Abstract: A designated byte of a PS/2 packet is used for data not recognized by a conventional PS/2 port driver. Each packet byte received by the conventional port driver is read by an Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) of a filter driver. If a received packet contains an unrecognized data type, that data is extracted. The filter driver converts the byte containing the data to 0000 0000. The port driver provides the all-zero byte to a higher level driver for processing into a subsequent data structure. A Service Callback Routine of the filter driver receives that data structure from the higher level driver. Depending upon the type of unrecognized data extracted by the ISR, that data is then either inserted into the data structure or passed independently of that data structure to a user level application.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk control apparatus with excellent scalability realized on the same architecture, in high quality and reliability, regardless of its scale. Each of a plurality of channel interface units and a cache memory unit as well as each of a plurality of disk interface units and the cache memory unit are connected through a switch and a data path network (solid line) in each disk control cluster. Each switch provided outside each disk control cluster is connected to the switch in each disk control cluster through the data path network. A resource management unit is provided outside each disk control cluster and the resource management unit is connected to each of the plurality of channel interface units/disk interface units, as well as to the cache memory unit in each disk control cluster. The resource management unit is also connected to each switch provided outside each disk control cluster through a resource management network (dotted line).

Abstract: A modified universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) device is provided with an auxiliary high speed parallel channel using supplementary FIFO buffers for the exchange of data. The auxiliary parallel channel is separate from the normal lower speed serial channel which is retained in unmodified form. The retained serial channel provides full compatibility with and support for the National Semiconductor 16550 standard, while the auxiliary parallel channel allows for rapid transfer of large data blocks, such as is needed for a PCMCIA wireless data card for example. The key advantages of this approach lie both in the data transfer speed and in the reduced amount of development time needed to implement a UART interface for communicating between a host computer and a new subsystem. This is because all the UART functions, except large volume data transfer, can be carried out over the standard serial channel using standard device drivers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for playing analog audio in an electronic audio system having multiple audio codecs, only one of which has a direct hardware connection to the analog audio source. First analog audio data is received from the analog audio source at a first audio codec, and converted to digital audio data using the first audio codec. The digital audio data is stored in a memory, and read back from the memory, transferred to a second audio codec. The digital audio data is then converted to second analog audio data using the second audio codec, and output from the second audio codec. An audio controller may be used to store the digital audio data in a loopback buffer within the memory, read the digital audio data from the loopback buffer, and may further be programmed to operate in a prepare loopback state, a loopback running state, and a recording state.

Abstract: A measurement device operable to communicate with a computer system via files. The computer system may receive one or more files created by the measurement device, where the files include measurement data generated by the measurement device and may utilize the files to perform a measurement application. The measurement device may also be operable to receive a configuration file from the computer system and configure or control itself according to commands or settings therein. In one embodiment the measurement device may appear to the computer system as a USB Mass Storage device, and the files created by the measurement device may appear as files stored on a USB Mass Storage device. Thus, the computer system may communicate with the measurement device to obtain the measurement data files in the same standard manner in which it would obtain files stored on any other USB Mass Storage device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for implementing multiple transaction translators that share a single memory in a serial hub are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) hub may include a shared memory device, at least one faster data handler coupled to transfer data between the shared memory device and a faster port, and several slower handlers each coupled to transfer data between the shared memory device and a respective one of several slower ports.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed that is reprogrammable through a pager network. The device includes a communications port. The device also includes a data transceiver for transmitting send data and receiving receive data from a pager network. In addition, the device has a processor. The processor is in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port. The processor is also in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the pager network. The device also includes reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the device to receive new program code from the pager network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code.

Abstract: A versatile controller that can be used as either a stand-alone controller in a relatively small process plant or as one of numerous controllers in a distributed process control system depending on the needs of the process plant includes a processor adapted to be programmed to execute one or more programming routines and a memory, such as a non-volatile memory, coupled to the processor and adapted to store the one or more programming routines to be executed on the processor. The versatile controller also includes a plurality of field device input/output ports communicatively connected to the processor, a configuration communication port connected to the processor and to the memory to enable the controller to be configured with the programming routines and a second communication port which enables a user interface to be intermittently connected to the controller to view information stored within the controller memory.

