Showing papers on "Interface (computing) published in 1991"

Continuous biometric authentication matrix

Abstract: A system activating and analyzing the biometric data from a plurality of biometrically-oriented personal identification devices at intermittent intervals selectively allows or prevents continued use of a particular protected system or device by a particular individual. The system is a continuous biometric authentication matrix which can employ any number of any variety of biometric personal identification devices including thumbscan, digital photo, voiceprints, fingerprints, and so on. The system acts as a continuously functioning "gate" between a system to be protected and a prospective user. A prospective user's biometric data is stored for reference. When the prospective user attempts to use the protected system or device, he or she must interface with the system, which then compares the prospective user's biometric data to the reference data. This comparison must not only be acceptably close in similarity in order to gain access to the protected system, it must also continue to be close in subsequent comparisons in order for access to the protected system or device to continue. The accept/reject threshold for individual biometric sensor devices is adjustable, as is the accept/reject threshold for the overall combination of biometric sensors.

Computer with separate display plane and user interface processor

Abstract: A computer system having a digitizing tablet overlaying the display screen. The tablet serves as a user's primary input device. Various features of the system make it possible for the user to run and interact with standard programs designed for keystroke and mouse input and not designed for use with a tablet. In addition to the main processor, on which the user's programs are executed, there is an interface processor. In addition to a standard display buffer, there is an ink plane buffer for interface display data that is combined with the data from the standard display buffer on a pixel-by-pixel basis according to data from a mask plane buffer. The interface processor manages input from the tablet, presents feedback to the user by means of the ink and mask planes, and provides keystroke and mouse data to the main processor as if from a standard keyboard controller. The interface processor presents the user with a collection of simulated devices, including standard devices such as a keyboard and a mouse. A nonstandard simulated device performs character recognition, permitting handwritten characters to be used for program input. During interaction with one of the user's programs, the user can activate and deactivate simulated devices (by removing them from and returning them to a device tray) and can make adjustments in their operation and location on the screen.

Sensor free vehicle navigation system utilizing a voice input/output interface for routing a driver from his source point to his destination point

Abstract: An audio navigation system including an artificial intelligence routing algorithm which does not require any internal or external sensors to locate the vehicle. The interface with the driver is via voice input and voice output and is therefor visually non-distracting and safe to use when the vehicle is in motion. The hardware is built around an optical disk player and therefor can be used for entertainment as well as navigation functions. Digitized maps, compressed voice records and the computer programs are stored on an optical disk.

High speed microcomputer in-circuit emulator

Abstract: An in-circuit emulator (ICE) for hardware/software development and debugging microprocessors. Program execution reconstruction is extracted from an on-board cache memory. An external ICE enclosure interfaces to a target system microprocessor via a cable and a buffer/interface pod. A control program directs a non-intrusive emulation and a monitor program resides in a personal computer host and supports ICE commands. The monitor program allows a user to follow a target system's program flow, to capture related processor information, to make program modifications, and allows the user to restart programs. An on-line disassembler presents a display so as to allow the designer to examine memory, using instruction mnemonics rather than hexadecimal values, thus improving the designer's ability to read program memory. A bit trace buffer records the state of each the microprocessor's signals during each cycle of each instruction. Multiple breakpoints allow a system developer to control a program in ROM, as well as one resident in RAM. An external-range hardware breakpoint and up to sixteen software breakpoints are provided and these allow a designer to display, set and reset breakpoint addresses.

Computer peripheral device network with peripheral address resetting capabilities

Abstract: A desktop communications network connects numerous peripheral devices to a host computer via a single host interface. The host interface and each peripheral device's interface has its own CPU, with software for assigning each peripheral device a unique address. The bus interface associated with each peripheral device typically stores a unique identifier string that is used by the host computer to identify each peripheral device connected to the network. Alternately, the host can distinguish identical peripheral devices by the order in which they are first used. As a result, several peripheral devices of the same type can be connected to the network, each being assigned a distinct network address. Peripherals can be connected and disconnected to the desktop bus while the system is running. The software in the host and peripheral bus interfaces automatically reconfigure the assigned bus addresses. Peripherals with sub-devices are accommodated with a communications protocol that allows up to four sub-devices to be connected to each bus interface. Each peripheral device's bus interface contains a set of capabilities information that is retrieved by the host's interface and is used to determine how the host computer communicates with each peripheral device. For instance, the capabilities information may be used to select a device driver program for use with each peripheral device. In the case of keyboards, the capabilities information may contain a translation table which specifies how the data generated by each keystroke should be interpreted.

