Patents Issued in September 2, 2008
  • Patent number: 7421626
    Abstract: A digital data recording/reproducing method includes the steps of: interleaving data on a PI code for each PI code of a 208-row ECC block; and converting a short burst error into random errors by dispersing errors on the PI codes. Moreover, the digital data recording/reproducing method increases correction capability against several bytes to several tens bytes of errors generated at random without changing burst error correction length by performing this processing for respective PI codes by using interleave rules that are different as much as possible from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Hoshizawa, Shigeki Taira, Osamu Kawamae
  • Patent number: 7421627
    Abstract: A digital data recording/reproducing method includes the steps of: interleaving data on a PI code for each PI code of a 208-row ECC block; and converting a short burst error into random errors by dispersing errors on the PI codes. Moreover, the digital data recording/reproducing method increases correction capability against several bytes to several tens bytes of errors generated at random without changing burst error correction length by performing this processing for respective PI codes by using interleave rules that are different as much as possible from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taku Hoshizawa, Shigeki Taira, Osamu Kawamae
  • Patent number: 7421628
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extract audio codes are disclosed. An example method includes receiving signals on a plurality of channels and ranking the signals based on at least one characteristic of the signals. A first channel from the plurality of channels is selected based upon the ranking of the signals. The example method further include determining whether a first signal on the first channel includes at least one code and extracting the at least one code from the first signal when the first signal includes the at least one code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wright, Daniel Nelson, Ronald G. Schwerer
  • Patent number: 7421629
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semi-conductor component test procedure, and a semiconductor component test device (10b), which comprise: a device (43) for generating pseudo-random address values to be applied to corresponding address inputs of a semi-conductor component (2b), in particular a memory component, to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Thorsten Bucksch, Martin Meier
  • Patent number: 7421630
    Abstract: Each match line of a memory device such as a content addressable memory (CAM) device and a related part of a priority encoder can be separately tested. In test mode, all match lines are first reset/disabled. A write enable pulse signal enables a match line corresponding to a CAM word line at a decoded address to be gated to the priority encoder of the CAM device. The CAM memory storage location and the comparand register are each loaded with the same test entry. A search is performed for the test entry. If the enabled match line is asserted and the priority encoder outputs the address corresponding to the CAM memory storage location, the test is successful. If not there is a match line error or a defect in the priority encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sathya P. Kaginele
  • Patent number: 7421631
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a signal line, a test load circuit and a termination circuit. The signal line is connected with an input/output node of the semiconductor device. The test load circuit has a test resistor and is provided between the signal line and a first one of power lines to connect the signal line to the first power line through the test resistor in response to a test start signal. The termination circuit has first and second resistors, and is provided between the first power line and a second power line as the other power line to disconnect the signal line from the first and second power lines in response to the test start signal. Also, the test load circuit disconnects the signal line from the first power line in response to a test end signal, and the termination circuit connects the signal line with the first and second power lines through the first and second resistors in response to the test end signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Morioka
  • Patent number: 7421632
    Abstract: Methods and circuits for efficient configuration an error data crossover configuration circuit of an integrated circuit tester allows simultaneous DUT channel configuration for multiple identical DUTs for an error data control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Jordan, Joel Buck-Gengler
  • Patent number: 7421633
    Abstract: An optimized JTAG interface is used to access JTAG Tap Domains within an integrated circuit. The interface requires fewer pins than the conventional JTAG interface and is thus more applicable than conventional JTAG interfaces on an integrated circuit where the availability of pins is limited. The interface may be used for a variety of serial communication operations such as, but not limited to, serial communication related integrated circuit test, emulation, debug, and/or trace operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7421634
    Abstract: According to an aspect of present invention, modules designed to operate with different frequency in functional (normal) mode are tested using a sequential scan based technique at the respective frequencies. In one embodiment the interface logic connecting the two modules is tested for at-speed performance (i.e., the same speed at which the interface would be operated in functional mode during normal operation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Naga Satya Srikanth Puvvada, Nikila Krishnamoorthy, Sandeep Jain, Jais Abraham
