Showing papers on "Interface (computing) published in 1994"

Multimedia service access by reading marks on an object

Abstract: An apparatus and method enables a user to control the selection of electronic multimedia services to be provided to the user by one or more servers over a communication medium. The apparatus includes a scanner for reading marks on an object and for communicating a request signal, having an object code representing the read marks, to a user interface. The interface receives the request signal and transmits to the servers a request command including an interface identification code and the object code which is used to select the desired electronic multimedia service. The servers identify the selected electronic multimedia service using the object code. The interface then enables the selected electronic multimedia service transmitted from the servers to be received by the user's receiver.

Graphical user interface for interactive television with an animated agent

Abstract: A graphical user interface for displaying and selecting video programs, such as video on demand, includes a video on demand server coupled to a communication medium. A plurality of settop box receivers are coupled to the communication medium for receiving digitized programming in the form of movies and the like from the video on demand server. The settop box includes a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a memory and other electronic modules. The CPU generates and displays the graphical user interface on the subscriber's television. The graphical user interface is based upon a metaphor in which a world of spaces are organized as part of a studio back lot through which a user may navigate. The back lot includes a Poster wall which presents to the user a series of movie posters representing available selections. When a user touches a Poster on a touch sensitive screen of the television, the CPU generates an animation which displays the Poster coming off of the wall and appearing in the foreground of the screen. If a subscriber selects the Poster to view a feature presentation, the video on demand server downloads the selected video which is displayed on the television. The interface of the present invention further includes Extras which appear in animated form on the interface and move freely between spaces within the studio back lot metaphor. If a user selects an Extra, the Extra is transformed into a movie poster or advertisement. The user may then select the Poster and view the feature presentation.

Method and apparatus for interactively monitoring a physiological condition and for interactively providing health-related information

Abstract: An electronic health monitoring system. A multimedia processor is a modified CD-ROM multimedia interactive television video game console which comprises a microprocessor, hardware, and software. One or more physiological data monitors are coupled to provide a signal representative of a user's physiological parameter to the multimedia processor through an isolated interface circuit. A hand-held program controller with directional buttons is operated by the user to control the various functions of the multimedia processor. A television is coupled to the multimedia processor to provide sound and a video display based upon output signals from the multimedia processor. Interchangeable compact disks (CD-ROM) comprise additional software. The software contained in the interchangeable compact disks enables the system to execute a variety of health related functions, to display high quality moving or still video images and to produce high quality sound accompaniment. For example, the system may monitor a user's electrocardiographic signals and display an ECG waveform and various other parameters, such as heart rate, on the television screen. The system may also interactively provide more detailed or educational information to the user based upon the user's operation of the hand-held program controller and also based upon predetermined software routines and data stored within the system.

The genetic data environment an expandable GUI for multiple sequence analysis.

Abstract: An X-Windows-based graphic user interface is presented which allows the seamless integration of numerous existing biomolecular programs into a single analysis environment. This environment is based on a core multiple sequence editor that is linked to external programs by a user-expandable menu system and is supported on Sun and DEC workstations. There is no limitation to the number of external functions that can be linked to the interface. The length and number of sequences that can be handled are limited only by the size of virtual memory present on the workstation. The sequence data itself is used as the reference point from which analysis is done, and scalable graphic views are supported. It is suggested that future software development utilizing this expandable, user-defined menu system and the I/O linkage of external programs will allow biologists to easily integrate expertise from disparate fields into a single environment.

Flexible patient monitoring system featuring a multiport transmitter

Abstract: A flexible patient monitoring system which interfaces a telemetry subsystem with a network by way of a telemetry transmission receiving system and a network controller. The telemetry subsystem includes one or more monitoring instruments, a multiport transmitter, a telemetry subsystem interface, a backchannel receiver module, and a telemetry docking station. The flexible patient monitoring system may be configured to operate in at least four modes: ambulatory telemetry mode, wherein the multiport transmitter is operated independently of other monitoring instruments and is powered by an internal power source; docked telemetry mode, wherein the multiport transmitter is connected to the telemetry docking station for transfer of data and power; simple instrument telemetry mode, wherein the multiport transmitter and a primary monitoring instrument or an auxiliary monitoring instrument are connected together for transfer of data; and docked instrument telemetry mode, wherein the multiport transmitter and a primary monitoring instrument or an auxiliary monitoring instrument are attached to the telemetry docking station for transfer of data (and optionally for transfer of power to the multiport transmitter). Wireless communications between the telemetry subsystem and various nodes on the network are thus enabled. Information may be provided to and from the telemetry subsystem interface via the multiport transmitter.

