MICROSOFT PRESS"
`
`SECOND EDITION
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`REVISED AN
`JUPDATED, WITH
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`THE COMPREHENSIVE
`
`STANDARD FOR
`
`BUSINESS, SCHOOL,
`
`LIBRARY, AND HOME
`
`AMZ-R0036907
`AMZ—ROO3 6907
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 1
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 1
`
`

`
`PUBLISHED BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Microsoft Way
`Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
`
`Copyright © 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
`business, school, library, and home / Microsoft Press. -- 2nd ed.
`p. cm.
`ISBN 1-55615-597-2
`2. Microcomputers--Dictionaries.
`1. Computers--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.
`
`5 6 7 8 9 MLML 9 8 7 6 5
`
`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 Delong, Jeff Carey, Dail Magee,Jr.,Jim Fuchs, Seth McEvoy
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 2
`
`

`
`Jus
`
`Apple Extended Keyboard
`
`application
`
`I
`
`attached by linking one to the next in a series
`called a daisy chain. See also bus, device driver,
`port, serial communications.
`Apple Extended Keyboard A 105-key keyboard
`that works with the Macintosh SE, Macintosh II,
`and Apple JIGS computers. See the illustration.
`This keyboard marks Apple's first inclusion of
`function, or F, keys, the absence of which was
`long cited by users of IBM PCs and compatibles
`as a shortcoming of the Macintosh. Apple also
`made several other changes to the layout of exist(cid:173)
`ing keys, which, combined with added keys and
`lights, make the Apple Extended Keyboard quite
`similar in layout to the IBM enhanced keyboard.
`Apple key A key on Apple keyboards labeled
`with an outline of the Apple logo symbol ((~'})_
`On Apple's universal ADB and Extended key(cid:173)
`boards, the Apple key and the Command key are
`the same key, which serves a purpose similar to
`that of the Control key on IBM and compatible
`keyboards. It is generally used. in combination
`with a character key as a shortcut to making
`menu selections or to starting a macro (a stored
`sequence of commands).
`AppleTalk An inexpensive local area network de(cid:173)
`veloped by Apple Computer that can be used by
`both Apple and non-Apple computers for com-
`
`munication and sharing of resources such as
`printers and file servers. Macintosh computers
`plug into the network through the p~inter port
`(serial port B); non-Apple computers, such as
`IBM PCs, must be equipped with AppleTalk hard(cid:173)
`ware and suitable software. AppleTalk is a
`baseband network that transfers information at a
`raw speed of 230 kilobits per second and links up
`to 32 devices (nodes) using CSMA/CD (Carrier
`Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection)
`over a distance of about 1000 feet on shielded,
`twisted-pair cabling known as LocalTalk cable.
`The network uses a layered set of protocols simi(cid:173)
`lar to the ISO/OSI (International Organization for
`Standardization/Open Systems Interconnection)
`model and transfers information as packets of
`data called frames. AppleTalk supports connec(cid:173)
`tions to other AppleTalk networks through
`devices known as bridges, and it supports
`connections to dissimilar networks through de(cid:173)
`vices called gateways. See also frame.
`application A computer program designed to help
`people perform a certain type of work. An appli(cid:173)
`cation thus differs from an operating system
`(which runs a computer), a utility (which per(cid:173)
`forms maintenance or general-purpose chores),
`and a language (with which computer programs
`
`~x­
`er-
`
`lm
`as
`\);
`ng
`~x­
`
`)n
`n(cid:173)
`.er
`·e]
`Lr(cid:173)
`a(cid:173)
`~r)
`
`1St
`:h
`)-
`
`'0
`td
`LY
`.d
`.)
`1-,_
`c
`t(cid:173)
`g
`
`d
`e
`
`s
`
`Apple Extended Keyboard.
`
`23
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 23
`
`

`
`application developer
`
`arbitration
`
`are created). Depending on the work for which it
`was designed, an application can manipulate
`text, numbers, graphics, or a combination of
`these elements. Some application packages offer
`considerable computing power by focusing on a
`single task, such as word processing; others,
`called integrated software, offer somewhat less
`power but include several applications, such as a
`word processor, a spreadsheet, and a database
`program.
`application developer A person who designs,
`specifies, and researches the appearance and
`function of an application program. An applica(cid:173)
`tion developer might or might not do any of the
`actual programming.