  • Patent number: 7421635
    Abstract: A system-on-chip (SOC) having built-in-self-test (BIST) circuits and a self-test method of the SOC are provided. The SOC having the BIST circuits includes intellectual property (IP) blocks having BIST logic circuits and a BIST control unit. The BIST logic circuit operates in a normal or a test mode in response to control data received through a system bus, and outputs test result data in the test mode. The BIST control unit tests the IP blocks by transferring the control data, a command signal, test pattern data, and test address signals to the BIST logic circuit through the system bus, and compresses and stores the test result data received through the system bus in the test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Chul Shin, Jong-Ho Kim, Hae-Young Rha, Kee-Won Joe
  • Patent number: 7421636
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device having a test control circuit includes a cell array, a BIST (built-in self test) circuit adapted and configured to perform a BIST operation on the cell array, a BISR (built-in self repair) circuit adapted and configured to perform a BISR operation on the cell array, and a command decoder adapted and configured to generate a first control signal for selecting a BIST operation by the BIST circuit or a test by an external tester and a second control signal for controlling a BISR operation by the BISR circuit. As a result, a test by an external tester, a BIST (built-in self test) and a BISR (built-in self repair) are individually performed in response to an additional command signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Bok Kang, Jin Hong Ahn
  • Patent number: 7421637
    Abstract: Generating test input includes initializing a current pseudo-random value at a test input generator coupled to a circuit component. Write data is received from the circuit component. The following are repeated to generate next pseudo-random values as test input. The current pseudo-random value and the write data are retrieved. A next pseudo-random value is generated from the current pseudo-random value and the write data according to a generation function. The next pseudo-random value is transferred to the circuit component as the test input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin W. Martinez, Jr., David B. Erickson
  • Patent number: 7421638
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a linear block encoded string of information bits comprising: converting the string into a plurality of codewords. Performing hard and soft decisions on each codeword to generate a hard and soft decision vector. Computing the syndrome and finding the location of the two minimum values by Galois Field Arithmetic. Designating these values LOW1 and LOW2 and xoring with a Nc1, thus generating Nc2. Swapping Nc1 with Nc2 and determining the lowest soft decision value, Min1 and a next lowest value, Min2. The two bit locations creating Min1 are designated as MinA and MinB. MinA being replaced with Min2 minus the value MinA. MinB being replaced with Min2 minus the value at MinB. Generating an output codeword by subtracting Min1 from all other bit locations values and 2's complementing all soft values with 0 in their location. Creating the new soft value vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Comtech Telecommunications Corp.
    Inventors: Eric John Hewitt, Alan Robert Danielson, Peter Sean Ladow, Tom Leroy Hansen
  • Patent number: 7421639
    Abstract: An information storage medium includes a drive zone having a plurality of physical clusters or ECC blocks. When new drive data is recorded in the drive zone, the new drive data is recorded in a physical cluster or ECC block next to the physical cluster or ECC block containing the most recently recorded drive data. In the method of recording drive data, the drive data is recorded in a physical cluster or ECC block of the drive zone. When the drive zone is updated with the new drive data, the new drive data is recorded in the physical cluster or ECC block adjacent to physical cluster or ECC block containing the most recently drive data. The drive data recording method is applicable to a new format of information storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-geun Lee, In-sik Park, Jung-wan Ko, Du-seop Yoon
  • Patent number: 7421640
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing error correction capability to longitudinal position data are disclosed. Initially, data are encoded via a set of even LPOS words and a set of odd LPOS words. The encoded data are then decoded by generating a set of syndrome bits for each of the LPOS words. A determination is then made as to whether or not there is an error within one of the LPOS words based on its corresponding syndrome bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roy D. Cideciyan, Evangelos S. Eleftheriou, Glen A. Jaquette, Paul J. Seger
  • Patent number: 7421641
    Abstract: An intelligent streaming media error check detection method and apparatus. The claimed embodiment discloses an apparatus and method where all streaming media are initially assumed to have compatible error checksums. A parameter W is initialized to zero. The parameter W is not constant and conceptually represents a state of the error check method. The destructive value of a first predefined constant is added to the parameter W each time the acceptability of a data set cannot be verified. The constructive value of a second predefined constant is subtracted from the parameter W each time the acceptability of a data set is successfully verified. If the value of the parameter W equals or exceeds a predefined threshold, the remainder of the streaming media is decoded and played without error check protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventor: Tzueng-Yau Lin