Abstract: A method, by which a user mode application obtains all physical paths that point to a logical unit on a newly-discovered small computer system interface (SCSI) device, may include: sending an input output control command to a kernel component regarding future discovery of any SCSI device; awaiting discovery of a new SCSI device; awaiting generation, by the kernel component, of a unique identifier (UID) and at least one set of physical path information mapping thereto for a logical unit on the newly-discovered SCSI device; and receiving, from the kernel component, the UID and the at least one set of physical path information mapping thereto for the logical unit of the newly-discovered SCSI device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a sequence of input values. Furthermore, the method includes determining if the sequence of input values is a manual input or an automated input.

Abstract: Record controlling data received by an interface unit is transferred to a change controlling block, and transferred to a head analyzing block so that analysis of its head can be performed. In case the data following the head is a command, it is stored in a command storing register, and in case of compressed recording data, it is transferred to a data transfer controlling block. A MPU accesses the command storing register to analyze the command. The compressed recording data is stored in a FIFO memory via a first dedicated bus from the data transfer controlling block, and transferred to a DECU via a second dedicated bus.

Abstract: A communications adapter is shared by a plurality of input/output (I/O) subsystem images of an I/O subsystem of a central processing complex. To enable the sharing, the communications adapter is configured to a plurality of I/O paths of the plurality of I/O subsystem images. An I/O subsystem may have one or more shared communications adapters.

Abstract: A mini PCI module includes a mini PCI card and a mini PCI slot for the mini PCI card to be inserted into. The mini PCI card includes 124 signal pins and an antenna pin set. The mini PCI slot includes 124 signal connection ends corresponding to the 124 signal pins, and an antenna connection end set corresponding to the antenna pin set for electrically connecting to an antenna set.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and process is provided for communicating safety-related data, over an open system, from a sender to a receiver. Safety-related components, including function blocks, flexible function blocks, resource blocks and transducer blocks, as well as, safety-related objects are provided. Also, an extended safety-related protocol provides for authenticating communications between safety-related components over an existing black channel, such as one using a fieldbus Architecture.

Abstract: An integrated circuit implementing a storage-shelf router, used in combination with path controller cards and optionally with other storage-shelf routers, to interconnect SATA disks within a storage shelf or disk array to a high-bandwidth communications medium, such as an FC arbitrated loop. Various embodiments of the present invention provide a tunneling mechanism through the storage-shelf interface provided by one or more storage-shelf routers within a storage shelf to enable external processing entities to directly access various components within the storage shelf. In one embodiment of the present invention, a WRITE-BUFFER command and a READ-BUFFER command are added to the command interface supported by storage-shelf router. These commands are exchanged via the FCP protocol over the fiber channel in the same manner that SCSI commands are packaged within the FCP protocol.

Abstract: When an active data copy process relative to a logical storage device is performed without involving a computer, an access permission/rejection of the computer to the logical storage device is checked by referring to a correspondence between WWN of the computer and a logical storage device identifier LUN to thereby determine whether an access to a copy source logical storage device and a copy destination logical storage device is permitted or not. It is therefore possible to prevent an outflow of illegal data from a storage subsystem to be caused by an active copy instruction command.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may provide a method for implementing an adaptive multimode media queue. A mode of operation may be determined for a received media stream based on a sampling rate of the media stream. The mode of operation may be a wideband mode and/or a narrowband mode. Depending on the determined mode, the adaptive multimode media queue may be partitioned into a low band media queue and a high band media queue. A wideband media stream split into a high band and a low band is buffered into the adaptive multimode media queue wherein the high band is stored in the high band media queue, and the low band is stored in the low band media queue. The high band media queue and low band media queue may be a contiguous memory block within the adaptive multimode media queue. The received media stream, which may have different sampled data rates may be buffered within the partitioned adaptive multimode media queue.

Abstract: This invention adapts a stationary flat display for use as a portable computing and media device. The adaptation takes advantage of the predetermined mounting arrangements of the stationary flat display by inserting external modules between the predetermined mounting arrangements. When stationary, the flat display can continue its intended use as the primary display connected to a desktop computer system. The combination of the flat display with attached external modules is quickly released from stationary use to enable portable use for other applications.

Abstract: A digital protection and control (P & C) device for a power distribution network, which comprises a computerized control unit comprising a microprocessor. The P & C device, according to the present invention, further comprises an external computerized palmtop computerized device, including a human-machine interface (HMI), which comprises a software communication platform. This software communication platform is aimed at exchanging, by means of a predefined communication channel, data/information related to the software configuration of the HMI and data/information related to the operating status of the P & C device.