Apparatus for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming

Abstract: A distribution system for audio program materials includes a portable audio storage and retrieval device that is programmable from a high speed data transfer system, and that includes a high-capacity data storage medium, a base control interface for identifying and accepting program material, a mobile control interface for displaying the identity of recorded material for playback selection, a recording mechanism for accepting very high speed digital data from an external source at rates faster than real time, and a playback mechanism for retrieving the stored data from the storage medium and for converting the data into audio signals for playback.

System for distributing subscription and on-demand audio programming

Abstract: A distribution system for audio program materials includes a portable audio storage and retrieval device that is programmable from a high speed data transfer system, and that includes a high-capacity data storage medium, a base control interface for identifying and accepting program material, a mobile control interface for displaying the identity of recorded material for playback selection, a recording mechanism for accepting very high speed digital data from an external source at rates faster than real time, and a playback mechanism for retrieving the stored data from the storage medium and for converting the data into audio signals for playback.

Interactive information delivery system

Abstract: An information delivery system including a head end broadcasting a data stream of media objects, the head end being coupled to a broadcast television interface and at least one information service provider and including an encoder for encoding information in the media object is disclosed. The system may deliver and implement a programming guide delineating programming information available on the information delivery system in one or more media objects in the data stream in an encoded fashion by the encoder. A user terminal is coupled to the head-end and receives the media objects. The user terminal has an output and includes a decoder for the media objects. Also provided in one aspect is a user interface, at least partially stored in the user-terminal, which selects a user-defined subset of media objects for provision to the output of the user terminal. Further, an information navigation system for an information delivery system is provided. The navigation system functions with the electronic program guide and includes a user interface having a plurality of icon representations of various functions of the system, and including a broadcast television interface. The navigation system also includes a smart service navigator which interacts with the user interface and the electronic program guide to provide an output to the user.

Tempest and typhoon: user-level shared memory

Abstract: Future parallel computers must efficiently execute not only hand-coded applications but also programs written in high-level, parallel programming languages. Today's machines limit these programs to a single communication paradigm, either message-passing or shared-memory, which results in uneven performance. This paper addresses this problem by defining an interface, Tempest, that exposes low-level communication and memory-system mechanisms so programmers and compilers can customize policies for a given application. Typhoon is a proposed hardware platform that implements these mechanisms with a fully-programmable, user-level processor in the network interface. We demonstrate the utility of Tempest with two examples. First, the Stache protocol uses Tempest's finegrain access control mechanisms to manage part of a processor's local memory as a large, fully-associative cache for remote data. We simulated Typhoon on the Wisconsin Wind Tunnel and found that Stache running on Typhoon performs comparably (±30%) to an all-hardware DirNNB cache-coherence protocol for five shared-memory programs. Second, we illustrate how programmers or compilers can use Tempest's flexibility to exploit an application's sharing patterns with a custom protocol. For the EM3D application, the custom protocol improves performance up to 35% over the all-hardware protocol.

Process of support removal for fused deposition modeling

Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for producing three-dimensional objects having overhanging portions freely suspended in space without any material of the object in direct, supporting engagement therewith in the final geometry of the object A support structure is formed by depositing material which will be under the ultimately suspended portions of the object to be formed, during a process in which material is built up in layers to form the object as well as the underlying support structure A readily removable support structure is formed along an interface with the underside of the suspended portion of the object structure A weak, removable or breakable joint is formed along that interface by the use of an interface material which forms a weak or dissolvable bond with the material of the object The release material may be deposited as a separation layer, or as a thin coating

System for providing secure internetwork by connecting type enforcing secure computers to external network for limiting access to data based on user and process access rights

Abstract: A system and method for the secure transfer of data between a workstation connected to a private network and a remote computer connected to an unsecured network. A secure computer is inserted into the private network to serve as the gateway to the unsecured network and a client subsystem is added to the workstation in order to control the transfer of data from the workstation to the secure computer. The secure computer includes a private network interface connected to the private network, an unsecured network interface connected to the unsecured network, wherein the unsecured network interface includes means for encrypting data to be transferred from the first workstation to the remote computer, a server function for transferring data between the private network interface and the unsecured network interface and a filter function for filtering data transferred between the remote computer and the workstation.