`language Loosely, a
`application development
`computer language designed specifically for cre(cid:173)
`ating applications. Because most computer lan(cid:173)
`guages could be used for this purpose, the term is
`reserved for those languages having specific
`high-level constructs aimed toward record de(cid:173)
`sign, form layout, database retrieval and update,
`and similar tasks. See also application, applica(cid:173)
`tion generator, fourth-generation language.
`application development system A program(cid:173)
`ming environment designed specifically for pro(cid:173)
`ducing applications. The term usually implies the
`combination of a text editor, a compiler, and a
`linker. An application development system might
`also contain libraries of common software rou(cid:173)
`tines that can be used in developed programs.
`application Ide See program file.
`application generator -A software development
`system that allows a programmer to layout an
`application and define its functionality, after
`which the application generator produces the
`necessary source or machine code for that appli(cid:173)
`cation. Because applications are so diverse.r'ap(cid:173)
`plication generators are difficult to create and are
`often limited in the types of applications they can
`produce. Application generators are included
`with some database programs and use built-in
`sets of instructions to generate program code. See
`also application.
`-
`appucarron Layer 1 ne Iflyer or network stan-
`dards concerned with providing services to net-
`
`'ilo
`
`.0
`
`..
`
`work users at an application-based level. The
`seventh and highest layer in the Open Systems
`Interconnection (OSO model developed for the
`International Organization for Standardization
`(ISO), the application layer relies on services per(cid:173)
`formed at lower levels but is the layer least in(cid:173)
`volved with the underlying network hardware.
`Tasks performed on the application layer vary
`with the uses of a network, but they might in(cid:173)
`clude login procedures, electronic mail, terminal
`emulation, database management, and the opera(cid:173)
`tion of file servers and print servers. See also ISO/
`OSI model.
`application processor A processor dedicated to
`a single application. A hardware circuit designed
`to speed the matching of text strings is an appli(cid:173)
`cation processor.
`application program See application.
`application programming interface Abbreviat(cid:173)
`ed API. A set of routines that an application pro(cid:173)
`gram uses to request and carry out lower-level
`services performed by a computer's operating
`system. An application program carries out two
`types of tasks: those related to work being per(cid:173)
`formed, such as accepting text or numbers input
`to a document or spreadsheet, and those related
`to maintenance chores, such as managing files
`and displaying information on the screen. These
`maintenance chores are performed by the
`computer's operating system, and an API pro(cid:173)
`vides the program with a means of communicat(cid:173)
`ing with the system, telling it which system-level
`task to perform and when. On computers run(cid:173)
`ning a graphical user interface such as that on the
`Apple Macintosh, an API also helps application
`programs manage windows, menus, icons, and
`so on. On local area networks, an API, such as
`IBM's NetBIOS, provides applications with a uni(cid:173)
`form means of requesting services from the lower
`levels of the network.
`application software See application.
`application-specific integrated circuit See gate
`array.
`arbitration The process of monitoring and man(cid:173)
`aging competing demands for a resource that are
`
`24
`
`J'""T"11
`
`1 .:'
`
`r
`
`1
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 24
`
`

`
`aation
`
`te op(cid:173)
`ted, a
`s pro(cid:173)
`to the
`ration
`
`Jr at(cid:173)
`trd or
`·oces(cid:173)
`r sys(cid:173)
`. chip
`m be
`
`j sig(cid:173)
`gin(cid:173)
`of a
`on in
`)pre(cid:173)
`ation
`d in
`vhen
`:ases
`Nork
`lifies
`. ding
`nua(cid:173)
`Jced
`vent
`
`I
`
`~.----~--------------------------....
`
`authoring language
`
`attribute
`
`overloading a device. The volume control of a ra(cid:173)
`dio is an attenuator. The opposite of attenuation
`is amplification.
`attribute Literally, a characteristic. Two kinds of
`elements in computing are commonly referred to
`as attributes. In databases, the name or structure
`of a field is considered to be an attribute of a
`record. For example,
`the files LASTNAME,
`FIRSTNAME, and PHONE would be attributes of
`each record in a PHONELIST database; the struc(cid:173)
`ture of each field, such as its size or the type of
`information it contains (alphabetic or numeric),
`would also be attributes of the record.
`In screen displays, attributes refer to such ele(cid:173)
`ments as additional information stored with each
`character in the video buffer of a video adapter
`running in character mode: Attributes control the
`background color and foreground color of the
`character, underlining, and blinking.