  • Patent number: 7421642
    Abstract: The present invention is an error detection and correction scheme that enables the use of Horner's algorithm for the computation of EDC syndromes from the computed error pattern. Specifically, “transformed” EDC syndromes are computed during the read back of data and parity from the medium. The transformed syndromes are values of the polynomial whose coefficients occur in reverse order from that of the EDC codeword polynomial. In essence, by reversing the order of the coefficients, the Chien search processes the terms in descending order which is the right direction for Horner evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Clifton James Williamson, Peter Igorevich Vasiliev
  • Patent number: 7421643
    Abstract: A data detection and decoding system in which a single parity bit added to the end of each code word by the encoder is used in the channel detector to improve the accuracy with which bit decisions are made in the channel detector. The bit estimates and the reliability estimates are then processed by the decoder to recover the original input bits. By using single parity for this dual purpose in combination with a decoder that follows the channel detector and uses the bit estimates and reliability estimates to recover the original input bits, performance of the data detection and decoding system is greatly improved while also overcoming the disadvantages of known digital recording systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Hongwei Song, German Feyh
  • Patent number: 7421644
    Abstract: A data communication method for puncturing of parity bits defining all parity data for a minimum code rate generated by an encoder is disclosed. The method initializes an accumulator associated with the parity bits to an initial value, and for each parity bit increments the accumulator by a increment value and determines if the accumulator has overflowed. If the accumulator overflows, at least one of the parity bits is selected for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Ramesh Mantha, Frank Kschischang
  • Patent number: 7421645
    Abstract: Methods for recognizing strings, labeling the strings with a semantic category and providing e-commerce actions based on the category is disclosed. The semantic category may include a type label and other metadata. Recognizer plug-ins perform the recognition of particular strings in an electronic document. The recognizer plug-ins may be packaged with an application program module or they may be written by third parties to recognize particular strings that are of interest. Action plug-ins provide possible actions to be presented to the user based upon the type label associated with the string. Tradenames, trademarks, formal names or types of consumer products may be labeled and actions to buy the products may be presented. The metadata may be used to implement coupon and affiliate programs to reward frequent shoppers or frequent recommenders. Numerous other e-commerce opportunities are presented via the semantic category and the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Reynar
  • Patent number: 7421646
    Abstract: A system and method for mapping payload data to a spreadsheet list. The present invention comprises a system for mapping payload data to a spreadsheet list without the use of a schema. After receiving a spreadsheet list, the present invention generates the parent path of each field path defined in the spreadsheet list. The longest parent path may be used to generate a set of bind nodes from the payload data. The present invention may map each bind node to a row in the spreadsheet list. By traversing from each bind node using the bottom path and the field paths, the present invention may obtain the values of all of the other fields in the rows of the spreadsheet list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Yiu-Ming Leung
  • Patent number: 7421647
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to gesture-based reporting system and method, which includes a client computer with high-resolution image displaying device, and an input device which is a programmable stylus, where the predetermined information contained within the report is defined by a series of symbols or gestures, which are drawn directly onto the image displayed on the image displaying device, using the programmable stylus. The gestures or symbols used, utilize an economy of symbols that are diverse in nature and have broad based appeal to the population of end users. At the same time, they can be made applicable to a variety of different specific situations, modalities, pathologies, etc., in order to interpret the imaging study. Therefore, unlike a traditional text report (where the image and text report are distinct and separate from one another), the informational content contained within the image and the gesture-based report are inseparable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Inventor: Bruce Reiner
  • Patent number: 7421648
