~r
`
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`~~z~' ~. MICROSOFT PRESS°
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`
`~~~
`
`SECOND EDITION
`
`THE COMPREHENSIVE_
`
`STANDARD FOR
`
`.BUSINESS, SCHOOL,
`LI]BR.ARY .~A~ND Ho~E
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.1
`
`

`

`,;;,t..
`,s~~.~:
`:;z,~,,
`
`PUBLISHED BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Microsoft Way
`Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
`
`Copyright OO 1994 by Microsoft Press
`All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or
`transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Microsoft Press computer dictionary :the comprehensive standard for
`lousiness, school, library, and home /Microsoft Press. -- 2nd ed.
`p. cm.
`ISBN 1-55615-597-2
`1. Computers--Dictionaries. 2. Microcomputers--Dictionaries.
`I. Microsoft Press. II. Title: Computer dictionary.
`QA76.15:M54 1993
`004'.03--dc20
`
`93-29868
`CIP
`
`Printed and bound in the United States of America.
`23456789 MLML 987654
`
`Distributed to the book trade in Canada by Macmillan of Canada, a division of Canada
`Publishing Corporation.
`Distributed to the book trade outside the United States and Canada by
`Penguin Books Ltd.
`
`Penguin Books Ltd., Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England
`Penguin Books Australia Ltd., Ringwood, Victoria, Australia
`Penguin Books N.Z. Ltd., 182-190 Wairau Road, Auckland 10, New Zealand
`
`British Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.
`
`Project Editor: Casey D. Doyle
`Manuscript Editor: Alice Copp Smith
`Technical Editors: Mary DeJong, Jeff Carey, Dail Magee, Jr., Jim Fuchs, Seth McEvoy
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.2
`
`

`

`CONTENTS
`
`Introduction
`
`vii
`
`Dictionary of Computer Terms
`
`1
`
`Appends A:. ASCII Character Set
`
`425
`
`Appends B: IBM Extended Character,Set
`
`427
`
`Appendix C: -Apple Macintosh Extended Character Set
`
`428
`
`Appendix D: EBCDIC Character Set
`
`431
`
`Appends E: Numeric Equivalents
`
`437
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.3
`
`

`

`cell
`
`Chad
`
`cell In spreadsheet terminology, the intersection
`of a row and a column. Each row and column in
`a spreadsheet is unique, so each cell can be
`uniquely identified-for example, cell B17, at the
`intersection of column B and row 17. Each cell is
`displayed as a rectangular space that can hold
`text, a value, or a formula. See the illustration.
`Similarly, although less familiarly, a cell is an ad-
`dressable (named or numbered) storage unit for
`information. A binary cell, for example, is a stor-
`age unit that can hold 1 bit of information—that
`is, it can be either on or off.
`
`Cell
`
`CeIG
`cellular automata In computer science, theoreti-
`cal models of parallel computers. They enable
`the investigation of parallel computers without
`the need to actually build them. The cellular au-
`tomaton is composed of a network of multiple
`cells, each representing a processor in the paral-
`lel computer. The cells must be identical, and
`they must have a finite amount of available
`memory. Each cell outputs a value calculated
`from the input values it receives from its neigh-
`boring cells, and all cells output their values
`simultaneously.
`center To align characters around a point located
`in the middle of a line, page, or other defined
`area; in effect, to place text an equal distance
`from each margin or border. See also align.
`cents- Prefix meaning "one hundred" or, more
`usually, "one hundredth," as in centimeter—one
`hundredth of a meter.
`centralized processing The location of com-
`puter processing facilities and operations in a
`single (centralized) place. Compare decentral-
`ized processing, distributed processing.
`
`central office In communications, the switching
`center where interconnections between custom-
`ers' communications lines are made.
`central processing unit Abbreviated CPU. The
`computational and control unit of a computer;
`the device that interprets and executes instruc-
`tions. Mainframes and early minicomputers con-
`tained circuit boards full of integrated circuits
`that implemented the central processing unit.
`Single-chip central processing- units, called mi-
`croprocessors, made possible personal comput-
`ers anti workstations. Examples of single-chip
`CPUs are the Motorola 68000, 68020, and 68030
`chips and the Intel 8080, 8086, 80286, 80386, and
`1486 chips. The CPU—or microprocessor, in the
`case of a microcomputer—has the ability to
`fetch, decode, and execute instructions and to
`transfer information to and from other resources
`over the computer's main data-transfer path, 'the
`bus. By definition, the CPU is the chip that func-
`tions as the "brain" of a computer. In some in-
`stances, however, the term encompasses both
`the processor and the computer's memory or,
`even more broadly, the main computer console
`(as opposed to peripheral equipment). See also
`microprocessor.
`Centronics parallel interface- A de facto stan-
`dard for parallel data exchange paths between
`computers and peripherals, originally developed
`by the printer manufacturer Centronics, Inc. The
`Centronics parallel interface provides eight paral-
`lel data lines plus additional lines for control and
`status information.
`CGA Acronym for Color/Graphics Adapter, a video
`adapter board introduced by IBM in 1981. The
`CGA is capable of several character and graphics
`modes, including character modes of 40 or 80
`horizontal characters (columns) by 25 vertical
`lines with 16 colors, and graphics modes of 640
`horizontal pixels by 200 vertical peels with 2 col-
`ors, or 320 horizontal pixels by 200 vertical pixels
`with 4 colors. See also graphics adapter, video
`adapter.
`CGI See Computer Graphics Interface.
`CGM See Computer Graphics Metafile.
`chad The paper removed when a hole is punched
`
`69
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.4
`
`