`audio Relating to frequencies in the range that
`can be perceived by the human ear-from about
`15 hertz through 20,000 hertz (15-20,000 cycles
`per second). See also audio response, synthesizer.
`audio output See audio response .
`audio output port A circuit to which the com(cid:173)
`purer sends signals to be output as audible tones.
`The circuit is a digital-to-analog converter. If the
`circuit contains an amplifier, the circuit can be di(cid:173)
`rectly connected to a speaker; if the circuit does
`not contain an amplifier, it must be connected to
`an amplifier for the signal to be audible.
`audio response Any sound produced by a com(cid:173)
`puter; specifically, spoken output produced by a
`computer in response to some specific type of in(cid:173)
`put, such as a request for a telephone number. A
`computer or program ·capable of producing an
`audio response might combine words from a
`digitized vocabulary, or it might synthesize
`words from tables of phonemes. To output
`sounds, it might use either its internal speaker or
`a specialized device known as a speech synthe(cid:173)
`sizer or audio response unit. Depending on con(cid:173)
`text, audio response can be synonymous with
`frequency response, meaning the sensitivity of a
`device over the spectrum of audio frequencies.
`See also frequency response, phoneme.
`
`audiovisual Relating to any type of material that
`uses both sight and sound to present information.
`audit In relation to computers, iln examination of
`equipment, programs, activities, and procedures
`to determine how efficiently the entire system is
`performing, especially in terms of ensuring the
`integrity and security of data.
`auditing The process an operating system uses to
`detect and record security-related events, par(cid:173)
`ticularly any attempt to create; access,· or delete
`objects such as files and directories. Records of
`security-related events are stored in a file com(cid:173)
`monly known as a security log, whose contents
`are available only to those with the proper permis(cid:173)
`sion. The level of auditing can usually be adjust(cid:173)
`ed to maintain a balance between security needs
`and economy of operating system resources. See
`also security.
`audit trail In relation to computers, a means of
`tracing all activities affecting a piece of informa(cid:173)
`tion such as a data record from the time it enters
`the system to the time it leaves. An audit trail
`documents the path from input to output and
`should provide enough information to recon(cid:173)
`struct or verify the entire sequence, either manu(cid:173)
`ally or through automated tracking procedures.
`For example, when several people are working
`on a document in a networked environment, an
`audit trail makes it possible to know who made a
`particular change and when, or even to see the
`document before and after that person's changes
`were made.
`authentication In a multiuser or network operat(cid:173)
`ing system, the process through which the system
`validates a user's logon information. The authen(cid:173)
`tication process involves comparing a user's
`name and password to a list of authorized users;
`if the operating systetn detects a match, the user
`is granted access to the system, but only to the
`extent specified in the permission list in that us(cid:173)
`er's account. See also permission, user account,
`user name.
`authoring language A computer language or ap(cid:173)
`plication development system designed primarily
`for creating programs, databases, and materials
`for computer-aided instruction (CAl). The most
`
`31
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 31
`
`

`
`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(cid:173)
`ample, might contain components that damp the
`output, preventing it from exceeding a critical
`level.
`Dartington circuit Sometimes called a Darlington
`pair. An amplifer circuit consisting of two transis(cid:173)
`tors, often mounted in the same housing. The
`collectors of the two 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(cid:173)
`nym for direct access storage device, a data stor(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`combination, and similar activities.
`database adrnlntstrator 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(cid:173)
`base; determining the internal storage structure
`and access strategy for the database; defining
`data security and integrity checks; and monitor(cid:173)
`ing database performance and responding to
`changing requirements.
`database analyst An individual who provides the
`analytic functions required to design and/or
`maintain applications requiring use of a data(cid:173)
`base. The functions performed by a database
`analyst are, in a database context, much like the
`functions performed by a systems analyst in a
`programming context.
`database designer An individual who provides
`the design and implementation functions re(cid:173)
`quired to implement andlor maintain appli(cid:173)
`cations that use a database. The functions per(cid:173)
`formed are, in a database context, much like the
`functions performed by a programmer in a pro(cid:173)
`gramming context.
