...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5724507 | Lan adapter for changing control signal to a value indicating silence when the control signal is changed into a value indicating occurrence of transfer request An end node for which sending and receiving are controlled by a hub is directly connected and used. When another end node is directly connected to the PMD control unit, the input control signal processor of the signal processor receives a receiving state ... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5721841 | Adapter having data aligner including register being loaded to or from memory with an offset in accordance with predetermined network fragmentation parameters A data alignmentation apparatus and method in a LAN adapter. The arrangement includes a data aligner mechanism and a transfer control mechanism that transfer data between this RAM and a PCI bus. A transfer control mechanism pre-calculates the control para... | 02/24/1998 |
| 5717955 | System for changing device from specialized interface that enables control of subsystem to general interface that performs general purpose computing functions unrelated to the subsystem The present invention describes a method for superimposing general usage interface characteristics upon a computing device configured with specialized interface characteristics to enable the particular computing device to control general purpose computing... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5649104 | System for allowing user of any computer to draw image over that generated by the host computer and replicating the drawn image to other computers The invention concerns using multiple computers to hold a conference. Under the invention, an application program can run on a single computer, yet remote participants can issue commands to the program. Remote participants can watch the program operate, b... | 07/15/1997 |
| 5644783 | Device for setting aside memory for use by one transfer unit when number of busy responses for the unit regarding the memory becomes predetermined number An input/output control device controlling data exchange between computers and memory units includes transfer units connected to the computers and accessing the memory units so as to effect the data exchange, an exclusive-control unit for preventing more ... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5640570 | Information handling system for transmitting contents of line register from asynchronous controller to shadow register in another asynchronous controller determined by shadow register address buffer An information handling system includes one or more processors, a system bus or network connecting the processors, a memory system connected to the system bus, an asynchronous signal controller connected to the system bus, one or more I/O bridges connecte... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5640607 | Method for sending bit mapped image by appending special code to text string and transmitting the text string separately from compressed residual image A method of transferring the digital representation of a bit-mapped image which includes the steps of: (1) identifying predefined patterns in the bit-mapped image data, and (2) transmitting pattern codes corresponding to those patterns to a receiving devi... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5640596 | Input output control system for transferring control programs collectively as one transfer unit designated by plurality of input output requests to be executed In a system which includes an input-output controller provided with channel paths for receiving input/output requests from higher-rank apparatus, and an external storage controller connected to the input-output controller through the channels, the input-o... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5636373 | System for synchronizing logical clock in logical partition of host processor with external time source by combining clock adjustment value with specific value of partition An external time source is connected to a partitioned data processing system, having host processors controlled by a host hypervisor, and having operating systems in the partitions. The host processors each have a timer facility comprising a time-of-day (... | 06/03/1997 |
| 5634005 | System for automatically sending mail message by storing rule according to the language specification of the message including processing condition and processing content An automatic sending-message processing device is applied to a computer network which is connected to a plurality of computer systems via communication media and capable of effecting message switching among the plurality of computer systems by use of an e... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5630165 | Servo system controlled by master and second processors through memory being accessed for read and write by processors in separate portions respectively A servo loop control apparatus having a master microprocessor and at least one autonomous streamlined signal processor is disclosed. The architecture provides a general purpose controller for use in systems where intensive servo signal processing is requi... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5630065 | Time division multiplexing communication system for transmitting data from plurality of transmitting links to plurality of receiving links using link highway, concentrator, and distributor A time-division multiplex communication system includes a link highway having a common data link channel and an address identification channel, a concentrator, and a distributor. The concentrator monitors signals from individual links connected to respect... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5630084 | System for converting data in little endian to big endian and vice versa by reversing two bits of address referencing one word of four words A data processing device including: data processor handling at one time a plurality of data such as instructions each consisting of one word; a plurality of input ports for inputting a plurality of data; a memory for storing temporarily the data inputted ... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5630061 | System for enabling first computer to communicate over switched network with second computer located within LAN by using media access control driver in different modes A plurality of media access control drivers are coupled to and provide a respective channel to connect a computer and the switched network. Each media access control driver has a first mode in which a connection is established in the switched network and ... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5619654 | System for implementing user request by dividing the retrieved corresponding procedure into first command to obtain apparatus name and second command to obtain operation content An apparatus control system where a major terminal for inputting a user's request is connected via a communication path to at least one apparatus terminal which has an apparatus for implementing the user's request. Such apparatus control system comprises ... | 04/08/1997 |