`

`compression
`
`computer art
`
`state. Compressed files are commonly used by
`software publishers to distribute their software
`on floppy disks; the primary advantage is that the
`compressed files take up less space and therefore
`require fewer disks to hold the entire product.
`Software publishers then include a utility pro-
`gram to uncompress the files and copy them to
`the end user's computer storage device, usually a
`hard disk. Such a utility program is often embed-
`dedwithin asetup or installation program so that
`the end user is unaware-that compressed files are
`involved. Some programs, especially those that
`work with graphics files (which can be extremely
`large), compress each file while saving iCto disk
`and decompress the file while loading it from
`disk; this process, too, is generally invisible to
`the user. See also installation program, LHARC,
`PKUNZIP, PKZIP, utility program.
`compression See data compression.
`compressor A device that limits some aspect,
`such as volume, of a transmitted signal in order to
`increase efficiency.
`computation-bound' Also called CPU-bound. An
`adjective describing a situation in which the per-
`formance of a computer is limited by the number
`of arithmetic operations the microprocessor must
`perform. When a system is computation-bound,
`the microprocessor is overloaded with calculations.
`compute Strictly, to perform calculations; more
`loosely, in terms of microcomputers, to use a
`computer or cause it to do work.
`computer Any machine that does three things:
`accepts structured input, processes it according
`to prescribed rules, and produces the results as
`dutput. Computers exist in a remarkable range of
`sizes, shapes, abilities, and applications. They
`can be categorized in different ways—among
`them class, generation, and mode of processing.
`Class: Computers can be classified as super-
`computers, mainframes, superminicomputers,
`minicomputers, workstations, or microcomput-
`ers. All other things (such as the age of the
`machine) being equal, such a categorization pro-
`vides some indication of the computer's speed,
`size, cost, and abilities. It is important to keep in
`mind that all statistics regarding the performance
`
`and abilities of computers are volatile: The high-
`end microcomputers of today, for example, are
`as powerful as the minicomputers of only a few
`years ago.
`Generation: First-generation computers of his-
`toric significance, such as LTNIVAC, introduced in
`the early 1950s, were based ion vacuum tubes.
`Second-generation computers, appearing in the
`early 1960s, were. those in which transistors re-
`placed vacuum tubes. Third-generation comput-
`ers, dating from the 1960s, were those in which
`integrated circuits replaced transistors. Fourth-
`generation computers, appearing in the mid-1970s,
`are those such as microcomputers, in which
`large-scale integration (LSI) enabled thousands
`of circuits to be incorporated on one chip. Fifth-
`generation computers are expected to combine
`very-large-scale integration (VLSI) with sophisti-
`cated approaches to computing, including artifi-
`cial intelligence and true distributed processing:
`Mode of processing: Computers are either
`analog or digital. Analog computers, generally
`used in scientific pursuits, represent values by
`continuously variable signals that can have any of
`an infinite number of .values within a limited
`range at any particular time. Digital computers,
`the type most people think of as computers, rep-
`resent values by discrete signals—the bits repre-
`senting the binary digits 0 and 1. See also analog,
`digital, integrated circuit, large-scale integration,
`very-large-scale integration.
`computer-aided design See CAD.
`computer-aided design computer-aided manu-
`facturing See CAD/CAM.
`computer-aided engineering See CAE.
`computer-aided instruction See CAI.
`computer-aided manufacturing See CAM.
`computer-aided testing See CAT.
`Computer and Business Equipment Manufac-
`turers Association See CBEMA.
`computer art A broad term that can refer either
`to art created on a computer or to art generated
`by a computer, the difference being whether the
`artist is human or electronic. When created by
`human beings, computer art is done with paint-
`ing programs that offer a range of line-drawing
`
`E:37
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.5
`
`

