Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for controlling a shader declaratively. A declarative programming model enables declarative statements to be used that control an instantiation of a shader in a declarative presentation framework. A shader-based effect that was specified declaratively is instantiated programmatically for rendering graphic effects for a software application. Declarative statements are sent to a shader processor to enable a shader to render the graphical effect customizations for the software application. A method is also described for utilizing a declarative programming model as a multiple pass effect that controls and encapsulates a set of shaders to be run during a multiple pass operation.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media for displaying two-dimensional objects on a display device are disclosed. Rendering requests are received from an application to render two-dimensionally modeled graphics to a display device. Primitive geometries of drawing calls of the rendering requests are tessellated into sequences of triangles. The vertices of the triangles are mapped to a vertex buffer along with an index to identify associated constant data. Batching operations store and communicate calls and mapped data to a graphics processing unit by way of a three-dimensional rendering application program interface. Constant data associated with the mapped data are indexed and appended together in a constant buffer, thereby allowing drawing calls to be coalesced. A staging buffer and a staging texture are provided for batching text anti-aliasing operations. Shader fragments are precompiled and organized by way of a predetermined lookup table.

Abstract: Architecture that expresses scene composition and animation in a form that can run entirely on the graphics processing unit (GPU). The architecture stores retained graph information (e.g., scene graph and animation information) as texture information, and uses shaders (e.g., vertex and pixel) to evaluate time information, evaluate animation, evaluate transforms, and rasterize paths. Additionally, the architecture provides the ability to compute animation positions and redraw entirely on the GPU without per primitive CPU intervention.

Abstract: In the preparation of accounting data for transactions involving money on at least one money transfer system, in particular on an automated teller machine, data is exchanged using the so-called SWIFT code, for example. The management system normally produces the accounting data in a standard form for all transaction following a format such as this. For flexible preparation of accounting data for different financial institutes, it is now proposed that the system comprise a conversion device (PTSIA) which is connected to the management system (CCMS) in order to prepare the accounting data in different ways for different financial institutes (B1, B2, . . . ) through the conversion device (PTSIA) for the respective financial institute (B1) converting the first accounting data items (D-IN) into second accounting data items as a function of presets (TMPL), wherein the presets (TMPL) indicate at least one format (DTA) desired by the financial institute (B1) for the second accounting data items (D-OUT).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charging circuit (20) for charging an energy storage element (30). The charging circuit (20) comprises a feedback module (201), a controlling module (202), a switching module (203) and a storage module (204), wherein the controlling module (202) is configured to adjust the control signal so as to increase the ON-OFF ratio of the switching module (203) when the feedback signal is substantially smaller than a reference signal, or to adjust the control signal so as to decrease the ON-OFF ratio of the switching module (203) when the feedback signal is substantially larger than a reference signal. By applying the charging circuit (20), the charging time for the energy storage element (30) is shorter and therefore less power from the power source (10) is consumed.

Abstract: A method and an administration system (CCMS) are proposed for monitoring of disposal processes for funds (GM) which are accepted by at least one money acceptance system (CP) and which are removed from the monetary cycle, wherein inventory data (B1, B2) about the disposed funds (GM) are detected. The administration system (CCMS) has a first data interface (IF1) in order to receive first inventory data (B1) from the at least one money acceptance system (CP) and has a second data interface disposal device (WTU) which disposes of the funds (GM) from the monetary cycle. In addition, the administration system (CCMS) has at least one computing unit which compares the first and the second inventory data (B1, B2) with each other, and depending on this comparison, generates results data (R) for at least one device (BK) which administers the ownership of the funds (GM).

Abstract: An intelligent caching data structure and mechanisms for storing visual information via objects and data representing graphics information. The data structure is generally associated with mechanisms that intelligently control how the visual information therein is populated and used. The cache data structure can be traversed for direct rendering, or traversed for pre-processing the visual information into an instruction stream for another entity. Much of the data typically has no external reference to it, thereby enabling more of the information stored in the data structure to be processed to conserve resources. A transaction/batching-like model for updating the data structure enables external modifications to the data structure without interrupting reading from the data structure, and such that changes received are atomically implemented. A method and mechanism are provided to call back to an application program in order to create or re-create portions of the data structure as needed, to conserve resources.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for determining a contact point in time for contacting a money transfer system, which comprise a data processing system to which data with information on the variation with time of the demand for supplying money to the money transfer system (22 to 50) and/or on the variation with time of the demand for removing money from the money transfer system (22 to 50) can be transmitted. Based on the variation with time of the demand, the data processing system determines at least one next demand point in time at which the money transfer system (22 to 50) has a demand for a supply and/or removal of money.

Abstract: For a motor vehicle control device including one or more first high-side-actuated loads which is/are driven by a load actuator and, in particular, at least one further high-side actuated load, wherein the load actuator and the loads are supplied with voltage via at least two high-side paths and via one or more low-side paths connected to a reference potential, a reliable, electronic polarity reversal protection, which ensures a high degree of operational security, is to be made available for a control device, which polarity reversal protection is more cost-effective than existing circuits for polarity reversal protection. For this purpose, at least one active semiconductor component is connected as a polarity reversal protection into a low-side path.

Abstract: Architecture that expresses scene composition and animation in a form that can run entirely on the graphics processing unit (GPU). The architecture stores retained graph information (e.g., scene graph and animation information) as texture information, and uses shaders (e.g., vertex and pixel) to evaluate time information, evaluate animation, evaluate transforms, and rasterize paths. Additionally, the architecture provides the ability to compute animation positions and redraw entirely on the GPU without per primitive CPU intervention.