| 5617540 | System for binding host name of servers and address of available server in cache within client and for clearing cache prior to client establishes connection A name mapper, name servers, and multimedia servers are connected to a multimedia manager. Each client has the name of a multimedia server, i.e., a virtual host name, from which it can obtain multimedia service. The name server stores associations of serv... | 04/01/1997 |
| 5615390 | System for determining and controlling the input/output mode of input/output terminal of microcomputer using reset signal change point detection circuit In an input/output circuit of a microcomputer, an output latch is connected to an internal bus for latching an output data signal. An output tristate buffer has an input connected to receive a latched output data signal from the output latch and an output... | 03/25/1997 |
| 5611050 | Method for selectively performing event on computer controlled device whose location and allowable operation is consistent with the contextual and locational attributes of the event The present invention describes a method for superimposing prespecified locational, environmental, and contextual controls on user interactions, including interactions of mobile users, with computational resources. A system is described for electronically... | 03/11/1997 |
| 5604867 | System for transmitting data between bus and network having device comprising first counter for providing transmitting rate and second counter for limiting frames exceeding rate Multicast and broadcast frames transmission rate logic limiting the rate at which multicast or broadcast frames are forwarded by a MAC layer device interconnecting local area networks such as a bridge or switching hub, so as to prevent multicast or broadc... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5603054 | Method for triggering selected machine event when the triggering properties of the system are met and the triggering conditions of an identified user are perceived The present invention describes a method for superimposing prespecified locational, environmental, and contextual controls on user interactions, including interactions of mobile users, with computational resources. A system is described for electronically... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5603052 | Interface circuit for transferring data between host and mass storage by assigning address in the host memory space and placing the address on the bus A high performance Local Bus Peripheral Interface (LBPI) for a computer local bus and its high performance peripheral interface(s) uses a pipelined architecture to increase the use of the available data transfer bandwidth. In one embodiment, the LBPI can ... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5602992 | System for synchronizing data stream transferred from server to client by initializing clock when first packet is received and comparing packet time information with clock An apparatus and method for synchronizing multiple independent data streams in a networked computer system is disclosed. In a computer network having a plurality of computer systems coupled by a communication medium, one of the plurality of computer syste... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5598579 | System fpr transferring data between two buses using control registers writable by host processor connected to system bus and local processor coupled to local bus A computer system which includes a DMA controller on the local I/O unit which can be programmed by either the host processor or the local processor. Semaphore flags and lock bits are provided to allow determination of control of the local DMA controller a... | 01/28/1997 |
| 5598576 | Audio output device having digital signal processor for responding to commands issued by processor by emulating designated functions according to common command interface An improved audio-output device coupleable to a computer system, in which a DSP operating under software control emulates a common command interface. The command interface has a set of registers that are made available to the CPU for reading and writing, ... | 01/28/1997 |
| 5592621 | System for inserting first transmission token into data stream appended to second transmission token to facilitate full duplex communication between central controller and other controllers A system and method of providing an embedded controller network communication protocol, for controlling communications between a central controller and a plurality of active embedded controllers, wherein a first data transmission token (T2) is passed, und... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5592682 | Interface circuit for transferring data between host device and mass storage device in response to designated address in host memory space assigned as data port A high performance Local Bus Peripheral Interface (LBPI) for a computer local bus and its high performance peripheral interface(s), using a pipelined architecture to increase the use of the available data transfer bandwidth. To accomplish the above, the L... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5584041 | Channel apparatus having a plurality of channels capable of being operated either in parallel mode or in separate mode A channel processor (CHP) within a channel apparatus instructs parallel transfer of data through a plurality of channels within a channel cluster (CCL), when it reads out a LCUW. Each of the channels sequentially generates addresses of a main storage dete... | 12/10/1996 |