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide a computer markup language, referred to as Reusable Data Markup Language (“RDML”), and a data viewer for retrieving, manipulating and viewing documents and files in the RDML format that may be stored locally or over a network (e.g., the Internet). Generally, RDML permits the browsing and manipulation of numbers, as opposed to text and images like in HTML, and does so by including attributes describing the meaning of the numbers to be attached to the numbers. Documents compliant with the markup language encapsulate machine-readable documentation with numbers and data, and permit the data viewer to act as a combination web browser and spreadsheet to automatically read, interpret and manipulate the numbers and data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: e-Numerate Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell T. Davis
  • Patent number: 7421649
    Abstract: A system and method for editing a table within a hypertext markup language (HTML) editor is described, the method comprising analyzing code representing the table to determine dimension parameters based on content of the table, storing the dimension parameters in a memory, receiving edit indications from a user, concurrently comparing the edit indications against the dimension parameters, wherein edit indications that exceed the dimension parameters are rejected, and updating each instance of the dimension parameters within the code with the edit indications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Heidi Bauer Williams
  • Patent number: 7421650
    Abstract: A system and method of publishing an electronic data file to a document management system in various publication formats includes a printer driver that is configured to publish an electronic media to a document management system irrespective of which application or software program the data file was created. The printer driver is activated to facilitate publication of an electronic data file following a file-print command initialized while resident in a specific media creating program. The present invention further allows for user selection of a number of publication formats as well as providing notices to additional personnel indicating that the electronic data file is ready for additional work flow or review. The present invention further contemplates retrieval of media stored in a database managed by a document management system following the aforementioned file print command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ignatius M. Zettel, Kevin R. Clayton
  • Patent number: 7421651
    Abstract: A document may be segmented based on a visual model of the document. The visual model is determined according to an amount of visual white space or gaps that are in the document. In one implementation, the visual model is used to identify a hierarchical structure of the document, which may then be used to segment the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Egnor
  • Patent number: 7421652
    Abstract: A document summary which includes an assemblage of a plurality of summary entries is generated for an electronic document. In the generation of the document summary, a content structure or properties within the electronic document are analyzed. The plurality of summary entries are selected from the contents of the electronic document based on the analysis of the content structure or properties. The content structure within the electronic document may include a table of contents, a plurality of spreadsheet worksheets, a plurality of document pages, etc. The content properties within the electronic document may include text formatting, paragraph formatting, paragraph sizing, etc. Preferably, the best available content structure or properties within the electronic document is identified and utilized in the selection of the plurality of summary entries. The document summary is provided to a mobile communication device in response to a request for the electronic document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Arizan Corporation
    Inventors: Jianwei Yuan, Olav A. Sylthe
  • Patent number: 7421653
    Abstract: A system and method for providing graphical representations for selected properties. The system draws each item based on the type of property being shown. For example, for selected types of properties, the drawing may be delegated to a drawing handler component for that specific type of property. For example, if a music rating is being displayed, a special drawing handler component handles the drawing, which, in one example embodiment may be a number of graphical stars. The system is architected so that the drawing handlers are registered independently of the other system components, such that new types of drawing handlers can be added without requiring changes to the other system components. This allows for greater flexibility and simplifies updates to the drawing handlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Relja Ivanovic, David G. De Vorchik, Chris J. Guzak
  • Patent number: 7421654
    Abstract: A method, signal, system, software, and user interface for selecting command sequences and saving the sequences as a macro. The invention includes sourcing input devices and graphical user interfaces for both input commands and referencing macro elements. Macro elements consist of macro keys such as hard keys and soft keys. The command sequence may be automatically detected, saved, and evaluated for both economy and threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Gateway Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore David Wugoski
  • Patent number: 7421655
    Abstract: M_IDs corresponding to “not available” and “recommended 1” in respective setup items are read, and images corresponding to “recommended 1” and “not available” are read (S803). An image indicating “not available” and that indicating “recommended 1” corresponding to respective setup items are displayed at neighboring positions of GUI components of the respective setup items displayed on the display screen (S804).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Ikeda, Makoto Hirota
