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`Merrill Communications LLC
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`Exhibit 1010
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`Over
`8,000
`Entries
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`with online updates
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`Microsoft
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`Microsoft®
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`M·crosoft
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`

`

`PUBLISHE D BY
`Microsoft Press
`A Division of Microsoft Corporation
`One Mi crosoft Way
`Redm ond, Washington 98052-6399
`
`Copyright© 1999 by Microsoft Corporation
`
`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 permi ssion of the publisher.
`
`Library of Congress Catalogin g-in-Pu blication Data
`Microsoft Computer Dictionary . -- 4th ed.
`p. cm.
`Previous eds. published under title: Microsoft Press computer
`dictionary
`ISBN 0-7356-0615-3
`1. Computers Dictionaries. 2. Microcomputers Dictionaries.
`I. Microsoft Press- computer dictionary.
`QA76.15.M538 1999
`004'.03--dc21
`
`99-20168
`CIP
`
`Printed and bound in the United States of America.
`3 4 5 6 7 8 9 MLML 4 3 2 1 0
`Distributed in Canada by Penguin Books Canada Limited.
`A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
`Microsoft Press books are available through booksellers and distributors worldwide. For further information
`about international editions, contact your local Microsoft Corporation office or contact Microsoft Press
`International directly at fax (425) 936-7329. Visit our Web site at mspress.microsoft.com.
`
`Macintosh, Power Macintosh, QnickTime, and TrueType fonts are registered trademarks of Apple Computer,
`Inc. Kodak is a registered trademark of the Eastman Kodak Company. Intel is a registered trademark and Indeo
`is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Active Desktop, Active Directory, ActiveMovie, Active Platform, ActiveX,
`Authenticode, BackOffice, Directlnput, DirectX, Microsoft, Microsoft Press, MS-DOS, MSN, NetMeeting,
`NetShow, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual J++, WebTV, WebTV Network, Win32, Win32s; Windows,
`Windows NT, and XENIX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
`United States and/or other countries. PANTONE is a registered trademark of Pantone, Inc. Other product and
`company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
`
`The example companies, organizations, products, people, and events depicted herein are fictitious. No associa(cid:173)
`tion with any real company, organization, product, person, or event is intended or should be inferred.
`
`Acquisitions Editor: Christey Bahn
`Project Editor: Kim Fryer
`
`

`

`El
`
`disk drives that have been defined to the system and
`can be made active.
`margin n. In printing, those portions of a page-top,
`bottom, and sides-outside the main body of text.
`mark n. 1. In applications and data storage, a symbol
`or other device used to distinguish one item from
`others like it. 2. In digital transmission, the state of a
`communications line (positive or negative) corre(cid:173)
`sponding to a binary 1. In asynchronous serial com(cid:173)
`munications, a mark condition is the continuous
`transmission of binary Is to indicate when the line is
`idle (not carrying information). In asynchronous er(cid:173)
`ror checking, setting the parity bit to 1 in each group
`of transmitted bits is known as mark parity. See also
`parity. Compare space. 3. In optical sensing, a pencil
`line, as on a voting form or an IQ test, that can be
`recognized by an optical reader.
`marker n. 1. Part of a data communications signal
`that enables the communications equipment to recog(cid:173)
`nize the structure of the message. Examples are the
`start and stop bits that frame a byte in asynchronous
`serial communications. 2. A symbol that indicates a
`particular location on a display surface.
`Mark I n. 1. An electromechanical calculating ma(cid:173)
`chine designed in the late 1930s and early 1940s by
`Howard Aiken of Harvard University and built by
`IBM. Also called Automatic Sequence Controlled
`Calculator, Harvard Mark I. 2. The first fully elec(cid:173)
`tronic stored-program computer, designed and built
`at Manchester University in England. It successfully
`executed its first program in June 1948. 3. The first
`commercial computer, which was based on the
`Manchester Mark I and released in 1951.
`markup language n. A set of codes in a text file that
`instruct a computer how to format it on a printer or
`video display or how to index and link its contents.
`Examples of markup languages are Hypertext
`Markup Language (HTML) and Extensible Markup
`Language (XML), which are used in Web pages, and
`Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML),
`which is used for typesetting and desktop publishing
`purposes and in electronic documents. Markup Ian- ·
`guages of this sort are designed to enable documents
`and other files to be platform-independent and highly
`portable between applications. See also HTML,
`SGML,XML.
`marquee n. A nonstandard HTML extension that
`causes scrolling text to appear as part of a Web
`
`page. Currently, marquees are viewable only with
`Internet Explorer. See also HTML, Internet Ex(cid:173)
`plorer, Web page.
`mask n. 1. A binary value used to selectively screen
`out or let through certain bits in a data value. Mask(cid:173)
`ing is performed by using a logical operator (AND,
`OR, XOR, NOT) to combine the mask and the data
`value. For example, the mask 00111111, when used
`with the AND operator, removes (masks off) the two
`uppermost bits in a data value but does not affect the
`rest of the value. See the illustration. See also logical
`operator, mask bit. 2. In television and display tech-
`. nology, a thin perforated sheet of metal or a close-set
`series of metal strips on the surface of the screen that
`helps create a clear, sharp image by ensuring that the
`electron beam for a particular color (red, blue, or
`green) strikes only the phosphor it is intended to illu(cid:173)
`minate, while the phosphors for the other colors are
`shadowed by the mask. Three types of mask are in
`use: a shadow mask, with round perforations; an ap(cid:173)
`erture grill, with vertical stripes; and a slot mask,
`with elliptical openings. See also aperture mask,
`shadow mask, slot mask.
`11010101
`AND 00111111
`00010101
`
`Data value
`Mask
`Resulting value
`
`Mask.
`maskable interrupt n. A hardware interrupt that can
`be temporarily disabled (masked) during periods
`when a program needs the full attention of the micro(cid:173)
`processor. See also external interrupt, hardware inter(cid:173)
`rupt, interrupt. Compare nonmaskable interrupt.
`mask bit n. A given bit within a binary mask whose
`function is to screen out or let through the corre(cid:173)
`sponding bit in a data value when the mask is used in
`an expression with a logical operator. See also mask
`(definition 1).
`masking n. The process of using the mask operation
`to perform operations on bits, bytes, or words of
`data. See also mask (definition 1).
`mask off vb. To use a mask to remove bits from a byte
`of data. See also mask (definition 1).
`massively parallel processing n. A computer archi(cid:173)
`tecture in which each of a large number of processors
`has its own RAM, which contains a copy of the oper(cid:173)
`ating system, a copy of the application code, and its
`own part of the data, on which that processor works
`
`282
`
`

