1971 lines
84 KiB
Plaintext
1971 lines
84 KiB
Plaintext
Partial List Of Software Patents
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maintained by Michael Ernst <mernst@theory.lcs.mit.edu>
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You can ftp this file from mintaka.lcs.mit.edu:/mitlpf/ai/patent-list.
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That site is mirrored by jupiter.ee.pitt.edu:pub/patent/patent-list and
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possibly prep.ai.mit.edu:/pub/lpf/patent-list.
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The original is rice-chex.ai.mit.edu:/home/fsf/rms/lpf/patent-list.
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It was last updated on April 12, 1992. (I often forget to update this line.)
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This is a list of software patents for which the disclosure statements are
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in this file folder (i.e., in NE43-427), plus information about all other
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software patents that I know of. It is a partial list. If you know of
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patents that I haven't included, or if you have more information about any
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of these, I would appreciate hearing about it. Except where otherwise
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noted, the patents are US patents.
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Its format is
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number
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title
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filing date
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granting date
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assignee or owner
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inventor
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notes
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3,879,722
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Interactive input-output computer terminal with automatic relabeling of
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keyboard
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On-screen image is projected onto keyboard, which can provide useful
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information about what keys do what.
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4,135,240
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Protection of data file contents
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filed 7/9/73
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granted 7/16/79
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inventor Dennis Ritchie
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The set uid bit patent.
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Doug McIlroy <doug@research.att.com> says: "AT&T distributed Unix with the
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understanding that a license fee would be collected if and when the setuid
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patent issued. When the event finally occurred, the logistical problems of
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retroactively collecting small fees from hundreds of licensees did not seem
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worth the effort, so the patent was placed in the public domain."
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4,158,837
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Information display apparatus
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filed 5/17/77
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granted 6/19/79
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inventor James T. Zahorsky
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assignee IBM
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abstract: "A display system is shown which has a source of coded
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information in display mapped format and includes plural devices for
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decoding and utilizing the information in accordance with its position in
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that mapped format. In the illustrated embodiment, the source includes a
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refresh buffer and the utilization devices include an attribute decoder and
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a character generator. A character row counter controls gating which
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causes the apparatus to treat bytes of data, having attribute format, truly
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as attributes or as addresses of members of an extra, graphical character
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set of the character generator."
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4,197,590
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Method for dynamically viewing image elements stored in a random access
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memory array
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filed 1/19/78
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granted 4/8/80
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inventors Josef S. Sukonick; Gred J. Tilden
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assignee NuGraphics, Inc.
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Includes claims of "XOR feature permits part of the drawing to be moved or
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'dragged' into place without erasing other parts of the drawing."
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Twice upheld in court. [Cadtrak now owns this?]
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4,398,249
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Process and apparatus for converting a source program into an object program
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filed Aug 12, 1970
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granted Aug 9, 1983
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inventors Rene' K. Pardo and Remy Landau
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This is the natural order spreadsheet recalculation patent recently
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acquired by Refac, a litigation company. Draws on ideas like forward
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reasoning.
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4,410,958
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Displaying a proportionally outlined miniature page
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filed 12/24/80
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granted 10/18/83
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inventors Kent R. Demke, Joanne L. Mumola
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assignee IBM
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Abstract: "There is disclosed a technique for displaying on a relatively
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small CRT display, using less than the entire screen, a representation of a
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full page of text. The full page is represented using character indicators
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rather than recognizable characters. The full page representation is
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surrounded by an outline generated using the same character indicators as
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the formatted text representation rather than known graphic symbols. The
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outline is proportional to the ultimate hardcopy indicated by the user, and
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character indicators can be displayed right up to the page outlines."
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See also 4,455,554.
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[Have only first page of this patent.]
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4,449,182
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Interface between a pair of processors, such as host and
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peripheral-controlling processors in data processing systems
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filed 10/5/81
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granted 5,15,84
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inventors Barry L. Rubinson, Edward A. Gardner, William A. Grace, Richard
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F. Lary, and Dale R. Keck
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assignee Digital Equipment Corporation
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This patent apparently covers ring buffers.
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4,455,554
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Proportionality in miniature displays
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filed 12/30/81
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granted 6/19/84
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inventor Kent R. Demke
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assignee IBM
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Display a full page of text on a CRT by representing every 8x16 character
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by a character indicator (a 2x4 screen pixel blob); proportionality is
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maintained (that is, the screen looks like a miniature of the actual
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printed page) by inserting dummy characters in words with especially wide
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letters (so "fox", which has no narrow letters might be represented by four
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character indicators, but "quick" would be represented by five character
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indicators). See also 4,410,958.
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4,458,311
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Text processor having an interactive display terminal which alternately
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functions as a data processing terminal
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filed 10/9/81
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granted 7/3/83
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inventors Silous F. Clements, Patrick D. Motola, Dennis M. Ross, Richard O.
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Simpson, Shirley F. Swift, Michael N. Day
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assignee IBM
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The user is permitted to modify the way that a database front end displays
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information; a single terminal can be used both to enter or change data and
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to change the way the data is displayed.
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4,464,650
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Apparatus and method for compressing data signals and restoring the
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compressed data signals
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inventors Lempel, Ziv, Cohn, Eastman
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assignees Sperry Corporation and At&T Bell Laboratories
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filed 8/10/81
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granted 8/7/84
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owner Sperry Corporation (now Unisys)
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Invented 1976, published IEEE Trans Info Theory 1978.
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This is one of the LZW patents.
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4,514,818
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Video image creation system which simulates a drafting tool
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filed 12/1/81
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granted 4/30/85
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4,555,775
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Dynamic generation and overlaying of graphic windows for multiple active
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program storage areas
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filed 10/7/82
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granted 11/26/85
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inventor Robert C. Pike
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owner AT&T
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Lawsuits of X window vendors threatened, since this covers backing store.
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jupiter.ee.pitt.edu:/pub/patent/backing-store-letter is text of AT&T's letter.
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AT&T says, "The `backing store' functionality available in the
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X Windows System is an implementation of this patented
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invention, therefore, your company/institution needs a license
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from AT&T for the use of this patent."
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The MIT AI Lab implemented this three years before the patent application
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was filed, but the implementor (Richard Stallman) didn't think it was
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worthwhile enough to publish a paper on.
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janson@Athena.MIT.EDU says of Pike's _Transactions on Graphics_ articles on
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backing store and on the Blit:
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"a few things jumped out:
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1) pike referenced prior art for naive backing store in the form of
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symbolics' window system
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2) he distinguished his methods by virtue of special mechanisms to
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store the minimal amount of data rather than the entire window contents,
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and by specifying algorithms to perform graphics operations directly on
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this specially structured (composite backing store / frame-buffer) `window'."
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4,558,302
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High speed data compression and decompression apparatus and method
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filed 6/20/83
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granted 12/10/85
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assignee Sperry Corporation (now Unisys)
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inventor Welch
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Covers the common "compress" algorithm published in IEEE Computer, June 1984.
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Also see Welch's article in CACM.
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The text for patent "4,558,302 Dec. 10, 1985 Welch" can be ftped from
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uunet.uu.net as pub/lzw-patent.Z
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Independently discovered by Victor Miller and Mark Wegman (see 4,814,746,
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which is identical and takes precedence because it was filed 19 days
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earlier).
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Adds one table initialization and two lines of change to 4,464,650.
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4,586,158
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Screen management system
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filed 2/22/83
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granted 4/29/86
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inventor Richard T. Brandle
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assignee IBM
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Maybe covers termcap-style declarations of terminal characteristics.
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abstract: "A method of providing efficient on-line and interactive
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application program utilization of an assortment of devices calling for
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different screen characteristics. An application programmer writes screen
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definitions for a particular device to be used. These definitions are
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stored exterior of the application program and are used to define the
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quantity, order, and placement of the application program's information on
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the screen. The application program provides services to generate and
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process each data element which can be presented. These services are used
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by a mapping system in conjunction with the screen definitions to generate
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and process a device dependent data stream."
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4,602,286
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Video processing for composite images
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filed 1/10/83
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granted 7/22/86
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4,622,641
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Geometric display generator
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filed 9/13/83
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granted 11/11/86
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inventor Lawrence K. Stephens
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assignee IBM
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Apparently covers all draw and paint programs
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Abstract: "A user-friendly procedure for the generation and display of
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geometric figures on a graphics screen uses a cursor placement device such
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as a joy stick to both define the initial position and size of the
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geometrical figure. Two specific examples are described: the generation
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of a circle and the generations of a square or rectangle. In the first
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example, the cursor is first positioned to point to the center of the
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circle at which point a small circle is drawn. The circle is expanded in
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response to the pressing of a designated key by the user until the desired
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size is attained. In the second example, the pointing by the cursor is to
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the upper left corner of the square or rectangle, and the square or
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rectangle is then expanded in response to the user deflecting the joy stick
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down and to the right."
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4,627,015
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Text placement on graphics screen
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filed 5/31/83
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granted 12/2/86
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inventor Lawrence K. Stephens
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assignee IBM
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abstract: "A personal computer having an interactive all points
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addressable display terminal and a cursor positioning device is provided
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with a keyboard for inputting alphanumeric character strings not exceeding
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a predetermined maximum length. Once the desired alphanumeric character
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string has been input, it can be selected as the current cursor character.
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As the selected current cursor character, the alphanumeric character string
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is displayed on the all points addressable display and movable by said
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cursor positioning device. When the alphanumeric character string is
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positioned at a desired location on the all points addressable display, it
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can be fixed in that location by reading the alphanumeric character string
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into the display buffer."
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4,633,416
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Video image creation system which simulates a drafting tool
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filed 7/29/85
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granted 12/30/86
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4,642,764
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Method of developing formal identities and program bases in an optimizing
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compiler
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filed 8/13/84
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granted 2/10/87
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IBM
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Optimizing compiler patent
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4,642,765
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Optimization of range checking
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filed 4/15/85
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granted 2/10/87
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4,646,250
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Data Entry Screen
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filed 10/18/84
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granted 2/24/87
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assignee IBM
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inventor John F. Childress
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Required fields are highlighted until they are filled in; fields
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incorrectly completed are also highlighted.
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4,648,062
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Method for providing an on line help facility for interactive information
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handling systems
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filed 2/1/85
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granted 3/3/87
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inventors Steven E. Johnson; John Karat; Thomas M. Ruiz
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assignee IBM
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A pop-up window describes valid choices for user input.
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4,653,020
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Display of multiple data windows in a multi-tasking system
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filed 10/17/83
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granted 3/24/87
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inventors Harry Cheselka, Jeffrey S. Lucash, William R. Vincent
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assignee IBM
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Apparently covers windowing.
