Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed for storing instances of an opaque type in a database according to a direct path loading approach. According to one aspect, an opaque type implementor registers, with a loader application, routines that the opaque type implementor implements. In response, the loader application associates the opaque type with the routines. The loader application reads data that comprises instances of the opaque type. The loader application determines which routines are associated with the opaque type. The loader application invokes the routines, which create an array for storing instances of the opaque type and populate the array with values specified in the data. The loader application converts the array into a data stream that conforms to the format of the database's data blocks. The loader application then streams the data to a database server, which writes the data directly into data blocks in the database.

Abstract: A centralized queue for a network printing system allows clients to make job requests and be placed in a job queue without transmitting the actual print job data to the network. An imaging device protocol (IDP) operates independently of the network layers below and only requires that a transport protocol/port be bidirectional. A variety of heterogenous network protocols may be supported by IDP for placing all of the incoming print job information in a print queue regardless of the protocol. Print job information from both IDP and non-IDP protocol/ports may be placed in the print queue by emulating IDP on the non-IDP protocol/ports. As a result, job information for all of the print jobs attempting to access a busy printer may be stored in the print queue so that the print jobs can be printed by the printer with a fair arbitration once the network printer becomes available.

Abstract: The machine alignment system comprises a master alignment plate having parallel faces. The alignment plate is mounted on a spindle in place of a saw blade to define the plane perpendicular to the spindle axis. The saw table surface is adjusted to be at a right angle with respect to the alignment plate, and the miter slot is adjusted to be parallel to the alignment plate. Parallelism is achieved by use of a slide bar in the miter slot and a dial indicator on the side bar to measure parallelism of the miter slot with respect to the master alignment plate. The slide bar is of adjustable width so that it can be adjusted to slide in the miter slot without slack. The fence and miter gage can each be adjusted using the master alignment plate as the reference.

Abstract: The protractor has a body which has three reference surfaces, two being parallel and one being at right angles to them. A web between the surfaces carries a protractor dial which is rotatable on the protractor body. The dial carries a reference surface and can be set in position by means of a visual indicia, by sine measurement, or by memory links. Great accuracy can be achieved by use of the sine measurement.

Abstract: Speech encoding in a client server system such as a laptop, personal data assistant or mobile phone communicating with an interactive voice response telephony application. A method of communication with a speech enabled remote telephony device such as a mobile phone is described comprising the following steps. Receiving user speech input into the mobile phone as part of a dialogue with an interactive voice response telephony application. Performing speech recognition to convert the speech into text and converting the text into tones such as DTMF tones. Transmitting the DTMF tones over the voice channel to an interactive voice response (IVR) telephony application an allowed response feature converts the users response to a known valid response of the IVR application. A language conversion feature allows a person in one language to speak in that language to an IVR application operating in a different language.

Abstract: The device comprises a switched-mode power supply (1) equipped with an electronic switching member (T.sub.1), the closing of which controls the power supply to an inductor (L.sub.1) which discharges, when the member reopens, into a capacitor (C.sub.1) at the terminals of which the output voltage of the device appears, characterized in that it comprises (a) storage means for recording a sequence of image numbers of successive segments of the predetermined waveform, (b) a clocked digital counter (2) and (c) means (3) for successively loading this counter (2) with each of the numbers of this sequence considered as a bound of the count performed by the counter (2), the latter cyclically controlling the closing of the switching member (T.sub.1) for a predetermined time interval, each time the count performed reaches the limit thus fixed.

Abstract: In distributed heterogeneous data processing networks, dispatcher and control server software components execute the code of a single application or of many portions of the code of one or more applications in response to a method object received from a client application. The method object includes a reference to the code to be executed.

Abstract: The device comprises a switched-mode power supply (1) equipped with an electronic switching member (T.sub.1), the closing of which controls the power supply to an inductor (L.sub.1) which discharges, when the member reopens, into a capacitor (C.sub.1) at the terminals of which the output voltage of the device appears, characterized in that it comprises (a) storage means for recording a sequence of image numbers of successive segments of the predetermined waveform, (b) a clocked digital counter (2) and (c) means (3) for successively loading this counter (2) with each of the numbers of this sequence considered as a bound of the count performed by the counter (2), the latter cyclically controlling the closing of the switching member (T.sub.1) for a predetermined time interval, each time the count performed reaches the limit thus fixed.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a ground-travelling machine such as an agricultural spreader having a PTO shaft for connection to a power source. The improved machine includes a bracket for supporting a shaft in a utility position. The supported shaft is thereby spaced above the ground to help keep the shaft clean and protect from damage, is readily connected to a source of power such as a tractor PTO point. The supported shaft need not be disassembled for storage.

Abstract: A data processing system which handles thirty-two bit logical addresses which can be derived from either sixteen bit logical addresses or thirty-two bit logical addresses, the latter being translated into physical addresses by unique translation means. The system includes means for decoding macro-instructions of both a basic and an extended instruction set, each macro-instruction containing in itself selected bit patterns which uniquely identify which type of instruction is to be decoded. The decoded macro-instructions provide the starting address of one or more micro-instructions, which address is supplied to a unique micro-instruction sequencing unit which appropriately decodes a selected field of each micro-instruction to obtain each successive micro-instruction. The system uses hierarchical memory storage using eight storage segments (rings), access to the rings being controlled in a privileged manner according to different levels of privilege.