Abstract: An investigation and/or manipulation tool for a sample which is locally deformed when subjected to a local heat treatment includes a power supply for heating a tip of the tool wherein the tool has a structure such that the power supplied to the tip heats substantially only the tip of the tool and includes a region of relatively high heat conductivity that provides fast cooling of the tip when power is not supplied to the tip.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus including a programming product for a parallel data processing system having a plurality of nodes interconnected by communication paths, in which one or more sets of data present at one or more source nodes of the system is required to be sent on a plurality of communication paths having communication buffers to selected nodes of the database system for processing, a system of communicating the data over the paths between the nodes to avoid deadlocking the processing system, including: accessing data from the one or more source nodes in subsets of the data; sending the subsets of data on a plurality of paths to the selected nodes of the processing system; if a path of the paths intended for the sending of one or more of the subsets of data becomes blocked, suspending the sending of subsets of the data on the path for a predetermined time period; if the blocked path becomes capable of accepting additional data before the predetermined time period has expired, resum

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of forming ultrasmall (nano) structures in a thin film provided on a substrate by means of a tip which is movable relative to the surface of the thin film. According to principles of the invention, the penetration depth of the tip is limited, thereby avoiding wear of the tip. Furthermore, an apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A parallel transaction processing system performs efficient parallel processing of multiple tasks and includes a queue for storing a plurality of transaction data which can be processed independently, a control table containing control information for the queue and means for operating a plurality of tasks which performs the same processing on the transaction data stored in the queue. A corresponding parallel transaction processing method includes the steps of: storing a plurality of transaction data in a queue which can be processed independently, providing a control table containing control information for the queue, and operating a plurality of tasks which perform the same processing on the transaction data stored in the queue.

Abstract: A curved surface to be meshed and a tensor at each point on the curved surface are inputted. Then, bubbles are generated in parametric space corresponding to the curved surface and in accordance with tensors transformed according to the relationship between the curved surface and parametric space. Following this, the bubbles are moved in parametric space by inter-bubble force defined by a predetermined rule, and are transformed by using the transformed tensors. The number of the bubbles is also controlled, so that stable locations for the bubbles in parametric space can be determined. Next, a connection relationship between mesh nodes, which are centers of the bubbles located in parametric space, is determined in parametric space. Finally, a mesh is generated on the curved surface by employing the positions and the connection relationship of the mesh nodes.

Abstract: A two-joystick interface for use with an information processing system having a 3D virtual reality module implements a bulldozer control metaphor permitting movement in three orthogonal directions—forward-backward, up-down, left-right—and turning about a vertical axis. The pointing interface includes mode switching permitting use of the joysticks for the cursor positioning and page scrolling functions of the information processing system. The pointing system includes a frame-of-reference conversion module for transforming the pointing devices software interface to a four-degree-of-freedom three-dimensional interface, an interface with a virtual reality module including a display function. Ergonomic embodiments of the interface include locating the joysticks, e.g., two IBM TrackPoints™ along the bottom row of keys of a standard keyboard, and, alternatively, placing the joysticks and related momentary switches in a wristpad.

Abstract: To provide a method for performing a plurality of aggregations in parallel and at a high speed, in a computer system so constructed that each of a plurality of processors connected across a network can use a memory area for itself and a part of the database for itself that includes data categorized into one or a plurality of groups, a method comprising the steps of: (a) ensuring space for storing results of M aggregate queries of the N aggregate queries (M is an integer equal to or less than N) in the memory area for itself in each processor; (b) executing all of the M aggregate queries for the part of the database for itself in each processor; (c) transmitting the results of the M aggregate queries executed by each processor to another processor for counting up and calculating of a final result for counting up; and (d) repeating the steps (a) to (c) until execution of the N aggregate queries is completed by each processor.

Abstract: Process for transmitting compressed voice circuits over a packet switching network of the type comprising a plurality of switching nodes (SW-1 to SW-7) interconnected by connection lines and including at least an end switching node (SW-1) connected to a source exchange telephone device (PABX A) and another end switching node (SW-3) connected to a destination exchange telephone device (CX), and comprising the steps of receiving from the source exchange telephone device a sequence of uncompressed frames wherein each frame contains n slots containing each J bytes respectively associated to J voice circuits, compressing the data bits of each voice circuit in order to build a packet containing J compressed voice circuits, and providing this packet to the end switching node for transmission to the destination exchange telephone device.

Abstract: A method for compressing and decompressing integer-vector data by which N-dimensional integer vectors are compressed efficiently and by which a vector that satisfies a specific condition can be quickly decompressed and extracted. The method for compressing integer-vector data, which are represented as an N-dimensional integer vector set T, into an N-dimensional integer vector set T', comprises the steps of: converging a distribution of an i-th component (i is a component number selected from a range wherein i<N) of each vector that belongs to the set T by using a transformation function; and adding information concerning the i-th component to a j-th component (j is a component number selected from a range wherein j>i) in consonance with convergence.