  • Patent number: 7421656
    Abstract: Systems and methods for interfacing with playback of media by a media player are provided. By combining the functionality of fast forward and skip forward into a single button control, the invention reduces the numbers of control buttons that need be included on a device, reducing device costs and consumer “button overload.” In one embodiment, by pressing (and releasing) a forward button, media being rendered by a media player skips to a predetermined location in the media. By pressing and holding (and then releasing) the forward button, the media being rendered is fast forwarded according to algorithms for fast forwarding. A backward button covers skipping backward and fast reversing in a similar fashion. A device including a play/pause button and the described forward and backward buttons advantageously reduces the number of buttons required by two buttons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Fong, David Franklin, Thamer Abanami
  • Patent number: 7421657
    Abstract: In a single window browser environment, a request to open a new browser window is either allowed or ignored, depending on whether the request was generated in response to user input. The request is ignored if it was not generated in response to user input. If, on the other hand, the request was generated in response to user input, it is allowed. In such cases, in order to preserve the single window interface, the new browser window is opened as a full screen window that overlays the existing browser window. In certain implementations, the determination of whether or not a request was generated in response to user input is simplified by assuming that all requests that are generated during the loading or unloading of a page are not in response to user input and ought to be ignored. By contrast, window open requests that are generated at other times are assumed to be user-initiated and are allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Dawson-Granados, Benjamin R. Peart
  • Patent number: 7421658
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a system and method of providing a graphic user interface (GUI) for scripts. The system comprises one or more scripts, a script GUI module and an interface unit. The script GUI module establishes and maintains communication channels between an executing script and the interface unit. The script GUI module receives information from the executing script and determines if the information comprises an input type command. If the information comprises an input type command, the script GUI module generates an appropriate input mechanism as a function of said input type command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Sharma, Srinivasu Gottipati, Sundeep Nayak
  • Patent number: 7421659
    Abstract: Collaboration space object model provides for a Place consisting of rooms. A room is made up of pages. Folders are used to organize pages. Members belong to rooms, and are those users authorized to access them. Place type controls the creation of a place, including how many rooms it has, for example. Room type controls the appearance and content of rooms. A form manages the display of data notes. A form can contain fields for containing data and employ scripts to process and compute data. A page is the basic vehicle for content. Content is created using an or importing content from an external source. A member is also a data note, and each place contains its own member directory. A place is created and managed from a client browser in on-line mode and in offline mode with respect to a replicated copy of the space. Room security is independently managed, and security and aesthetics characteristics of subrooms selectively inherited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julio Estrada, Miguel A. Estrada, Joseph A. Russo, Maurice B. Shore
  • Patent number: 7421660
    Abstract: A method of organizing information is disclosed. The method comprises providing a visualization of actor communications in the context of one or more discussion, a discussion including at least one actor and at least one documented communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Cataphora, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Charnock, Curtis Thompson, Steven L Roberts
  • Patent number: 7421661
    Abstract: An interface enables perception of information regarding a communications session that leverages an instant messaging platform. The user interface includes an instant messaging application user interface that enables perception and selection of instant messaging communications sessions for an instant messaging user, a mechanism to determine the content from within a desired instant messaging session that is not actively displayed, and an informational tool tip that provides a perceivable indication to the user of at least a portion of the determined content of the desired instant messaging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: AOL LLC
    Inventors: James Andrew Canfield, Kenneth Carbone, David Fairlie Colburn, Linda Nols Myers, Thomas E. Van Lenten, Gregory Alan Willis
  • Patent number: 7421662
    Abstract: A system, a method and computer-readable media for automating interaction with a host computer. Input values defining desired interactions with a host computer are received. The input values are utilized to generate computer code for performing the desired interactions, and this code is executed to perform the interactions with the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventor: Tetteh Akiti