Abstract: An intelligent caching data structure and mechanisms for storing visual information via objects and data representing graphics information. The data structure is generally associated with mechanisms that intelligently control how the visual information therein is populated and used. The cache data structure can be traversed for direct rendering, or traversed for pre-processing the visual information into an instruction stream for another entity. Much of the data typically has no external reference to it, thereby enabling more of the information stored in the data structure to be processed to conserve resources. A transaction/batching-like model for updating the data structure enables external modifications to the data structure without interrupting reading from the data structure, and such that changes received are atomically implemented. A method and mechanism are provided to call back to an application program in order to create or re-create portions of the data structure as needed, to conserve resources.

Abstract: An intelligent caching data structure and mechanisms for storing visual information via objects and data representing graphics information. The data structure is generally associated with mechanisms that intelligently control how the visual information therein is populated and used. The cache data structure can be traversed for direct rendering, or traversed for pre-processing the visual information into an instruction stream for another entity. Much of the data typically has no external reference to it, thereby enabling more of the information stored in the data structure to be processed to conserve resources. A transaction/batching-like model for updating the data structure enables external modifications to the data structure without interrupting reading from the data structure, and such that changes received are atomically implemented. A method and mechanism are provided to call back to an application program in order to create or re-create portions of the data structure as needed, to conserve resources.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for controlling a shader declaratively. A declarative programming model enables declarative statements to be used that control an instantiation of a shader in a declarative presentation framework. A shader-based effect that was specified declaratively is instantiated programmatically for rendering graphic effects for a software application. Declarative statements are sent to a shader processor to enable a shader to render the graphical effect customizations for the software application. A method is also described for utilizing a declarative programming model as a multiple pass effect that controls and encapsulates a set of shaders to be run during a multiple pass operation.

Abstract: A visual tree structure as specified by a program is constructed and maintained by a visual system's user interface thread. As needed, the tree structure is traversed on the UI thread, with changes compiled into change queues. A secondary rendering thread that handles animation and graphical composition takes the content from the change queues, to construct and maintain a condensed visual tree. Static visual subtrees are collapsed, leaving a condensed tree with only animated attributes such as transforms as parent nodes, such that animation data is managed on the secondary thread, with references into the visual tree. When run, the rendering thread processes the change queues, applies changes to the condensed trees, and updates the structure of the animation list as necessary by resampling animated values at their new times. Content in the condensed visual tree is then rendered and composed. Animation and a composition communication protocol are also provided.

Abstract: A wireless peripheral interface is used for coupling with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for connecting a wireless peripheral with a host computer or controller. Wireless peripheral devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch pad, joysticks, and game controllers) transmit communication signals, e.g., radio frequency (RF) signals, to the peripheral interface, which are received and processed into formats suitable for transmission to the host computer or controller via USB, either alone or in combination with other standard external bus systems, such as serial and PS/2.

Abstract: A media integration layer including an application programming interface (API) and an object model allows program code developers to interface in a consistent manner with a scene graph data structure in order to output graphics. Via the interfaces, program code adds child visuals to other visuals to build up a hierarchical scene graph, writes Instruction Lists such as geometry data, image data, animation data and other data for output, and may specify transform, clipping and opacity properties on visuals. The media integration layer and API enable programmers to accomplish composition effects within their applications in a straightforward manner, while leveraging the graphics processing unit in a manner that does not adversely impact normal application performance. A multiple-level system includes the ability to combine different media types (such as 2D, 3D, Video, Audio, text and imaging) and animate them smoothly and seamlessly.

Abstract: An intelligent caching data structure and mechanisms for storing visual information via objects and data representing graphics information. The data structure is generally associated with mechanisms that intelligently control how the visual information therein is populated and used. The cache data structure can be traversed for direct rendering, or traversed for pre-processing the visual information into an instruction stream for another entity. Much of the data typically has no external reference to it, thereby enabling more of the information stored in the data structure to be processed to conserve resources. A transaction/batching-like model for updating the data structure enables external modifications to the data structure without interrupting reading from the data structure, and such that changes received are atomically implemented. A method and mechanism are provided to call back to an application program in order to create or re-create portions of the data structure as needed, to conserve resources.

Abstract: A method and system implemented in an application programming interface (API) and an object model allows program code developers to interface in a consistent manner with a scene graph data structure to output graphics. Via the interfaces, program code writes drawing primitives such as geometry data, image data, animation data and other data to visuals that represent a drawing surface, including validation visual objects, drawing visual objects and surface visual objects. The code can also specify transform, clipping and opacity properties on visuals, and add child visuals to other visuals to build up a hierarchical scene graph. A visual manager traverses the scene graph to provide rich graphics data to lower-level graphics components.

Abstract: A wireless peripheral interface is used for coupling with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port for connecting a wireless peripheral with a host computer or controller. Wireless peripheral devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch pad, joysticks, and game controllers) transmit communication signals, e.g., radio frequency (RF) signals, to the peripheral interface, which are received and processed into formats suitable for transmission to the host computer or controller via USB, either alone or in combination with other standard external bus systems, such as serial and PS/2.

Abstract: A sensor element is described for determining a physical property of a measuring gas, in particular the pressure or the concentration of a gas component in a gas mixture, in particular in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The sensor element has an electrode exposed to the measuring gas and a reference electrode exposed to a reference gas, ambient air in particular, through a porous volume. The two electrodes are separated from one another by a solid electrolyte. To avoid premature aging of the reference electrode as a result of deposits of foreign substances contained in the reference gas or of chemical interactions caused by the foreign substances, the volume material is selected with respect to its physical and chemical properties in such a way that the foreign substances are bound in the volume and/or are subjected to a chemical reaction.