`

`El
`
`own message. See also ActiveX controls, control
`(definition 2), OCX, VBX.
`Message Security Protocol n. A protocol for Internet
`messages that is based on the use of encryption and
`verification to ensure security. It also allows for per(cid:173)
`missions at the server level for delivery or rejection
`of e-mail. Acronym: MSP.
`message switching n. A technique used on some com(cid:173)
`munications networks in which a message, with ap(cid:173)
`propriate address information, is routed through one
`or more intermediate switching stations before being
`sent to its destination. On a typical message-switching
`network, a central computer receives messages,
`stores them (usually briefly), determines their desti(cid:173)
`nation addresses, and then delivers them. Message
`switching enables a network both to regulate traffic
`and to use communications lines efficiently. Com(cid:173)
`pare circuit switching, packet switching.
`messaging n. The use of computers and data commu(cid:173)
`nication equipment to convey messages from one
`person to another, as by e-mail, voice mail, or fax.
`messaging application n. An application that enables
`users to send messages (such as e-mail or fax) to
`each other.
`Messaging Application Programming Interface n.
`See MAPI.
`messaging client n. An application program that en(cid:173)
`ables its user to send or receive messages (such as
`e-mail or fax) to and from other users with the help
`of a remote server.
`messaging-oriented middleware n. See MOM.
`meta- prefix Literally, a prefix that describes a process
`or characteristic beyond the normal meaning of the
`word without the prefix. For example, metaphysics is
`"beyond physics." In computing, meta- is usually
`attached to a word to indicate that the "metaterm" de(cid:173)
`scribes, defines, or acts upon objects or concepts of
`the same type as itself. So, for example, metadata is
`data about data and a metatool is a tool for working
`on tools.
`metacharacter n. A character embedded in a program
`source or a data stream that conveys information
`about other characters, rather than itself representing
`a character. A simple example is the backslash (\)
`character, which, when used in strings in the C pro(cid:173)
`gramming language, indicates that the letter follow(cid:173)
`ing the backslash is part of an escape sequence that
`
`enables C to display a nongraphic character. See also
`escape character.
`metacompiler n. A compiler that produces compilers.
`The UNIX utility yacc (Yet Another Compiler-Com(cid:173)
`piler) is a metacompiler. If it is given a language
`specification, yacc produces a compiler for that lan(cid:173)
`guage. See also compiler (definition 2).
`Meta-Content Format n. An open format for describ(cid:173)
`ing information about content of a structured body of
`data such as a Web page, a set of files on a Windows
`desktop, or a relational database. Meta-Content For(cid:173)
`mat might be used for indexes, data dictionaries, or
`price lists. Acronym: MCF.
`metadata n. Data about data. For example, the title,
`subject, author, and size of a file constitute metadata
`about the file. See also data dictionary, repository.
`Metadata Interchange Specification n. A set of
`specifications dealing with the exchanging, sharing,
`and managing of metadata. Acronym: MDIS. See
`also metadata.
`metaflle n. A file that contains or defines other files.
`Many operating systems use metafiles to contain di(cid:173)
`rectory information about other files on a given stor(cid:173)
`age device.
`metaflow n. One of the four stages of the data ware(cid:173)
`housing process, during which metadata (data about
`data) is tracked and managed; the business modeling
`stage. During metaflow, the operational environment
`is mapped to the data warehouse environment. See
`also data warehouse (definition 2), inflow, downflow,
`upflow, metadata.
`metalanguage n. A language used to describe other
`languages. Backus-Naur form (BNF) is a meta(cid:173)
`language commonly used to define programming
`languages. Also called language-description lan(cid:173)
`guage. See also Backus-Naur form.
`metal-oxide semiconductor n. See MOS.
`metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor n.
`SeeMOSFET.
`metaoperating system n. An operating system under
`which several other operating systems are active.
`Also called supervisor.
`metatag or meta tag n. A tag in an HTML or XML
`document that allows a Web-page creator to include
`such information as the author's name, keywords
`identifying content, and descriptive details (for ex(cid:173)
`ample, nontext objects on the page). The information
`
`288
`
`

