium containing the appropriate drivers. Thus, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for automatically loading device drivers.

Abstract: Preparing one or more secure media effect programs, generating a binary image of the programs and associated data, loading the binary image into memory of a secondary processor, and executing the programs of the binary image with the secondary processor, substantially independent from a primary processor. A binary image builder automatically maps one or more programs and data to secondary processor memory by changing encoded binary instructions of each program before execution by the secondary processor. The changes identify locations at which the programs and data will be stored in secondary processor memory, identify locations of parameters that can be updated in real time, and enable execution control to return to a secondary processor execution kernel. The secondary processor execution kernel polls flags in a main memory to determine whether to download new or updated state data and/or program code from main memory to the secondary processor memory.

Abstract: Multiple copies of web services reside on associated computing devices, each having an associated reputation. A client may desire to access the web service having the highest or best reputation to be ensured of a greater degree of accuracy and confidence. The client does a search, and attaches to whichever web service has the highest reputation. By running multiple copies of the web services, they may vote amongst themselves on the results in the event that one or more of the services starts giving incorrect or otherwise inconsistent results. Combining the voting with reputation data associated with each copy of the web service allows a service's reputation to be dynamically adjusted based upon how faithfully it computes the results of work items sent to it.

Abstract: Described is a service visualizer that presents a high-level view of services currently running in a distributed operating system. The service visualizer, which itself may be a service, is visual-based and uses objects (e.g., spheres) suspended in space to represent the ports of services that are currently running. Messages sent between services are represented by particles. The visualizer creates a visual collection for each service port, which in turn creates a port monitor to watch for messages on the port. The resulting visualization may be interacted with, such as for purposes of debugging.

Abstract: Described is a Web Services Application Protocol (WSAP) comprising a SOAP-based protocol that defines a web service application model based on a set of common message operations. WSAP provides a foundation for defining web services in terms of how they interact with each other. In WSAP, the behaviors of a service are each provided with an individual port, (e.g., URI), whereby the service's behaviors may be interacted with directly. WSAP also defines shared semantics for operations that identify what a message is, what the processing of message is, and how it affects the state/behavior of the receiver. The ordering of messages also provides context to what is occurring. As a result of the known characteristics of the operations and the ordering, an intermediary can process exchanged messages to add value to communications. A SOAP processing model defines composing multiple web services to run in parallel or sequentially.

Abstract: A node on a serial bus, preferably a device such as a personal computer (PC), can emulate other devices using virtual device drivers. A PC connected to a 1394 bus exposes its CROM on the bus which presents an image to other nodes on the 1394 bus and describes the functional units supported by the node. The CROM can be changed dynamically by adding unit directories to the CROM detailing peripherals connected to the PC. The PC can then be enumerated as the connected device by other PCs on the bus. The PC can emulate or morph itself into any desired device or even multiple devices at the same time. The invention also allows a PC to create devices that don't yet exist on the bus. The invention allows a user to create virtual device objects with device properties to have just in case a user plugs the particular device in to the PC.

Abstract: Several primitives form the minute essence of services, which are organizational primitives of decentralized operating systems. These primitives include a designation primitive, which comprises a port, such as the ports identifiable by the URI; a behavioral primitive, which comprises the unilateral contract; and a communication primitive, which includes a set of message types known by all services for exchanging messages in accordance with unilateral contracts.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention transform devices into Web services or special-purpose servers that are capable of communicating with personal computers. Various embodiments of the present invention allow various low-level aspects of device drivers to reside in the devices, eliminating the need for the devices to be compatible with legacy specification. Various embodiments of the present invention allow various devices to be shipped from the factory with low-level software already built in so that users are liberated from having to deal with the experience of installing and upgrading device drivers. In various embodiments of the present invention, each device is preferably a network node identifiable by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI).

Abstract: In various embodiments of the present invention, a customizable, tag-based message is a unit of information transmitted electronically from one device to another that may contain one or more references to one or more pieces of information without the need for these pieces of information to be embedded in the customizable, tag-based message. The customizable, tag-based message can comply with any suitable protocol. One suitable protocol includes a customizable, tag-based protocol, such as SOAP, but other protocols can be used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically loading drivers on computers for devices coupled to a communication medium such as an IEEE 1394 serial bus. Operating systems running on the computers detect when a device is connected to the communication medium. The operating systems then determine whether one of the drivers stored in memory on the device will enable the computers to utilize the device. The operating systems will then load the appropriate drivers for their respective computers and allow access to the device. If none of the drivers on the memory are suitable for a particular computer, then its operating system will prompt a user to manually insert a computer-readable medium containing the appropriate drivers. Thus, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for automatically loading device drivers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically loading drivers on computers for devices coupled to a communication medium such as an IEEE 1394 serial bus. Operating systems running on the computers detect when a device is connected to the communication medium. The operating systems then determine whether one of the drivers stored in memory on the device will enable the computers to utilize the device. The operating systems will then load the appropriate drivers for their respective computers and allow access to the device. If none of the drivers on the memory are suitable for a particular computer, then its operating system will prompt a user to manually insert a computer-readable medium containing the appropriate drivers. Thus, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for automatically loading device drivers.