`

`computer-independent language
`
`computer power
`
`CGM. A software standard related to the widely
`recognized GKS (Graphical Kernel System) that
`provides applications programmers with a stan-
`dard means of describing a graphic as a set of in-
`structioris for re-creating it. A graphics metafile
`can be stored on disk or sent to an output device;
`CGM provides a common language for describ-
`ing such files in relation to the GKS standard. See
`also Graphical Kernel System.
`computer-independent language A computer
`language designed to be independent of any given
`hardware platform. Most high-level languages
`are intended to be computer-independent; actual
`implementations of the languages (in the form of
`compilers and interpreters) tend to have some
`hardware-specific features and aspects. See also
`computer language.
`computer-input microfilm See CIM.
`computer instruction An instruction that a com-
`puter can recognize and act upon (see machine
`instruction); also, the use of a computer in teach-
`ing (see CAI).
`computer-integrated manufacturing See CIM.
`computer interface unit See interface.
`computerized~axial tomography See CAT.
`computerized mail See electronic mail.
`computer language An artificial language that
`specifies instructions- to be executed on a com-
`puter. The term covers .a wide spectrum, from
`binary-coded machine language to high-level
`languages..See also assembly language, high-
`level language, machine code.
`computer letter See form letter.
`computer literacy Knowledge and an under-
`standing of computers combined with the ability
`to use them effectively. Computers are some-
`times thought—unjustifiably—to demand deep
`technical knowledge or proficiency in mathemat-
`ics and electronics. In actuality, computers, like
`any other discipline, inspire different levels of
`expertise. On the least specialized level, com-
`puter literacy involves knowing how to turn on a
`computer, start and stop simple application pro-
`grams, and save and print information. At higher
`levels, computer literacy becomes more detailed,
`involving the ability of the "power users" to ma-
`
`nipulate complex applications and, possibly, to
`program in languages such as BASIC or C. At the
`highest levels, computer literacy leads to special-
`ized—and technical—knowledge of such topics
`as electronics and assembly language.
`computer-managed instruction See CMI.
`computer name In computer networking, a
`name that uniquely identifies a computer to the
`network. A computer's name cannot be the same
`as any other computer or domain name on the
`network. A computer name differs from a user
`name in that the computer name is used to iden-
`tify aparticular computer and all its shared re-
`sources (files,. peripherals, and so on) to the rest
`of the system so that they can be accessed; a user
`name—also called an alias or user ID—is given
`by the user when he or she attempts to gain ac-
`cess to the computer and/or the network. Com-
`parealias, user name.
`computer network See network.
`computer-output inicrofilin See COM.
`computer power The ability of a computer to
`perform work. If defined as the number of in-
`structions the machine can carry out in a given
`time, computer power is measured in millions of
`instructions per second (MIPS) or millions of
`floating-point operations per second (MFLOPS).
`Power is measured in other ways too, depending
`on the needs or objectives of the person evaluat-
`ing the machine. By users or purchasers of com-
`puters, power is often considered in terms of the
`machine's amount of random access memory, the
`speed at which the processor works, or the num-
`ber of bits (8, 16, 32, and so on) handled by the
`computer at one time. Other factors enter into
`such an evaluation, however; two of the most im-
`portant are how well the components of the com-
`puter work together and how well they are
`matched to the tasks required of them. Because a
`computer is, effectively, the sum of its parts, it is
`in some ways only as "powerful" as the slowest
`or least effective of its components—including
`the user. For example, no matter how fast or
`powerful the computer, its speed will be ham-
`pered during operations involving the hard disk
`if the hard disk is slow (for example, with an
`
`89
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.6
`
`