`

`sequentlale
`
`send vb. To transmit a message or file through a C\iltD,,
`munications channel.
`send statement n. In SLIP and PPP scripting lan(cid:173)
`guages, a statement that tells the program that diat,
`an Internet service provider's number (a dialer pro(cid:173)
`gram) to send certain characters. See also ISP, PPP,
`scripting language, SLIP.
`sensor n. A device that detects or measures some~
`by converting nonelectrical energy to electrical en(cid:173)
`ergy. A photocell, for example, detects or measut\jll
`light by converting it to electrical energy. See also
`transducer.
`sensor glove n. A hand-worn computer input device
`for virtual-reality environments. The glove translateJ
`finger movements by the user to commands for ma(cid:173)
`nipulating objects in the environment. Also called
`data glove. See also virtual reality.
`SEPP n. Acronym for Software Engineering for Pllr•
`allel Processing. A project of nine European univet•
`sities and research institutions to develop tools for
`the development of parallel application programs for
`distributed memory multiprocessors.
`sequence n. An ordered arrangement, as in a set of
`numbers, such as the Fibonacci sequence. See also
`Fibonacci numbers.
`sequence check n. A process that verifies that data or
`
`records conform to a particular order. Compare c•
`
`pleteness check, consistency check, duplication
`check.
`Sequenced Packet Exchange n. See SPX (defini·
`tion 1).
`sequential access n. A method of storing or retri~
`information that requires the program to start readilll
`at the beginning and continue until it finds the cw-_
`sired data. Sequential access is best used for files_t4
`which each piece of information is related to the_l!ll•
`"li list
`formation that comes before it, such as mat ng
`files and word processing documents. Also called
`serial access. See also indexed sequential access
`method. Compare random access.
`· which each
`·
`sequential algorithm n. An algonthm 1Il
`l algo,,
`.
`.
`step must occur m a particular order. See a so ·
`rithm. Compare parallel algorithm.
`.
`routtae&
`·
`sequential execution n. The act of executing neut·
`or programs in a linear sequence. Compare co
`rent execution.
`
`Self-extracting archive.
`self-test n. A set of one or more diagnostic tests that a
`computer or peripheral device (such as a printer) per(cid:173)
`forms on itself. See also power-on self test.
`self-validating code n. Program code that can test itself
`to verify that it behaves correctly, usually by feeding
`itself a set of standard input values and testing the re(cid:173)
`sults against a set of expected output values.
`semantic error n. An error in meaning; a statement in
`a program that is syntactically correct (legal) but
`functionally incorrect. See also logic, semantics
`(definition 1), syntax.
`semantics n. 1. In programming, the relationship be(cid:173)
`tween words or symbols and their intended mean(cid:173)
`ings. Programming languages are subject to certain
`semantic rules; thus, a program statement can be syn(cid:173)
`tactically correct but semantically incorrect; that is, a
`statement can be written in an acceptable form and
`still convey the wrong meaning. See the illustration.
`See also syntax. 2. In artificial-intelligence research,
`the capacity of a network to represent relationships
`among objects, ideas, or situations in a humanlike
`way. Compare syntax.
`CANARY - is a - BIRD
`I
`has
`I
`FEATHERS
`
`Semantics.
`semaphore n. In programming, a signal-a flag vari(cid:173)
`able-used to govern access to shared system re(cid:173)
`sources. A semaphore indicates to other potential
`users that a file or other resource is in use and pre(cid:173)
`vents access by more than one user. See also flag
`(definition 1).
`semiconductor n. A substance, commonly silicon or
`germanium, whose ability to conduct electricity falls
`between that of a conductor and that of a nonconduc(cid:173)
`tor (insulator). The term is used loosely to refer to
`electronic components made from semiconductor
`materials.
`
`IE
`
`402
`
`