Abstract: A profiling apparatus configured to generate a high-resolution surface topology map of a surface using surface profiling data combined with surveying data. The apparatus is configured to collect both a plurality of survey sample points and a plurality of profile sample points of the surface. The profile sample points are then correlated with the survey sample points in the Z direction. Once the correlation is performed, the correlated profile sample points are merged or “filled-in” between the survey sample points. The high-resolution surface topology map is generated from the merging of the survey and profile sample points. In various embodiments, the survey data may be generated using an inertial profiler, an inclinometer based walking device, or a rolling-reference type profile device.

Abstract: A method for generating a high-resolution surface topology map of a surface using surface profiling data combined with data collected from a surveying instrument. The system and method involve collecting a plurality of survey sample points and collecting a plurality of profile sample points of the surface. The profile sample points are then correlated with the survey sample points in the Z direction. Once the correlation is performed, the correlated profile sample points are merged or “filled-in” between the survey sample points. The high-resolution surface topology map is generated from the merging of the survey and profile sample points. In various embodiments, the survey data may be generated using an inertial profiler, an inclinometer based walking device, or a rolling-reference type profile device.

Abstract: A communication device configured to receive messages containing media over a communication network and to receive locally created messages containing media created using the communication device. The device also includes a time-shifting buffer to store in a time-based format the media contained in both the messages received over the communication network and the locally created messages. The time-shifting buffer enables on the communication device to either (i) render the media received over the network in a near real-time mode; or (ii) render both the media received over the network and the locally created media in a time-shifted mode by retrieving the stored media from the time-shifting buffer. The communication device also includes a message management system, which enables the communication device to transition the rendering of the media between the time-shifted mode and the near real-time mode without interrupting the ongoing storage of media of received messages into the time-shifting buffer.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing data maintained at a plurality of data objects. The method involves assembling source and destination trees, each of the source and destination trees including a root node and one or more dependent nodes associated with source and destination data maintained at the plurality of data objects respectively. After the trees are assembled, a checksum calculation is performed for the nodes of the source tree and the destination tree based on the associated source data and the associated destination data maintained at the plurality of data objects respectively. The destination tree and the destination data are synchronized with the source tree and source data based on the comparison of the checksum calculations of corresponding nodes in the source tree and the destination tree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for communication of a host having a first network interface device and a second network interface device coupled thereto. The first network interface device is configured to operate a transport layer network connection between the host and a peer. The host is configured to, while the first network device is operating the transport layer network connection with the peer, independently determine connection information that describes the transport layer network connection being operated by the first network interface device. The second network interface device is caused to operate the transport layer network connection with the peer based at least in part on the connection information maintained by the host.

Abstract: A DNS engine monitors domain name system (DNS) network activity occurring between a user computer and a remote computer server. The engine collects DNS traffic information during a specified time window at the user computer using the monitored DNS network activity. The engine generates a local DNS reputation for the user computer and stores the local DNS reputation on the user computer. When a triggering event is received at the user computer the engine determines that the triggering event is abnormal in comparison to the stored local DNS reputation. An alert is issued to a software product on the user computer. The engine takes an action using a software product upon the alert. The reputation may be a frequency distribution for each accessed domain name and IP address. A triggering event may be an abnormal access to a domain name or IP address, or a mismatch between DNS queries and DNS responses of the user computer.

Abstract: A plasma chamber with a plasma confinement zone with an electrode is provided. A gas distribution system for providing a first gas and a second gas is connected to the plasma chamber, wherein the gas distribution system can substantially replace one gas in the plasma zone with the other gas within a period of less than 1 s. A first frequency tuned RF power source for providing power to the electrode in a first frequency range is electrically connected to the at least one electrode wherein the first frequency tuned RF power source is able to minimize a reflected RF power. A second frequency tuned RF power source for providing power to the plasma chamber in a second frequency range outside of the first frequency range wherein the second frequency tuned RF power source is able to minimize a reflected RF power.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board having a substrate composed of an insulation material, a via hole formed in the substrate, and a via land formed around the opening of the via hole on a surface of the substrate includes processes of measuring deformation of the substrate having the via hole formed therein, calculating a position where the via land is to be patterned on the basis of the deformation of the substrate measured in the measurement process, and patterning the via land at a position corrected on the basis of the value calculated in the calculation process.

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines are described. Generally, an engine is controlled to operate in a skip fire variable displacement mode. Feedback control is used to dynamically determine the working cycles to be skipped to provide a desired engine output. In some embodiments a substantially optimized amount of air and fuel is delivered to the working chambers during active working cycles so that the fired working chambers can operate at efficiencies close to their optimal efficiency. In some embodiments, the appropriate firing pattern is determined at least in part using predictive adaptive control. By way of example, sigma delta controllers work well for this purpose. In some implementations, the feedback includes feedback indicative of at least one of actual and requested working cycle firings. In some embodiments, the appropriate firings are determined on a firing opportunity by firing opportunity basis.