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4,656,582
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Generating storage reference instructions in an optimizing compiler
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filed 2/4/85
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granted 4/7/87
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4,656,583
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Method for improving global common subexpression elimination and code
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motion in an optimizing compiler
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filed 8/13/84
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granted 4/7/87
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owned by IBM
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4,667,290
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Compilers using a universal intermediate language
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filed 9/10/84
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granted 5/19/87
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4,672,575
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Schematic building cursor character
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filed 5/31/83
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granted 6/9/87
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inventor Lawrence K. Stephens
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assignee IBM
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Abstract: "A personal computer having an interactive all points
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addressable display thermal and a cursor positioning device is provided
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with apparatus for facilitating the generation of a graphics display. At
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least one table of selectable cursor characters is stored in memory, and
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from this table, any character can be selected to be the cursor character.
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The selected character is displayed as the cursor and movable to any point
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on the all points addressable display by the cursor positioning device.
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Once the current cursor character is at a desired point on the display, it
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is fixed in that position by reading the position and cursor data into the
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display buffer of the display terminal."
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First claim:
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1. A computer system for providing an interactive graphics display comprising:
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- means for providing a table of selectable cursor graphics characters;
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- means for selecting one of said cursor graphic characters as the current
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cursor symbol
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- means for displaying the selected cursor graphic character
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- means for moving the displayed cursor graphic character on said
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means for displaying; and
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-means for fixing an image of the currently displayed cursor graphic
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character on the said means for displaying at one of more locations to
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generate a graphic display, said means for moving thereafter being capable
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of moving the currently displayed cursor graphic character to another
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location on said means for displaying.
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4,674,040
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Merging of Documents
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granted 6/16/87
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assignee IBM
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This is the so-called "include file patent". It is cited in Brian Kahin's
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article, "The Impact of Software Patents," in the Winter 1989 issue of the
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EDUCOM Review (Vol. 24 No. 4).
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Abstract: "A method of, an system for, merging a portion of one document
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into another and providing for current viewing and on line editing. During
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preparation of a document, a paragraph from another document can be
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included in the document being prepared by referencing the other document
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and paragraph. The result of referencing is inclusion of the paragraph, a
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view of the document being prepared, and a document including the included
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paragraph which is dynamically editable. If the paragraph is edited, an
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operator decision is to be made as to whether the other document is to be
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updated according to the editing."
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Claim 1 is:
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"A method for merging a portion of one document into another document, said
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method comprising:
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(a) including a reference to said another document to said portion; and
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(b) causing said portion to be merged with said another document and
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displayed in merged form."
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It covers displaying part of one document within the display of another, in
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response to a kind of cross-reference. This is, of course, a basic idea of
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hypertext. So many hypertext systems would infringe this patent.
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4,687,353
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Automatic format, mode control and code conversion for data processing and
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printing apparatus
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filed 4/28/86
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granted 8/18/87
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inventor Peter J. DeGeorge, Roger F. Ross, Donald E. Sims
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assignee IBM
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from the abstract: "The invention concerns itself primarily with the
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handling of left margins and indentation levels for different paragraphs in
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a document especially when a document under preparation has line lengths of
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an original document that was prepared concurrently with the storage of the
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coded signals on the record media."
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The patent appears to be on printing a document with different indentation
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than it is stored with; a suggested implementation is tabbing from the left
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margin before beginning to print each line.
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4,714,918
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Window view control
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filed 4/30/84
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granted 12/22/87
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inventors Barbara A. Karker, Irene H. Herna'ndez
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assignee IBM
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abstract: "A method of, and system for, controlling a view f window
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information upon editing the information. The view is controlled based on
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mode selection. For normal information input operations, information
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scrolling is selected. Related existing information adjacent the newly
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input information will be viewable, but remote information will eventually
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be scrolled out of the window. For those instances where all existing
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information is to remain viewable upon input of additional information,
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border scrolling will result in a varying of the size of the window."
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4,736,308
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Search/retrieval system
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filed 7/10/85
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granted 4/5/88
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inventor Paul Heckel
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assignee Hyperracks Inc.
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A system allowing parts of multiple cards to be displayed on the screen at
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the same time. Apple was sued over hypercard on the basis of this patent,
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but settled.
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4,736,866
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Transgenic non-human mammals
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filed 6/22/84
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granted 4/12/88
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Harvard's mouse patent
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4,742,450
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Method to share copy on write segment for mapped files
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filed 2/16/86
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granted 5/3/88
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4,777,593
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Vector processing apparatus including means for identifying the occurrence
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of exceptions in the processing of vector elements
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filed 12/21/84
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granted 10/11/88
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inventor Yaoko Yoshida
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assignee Hitachi, Ltd.
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Abstract: "A vector processing apparatus has a number of pipeline
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arithmetic units operating concurrently to execute a set of vector
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instructions dealing with vector elements. Stack registers are provided
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for each arithmetic unit to hold the vector instruction address, leading
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vector element position and vector register internal address, so that one
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of the exceptions that can be detected successively by several arithmetic
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units during the process of the vector instructions is selected on a
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priority basis through the comparison of information in the stack of the
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currently detected exceptions with information of exception detected
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previously."
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4,814,746
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Data compression method
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filed 8/11/86
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granted 3/21/89
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inventors Victor S. Miller, Mark N. Wegman
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assignee IBM
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This was applied for after 4,558,302 (the LZW patent), but their methods
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are identical.
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abstract: "Communications between a Host Computing System and a number of
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remote terminals is enhanced by a data compression method which modifies
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the data compression method of Lempel and Ziv by addition of new character
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and new string extensions to improve the compression ratio, and deletion of
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a least recently used routine to limit the encoding tables to a fixed size
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to significantly improve data transmission accuracy."
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4,815,029
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In-line dynamic editor for mixed object documents
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filed 9/23/85
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granted 3/21/89
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inventors Barbara A. Barker, Irene H. Hernandez, Beverly H. Machart
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assignee IBM
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abstract: "A method for the intelligent, in-line, dynamic editing of
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documents containing mixed object types on a computer work station is
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disclosed. The mixed object types may be text objects, draw graphics
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objects, business graphics objects, and tables objects. The editor
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executes actions on use selected objects and attributes based on internal
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knowledge of the object type selected rather than by explicit user
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commands. This procedure provides a simple user interface that makes
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manipulation of objects and attributes and command execution transparent to
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the user.
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4,856,787
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Concurrent game network
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filed 5/3/88
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granted 8/15/89
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inventor Boris Itkis
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assignee Yuri Itkis
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Obvious slave-master scheme for playing poker, bingo, blackjack, and keno;
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one computer runs the game, the others have touch-sensitive screens for
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input.
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4,864,501
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Word annotation system
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Filed 10/7/87
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Granted 9/5/89
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Assignee Houghton Mifflin Company
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Inventors Henry Kucera, Alwin B. Carus
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Storing words in a dictionary.
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4,864,502
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Sentence analyzer
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Filed 10/7/87
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Granted 9/5/89
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Inventors Henry Kucera, Alwin B. Carus
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Assignee Houghton Mifflin Company
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Parses sentences into parts of speech.
|
||
|
||
4,864,503
|
||
Method of using a created international language as an intermediate pathway
|
||
in translation between two national languages
|
||
Filed 2/5/87
|
||
Granted 9/5/89
|
||
Assignee Toltram, Ltd.
|
||
Inventor Bruce G. Tolin
|
||
Use of interpretive steps instead of strict word-for-word translation.
|
||
Rudy Zalesak <zalesak@bme.unc.edu> says:
|
||
This patent covers translating texts in one language into Esperanto (or ANY
|
||
other "simplified" language) and translating that text into some other
|
||
language.
|
||
The patent text has to be seen to be believed. Implementation details
|
||
consist of flow charts with labels like Sen Parse and Verb Conjugations.
|
||
Nothing in it could be remotely useful to anyone working in natural
|
||
language translation (unless it had never occurred to them that they had to
|
||
parse sentences first...) Essentially the owners of the patent (Toltran,
|
||
Ltd., Barrington Ill.) have a monopoly on an obvious idea that has occurred
|
||
to anyone who has thought for a few minutes about machine language
|
||
translation. (And, yes, it had occurred to me also, long before I knew
|
||
about this patent).
|
||
The patent text is useful for pointers to earlier patents- US Patent
|
||
4,502,128 seems to cover word-by-word translation and look-up of parts of
|
||
speech, together with rearrangement by target language syntax. 4,456,969
|
||
seems to cover spelling checkers for multi- lingual documents.
|
||
Just stating the idea seems enough to implement it: most readers of this
|
||
post could make a prototype "multi-lingual spelling checker" in a few days,
|
||
given a few machine-readable language dictionaries. Someone might object
|
||
that "it's more complicated than that"; real spelling checkers have all
|
||
kinds of refinements. But the patent owners didn't have to make a GOOD
|
||
spelling checker either!
|
||
|
||
4,876,541
|
||
Stem [sic] for dynamically compressing and decompressing electronic data
|
||
filed 10/15/87
|
||
granted 10/24/89
|
||
inventor James A. Storer
|
||
assignee Data Compression Corporation
|
||
LZW-based, with "all-prefixes" addition.
|
||
Encoder and decoder include dictionaries which may be modified (new strings
|
||
added and infrequently used ones removed). The abstract never uses the word
|
||
"algorithm" without prepending a modifying "novel".
|
||
James Woods <jaw@ames.arc.nasa.gov> says (and Dan Bernstein
|
||
<brnstnd@KRAMDEN.ACF.NYU.EDU> confirms) that this was independently
|
||
discovered by Dan Bernstein of NYU a year later, and by Nigel Horspool of
|
||
the Univertity of Vicotria; Horspool published in DCC '91.
|
||
|
||
4,893,256
|
||
Interactive video composition and presentation systems
|
||
filed 4/4/85
|
||
granted 1/9/90
|
||
inventors Charles T. Rusherford, Nancy S. Frank
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
Abstract: A method for specifying and execting independent, multi-media
|
||
tasks along a synchronizing time-line, preferably in the form of a
|
||
spreadsheet matrix with the event elements making up the rows and the time
|
||
periods the columns. The media include various pieces of hardware such as
|
||
touch screens, voice synthesizers, viedeo disk players, and the like. In
|
||
designing a presentation, the author types into the matrix indications of
|
||
which piece of hardware will be operating and for what specified period of
|
||
time during the presentation. This information is also accessible to all
|
||
other events in the presentation thereby allowing complex multi-media
|
||
presentations to be designed by a user who is relatively unsophisticated in
|
||
using computers.
|
||
Includes 400 pages of source code.
|
||
|
||
4,956,809
|
||
Method for canonical ordering of binary data for portable operating systems
|
||
filed 12/29/88
|
||
granted 9/11/90
|
||
assignee Mark Williams Co, Chicago, Ill.
|
||
inventors Johann George, Trevor J. Thompson, David G. Conroy, Frederick H. Tudor
|
||
Covers using a single standard byte ordering (say, big-endian or little-endian)
|
||
for transfer of data between machines whose normal byte ordering is different.
