Abstract: These master system files define the system characteristics that a user at any node in the system can expect to have. The master system files are mounted remotely from each of the nodes of the system and a local copy of the master system files is kept locally reflecting the current contents of the master system file. If a master system file is not available, the local copy is used in read only mode until the node containing the master is available. In addition, each user has its own file tree organization that dictates the necessary remote mounts of directories to enable a user logged on to any node to have the same view of the system that would be obtained from any other node in the system by that user.

Abstract: A two-way interactive addressable entertainment terminal comprises a processor, a keyboard, a character generator responsive to the processor and memory for storage of an algorithm related to the installation of the terminal and to providing a verification indication at the terminal of acknowledged entry of the terminal into an entertainment system. The character generator, responsive to the passage of a predetermined period of time since the application of power to the terminal, causes a number of screens to be displayed on an associated television receiver. The display screens reinforce the algorithm and provide indications of programmed key functions despite labels of keys on the keyboard. Consequently, a user or installer is capable of installing a terminal according to the present invention without any communication with personnel at the location of a system manager. By requiring the practically simultaneous occurrence of two events the application of power and the actuation of a predetermined key, inadvertent entry into either an installation mode or a maintenance mode of terminal operation is prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording an image on a record medium includes an image forming device which operates in a plurality of record modes, and a control device for determining the record mode to be used on the basis of inputted page direction information and inputted print direction information.

Abstract: In a data bus system which links a plurality of users, user access to the bus is provided by an arbiter which responds to a plurality of user requests for bus access by employing an adjustable priority scheme for granting access. When a user has access to the bus, the arbiter updates user pricrity by assigning the lowest priority to the current user and upwardly adjusting the priorities of all currently-requesting users.

Abstract: A hand controlled peripheral pointing device having an optional analog switch to permit the user to dynamically and continuously change the value of an attribute, for example, the width of a line or color saturation value, when the device is moved. Activation of the analog button or key permits the user to change an attribute value of graphical data input as desired depending on the depth of depression of the key. In the preferred embodiment, the device is a mouse having a numeric keypad placed thereon. This numeric key pad allows the user to directly enter data without moving the hand back and forth between the mouse and a computer key board. The numeric mouse is able to operate in two modes, including a conventional point and click mode and an analog mode. An alternate embodiment comprises a light pen having a finger actuated analog button disposed adjacent the writing tip of the pen. One manner of switching between modes (analog to click and vice versa) is program driven, i.e. depending on what item the mouse or light pen is pointing to, the activation of the key varies an attribute value or functions in the conventional "click" or keystroke manner.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for outputting data from a device, such as a portable keyboard, directly to a keyboard interface 40 of a destination computer 42. The device may be detached from the computer and operate remotely therefrom, in an "active mode" wherein keystroke data is stored in internal memory thereof, for subsequent transfer to the destination computer. Alternatively, the device may be attached to the computer and function in a "bypass mode" (or in a keyboard emulation routine of the active mode) as a standard input keyboard therefor. The destination computer 42 may be a personal computer or a terminal of a mainframe computer. The internal circuitry of the device includes a programmable processor 28, a program memory 30, a working memory 32, an input switch device 34, a display 36 and an output interface 38. A bypass switch device 24 permits the device to operate in the bypass mode. A resident program stored in program memory 30 controls input, editing, translation and output of data. The processor 28 performs all control and data processing functions. The working memory 32 provides scratchpad and data memory required to execute the program steps, and storage for keystroke files input in the transfer mode. The device may record a sequence of keystrokes for subsequent output to the destination computer in the event that faulty operation of the destination computer prevents reception and/or storage of the same, thus providing fault-tolerant data transfer. The output interface 38 communicates data and provides handshaking to the keyboard interface 40 of the destination computer 42.

Abstract: A transaction system where at least one teller machine, operating in an on-line mode and an off-line mode, is connected to a host computer. The teller machine can be set during the off-line mode into either of two key wait states for responding to a key wait request command from the host computer so that when a first key wait code is set, further transmission from the teller machine is prohibited until a predetermined key on the keyboard is activated, but when a second code is set, transmission is continued without the necessity of activating the aforementioned key and the transactional data can be further printed for a subsequent backup check.

Abstract: An embroidering machine is provided with a display section which is retractable within a machine housing and can be pulled to an operational position when in use for select/input operation. Several kinds of select/input operation can be made with a single display means, by suitably changing and selecting the display mode. Select/input operation is made by plotting an appropriate portion seen in the display, reducing to a great extent erroneous operation with a visual support.