`database engine The program module or mod(cid:173)
`ules that provide access to the functions of a da(cid:173)
`tabase management system (DBMS). A database
`engine is used as an interface between the data
`manipulation language (DML) or programs writ(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`base machines can be attached to the computer
`
`105
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 105
`
`

`
`mG
`
`IEEE 802 standards
`
`allows the user to indicate the position of the in(cid:173)
`sertion point for text editing.
`ffiG Interblock gap. See inter-record gap.
`mM Advanced Keyboard See enhanced keyboard.
`IBM AT keyboard See AT keyboard.
`ffiMBIO.COM See IO.SYS.
`mMDOS.COM See MSDOS.COM.
`mM PC/XT keyboard See PC!XT keyboard.
`IC See integrated circuit.
`I-CASE Acronym for Integrated Computer-Aided
`Software Engineering, which is software that per(cid:173)
`forms a wide variety of software engineering
`functions such as program design, coding (writ(cid:173)
`ing the actual program lines), and testing parts or
`all of the completed program.
`icon In graphical environments, a small graphics
`image displayed on the screen to represent an
`object that can be manipulated by the user. See
`the illustration. Icons are visual mnemonics; for
`example, a trash can represents a command for
`deleting unwanted text or files. Icons allow the
`user to control certain computer actions without
`having to remember commands or type them at
`the keyboard. Icons are a significant factor in the
`"user-friendliness" of graphical user interfaces.
`See also graphical user interface.
`
`Print Manager
`
`Icon.
`iconic interface A user interface (method of en(cid:173)
`abling a person to interact with a computer) that
`is based on icons rather than on typed com(cid:173)
`mands. See also graphical user interface, icon.
`IDE Acronym for Integrated Device Electronics. A
`type of disk-drive interface in which the control(cid:173)
`ler electronics reside on the drive itself, eliminat(cid:173)
`ing the need for a separate adapter card. The IDE
`interface is compatible with the Western Digital
`ST-506 controller used by IBM in their PC/ AT
`computer but offers advantages such as look(cid:173)
`ahead caching to increase overall performance.
`identifier Generally, any text string used as a la(cid:173)
`bel, such as the name of a procedure or a variable
`
`in a program, or the name attached to a hard
`drive or a floppy disk. Compare descriptor.
`idle A reference to the time (idle time) during
`which a device is operational but not in use; also,
`the state (idle state) of such a device while it is
`awaiting a command to begin working.
`idle character In communications, a control char(cid:173)
`acter transmitted when no other information is
`available or ready to be sent. See also SYN.
`idle interrupt An interrupt (a signal to the micro(cid:173)
`processor) that occurs when a device or process
`becomes idle.
`idle time The time during which a device, pro(cid:173)
`cess, or system is not actually busy working(cid:173)
`executing instructions, for example, or transmit(cid:173)
`ting data.
`IEEE Pronounced "eye-triple-ee." Abbreviation for
`Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
`an organization of engineering and electronics
`professionals; notable for developing the IEEE
`802 standards for the physical and data-link lay(cid:173)
`ers of local area networks following the ISO
`Open Systems Interconnection model.
`IEEE 488 The electrical definition of the general(cid:173)
`purpose interface bus (GPIB) as standardized by
`the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engi(cid:173)
`neers. The IEEE 488 standard specifies the data
`and control lines for the bus and the voltage and
`current levels to be used with the bus. See also
`general-purpose interface bus.
`IEEE 696/S-100 The electrical definition of the S-
`100 bus used by early personal computer systems
`based on the Intel8080, Zilog Z-80, and Motorola
`6800 microprocessors. S-100 computers were ex(cid:173)
`tremely popular with early computer enthusiasts.
`They had a completely open architecture, permit(cid:173)
`ting the configuration of systems with a wide
`range of add-on expansion boards. Several com(cid:173)
`panies still offer systems based on the S-100 bus.
`IEEE 802 standards A set of standards devel(cid:173)
`oped by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Elec(cid:173)
`tronics Engineers) to define methods of access
`and control on local area networks CLANs). The
`IEEE 802 standards correspond to the physical
`and data-link layers of the widely accepted ISO
`Open Systems Interconnection model, but they
`
`205
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 205
`
`

`
`International Federation of Information
`
`interrupt
`
`that become the basis for a larger sort that later
`merges the groups into one list.
`International Federation of Information Pro(cid:173)
`cessing See IFIP.
`International Organization for Standardiza(cid:173)
`tion See ISO.
