Abstract: A method is provided for scraping information from a web page or other page of electronic content. As opposed to existing methods in which an entire page's HTML (HyperText Markup Language) code or DOM (Document Object Model) tree is parsed and pattern-matched, in the provided method only specific regions of interest are examined closely. An image snapshot of the page is created and investigated using routines for identifying regions of interest (e.g., paragraphs of text, faces). Regions comprising text are then converted into text using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology or a similar tool, and the resulting text can then be scanned for symbols, words or phrases of interest.

Abstract: A system for displaying a set of selectable CAPTCHAs produces a first set of CAPTCHAs whose images are based at least partially on an alphanumeric sequence, where a respective CAPTCHA in the first set is associated with a CAPTCHA property. The system also produces a second set of CAPTCHAs whose images are based at least partially on an alphanumeric sequence, where a respective CAPTCHA in the second set is not associated with a CAPTCHA property. Next, the system displays the first and second sets of CAPTCHAs. Finally, the system makes respective CAPTCHAs in the first and second sets of CAPTCHAs selectable, thereby allowing a user to pass a CAPTCHA challenge by distinguishing the first set of CAPTCHAs from the second set of CAPTCHAs without typing the words associated with the images.

Abstract: Embodiments provide various apparatus and techniques for deflecting or redirecting a flow of ionized air generated from an ionic wind generator. In general, a deflection field generator can be located proximate to the path of the flow of ionized air. The deflection field generator is configured to generate an electromagnetic field, which deflects a least a portion of the flow of ionized air to a different path and may possibly increase local heat transfer.

Abstract: A local network traffic processor and an application are resident on a common computer system. The application is configured to trust a server certificate issued by a local network traffic processor, the local network traffic processor operatively being paired with a remote network traffic processor. A proxy server certificate, generated using identification information of a server associated with the remote network traffic processor and signed by the local certification authority, is used to establish a secure session between a local network traffic processor and the application.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is described. This optical waveguide may be defined in a semiconductor layer, and may include a vertical slot that includes an electro-optic material having an electric-field-dependent index of refraction, and the electro-optic material may be other than a semiconductor in the semiconductor layer. Alternatively, the optical waveguide may include a vertical stack with two semiconductor layers that surround and partially overlap an intermediate layer, which includes the electro-optic material.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to provide a network-attached media plug-in. A network interface interfaces with a client and a server. The network interface receives an input from the client requesting content from the server. The client has a network plug-in interface. A network processor extracts a media stream from the requested content. A multimedia processor dynamically modifies the media stream according to the input from the client.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and techniques for checking a livelock in a circuit design. During operation, the system can identify a finite state machine (FSM) in the circuit design, wherein the FSM comprises a first set of state variables. The system can then construct an abstract machine of the circuit design, wherein the abstract machine includes the FSM and a second set of state variables. Next, the system can search for one or more livelocks in the abstract machine. If a livelock is found in the abstract machine, the system can verify that the livelock is a livelock in a concrete machine of the circuit design, wherein the concrete machine includes the FSM and a third set of state variables, wherein the second set of state variables is a subset of the third set of state variables.

Abstract: A capacitively and conductively coupled multiplexer (C3mux) circuit is described. This C3mux circuit includes a set of nonlinear coupling capacitors, such as metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors, that can multiplex multiple input signals while minimizing the parasitic capacitance penalty associated with the ‘off’ paths. In particular, the capacitance of a given MOS transistor depends on whether its channel is present or absent. Furthermore, this channel is formed based on whether the gate-to-source and drain voltages for the MOS transistor are greater than the MOS transistor's threshold voltage. Note that the capacitance of the MOS transistors in the C3mux circuit is low for the unselected inputs. Consequently, the parasitic loading and the delay increase slowly as a function of the number of inputs. Moreover, the conductive feedback can be used to maintain a DC level of the input signals.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that acquires a lock in a shared memory multiprocessor system. During operation, the system loads the lock into a cache associated with the thread and then reads a value of the lock. If the value indicates that the lock is currently held by another thread, the system periodically executes an instruction that tests a status of the lock. If the status indicates the lock is valid, the system continues to test the status of the lock. Otherwise, if the status indicates that the lock was invalidated by a store, the system attempts to acquire the lock by executing an atomic operation. On the other hand, if the status indicates that the lock was invalidated by an atomic operation, or that the lock is not present in the cache, the system repeats the loading and reading operations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that determines an assist feature placement within a post-optical proximity correction (post-OPC) mask layout. During operation, the system receives a set of target patterns which represent a set of polygons in a pre-OPC mask layout. The system then constructs a focus-sensitive cost function based on the target patterns, wherein the focus-sensitive cost function represents an amount of movement of post-OPC contours of the target patterns in response to changes in focus condition of the lithography system. Next, the system computes a cost-covariance field (CCF field) based on the focus-sensitive cost function, wherein the CCF field is a two-dimensional (2D) map representing changes to the focus-sensitive cost function due to an addition of a pattern at a given location within the post-OPC mask layout. Finally, the system generates assist features for the post-OPC mask layout based on the CCF field.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that receives input from a user of a computing device. During operation, the system displays an input region to the user and receives a specification for a subregion of the input region from the user. Next, the system determines an area of the subregion. Finally, the system provides the input to the computing device based on the area of the subregion relative to the area of the input region.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for improving link target accuracy for a mobile browser with a touch-screen display. The system receives a page with a plurality of selectable text objects and adjusts the page layout. The method further includes placing a number of targets within the web page. Each target is associated with one selectable text object, and the selectable text object can only be activated by the target. The targets are sufficiently separated from each other, thus allowing a user to hold the touch-screen display and select the selectable text object by tapping on the target with substantial accuracy. Another embodiment of the present invention allows a user to select a selectable text object by performing a gesture.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that analyzes data from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains the sensor data from a component in the computer system using a set of sensors. Next, the system transmits the sensor data to a microcontroller unit (MCU) coupled to the sensors and stores the sensor data in internal memory of the MCU. Finally, the system assesses the integrity of the component by analyzing the sensor data using a pattern-recognition apparatus in the MCU.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for automatically creating a task representation associated with a user task. The system calculates usage footprints of a document based on other applications, documents, and people that have been accessed by the user within a predetermined time frame before and after the user accesses the document. After obtaining usage footprints of a number of documents, the system applies a clustering technique, such as spectral clustering, to create task representations, each including a collection (cluster) of documents and/or applications that are used for accomplishing a particular task. The system also filters the documents based on their average dwell times, and uses user feedback to merge or split different task clusters in order to provide accurate task representations.