  • Patent number: 7421663
    Abstract: A Graphical User Interface is provided that presents multi-level configurable parameter values for an item in a condensed and scannable format. The GUI enables a user to clearly and quickly discern the relationship between the parameters. The GUI can also reflect modifications to parameters that result from a selection of a parameter value. The GUI can be used to define options and related settings on a form or client GUI, such as a job ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Alix A. Homes, Marcia Weinberger
  • Patent number: 7421664
    Abstract: A system and method is provided to assist a user in selecting, identifying, and handling email messages. A selection color module may provide for the display of color coding and selection highlighting. The selection color module may provide a secondary highlighting color to indicate messages related to a selected message. A category navigation module may provide one or more of the following: an indicator that provides the user with a number of items that are off the screen for a particular category, a command that causes the first entry for a category to be scrolled into view, a label to indicate the number of items in a particular category matching a particular criteria, and/or a control for scrolling between next or previous categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martin M. Wattenberg, Jodi L. Coppinger, Bernard J. Kerr, Darrell J. Loverin, Paul B. Moody
  • Patent number: 7421665
    Abstract: Techniques employed in displays of graphs with large numbers of nodes for viewing details of an area of interest while preserving context. The techniques take advantage of parent-child and sibling relationships. Sibling nodes and children of sibling nodes are displayed in rows. The center of interest is at the center of a row and nodes at the ends of the rows overlap. A parent node may have a node scroller associated with it for viewing the parent's child nodes one page of nodes at a time. The node scroller includes paging buttons and may also include a scroll bar with a slider. The node scroller may be displayed on the parent node itself or on the links connecting the parent node to the page of children currently being displayed. Also disclosed are details of the implementation of a preferred embodiment of the node scroller and details of an application programmer's interface (API) for creating and manipulating node scrollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Lory Dean Molesky, Gopalan Arun, Carl J. Evankovich, David Mor
  • Patent number: 7421666
    Abstract: Methods, system, and computer program products for browsing content with a display area and input system that may be limited in comparison to more traditional browsing systems. Movement between and selection of interactive elements generally occurs in a navigation mode, whereas interaction with a single interactive element generally occurs in an edit mode. In navigation mode, a direction input selects the next interactive element in the direction indicated. If no interactive element is at least partially visible in the direction indicated or if a selected interactive element is only partially visible, the display scrolls. Switching between navigation mode and edit mode is based on the input received, in view of the input supported, by a particular interactive element. Interactive elements may be limited to the width of available display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Peter O. Vale
  • Patent number: 7421667
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling a vendor mode on an integrated circuit. A method is disclosed for applying a potential to a no-connect pin, whose function is unknown to the customer, to prevent the accidental enabling of the vendor mode. Applying the potential to the no-connect pin while concurrently applying a distinct sequence of logic values to other pins signals the deliberate intention to activate the vendor mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Melvin T. Isom, III, Shailesh U. Hegde
  • Patent number: 7421668
    Abstract: A property used in functional verification of a circuit design is debugged independently of the circuit design for which the property is intended. Visualization of the property under various conditions helps a user to debug any errors in how the property is implemented in a requirements model. To visualize a particular property, a trace of a corresponding property in the requirements model is generated. The trace illustrates waveforms of a set of signals related to the property for a number of clock cycles. To visualize the property under various conditions, a user can find additional traces of the property by applying visualization constraints to obtain meaningful traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Jasper Design Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Wah N. Ip, Yann Antonioli
  • Patent number: 7421669
    Abstract: A method for generating a constraint for use in the verification of an integrated circuit design includes identifying a target in a netlist (N) of the design and creating an overapproximate abstraction (N?) of the netlist. A space state (S?) is created by enumerating the states of N? from which the identified target may be asserted. A constraint space C? is then derived from the state space S?, where C? is the logical complement of S?. The process is repeated for multiple selected targets and the constraint spaces from each iteration are logically ANDed. Creating an overapproximate abstraction may include replacing a sequential gate with a random gate. Identifying a sequential gate may include selecting a target in the netlist, performing underapproximate verification of the target, and, if a spurious failure occurs, selecting a gate further down the fanin chain of the currently selected gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Raymond Baumgartner, Hari Mony, Viresh Paruthi, Jiazhao Xu
