Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Exos Corporation

Timothy R Osborne

Bin An

Beth A Marcus

Brian Eberman

Brian Lloyd Schmidt

Manolito E Adan

Jonathan E Lange

Elaine Y Chen

Richard L Hasha

Russell Irvin Sanchez

John E Elsbree

Bradford A Christian

Hajime Suzuki

Matthew L Coill

Paul DiLascia

Hidenori Shiroto

Cache management strategies are described for retrieving information from a storage medium, such as an optical disc, using a cache memory including multiple cache segments. A first group of cache segments can be devoted to handling the streaming transfer of a first type of information, and a second group of cache segments can be devoted to handling the bulk transfer of a second type of information. A host system can provide hinting information that identifies which group of cache segments that a particular read request targets. A circular wrap-around fill strategy can be used to iteratively supply new information to the cache segments upon cache hits by performing pre-fetching. Various eviction algorithms can be used to select a cache segment for flushing and refilling upon a cache miss, such as a least recently used (LRU) algorithm or a least frequently used (LFU) algorithm.

Strategies for reading information from a mass storage medium using a cache memory

A system for forming and maintaining one or more networks of devices connected to a shared includes processes for: (a) forming a logical network on the shared media; (b) discovering devices connected to the shared medium; (c) assigning (or acquiring) devices to a logical network; and (d) maintaining a logical network. The system also defines a message format and protocol for communication over the shared media. The protocol uses a two-level address scheme (e.g., a logical network ID and a device ID) and defines several message types used to support the above processes and other useful features. A logical network includes an address space arbiter (ASA) and, typically, one or more devices attached to the shared media. An acquisition authority (AA), interacting with the ASA, is required to complete acquisition of a device by a logical network.

System for networked component address and logical network formation and maintenance

Interactive simulation including force feedback. The system includes a computer game display unit programmed with simulation rules. A control unit is connected to the computer and provides information and control signals to the computer to interact with the stored simulation rules and to receive information and control signals from the computer. A movable structure for movement in at least two degrees-of-freedom by an operator is interconnected to the control unit by actuators. A programmable unit processes signals and information from the computer to generate signals to drive the actuators so as to apply forces in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the movable structure and thereby to the operator. The applied forces are based on internal programming within the programmable unit, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the movable structure by the operator. The system of the invention thereby provides continuous interaction among motion of and forces applied by the movable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the movable structure.

Interactive simulation including force feedback

An apparatus and a method for controlling a feedback force applied by a joystick to a user gripping the control handle of the joystick. In the preferred embodiment, a light path between an infrared light source and a light sensor is interrupted by a user gripping the handle of a joystick. The output signal from the light sensor is employed by a processor to control the feedback force. When based upon the output signal, the processor determines that the user has just gripped the control handle, the processor enables the feedback force to increase slowly, over a sufficiently long time to enable the user to firmly grip the control handle before the feedback force becomes very strong. The processor immediately disables generation of the feedback force as soon as the user releases the control handle. The processor periodically energizes and then de-energizes the light source, determines an average value of the output signal when the light source is both energized and de-energized, and based upon a comparison of these average values, determines if the user's hand gripping the control handle has interrupted the light path between the source and light sensor. Additionally, the processor checks for a failure of the light source, and if detected, halts the generation of the feedback force.

Handle sensor with fade-in

Interactive simulation including force feedback. The system includes a computer game display unit programmed with simulation rules. A control unit is connected to the computer and provides information and control signals to the computer to interact with the stored simulation rules and to receive information and control signals from the computer. A movable structure for movement in at least two degrees-of-freedom by an operator is interconnected to the control unit by means of actuators. A programmable unit processes signals and information from the computer to generate signals to drive the actuators so as to apply forces in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the movable structure and thereby to the operator. The applied forces are based on internal programming within the programmable unit, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the movable structure by the operator. The system of the invention thereby provides continuous interaction among motion of and forces applied by the movable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the movable structure.

A processor in a haptic joystick renders force effects that are applied to control handle gripped by a user. A plurality of force effects specified by a host computer to the processor are stored in a random access memory (RAM) that is coupled to the processor. Further, a plurality of force effects are stored in a read only memory (ROM) that is coupled to the processor. The processor employs a scheduler to render the force effects in a specified order, for specified time intervals. The scheduler controls how the force effects are rendered, i.e., sequentially, concatenated, and/or superimposed. A play list employed by the scheduler indicates for each increment of a servo clock when each force effect should be rendered by the processor. The scheduler has a round robin queue that can implement at least five types of effects, including: behavioral, synthesized, wave table, variable parameter, and process list.

Offline force effect rendering

A force feedback joystick unit connected to the serial port of a personal computer applies a variety of force effects to the joystick handle in response to commands from the executing personal computer program. Forces are applied to the joystick, which is mounted on a gimbal support for movement in two degrees of freedom, by a pair of drive motors which operate under the control of a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP is programmed to respond to predetermined commands issued by a program executing on the personal computer to produce basic force effects including a constant force, a spring force proportional to the displacement of the joystick handle from a reference, a damping force proportional to the velocity of the joystick, and a time varying force effect having a selectable waveform, magnitude and period. More complex forces effects are produced by combining the basic effects. Custom force effects can be defined by the executing application program, the definitions being downloadable from the personal computer into the DSP which thereafter produces the defined custom force effect upon subsequent command from the personal computer. Multiple force effects, including both basic predefined effects and complex custom effects can be simultaneously operative and can be independently initiated and terminated by commands from the personal computer.

Force feedback joystick with digital signal processor controlled by host

An input device for an interactive computer simulation or game is disclosed which includes a structure having at least two degrees-of-freedom which is moveable by a digit of a user to transmit input signal to a computer. At least one actuator connected to the moveable structure receives inputs from a computer and applies forces in the at least two degrees-of-freedom to the movable structure and thereby to the digit of the user. The actuator may include an electric motor and any of a variety of force transmission schemes including direct, cable, gear or belt drives. The applied forces are typically based on internal programming within the computer, events occurring in the simulation and movements of and forces applied to the movable structure by the operator. The input device of the invention thereby provides continuous interaction among motion of and forces applied by the movable structure, the events in the simulation and forces applied to and applied by the movable structure to enhance user enjoyment and performance.

Growing community of inventors

Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Timothy R Osborne