`

`i
`I
`
`i
`
`computer program
`
`r, ~T~11~
`r:~~ia~
`
`access time of 65 milliseconds or higher). See also
`access time, benchmark, MFLOPS, MIPS.
`computer program A set of instructions in some
`computer language; intended to be executed on
`a computer to perform a useful task. The term
`usually implies aself-contained entity, as op-
`posed to a routine or a library. Compare library,
`routine; see also computer language.
`computer-readable A term describing informa-
`tion that can be interpreted and acted upon by a
`computer. Two types of information are referred
`to as computer-readable. One type, comprising
`bar codes, magnetic tape, magnetic-ink char-
`acters, and so on, is information that can be
`scanned in some way and read as data by a com-
`puter. The other type, machine code, is the form
`in which instructions and data reach the
`computer's microprocessor. Machine code is the
`binary form into which all information is ulti-
`mately translated for use by a computer.
`computer revolution A label for the widespread
`use and acceptance of computers—specifically
`single-user personal computers—in society. The
`impact of these machines is considered revolu-
`tionary for two reasons. First, their appearance
`and success were rapid. Second, and more im-
`portant, their speed and accuracy produced a
`change in the ways in which information can be
`processed, stored, and transferred.
`computer science The study of computers, in-
`cluding their design, operation, and use in pro-
`cessing information. Computer science combines
`both theoretical and practical aspects. of engi-
`neering, electronics, information theory, mathe-
`matics, logic, and human behavior. Aspects of
`computer science range from programming and
`computer architecture to artificial intelligence
`and robotics.
`computer security The steps taken to protect a
`computer and the information it contains. Com-
`puter security varies with the type of system and
`the sensitivity of the information. On large sys-
`tems or those handling financial or confidential
`data, computer security requires professional su-
`pervision that combines legal and technical ex-
`pertise. On a microcomputer, security is a much
`
`simpler matter. Data protection can be achieved
`by backing up and storing copies of files in a
`separate location, and the integrity of data on the
`computer can be maintained by assigning pass-
`words to files, marking files "read-only" to avoid
`changes to them, physically locking a hard disk,
`storing sensitive information on floppy disks
`kept in locked cabinets, and installing special
`programs to protect against viruses. On a com-
`puter to which many people have access, secu-
`rity can be maintained by requiring personnel to
`use passwords and by granting only approved
`users access to sensitive information. See also
`virus.
`computer simulation See simulation.
`computer system The configuration that in-
`cludes all functional components of a computer
`and its associated hardware. A basic microcom-
`puter system includes a console, or system unit,
`with one or more disk drives, a monitor, and a
`keyboard. Additional hardware, called peripher-
`als, can include such devices as a printer, a mo-
`dem, and a joystick. Software is usually not
`considered part of a computer system, although
`the operating system that runs the hardware is
`known as system software.
`computer typesetting A general term used to
`describe typesetting operations that are partially
`or totally controlled by computers. Partial control
`-could involve the transmittal of text directly from
`the source to the typesetter, without a pasteup
`stage. Full computerization would include the
`digitization of all graphics, which would then
`also be transmitted directly to the typesetter and
`regenerated without pasteup.
`computer users' group See user group.
`computer utility See utility.
`computer virus See virus.
`COM recorder Abbreviation for computer output
`microfilm recorder, a device that records com-
`puter information on microfilm.
`CON Logical device name for console; a name re-
`served by the MS-DOS operating system for t}ie
`keyboard and the screen. The input-only. key-
`board and the output-only screen together make
`
``
`
`0
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.7
`
`

