Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining geographic locations of devices. One of the methods includes obtaining an estimated user location associated with each respective IP address block based on observed events from the IP address block; obtaining an estimate of a probability model p(ev|loc), the probability model p(ev|loc) including a respective probability distribution of interest locations for each of multiple user locations; wherein obtaining the estimate of the probability model p(ev|loc) includes calculating p(ev|loc) from a p(zone|loc) matrix and a p(ev|zone) matrix; and using the estimate for the probability model p(ev|loc) and the observed events to calculate an estimate for multiple probability distributions X(loc) associated with a respective IP address block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for organizing information in a computer filing system. The method and apparatus include the creation of a pile comprising a collection of documents and displaying a graphical representation of the collection of documents. The method and apparatus further include browsing the collection of documents by pointing a cursor at a particular item in the collection of documents to reveal an indicia for the particular item in the collection of documents. The filing system can automatically divide a pile (e.g. a collection of documents from an electronic mail network) into subpiles on the basis of the content of each document in the pile, and the filing system, at the user's request can automatically file away documents into existing piles in the computer system on the basis of a similarity match between the content (or other internal representation) of the document and the content (or other internal representation) of existing piles in the computer system.

Abstract: A technique controls memory access requests. The technique involves acquiring a first series of requests including a prefetch request for performing a prefetch operation that prefetches a first set of instructions from a memory, and adding a first entry in a request queue in response to the prefetch request. The first entry identifies the prefetch operation. The technique further involves attempting to retrieve a second set of instructions from a cache to create a cache miss, and generating, in response to the cache miss, a second series of requests including a fetch request for performing a fetch operation that fetches the second set of instructions from the memory to satisfy the cache miss. The technique further involves acquiring the second series of requests that includes the fetch request, and adding a second entry in the request queue in response to the fetch request. The second entry identifies the fetch operation.

Abstract: A charging device which can suppress elevation of the grid plate under tension is obtained. In the charging device, elevation suppression means is provided at the opposing ends of the regulation member for regulating the distance between the surface of the photoreceptor and the grid plate. By the elevation suppression means, the breadthwise outer edge portions of the plate are forced to bend up toward the photoreceptor and the central portion thereof deflects in the opposite direction toward the regulation member and is brought into close contact therewith, so that grid plate is kept flat on a level with the regulation member.

Abstract: The invention includes a puncture-resistant electrostatic chuck with a flat surface and a method of making the same. The electrostatic chuck includes a conductive layer such as copper foil that is laminated to a first insulation layer such as a polyimide. A puncture-resistant layer is placed over the conductive layer and includes random or woven fibers held together by a resin. The puncture-resistant layer has an uneven topography on a top surface due to the fibers contained therein. A second insulation layer overlies the puncture-resistant layer and has a top surface which is substantially flat. The flat top surface of the second insulation layer is made by laminating layers together with a mandrel which is polished and free of irregularities such as pits, dents and high spots. Preferably the mandrel has a uniform thickness over its entire surface.