Integrated remote execution system for a heterogenous computer network environment

Abstract: An integrated remote execution system manages resources and provides for the distributed and remote execution of remote requests to those resources in a heterogenous computer network environment that has a plurality of resources loosely coupled to each other. The resources include at least two or more computer processors executing different operating system programs and any memory devices and subordinate programs operating together with the computer processors. Three major components are integrated into a single system by providing for a common remote execution interface that is incorporated into the requesting application program to provide a single programming interface for making remote requests to the system, a separate resource management component to provide information about the various resources in the network, and a remote service routine that can be executed on any of the computer processors selected perform the remote request. The remote execution interface can have the user to determine the selection of which resources to use, or it can automatically make the selection of which resources to use. The resource management component utilizes a hybrid model for managing resources in the network that includes a resource information database that is publish-based and a query module that is query-based. The remote service routine receives the remote requests from the remote execution interface which initiated the remote request and forks a separate remote execution control process for each remote request that actually initiates and performs the remote service in response to the remote request.

System and methods for translating software into localized versions

Abstract: A Software Translation Kit (STK) system having a shell, TShell, coupled to an Export/Import module and various Editors is described. The Export/Import module itself includes a parsing engine to extract strings and translatable information from application programs. It functions as a front end parser to "translatable" sources, providing data conversion as needed. The STK system provides a standard interface and set of tools which can be used to localize graphic user interface products. By employing a datacentric approach, the system provides a standard platform which allows translators to act independently of the product they are translating.

Power management coordinator system and interface

Abstract: A power management system and interface providing a flexible and uniform protocol for controlling power management within a computer system including various software layers and add-in components Clients (registered system elements) requiring power management notification and control become registered (via an associated software component) with a power management coordinator (PMC) The PMC provides information routing functions and address translations to facilitate communication (including power consumption information) between clients at registered identifiers A programmable power policy manager allows a user to define a performance/economy setting for the system that is communicated to all registered devices so that dwell and decay times are appropriately set by the device A programmable event sequencer maintains an event notification sequence and control sequence for power events A programmable power budgeter maintains and allocates power on a request basis for system elements A programmable thermal budgeter maintains and allocates energy based on thermal considerations A BIOS interlace couples for communication between an APM BIOS (if present) to send commands and poll for and receive event notification Registered extensions may be used to provide alternate functionality for the sequencer, the power policy manager, and the thermal and power budgeters The PMC provides for communication of power status, events, and other information between registered devices and allows registered software applications to originate power events Other extensions may register to enhance power management

Table driven graphical user interface

Abstract: A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is provided for workstations on a network in which a complex operation is controlled. At least one node on the network has a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) with an object oriented database for storing data objects for the complex operation. Objects are organized according to the DMI into components, groups and attributes. The GUI is generic to any complex operation but requires the DMI for access to data. The GUI enables the user to manage information in the database in whatever manner the user has interest through the provision of report definitions through which specific component, group, and attribute data are obtained in accordance with row and column definitions for table display. The DMI interface is probed with appropriate commands generated by the GUI to obtain and display the requested data. Provision is made for displaying data in chart format and a chain feature is provided to move from one report to another. Various other features are provided.

Computer Aided Engineering

Abstract: A simulation system for circuit design is disclosed. The system couples a schematic editor and simulator to allow incremental changes to a design under test without requiring prior shutdown of the simulator. The system uses a method which permits a wide range of changes to the design and provides a resulting netlist for the changed design. Changes can be made to the schematic which include changes in hierarchy, addition or deletion of components (including hierarchical components), addition or deletion of signals at any level within the design hierarchy, addition or deletion of interconnections of components at any level of hierarchy within the design, addition and deletion of interface ports for any component type, substitution of a new component for an existing one (including swapping hierarchical and behavioral descriptions), and alteration of parametric data such as device delay timing. The simulation continues to run after design changes are made. The method may be used in conjunction with hardware modeling systems.