`

`damping
`
`database machine
`
`damping A technique for preventing overshoot
`(exceeding the desired limit) in the response of a
`circuit or device. An amplifier circuit, for ex-
`ample, might contain components that damp the
`output, preventing it from exceeding a critical
`level.
`Darlington circuit Sometimes called a Darlington
`pair. An amplifer circuit consisting of two transis-
`tors, often mounted in the same housing. The
`collectors of the twa transistors are connected,
`and the emitter of the first is connected to the
`base of the second. Darlington circuits are used
`to provide high-gain current amplification.
`Darlington pair See Darlington circuit.
`DASD Sometimes pronounced "dazz-dee." Acro-
`nym for direct access storage device, a data stor-
`age device on which information can be accessed
`directly, rather than by starting at the beginning
`of the data and passing sequentially over all in-
`tervening storage areas. Thus, a disk .drive is a
`DASD unit. A tape is not a DASD unit because the
`data is stored as a linear block. Compare sequen-
`tial access; see also direct access.
`DAT See digital audio tape, dynamic address
`translation.
`data. Plural of the Latin datum, meaning an item
`of information. Following classical usage, one
`item of information should be called a datum,
`and more than one item should be called data:
`"The datum is," but "the data are." In practice,
`however, data is frequently used for the singular
`as well as the plural form of the noun. Compare
`information.
`data acquisition The process of obtaining data
`from another source, typically one outside the
`system. It can be done by electronic sensing, as
`in process control or communications, or through
`data terminal input, as in online transaction pro-
`cessing, or from some magnetic medium, as in
`batch database processing.
`data aggregate A collection of data records or
`blocks that typically includes a description of the
`placement of each block within the collection
`and its relationship to the entire set.
`data attribute Structural information about data
`that serves to establish its context and give mean-
`
`ing to it. The term is also used to refer to descrip-
`tive structural information about a data field in a
`record.
`data bank A repository of data; any substantial
`collection of data.
`database Loosely, any aggregation of data; a file
`consisting of a number of records (or tables),
`each of which is constructed of fields (columns)
`of a particular type, together with a collection of
`operations that facilitate searching, sorting, re-
`combination, and similar activities.
`database administrator Abbreviated DBA. The
`individual or group of individuals responsible for
`a database. Typically, the DBA is responsible for
`determining the information content of the data-
`base; determining the internal storage structure
`and access strategy for the database; defining
`data security and integrity checks; and monitor-
`ing database performance and responding xo
`changing requirements.
`database analyst An individual who provides the
`analytic functions required to, design and/or
`maintain applications requiring use of a data-
`base. The functions performed by a database
`analyst are, in a database context, much like [he
`functions performed by a systems analyst in a
`programming context.
`database designer An individual who provides
`the design and implementation functions re-
`quired to implement and/or maintain appli-
`cations that use a database. The functions per-
`formed are, in a database context, much like the
`functions performed by a programmer in a pro-
`gramming context.
`database engine The program module or mod-
`ules that provide access to the functions of a da-
`tabase management system (DBMS). A database
`engine is used as an interface between the data
`manipulation language (DML) or programs writ-
`ten in conventional programming languages and
`the functions supported by the DBMS.
`database machine A computer peripheral device
`that, from the viewpoint of the computer, directly
`executes database-related tasks, relieving the main
`computer of the execution of these tasks. Data-
`base machines can be attached to the computer
`
`105
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.8
`
`

