Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing variations in a product structure for a product. In one illustrative embodiment, a product management system for managing variations in a product structure for a product comprises a model. The model comprises a primary hierarchical organization and a number of optimized product variant structures. The primary hierarchical organization comprises a group of domain master objects. The number of optimized product variant structures comprises a group of domain configuration objects in which each domain configuration object in the group of domain configuration objects represents a configuration for a component represented by a corresponding domain master object in the group of domain master objects.

Abstract: Video decoding innovations for multithreading implementations and graphics processor unit (“GPU”) implementations are described. For example, for multithreaded decoding, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of layered data structures, picture extent discovery, a picture command queue, and/or task scheduling for multithreading. Or, for a GPU implementation, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of inverse transforms, inverse quantization, fractional interpolation, intra prediction using waves, loop filtering using waves, memory usage and/or performance-adaptive loop filtering. Innovations are also described in the areas of error handling and recovery, determination of neighbor availability for operations such as context modeling and intra prediction, CABAC decoding, computation of collocated information for direct mode macroblocks in B slices, reduction of memory consumption, implementation of trick play modes, and picture dropping for quality adjustment.

Abstract: Video decoding innovations for multithreading implementations and graphics processor unit (“GPU”) implementations are described. For example, for multithreaded decoding, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of layered data structures, picture extent discovery, a picture command queue, and/or task scheduling for multithreading. Or, for a GPU implementation, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of inverse transforms, inverse quantization, fractional interpolation, intra prediction using waves, loop filtering using waves, memory usage and/or performance-adaptive loop filtering. Innovations are also described in the areas of error handling and recovery, determination of neighbor availability for operations such as context modeling and intra prediction, CABAC decoding, computation of collocated information for direct mode macroblocks in B slices, reduction of memory consumption, implementation of trick play modes, and picture dropping for quality adjustment.

Abstract: A product management system comprises a model and a data manager. The model includes design data for a product structure for a product. The model comprises a primary hierarchical organization of master objects, a number of secondary hierarchical organizations of version objects, and a change context organization for each of the master objects. The master objects include element objects and occurrence objects. A secondary hierarchical organization includes element version objects and occurrence version objects. The change context organization includes a group of variant objects and a group of branch instance objects. A branch instance object in the group of branch instance objects tracks a sequence of version objects for a corresponding design branch. The data manager manages changes to the design data for the product structure within each design branch independently of other design branches using the model, enabling manufacturing of the product with increased efficiency using the model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing variations in a product structure for a product comprising a data manager and a visualizer. The data manager is configured to manage variations in the product structure using a model. The model includes a group of master objects having a primary hierarchical organization and a group of configuration objects having a number of secondary hierarchical organizations. Each secondary hierarchical organization in the number of secondary hierarchical organizations is associated with the primary hierarchical organization and configured to represent a variant of the product. A number of configuration objects in a secondary hierarchical organization represents a number of variations in the product structure for the product. The visualizer is configured to visually present, in a graphical user interface, information for an object selected from one of a master object in the group of master objects and a configuration object in the group of configuration objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing variations in a product structure for a product comprising a data manager and a visualizer. The data manager is configured to manage variations in the product structure using a model. The model includes a group of master objects having a primary hierarchical organization and a group of configuration objects having a number of secondary hierarchical organizations. Each secondary hierarchical organization in the number of secondary hierarchical organizations is associated with the primary hierarchical organization and configured to represent a variant of the product. A number of configuration objects in a secondary hierarchical organization represents a number of variations in the product structure for the product. The visualizer is configured to visually present, in a graphical user interface, information for an object selected from one of a master object in the group of master objects and a configuration object in the group of configuration objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing variations in a product structure for a product. In one illustrative embodiment, a product management system for managing variations in a product structure for a product comprises a model. The model comprises a primary hierarchical organization and a number of optimized product variant structures. The primary hierarchical organization comprises a group of domain master objects. The number of optimized product variant structures comprises a group of domain configuration objects in which each domain configuration object in the group of domain configuration objects represents a configuration for a component represented by a corresponding domain master object in the group of domain master objects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for information modeling, such as product modeling, are described. In one specific embodiment, a system for capturing product information includes a product definition tree representing permitted elements of a generalized product structure, a plurality of template trees and a plurality of configuration trees. Each template tree represents a product design structure variant which represents a subset of said product definition tree. Each configuration tree represents a particular design configuration, which is constrained to implement the structure of its associated template tree.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for information modeling, such as product modeling, are described. In one specific embodiment, a system for capturing product information includes a plurality of product trees and a plurality of configuration trees. Each configuration tree is associated with one of the plurality of product trees. At least two of the configuration trees share at least one usage configuration node, and the at least two configuration trees are associated with a same product tree. The at least two configuration trees share at least one occurrence configuration node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for information modeling, such as product modeling, are described. In one specific embodiment, a system for capturing product information includes a product definition tree representing permitted elements of a generalized product structure, a plurality of template trees and a plurality of configuration trees. Each template tree represents a product design structure variant which represents a subset of said product definition tree. Each configuration tree represents a particular design configuration, which is constrained to implement the structure of its associated template tree.

