Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a radius filler. A lattice is formed of connecting elongate members having a three-dimensional shape of the radius filler. A resin is placed within the lattice.

Abstract: A method of interfacing used on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer systems is provided. Each remote computer system includes a video display. Applied to video games, the method creates a first visual representation of a first player on a first remote computer system, identifies an interest and a skill level of the first player for at least one video game, indicates predetermined personal characteristics of the first player, saves the visual representation, interest, skill levels and personal characteristics of the first player, accesses the central computer system from the first remote computer system, selects a second player who has accessed the central computer system from a second remote computer system, and invites the second player to play a selected video game. The second player may access the visual representation, interest, skill levels and personal characteristics of the first player.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon processing devices and systems are constructed to modify the combustion characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels and emissions for the purpose of emissions reduction and to increase the overall performance characteristics of the engine. According to one exemplary embodiment, a catalytic device for processing a fluid containing hydrocarbons includes a reactive body formed of a plurality of metallic materials arranged in a layered structure. The plurality of metallic materials is formed of at least two different materials. The body has an inner core member having a first density and another region, that is formed along a longitudinal length of the rolled layered structure, has a second density which is less than the first density.

Abstract: A system for providing user assistance receives a request for user assistance from a component on a user interface. The component includes a help identifier, and the request is generated by a type of user selection, such as the clicking of an icon. The system determines a level of user assistance based on the type of selection and retrieves user assistance content based on the help identifier and the determined level of user assistance. In one embodiment, the user interface includes three levels of user assistance.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon processing devices and systems are constructed to modify the combustion characteristics of hydrocarbon fuels and emissions for the purpose of emissions reduction and to increase the overall performance characteristics of the engine. According to one exemplary embodiment, a catalytic device for processing a fluid containing hydrocarbons includes a reactive body formed of a plurality of metallic materials arranged in a layered structure. The plurality of metallic materials is formed of at least two different materials. The body has an inner core member having a first density and another region, that is formed along a longitudinal length of the rolled layered structure, has a second density which is less than the first density.

Abstract: A hierarchically structured electronic document includes a parent node, a first and a second child of the parent node. The first child is configured as a named role child, the named role child having a first child component, the named role child specifying a relationship between the first child component and the parent node. The second child is configured as an index role child and has a plurality of second child components. The index role child specifies that all second child components are index children. The second child components collectively define and are configured to be rendered in the order in which the second child components appear under the second child. Collisions between named role and index children are avoided as the document includes a role (either a name role or an index role) between the parent and each child of the parent that is at the same hierarchical level.

Abstract: A method of interfacing used on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of remote computer system is provided. Each remote computer system includes a video display. The method includes the steps of creating a first visual representation of a first user on the visual display of the first computer system and a second visual representation of a second user on the visual display of the second computer system. The second visual representation is then displayed on the visual display of the first computer system and the first visual representation is displayed on the video display of the second computer system.

Abstract: A Methods of interfacing and interacting on a network having a central computer system and a plurality of telephone line-connected remote computer systems is provided, each remote computer system including a video display. The network methods include the means for and steps of creating a first visual representation of a first user on the visual display of the first computer system and a second visual representation of a second user on the visual display of the second computer system. The second visual representation is then displayed on the visual display of the first computer system and the first visual representation is displayed on the video display of the second computer system. The network and method allow an application program e.g. a video game in which a first player's selected visual representation, interest, skill levels and personal characteristics may be accessed by another player who is invited to play with the first to be employed by at least two primary users.

Abstract: An unconstrained equalization method and apparatus with gain and timing bias to control runaway are provided for a direct access storage device (DASD) data channel. A direction for moving each of a plurality of tap weights of a finite impulse response (FIR) filter is calculated. New tap weights are determined for each of a plurality of tap weights in the direction. A gain of the FIR filter for the new tap weights is compared with a set threshold gain value. A polarity of a gain bias is set to adjust a gain of a gain loop of the data channel by a preselected amount responsive to the compared gain and set threshold gain values, A phase lag of the FIR filter for the new tap weights is compared with a set threshold phase lag value. A polarity of a timing bias is set to adjust a phase lag of a timing loop of the data channel by a preselected amount responsive to the compared phase lag and set threshold phase lag values.

