Author: claimsbot

1. A method comprising:
receiving an allocate request from a queue pair;
finding a free buffer associated with an entry in a free pool;
determining whether a number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than zero;
deciding whether a number of buffers allocated to an operation type is less than a maximum;
allocating the free buffer to the queue pair if the queue pair requests the free buffer for an operation having the operation type, the number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than zero, and the number of buffers allocated to the operation type is less than a maximum, wherein the allocating further comprises setting an identifier of the queue pair into the entry in the free pool and setting status in the entry in the free pool, wherein the setting the status in the entry in the free pool further comprises setting a use of the free buffer in the entry;
receiving a validate request and a provided queue pair identifier from a direct memory access engine, wherein the validate request is associated with a data transfer that uses the free buffer;
in response to the receiving the validate request from the direct memory access engine, determining whether the provided queue pair identifier matches the queue pair identifier in the entry in the free pool, determining whether a requester of the data transfer matches the identifier of the queue pair in the entry in the free pool, and determining whether provided status provided by the requestor matches the status in the entry in the free pool;
if the provided queue pair identifier matches the queue pair identifier in the entry in the free pool, the requester of the data transfer matches the identifier of the queue pair in the entry in the free pool, and the provided status provided by the requestor matches the status in the entry in the free pool, returning an indication of a successful validation;
if the provided queue pair identifier does not match the queue pair identifier in the entry in the free pool, returning an error to the direct memory access engine;
if the requester of the data transfer does not match the identifier of the queue pair in the entry in the free pool, returning the error to the direct memory access engine; and
if the provided status provided by the requestor does not match the status in the entry in the free pool, returning the error to the direct memory access engine.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a master operation and an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a target operation.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a read operation and an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a write operation.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for an RDMA operation and an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a send operation.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than zero further comprises:
determining whether the number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than a remaining size of the operation.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation type is a transmit.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation type is a receive.
8. An apparatus comprising:
means for receiving an allocate request from a queue pair;
means for finding a free buffer associated with an entry in a free pool;
means for determining whether a number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than zero;
means for deciding whether a number of buffers allocated to an operation type is less than a maximum;
means for allocating the free buffer to the queue pair if the queue pair requests the free buffer for an operation having the operation type, the number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than zero, and the number of buffers allocated to the operation type is less than a maximum, wherein the means for allocating further comprises setting an identifier of the queue pair into the entry in the free pool and setting status in the entry in the free pool, wherein the setting the status in the entry in the free pool further comprises setting a use of the free buffer in the entry;
means for receiving a validate request and a provided queue pair identifier from a direct memory access engine, wherein the validate request is associated with a data transfer that uses the free buffer;
means for determining whether the provided queue pair identifier matches the queue pair identifier in the entry in the free pool, determining whether a requester of the data transfer matches the identifier of the queue pair in the entry in the free pool, and determining whether provided status provided by the requestor matches the status in the entry in the free pool, in response to the means for receiving the validate request from the direct memory access engine;
means for returning an indication of a successful validation if the provided queue pair identifier matches the queue pair identifier in the entry in the free pool, the requester of the data transfer matches the identifier of the queue pair in the entry in the free pool, and the provided status provided by the requester matches the status in the entry in the free pool;
means for returning an error to the direct memory access engine if the provided queue pair identifier does not match the queue pair identifier in the entry in the free pool;
means for returning the error to the direct memory access engine if the requester of the data transfer does not match the identifier of the queue pair in the entry in the free pool; and
means for returning the error to the direct memory access engine if the provided status provided by the requestor does not match the status in the entry in the free pool.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a master operation and an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a target operation.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a read operation and an indication of whether the free buffer is to be used for a write operation.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for determining whether the number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than zero further comprises:
means for determining whether the number of buffers allocatable to the queue pair is greater than a remaining size of the operation.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operation type is a transmit.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operation type is a receive.
14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:
means for deallocating the free buffer if the requestor matches the queue pair.