Abstract: A physical layer apparatus compliant for both serial and parallel ATA interfaces is devised. The physical layer apparatus includes a serial ATA physical layer circuit, a channel selection unit and a channel selection controller. The channel selection unit is connected to a media access controller of a host through a first IDE bus. The channel selection unit is further selectively connected to a serial ATA device through the serial ATA physical circuit or connected to a parallel ATA device through second IDE bus. Therefore, the media access controller of the host can selectively access the serial ATA device and the parallel ATA device through the channel selection unit under the control of the channel selection controller.

Abstract: An interface block provides an interface between an internal bus of an integrated circuit and a socket of a logic block. The interface block includes a synchronization module that performs any needed synchronization between a clock domain of the internal bus and a clock domain of the socket of the logic block. A translation module provides translation of block encoding of the data for data transferred between the internal bus and the socket of the logic block. A queue module buffers data flowing between the internal bus and the socket of the logic block. A driver module handles low level and electrical drive specifications of the internal bus.

Abstract: A universal serial bus (USB) connector for connecting a host and a universal serial bus device includes a main body, a first pin disposed in the main body connecting to a power supply, a second pin disposed in the main body transmitting signal D?, a third pin disposed in the main body transmitting signal D+, and a fourth pin disposed in the main body connecting to ground. The third pin is shorter than the second pin by a predetermined length, whereby the host recognizes the universal serial bus device correctly when the universal serial bus device is connected to the host by the universal serial bus connector from the host.

Abstract: Various methods and systems provide interfaces between legacy data buses such as MIL-STD 1553 buses and wideband data buses such as IEEE 1394 data buses. One technique for interfacing a legacy bus to a wideband data bus involves providing a hybrid bus controller/remote interface unit as an interface between the two buses. In operation, the legacy interface suitably receives data intended for a legacy node from a wideband data bus capable node. The legacy data is converted in the legacy interface/remote interface unit to at least one legacy word having a legacy format for transmission on the legacy data bus. The legacy interface may be further configured to receive a reply to the wideband data bus capable node message from the legacy component on the legacy data bus, and to forward the reply to the wideband data bus capable node component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for providing PCI Express support. A device includes a hard-coded transceiver configured to support protocols such as Fibre Channel and the 10 Gigabit Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI), but the transceiver does not fully support PCI Express. Interface circuitry is configured to supplement or replace hard-coded transceiver components to provide PCI Express support. Interface circuitry allows PCI Express cores to operate with the transceiver that does not fully support PCI Express.

Abstract: A communication device which transmits/receives data to/from a host device connected thereto via a bus having a signal line and a power line. A communication controller which is always supplied with power as long as a bus is connected thereto and a MCU are so arranged as to use different power, and only supply of power to the MCU is interrupted when a connected host device comes into stand-by state. In case the connected host device resumes from the stand-by state, the communication controller responds to communication from the host device until the MCU resumes control of data transmission/reception with the host device.

Abstract: Improved techniques for rendering a peripheral device removable (e.g., unpluggable) are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the peripheral device is rendered removable from a host computer without preparatory user actions. In effect, the peripheral device can be automatically prepared for removal in the event that its user removes (unplugs) it from its host computer. According to another aspect of the invention, the peripheral device includes a data storage device that is mounted to a file system of the other computer when the other computer desires access to the data storage device. Otherwise, the data storage device is normally unmounted so that if the peripheral device were to be removed (e.g., unplugged) no harm or damage to data stored therein would occur. These aspects of the invention can be utilized alone or in combination with one another.

Abstract: A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.

Abstract: A method for using a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) controller to communicate with an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) drive which includes performing a transfer between the static random access memory (SRAM) controller and the IDE drive using PCMCIA interface signals to communicate with the IDE drive and a general purpose input/output signal to communicate with an interrupt request of the IDE drive.

Abstract: A hand-held device having a display and a browser application which supports functionality particularly suited for the hand-held device. For example, the browser application supports a full screen tag which allows information to be displayed as a full screen within the display. The browser application may also support a tag for use in displaying a link the activation of which will cause the hand-held device to transmit command codes to a consumer appliance. Still further, the browser application can support a tag which the hand-held device can use to issue reminders.

Abstract: A playback apparatus including a playback unit which plays back audio information and the like, an accommodation unit which accommodates a detachable recording medium, and a controller. The controller causes the playback unit to access to the recording medium through the accommodation unit according to a first communication standard (PCMCIA) and causes an external apparatus to access to the recording medium according to a second communication standard (ATA) different from the first communication standard.

