Abstract: A tunable dispersion compensator (TDC) is tuned from a first dispersion setpoint to a second dispersion setpoint while maintaining continuity of the dispersion. The dispersion tuning follows a pre-determined trajectory in the time domain, so that continuity of the optical dispersion across the channel optical bandwidth is maintained while minimizing all other TDC-induced optical impairments during a tuning period.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for injecting parameter conditions to reduce a size of a data set to be processed. A data set may be received to be processed by an analytic routine. The data set may include results from executing a first query. Further, input may be received from a user, the input specifying a parameter specific to the analytic routine to be performed on the data set. At least one condition associated with the specified parameter may be identified. A second query may be generated from the first query and the identified condition. The second query may be executed to generate a reduced data set. The analytic routine may be performed on the reduced data set to generate an output to the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided to optimize the time and effort required to locate all data on a given entity that may span multiple data nodes in a distributed environment. For example, embodiments of the invention may be used to locate nodes within the distributed environment that store electronic healthcare records. A poll request from a first node to a second node may include electronic records existence data indicating data nodes known to have, or not have, records related to a given individual. This information is used to minimize the number of nodes that need to be polled to arrive at the complete aggregation of patient records that exist within a given set of nodes.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a control crossbar unit that is designed to transmit control information from control information generators to destination components within the computer system. The control information may belong to various traffic paradigms, such as short-latency data traffic, narrow-width data traffic or broadcast data traffic. The physical connections within the control crossbar unit are categorized based on the different types of control information being transmitted through the control crossbar unit. The physical connections belong to the following categories: one-to-one (OTO) connections, one-to-many (OTM) connections, valid-to-one (VTO) connections, valid-to-many (VTM) connections wire-to-one (WTO) connections and wire-to-many (WTM) connections.

Abstract: In a multiprocessor system level 2 caches are positioned on the memory side of a routing crossbar rather than on the processor side of the routing crossbar. This configuration permits the processors to store messages directly into each other's caches rather than into system memory or their own coherent caches. Therefore, inter-processor communication latency is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention improve the ability for users of an immersive virtual environment to manage and change their avatars or avatar profiles, including their behavior, during their virtual experience. In one embodiment, a user associates each avatar or avatar profile they control or own with a task from a predetermined set of tasks or purposes. A virtual world identity manager (VWIM) may collect and evaluate data about the virtual experience of the user, including virtual environment, virtual behavior, and virtual interaction with other users. Using this information, the VWIM may assist the user with identity management, including notifying the user of an identity or behavioral mismatch, and dynamically prompting the user to change identity or behavior, and recommending appropriate identities or behaviors for the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique for routing traffic in networks represented by logical topologies, such as Multi Chassis Port Channel (MCPC) or Multi Chassis Ether Channel (MCEC) topologies, is provided. By modifying a port priority vector (PPV) to include an additional “Switch ID” field that identifies a designated bridge ID or a local switch ID, depending on whether the corresponding port is used as an MCT, a routing protocol designed to avoid loops in routing paths, such as STP, may avoid blocking MCT ports.

Abstract: A digital video camera may include a digital video image sensor for capturing digital video footage to be stored on an internal memory. The digital video image sensor and internal memory may be housed in a camera body. A retractable arm having a data connector may be attached to the camera body. The arm can be extended from and retracted into the camera body, while the data connector can be used to transfer digital video footage to an external device, such as a computer. The data connector may conform to a standard for connecting peripheral devices, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard or the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE 1394) standard.

Abstract: A method of executing a physics simulation is performed in a system comprising a computational platform, a main application stored in the computational platform, a secondary application stored in the computational platform, and a cloth application programming interface (API) implemented in the computational platform. The method defines a cloth simulation call in the cloth API, and by operation of the main application, invokes a software routine using the cloth simulation call. Additionally, by operation of the secondary application, a state of the physics simulation is updated in response to the software routine.

Abstract: Techniques are described for debugging a processing element (or elements) in a stream based database application in a manner that reduces the impact of debugging the processing element (or elements) on the overall running environment by selectively fusing (or un-fusing) processing elements running on a group of compute nodes. In addition to fusing and un-fusing processing elements or otherwise modifying a state of the stream application, a debugging application and stream manager may modify data flows within the application stream in a variety of ways to minimize any disruption resulting from a debugging session.