Abstract: A method for causing suitably configured versions of the Apple Macintosh computer running the Apple Macintosh operating system to operate in user mode while causing at least user programs to continue to perform as though operating in supervisor mode, and in conjunction therewith a further method for implementing virtual memory on such Apple Macintosh computer systems.

Abstract: A signal interface to a low-cost portable electronic token data module, which can be used with a wide variety of computers, including a tremendous variety of personal and other computers, as long as the computer includes an interface to RS232 (or some comparable stardard). The token has a one-wire-bus interface, implemented in a battery-backed open-collector architecture, which provides a read/wire interface. The communication protocol expected by the token has been specified so that the token never sources current to the data line, but only sinks current. The communication protocol also includes time-domain relations which are referenced to a very crude time base in the token, and the system must preserve timing relations which will be satisfied by tokens in which the time base takes on any of the wide range of forseeable speeds. To interface to this protocol, the programmable capabilities of the standard UART chip in the computer's RS232 interface are exploited to provide adaptation to the time base requirements of the module. This is done by writing an entire byte of output from the UART, at a much higher baud rate than the module can be relied on to accept, to write a single bit of data into the module. The read-data line (RX) of the UART is tied back to the transmit-data line (TX) through a resistor, so that the UART will also always report a read of the same data byte being written, unless the token has turned on its pull-down transistor. An electrical network is used at the interface which (in effect) reverses the ground plane identification of the two leads, but which does provide the correct signal polarity to the token for signal discrimination in read mode.

Abstract: A television receiver includes means permitting a scene to be reviewed instantly, inset into the main picture. Solid state memories 4, 5, 6 for colour components, and (not shown) for sound, record for example thirty seconds of broadcast which can be viewed by setting switch 10 to a play mode. … …

Abstract: In a computer system including a central processing unit, a program memory, a control program, a keyboard hardware interrupt handler routine and a single step interrupt handler routine, a method for replacing conventional data from a keyboard with user defined data including placing the central processing unit into single step mode, determining with the single step interrupt handler routine whether a keyboard hardware interrupt handler routine involves a keyboard data input instruction, and, if so, replacing the conventional data with user defined data, followed by either repeating the process or returning the system from single step mode to the main control program.

Abstract: Three different types of user interface in EMERGE, a medical expert system for analysis of chest pain in the emergency room, are described. They are a question-driven mode, in which the system asks the user to respond with y(es), n(o) or? (no information), or with a degree of presence of symptoms; a data-driven mode in which the user enters free-format English phrases; and a menu-driven mode in which the user chooses selections from a list by number. These interfaces are discussed in terms of their implementation, advantages and disadvantages, and the perception the end-user has of the system through the use of each interface. The methods by which the system communicates its results to the user are discussed, including presentation of consultation results, explanation capabilities and establishment of permanent patient files. >

Abstract: A bar code reading device includes a code reading section for reading a bar code attached to an article by emitting a light beam through a window and receiving therethrough the light beam reflected from the bar code, and a manual input section for inputting article information by operation of a keyboard. In the bar code reading device, the manual input section includes a transparent liquid crystal display panel, a transparent touch sensor panel disposed on the liquid crystal display panel, and a control circuit for selectively setting one of a manual input mode and an automatic reading mode, driving the liquid crystal display panel so as to display an image of keyboard in the manual input mode and to erase the image of keyboard in the automatic reading mode, and reading key-in data entered by touching portions of the touch sensor panel with reference to the image of the displayed keyboard in the manual input mode. The light beam can be transmitted via the liquid crystal display panel and the touch sensor panel in the automatic reading mode.

Abstract: In a data processing device having a display and a keyboard, a cursor on the display is moved with each of input keys onthe keyboard in a predetermined processing mode designated by a mode change key There are two ways for determining the directions to which the cursor is moved One is that the directions is determined in accordance with a positinal relationship between two keys successively operated The other is that the directions is determined in accordance with a positional relationship between the operated key and a reference key determined in advance Thus, each of keys for respectively inputting codes are utilized as cursor movement keys

Abstract: A steering lock assembly and method for utilization in a vehicle (22) having a transmission control member (30) mounted for movement between a PARK mode position and a non-PARK mode position utilizes a key-operable switch (54) including a housing (58) mountable in a generally stationary condition within the vehicle and a keyway cylinder (60) mounted within the housing for rotational movement relative thereto between positions corresponding to LOCK and non-LOCK modes of the switch. The lock assembly (20) includes a locking mechanism (56) associated with the switch (54) for locking the steering arrangement (24) of the vehicle when and only when the keyway cylinder (60) is positioned in the LOCK mode position, and a camming arrangement (90) is mounted adjacent the keyway cylinder (60) and connectable to the transmission control member (30) for movement therewith.