|
||
Paul Eggert <eggert@twinsun.com> says:
|
||
This patent, on network byte ordering, covers any file header that tells
|
||
you the endianness of the file.
|
||
|
||
5,012,231
|
||
Method and apparaus [sic] for cursor motion having variable response
|
||
filed 10/20/88
|
||
granted 4/30/91
|
||
assignee Glemics, Inc., Berkeley, California
|
||
inventor Lee Felsenstein
|
||
Abstract:
|
||
A method and apparatus for controlling the movement of cursor indicia on
|
||
display screens is disclosed in which the parameters of the equations of
|
||
motion used to translate signals originating from positioning actuators
|
||
into movement of the cursor may e varied. Factors such as the rate of
|
||
change of the actuation signal, position of the cursor on the display
|
||
screen, voluntary control input from the operator, and conditions
|
||
determined by application software may be used to vary these parameters.
|
||
|
||
5,031,134
|
||
System for evaluating multiple integrals
|
||
filed 3/27/90
|
||
granted 7/9/91
|
||
inventors Wilfred Kaplan, Frederick B. Sleator
|
||
assignee The University of Michigan
|
||
Abstract: "A system for computing multiple integrals employs an algorithm
|
||
which selects a plurality of predetermined parameters, corresponding to
|
||
selectable levels of accuracy of an approximation at the solution. The
|
||
parameter values are selected and stored, along with a smoothing index,
|
||
which may be zero. An arithmetic logic unit, which can perform a variety
|
||
of functions under control of an instruction decoder, forms a plurality of
|
||
functions in the form of unique polynomials, under predetermined
|
||
conditions, such that a value can be determined for the multiple integral.
|
||
The parameters are selected in response to a judgment on the part of the
|
||
user of a required minimum level of accuracy in the context of the
|
||
increases in computing time which would be required to achieve higher
|
||
levels of accuracy."
|
||
|
||
|
||
===========================================================================
|
||
|
||
We don't have copies of the following patent disclosures.
|
||
Patent disclosures can be acquired by sending $1.50 per patent to
|
||
Patent and Trademark Office
|
||
Washington, D.C. 20231
|
||
|
||
We don't have a copy of:
|
||
|
||
2,552,629
|
||
Rudy Zalesak <zalesak@bme.unc.edu>, citing Carl Oppedahl, says: This
|
||
patent covered Hamming codes for error correction as implemented in
|
||
electric switching circuits; the Bell System was forced to make it
|
||
available for royalty free licensing in 1956 as a result of an antitrust
|
||
case. Details Sphere-Packing to Simple Groups>>, MAA, 1983.
|
||
|
||
3,380,029
|
||
Sorting System
|
||
granted 4/23/68
|
||
assignee Applied Data Research, Inc.
|
||
inventor Martin Goetz
|
||
Earliest US software patent?
|
||
|
||
3,405,457
|
||
owned by the University of Illinois
|
||
The PLATO patent, now expired.
|
||
One of its claims covered the use of a single computer to serve the
|
||
independent needs of multiple interactive users. That is, it covered all
|
||
timesharing systems.
|
||
|
||
4,200,770
|
||
Cryptographic Apparatus and Method
|
||
filed 9/6/77
|
||
granted 4/29/80
|
||
inventors Hellman, Diffie, Merkle
|
||
assignee Stanford University
|
||
Exponential, and all other forms of, secret key exchange.
|
||
This is the "Diffie-Hellman" patent.
|
||
Public Key partners has exclusive sublicensing rights.
|
||
|
||
4,218,582
|
||
Public Key Cryptographic Apparatus and Method
|
||
filed 10/6/77
|
||
granted 8/19/80
|
||
inventors Hellman, Merkle
|
||
assignee The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
|
||
Knapsack, and all other forms of, public key cryptography.
|
||
This is the "Hellman-Merkle" patent.
|
||
Public Key partners has exclusive sublicensing rights.
|
||
|
||
4,398,246
|
||
Word Processing System Employing a Plurality of General Purpose Processor
|
||
Circuits
|
||
filed 1980-08-12
|
||
granted 1983-08-09
|
||
assignee Pitney Bowes Inc.
|
||
Irlam says:
|
||
A collection of possibly diskless computers connected in a network so as
|
||
to share resources. (I am having some difficulty understanding exactly
|
||
what is claimed - I think the system is limited to performing word processing
|
||
and one of the computers must have a single line display, but I am not
|
||
certain).
|
||
|
||
4,405,829
|
||
Cryptographic Communications System and Method
|
||
filed 12/14/77
|
||
granted 9/20/83
|
||
inventors Ronald Rivest, Shamir, Adleman
|
||
assignee Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|
||
The RSA public key cryptosystem, and any communication system that evaluates
|
||
a polynomial modulo a prime number.
|
||
This is the "RSA" patent.
|
||
Public Key partners has exclusive sublicensing rights.
|
||
|
||
4,424,414
|
||
Exponential Cryptographic Apparatus and Method
|
||
filed 5/1/78
|
||
granted 1/3/84
|
||
inventors Hellman, Pohlig
|
||
assignee Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
|
||
A conventional cryptosystem that performs modular exponentiation. Not as
|
||
important as the other 3 cryptography patents (Diffie-Hellman,
|
||
Hellman-Merkle, and RSA).
|
||
This is the "Hellman-Pohlig" patent.
|
||
Public Key partners has exclusive sublicensing rights.
|
||
|
||
4,434,753
|
||
Register Allocation System Using Recursive Queueing During Source Code
|
||
Compilation
|
||
granted Mar 6, 1984
|
||
inventor J. Rizzi
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,455,025
|
||
Owned by FortuNet -- relates to 4,856,787 and coputer game networks.
|
||
|
||
4,456,969
|
||
Rudy Zalesak <zalesak@bme.unc.edu> says:
|
||
Seems to cover spelling checkers for multi- lingual documents.
|
||
|
||
4,458,311
|
||
"text and numeric processing on same screen"
|
||
|
||
4,486,857
|
||
granted 12/84
|
||
inventor Paul Heckel
|
||
Hyperracks Inc.
|
||
A file system of more than one card, each with multiple fields, where all
|
||
the fields can be scrolled independently. Apple was sued over this and
|
||
settled, licensing it.
|
||
|
||
4,502,128
|
||
Rudy Zalesak <zalesak@bme.unc.edu> says:
|
||
Seems to cover word-by-word translation and look-up of parts of
|
||
speech, together with rearrangement by target language syntax.
|
||
|
||
4,555,771
|
||
Data Processing System for Data Base Management of Matrix Type Data
|
||
filed 1982-03-26 (originally filed 1979-08-27)
|
||
granted 1985-11-26
|
||
assignee Fujitsu
|
||
Irlam says: A technique for managing a database with more than one index. ???
|
||
|
||
4,555,772
|
||
filed 5/31/83
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
Supposedly "multiple cursors for multiple windows, using an XOR-writing technique"
|
||
|
||
4,567,574
|
||
Optimizing COBOL Object Code Instruction Path Length with respect to
|
||
PERFORM Statements
|
||
granted Jan 28, 1986
|
||
inventor H. Saade, W. Tindall
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,571,678
|
||
Register allocation and spilling via graph coloring
|
||
filed 11/5/82
|
||
granted 2/18/86.
|
||
Owned by IBM. Inventor is Gregory Chaitin from Yorktown Heights, NY.
|
||
It's one of a group of 16 or so patents filed by IBM as result of their
|
||
801/PL.8 development. They also mention things like global common
|
||
subexpression elimination and optimization of array bounds checking.
|
||
John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> says:
|
||
Covers the compiler technique of allocating registers by graph coloring,
|
||
with a spill algorithm to handle cases where the original graph is not
|
||
colorable. Chaitin had already published a coloring algorithm, but the
|
||
patented spill modification is needed to make it practical.
|
||
|
||
4,611,277
|
||
filed 15 Sep 83
|
||
granted 9 Sep 86
|
||
inventors Kemppainen et al.
|
||
assignee BankAmerica [or is that Bank of America?]
|
||
John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> says:
|
||
It is 200 pages long, consisting mostly of a long Basic program. The
|
||
patent is for the rather obvious idea of having a microcomputer call up a
|
||
mainframe and download cash management or bank account data, something a
|
||
friend of mine did at about the same time for someone else as a quick hack.
|
||
Luckily, BofA seems not inclined to enforce this one.
|
||
The patent claims are so broadly worded that they look to me like they
|
||
cover any use of a microcomputer to download data from a mainframe:
|
||
1. A communications system comprising:
|
||
a user terminal including
|
||
a microcomputer,
|
||
a mainframe computer connected to said microcomputer, said user terminal
|
||
further including communication software control means for controlling the
|
||
transfer of data directly between said microcomputer and said mainframe
|
||
computer, said sofware control means including means for controlling the
|
||
transfer of said data in an unattended mode.
|
||
2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said software control means include
|
||
means for controlling the transfer of said data in an automatic mode.
|
||
3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said software control means include
|
||
means for controlling the transfer of said data in a manual mode.
|
||
4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said software control means include
|
||
means for controlling the transfer of said data in a terminal emulation
|
||
mode.
|
||
(Claims 5-9 relating to cash management applications of the same things)
|
||
|
||
4,624,462
|
||
Owned by FortuNet -- relates to 4,856,787 and coputer game networks.
|
||
|
||
4,646,256
|
||
Computer and Method for Solving the Discrete Bracewell Transformation
|
||
granted 1987
|
||
Stanford University
|
||
inventor Ronald N. Bracewell
|
||
Can be used in many fields to more quickly analyze data by computers.
|
||
|
||
4,648,044
|
||
Technowledge Inc.
|
||
Supposedly on "basic AI techniques"
|
||
|
||
4,648,067
|
||
Footnote management for display and printing
|
||
granted 3/3/87
|
||
|
||
4,648,071
|
||
Designation of footnotes and footnote reference
|
||
granted 3/3/87
|
||
|
||
4,656,582
|
||
Generating Storage Reference Instructions in an Optimizing Compiler
|
||
granted Apr 7, 1987
|
||
inventor G. Chaitin, M. Hopkins, P. Markstein, H. Warren, Jr.