`

`display background
`
`distributed processing
`
`and blinking. They are used, for example, in text-
`based systems to create reverse video ,effects
`(white on black vs. black on white) and for
`"boldfacing" a word by displaying it in high-
`intensity characters. Users of applications can
`control display attributes when programs allow
`them to change color and other screen elements.
`display background In computer graphics, the
`portion of an on-screen image that remains static
`while other elements change—for example, win-
`dow borders on a screen, or a palette of shapes
`or patterns in a drawing program.
`display board See video adapter.
`display card See video adapter.
`display cycle The complete set of events that
`must occur in order for a computer image to be
`displayed on the screen, including both the soft-
`ware creation of an image in a computer's video
`memory and the hardware operations required
`for accurate on-screen display. See also refresh
`cycle.
`display device See display.
`display element See graphics primitive.
`display entity See entity, graphics primitive.
`display face A typeface suitable for headings and
`titles in documents, distinguished by its ability to
`stand out from- other text on the page. Sans serif
`faces such as Helvetica and Avant. Garde often
`work well as display faces. Compare body face;
`see also sans serif.
`display frame One image in an animation se-
`quence. See also frame.
`display image The collection of elements dis-
`played together at a single time on a computer
`screen.
`display page One screenful of display informa-
`tion stored in a computer's video memory. Com-
`puters can have enough. video memory to hold
`more than one display page at a time. In such
`instances programmers, especially those con-
`cerned with creating animation sequences, can up-
`date the screen rapidly by creating or modifying
`one display page while another is being viewed
`by the user. See also animation.
`Display PostScript An extended version of the
`PostScript language, intended for device-
`
`independent imaging (including monitors and
`printers) in a multitasking environment. Display
`PostScript has been adopted by some hardware
`manufacturers as the standard imaging approach
`for both screens and printers. See also PostScript.
`display screen The part of a video unit on which
`images are shown. See also CRT.
`display terminal See terminal.
`distortion An undesirable change in the wave-
`form of a signal. Distortion can occur during sig-
`nal transmission, as when a radio broadcast
`becomes garbled. It can also occur when a signal
`passes through a circuit, as when a stereo is
`turned up too loud. Distortion often results in
`loss of information. It is mainly a problem in ana-
`log signals; digital signals are not affected by
`moderate distortion.
`distribute To share out among locations or facili-
`ties, as in adata-processing function that is per-
`formed by a collection of computers and other
`devices linked together by a communications fa-
`ciliry such as a network.
`distributed database A database implemented
`on a network, in which the component partitions
`are distributed over various nodes (stations) of
`the network. Depending on the specific update
`and retrieval traffic, distributing the database can
`significantly enhance overall performance. See
`also partition.
`distributed database management system Ab-
`breviated DDBMS. A database management sys-
`tem capable of managing a distributed database.
`See also distributed database.
`distributed intelligence A system in which pro-
`cessing ability (intelligence) is distributed among
`multiple computers and other devices, each of
`which can work independently to some degree
`but can also communicate with the other devices
`to function as part of the larger system. See also
`distributed processing.
`distributed network A network in which. pro-
`cessing, storage, and other functions are' handled
`by separate units (nodes) rather than by a single
`main computer.
`distributed processing A form of information
`processing in which work is performed by sepa-
`
`E~►3.y
`
`E'
`
`~
`
`~-
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.9
`
`