Abstract: A display device in an image forming apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel (11). The display panel (11) selectively displays two types of modes, that is, a normal mode and a special mode. In the normal mode, a copy volume, a copying magnification, a copy density and the like are displayed. In the special mode, the contents for setting edit copies, the contents for setting composite copies and the like are displayed. The special mode is displayed during only a predetermined time period in the event that one of special mode setting keys (21 - 31) is operated. In other cases, the display mode is automatically switched to the normal mode. More specifically, the normal mode which a user desires to know is usually displayed on the display panel (11). Only when the user sets the special mode, is the special mode displayed in response to an operation of one of the special mode setting keys (21 - 31).

Abstract: This invention relates to a visual control robot system for arc welding which can conduct easily and efficiently those operations which are associated with a robot controller and a vision sensor system by an operator through a common operation panel. Before the start of welding, a soft key (9a) disposed on the common operation panel (6) for both the robot controller (5) and vision sensor controller (3) is operated so as to set the robot system to a first mode and under this state, the position of a sample welding member is taught to the robot controller. The soft key is then operated to switch an operation mode to a second mode in order to input parameters for vision teaching of storing a camera image at each point on a reference weld line formed on the sample weld member. The position teaching and the vision teaching can be given via the same operation panel and moreover, the operation common to both can be carried out by the same operation. Correction control is effected during the welding work so that an actual weld line is in agreement with the reference weld line in accordance with the result of comparison between an actual camera image representing a welding state and a camera image at the time of vision teaching corresponding to the former.

Abstract: PURPOSE:To reduce the number of times of key operation by regarding the depression of only another key combined with a function selecting key to be used for a specific setting mode as the depression of the function selecting key CONSTITUTION:When a user specifies the movement of a cursor to a display position and then depresses function-2 keys 11b, 11c on a keyboard 11, a block edition mode is set up When a key code indicating a specified function is sent to a CPU 13 by said key operation, the CPU 13 stores key code in a RAM 14 and starts the block edition mode When a function-1 key 11a and a function-3 key 11d are depressed, block moving processing is executed At the time of deciding that the depressed key is only a function-3 key 11e, a ROM 15 decides the omission of the depression of the function-1 key 11a Thereby, the specified function is block copy and block copy processing is executed in accordance with the contents of the ROM 15 Thus, key operation can be simplified

Abstract: PURPOSE:To easily and surely perform a setting job by displaying set data such as a unit price, etc., inputted in a setting job mode on a line different from that of guidance display on a display device. CONSTITUTION:When a control switch 10 is set at the setting job, a CPU 11 reads out guidance from a guidance table, and sends it to a display controller 15 with a command to display the guidance on the upper display part 3a of the display device 3. When the set data such as the unit price, etc., is inputted by an input key on a keyboard 2 in such state, the CPU 11 sends the command to display the set data on a lower display part 3b with the set data to the controller 15. In such a way, the set data such as the unit price, etc., is displayed on the display part 3b. Thus, it is possible to recognize a content to be inputted at the next step at the time of performing the setting job clearly, and to perform the setting job easily and surely.

Abstract: PURPOSE:To easily switch the test mode of a self-diagnosis and to make the device inexpensive by providing a test mode specifying means which switches the test mode of the self-diagnosis with a switching signal sent from an external equipment. CONSTITUTION:An electronic controlling unit (ECU) 2 has a CPU 3, a RAM 4, a ROM 5, etc., processes various signals inputted through an input interface 6 according to a program stored on the ROM 5, and outputs a control signal through an output interface 7 and a driving circuit 18 according to the processed data. Further, the ECU 2 is equipped with the test mode specifying means which switches the test mode of the self-diagnosis with the switching signal sent from the external equipment. Then when the test mode of the self-diagnosis of the ECU 2 is switched, the switching signal is sent from the external equipment to the ECU 2 and then received by the ECU 2, and the test mode specifying means switches the test mode of the self-diagnosis.