Abstract: Transfer of data is facilitated between at least one application and a peer via a network. Data destined for the peer is provided from the at least one application for transmission to the peer via the network. Modulation event tokens are managed, and protocol processing of the data with the peer is based in part on a result of the modulation event tokens managing such that protocol processed data is caused to be transmitted to the peer via the network nominally with desired data transmission rate characteristics. A result of the protocol processing step is fed back to the to the modulation event tokens managing. The desired data transmission rate characteristics may include, for example, shaping and pacing.

Abstract: A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.

Abstract: A lever operation device includes a movable support member that supports a base portion of an operation lever such that the base portion is pivotable along a first operation plane, a housing that supports the movable support member such that the movable support member is pivotable along a second operation plane that is orthogonal to the first operation plane, an actuator holder attached to the base portion such that the actuator holder is rotatable along the second operation plane, a first actuator retained by the actuator holder, and a second actuator retained by the movable support member. The housing is provided with a first cam surface and a second cam surface on an inner wall surface thereof, the first actuator and the second actuator being in elastic contact with the first cam surface and the second cam surface, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for providing information related to content accessed by a user of an electronic device is provided. An implementation involves determining content of interest to the user for access via an electronic device; obtaining metadata for said content; prefetching information related to said metadata; upon detecting availability of further metadata for said content, prefetching additional information related to said further metadata; and upon access to the content by the user via the electronic device, selectively providing the prefetched information to the user.

Abstract: A method for reducing line width roughness (LWR) of a feature in an etch layer below a patterned photoresist mask having mask features is provided. The method includes (a) non-etching plasma pre-etch treatment of the photoresist mask, and (b) etching of a feature in the etch layer through the pre-treated photoresist mask using an etching gas. The non-etching plasma pre-etch treatment includes (a1) providing a treatment gas containing H2 and COS, (a2) forming a plasma from the treatment gas, and (a3) stopping the treatment gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide high-sensitivity GPS/GNSS signal acquisition in a stationary GPS/GNSS receiver. The uncertainty in frequency due to apparent Doppler shift is partitioned into a plurality of contiguous frequency bins, and the uncertainty in location of navigation data bit boundaries is partitioned into equally spaced trial bit boundary locations. For each combination of the trial bit boundary location and the frequency bin, a signal block of captured complex baseband signal is Doppler-compensated using a phase rotator, and then synchronously summed with a periodicity of one period of C/A code so as to produce a compressed sample block having N samples. Each compressed sample block is cross-correlated with one period of reference C/A code to produce an N-value correlation function. A predetermined number of magnitudes of the N-value correlation functions are stack-accumulated into an array with precession compensation so as to find a correlation peak having the largest value.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus includes a position detection target member, a magnet that moves in accordance with movement of the position detection target member, and a plurality of magnetic detectors provided on a surface opposite a movement plane of the magnet. A flat yoke is provided on the reverse face of the magnet. The magnetic polarity of a peripheral side part of the magnet is opposite to the magnetic polarity of a center part thereof. The peripheral side part is formed at a regional range that can be defined on the basis of a predetermined distance(s) measured from a side edge of the yoke.

Abstract: A method and system for authentication an electronic device is provided. One implementation involves obtaining a set of authentication parameters; prioritizing the authentication parameters into: express-parameters defining one or more express check points, and post-parameters defining one or more post-check points; authenticating each express check point; upon successful authentication of each express check point, commencing authentication of the post-check points; wherein the electronic device is authenticated when all the express check points and post-check points are successfully authenticated.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a device having a device reference clock, in a system including a host with a host reference clock is provided, the method comprising: beginning a link negotiation stage between the device and the host using the device reference clock; during the link negotiation stage, sampling data received from the host to determine a frequency offset of the host reference clock; applying the frequency offset to the device reference clock to create a corrected device reference clock; and completing the link negotiation stage using the corrected device reference clock. This completing may include either continuing the original link negotiation stage or restarting it.

Abstract: A method for forming a stair-step structure in a substrate is provided. An organic mask is formed over the substrate. A hardmask with a top layer and sidewall layer is formed over the organic mask. The sidewall layer of the hard mask is removed while leaving the top layer of the hardmask. The organic mask is trimmed. The substrate is etched. The forming the hardmask, removing the sidewall layer, trimming the organic mask, and etching the substrate are repeated a plurality of times.