Abstract: A hybrid mechanism whereby hardware acceleration is combined with software such that the compression rate achieved is significantly increased while maintaining the original compression ratio (e.g., using full DHT and not SHT or an approximation). The compression acceleration mechanism is applicable to a hardware accelerator tightly coupled with the general purpose processor. The compression task is divided and parallelized between hardware and software wherein each compression task is split into two acceleration requests: a first request that performs SHT encoding using hardware acceleration and provides post-LZ frequency statistics; and a second request that performs SHT decoding and DHT encoding using the DHT generated in software.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for selecting a specific position from a plurality of positions in a memory to which data elements are cyclically written. A specific data element is stored in the plurality of positions. The apparatus comprises a determination unit for determining whether the plurality of positions include any position in a specific area of the memory to which data elements are written in a current cycle. The apparatus further comprises a selection unit for selecting at least one position in the specific area out of the plurality of positions as the specific position if the determination unit determines that the plurality of positions include any position in the specific area, and for selecting at least one position out of the plurality of positions as the specific position if the determination unit determines that the plurality of positions do not include any position in the specific area.

Abstract: A novel and useful hybrid mechanism whereby hardware acceleration is combined with software such that the compression rate achieved is significantly increased while maintaining the original compression ratio (e.g., using full DHT and not SHT or an approximation). The compression acceleration mechanism is applicable to a hardware accelerator tightly coupled with the general purpose processor. The compression task is divided and parallelized between hardware and software wherein each compression task is split into two acceleration requests: a first request that performs SHT encoding using hardware acceleration and provides post-LZ frequency statistics; and a second request that performs SHT decoding and DHT encoding using the DHT generated in software.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for selecting a specific position from a plurality of positions in a memory to which data elements are cyclically written. A specific data element is stored in the plurality of positions. The apparatus comprises a determination unit for determining whether the plurality of positions include any position in a specific area of the memory to which data elements are written in a current cycle. The apparatus further comprises a selection unit for selecting at least one position in the specific area out of the plurality of positions as the specific position if the determination unit determines that the plurality of positions include any position in the specific area, and for selecting at least one position out of the plurality of positions as the specific position if the determination unit determines that the plurality of positions do not include any position in the specific area.

Abstract: To provide a storage device capable of shortening a formatting time and a data recording time, and an information processing system, method and program. The storage device of the invention has at least one storage medium 40, storing means 32 for storing plural patterns of format data for each pattern, receiving means 34 for receiving a sector address specifying a sector of the storage medium 40 to be written and a pattern identifier specifying a pattern of the format data to be written, and writing means 36 for reading the format data having the pattern corresponding to the pattern identifier from the storing means 32 and writing the read format data into the sector of the storage medium 40 corresponding to the received sector address.

Abstract: To provide a storage device capable of shortening a formatting time and a data recording time, and an information processing system, method and program. The storage device of the invention has at least one storage medium 40, storing means 32 for storing plural patterns of format data for each pattern, receiving means 34 for receiving a sector address specifying a sector of the storage medium 40 to be written and a pattern identifier specifying a pattern of the format data to be written, and writing means 36 for reading the format data having the pattern corresponding to the pattern identifier from the storing means 32 and writing the read format data into the sector of the storage medium 40 corresponding to the received sector address.

Abstract: An improved wireless information processing apparatus that is connectable to an appropriate one of the access points prepared by an internet provider even under a mobile environment. A terminal and method of operation whereby a user of the terminal requests connection to the Internet, the terminal extracts a CS-ID from notification information transmitted from a wireless base station and, then, retrieves its own association table to acquire a telephone number of an access point nearest to the current location. Then, the terminal dials-up to the acquired access point to establish an internet connection. As a result, the terminal is allowed to download an electronic mail destined therefor, a Web page (HTML file or the like) stored in a disk of a given Web server and the like.

Abstract: An IC card 30, which is employed to permit the exchange of secret information while ensuring that security is maintained, includes: a ROM 38 in which an ID is held; a clock 42; a RAM 40 in which a password is stored; a RAM 36 in which a ciphering program is stored; and a CPU 34 that executes a process. The ciphering program is loaded, the stored ID, password and the time t measured by the clock 42 are read and encoded in accordance with the ciphering program, and the results are outputted to a computer system 10. The computer system 10 decodes the output from the IC card 30 and extracts a password, and compares the decoded password with a registered password. When the passwords match, access is enabled; but when they do not match, access is disabled.

Abstract: A tri-state circuit is provided having first and second input lines for each receiving an input signal thereon. A circuit output line is connected to and controlled by an output switching circuit. A control circuit is responsive to both input signals to cause the switching circuit to adopt one of three states wherein the switching circuit delivers a high logic signal to the output line in a first state, a low logic signal in a second state, and no output signal in a third state. The circuit includes circuitry connected to the switching circuit and the output line for reducing the current in the output line to substantially zero over a transient period when the switching circuit is in the third state. The control circuit further includes a delay circuit for substantially reducing the transient period thereby minimizing the amount of current flowing in the output line when the circuit is in the third state.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved turnout unit to be employed in turnout point of railway tracks, which does not necessitate maintenance of the sliding surface of the base plate. In the turnout unit of the present invention, a spray-coated ceramic layer is formed on the base plate and the tongue rail slides on the ceramic layer.