User interface having simulated devices

Abstract: A computer system having a digitizing tablet overlaying the display screen. The tablet serves as a user's primary input device. Various features of the system make it possible for the user to run and interact with standard programs designed for keystroke and mouse input and not designed for use with a tablet. In addition to the main processor, on which the user's programs are executed, there is an interface processor. In addition to a standard display buffer, there is an ink plane buffer for interface display data that is combined with the data from the standard display buffer on a pixel-by-pixel basis according to data from a mask plane buffer. The interface processor manages input from the tablet, presents feedback to the user by means of the ink and mask planes, and provides keystroke and mouse data to the main processor as if from a standard keyboard controller. The interface processor presents the user with a collection of simulated devices, including standard devices such as a keyboard and a mouse. A nonstandard simulated device performs character recognition, permitting handwritten characters to be used for program input. During interaction with one of the user's programs, the user can activate and deactivate simulated devices (by removing them from and returning them to a device tray) and can make adjustments in their operation and location on the screen.

Encyclopedia of software components

Abstract: Intelligent browsing through a collection of reusable software components is facilitated with a computer having a video monitor and a user input interface such as a keyboard or a mouse for transmitting user selections, by presenting a picture of encyclopedia volumes with respective visible labels referring to types of software, in accordance with a metaphor in which each volume includes a page having a list of general topics under the software type of the volume and pages having lists of software components for each one of the generic topics, altering the picture to open one of the volumes in response to an initial user selection specifying the one volume to display on the monitor a picture of the page thereof having the list of general topics and altering the picture to display the page thereof having a list of software components under one of the general topics in response to a next user selection specifying the one general topic, and then presenting a picture of a set of different informative plates depicting different types of information about one of the software components in response to a further user selection specifying the one component.

Voice-actuated, speaker-dependent control system for hospital bed

Abstract: A voice-actuated environmental operator system of the kind which enables a user/patient to use simple voice commands to control a plurality of hospital environment room functions including operation of selected bed movement and room environment functions associated with a provided multi-function hospital bed. The operator system uses a conventional IBM PC, XT, AT or like computer which has been adapted for interfacing in a pass-through manner with the control unit of a provided hospital bed. The computer includes a voice card and associated voice recognition and training software for interpreting and translating voice input into digital information readable by a controller card for operating a plurality of bed motor and room function commands. The controller card includes a plurality of relay switch devices, each of which are dedicated to performing a specific bed movement or room function. An FCC registered data access arrangement is also provided to the controller card for telephone interface capability. In a first embodiment, data communication between the computer and the provided hospital bed's control unit is by pass-through hard wire cable interface connection between bed control unit and the DB9 and DB15 serial port connectors on the back of the computer. The DB9 and DB15 serial port connectors are desoddered off the computer's motherboard and wired directly to the controller board. A headset microphone assembly wearable by a patient user is provided to the system for transmitting voice input to said voice recognition means and receiving system command confirmation signals and telephone communications.

System and method for reprogramming vehicle computers

Abstract: A system and method for reprogramming a non-volatile memory of one or more on-board vehicle computers through a serial communication link between an off-board controller and the on-board vehicle computer. An interface circuit is also provided on the vehicle in order to process the command signals from the portable controller which will enable the non-volatile memory to receive and store new computer program code. The method follows a predetermined transfer protocol which assists in preventing the existing computer program code stored in the non-volatile memory from being improperly erased or re-written. This transfer protocol includes the transmission of a command signal from the off-board controller which has a voltage level that exceeds the voltage level of any signal which may recognized on the serial communication link.

Full duplex digital transmission facility loop-back test, diagnostics and maintenance system

Abstract: A full duplex digital transmission, high-capacity digital, facility loop-back test, diagnostics and maintenance system having a digital transmission facility, transmission medium, and at least one microprocessor-based, full duplex facility loop-back diagnostics interface is located at predetermined end-user locations within the system. The system is capable of initiating a facility loop-back test and predetermined diagnostics for a predetermined digital transmission span and customer premises equipment at the location of the network interface for a specified end-user. The facility loop-back diagnostics interface has a performance monitoring mode of operation and a maintenance facility loop-back mode of operation. The diagnostics interface can be activated from a remote location and is compatible with and supports a particular protocol, specifically LAP-B protocol. The diagnostics interface has integral performance monitoring capabilities for nonintrusive multiple diagnostics testing and on-line monitoring of multiple predetermined performance characteristics for associated DS1 communications channels, or a specified DS1 communications channel, and customer premises equipment at the network interface. The microprocessor of the performance monitoring unit for the facility loop-back diagnostics interface is synchronized with an internal clock that is driven by conventional power. There is also a long-life battery for preventing historical performance data from being corrupted during a power loss. When the diagnostics interface is in the performance monitoring mode of operation, historical performance data pertaining to predetermined performance characteristics and criteria can be retrieved by utilizing the extended superframe, or superframe, embedded operations channel.