Abstract: A method of maintaining cache coherency in a shared memory multiprocessor system having a plurality of nodes, where each node itself is a shared memory multiprocessor. With this invention, an additional shared owner state is maintained so that if a cache at the highest level of cache memory in the system issues a read or write request to a cache line that misses the highest cache level of the system, then the owner of the cache line places the cache line on the bus interconnecting the highest level of cache memories.

Abstract: A system and method for processing digital images are presented. Prior art systems and methods compare all corresponding pixel locations as between two images before transmitting the difference therebetween to receiving apparatus. A significant factor in the length of time taken to compare two digital images and transmit to a receiving terminal the difference therebetween is the number of pixels which have to be compared or processed. As between successive images many pixels remain constant and any changes are generally localised. The invention performs a comparison between a first and second image to determine the location of the localised areas. Thereafter, successive images are compared only at the locations within or neighbouring the localised areas. Therefore, a significant reduction in the number of pixels to be compared can be realised by focusing processing efforts on such localised areas thereby resulting in an increase in processing speed.

Abstract: Fileserver buffers are managed so as to improve the hit ratio for read accesses to the fileserver by clients by grouping related files into filesets, collecting fileserver access operation (i.e., read and write) statistics for each of the filesets, classifying the filesets into a plurality of fileset categories having similar collected access operation statistics and then implementing different fileserver buffer management policies for the blocks (or pages) from each of the different fileset categories. The buffer management policy applied to each of these categories is designed to create a generally higher preference for retaining blocks (or pages) of files in the fileserver buffers having a generally higher read to write ratio.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cantilever arrangement for scanning a surface. This arrangement comprises a first cantilever having a first probe and a second cantilever having a second probe. Both cantilevers are mechanically coupled such that the second cantilever follows the movement of the first cantilever, i.e. the deflection of the first cantilever defines the deflection of the second cantilever.

Abstract: A surface of a substrate (3) is to be exposed to a medium (11) directed towards said surface and which modifies said surface. A mask (4) to be used therefor has at least one opening (9) through which said medium (11) is allowed to reach said surface. The opening (9) is located in a protrusion (10) of said mask (4) which is directed versus said surface.

Abstract: The efficiency of utilizing light for obtaining polarization is enhanced by making at least part of the polarized component available that has formerly been unused. Due to a mutual difference in reflection/transmission characteristic between the s-wave component and p-wave component, the reflected light 205 (s-wave (x.sub.1 %), p-wave (y.sub.1 %)) and the transmitted light 206 (s-wave (x.sub.2 %), p-wave (y.sub.2 %)) have the respective s-wave polarized and p-wave polarized components at a different ratio (x.sub.1 .noteq.x.sub.2, y.sub.1 .noteq.y.sub.2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning apparatus, providing for an excursion of a tool (12) with respect to a sample or medium to be interacted with. The positioning apparatus comprises apparatus for applying a driving force (F.sub.D) which causes the excursion of the tool (12). Counteracting apparatus is provided which exerts a counteracting force (F.sub.C) to the driving force (F.sub.D). The counteracting apparatus comprises a deformable substance (25) which is mechanically coupled to the tool (12) and effects the counteracting force (F.sub.C) and further comprises adjustment means (28) allowing to adjust the deformability of the deformable substance (25).

Abstract: The invention concerns a computer system for retrieval of information, .alpha..sub.i, wherein a tree (T, T*) of nodes is used to store entries of an index. An entry in a node comprises a key x.sub.i having some information .alpha..sub.i assigned thereto. The nodes of the tree (T, T*) may either be empty or comprise up to 2k entries, where k is a natural number.

Abstract: The invention relates to calibration standards which are used chiefly for the calibration of profilometers and in atomic force- and scanning probe microscopes. The calibration standard has one step of defined height H or a multi-step system formed of several steps of the same step-height H and consisting of exactly one material. The manufacturing procedure for the calibration standard requires only a single masking layer for each of the different versions in the form of a one-step standard or a multi-step system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure for processing data, especially transaction data, in an electronic payment system, whereby the electronic payment system includes a minimum of one payment terminal, a collections device and a transaction system. During the procedure, a data record is generated with header data (1), a payment transaction is executed by the minimum of one payment terminal (2), information concerning the payment transaction is stored in the data record (3), the data record is flagged as a shadow data record (6), and an additional data record with additional header data is generated (7), whereby the additional data record is generated before a further payment transaction (8) begins.

Abstract: A source image and image processing content are stored. If a processed image is requested, the source image is processed according to the processing content and the processed image is displayed. When a source image (unprocessed image) associated with a database is read, a corresponding processed image is displayed according to the processing content stored. An item(s) of processing content instructed to be undone is deleted from the processing content stored, and image processing is then retried according to the processing content after the deletion.