Abstract: A copier having an automatic document feeder and selectively operable in a sheet-through mode and a sheet-stationary mode. The sheet-through mode is automatically selected when only one copy is desired for each of documents while the sheet-stationary mode is automatically selected when two or more copies are desired for each of documents.

Abstract: A modulator/demodulator apparatus has a first digital signal processor (DSP1) that is operable in a full duplex mode for providing digital samples to a coder-decoder (IOP) and receiving transmitted samples therefrom. The first digital signal processor (DSP1) is responsive to received samples for initiating echo cancellation in the received samples. A second digital signal processor (DSP2) is operable to demodulate samples received from the first digital signal processor and output demodulated information therefrom. An input/output processor (IOP) initiates operation of the first and second digital signal processor. The input/output processor receives input information to be transmitted and supplies that information to the first digital signal processor and receives demodulated message information from the second digital signal processor and outputs message information to one or more user devices. The input/output processor also receives transmitter digital samples which are to be demodulated from the first digital signal processor and supplies the transmitted samples to be demodulated to the second digital signal processor. The input/output processor as operable in a full duplex mode. Accordingly the input/output processor acts as a system controller in controlling transmission and reception digital signal processors which provide independent transmission and reception functions suitable for a multirate modem apparatus.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To set reservation with a simple operation by easily retrieving a program desired video recording based on reservation setting data from a control processor, and designating a retrieved program. CONSTITUTION: When the video recording reservation of a program is performed, a program title corresponding to the desired program in program titles displayed on the screen of a television receiver 1 is selected and clicked with a mouse 8. Furthermore, when a reservation button is clicked, a computer 5 displays a button to expedite a selection of a reservation mode on the screen of the receiver 1. At this time, a user selects and clicks the selection button of the desired reservation mode with the mouse 8. When selection is completed, the computer 5 sends the reservation setting data through a cable 6 to a recording means a video deck 2, then, reservation setting is performed. The computer 5 retrieves a fundamental data base 41 from a format key code correspondence table based on the reservation setting data. In the base 41, date data, channel data, start time, completion time, and the program are stored for each program as a data base, which can be easily retrieved. COPYRIGHT: (C)1991,JPO&Japio

Abstract: PURPOSE:To attain multimedia communication by automatically switching a text, a voice, and a FAX by means of the operation of a switching means provided at a center and a terminal. CONSTITUTION:The terminal consists of a text terminal (CAPTAIN terminal) 33, a push-phone and a speaker 34 to be inputted to an ARU, a FAX 32 to obtain the hard copy of detailed information, and a text/voice/FAX switching unit 31. A text mode shifts to a FAX mode or to a voice mode by the instruction of a text command, and when the FAX mode and the voice mode shift to the text mode, switching of the FAX mode and the voice mode to the text mode is attained only when the carrier of a MODEM used for the communication of the text mode is detected, and simultaneously, specific code data transmitted by it are detected.

Abstract: Customized screens are generated in accordance with the invention for interfacing with an application program in an information processing system. During a panel definition phase when a panel designer creates a customized panel, panel actions are selected from a default list of panel operations and commands, including searching, adding, changing or deleting data from a database, showing long fields, blanking out a panel, displaying a prior panel, and printing. The actions are specified in a pop-up window during panel definition. Mnemonics and function keys may be specified for each action. The invention dynamically creates pull-down windows based on the actions specified which become part of the panel interface available to the run time user from an application action bar. Users may select actions to interact with the panel in like manner to interaction with other portions of the application user interface by means of cursor selection, input of the action number, mnemonics, or activation of a function key. Also during panel design a custom word or phrase for the panel action may be specified for subsequent display in the pull-down windows during run time. A mode such as Add data or Change data is specified for each selected panel action item during panel definition. During panel run time, and after selection of an execution mode, panel actions pull-down windows previously thereby designed may be displayed. A list of only those panel actions previously selected in the panel actions design pop-up window corresponding to the execution mode selected appears.

Abstract: Provision is made in programmable alphanumeric calculator systems to provide functional controls from the keyboard for setting up various keyboard operational modes so that fewer keys on the keyboard are necessary. Thus, computer control commands are initiated in a control mode for entries of the commands in response for two successive keystrokes. In particular the entry of a full set of twenty six alphabetic characters typically with fewer than twelve keys is achieved by providing a different operating mode than for the entry of numeric digits from the keys with a single keystroke. Accordingly the alphabetic characters are entered with two successive keystrokes from a subset of six or more keys in different embodiments.