`internet Abbreviation for internetwork. In com(cid:173)
`munications, a set of computer networks-possibly
`dissimilar-joined together by means of gate(cid:173)
`ways that handle data transfer and the conversion
`of messages from the sending network to the
`protocols used by the receiving network (with
`packets if necessary). In AppleTalk parlance, an
`internet is defined as a set of AppleTalk networks
`linked together.
`When capitalized (Internet), the term refers to
`the collection of networks and gateways that use
`the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
`interpolate In mathematics, to estimate interme(cid:173)
`diate values between two known values in a series.
`interpret To decode and execute a statement or
`an instruction. The term usually refers to execut(cid:173)
`ing a program by decoding a statement, execut(cid:173)
`ing it, decoding the next statement, executing it,
`and so on. In contrast, compilation involves
`decoding all statements into executable code;
`executing that code is a separate step. Compare
`compiler; see also interpreter.
`interpreted language A language that is inter(cid:173)
`preted (translated and executed statement by
`statement), as opposed to a compiled program,
`in which all statements are translated prior to any
`ex-ecution. BASIC is well known for being an in(cid:173)
`terpreted language, although most current imple(cid:173)
`mentations allow (s>r require) the programmer to
`compile the program as well. LISP and APL are
`also interpreted languages. Compare compiled
`language; see also interpret.
`interpreter A program that translates and then
`executes each statement in a program written in
`an interpreted language. See also compiler, inter(cid:173)
`preted language, language processor.
`interprocess communication Abbreviated IPC.
`The ability, provided by a multitasking operating
`system, of one task or process to exchange data
`with another. Common IPC methods include
`
`pipes, semaphores, shared memory, queues, sig(cid:173)
`nals, and mailboxes.
`inter-record gap Abbreviated IRG; also called an
`interblock gap. An unused space between data
`blocks stored on a disk or tape. Disks and tapes
`have gaps between records (sectors on disk) to
`enable new data to overwrite the old without
`harming adjacent data. Because the speed of
`disks and tapes fluctuates slightly during opera(cid:173)
`tion of the drives, new data cannot be written
`precisely within the space occupied by the old
`data. If disks and tapes did riot include inter(cid:173)
`record gaps, the new data could overwrite a por(cid:173)
`tion of the adjacent data.
`interrogate To query with the expectation of an
`immediate response. For example, the main com(cid:173)
`puter on a network might interrogate an attached
`terminal to determine the terminal's status (ready
`to transmit or ready to receive).
`interrupt A request-for-attention signal that can
`be passed by either hardware or software to a
`computer's microprocessor. An interrupt, some(cid:173)
`times called a trap, causes the microprocessor tQ
`suspend its current operations, save the status of
`its work, and transfer control to a special routine,
`known as an interrupt handler, that causes a par(cid:173)
`ticular set of instructions to be carried out. Inter(cid:173)
`rupts can occur for many reasons ranging from
`normal to highly abnormal; these can include ser(cid:173)
`vice requests from various hardware devices, er(cid:173)
`rors in processing, program attempts to do the
`impossible, and (rarely) memory problems and
`imminent failure of some vital component. When
`a microprocessor receives
`interrupt requests
`from more than one source, a hierarchy of "per(cid:173)
`mission" levels called interrupt priorities deter(cid:173)
`mines which of the interrupts is handled first.
`Many operating-system functions such as open(cid:173)
`ing files, reading from files, and closing them can
`be accessed through interrupts. By using inter(cid:173)
`rupts, a program can communicate with the oper(cid:173)
`ating system.
`Interrupts are the microprocessor's means of
`communicating with the other elements that
`make up a computer system. If a constant stream
`of interrupt requests would disrupt or complicate
`
`220
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 220
`
`

`
`logic array
`
`logout
`
`to, and to trace back some number of instructions
`when execution is halted for any reason. See also
`debug.
`logic array See gate array.
`logic bomb A logic error in a program that crops
`up only under specific conditions (usually when
`least desired or expected). The term bomb im(cid:173)
`plies an en·or that causes the program to fail
`spectacularly. See also logic error.
`logic chip A chip that processes information, as
`opposed to simply storing it. A logic chip is made
`up of logic circuits. See also logic circuit.
`logic circuit An electronic circuit that processes
`information by performing a logical operation on
`it. A logic circuit is a combination of logic gates; it
`produces output based on the rules of logic it is
`designed to follow for the electrical signals it re(cid:173)
`ceives as input. See also gate.