Portable personal navigation tracking system

Abstract: A data/voice modem embodiment of the present invention comprises an asynchronous-to-synchronous data converter for interface with a GPS receiver, a minimum space keyed modem, and a continuous tone controlled sub-audible squelch controller that modulates a radio transceiver interface with a discrete tone such that both voice and data may share a common radio channel. The data/voice modem periodically keys-up the radio transmitter through its interface and transmits a packet of information that contains user position and velocity obtained through the GPS transceiver interface and adds a user identification code and time tag. Incoming message packets from the radio transceiver that are sent from other similarly equipped mobile units are used to supply individual network member absolute positions and velocities, and this information is stored by user identification number as goal or waypoint equivalents. As such, distance-to-goal, estimated-time-of-arrival and velocity-made-good estimates are made available on a target track screen included in the respective GPS receiver.

Authentication in the Taos operating system

Abstract: We describe a design for security in a distributed system and its implementation. In our design, applications gain access to security services through a narrow interface. This interface provides a ...

Microcontroller provided with hardware for supporting debugging as based on boundary scan standard-type extensions

Abstract: A microprocessor comprises a processor element, a memory interface element, an IO interface element, a debug support element and an internal bus interconnecting all above elements For easy debugging, it also comprises attached to the internal bus a registered boundary scan standard (JTAG) interface that accesses one or more scan chains inside the microprocessor, and is arranged for controlling DMA-type exchanges via the internal bus with other elements connected to this bus

Control system and operations system interface for a network element in an access system

Abstract: A control system for a network element (NE) such as a remote digital terminal (RDT) in an integrated digital loop carrier (DLC) system is provided which comprises subsystems for operating circuit packs and for providing functions that are common to the circuit packs. Each subsystem has a subagent residing on a network processor circuit pack. The subagents communicate via a common subagent interface. A NE which supports both OSI and non-OSI interfaces such as Transaction Language 1 (TL1) and Common Management Services Element (CMISE) interfaces is provided, along with a method for mapping TL1 commands to CMISE messages using TL1 proxy objects.

Digital assistant system including a host computer with a docking bay for the digital assistant wherein a heat sink is moved into contact with a docked digital assistant for cooling the digital assistant

Abstract: A personal digital assistant module with a local CPU, memory, and I/O interface has a host interface comprising a bus connected to the local CPU and a connector at a surface of the personal digital assistant for interfacing to a bus connector of a host general-purpose computer, providing direct bus communication between the personal digital assistant and the host general-purpose computer. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistant also stores a security code. The personal digital assistant according to the invention forms a host/satellite combination with a host computer having a docking bay, wherein upon docking a docking protocol controls access by the host to memory of the personal digital assistant based on one or more passwords provided by a user to the host. In another embodiment the personal digital assistant also has an expansion port connected to the local CPU, and expansion peripheral devices may be connected and operated through the expansion port. Docking structures and cooling apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Object oriented data store integration environment for integration of object oriented databases and non-object oriented data facilities

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing and effectively integrating non-object oriented data stores with object applications. An integrating environment is implemented wherein an application using a distributed object database and object database management system (ODBMS) is provided with an interface to external data stores in a manner so as to effect location transparency. The application, accessing data via the ODBMS, can manipulate data in foreign data stores which include external data that is mapped and converted into objects for use by object applications. A storage management application program interface ("SM API"), effects a functional interface for handling objects, referencing objects, implementing iteration and indexing of objects, and implementing object transaction and cache handling. The SM API is part of a modular architecture that includes an external storage manager which implements classes that provide the foundation for engaging external data stores, and which maps and converts external data into objects that can be manipulated by an application using the ODBMS.