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,656,583
|
||
Method for Improving Global Common Subexpression Elimination and Code
|
||
Motion in an Optimizing Compiler
|
||
granted April 7, 1987
|
||
inventor M. Auslander, J. Cocke, P. Markstein
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,656,602
|
||
Method of control placement of image of document to be printed on paper in
|
||
an interactive text processing system
|
||
granted 4/7/87
|
||
|
||
4,674,042
|
||
Editing business charts
|
||
granted 6/16/87
|
||
|
||
4,701,848
|
||
System for effectively paralleling computer terminal devices
|
||
granted 10/20/87
|
||
assignee Clyde, Inc.
|
||
inventor Robert A. Clyde
|
||
Bruce Orchard <orchard@engr.wisc.edu> says:
|
||
This describes how in VMS to make the output destined for one terminal to
|
||
appear on two terminals and to make the input from two terminals appear to
|
||
have come from one terminal.
|
||
The existence of this patent came to light when Clyde asked DECUS to remove
|
||
the WATCH program from the DECUS program library. Clyde ultimately backed
|
||
down.
|
||
|
||
4,710,872
|
||
Method for Vectorizing and Executing on an SIMD Machine Outer Loops in the
|
||
Presence of Recurrent Inner Loops
|
||
granted Dec 1, 1987
|
||
inventor R.G. Scarborough
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,714,989
|
||
Functionally structured distributed database processing system
|
||
filed 10/20/86
|
||
granted 12/22/87
|
||
inventor Roger E. Billings
|
||
Covers a central database server (used like a file server) connected to
|
||
user stations via a network.
|
||
The American Academy of Science (to whom it was given in return for a
|
||
fraction of the proceeds) sued Novell and Bank America for (respectively)
|
||
writing and using a distributed database system that ran on a local area
|
||
network.
|
||
We have the first page.
|
||
|
||
4,718,008
|
||
filed 16 Jan 88
|
||
granted 5 Jan 88
|
||
inventors Chang et al.
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> says:
|
||
The method used to handle page faults in critical sections by backing out
|
||
the critical section code. References patent 4,730,249.
|
||
|
||
4,730,249
|
||
filed 16 Jan 86
|
||
granted 8 Mar 88
|
||
inventors O'Quin II et al.
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> says:
|
||
The method used for handling virtual memory segments in AIX on the IBM RT
|
||
PC, involving a software implementation of two-level pagable page tables.
|
||
Hard to say how obvious it is, though the implementation is somewhat
|
||
specific to the reverse map MMU used in the RT PC and RS/6000.
|
||
|
||
4,740,904
|
||
Line Following System and Process
|
||
filed 11/1/85
|
||
granted 4/26/88
|
||
inventor John Nagle
|
||
Covers "auto-tracing" of raster images into vector images. Licensed
|
||
to Autodesk, Inc.
|
||
|
||
4,742,447
|
||
filed 16 Jan 86
|
||
issued 3 May 88
|
||
inventors Duvall et al.
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> says:
|
||
The method for handling mapped files in the two level Unix/VRM operating
|
||
system on the RT. (Uses the name Unix in the claims.) Written broadly
|
||
enough that the SVR4 disk I/O system might infringe, though since AT&T and
|
||
IBM have cross-licenses it hardly matters.
|
||
|
||
4,744,028
|
||
Method and Apparatus for Efficient Resource Allocation
|
||
granted 1988
|
||
Bell Laboratories
|
||
inventor Narendra K. Karmarkar
|
||
Can help airlines schedule planes and crews more efficiently.
|
||
Is this the linear programming patent?
|
||
|
||
4,752,877 4,722,055 4,642,768
|
||
Patents on a computer system that calculates the amount required for one
|
||
year at a particular college, informing parents how much to deposit to
|
||
guarantee that a year's tuition, some years down the road, will be covered.
|
||
Upheld in court.
|
||
|
||
4,768,159
|
||
Squared Radix Discrete Fourier Transform
|
||
granted 1988
|
||
owner TRW
|
||
Computer system similar to the Discrete Cosine Transform (see 4,797,847).
|
||
|
||
4,773,007
|
||
Compiler Code Optimization Method for a Source Program Having a First and
|
||
Second Array Definition and Use Statements in a Loop
|
||
granted Sep 20, 1988
|
||
inventor Y. Kanada, K. Isida
|
||
assignee Hitachi, Ltd.
|
||
|
||
4,782,444
|
||
Compilation Using Two-Colored Pebbling Register Allocation Method Such
|
||
That Spill Code Amount is Invariant With Basic Block's Textual Ordering
|
||
granted Nov 1, 1988
|
||
inventor A. Munshi, K. Schimpf
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,783,761
|
||
Spelling Check Dictionary with Early Error Signal
|
||
granted 8 Nov 1988
|
||
filed 26 Dec 1985
|
||
assignee Smith Corona Corporation, Cortland, New York
|
||
inventors Gray, R. William, Ithaca, New York; Adams, Donald T., Homer, New
|
||
York; Duncan, IV, Howard C., Marathon, New York
|
||
Early check for misspelling: an error signal is emitted "upon the
|
||
earliest determination that an input character does not conform to
|
||
that of any word listed in the dictionary".
|
||
Patent text is online.
|
||
|
||
4,797,729
|
||
System Incorporating an Error-tolerant Picture Compression Algorithm
|
||
owner Eastman Kodak
|
||
Can minimize distortions when pictures are stored in computers.
|
||
|
||
4,797,847
|
||
Discrete Cosine Transform
|
||
granted 1989
|
||
inventor Pierre Duhamel of France
|
||
Can help send electronic signals more rapidly and store video data more
|
||
compactly.
|
||
|
||
4,807,182
|
||
Apparatus and Method for Comparing Data Groups
|
||
dated Feb 21, 1989
|
||
inventor Cary L. Queen
|
||
owned by Advanced Software, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California.
|
||
Patent on comparing text blocks by comparing hash codes and for displaying
|
||
the differing sections in two windows on one CRT ("or other suitable
|
||
device"). This covers the diff program.
|
||
|
||
4,821,181
|
||
Method for Converting a Source Program of High Level Language Statement into
|
||
Object Program for a Vector Processor
|
||
granted Apr 11, 1989
|
||
inventor K. Iwasawa, Y. Tanaka
|
||
assignee Hitachi, Ltd.
|
||
|
||
4,823,108
|
||
An Improved Display System and Memory Architecture and Method
|
||
granted 4/18/89
|
||
Quarterdeck Office Systems, Inc.
|
||
Someone (Kahin?) says:
|
||
An improved system for displaying images in "windows" on a computer screen.
|
||
Dandekar (who claims the patent was grated June 1989) says:
|
||
Quarterdeck patents the multitasking DESQview environment specific process
|
||
-- a method of dealing with ill-behaved software that circumvents the
|
||
operating system for its displays, allowing it to work properly in a
|
||
multitasking environment.
|
||
|
||
4,833,606
|
||
Compiling Method for Vectorizing Multiple DO-Loops in Source Program
|
||
granted May 23, 1989
|
||
inventor K. Iwasawa, Y. Tanaka
|
||
assignee Hitachi, Ltd.
|
||
|
||
4,885,684
|
||
Method for Compiling a Master Task Definition Data Set for Defining the
|
||
Logical Data Flow of a Distributed Processing Network
|
||
granted Dec 5, 1989
|
||
inventor E. Austin, J. Robertson
|
||
assignee International Business Machines Corporation
|
||
|
||
4,891,503
|
||
filed 29 Mar 88
|
||
issued 2 Jan 90
|
||
inventor Tmomas Jewell
|
||
assignee Gascard, Inc.
|
||
John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> says:
|
||
A distributed credit card authorization scheme that caches part of the
|
||
"deny" file in the terminals to speed up transactions. Looks pretty obvious
|
||
to me to anyone who knows anything about caches.
|
||
|
||
4,908,861
|
||
Data Authentication Using Modification Detection Codes Based on a Public
|
||
One Way Encryption Function
|
||
inventors D. Coppersmith, S. Pilpel, C. H. Meyer, S. M. Matyas, M. M.
|
||
Hyden, J. Oseas, B. Brachti, and M. Schilling
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
granted March 13, 1990
|
||
|
||
4,914,590
|
||
granted April 3, 1990
|
||
assignee Planning Research Corporation (PRC)
|
||
This is a patent on a NLP (natural language processing) technique. It is
|
||
written so generally as to apply to any parsing technique that uses a
|
||
lexicon, a grammar, and a canonical semantic representation that encodes
|
||
case (modal) information. (Since natural languages use case, and the case
|
||
is semantically significant (cf. modal logic), this isn't a significant
|
||
restriction.) The claim in question is so general that, were it not
|
||
explicitly limited to "natural language text," it would appear to apply to
|
||
all compilers of any sort. So in effect, the entire act of parsing a
|
||
natural language, at least as it is practiced today, does appear to be
|
||
barred by this patent.
|
||
|
||
4,916,610
|
||
Multilanguage software integration through preprocessing
|
||
granted 10 April 1990
|
||
assignee Racal Data Communications Inc., Sunrise, Florida
|
||
ABSTRACT:
|
||
A method of assuring consistency of constants in a multilanguage software
|
||
system, includes generating a first set of code written in a first language
|
||
using a plurality of symbolic constants to represent a corresponding
|
||
plurality of actual constants. A second set of code is written in a second
|
||
language using the plurality of symbolic constants to represent the
|
||
corresponding plurality of actual constants. A common header file is
|
||
generated which contains information which relates the plurality of
|
||
symbolic constants to the corresponding plurality of actual constants. The
|
||
header is included within the first and second sets of code. The symbolic
|
||
constants in the first and second sets of code are replaced with their
|
||
corresponding actual constants during a preprocessing step. Any constructs
|
||
which are not a part of the first language are stripped from the second set
|
||
of code including the header file. Any constructs which are not a part of
|
||
the second language are stripped from the first set of code including the
|
||
header. The resulting files have their symbolic constants consistently
|
||
replaced by constants which are defined in the header so that changes need
|
||
only be made in the header file to assure consistency in the several
|
||
languages.
|
||
|
||
4,918,722
|
||
Control of Electronic Information Delivery
|
||
filed May 11, 1988
|
||
granted Apr 17, 1990
|
||
assignee Brooktrout Technology, Inc
|
||
Stuart Lynne <sl%wimsey.bc.ca@metro.ucc.su.OZ.AU> says:
|
||
Abstract:
|
||
Delivery of binary encoded character data and facsimile encoded data to a
|
||
specified recipient is controlled rapidy, simply and with versatility, by
|
||
e.g., DTMF commands sent by a user.
|
||
This patent purports cover use of DTMF (touch tones) to control a remote
|
||
system to send facsimilies. E.g. phone into a voice retrieval system, select
|
||
a document and enter a fax phone number to have it faxed to you. Or upload a
|
||
fax and have it forwarded to a specified phone number.
|
||
[Steve Elias <eli@spdcc.com>, former Brooktrout employee, says: the latter
|
||
"upload fax thang" is NOT covered by this patent.]
|
||
The patent was filed in May 1988. I have in my possesion a brochure
|
||
from Telecom Canada dated Jan. 1988, describing their fax forwarding
|
||
service. Specifically you dial into one of their fax numbers, identify
|
||
yourself with a code and PIN, select a command, optional arguements (such as
|
||
phone numbers to forward to) and then upload a fax. It then redirects your
|
||
fax to the numbers specified. [Their target market at the time was to save
|
||
you money when sending faxes to oversea's numbers.]