Abstract: Processing data synchronization sessions includes processing a request to initiate a synchronization session from one or more clients to update one or more data records that include one or more data items. The one or more clients are selectively identified as one of a trusted client and an untrusted client based on one or more properties of the synchronization session, wherein the trusted client is configured to support all data classes defined by the server. The one or more clients are detected as being configured to support field level differencing that sends changed data items only for the one or data records or record level differencing that sends all of the data items included in the one or more data records.

Abstract: The described embodiments provide a configurable pulse generator circuit. More specifically, the described embodiments include a pulse generator circuit; an inverting difference oscillator (IDO) enabling circuit coupled to the pulse generator circuit; and a disable signal coupled to the IDO enabling circuit. When the disable signal is asserted, the IDO enabling circuit is disabled and the pulse generator circuit is configured as a pulse generator. In contrast, when the disable signal is deasserted, the IDO enabling circuit is enabled and the pulse generator circuit is configured as part of an IDO.

Abstract: A system and method for using an opaque group within a federated identity management environment, to prevent disclosure of identities of the group. An opaque group is constructed at an identity provider within the system and has a group identity that references primary system identities of its members (e.g., electronic mail addresses, public key certificates, network addresses). Services to the group (e.g., distribution of an object such as a document or electronic mail message, invitation to an online meeting, authentication as a member of the group) can be requested from service providers, but because service providers do not have access to members' primary identities, the service providers forward the requests to an identity provider that has access to the group identity. That identity provider retrieves the members' identities and completes the action.

Abstract: A ramp-stack chip package is described. This chip package includes a vertical stack of semiconductor dies or chips that are offset from each other in a horizontal direction, thereby defining a stepped terrace. A high-bandwidth ramp component, which is positioned approximately parallel to the stepped terrace, is mechanically coupled to the semiconductor dies. Furthermore, the ramp component includes an optical waveguide that conveys the optical signal, and an optical coupling component that optically couples the optical signal to one of the semiconductor dies, thereby facilitating high-bandwidth communication of the optical signal between the semiconductor die and the ramp component.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a heterojunction solar cell. The solar cell includes a metallurgical-grade Si (MG-Si) substrate, a layer of heavily doped crystalline-Si situated above the MG-Si substrate, a layer of lightly doped crystalline-Si situated above the heavily doped crystalline-Si layer, a backside ohmic-contact layer situated on the backside of the MG-Si substrate, a passivation layer situated above the heavily doped crystalline-Si layer, a layer of heavily doped amorphous Si (a-Si) situated above the passivation layer, a layer of transparent-conducting-oxide (TCO) situated above the heavily doped a-Si layer, and a front ohmic-contact electrode situated above the TCO layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting cyber threats using reinforced cookies, which include HTTP cookies, history cookies, cache cookies and/or other types. A history cookie comprises an entry for a particular web page in a browser's navigation history. A cache cookie comprises an entry for a particular object (e.g., an image file) within a browser's cache. Upon a client's first visit to a web server, an identifier record is generated comprising data such as a user ID, a client device ID, an age (e.g., a counter), a cookie type, an authentication field, etc. From the unique identifier, one or more types of reinforced cookies are generated and stored with the client browser. On a subsequent visit, the client's cookie configuration is examined to determine whether the client may be the perpetrator or victim of a cyber attack. Cookies may be updated or replaced on some or all visits.