15. An adapter comprising:
a free pool of a plurality of entries; and
a controller that
receives a plurality of allocate requests from a plurality of queue pairs, finds a plurality of free buffers in the free pool,
determines whether a number of buffers allocatable to the plurality of queue pairs is greater than zero,
decides whether a number of buffers allocated to an operation type is less than a maximum,
allocates the plurality of free buffers to the plurality of queue pairs if the plurality of queue pairs request the plurality of free buffers for an operation having the operation type, the number of buffers allocatable to the plurality of queue pairs is greater than zero, and the number of buffers allocated to the operation type is less than a maximum, sets an identifier of the plurality of queue pairs into the plurality of entries in the free pool, and sets status in the plurality of entries in the free pool, wherein the set of the status in the plurality of entries in the free pool further sets a use of the plurality of free buffers in the plurality of entries,
receives a validate request and a provided queue pair identifier from a direct memory access engine, wherein the validate request is associated with a data transfer that uses one of the plurality of free buffers,
determines whether the provided queue pair identifier matches the queue pair identifier in one of the plurality of entries in the free pool, determines whether a requester of the data transfer matches the identifier of one of the plurality of queue pairs in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool, and
determines whether provided status provided by the requestor matches the status in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool, in response to the receive of the validate request from the direct memory access engine,
returns an indication of a successful validation if the provided queue pair identifier matches the queue pair identifier in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool, the requester of the data transfer matches the identifier of the one of the plurality of queue pairs in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool, and the provided status provided by the requestor matches the status in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool,
returns an error to the direct memory access engine if the provided queue pair identifier does not match the queue pair identifier in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool,
returns the error to the direct memory access engine if the requester of the data transfer does not match the identifier of the one of the plurality of queue pairs in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool, and
returns the error to the direct memory access engine if the provided status provided by the requestor does not match the status in the one of the plurality of entries in the free pool.
16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether each of the respective plurality of free buffers is to be used for a master or a target operation.
17. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether each of the respective plurality of free buffers is to be used for a RDMA or a send operation.
18. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the use comprises an indication of whether each of the respective plurality of free buffers is to be used for a read or a write operation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A display apparatus, comprising:
an illumination means for irradiating;
a display being capable of displaying by using light irradiated by said illumination means;
a sensor for detecting brightness of the outside; and
a controller for controlling luminous intensity of said illumination means in accordance with the results of detection by said sensor.
2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller controls said illumination means so as to irradiate when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than a first predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said sensor.
3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is inversely proportional to brightness of the outside when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than a first predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said sensor.
4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is lower than that in a condition where brightness of the outside is a second predetermined value when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than said second predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said sensor.
5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller has a first photometric sensor and a second photometric sensor which is provided at a position that is physically different from that of said first photometric sensor; and said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means in accordance with results of photometry by said first and second photometric sensors.
6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor is an image pickup element.
7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller judges whether an object which is subjected to image pickup by said image pickup element is in a state of rear light or not, in accordance with output signals form said image pickup element, and said controller controls said illumination means so as to irradiate when said controller judges that said object is in said state of rear light.
8. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is lower than that in a condition where brightness of the outside is a predetermined value when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than said predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said sensor.
9. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein said controller judges whether said display is in a state of rear light or not, in accordance with detection results of said first and second photometric sensors, and said controller controls said illumination means so as to irradiate when said controller judges that said display is in said state of rear light.
10. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display is a liquid crystal display which is capable of displaying by using light of the outside.
11. The display apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a position sensor for detecting a positional relationship between said image pickup element and said display;
wherein said controller judges whether an object which is subjected to image pickup by said image pickup element is in said state of rear light or not, in accordance with detection results of said position sensor and said image pickup element; and said controller controls said illumination means so as to irradiate when said controller judges that said object is in said state of rear light.
12. An image processing apparatus, comprising:
an image pickup element for obtaining image data by transforming optical information into electric signals;
a setting means for setting exposure conditions;
a memory for storeing image data obtained from said image pickup element;
an illumination means for irradiating;
a display being capable of displaying an image corresponding to image data obtained directly from said image pickup element or stored in said memory by using light irradiated by said illumination means; and
a controller for controlling luminous intensity of said illumination means by judging a state of the outside in accordance with image data obtained from said image pickup element and said exposure conditions established by said setting means.