|
||
The Telecom service was fielded and running in January of 1988. Given the
|
||
length of time for a common carrier to develop and institute a service of
|
||
this type (and get government approval etc) it would seem that we have amply
|
||
evidence of prior art to invalidate this patent that was in place well in
|
||
advance of filing.
|
||
[Steve Elias says: the Telecom Canada thang you mention here covers
|
||
uploading faxes and redirecting them. the Brooktrout patent does NOT cover
|
||
such functionality. i believe that a Japanese company owns a patent which
|
||
covers the upload/redirect fax thang.]
|
||
|
||
4,931,783
|
||
Owned by Apple.
|
||
Appears to cover Macintosh "tear-off" menus.
|
||
Abstract:
|
||
The method generates and displays the menu bar having the command option.
|
||
A cursor is positioned on the display using a cursor control. The
|
||
manipulation of the cursor results in a corresponding movement of the
|
||
cursor on the display. The menu window is displayed by selecting command
|
||
option. The command option is selected by the user's control of a signal
|
||
generator being coupled computer controlled display system. The menu
|
||
window is removed from the menu bar while the menu window is displayed by
|
||
manipulating the cursor control so as to move the cursor across the border
|
||
the menu window may be removed from the menu bar.
|
||
|
||
4,939,354
|
||
Dynamically variable machine readable binary code and method for reading
|
||
and producing thereof
|
||
waters@nddsun1.sps.mot.com says:
|
||
The startup company Datacode International Inc exists to market this
|
||
patent. THe patent covers a new form of marking code, somewhat like the
|
||
UPC barcodes on retail products. The invention includes the format of the
|
||
code, as well as the software used to generate and read the code. No
|
||
hardware involved in the "novelty of the device" - all standard "off the
|
||
shelf" stuff. At least one company that would not exist without what I at
|
||
least class as a software patent.
|
||
|
||
4,943,869
|
||
Compression Method for Dot Image Data
|
||
filed 1988-05-04
|
||
granted 1990-07-24
|
||
assignee Fuji Photo Film Co.
|
||
Lossy and lossless image compression schemes.
|
||
|
||
4,943,909
|
||
inventor Alan Huang
|
||
assignee AT&T
|
||
A method, based on origami, of allocating processors to parts of a problem
|
||
(say, an aerodynamic analysis).
|
||
|
||
4,955,066
|
||
Filed: 1989-10-13
|
||
Granted: 1990-09-04
|
||
Inventor: Notenboom, L.A.
|
||
Owner: Microsoft
|
||
Title: Compressing and Decompressing Text Files
|
||
[Noted in signon screen of Word 5.5 and on the outside of the MS-DOS 5.0
|
||
Upgrade.]
|
||
Jean-loup Gailly <jloup@chorus.fr> says: a method of data compression using
|
||
run-length encoding, 'key phrase' and huffmann coding.
|
||
Abstract:
|
||
A method of compressing a text file in digital form is diclosed.
|
||
A full text file having characters formed into phrases is provided by an
|
||
author. The characters are digitially represented by bytes. A first pass
|
||
compression is sequentially followed by a second pass compression of the
|
||
text which has previously been compressed. A third or fourth level of
|
||
compression is serially performed on the compressed text. For example, in
|
||
a first pass, the text is run-length compressed. In a second pass, the
|
||
compressed text is further compressed with key phrase compression. In a
|
||
third pass, the compressed text is further compressed with Huffman
|
||
compression. The compressed text is stored in a text file having a Huffman
|
||
decode tree, a key phrase table, and a topic index. The data is
|
||
decompressed in a single pass and provided one line at a time as an output.
|
||
Sequential compressing of the text minimizes the storage space required for
|
||
the file. Decompressing of the text is performed in a single pass. As a
|
||
complete line is decompressed, it is output rapidly, providing full text to
|
||
the user.
|
||
|
||
4,956,791
|
||
Merging Pattern-Matching Networks Including Retes
|
||
filed 1988-11-14
|
||
granted 1990-09-11
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
Technique for merging pattern recognition networks without the need to
|
||
recompile the entire resulting network.
|
||
|
||
4,956,806
|
||
Method and Apparatus for Editing Source Files of Differing Data Formats
|
||
Using an Edit Tracking File
|
||
filed 1988-07-12
|
||
granted 1990-09-11
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
Storing the edits applied to one sound or image file and subsequently
|
||
applying them to a second file.
|
||
|
||
4,965,724
|
||
Compiler System Using Reordering of Microoperations to Eliminate
|
||
Interlocked Instructions for Pipelined Processing of Assembler Source Program
|
||
granted Oct 23, 1990
|
||
inventor I. Utsumi, Y. Mori
|
||
assignee Oki Electric Industry, Ltd.
|
||
|
||
4,975,950
|
||
System and Method of Protecting Integrity of Computer Data and Software
|
||
inventor Stephen A. Lentz
|
||
filed November 3, 1988
|
||
David.M.Chess <CHESS@YKTVMV.BITNET> says:
|
||
It basically patents the idea of having a virus-checker get control before
|
||
the operating system, and not allowing boot if it finds a virus. One
|
||
sample PC implementation is code in an additional ROM module (on a "virus
|
||
protector board") that would get control during boot (like the hard disk
|
||
BIOS, the EGA BIOS, and so on), and load and test "the system files" (not
|
||
clear if he means the boot records, or things like IBMBIO, IBMDOS,
|
||
COMMAND.COM), and not allow boot if a virus was found (how it tells isn't
|
||
spelled out). This is just one sample implementation; the actual claims
|
||
are quite broad, and seem to cover anything that gets control between the
|
||
"program for controlling said central processing unit" and the "program for
|
||
interfacing said storage memory with said system", by which he presumably
|
||
means ROM-like things and operating-system-like things.
|
||
|
||
4,979,832
|
||
Dynamic Substitution Combiner and Extractor
|
||
granted Dec. 25, 1990
|
||
inventor Terry Ritter
|
||
|
||
4,995,075
|
||
Rudy Zalesak <zalesak@bme.unc.edu> says:
|
||
An article in the November 1991 <<Discover>> magazine states that two
|
||
psychologists at AT&T Bell Labs have a technique for using musical tunes to
|
||
individualize phone rings. The article mentions a "patent on the software";
|
||
just what might be covered is not clear. It is hard to believe that
|
||
pairing a stored employee phone ID with a given musical tune would involve
|
||
a novel technique. Most of the work (taking two years, although it doesn't
|
||
say that this project was their only occupation during that time) seems to
|
||
have involved testing out various ringing styles on volunteers. For example
|
||
they discovered that people became aggravated at "rings" that called their
|
||
name!
|
||
|
||
5,001,478
|
||
Method of Encoding Compressed Data
|
||
filed 1989-12-28
|
||
granted 1991-03-19
|
||
inventor Michael E. Nagy
|
||
assignee IBM
|
||
1. A method of encoding a compressed data stream made up of a sequence of
|
||
literal references, lexicon references and history references, which
|
||
comprises the steps of:
|
||
assigning to each literal reference a literal identifier;
|
||
assigning to each history reference a history identifier;
|
||
assigning to each lexicon reference a lexicon identifier;
|
||
and emitting a data stream with said identifiers assigned to said references.
|
||
Gordon Irlam <gordoni@cs.adelaide.edu.au> says:
|
||
The invention can probably be best understood by considering the
|
||
decompressor. It consists of a history buffer, and a lexicon buffer, both
|
||
of which are initially empty. The history buffer contains the last n
|
||
symbols emitted. Whenever a history buffer reference is to be output the
|
||
string so referenced is subsequently moved to the lexicon buffer for future
|
||
reference. Thus the history buffer keeps track of strings that may be
|
||
repeated on a very short term basis, while the lexicon buffer stores items
|
||
for a longer time. Furthermore a history reference involves specifying
|
||
both the offset and length within the history buffer, whereas a lexicon
|
||
reference simply specifies a number denoting the string. Both buffers have
|
||
a finite size.
|
||
I don't know all that much about compression, but this seems to me to be
|
||
fairly general, and a quite trivial thing that is being patented. It also
|
||
seems that the compressor would not be all that efficient (at least in the
|
||
preferred embodyment, which amongst other things doesn't appear to attempt
|
||
to encode the lexicon references on the basis of their frequency of
|
||
occurrence). Presumably speed is the main objective.
|
||
It sounds to me like the sought of thing a student might come up with given
|
||
one lecture on data compression, and then asked to write a compression
|
||
program.
|
||
Jean-loup Gailly <jloup@chorus.fr> says:
|
||
The concept of history buffer is definitely not new, this is the LZ family
|
||
of algorithms. The concept of lexicon is not new either, there are many
|
||
papers published on this. The US patent office probably considered that
|
||
just combining two old ideas in one algorithm was patentable.
|
||
|
||
5,031,134
|
||
inventors Wilfred Kaplan and Frederick B. Sleator
|
||
Modified Monte Carlo technique for calculating volume.
|
||
Reported by Edmund L. Andrews in "Patents" column of New York Times, July
|
||
26, 1991.
|
||
|
||
5,036,535
|
||
Carl M. Kadie <kadie@cs.uiuc.edu> says:
|
||
Note <NB910812.6@clarinet.com> in clari.nb.telecom says that Unifi
|
||
Communications has gotten patent number 5,036,535 for its "PhoneServer
|
||
software technology".
|
||
"The patent covers both a concept and its implementation in software.
|
||
PhoneServer lets telecommunications managers use Unix or Windows 3.0
|
||
based computers on their own premises to program and control call
|
||
routing in the public network."
|
||
"'The patent covers both the concept of what we have done as well as
|
||
the implementation, and the concept is a big part of the patent,' Bob
|
||
Pokress of the company told Newsbytes."
|
||
Here is the end of the note:
|
||
"(Dana Blankenhorn/19910812/Press Contact: Unifi, Bob Pokress,
|
||
508/663-7570)"
|
||
|
||
5,046,020
|
||
Distributed parallel processing network wherein the connection weights are
|
||
generated using stiff differential equations
|
||
granted Sep. 3, 1991
|
||
inventor: David L. Filkin
|
||
Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
|
||
Abstract: A parallel distributed processing network of the back
|
||
propagation type is disclosed in which the weights of connection between
|
||
processing elements in the various layers of the network are determined in
|
||
accordance with the set of steady solutions of the stiff differential
|
||
equations governing the relationship between the layers of the network.
|
||
|
||
5,049,881
|
||
Apparatus and method for very high data rate-compression incorporating
|
||
lossless data compression and expansion utilizing a hashing technique
|
||
inventors Dean K. Gibson, Mark D. Graybill
|
||
assignee Intersecting Concepts, Inc.
|
||
filed 6/18/90
|
||
granted 9/17/91
|
||
A related patent is Phil Katz, 5,051,745.