Abstract: Video decoding innovations for multithreading implementations and graphics processor unit (“GPU”) implementations are described. For example, for multithreaded decoding, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of layered data structures, picture extent discovery, a picture command queue, and/or task scheduling for multithreading. Or, for a GPU implementation, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of inverse transforms, inverse quantization, fractional interpolation, intra prediction using waves, loop filtering using waves, memory usage and/or performance-adaptive loop filtering. Innovations are also described in the areas of error handling and recovery, determination of neighbor availability for operations such as context modeling and intra prediction, CABAC decoding, computation of collocated information for direct mode macroblocks in B slices, reduction of memory consumption, implementation of trick play modes, and picture dropping for quality adjustment.

Abstract: A browser-based email system implemented in a computing device is connected to a host mail server. The host mail server provides pages which can be rendered by a browser to present an email service to a user. The browser-based email system receives audio data, video data, and/or still images, and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio data, video data, and/or still images for inclusion in an email message.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a logical hierarchical data model that facilitates sharing design data definitions within product families. The product data model is stored in a memory or a database and holds product information relating to components. The product data model comprises a plurality of component-usages for including a component in a higher-level-assembly and logical component-usages associated with the component-usages. Each logical component usage selects one of the component-usages that perform the same role within the context of its parent assembly. A generalized occurrence structure has nodes that represent the paths in a product data model of an assembly, from which simple occurrence structures representing each individual configuration can be derived.

Abstract: A data model is provided for storing data related to multiple variants of assemblies in a computer-associated memory. A multivariant assembly data object functions as a container for component usages, logical component usages, and also for the assembly-components, each of which represents a variant of the corresponding product or assembly family. Component usages can be shared by multiple assembly-components all of which are members of the same multivariant assembly.

Abstract: A browser-based email system has a thin client connected to a host mail server. The thin client implements a browser. The host mail server provides pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user. The thin client is equipped to receive audio and video data and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio or video data for inclusion in an email message. After a data stream is captured and stored locally at the client, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream. The host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message. The response also includes the token and indicates a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered. Upon receiving the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page.

Abstract: A data model is provided for storing data related to multiple variants of assemblies in a computer-associated memory. A multivariant assembly data object functions as a container for component usages, logical component usages, and also for the assembly-components, each of which represents a variant of the corresponding product or assembly family. Component usages can be shared by multiple assembly-components all of which are members of the same multivariant assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a logical hierarchical data model that facilitates sharing design data definitions within product families. The product data model is stored in a memory or a database and holds product information relating to components. The product data model comprises a plurality of component-usages for including a component in a higher-level-assembly and logical component-usages associated with the component-usages. Each logical component usage selects one of the component-usages that perform the same role within the context of its parent assembly. A generalized occurrence structure has nodes that represent the paths in a product data model of an assembly, from which simple occurrence structures representing each individual configuration can be derived.

Abstract: A browser-based email system has a thin client connected to a host mail server. The thin client implements a browser. The host mail server provides pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user. The thin client is equipped to receive audio and video data and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio or video data for inclusion in an email message. After a data stream is captured and stored locally at the client, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream. The host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message. The response also includes the token and indicates a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered. Upon receiving the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page.

Abstract: A browser-based email system has a thin client connected to a host mail server. The thin client implements a browser. The host mail server provides pages to the thin client, which can be rendered by the browser to present an email service to a user. The thin client is equipped to receive audio and video data and supports a user interface to facilitate capture of the audio or video data for inclusion in an email message. After a data stream is captured and stored locally at the client, the browser submits a request to the host mail server that contains a token in lieu of the data stream. The host mail server returns a response specifying a new page that contains the email message. The response also includes the token and indicates a location in the new page at which the audio or video data is to be rendered. Upon receiving the response, the browser inserts the data stream into the new page at the location and renders the new page.

Abstract: The invention frees up memory to other uses by allocating memory to video graphics buffering only to the extent required. It also saves graphic processor bandwidth by processing, e.g. blending, only to the extent required. It does so by defining a regular grid of so-called tiles or cells in the overlay graphic data window, e.g orthogonally arrayed squares of 32-pixel sides, and allocating memory only to those requiring update, i.e. only those that are visible and subject to change between successive frames. Allocation is dynamic and requires little tagging overhead to keep track of the tiles in memory by location in the video graphic window. Processing is only of those tiles for which memory is allocated, since entirely transparent tiles within the window require no blending or processing whatsoever because they are invisible.