Video imaging system with interactive windowing capability

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for a system having a multisensor optical module with a large aperture angle, 180 degrees or more possible (360 degrees around), and an electronic interface which outputs two video or digital images of the scene. The first image is a high resolution representation of the entire field of view reconstructed from the partial views of each sensor. The second image is a high resolution representation of a selected part of the scene (window), the dimension and position of which can be interactively commanded through a communication port. The size and location of the window may be changed at every frame (typically every 1/30th of a second). The window field of view can cover the field of view of several adjacent sensors while the resulting image will remain continuous and undistorted. An arbitrary number of windows can be obtained with a unique optical sensor by adding electronic modules to the interface apparatus. The system is applicable, for example, in professional video and television, in industrial machine vision, in image processing, in surveillance systems, in teleguided and tele-operated systems and in many other fields.

Multimedia computing and telecommunications workstation

Abstract: A personal computer workstation (10) for processing and communicating data which comprises, in combination, a personal computer chassis (20). Chassis (20) includes host computer (24) with memory (42) and a plurality of ports for communicating data signals. Telecommunications circuitry (12) within chassis (20) processes telecommunications data and communicates telecommunications data to host computer (24) and ports. Audio multimedia circuitry (18) within chassis (20) processes audio multimedia data and communicates audio multimedia data to host computer (24) and ports. An interface bus (300) within chassis (20) and associated with telecommunications circuitry (12) and audio multimedia circuitry (18) integrates telecommunications data and audio multimedia data to produce multimedia telecommunications data for processing and storage within host computer (24) and communication of the integrated multimedia telecommunications data external to chassis (20).

Programmable multiple I/O interface controller

Abstract: An I/O interface controller is disclosed which can be programmed to interact with a variety of interface protocols. The host side and the peripheral side of the interface controller are independently programmable. All significant operations are performed in a single chip gate array. The gate array includes registers for establishing control with peripheral devices and for transferring data between peripheral devices and the host. An arithmetic logic unit is used for calculation and data manipulation while an I/O operation is occurring. A condition code multiplexer evaluates the contents of registers within the single chip and instructs the sequencer to perform various operations based on these results. Strobe signals from a peripheral device, indicating that valid data is ready to be transferred, are quickly acknowledged by virtue of an asynchronous signal path. The strobe signal is also processed so that it may correspond with the internal clock of the I/O interface. An asynchronous event driver and recognizer mechanism is also disclosed. This mechanism enable the I/O interface controller to drive the host side and the peripheral side interfaces simultaneously.

Computer with tablet input to standard programs.

Abstract: A computer system having a digitizing tablet overlaying the display screen. The tablet serves as a user's primary input device. Various features of the system make it possible for the user to run and interact with standard programs designed for keystroke and mouse input and not designed for use with a tablet. In addition to the main processor, on which the user's programs are executed, there is an interface processor. In addition to a standard display buffer, there is an ink plane buffer for interface display data that is combined with the data from the standard display buffer on a pixel-by-pixel basis according to data from a mask plane buffer. The interface processor manages input from the tablet, presents feedback to the user by means of the ink and mask planes, and provides keystroke and mouse data to the main processor as if from a standard keyboard controller. The interface processor presents the user with a collection of simulated devices, including standard devices such as a keyboard and a mouse. A nonstandard simulated device performs character recognition, permitting handwritten characters to be used for program input. During interaction with one of the user's programs, the user can activate and deactivate simulated devices (by removing them from and returning them to a device tray) and can make adjustments in their operation and location on the screen.

Diagnostic system and interface for a personal computer

Abstract: A personal computer has a NVRAM comprising an error log for storing predetermined error log information at predetermined locations therein. The information is accessible by various programs such as a POST program, a diagnostics program, and an operating system program. Access is made by BIOS interrupt calls through a BIOS interface. The NVRAM also stores vital product data and system setup data.