|
||
Terry Ritter <ritter@cactus.org> says:
|
||
This covers LZRW compression algorithms.
|
||
Ross Williams also invented this series of algorithms in 1989, and has logs
|
||
and listings of this work; he openly published in April 1991. Gibson and
|
||
Graybill's date of invention is not known
|
||
Abstract:
|
||
A method and apparatus for compressing digital data that is represented as
|
||
a sequence of characters drawn from an alphabet. An input data block is
|
||
processed into an output data block composed of sections of variable
|
||
length. Unlike most prior art methods which emphasize the creation of a
|
||
dictionary comprised of a tree with nodes or a set of strings, the present
|
||
invention creates its own pointers from the sequence characters previously
|
||
processed and emphasizes the highest priority on maximizing the data
|
||
rate-compression factor product. The use of previously input data acting as
|
||
the dictionary combined with the use of a hashing algorithm to find
|
||
candidates for string matches and the absence of a traditional string
|
||
matching table and associated search time allows the compressor to very
|
||
quickly process the input data block. Therefore, the result is a high data
|
||
rate-compression factor product achieved due to the absence of any string
|
||
storage table and matches being tested only against one string.
|
||
Exemplary Claim:
|
||
1. A compression method for compressing a stream of input data into a
|
||
compressed stream of output data based on a minimum number of characters
|
||
in each input data subblock to be compressed, said compression method
|
||
comprising the steps of: a. initializing a hash table and initializing
|
||
an SRC pointer; b. processing input data in the order in which the
|
||
characters in the data appear and hashing input data subblocks of the
|
||
minimum compression size selected; c. maintaining a hash table which
|
||
contains at each entry, an SRC pointer which points to a previous
|
||
subblock which hashed to this hash table entry, such that the
|
||
possibility of any string of data previously occurring in the input
|
||
block may be tested by hashing the current subblock to a hash table
|
||
entry, obtaining the previous SRC pointer contained in that entry, and
|
||
comparing the two strings of data; d. if the two strings of data match
|
||
on at least the size of the subblock, then generating a backwards
|
||
pointer to the previous occurrence of the same string of data and
|
||
thereby compressing the second occurrence of the string of data; e. if
|
||
the two strings of data do not match, then storing the string of data as
|
||
incompressible data; and f. continuing steps b. through e. until the
|
||
entire input data has been processed.
|
||
|
||
5,051,745
|
||
String searcher, and compressor using same
|
||
filed 8/21/90
|
||
granted 9/24/91
|
||
inventor Phillip W. Katz (author of pkzip)
|
||
Jean-loup Gailly <jloup@chorus.fr> says: covers the idea of using a sorted
|
||
hash table to search strings, and data compressors of the LZ77 family using
|
||
such a hash table.
|
||
ABSTRACT:
|
||
Methods and apparatus for string searching and data compression.
|
||
In the string search method and apparatus pointers to the string to be
|
||
searched are indexed via a hashing function and organized according to the
|
||
hashing values of the string elements pointed to. The hashing function is
|
||
also run on the string desired to be found, and the resulting hashing value
|
||
is used to access the index. If the resulting hashing value is not in the
|
||
index, it is known that the target string does not appear in the string
|
||
being searched. Otherwise the index is used to determine the pointers which
|
||
correspond to the target hashing value, these pointers pointing to likely
|
||
candidates for matching the target string. The pointers are then used to
|
||
sequentially compare each of the locations in the string being searched to
|
||
the target string, to determine whether each location contains a match to
|
||
the target string.
|
||
In the method and apparatus for compressing a stream of data symbols, a
|
||
fixed length search window, comprising a predetermined contiguous portion
|
||
of the symbol stream, is selected as the string to be searched by the
|
||
string searcher. If a string to be compressed is found in the symbol
|
||
stream, a code is output designating the location within the search window
|
||
of the matching string and the length of the matching string.
|
||
|
||
5,083,262
|
||
Language bindings for graphics functions to enable one application
|
||
program to be used in different processing environments
|
||
Gregory Aharonian <srctran@world.std.com> says:
|
||
Word of warning to anyone wanting to use graphics binding libraries like
|
||
X, PHIGS, PEX, GKS, etc.
|
||
|
||
Creating a split screen with a hotkey.
|
||
|
||
Fritz Henglein (henglein@diku.dk) reports perhaps the earliest software
|
||
patent, a German patent on stack implementations of programming languages:
|
||
Bauer, F. and Samelson, K., "Verfahren zur automatischen Verarbeitung von
|
||
kodierten Daten und Rechenmaschine zur Ausuebung des Verfahrens".
|
||
Deutsche Patentauslegeschrift 1 094 019. Anm. (*) March 30, 1957.
|
||
Bek. (**) Dec. 1, 1960
|
||
(*) filed
|
||
(**) granted ("announced")
|
||
|
||
Gilbert Hyatt's microprocessor patent
|
||
filed 12/28/70
|
||
granted 8/30/90
|
||
|
||
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc.'s patent on a program to switch its
|
||
modems from transmit mode to receive mode. It won $10 million damages from
|
||
three infringing manufacturers who'd reverse-engineered via clean-room
|
||
techniques. The patent is on the use of "+++", sent with a particular
|
||
timing that was supposed to be unlikely when those characters were just
|
||
part of the text being transmitted by modem. (That is, sometimes "+++" is
|
||
just text passed through, and sometimes it's a command sequence.) Any
|
||
modem that recognizes this command sequence, or uses a similar strategy, is
|
||
in violation.
|
||
|
||
James A. Woods (jaw@riacs.edu (or ames!jaw)) says:
|
||
I am investigating, possibly for a case history to be
|
||
recycled to USENET, the particulars of data compression patents.
|
||
I am aware of the following patents: IBM's Miller-Wegman LZ variant,
|
||
those of Telcor and ACT [losing candidates for the British Telecom modem
|
||
standard], James A. Storer's work on limited lookahead as explicated in his
|
||
text "Data Compression (methods and theory)", Computer Science Press, 1988,
|
||
and the various patents pending associated with the Fiala and Greene
|
||
CACM article of April, 1989 on textual substitution methods.
|
||
If you have any lore, send it this way.
|
||
|
||
Matt Vea's patent on setting and unsetting a bit in an idle loop to see
|
||
whether the CPU is working or idle. (Applied for 2/86, received before
|
||
10/90.)
|
||
|
||
Nix Thompson <nix@sgi.com> says:
|
||
I believe there is a also a patent owned by GE on the "marching cubes"
|
||
method of implicit surface rendering. I think Stellar got sued for
|
||
using it in their AVS scientific visualization system, but I don't
|
||
know how the suit came out. The method was also invented at Brown
|
||
University before the patent was filed, but not published.
|
||
|
||
Patent on expanding abbreviations with space character, filed 1984, granted
|
||
1988. XyQuest, Inc. was forced to remove this feature from XyWrite; it had
|
||
been added in June 1987. Emacs has had this feature since the 1970s.
|
||
|
||
Paul Krause <krausep@sra.com> says that Systems Research and Applications
|
||
Program has been threatened over a patent on NLP (Natural Language
|
||
Parsing); SRA's company attorney says that NLP patents are being granted at
|
||
the rate of about 200 per year.
|
||
|
||
Dave Goldblatt <daveg@clearpoint.com> is looking for prior art (pre-
|
||
10/5/81) to defeat a patent on the ring buffer. Specifically, the patent
|
||
is on the idea of using two circular buffers in commonly addressable memory
|
||
to queue pointers to messages (also in shared memory) between two
|
||
processors. One buffer contains messages going in one direction, and the
|
||
other buffer contains messages going in the other. The allegedly inventive
|
||
feature is having one of the processors tell the other processor the size
|
||
of the ring buffers.
|
||
|
||
Terence Kelleher <terryk@encore.com> says: Another modem company, Bizcomp,
|
||
held a patent on a mechanism that allowed use of the same serial data wire
|
||
for both control characters and data (not transmit vs. receive). The
|
||
patent was not specific to software. In fact, the Bizcomp mechanism as
|
||
described in the patent was TTL hardware. The patent was on the use of the
|
||
line for both data and control codes, and not on the actual mechanism that
|
||
switched them. While researching, we found a prior patent that described a
|
||
similar mechanism, issued sometime in the early 60's to Western Union,
|
||
where they used a control code to switch teletype's interpretation from
|
||
data to control. In addition, we felt that the use of ESC to prefix
|
||
control commands for terminals amounted to the same use.
|
||
|
||
Philip Resnik <resnik@unagi.cis.upenn.edu> says: [There may be a patent
|
||
on] a learning-related algorithm known as classifier systems, invented by
|
||
John Holland of the University of Michigan and described in the books
|
||
_Induction_ and (I believe) in _Adaptation in Natural and Artificial
|
||
Systems_. One component of classifier systems is a class of optimization
|
||
techniques known as genetic algorithms; stories that Holland was/might be
|
||
patenting classifier systems stirred up a lot of discussion among some
|
||
people working on genetic algorithms, in mid-1987 or so.
|
||
|
||
Philip Resnik <resnik@unagi.cis.upenn.edu> says: Unless I'm mistaken, J.
|
||
K. Baker of DRAGON Systems (Cambridge, MA) has patented a speech
|
||
recognition algorithm or algorithms.
|
||
|
||
Adam J Richter <adam@soda.berkeley.edu> says: I read about Farallon's
|
||
behavior in a old issue of Bay Area _Computer Currents_ about two years
|
||
ago. The article was a profile of a bunch of different companies. The
|
||
article talked about Farallon having patents that made it impossible for
|
||
anyone to build devices that could talk on PhoneNet, and described the
|
||
patents as being quite dubious. The article also said that nobody was
|
||
challenging the patents because Farallon was willing to "license the
|
||
technology" cheaply.
|
||
|
||
Bellcore has applied for a patent on its active message system.
|
||
Nathaniel Borenstein <nsb@thumper.bellcore.com> says:
|
||
The patent isn't actually on active messaging per se. The patent is on
|
||
security aspects of active messaging, as embodied in the ATOMICMAIL
|
||
language. With AMS/Ness, for example, you can send around a program that
|
||
deletes all the recipients files, and the only safeguard is that the user
|
||
is first asked "do you trust the user you got this from?" -- as if the mail
|
||
couldn't just be a forgery anyway! Unlike previous active messaging
|
||
systems, ATOMICMAIL makes active messaging safe enough to consider using it
|
||
for real.
|
||
|
||
Xerox's Ethernet patent.
|
||
|
||
Rudy Zalesak <zalesak@bme.unc.edu> says:
|
||
A patent (pending) for a method of looking up Kanji (Japanese characters)
|
||
is announced in an ad for a Mac Japanese-to-English dictionary and
|
||
translation aid called KanjiSama. (SANBI Software Company, 3594 Crowell
|
||
Ave., Riverside CA 92504, (714) 352-0276). The ad states:
|
||
"Includes a completely new kanji lookup mode based on the Kanji
|
||
Alphanumeric Code (Kanc), developed by SANBI Software (Patent Pending)."