13. The image processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means by obtaining image data from said image pickup element when said display means displays an image corresponding to image data stored in said memory.
14. The image processing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said display is a liquid crystal display which is capable of displaying by using light of the outside.
15. The image processing apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a position sensor for detecting a positional relationship between said image pickup element and said display;
wherein said controller judges whether an object which is subjected to image pickup by said image pickup element is in a state of rear light or not, in accordance with detection results of said position sensor and said image pickup element; and said controller controls said illumination means so as to irradiate when said controller judges that said object is in said state of rear light.
16. The display apparatus of claim 3, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is proportional to brightness of the outside when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than a second predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said sensor, said second predetermined value being less than said first predetermined value.
17. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller controls said illumination means so as to irradiate when said display is in a state of rear light.
18. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein said display has guide means for guiding light of the outside to a liquid crystal of said display or reflecting means for reflecting light of the outside and guide to said liquid crystal of said display.
19. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein said display is a liquid crystal display which is capable of displaying by using light of the outside.
20. The display apparatus of claim 19, wherein said display has guide means for guiding light of the outside to a liquid crystal of said display or reflecting means for reflecting light of the outside and guide to said liquid crystal of said display.
21. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is inversely proportional to brightness of the outside when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than a first predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said image pickup element.
22. The display apparatus of claim 21, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is proportional to brightness of the outside when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than a second predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said image pickup element, said second predetermined value being less than said first predetermined value.
23. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller controls luminous intensity of said illumination means so that said luminous intensity of said illumination means is proportional to brightness of the outside when said controller judges that brightness of the outside is less than a second predetermined value in accordance with said results of detection by said sensor.
24. The image processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein said display has guide means for guiding light of the outside to a liquid crystal of said display or reflecting means for reflecting light of the outside and guide to said liquid crystal of said display.

1. A method of photocopying comprising:
scanning a topside of a source page;
determining whether the topside of the source page contains a topside image;
in the event that the topside of the source page is determined to contain the topside image, storing the topside image as topside document page data;
flipping the page and scanning the backside of the source page;
determining whether the backside of the source page contains a backside image;
in the event that the backside of the source page is determined to contain the backside image, storing the backside image as backside document page data;
printing a target page with the respective stored topside and backside document page data, so as to produce a respective copy of the source page.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein, after the steps of determining whether the topside and backside of the source page contains an image, performing respective steps of updating a table to indicate whether respective topside and backside document page data is stored.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of printing comprises a step of only printing topside and backside document page data as indicated in the table.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein, prior to the step of scanning, performing a step of counting the source page as inserted into a copier and updating the table to increment a page count.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of repeating the printing step a predetermined number of times in accordance with a number of copies requested from a menu selection.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to the step of scanning, a step is performed of sending the source page from an automatic document feeder across a copier platen to be scanned.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein step of printing produces a target page having a document format selected from one of: simplex having a printed image on only the topside; simplex having a printed image on only the backside; and duplex having a printed image on both the topside and backside.
8. A photocopier comprising:
a scanning mechanism for scanning a topside and a backside of a source page;
a flipping mechanism for flipping the page to enable scanning the backside of the source page;
a determining implementation for determining whether at least one of the topside and backside of the source page contains respective topside and backside images;
a memory for storing the respective topside and backside images as respective topside and backside document page data;
a printer arrangement for printing a target page with the respective stored topside and backside document page data, so as to produce a respective copy of the source page.
9. The photocopier of claim 8 further comprising a table, maintained in the memory, for indicating whether respective topside and backside document page data is stored.
10. The photocopier of claim 9 wherein the printer arrangement is configured to only print topside and backside document page data as indicated in the table.
11. The photocopier of claim 9 further comprising a counter for counting the source page upon insertion into a copier, and also comprising means for updating the table to increment a page count.