  • Patent number: 7421670
    Abstract: A system and method for implementation of look-ahead design methodology. Efficient debugging of a design is accomplished by evaluating the high level register transfer level (RTL) representation of a device being designed by quickly simulating the downstream implementation of that device to expose potential implementation problems that would otherwise be found much later in the design or manufacturing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Murphy
  • Patent number: 7421671
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a circuit simulation comprising pruning a signal flow graph. Pruning the signal flow graph includes selecting a current vertex from a multiple input vertices in the signal flow graph. Each one of the input vertices is connected to a primary input of the signal flow graph. Determining if the current vertex includes at least one of a sensitivity parameter or a sensitivity variable. If the current vertex includes at least one of a sensitivity parameter or a sensitivity variable then the current vertex is identified as being part of a sensitivity path and is added to a first sub-group of vertices. Pruning the signal flow graph also includes determining if any remaining non-visited neighbor vertices remain to be analyzed. If any remaining non-visited neighbor vertices remain to be analyzed then selecting a neighboring vertex and determining if the selected neighbor vertex is identified as a sensitivity path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Korobkov
  • Patent number: 7421672
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide identification of a first polyline and a second polyline associated with a differential signal, determination of whether a distance between a segment of the first polyline and a segment of the second polyline is within a first tolerance, determination, if the distance is not within the first tolerance, of whether the distance is within a second tolerance, determination, if the distance is not within the first tolerance and is within the second tolerance, of whether the length of the segment of the first polyline is less than a first threshold, and to indicate that the first polyline and the second polyline are sufficiently spaced, if the distance is not within the first tolerance and is within the second tolerance, and if the length of the segment of the first polyline is less than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Meyer, Brett Neal, Andrew McRonald, Lee Genz, Ping Sun, Gene Garrison
  • Patent number: 7421673
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide identification of a first polyline and a second polyline associated with a differential signal, determination of whether a distance between a segment of the first polyline and a segment of the second polyline is within a first tolerance, determination, if the distance is not within the first tolerance, of whether the distance is within a second tolerance, determination, if the distance is not within the first tolerance and is within the second tolerance, of whether the length of the segment of the first polyline is less than a first threshold, and to indicate that the first polyline and the second polyline are sufficiently spaced, if the distance is not within the first tolerance and is within the second tolerance, and if the length of the segment of the first polyline is less than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Neal Meyer, Brett Neal, Andrew McRonald, Lee Genz, Ping Sun, Gene Garrison
  • Patent number: 7421674
    Abstract: A critical path detecting unit for detecting critical paths for a design in which cells are placed on an integrated circuit and information concerning timing constraints. A representative-critical-path extracting unit extracts a representative critical path by having one critical path represent critical paths which share more intervals than a certain number, and which are similar to one another, out of critical paths which have been detected by the critical path detecting unit. A path-image generating unit renders the representative critical path, which has been extracted by the representative-critical-path extracting unit and reflects information concerning other critical paths, which are similar to the representative critical path, on the representative critical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunori Nishida
  • Patent number: 7421675
    Abstract: A method of annotating timing information for a circuit design for performing timing analysis can include determining minimum and maximum clock path delays for registers of a circuit design and computing a difference between the maximum clock path delay and the minimum clock path delay for a destination register of the circuit design. The method further can include adjusting a register timing parameter for the destination register according to the difference and performing a timing verification on the destination register using the adjusted register timing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: XILINX, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Campbell, Mario Escobar, Jaime D. Lujan, Walter A. Manaker, Jr., Brian D. Philofsky