`

`interblock gap
`
`interleaved memory
`
`and control the activities of the computer. Com-
`parebatch processing.
`interblock gap See inter-record gap.
`interface The point at which a connection is made
`between two elements so that they can work with
`one another. In computing, different types of inter-
`facing occur on different levels, ranging from
`highly visible user interfaces that enable people
`to communicate with programs to often invisible,
`yet necessary, hardware interfaces that connect
`devices and components inside the computer.
`User interfaces consist of the graphical design,
`the commands, prompts, and other devices that
`enable a user to interact with a• program. Micro-
`computers have three basic types of user inter-
`faces (which are not necessarily mutually
`exclusive):
`
`standardized data-transfer interfaces, such as
`RS-232-C and SCSI, that enable connections be-
`tween computers and printers, hard disks, and
`other devices.
`On the conceptual level, networking and
`communications standards such as the ISO Open
`Systems Interconnection (OSI) model combine
`hardware and software guidelines to enable en-
`tire systems and their associated devices to con-
`nect with one another. Although the. ISO/OSI
`model and other guidelines are not literal, physi-
`cal interfaces, they define ways for different sys-
`tems to connect and communicate.
`interface adapter See network adapter. . ,
`interface card See adapter.
`interference Noise or other external signals that
`affect the performance of a communications
`channel; also, the electromagnetic signals gener-
`n The command-line interface, typified by
`ated by electronic devices such as computers that
`the MS-DOS A> or C> prompt, responds to
`can disturb radio or television reception:
`commands typed by the user.
`interlacing A technique used in some raster-scan
`n The menu-based interface (also called
`displays in which the electron beam refreshes
`(updates) all odd-numbered scan lines in one
`menu-driven interface), used by many ap-
`sweep of the screen and all even-numbered scan
`plication programs such as Lotus 1-2-3, of-
`lines in the next. Interlacing takes advantage of
`fers the user a choice of command words
`both the screen phosphor's ability to maintain an
`that can be activated by typing a letter,
`image for a short time before fading and the ten-
`pressing a direction key, or pointing with a
`dency of the human eye to average, or blend,
`mouse.
`subtle differences in light intensity. By refreshing
`n The graphical interface, characteristic of
`alternate sets of lines on the display, interlacing
`the Apple Macintosh and of windowing
`halves the number of lines that must be updated
`programs, presents the user with a visual
`in a single sweep of the screen and also halves
`representation of some metaphor such as a
`the amount of information that must be carried
`desktop and allows the user to control not
`by the display signal at any one time. Thus, inter-
`only menu choices but also the size, layout,
`lacing updates any single line on the screen only
`and contents of one or more on-screen
`30 times per second, yet it provides the equiva-
`"windows" or working areas.
`lent of a 60-cycles-per-second refresh rate. Com-
`pare noninterlaced.
`interleaved memory A 1tAM memory system in
`which the technique of interleaving is used to re-
`duce wait states. Typically, memory is organized
`in rows of chips totaling 265 kilobytes (KB) or 1
`megabyte (MB). After an access to a location in
`one of these rows, the processor must wait an
`entire memory cycle before it can access another
`byte in the same row. Atwo-way interleave puts
`
`At less visible software levels within the com-
`puter are other types of interfaces, such as those
`that enable an application to work with the oper-
`ating system and those that enable an operating
`system to work with the computer's hardware.
`In hardware, interfaces are cards, plugs, and
`other devices that connect pieces of hardware
`with the computer so that information can be
`moved from place to place. There are, for example,
`
`218
`
`Petitioner Exhibit 1011 p.10
`
`

`

`NetBIOS
`
`network device driver
`
`declared within a procedure), or nested records
`(a record containing a field that is itself a record).
`NetBIOS An application program interface (API)
`that can be used by application programs on a lo-
`cal area network consisting of IBM and compat-
`ible microcomputers running MS-DOS, OS/2, or
`some version of UNIX. Primarily of interest to
`programmers, NetBIOS provides application pro-
`grams with a uniform set of commands for. re-
`questing the lower-level network services
`required to conduct sessions between nodes on a
`network and to transmit information back ,and
`forth. See also application program interface.
`network A group of computers and_ associated
`devices that are connected by communications
`facilities. A network can involve permanent con-
`nections, such as cables, or temporary connec-
`tions made through telephone or other communi-
`cations links. A network can be as small as a local
`area network consisting of a few computers,
`printers, and other devices, or it can consist of
`many small and large computers distributed over
`a vast geographic area. Small or large, a computer
`network exists to provide computer users with
`the means of communicating and transferring in-
`formation electronically. Some types of commu-
`nication are simple user-to-user messages; others,
`of the type known as distributed processes, can
`involve several computers and the sharing of work-
`loads or cooperative efforts in performing a task.
`network adapter An expansion card or other de-
`vice used to connect a computer to a local area
`network.
`network administrator The person in charge of
`operations on either a wide area network or a lo-
`cal area network. The duties of a network admin-
`istrator (also called a system administrator) can
`be broad and might include such tasks as install-
`ing new workstations and other devices, adding
`and removing authorized users, archiving files,
`overseeing password protection and other secu-
`rity measures, monitoring usage of shared re-
`sources, and handling malfunctioning equipment.
`network architecture The underlying structure
`of a computer network, including hardware, func-
`tional layers, interfaces, and