The pantograph: a large workspace haptic device for multimodal human computer interaction

Abstract: A multi-modal user interface taking advantage of kinesthesia force display, soundj and graphics, to improve human-computer interaction is described. This design primarily addresses the needs of visually impaired persons working in an office situation, but is presently applied to numerous other instances of human-machine interaction; such as operator workstations in control rooms or cockpits. The main technological item introduced here is the haptic interface itself (nicknamed the “Pantograph”) which measures position and velocity of a manipulated knob and displays forces in two dimensions over a wide frequency range. Programmed mechanical models are used to kinesthetically describe the features of the interface. These models are analogous to iconic representations in conventional graphic interfaces. Users, acting and perceiving through the haptic channel, simultaneously perceive simulated objects through the visual and auditory channels. Further developments are briefly reported.

Method for licensing software

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that provides a common application software interface for a variety of vendor supplied license servers. The system provides a single set of program calls and translates this single set of calls into a set of calls for each license server. This translation is performed using a translate table, which is easily updated to interface to newly developed or newly released license servers. The system runs as a separate process within the operating environment to monitor the application program, and as long as the application program continues to provide services to the user, the system sends periodic license renewal messages to the license server. The system also notifies the user when the application program cannot obtain a license in order to provide a consistent user interface across applications.

Control system and method utilizing generic modules

Abstract: A control system and method for motor vehicles uses generic control modules which communicate over a vehicle trunkline to accommodate applications of varying functional content and complexity The vehicle trunkline provides power distribution and a number of communication channels for the various generic control modules which include controller modules, interface modules, and combination controller/interface modules Each generic control module is connected to the vehicle trunkline via a standardized connector The combination modules and interface modules are connected to system actuators and sensors with relatively short, simple overlay wiring The system allows distributed computation for the control of functions and utilizes communication networks to reduce the number of conductors required while increasing the utilization of processing capabilities

System and methods for visual programming based on a high-level hierarchical data flow model

Abstract: A computer system having a Visual Development Environment (VDE) is described. The Visual Development Environment includes an interface having a Component Inspector, Component Manager, Component Library, and one or more visual editors. In operation, a user constructs a program by selecting one or more components from the Library, which displays components in a tabbed palette. Using a visual editor of the system, the user may drill-down into the internals of a component, for modifying its logic. Once the functionality of a component is completed, the user may proceed to connect together various components via the component "ports", which allow access to properties of the component. Components of the system may be nested within other components to an arbitrary level.

A usable real-time 3D hand tracker

Abstract: This paper presents a computer vision system for tracking human hands. The algorithms used to extract the 3D position, and planar orientation of the hand, and the joint angles of the fingers are described. The combined system is able to track a natural hand at 30 frames per second on a standard workstation with no special image processing hardware other than a frame grabber. The tracker has been used as an interface for navigating around virtual worlds. >

Object-oriented operating system

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling an object-oriented application to access in an object-oriented manner a procedural operating system having a native procedural interface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer and a memory component in the computer. A code library is stored in the memory component. The code library includes computer program logic implementing an object-oriented class library. The object-oriented class library comprises related object-oriented classes for enabling the application to access in an object-oriented manner services provided by the operating system. The object-oriented classes include methods for accessing the operating system services using procedural function calls compatible with the native procedural interface of the operating system. The computer processes object-oriented statements contained in the application and defined by the class library by executing methods from the class library corresponding to the object-oriented statements.

Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic Applications in C/C++

Abstract: From the Publisher: Many books discuss the theory of neural and fuzzy systems, but this is the only one that gives you everything you need to actually design and implement neural and fuzzy programs for real-world scientific, engineering, and financial applications. Each chapter is self-contained and takes the reader through all the steps - from data preparation to the presentation of results - necessary to develop a complete working application, many of which feature interactive graphics. In addition to basics such as backpropagation for feedforward networks, the book also covers a number of advanced methods, including genetic algorithms, simulated annealing, and conjugate gradient methods. A complete, step-by-step guide to developing fuzzy and neural applications; applications for financial forecasting, modeling of chaotic dynamics, pattern classification, and control of unstable systems; provides a wealth of sample code for all applications; critically evaluates how well each application works; and features a guide to creating a complete object-oriented interactive interface framework through which all applications can be run.