|
||
Traditional lookup methods (also supported) are by stroke count
|
||
and radical (small parts of a character). The stroke count method is the
|
||
most common in Western dictionaries. I am not aware of a public standard
|
||
called Kanc; I don't know whether or not it is an invention of SANBI.
|
||
The claims of course cannot be clear from an ad, but as stated it
|
||
seems to be a technique that could be carried out in a dictionary and would
|
||
certainly not be patentable in that form. Just what aspect of such a
|
||
technique could be innovative? Presumably the actual lookup must use a
|
||
standard technique such as hashing, so the novelty must lie in the
|
||
ascii-to-Kanji correspondence. This arguably is not a software invention,
|
||
so if my guesses about the patent are correct and the patent is granted,
|
||
this would represent an extension of software patents into patents on
|
||
information transformation in general. Pamela Samuelson's article in ACM
|
||
Comm. on software patents already worried about this possibility.
|
||
|
||
George Battrick <gwb@crosfield.co.uk> says:
|
||
Document ISO/IEC JTC1/SC24 N756 refers to an IBM patent on "Language
|
||
Bindings for Graphical Functions ... " as being "issued 1-21-92".
|
||
Our search in the "Dialog" database for "LANGUAGE()BINDING" has drawn
|
||
a blank, so perhaps we have the wrong keywords, or got the year wrong,
|
||
or something. Can anyone provide a proper reference? I'd like to
|
||
know what exactly is being/has been patented here.
|
||
|
||
===========================================================================
|
||
|
||
Foreign patents:
|
||
|
||
British Patent 2,166,627
|
||
This appears to cover pull-down menus
|
||
Abstract:
|
||
A computer controlled display system having a display wherein a plurality
|
||
of command options are displayed along a menu bar and sub-command items
|
||
corresponding to each option are displayed once said option has been
|
||
selected, and including a cursor control means for selectively positioning
|
||
a cursor on said display, comprising: first display means coupled to said
|
||
computer for generating and displaying said menu bar comprising said
|
||
plurality of command options; signal generation means coupled to said
|
||
cursor control means for signalling said computer of an option choice once
|
||
said cursor is positioned over a first predetermined area on said display
|
||
corresponding to an option to be selected; said first display means
|
||
generating and displaying said sub-command items corresponding to said
|
||
selected option; signal modification means coupled to said signal
|
||
generation means for latering said signal to said computer once said cursor
|
||
is positioned over a second predetermined area corresponding to a
|
||
sub-command item to be selected; whereby an option and a sub-command item
|
||
is selected and executed by said computer.
|
||
Carl Oppedahl <0001811496@mcimail.com> says:
|
||
What's interesting about this is it claims priority from a U.S. Patent
|
||
application, no. 399,704 filed July 19, 1982. Generally U.S. patent
|
||
applications are kept secret, but when Apple applied in Great Britain they
|
||
chose to disclose the existence of the U.S. application.
|
||
|
||
===========================================================================
|
||
|
||
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PATENTS FROM 1989
|
||
Titles as they appear in the Patent Office Gazette
|
||
Gregory Aharonian <srctran@world.std.com>
|
||
Source Translation & Optimization
|
||
|
||
ASSOCIATIVE PROCESSING
|
||
. Set associative memory
|
||
. Adaptive associative-processing optical computing architectures
|
||
. Associative memory system with spatial light modulator and feedback for
|
||
adjustable thresholding and enhancement
|
||
|
||
BRAIN
|
||
. Non-invasive method and apparatus for modulating brain signals through
|
||
an external magnetic or electric field to reduce pain
|
||
. Method and apparatus for translating the EEG into music to induce and
|
||
control various psychological and physiological states and to
|
||
control a musical instrument
|
||
. Electrical connection device
|
||
. Topographical mapping of brain functionality from neuropsychological
|
||
test results
|
||
. Hearing device
|
||
|
||
DECISION SYSTEMS
|
||
|
||
. Method of detecting boundary structures in a video signal
|
||
. Voice synthesis utilizing multi-level filter excitation
|
||
. Real-time scheduling system
|
||
. Fluid distribution to multiple users through distributed
|
||
intelligence sub-centers
|
||
. Automated production release system
|
||
. Expert system for processing errors in a multiplex communications system
|
||
. Speech recognition system
|
||
. Automatic classification of images
|
||
. Document processing system deciding apparatus provided with
|
||
selection functions
|
||
. Failing resource manager in a multiplex communication system
|
||
. Interactive statistical system and method for predicting expert decisions
|
||
. Decision and implementation system for medical imaging
|
||
. Automated production dispatch system with feedback control
|
||
. Image discrimination with continuous tone area thinning
|
||
|
||
EXPERT SYSTEMS
|
||
. Coalescing changes in pattern-directed, rule-based artificial intelligence
|
||
production systems
|
||
. Interactive transector device commercial and military grade
|
||
. Editor for expert system
|
||
. Parser for natural language text
|
||
. Expert system shell for building photofinishing diagnostic systems
|
||
. Expert system with three classes of rules
|
||
. Knowledge system with improved request processing
|
||
. Expert system for processing errors in a multiplex communications system
|
||
. Failing resource manager in a multiplex communication system
|
||
. Interactive statistical system and method for predicting expert decisions
|
||
. Expert vehicle control system
|
||
. Data-driven, functional expert system shell
|
||
. Domain independent shell for building a diagnostic expert system
|
||
. System and method for network configuration
|
||
|
||
FUZZY LOGIC
|
||
. Powder weighing mixer and method thereof
|
||
. Fuzzy logic computers and circuits
|
||
. Method of and apparatus for measuring liquid
|
||
. Auto-tuning controller using fuzzy reasoning to obtain optimum
|
||
control parameters
|
||
. Fuzzy logic semifinished integrated circuit
|
||
|
||
IMAGE ANALYSIS
|
||
. Digital image analysis system
|
||
. Full page graphics image display data reduction
|
||
. Self referencing ambiguity free holography
|
||
. Method and method and apparatus for control of light intensity for
|
||
image analysis
|
||
. Apparatus and method for electronic analysis of test objects
|
||
. System and method for determining orientation of planes of imaging
|
||
. Method and apparatus for contextual data enhancement
|
||
. Vision system for distinguishing touching parts
|
||
. DC artifact removal in magnetic resonance imaging
|
||
. Motion analysis tool and method therefor
|
||
. Method for enhancement of ultrasonic image data
|
||
|
||
INFERENCE
|
||
. Accompaniment line principal tone determination system
|
||
. Expert system with three classes of rules
|
||
. Powder weighing mixer and method thereof
|
||
. Using infrared imaging to monitor and control welding
|
||
. Fuzzy logic computers and circuits
|
||
. Method of and apparatus for measuring liquid
|
||
. Data-driven, functional expert system shell
|
||
. Reasoning system for reasoning with uncertainty
|
||
. Inference system
|
||
. Method for controlling operation of a blast furnace
|
||
|
||
KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION
|
||
. Automated defect recognition system
|
||
. Autonomous resource management system with recorded evaluations of
|
||
system performance with scheduler control including knowledge
|
||
learning function
|
||
. Expert system shell for building photofinishing diagnostic systems
|
||
. Knowledge system with improved request processing
|
||
. Document filing system with knowledge-base network of concept
|
||
interconnected by generic, subsumption, and superclass relations
|
||
. Knowledge-based system having plural processors
|
||
. Method for controlling operation of a blast furnace
|
||
|
||
LANGUAGE
|
||
. Data base management system extending structure
|
||
. Stroke typing system
|
||
. Electronic dictionary
|
||
. Parser for natural language text
|
||
. Symbolic language data processing system
|
||
. Speech synchronized animation
|
||
. Remote language translating device
|
||
. Method of operating a computer system to provide customed I/O
|
||
information including language translation
|
||
. Collocational grammar system
|
||
. System of encoding chinese characters according to their patterns
|
||
and accompanying keyboard for electronic computer
|
||
. Multiple language telephone answering machine
|
||
. Interactive speech recognition apparatus
|
||
. Method of using a created international language as an intermediate
|
||
pathway in translation between two national languages
|
||
. Translation system allowing user designation of postpositional words
|
||
. Shorthand notation and transcribing method
|
||
|
||
LEARNING
|
||
. N-dimensional coulomb neural network which provides for cumulative
|
||
learning of internal representations
|
||
. Optimum fast textural feature extractor
|
||
. Air/fuel mixture ratio control system for internal combustion engine
|
||
with feature of learning correction coefficient including altitude
|
||
dependent factor
|
||
. Autonomous resource management system with recorded evaluations of
|
||
system performance with scheduler control including knowledge
|
||
learning function
|
||
. Character reading method
|
||
. Neural network system for adaptive sensory-motor coordination of
|
||
multijoint robots for single postures
|
||
. Electronic learning control apparatus for internal combustion engine
|
||
. Electronically-controlled, adaptive automatic transmission system
|
||
. Neuromorphic learning networks
|
||
. Electronic air-fuel ratio control apparatus in internal combustion engine
|
||
. Air-fuel ratio control system for an automotive engine
|
||
. Fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine
|
||
. Method of controlling fuel in an engine
|
||
. Engine idling speed controlling system
|
||
|
||
NEURAL NETWORKS
|
||
. N-dimensional coulomb neural network which provides for cumulative
|
||
learning of internal representations
|
||
. Solitary wave circuit for neural network emulation
|
||
. Spike transmission for neural networks
|
||
. Parallel neural network for a full binary adder
|
||
. Digital adaptive receiver employing maximum-likelihood sequence
|
||
estimation with neural networks
|
||
. Neural network system for adaptive sensory-motor coordination of
|
||
multijoint robots for single postures
|
||
. Devices for neural signal transmission
|
||
. Neural network model in pattern recognition using probabilistic
|
||
contextual information
|
||
. Neural networks
|
||
. Programmable ferroelectric polymer neural network
|
||
. Switched neural networks
|
||
. Neural network with dynamic refresh capability
|
||
|
||
PATTERN RECOGNITION
|
||
. Radar detection of hazardous small scale weather disturbances
|
||
. Method and apparatus for tracking, mapping and recognition of
|
||
spatial patterns
|
||
. Pattern recognition apparatus using oscillating memory circuits
|
||
. Character reading method
|
||
. System for continuous speech recognition through transition networks
|
||
. Communications network routing and management system
|
||
. Speech recognition system which avoids ambiguity when matching
|
||
frequency spectra by employing an additional verbal feature