`logic diagram A schematic that shows the con(cid:173)
`nections between computer logic circuits, speci(cid:173)
`fying the expected outputs from a specific set of
`inputs.
`logic error An error in program logic-for ex(cid:173)
`ample, using a faulty algorithm. A logic error
`causes a program to produce incorrect results,
`but it does not prevent the program from run(cid:173)
`ning; consequently, a logic error is often very dif(cid:173)
`ficult to find. See also logic, semantics, syntax.
`logic gate See gate.
`logic operation An expression that uses logical
`values and operators. The term is often (although
`not necessarily) synonymous with Boolean oper(cid:173)
`ation; in strict usage, a logic operation is a bit-level
`manipulation of binary values, and a Boolean oper(cid:173)
`ation is a manipulation of true and false values. See
`also Boolean operator.
`logic programming A style of programming,
`best embodied by Prolog, in which a program
`consists of facts and relationships, from which
`the programming language is expected to draw
`conclusions.
`logic-seeking printer Any printer with built-in
`intelligence that lets it look ahead of the current
`print position and move the print head directly to
`the next area to be printed. If a logic-seeking
`printer encounters a line that consists of nothing
`
`but 80 space charac.ters, for example, it skips the
`line entirely. A printer without a logic-seeking
`feature moves across the line, taking the time to
`"print" each space character. Most printers today
`ar.e logic-seeking. The feature can save time on
`pages that are filled with spaces. On typical text
`pages, however, a logic-seeking capability does
`not speed the print job noticeably.
`logic symbol A symbol that represents a logical
`operator such as AND or OR. For example, the
`symbol + in Boolean algebra represents logical
`OR, as in A+ B (read "A ORB," not "A plus B").
`login See logon.
`Logo A programming language often used to
`teach programming to children, developed origi(cid:173)
`nally by Seymour Papert at MIT in 1968. One im(cid:173)
`portant feature of Logo is turtle graphics. Turtle
`graphics enable the programmer to make simple
`drawings by telling the "turtle" on the screen to
`move forward, right, left, and so on. Once he or
`she masters the simple drawing environment, the
`programmer (often a child) starts to discover the
`more sophisticated features of the language, which
`are drawn heavily from the LISP programming
`language. Logo is considered an educational lan(cid:173)
`guage, although some firms have sought to make
`it more widely accepted in the programming com(cid:173)
`munity. See also turtle, turtle graphics.
`logoff Also called logout. The process of termi(cid:173)
`nating a session with a computer accessed through
`a communications line-usually a computer that
`is both distant and open to many users. Logging
`off is the user's means of telling the computer, "I'm
`finished; go ahead and disconnect." It is not the
`same as shutting down (turning off) a computer.
`logon Also called login. The process of identify(cid:173)
`ing oneself to a computer after connecting to it
`over a communications line. During a logon pro(cid:173)
`cedure, the computer usually requests the user's
`name and a password. On a computer normally
`used by many people, a logon procedure pro(cid:173)
`vides a means of identifying authorized users,
`keeping track of their usage time, and maintain(cid:173)
`ing security by allowing access to sensitive files
`only to people cleared to use them.
`logout See logoff.
`
`244
`
`Petitioner Microsoft Corporation, Ex. 1009, p. 244
`
`

`
`MSDOS.COM
`
`multiple-pass printing
`
`such as disk input and output, video support,
`keyboard control, and many internal functions
`related to program execution and file mainte(cid:173)
`nance. MS-DOS is a single-tasking, single-user
`operating system with a command-line interface.
`MSDOS.COM One of two hidden system files in(cid:173)
`stalled on an MS-DOS startup disk. MSDOS.COM,
`called IBMDOS.COM in IBM releases of MS-DOS,
`contains the software that makes up the heart
`(kernel) of the operating system. See also IO.SYS.
`msec Colloquial form of millisecond. See milli-
`second.
`MSI See medium-scale integration.
`MS-Windows See Windows.
`MTBF Abbreviation for mean time between fail(cid:173)
`ures. The average time interval, usually expressed
`in thousands or tens of thousands of hours (some(cid:173)
`times called power-on hours or POH), that will
`elapse before a hardware component fails and
`requires service.
`MTTR Abbreviation for mean time to repair. The
`average time i