| 5581788 | System for testing the functionality of video cord and monitor by using program to enable user to view list of modes and select compatible mode A system and method for testing the functionality of a VGA card and associated monitor. A testing and set up tool or Program is installed in a computer having an operating system. The Program provides a list of modes and timings for a plurality of monitor... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5581702 | Computer conferencing system for selectively linking and unlinking private page with public page by selectively activating linked mode and non-linked mode for each participant An apparatus and method for lining public and private pages in a conferencing system is disclosed. In a computer conferencing system having a plurality of participants coupled by a communication medium, a process for linking public and private pages compr... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5581795 | System for transmitting and receiving digital information through parallel printer port of computer by using embedding strobe bit in eight bit data of printer port A unique combination of software and hardware provides any computer with a system for high speed digital data communications using the computer's standard parallel printer port. The disclosed embodiment of the invention allows any computer with a standard... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5579531 | System for selecting path among plurality of paths using plurality of multiplexers coupled to common bus to transfer data between peripheral devices and external device In a semiconductor device having an MPU and a plurality of peripheral devices controlled by the MPU through a bus, to facilitate the interconnection of the peripheral devices without the use of the MPU, improve response speed and the processing speed of a... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5577207 | System and method for connecting SCSI units spaced at distance which is greater than the standard maximum length value of the SCSI protocol A system of a maximum of N units (A, B, C, D, . . .) distributed in a network (RE) operating by a predetermined protocol (SCSI) by which the length of any bus (SCSI1, SCSI2, SCSI3) assuring the connection of a plurality of... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5577234 | System for controlling storage device for storing data at second density that is not integral multiple of first density by varying the device motor speed According to the present invention, a function can be added to a peripheral apparatus by making a change in only a few parts of a data processing system without making changes regarding hardware in, especially, a system unit nor an interface part between ... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5577251 | Object oriented system for executing application call by using plurality of client-side subcontract mechanism associated with corresponding plurality of server-side subcontract mechanism The present invention provides an elegant and simple way to provide mechanisms for invocation of objects by client applications and for argument passing between client applications and object implementations, without the client application or the operatin... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5574944 | System for accessing distributed memory by breaking each accepted access request into series of instructions by using sets of parameters defined as logical channel context A distributed memory I/O interface 10 is provided which allows a plurality of standard peripheral bus I/O controllers 101 to perform multiple transfer operations simultaneously and independently within a networked, distributed memory system 102. The inter... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5574948 | Method for separating jumpless add-on cards having identical I/O port onto different I/O ports by using comparison technique based on the card numbers A method of separating jumpless add-on cards having identical I/O ports onto different I/O ports by first providing a special comparator in the hardware and then providing a software program to produce different responses from different add-on cards even ... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5572678 | System for sending frames from sender to receiver using connectionless protocol and receiving acknowledging frame and retransmission request frame from receiver using connection oriented protocol Data communication method and system for transmitting a large amount of data via a network such as LAN to which a plurality of stations or terminals are connected, through a simplified processing procedure with high reliability and high efficiency while s... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5572694 | Virtual system for detecting access paths belonging to same group from plurality of access paths to reach device designated by command with reference to table In a format such that a plurality of input/output devices are allocated to a plurality of virtual machines in a one-to-one corresponding manner, a group ID issued from each of the virtual machines is held into a table every plurality of access paths which... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5566302 | Method for executing operation call from client application using shared memory region and establishing shared memory region when the shared memory region does not exist The present invention provides an elegant and simple way to provide mechanisms for invocation of objects by client applications and for argument passing between client applications and object implementations, without the client application or the operatin... | 10/15/1996 |
| 5564018 | System for automatically distributing selected mail item to selected user associated with office location within physical office floor plan in data processing system A method and system for the efficient distribution of electronic mail items within a distributed data processing system having multiple users enrolled therein wherein each user utilizes a computer or terminal device having a unique address. After selectin... | 10/08/1996 |