Abstract: An equalization method and apparatus with gain adjustment are provided for a direct access storage device (DASD) data channel. A direction for moving each of a plurality of tap weights is calculated. New tap weights are determined for each of a plurality of tap weights in the direction. A gain of the FIR filter for the new tap weights is compared with a set threshold gain value. A gain of a gain loop of the data channel is incrementally adjusted responsive to the compared gain and set threshold gain values. A phase lag of the FIR filter for the new tap weights is compared with a set threshold phase lag value. A phase of a timing loop of the data channel is incrementally adjusted responsive to the compared phase lag and set threshold phase lag values.

Abstract: A multi-track density direct access storage device is disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a direct access storage device for data storage within a data processing system comprises a housing, a rotatable spindle, at least one disk, and several heads. The disk is fixedly mounted to the rotatable spindle, and the rotatable spindle is rotated by a motor within the housing. A first disk surface of the disk has a first track density and a second disk surface of the disk has a second track density; wherein the second track density is preferably greater than the first track density. Each of the several heads contains a transducer to read and write information from and to the disk during the disk rotation.

Abstract: In a ultra high density, multiple-disk drive, track switches within a cylinder of tracks as well as track switches to tracks on other cylinders both require a movement of the head stack actuator. Track switching latency in such a disk drive is reduced by overlapping pre-movement portions of the track switching process with the data transfer operation of the currently active recording head. In addition, post-movement portions of the track switching process are overlapped with the movement of the heads so that the next selected read/write head may begin a data transfer operation immediately upon arrival at the next track. Further, the pre-movement and post-movement portions of the track-switch process may be overlapped with low displacement movement of the read/write heads relative to the currently active track or the next track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for variable spindle rotation speed in a direct access storage device (DASD). The direct access storage device (DASD) includes a multi-phase, brushless, direct current (DC) spindle motor. Speed and commutation control signals are applied to a plurality of spindle motor drivers for normally operating the plurality of spindle motor drivers in saturation mode while performing read and write operations. A spindle rotational speed is detected and compared with a predetermined spindle speed range. Responsive to the detected spindle rotational speed being within said predetermined spindle speed range, normal operations of the direct access storage device (DASD) are enabled. One or more write sync fields are provided on each surface of a magnetic disk media. The write sync field is used for timing write operations in the direct access storage device.

Abstract: A multi-track density direct access storage device is disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a direct access storage device for data storage within a data processing system comprises a housing, a rotatable spindle, at least one disk, and several heads. The disk is fixedly mounted to the rotatable spindle, and the rotatable spindle is rotated by a motor within the housing. A first disk surface of the disk has a first track density and a second disk surface of the disk has a second track density; wherein the second track density is preferably greater than the first track density. Each of the several heads contains a transducer to read and write information from and to the disk during the disk rotation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for optimizing movement of a disk drive's head actuator arm away from a magnetic latch that holds the arm in a parked position at the Inner Diameter (ID) of a disk. Current energizing of the arm's actuator motor moves the arm away from the magnetic latch and is controlled to compensate for any change in magnetic holding force. When the disk drive is powered up, a current pulse of one polarity is applied to the actuator motor. This initial current pulse normally moves the arm away from the magnetic latch and is followed by a current pulse of the opposite polarity to decelerate movement of the arm. If this initial sequence fails to move the arm away from the magnetic latch, the magnitude of the two current pulses is increased, and the opposite polarity pulse is followed by a small magnitude current of the one polarity. The read signal from the head is monitored to indicate that the arm has moved into the disk's central databand area, and then into the disk's Outer Diameter (OD) area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting for track misregistration when a slider or head assembly contains a separate read element and write element. The offset is determined at a first position and at a second position of the actuator arm assembly. From these offsets a constant and a multiplier are determined for determining an offset as a function of the cylinder location. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for minimizing distance traveled to prevent misregistration when repositioning between the read element and a write element. The read element is intentionally offset from the write element at an angle so as to minimize the distance traveled across the disk.