General purpose parallel port interface

Abstract: A general purpose interface is provided for connecting a floppy disk drive to a parallel port of a personal computer. The interface comprises an interface circuit and software driver circuit operated by the CPU. The interface circuit emulates the internal bus circuit in the CPU and can be used with virtually any disk controller. The interface circuit uses gate arrays as state machine logic elements to perform various functions, eliminating requirements for a microprocessor and plural memory chips.

The medical archival system: an information retrieval system based on distributed parallel processing

Abstract: The Medical ARchival System (MARS) is an information retrieval system utilizing distributed parallel processing. It features a modular design, machine independence, and a Boolean query interface, based in a UNIX environment. Developed at the University of Pittsburgh in response to the information needs of a large academic health center, MARS integrates textual data from a wide variety of sources to create a single, comprehensive medical records information system. It currently contains 850,000 medical reports, 2,500,000 medical references, and 500,000,000 indexed words. This paper describes the software design of MARS and its implementation as a practical system for large-scale information management.

Flexible call detail recording system

Abstract: A telecommunications billing record software system which permits the telephone administration which is operating the exchange to interface with and define the criteria for constructing and/or modifying the decision tables used to decide whether or not to generate a billing record for each particular call. In addition, the administration can also define the criteria for specifying the billing record data to be included within the billing records which are generated and the location to which the record is output.

Portable computer device for audible processing of remotely stored messages

Abstract: A battery powered hand-held portable computer device for audible processing of messages stored at one or more remote central message facilities. A telephonic interface is included within the portable computer device. A connection between the portable computer device and the remote central message facility is automatically established in response to a connection to a telephonic network and the operation of a single switch. Thereafter, selected audio and/or digital messages from a remote central message facility are transferred to the portable computer device, digitized if necessary, and stored within random access memory or stored utilizing analog storage systems. The portable computer device preferably utilizes a limited number of tape recorder-like switches. In response to a single operation of a "start" switch, electronic messages stored in a digital format are sequentially coupled to a text-to-speech conversion application and converted to audible speech through a speaker or headphone. In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer device includes a microphone and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry which permit a spoken input to be digitized, stored and subsequently transmitted to the remote central message facility. Additionally, a message may be "scanned" or "rewound" at higher than normal speed to access a selected portion thereof.

Intelligent multi-media interface technology

Abstract: Current user interfaces cast users into one of two roles: telling a system everything it must do, or answering questions that it poses to them. In neither case is it possible for a dialogue to emerge between user and system. We describe a strategy to bring dialogue-like structure to user-system interaction. This strategy is based on explicitly representing the "plans" of programs, and introducing those plans explicitly into the interface. Both programs and users can conveniently communicate how their actions relate to these plans. A data graphics presentation editor is described as an illustrative example.

Network-field interface for manufacturing systems

Abstract: A network-field interface, termed an NFI, is intended for digitally interfacing at least one host computer on a network to at least one field device. The network operates with a predetermined communications protocol including READ and WRITE services. The NFI comprises I/O ports for connection to the field devices, a modem to facilitate communication between the network and the interface, a CPU, volatile and non-volatile memory accessible to both the modem and the CPU, and program modules resident in the memory. The program modules are executable by the CPU to map the READ and WRITE services of the network onto the NFI's I/O ports. In this way the host computer is able to READ and WRITE directly to the I/O ports through the modem.

System for analysis of embedded computer systems

Abstract: A system can "shadow" the execution of a target-ECS in real time operation, within or without a suite of computers, and record only the necessary information for later re-creation of the real time scenario, without interfacing with the operation of the target-ECS. Such systems include interface means connected by a one-directional bus with the target-ECS and means for converting said input signals to generic input signals, means for converting said generic input signals to unique input events and for providing said unique input events, when needed, to a system connected to said interface means by the bus and including means for storing the unique input events on a permanent storage device during a recording mode and replaying said unique input events during a re-creation mode.

Control apparatus for use in a dwelling

Abstract: The present invention provides a controller (32) that operates using two different processors (50, 52). Each processor (50, 52) performs certain predetermined functions. A control processor (50) is responsible for switching AC power distribution and control, while a message processor (52) is responsible for messaging. A polling scheme and arbitration logic (70, 72) prevent data transfers relating to these two processors (50, 52) from interfering with each other. A configurable interface (34) allows many different types of appliances (30) to attach to the system, and a serial multimode interface (54) further enchances the configurability of the system.