|
||
. Speech recognition system
|
||
. Pattern recognizing device
|
||
. Optical character reader with skew recognition
|
||
. Neural network model in pattern recognition using probabilistic
|
||
contextual information
|
||
. Error detection circuit
|
||
. Apparatus and method for recognizing speech
|
||
. Pattern recognition method
|
||
. Voice recognizing telephone
|
||
. Speech recognition arrangement with preselection
|
||
. Image recognition audience measurement system and method
|
||
|
||
ROBOTICS
|
||
. Rotary to linear motion robot arm
|
||
. Automated phasing device for phasing wheel attachment bolts and methods
|
||
utilizing same
|
||
. Electric control apparatus for industrial robot
|
||
. Nuclear fuel pellet collating system and method
|
||
. Method for positioning a robotic work system
|
||
. Robot vision cooling/protection system
|
||
. Industrial playback robot having a teaching mode
|
||
. Robot for tire building machine and method of operation
|
||
. Industrial robot
|
||
. Velocity control apparatus
|
||
. Deburring robot
|
||
. Digital robot control having an improved pulse width modulator
|
||
. Deadbeat control of disk drive actuator
|
||
. Method for positioning a tool of a multi-joint robot
|
||
. Parallel gripper
|
||
. Apparatus for mastering a robot
|
||
. Industrial laser robot system
|
||
. Welding system for hollow thin walled members
|
||
. Distributed proximity sensor system having embedded light emitters
|
||
and detectors
|
||
. Movable accomodation or container in which is arranged apparatus
|
||
for automatic milking of an animal
|
||
. Robotic product server and system
|
||
. Robotic system
|
||
. Fluid distribution to multiple users through distributed
|
||
intelligence sub-centers
|
||
. Object collision detection method and apparatus
|
||
. Control system for an industrial robot
|
||
. Apparatus and method for mounting window glasses on automobile
|
||
. Polishing robot and polishing method using the same
|
||
. Failsafe brake for a multi-wheel vehicle with motor controlled steering
|
||
. Industrial robot control device
|
||
. Portable robot with automatic set-up
|
||
. Method for controlling operation of industrial robot
|
||
. Visual navigation system for a mobile robot having capabilities
|
||
of regenerating of hidden images
|
||
. Variable compliance device
|
||
. Robot positioner and seal arrangement for a closed chamber
|
||
. Melt indexer system with robot operation
|
||
. Automatic tool changer for workpiece processing machines
|
||
. Locus interpolation device
|
||
. Neural network system for adaptive sensory-motor coordination of
|
||
multijoint robots for single postures
|
||
. Paint-coating brush
|
||
. Vehicle automatic fueling assembly
|
||
. Apparatus for inspecting wafers
|
||
. Robot system for forming a structural component of a preimpreganted
|
||
fiber reinforced tape
|
||
. Three-dimensional measuring robot
|
||
. Robot arm with an assembly flange for tools
|
||
. Wafer centration device
|
||
. Stepping motor control
|
||
. Ultrasonic scanning system
|
||
. Dextrous spherical robot wrist
|
||
. Robot gripper passively locked
|
||
. Method for determining points in space guiding the movement of a robot arm
|
||
. Three-dimensional position sensor and three-dimensional position
|
||
setting system
|
||
. Method and apparatus for assembling an instrument panel in an automobile
|
||
. Apparatus for dealing with cables in industrial robots
|
||
. Method for assembling associated components
|
||
. Novel automatic tool changer
|
||
. Robot apparatus
|
||
. Position and velocity feedback system for a digital robot control
|
||
. Circuit location sensor for component placement apparatus
|
||
. Vision system for distinguishing touching parts
|
||
. Manipulator with rod mechanism
|
||
. Digital robot control providing pulse width modulation for a
|
||
brushless DC drive
|
||
. Magnetically levitated fine motion robot wrist with programmable
|
||
compliance
|
||
. Locomotion-command method for mobile robots
|
||
. Apparatus for installing bearings on engine components
|
||
. Support for a gripper for an industrial robot
|
||
. Robot control apparatus for controlling a manipulator through a
|
||
robot arm having a plurality of axes
|
||
. Device for forecasting breakage cables in an industrial robot
|
||
. Method and apparatus for reconstructing three-dimensional surfaces
|
||
from two-dimensional images
|
||
. Drill inspection and sorting method and apparatus
|
||
. Method and apparatus for applying sealing material to automotive
|
||
vehicle bodies
|
||
. Laser beam robot for cutting and welding
|
||
. Method and apparatus for controlling a welding robot forming a
|
||
nonuniform weld satisfying predetermined criteria related to
|
||
an interspace between elements being welded
|
||
. Water jet trim head simulator
|
||
. Coupling method and apparatus for use with robotic devices and the like
|
||
. Communication interface for multi-microprocessor servo control in
|
||
a multi-axis robot control system
|
||
. Industrial robot device including a robot and a processing machine
|
||
. Multiprocessor position/velocity servo control for multiaxis
|
||
digital robot control system
|
||
. Apparatus for cleaning a textile machine comprising a plurality
|
||
of operating positions
|
||
. Robot articulation joint
|
||
. Gripper head
|
||
. Industrial robot adjustment device
|
||
. Gas laser device
|
||
. Equipment for automatic personalizing of credit cards
|
||
. Drilling derrick device
|
||
. Support for a gripper
|
||
. Multiprocessor torque servo control for multiaxis digital robot
|
||
control system
|
||
. Method for coordinated control of motion devices
|
||
. Multiaxis robot control having improved energy monitoring system
|
||
for protecting robots against joint motor overload
|
||
. Display unit for controlling pattern printing
|
||
. Automated cartridge system
|
||
. Lifting hand for a punch press tool changer
|
||
. Passive actuator to maintain a constant normal cutting force during
|
||
robotic deburring
|
||
. Clutch for robot or like
|
||
. Offset mechanical gripper
|
||
. Method and apparatus for the injection molding of circuit boards
|
||
. Resistance spot welding gun and transformer assembly
|
||
. Sonic positioning device
|
||
. Arm structure for an industrial robot
|
||
. Overload protector for a robot arm
|
||
. Method and apparatus for adaptive force and position control of
|
||
manipulators
|
||
. Robotic hand with shape determination capabilities
|
||
. Robotic workcell control system having improved input/output
|
||
interfacing for better workcell operation
|
||
. Robotic vision system
|
||
. Robotic ultrasonic cleaning and spraying device for ships' hulls
|
||
. Riveting process and apparatus
|
||
. Method and system for loading wafers
|
||
. Robotic accessible wafer shipper assembly
|
||
. Gripper device
|
||
. Dual port alignment assembly station for attaching components to
|
||
circuit boards
|
||
. Robotic airbrush apparatus
|
||
. Robotic crawling device
|
||
. Mechanical fingers for dexterity and grasping
|
||
. Wrist mechanism for robotic manipulations
|
||
. Robotic pipe crawling device
|
||
. Double-ended termination and routing arrangement for an automated
|
||
wiring system
|
||
. Water cooled semi-automatic welding gun
|
||
. Article vending machine employing unique robotic arm and the
|
||
robotic arms employed therein
|
||
. Robotic gripper head
|
||
. Gripping device
|
||
. Sealant flow control for robotic applications
|
||
|
||
RULE BASED SYSTEMS
|
||
. Speech synthesis system by rule using phonemes as systhesis units
|
||
. System and method for preprocessing and transmitting echo waveform
|
||
information
|
||
. Coalescing changes in pattern-directed, rule-based artificial
|
||
intelligence production systems
|
||
. Diagnostic configuration management for a data processing system
|
||
. Computer speech system
|
||
. Using infrared imaging to monitor and control welding
|
||
. Fiber optic solder joint inspection system
|
||
. Document processing system deciding apparatus provided with
|
||
selection functions
|
||
. Method of starting thermal power plant
|
||
. Automated production dispatch system with feedback control
|
||
. Domain independent shell for building a diagnostic expert system
|
||
. Processing method and processor for machine translation
|
||
. Auto-tuning controller using fuzzy reasoning to obtain optimum
|
||
control parameters
|
||
. Speech synthesis system of rule-synthesis type
|
||
. Reasoning system for reasoning with uncertainty
|
||
|
||
SPEECH RECOGNITION AND GENERATION
|
||
. Digital speech interpolation system and speech detector
|
||
. Noise compensation in speech recognition apparatus
|
||
. Industrial playback robot having a teaching mode in which teaching
|
||
data are given by speech
|
||
. Method and apparatus of rejecting false hypotheses in automatic
|
||
speech recognizer systems
|
||
. Speech synthesis system by rule using phonemes as systhesis units
|
||
. Digital speech coder having improved vector excitation source
|
||
. Automatic validation of telephone account numbers
|
||
. Speech coding transmission equipment
|
||
. Voice synthesis utilizing multi-level filter excitation
|
||
. Computer speech system
|
||
. System for continuous speech recognition through transition networks
|
||
. Speech synchronized animation
|
||
. Processing of acoustic waveforms
|
||
. Apparatus for speech recognition
|
||
. Synthesized speech-facilitated product
|
||
. Speech recognition system which avoids ambiguity when matching
|
||
frequency spectra by employing an additional verbal feature
|
||
. Speech recognition system
|
||
. Method for extracting formant frequencies
|
||
. Synthesizing word baseforms used in speech recognition
|
||
. Speech recognition system
|
||
. Parallel processing pitch detector
|
||
. Speech recognition system
|
||
. Speech recognition system with an accurate recognition function
|
||
. ASCII LPC-10 conversion
|
||
. Method for entering digit sequences by voice command
|
||
. Vector excitation speech or audio coder for transmission or storage
|
||
. Sub-band speech analyzing and synthesizing device
|
||
. Apparatus and method for recognizing speech
|
||
. Apparatus for extracting features from a speech signal
|
||
. Interactive speech recognition apparatus
|
||
. Method for performing time-scale modification of speech information
|
||
or speech signals
|
||
. Method of recognizing a control command in a system, and interactive
|
||
system for carrying out the method
|
||
. Speech synthesis system of rule-synthesis type
|
||
. Binary autocorrelation processor
|
||
. Speech recognition arrangement with preselection
|
||
. Method of evaluating speech
|
||
|
||
THEOREM PROVING
|
||
. Digital circuit design verification
|
||
|
||
VISION
|
||
. Robot vision cooling/protection system
|
||
. Robotic vision system
|
||
. Computer vision system with improved object orientation technique
|
||
. Machine vision system for position sensing
|
||
. Method and apparatus for automatically inspecting and classifying
|
||
different objects
|
||
. Method and apparatus for the perception of computer-generated imagery
|
||
. Method and apparatus for differentiating a planar textured surface
|
||
from a surrounding background
|
||
. Vision system for distinguishing touching parts
|
||
. Workstation for a vision-impaired user with interface for selectively
|
||
feeding display data from a bus or a connected computer
|
||
. Dual port alignment assembly station for attaching components to
|
||
circuit boards
|
||
. Machine vision process and apparatus for reading a plurality of
|
||
separated figures
|
||
|
||
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