12. The photocopier of claim 8 wherein the printing arrangement is configured to repeat the printing step a predetermined number of times in accordance with a number of copies requested from a menu selection.
13. The photocopier of claim 8 further comprising a structure for sending the source page from an automatic document feeder across a copier platen to the scanning mechanism to be scanned.
14. The photocopier of claim 8 wherein the printer arrangement is configured to output a target page having a document format selected from one of: simplex having a printed image on only the topside; simplex having a printed image on only the backside; and duplex having a printed image on both the topside and backside.
15. An image reproduction system comprising:
means adapted for prompting an associated user for page layout data representative of a selected page output format including one of simplex, duplex and unspecified;
means adapted for receiving page layout responsive to a prompt of the associated user;
means adapted for commencing a scanning operation of an associated document, which associated document includes a document format comprised of at least one of a one sided document and a two sided document;
scanning means adapted for generating image data corresponding to a scan of the associated document;
means adapted for testing image data to determine whether the associated document was one sided or two sided; and
means adapted for commencing a rendering of an output document in accordance with the page layout data and the image data.
16. The image reproduction system of claim 15 wherein the page output format is in accordance with the page layout data specified independently of a format of the associated document.
17. The image reproduction system of claim 15 further comprising storage means adapted for storing page layout data.
18. The image reproduction system of claim 17 wherein the storage means further includes means adapted for storing image data.
19. The image reproduction system of claim 18 further comprising means adapted for updating image data stored in the storage means based on the testing of the image data.
20. The image reproduction system of claim 19 wherein the image data is updated based on whether the associated document is one sided or two sided.
21. The image reproduction system of claim 15 further comprising means adapted for selecting parameters for rendering of an output document.
22. A method for image reproduction comprising the steps of:
prompting an associated user for page layout data representative of a selected page output format including one of simplex, duplex and unspecified;
receiving page layout responsive to a prompt of the associated user;
commencing a scanning operation of an associated document, which associated document includes a document format of at least one of a single sided document and a two sided document;
generating image data corresponding to a scan of the associated document;
testing image data to determine whether the associated document was one sided or two sided; and
commencing a rendering of an output document in accordance with the page layout data and the image data.
23. The method for image reproduction of claim 22 wherein the page output format is in accordance with the page layout data specified independently of a format of the associated document.
24. The method for image reproduction of claim 22 further comprising the step of storing page layout data.
25. The method for image reproduction of claim 24 further comprising the step of storing image data.
26. The method for image reproduction of claim 25 further comprising the step of updating image data stored based on the testing of the image data.
27. The method for image reproduction of claim 26 wherein the image data is updated based on whether the associated document is one sided or two sided.
28. The method for image reproduction system of claim 22 further comprising the step of selecting parameters for rendering of an output document.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An image forming apparatus which forms a toner image on a recording material, comprising:
an image forming unit which forms an unfixed toner image on the recording material;
a rotary fixing member which is brought into contact with the unfixed toner image;
a nip forming member which forms a nip portion by coming into contact with said rotary fixing member, the nip portion pinching and conveying the recording material; and
a power supply which applies a voltage to said nip forming member,
wherein before a leading edge of the recording material enters the nip portion, said power supply applies a first voltage to said nip forming member, the first voltage having the same polarity as a charge polarity of the toner and being equal to or larger than a discharge starting voltage for starting a discharge to said rotary fixing member from said nip forming member, so that a surface of said rotary fixing member is charged with the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein during the recording material passes through the nip portion, said power supply applies a second voltage to said nip forming member, second voltage having the same polarity as the charge polarity of the toner and an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the first voltage.
3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second voltage is smaller than the discharge starting voltage.
4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein during the recording material passes through the nip portion, an absolute value of a surface potential of said rotary fixing member is larger than an absolute value of a surface potential of said nip forming member.
5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary fixing member includes an endless belt, and wherein said image forming apparatus further comprises a heater which contacts an inner peripheral surface of said endless belt and forms the nip portion together with said nip forming member via said endless belt.