Voice processing system with configurable caller interfaces

Abstract: A voice mail processing system is provided which comprises a digital computer common-platform operable to communicate through telecommunication lines with an outside environment. Communications between callers and the voice mail processing system are performed through specific caller interfaces that are configurable so as to allow different caller interfaces to each caller to the voice mail processing system. Subscriber profile records that contain caller interface configuration information for each caller can be edited to store desired caller interface configuration information for any caller. Information in any subscriber's profile record is accessed by reference to a caller identification number associated with each caller, generated either by the system or by caller input.

Digital computer platform for supporting telephone network applications

Abstract: A platform for supporting telephone netrwork applications includes Network Interface Units (NIU) for interfacing between the telephone network and the platform. A disk storage system stores voice messages to be sent over the network and voice messages received from the network. Voice messages are conveyed between the NIUs and the disk storage system by Voice Interface Modules (VIM). The platform is installed on a general purpose digital computer and includes an Application Interface Module (AIM) responsive to an AIM command set including: SEND VOICE MESSAGE, CONNECT CALL, COLLECT DIGITS, INITIATE CALL, TERMINATE CALL, GET MESSAGE NUMBERS and PIVOT CALL. In response to SEND VOICE MESSAGE, a designed message stored on the disk system is sent to the network via the VIM. SEND VOICE MESSAGE has a RECEIVE VOICE MESSAGE option whereby a message is received from the network after the SEND data is transmitted and stored on disk. The platform initiates a call to the network in response to INITIATE CALL and an application is informed of an incoming call to the network by an INCOMING CALL Response from the AIM to the application. DTMF digits entered during a call are returned to the application in response to COLLECT DIGITS or an AIM command which processes digits. The digits are processed in accordance with Digit Rules. The ports of the NYUs are connected and disconnected in response to CONNECT CALL, TERMINATE CALL and PIVOT CALL.

Computer integrated manufacturing rework apparatus and method

Abstract: A manufacturing rework station is integrated with a computer. A repair cell program running on the computer functions as an interface between the rework station operator, one or more databases, and one or more knowledge bases. The repair cell provides the operator with an easy to use graphical environment which aids in the diagnosis and repair of defects. The cell simultaneously provides operator assistance, records operator activity, and collects new knowledge when the problem under analysis was previously unknown. The databases contain manufacturing history for each individual article. The operator will input the serial number of the article with a bar-code reader, causing the program to fetch the record of the article. The computer generates an image of the article on the display. The operator may select a component of the article with a lightpen. In response to the selection of a component, the computer displays the possible diagnoses and repair actions associated with that component, together with a figure of merit. The operator may also invoke an expert consultation mode, in which the computer suggests a diagnosis or requests additional information while searching a directed graph. When a diagnosis is made, the computer automatically updates its databases. A plant monitoring and reporting program has access to the diagnostic statistics, and can generate a warning when a particular defect exceeds a limit, or generate defect reports on request.

Stylus user interfaces for manipulating text

Abstract: This paper is concerned with pen-based (also called stylus-based) computers. Two of the key questions for such computers are how to interface to handwriting recognition algorithms, and whether there are interfaces that can effectively exploit the differences between a stylus and a keyboard/mouse. We describe prototypes that explore each of these questions. Our text entry tool is designed around the idea that handwriting recognition algorithms will always be error prone, and has a different flavor from existing systems. Our prototype editor goes beyond the usual gesture editors used with styli and is based on the idea of leaving the markups visible.

Mode-selectable integrated disk drive for computer

Abstract: An interface between a CPU bus and peripheral device such as a standard embedded controller disk drive uses either a dedicated, I/O mapped register set for control and status communication between the host CPU and the disk controller, or an alternate "flex mode" protocol which allows the drive to be used with great versatility in a wide variety of systems. This alternate "flex mode" protocol does not require changes to the hardware definition of the drive interface, but instead uses the data port to transfer information blocks to set up a subsequent data transfer through this port.

Portable signaling unit for an EKG

Abstract: A portable leadwire signalling terminal is provided as an interface between an EKG base unit and a patient. The portable terminal includes a signal transceiver which transmits leadwire information to the EKG apparatus, as well as pushbutton information. The EKG unit sends back information suitable for a video display in the terminal. This information is indicative of noise on each leadwire, as well as whether a lead wire is disconnected.