Abstract: An entity resolution system and alert analysis system configured to process inbound identity records and to generate alerts based on relevant identities, entities, conditions, activities, or events is disclosed. One process of resolving identity records and detecting relationships between entities may be performed using a pre-determined or configurable entity resolution rules. Further, the entity resolution system may include an alert analysis system configured to allow analysts to review and analyze alerts, entities, and identities, as well as provide comments or assign a disposition to alerts generated by the entity resolution system. Furthermore, the entity resolution system may be configured to handle duplicate alerts, i.e., one or more identical or near-identical alerts generated using the same entities and/or identities as well as assign a relevance score to the particular entities and identities included in the alert.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining pump fillage, using data arrays of pump plunger position with respect to time and/or pump plunger load with respect to time. In this manner, well operators may be able to accurately monitor the pump fillage and control the pump accordingly.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a table holds buffer transfer information for managing data transfer, specified by each data transfer command, between a transmission FIFO and a buffer or between a reception FIFO and the buffer via a intermediate FIFO. A first sequencer activates buffer transfer for data transfer specified by a data transfer command from the host in units of at least one frame on the basis of corresponding buffer transfer information held in the table. The buffer transfer includes data transfer in sectors between the buffer and the intermediate FIFO. A second sequencer transfers data in frames between the transmission FIFO and the intermediate FIFO or between the reception FIFO and the intermediate FIFO in accordance with the activation of the buffer transfer. A third sequencer transfers data in sectors between the intermediate FIFO and the buffer in accordance with the activation of the buffer transfer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus and method for transferring substrates in a processing system (e.g., a cluster tool) that has an increased system throughput, increased system reliability, improved device yield performance, a more repeatable wafer processing history (or wafer history), and a reduced footprint when compared to conventional techniques.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for controlling the initialization order of an iGPU and a dGPU in a hybrid graphics processing environment to ensure that the iGPU is recognized by the operating system as the primary GPU. When the device initialization request associated with the dGPU is received, the interface module determines whether the iGPU has already been initialized. If the iGPU has already been initialized, then the interface module transmits the device initialization request to the dGPU driver for dGPU initialization. However, if the iGPU flag indicates that the iGPU has not yet been initialized, then the interface module terminates the device initialization request and transmits an initialization failure notification to the operating system. In such a manner, the dGPU is initialized only after the iGPU has previously been initialized, thereby ensuring that the iGPU is recognized by the operating system as the primary GPU.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a tantalum nitride barrier layer is provided for use in an integrated processing tool. The tantalum nitride is deposited by atomic layer deposition. The tantalum nitride is removed from the bottom of features in dielectric layers to reveal the conductive material under the deposited tantalum nitride. Optionally, a tantalum layer may be deposited by physical vapor deposition after the tantalum nitride deposition. Optionally, the tantalum nitride deposition and the tantalum deposition may occur in the same processing chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for determining query entities in physical tables for an abstract database. A query entity may be created to store a particular set of data. The query entity may be defined in terms of the structure of the physical database, such as an SQL statement, used to generate the query entity as needed. The fields included in a given query entities may be determined based on the presence (or absence) of values in the columns of a physical database table. In addition, logical fields having access method which map to the fields included in a query entity may be generated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a dielectric stack on a substrate is provided which includes depositing a first layer of a dielectric material on a substrate surface, exposing the first layer to a nitridation process, depositing a second layer of the dielectric material on the first layer, exposing the second layer to the nitridation process, and exposing the substrate to an anneal process. In another embodiment, a method for forming a dielectric material on a substrate is provided which includes depositing a metal oxide layer substantially free of silicon on a substrate surface, exposing the metal oxide layer to a nitridation process, and exposing the substrate to an anneal process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide debugging techniques for multithreaded programs. For example, a debugger may reduce the time required to release inactive threads that hold resources needed by an active thread. For example, if a timer expires before a line of code finishes executing, the debugger assumes that the active thread requires a resource locked by an inactive thread and releases other threads. During subsequent execution of the line of code, the debugger reduces the timer length of the timer. In doing so, inactive threads are released sooner, thereby reducing the wait time a user experiences when debugging lines of code.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for intelligent sharing and tighter integration between a service engine (SE) for network communication and a high-speed forwarding device, such that certain network flows may be offloaded from the SE to benefit from the high-speed forwarding capacity of such a device are provided. To accomplish the integration, an application binary interface (ABI) may be employed as an in-band high-priority communication protocol between the data planes of the SE and the high-speed forwarding device, and an application programming interface (API) may be utilized to leverage the ABI and any in-band or out-of-band channel to allow the master SE to control the high-speed slave device. Such integration techniques are not limited to a few specialized hardware components, but may also be applied to other types of hardware resources, such as flow tables, quality of service (QoS) tables, access control list (ACL) tables for security, forwarding and adjacency tables, etc.