Abstract: A method of providing Java application layer access to hardware peripheral memory mapped registers is provided together with a processor adapted to implement such a method. A fixed memory address space for a hardware peripheral's memory mapped registers is identified, and a Java object is constructed having elements which occupy this fixed memory address space. This allows a Java application to be provided with access to the hardware peripheral's memory mapped registers directly through the Java object. A new Java class is defined having base address and length parameters and in some cases also having a type parameter. This is used in constructing the Java object. When a Java object has an object descriptor which is effectively an object header and a pointer to where the object data is located, constructing the Java object may be done by creating an object descriptor, and then creating an object handle for the Java object which points to the object descriptor.

Abstract: A method of providing Java application layer access to hardware peripheral memory mapped registers is provided together with a processor adapted to implement such a method. A fixed memory address space for a hardware peripheral's memory mapped registers is identified, and a Java object is constructed having elements which occupy this fixed memory address space. This allows a Java application to be provided with access to the hardware peripheral's memory mapped registers directly through the Java object. A new Java class is defined having base address and length parameters and in some cases also having a type parameter. This is used in constructing the Java object. When a Java object has an object descriptor which is effectively an object header and a pointer to where the object data is located, constructing the Java object may be done by creating an object descriptor, and then creating an object handle for the Java object which points to the object descriptor.

Abstract: A processor/processing arrangement, such as a Java or Java like processing environment is provided with simplified the processing of received interrupts received. Rather than having interrupt service routines run by an operating system, a scheduler is provided for performing thread switching between various application layer threads, the application layer threads including application layer threads designated to handle interrupts, and also including conventional application threads. In the processing environment, the application layer threads including the application and interrupt handling threads would all be threads running on a virtual machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing operations on data transferred between a peripheral directly into a data structure stored in a memory. The data structure may comprise a Java or Java-like data structure.

Abstract: An apparatus that supports processors executing interpreted language applications. A software support layer combined with a virtual machine provides a consistent programming view to application programmers across platforms. The support layer comprises functionality missing from the virtual machine, which when combined with the virtual machine, eliminates the need for an operating system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing application layer access to hardware peripheral memory mapped registers is provided together with a processor adapted to implement such a method. A fixed memory address space for a hardware peripheral's memory mapped registers is identified, and a object is constructed having elements which occupy this fixed memory address space. This allows a application to be provided with access to the hardware peripheral's memory mapped registers directly through the object. A new class is defined having base address and length parameters and in some cases also having a type parameter. This is used in constructing the object. When a object has an object descriptor which is effectively an object header and a pointer to where the object data is located, constructing the object may be done by creating an object descriptor, and then creating an object handle for the object which points to the object descriptor.

Abstract: A resource sharing system is provided which makes a resource connected to one processor available to a second processor. A communications protocol is provided which consists of a first and second peer interprocessor communications protocols running on the first and second processors. A physical layer interconnection between the first processor and the second processor is also provided. There is a first application layer entity on the first processor and a corresponding second application layer entity on the second processor, the first application layer entity and the second application layer entity together being adapted to arbitrate access to the resource between the first processor and the second processor using the first interprocessor communications protocol, the physical layer interconnection and the second intercommunications protocol to provide a communication channel between the first application layer entity and the second application layer entity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing operations on data transferred between a peripheral directly into a data structure stored in a memory. The data structure may comprise a Java or Java-like data structure.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a contextual gesture interface for electronic devices. The contextual gesture interface activates a function corresponding to the characteristics of an object making contact with a display. The system may determine the time period of the contact as well as the size of the contact. The functions may include a wide array of navigation tools or editing tools. The contextual gesture interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing operations on data transferred between a peripheral directly into a data structure stored in a memory. The data structure may comprise a Java or Java-like data structure.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides a touch-responsive graphical user interface for electronic devices. The graphical user interface determines a pointer size of the object making contact with a display and activates a function corresponding to the pointer size. The graphical user interface may invoke a wide array of functions such as a navigation tool, draw function, an erase function, or a drag function. The graphical user interface of the present invention may be especially useful in portable electronic devices with small displays.

Abstract: A reduced-power method of updating an LCD display. LCD displays are refreshed line by line. Lines of the display which do not need to be updated, i.e. which are blank, are refreshed with less power than lines which require updating. This is achieved by latching display data to the blank lines for only a very short period of time.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically recalibrating a resistive touch screen. The resistance of a resistive touch screen layer is subject to change over time, while the resistance of silver bus bars connecting the resistive touch screen layer to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) elements is not. Calibration tables are used to convert an ADC count representing a voltage across the entire touch screen to an ADC count representing a percentage drop across the touch screen layer only. A new calibration table is generated periodically by measuring the current through the touch screen and using this to determine a new voltage drop across the touch screen layer only.