Abstract: A node on a serial bus, preferably a device such as a personal computer (PC), can emulate other devices using virtual device drivers. A PC connected to a 1394 bus exposes its CROM on the bus which presents an image to other nodes on the 1394 bus and describes the functional units supported by the node. The CROM can be changed dynamically by adding unit directories to the CROM detailing peripherals connected to the PC. The PC can then be enumerated as the connected device by other PCs on the bus. The PC can emulate or morph itself into any desired device or even multiple devices at the same time. The invention also allows a PC to create devices that don't yet exist on the bus. The invention allows a user to create virtual device objects with device properties to have just in case a user plugs the particular device in to the PC.

Abstract: The invention provides quality-of-service (QoS) delivery services over a computer bus having isochronous data transfer capabilities. A transmitting node on the bus transmits a message to an intended recipient indicating a requested bandwidth for a connection. If the intended recipient has sufficient resources, it allocates an isochronous data channel on the bus and notifies the transmitter of the allocated channel. Thereafter, the transmitter transmits the data on the allocated channel. If the recipient cannot allocate a channel, it does not respond, and the transmitter thereafter detects a time-out condition and begins transmitting using a “best efforts” scheme (i.e., non-guaranteed time delivery). In a second variation, a receiving node detects that it is receiving large quantities of data from a transmitting node. In response, the receiving node allocates an isochronous data channel on the bus and notifies the transmitter of the allocated channel.

Abstract: The invention provides quality-of-service (QoS) delivery services over a computer bus having isochronous data transfer capabilities. A transmitting node on the bus transmits a message to an intended recipient indicating a requested bandwidth for a connection. If the intended recipient has sufficient resources, it allocates an isochronous data channel on the bus and notifies the transmitter of the allocated channel. Thereafter, the transmitter transmits the data on the allocated channel. If the recipient cannot allocate a channel, it does not respond, and the transmitter thereafter detects a time-out condition and begins transmitting using a “best efforts” scheme (i.e., non-guaranteed time delivery). In a second variation, a receiving node detects that it is receiving large quantities of data from a transmitting node. In response, the receiving node allocates an isochronous data channel on the bus and notifies the transmitter of the allocated channel.

Abstract: A method for enabling value-added hardware on an interface board in a computer system is disclosed. The method first determines whether an interface board is connected to a bus of a computer system. Then, a general-purpose top-level device driver, which controls standard functions associated with the interface board, is loaded into kernel memory space of the computer system. Next, a value-added device driver is loaded into memory of the computer system. The value-added device driver corresponds to the interface board determined to be connected to the bus of the computer system. Predetermined information, such as a password, or confidential or cryptographic information, is stored at a predetermined address within a memory space of the interface board. The predetermined address corresponds to a predetermined address within value-added hardware on the interface board. A predetermined response is received from the interface board based on the predetermined information.

Abstract: A two-computer crash dump scenario in which a snapshot of the physical memory of a target computer is extracted and stored by a host computer over an IEEE 1394 compliant serial bus is provided. A host computer debugger remotely stops execution of the core operating system of the target computer. Handshake information is then provided from the target computer core operating system to the host computer debugger. The handshake information specifies, among other information, one or more address ranges at which physical memory is present on the target computer. The host computer debugger then directly accesses the physical memory of the target computer system over the IEEE 1394 bus in accordance with the handshake information. The host computer then stores the contents of the physical memory of the target computer system.

Abstract: Efficient recursive audio processing of one or more input data streams using a multistage processor for performing one or more predetermined functions and programmable audio effects. A first stage performs a first predetermined function, such as frequency shifting function. Intermediate results are preferably mixed. The second stage applies programmable audio effects to the mixed data, such as a reverberation effect, and stores the second stage output in a destination mix bin. The second stage output is preferably transferred to a main memory accessible to a primary processor. The second stage output is directed back to the first stage of the multistage processor to perform a second predetermined function, such as three dimensional spatialization. The primary processor modifies parameters of the first predetermined function to efficiently perform dynamic operations, such as Doppler shifts and volume transitions between multiple sound sources and a mixture of those sounds as a single point source.