Abstract: A cordless modem system where a mobile station unit (MSU) is located in the computer and a base station unit (BSU) is connected to the telephone line. A radio frequency (RF) link is developed between the two units to allow a cordless connection. A series of commands are used between the two units to allow the MSU to request a channel, the BSU to grant a channel, the BSU to notify of a ring, and the MSU to request the BSU to go off hook. In addition, there is preferably a command sequence to allow authorization of a particular MSU or BSU. There are two full duplex channels in each MSU and BSU. This allows multiple BSUS and MSUS to be utilized in a small area. Communications between the two units are secure based on address values for each 15 unit contained in the various commands.

Abstract: A commanding system for a computer. An input sequence can be received from an input device, and the commanding system can be used to connect the input to an associated action. Commanding can be provided by a plurality of nodes that represent elements of control and application levels. The nodes can be arranged in a hierarchical structure, and each node can include a table of bindings. A service can be attached to one or more of the nodes at run-time to provide additional commanding functionality. For example, a service can modify or supplement the binding entries provided in the table of bindings associated with a given node.

Abstract: System for processing programmable buttons using system control interrupts in a portable device. The system comprises a programmable button that comprises logic to generate a selected system control interrupt when actuated. The system also comprises interrupt logic coupled to receive the selected system control interrupt. The interrupt logic comprises logic to generate a button report that includes a button identifier, which indicates that the programmable button has been actuated. The system also comprises button support logic that is coupled to receive the button report, the button support logic comprises logic to determine a selectable device function associated with the button identifier, and logic to activate the selectable device function.

Abstract: An advantageous set of external interfaces for home video game platform provide modularity and expandability while maintaining and preserving the proprietary nature of the platform. A disk drive interface provides flexible communications with an internal disk drive. Various serial bus interfaces provide expandability and interconnectability with a variety of internal and external devices including, for example, flash memory, broadband adapters, modems, and various other devices. A 4-port game controller interface provides serial interconnectability with handheld game controllers and various other input/output device. Power supply, digital and analog audio/video connections, and parallel memory expansion connections are also provided.

Abstract: A method and mechanism of accessing segments in data storage systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, extents in a segment are coalesced into groups based on the data storage device each extent is stored on. Rather than submit an I/O operation for each extent, a single I/O operation is submitted for each group of extents.

Abstract: A disk enclosure is provided with a plurality of HDDs, an enclosure manager that outputs control and management information of the disk enclosure, and S/P converters that are provided for the respective HDDs. Each S/P converter converts a control and management command outputted from the HDD in the form of a parallel signal into a serial signal and outputs it to the enclosure manager. Further, each S/P converter converts control and management information outputted from the enclosure manager into a parallel signal. With this configuration, merely providing a serial port in the enclosure manager and connecting the S/P converters to the enclosure manager by a serial bus can make the SES function of the ESI scheme effective for the HDDs.

Abstract: An interface apparatus includes a USB interface portion which makes communication with an external first device via a USB cable, a parallel interface portion which makes communication with an external second device via a parallel cable, and a control portion which, after a processing command signal has been received from the first device via the USB interface, when a signal state of the parallel interface portion is detected, and then, it is determined that the second device connected to the parallel interface portion enters a power saving mode, generates a switch signal for switching the current power saving mode to a normal mode to supply the switch signal to the second device via the parallel interface portion, and after it has been detected that the second device has been switched into the normal mode, controls the processing command signal so as to be supplied to the second device via the parallel interface portion.

Abstract: An external connection device is connectable to a host device. The host device includes transmission means for transmitting, to the external connection device, a parameter and an operation control command by issuing a transfer protocol command (TPC). The external connection device includes a parameter register for storing the parameter, a command register for storing the operation control command provided from the host device, and a controller for referring to the operation control command stored in the command register and for performing operation control specified by the operation control command. The parameter register and the command register of the external connection device are selectively accessed from the host device based on a memory access transfer protocol command (TPC) and a security access transfer protocol command (TPC) issued from the host device.

Abstract: A USB apparatus includes an upstream port, a downstream port, a connection detector and a controller. The connection detector is connected to the upstream port and the downstream port, and is for detecting connection statuses of the upstream port and the downstream port to generate a detecting signal accordingly. The controller is used for controlling the USB apparatus to be operated at a host mode or a hub mode according to the detection signal and control method.

