Abstract: A device and method for providing computer operation diagnostics. The method includes coupling a mobile device (such as a mobile smartphone) to the computer via a diagnostic port. The smartphone has a diagnostic program (application) thereon that is initiated so as to be able to communicate with a diagnostic module within the computer to request and receive information from the computer.

Abstract: A device and method for providing computer operation diagnostics. The method includes coupling a mobile device (such as a mobile smartphone) to the computer via a diagnostic port. The smartphone has a diagnostic program (application) thereon that is initiated so as to be able to communicate with a diagnostic module within the computer to request and receive information from the computer.

Abstract: A telephone that communicates high-quality audio signals and a method for communicating an audio signal with an extended frequency range over a telephone network. The cordless telephone has a handset unit with a sampler circuit, a compression circuit, decompression circuit, as well as analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, which handset is coupled by an infrared (IR) wireless link to a base unit connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In one embodiment, the telephone includes a sampler, a compression block, a telephone port, a decompression block, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The sampler receives a analog audio signal and digitizes the signal into a high-quality (705.6 kbps) digital audio signal. The compression block then encodes the digital audio signal into a compressed digital signal at a lower bit rate (such as 150 kbps or 56 kbps) with a compression algorithm such as MP3.

Abstract: A protocol accelerator includes a first processor connected to a host machine and programmed to provide a first protocol layer for data to be sent to a destination device. A second processor is connected to the first processor and is programmed to provide a second protocol layer for the data. A third processor is connected to the second processor and is programmed to provide a third protocol layer for the data. The third processor is connected to a network by which the data is sent to the destination device. The system can be configured for any number of protocol layers, by providing a dedicated processor in a pipelined configuration for each respective layer.

Abstract: A method of internal data communication for a packet-switching computer includes the step of configuring internal components of the computer and an internal packet switch bank to communicate using a fixed size local data packet. The local data packet has a fixed size header portion and a fixed size data portion. The local data packet may be directly compatible with an ATM cell. Alternatively, only the data portion size of the local data packet may correspond to the size of the ATM cell data payload or an integer multiple thereof. In order to increase data throughput, the size of the header portion of the local data packet may be less than size of the ATM cell header.

Abstract: Pilot messages are transmitted between communicating nodes on a network either periodically or as a continuous background process in order to determine the most efficient path for transmitting a message from a node to every other node in a network depending on prevailing message traffic conditions. Each node can transmit pilot messages at predetermined intervals or in response to commands from a master riding node. A master riding node can monitor message traffic and alter the sequence in which pilot messages are transmitted, thereby more frequently monitoring traffic between nodes with heavy communication requirements. By routing messages from a source node to a destination over a predetermined efficient path, it is no longer necessary for the system to determine a next destination point as messages traverse the network.

Abstract: A method of communicating from a personal computer via an internet by way of a service provider. The method includes transmitting, in a first frame from the personal computer to the service provider, an indicator to indicate one of a new bandwidth assignment and a default bandwidth assignment, a personal computer transmission format, and a description of personal computer capabilities. In a second frame, the service provider transmits to the personal computer an acknowledgement of the new bandwidth assignment when received and a service provider transmission format. In a third frame, the service provider transmits to the personal computer information according to the service provider transmission format and the personal computer capabilities. In a fourth frame, the personal computer transmits to the service provider information according to the personal computer transmission format.

Abstract: A data communication method includes evaluating a data frame to determine vulnerability of the data carried by the data frame, setting a flag to a first state to indicate vulnerable data which should be checked for errors by a destination system, and setting the flag to a second state to indicate invulnerable data which should not be checked for errors by the destination system. In another aspect of the invention, a data communication method includes evaluating a data bus to determine the waveform of data transmitted on the data bus, and determining a scope of error detection and correction for the destination address to carry out based on the waveform quality.

Abstract: An adaptive computing device includes a processing unit connected to receive instructions for execution and a random access memory storing microcode for access by the processing unit to carry out steps for executing the instructions. The microcode is loaded into the random access memory from a source of microcodes tailored for efficient execution of the instructions received by the processing unit. The adaptive computing unit may further include control logic responsive to the instructions for execution to request a loading of microcode into the random access memory from the source of microcodes. The adaptive computing unit may further include control logic responsive to signals generated external to the computing unit to request loading of microcode into the random access memory from the source of microcodes.

Abstract: A computer architecture includes a plurality of computer components, a packet switch bank and a plurality of packet interfaces each connecting a corresponding one of the computer components to the packet switch bank, wherein the computer components communicate via the packet switch bank through the plurality of packet interfaces. The packet switch bank can include a plurality of packet switches and a packet switch controller connected to each of the plurality of packet switches. The packet switch controller can thus control each packet switch to be coupled to specific computer components. The packet switch bank can further include a plurality of queues between the packet switches and the computer components.

Abstract: A method of executing a program includes reading a next operation of an executing program and determining if a given pointer corresponding to the next operation is stored in a pointer table. If the given pointer is stored in the pointer table, an instruction identified by the given pointer is executed in a processor. However, if the given pointer is not stored in the pointer table, a replaceable pointer in the pointer table is identified and replaced by the given pointer. Instructions corresponding to the given pointer are also imported into a processor instruction unit from a supplemental storage area and subsequently executed by the processor. The instructions can comprise microcode or a portion of a programmable gate array. In the latter case, the supplemental storage area can store gate array programming instructions for use in reprogramming the instructions in the processor.