Abstract: First and second inputs are associated with a port. Logic produces indications to software to cause the first input and second input to appear as a single input to the software. The logic produces an indication that no signal is present on either the first input or the second input. When a port bypass controller is coupled to the port, the logic produces an indication that both the first and second inputs are bypassed. When the port bypass controller is coupled to a Fibre Channel arbitrated loop, the logic produces a first signal to control whether the first input is included on the Fibre Channel arbitrated loop or bypassed, and a second signal to control whether the second input is included in the Fibre Channel arbitrated loop or bypassed.

Abstract: Communicating non-keyboard related data via a keyboard connection is disclosed. A keyboard protocol format is added to the non-keyboard related data. The non-keyboard related data is then transmitted within the keyboard protocol format through the keyboard connection. Once the keyboard protocol format has been received through the keyboard connection, it is parsed to retrieve the non-keyboard related data from the keyboard protocol format. The non-keyboard related data is then processed accordingly. The non-keyboard related data may include mouse coordinates, a command to disable a display of a mouse cursor, a test signal, or mouse function commands transmitted from a remote computer to a local computer over a network via an interaction device and through the keyboard connection of the local computer. The keyboard connection may be a PS/2 connection or an USB connection.

Abstract: A frame grabber with switched fabric interface where in varying embodiments the fabric interface may be one of InfiniBand, Star Fabric, or PCI Express or the like.

Abstract: A verification system for an interchangeable component configured to be mated with a receiving system. The system includes a key device supported by the interchangeable component. The key device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising component identification characteristics. The system further includes a lock system having a signal receiver and a verification component. The signal receiver is configured to receive the signal from the key device transmitter and pass the signal to the verification component. The verification component is configured to use the signal to determine whether or not the component should be admitted to the receiving system, and to generate an authorization signal if the component should be admitted.

Abstract: A peripheral component interconnect (PCI) device comprising a bus interface coupled to a component interconnect bus, a plurality of configuration space register sets, and virtual multiple-function logic. Each set of configuration space registers is associated with a function. The virtual multiple-function logic is coupled to the bus interface and the configuration space register sets. The virtual multiple-function logic provides access to a plurality of configuration space registers for a plurality of functions. The virtual multiple-function logic also enables a plurality of functions to share the bus interface and other internal logic.

Abstract: In processor-based systems, loss of ports may be avoided while connecting mass storage drives or devices at a host level. In one embodiment, a slave device (e.g., a cache or an accelerator) may be interposed between a host device and a master storage device (e.g., a disk drive) over a serialized link, providing accelerated communications between the host device and the master storage device through the slave device both coupled on select one of one or more ports available at the host device for device connections.

Abstract: The present invention achieves technical advantages as a system (700) and device (200) that integrate the advantages of a paperless day planner portfolio with a paper-bound day planner portfolio to create a wireless day planner portfolio system (700). The system (700) generally includes an interface (410), a communication device (430) and a data entry system which may be located on a computing device (710).

Abstract: A Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) single-chip flash device contains a USB flash microcontroller and flash mass storage blocks containing flash memory arrays that are block-addressable rather than randomly-addressable. USB packets from a host USB bus are read by a serial engine on the USB flash microcontroller. Various routines that execute on a CPU in the USB flash microcontroller are activated in response to commands in the USB packets. A flash-memory controller in the USB flash microcontroller transfers data from the serial engine to the flash mass storage blocks for storage. Rather than boot from an internal ROM coupled to the CPU, a boot loader is transferred by DMA from the first page of the flash mass storage block to an internal RAM. The flash memory is automatically read from the first page at power-on. The CPU then executes the boot loader from the internal RAM to load the control program.

Abstract: A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.

Abstract: A plurality of independent cache units and nonvolatile memory units are provided in a disk controller located between a host (central processing unit) and a magnetic disk drive. A plurality of channel units for controlling the data transfer to and from the central processing unit and a plurality of control units for controlling the data transfer to and from the magnetic disk drive are independently connected to the cache units and the nonvolatile memory units through data buses and access lines.

Abstract: A display method, in which in a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) systems shares one display device, and USB devices connected to the display device and USB devices connected to the plurality of USB systems are shared,. The method includes, while output of a first predetermined USB system, among the plurality of USB systems, is transmitted to the display device, providing a predetermined menu to select a USB device to be shared and selecting a second predetermined USB system to connect to the selected USB device; if a menu item is selected, disabling a driver, which corresponds to the shared USB device in the first USB system; buffering information transmitted from the shared USB device in the display device; and transmitting the information, which is buffered in the display device, to the driver, which corresponds to the shared USB device, in the second USB system.