Abstract: A computer program product for a computer graphics system comprises computer executable instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium: instructions executable to enable the computer to generate a selected number of sample points over an integration domain, such that there is at least one sample point in each of a plurality of strata distributed over the domain, the strata being defined by a rank-1 lattice; instructions executable to enable the computer to, for respective ones of the sample points, generate a value for the function at the respective sample point; and instructions executable to enable the computer to use the generated function values in generating an estimate for the value of the integral in relation to at least one object and at least one light source in a scene, the estimate corresponding to a pixel value for the image, to enable the computer to generate a display-controlling electrical output.

Abstract: A technique for determining an impact of a condition (e.g., service outage) of at least one subject component in a computing environment comprises the following steps/operations. First, one or more components in the computing environment which depend on the at least one subject component (e.g., dependents) are identified. Identification comprises traversing at least a portion of a model representative of an existence of one or more relationships associated with at least a portion of components of the computing environment and which is capable of accounting for a full lifecycle (e.g., including deployment, installation and runtime) associated with at least one component of the computing environment. Then, one or more procedures are performed in accordance with the one or more identified components to determine a condition status associated with each of the one or more identified components. By way of example, the inventive techniques may be applied to a distributed computing environment.

Abstract: Computer graphics apparatus, methods, systems and program products (the term “programs” can include a product consisting of computer-readable program instructions encoded on a computer readable medium) operable to generate pixel values for pixels in an image, and store or display a human-perceptible image based on the pixel values, comprise a photon map generator, a sample point generator and a function evaluator, which respectively generate a plurality of photon maps each associated with a respective point in time during a time interval, generate a set of sample points in accordance with a selected low-discrepancy sequence, and evaluate selected functions using photon maps associated with respective points in time associated with the sample points, thereby generating values corresponding to the pixel values. An associated computer system generates, based on the pixel values, a display-controlling electrical output to enable a display element to display an image.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for ray tracing and for the efficient construction of acceleration data structures required for fast ray tracing. A computer graphics system generates, for each pixel in an image, a pixel value that is representative of a point in a scene as recorded on an image plane of a simulated camera. The computer graphics system is configured to generate the pixel value for an image using a selected ray-tracing methodology. The selected ray-tracing methodology includes the use of a ray tree that includes at least one ray shot from the pixel into a scene along a selected direction. The ray-tracing methodology further includes calculating the intersections of rays and surfaces in the scene. An axis-aligned bounding box is defined that contains, for a given ray, the point of intersection of the ray and surface nearest the origin of the ray. The bounding box is iteratively refined until a predetermined termination criterion has been met.

Abstract: Computer graphics apparatus, methods and systems and program products, operable to generate and display human-perceptible images, comprise a ray tracer operable to generate a ray tree, the ray tree comprising a primary ray shot along a selected direction and a plurality of other rays, the other rays being generated by recursive splitting. A ray is split when it encounters a predetermined condition, and each of the rays into which it is split is directed along a selected direction. The ray tracer comprises a low-discrepancy sequence generator an condition detector and a ray generator. The low-discrepancy sequence generator is configured to generate elements of at least one low-discrepancy sequence. The condition detector is configured to determine, for one of the rays in the ray tree, whether the one of the rays encounters the predetermined condition.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for automatically determining allowable sequences of changes, e.g., sequences where the order in which changes are carried out will transition a computing system from a workable state into another workable state, are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and computer program products operable in a computer graphics system include constructing a hierarchical ray tracing acceleration data structure comprising a tree structure, the nodes of which are generated utilizing a bounding interval hierarchy based on defining an axis-aligned scene bounding box and two parallel planes to partition a set of objects in a sense into left objects and right objects, and matching split planes to object bounding boxes. The two planes are perpendicular to a selected one of x, y, or z-axes. Given a splitting plane, each object in an image is classified either left or right based on a left/right selection criterion, and two splitting plane values of the child modes are determined by the maximum and minimum coordinate of the left and right objects, respectively.

Abstract: The dosing dispenser for essentially spherical items contained in a container is characterized in that it comprises a passage channel whose inner cross-section is larger than the items, and an exit opening which in the relaxed state of the dosing dispenser has an elongated shape whose width is smaller and whose length is larger than the items. The dosing dispenser consists of a soft elastic plastic material and can be deformed by the application of pressure such that the exit opening gets larger than the items. The dosing dispenser is of a simple construction and can be produced at low costs.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for the generation of intensive short-wavelength radiation based on a gas discharge plasma. It is the object of the invention to find a novel possibility for generating intensive short-wavelength radiation, particularly EUV radiation, based on a gas discharge plasma which achieves a long life of the electrode system along with a high total efficiency of the radiation source without substantially increasing the dimensions of the discharge unit. This object is met, according to the invention, in that exclusively suitably shaped vacuum insulation areas which have the shape of an annular gap and which are formed depending on the product of gas pressure (p) and interelectrode distance (d) between the cathode and anode are provided for insulating the cathode and anode from one another in a cylindrically symmetric electrode arrangement for reliable suppression of electron arcing.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for operating distributed computing systems, and more particularly, to techniques for constructing and analyzing change plans are disclosed. Included are an arrangement for submitting a request for change to the system, an arrangement for specifying the order in which tasks execute in compliance with data and temporal dependency constraints; and an arrangement for creating a change plan.

Abstract: A computer graphics system generates a pixel value for a pixel in an image and displays a human-perceptible image on an LCD CRT or other display device based on an electrical output generated in response to the pixel value, the pixel being representative of a point in a scene as recorded on an image plane of a simulated camera, the computer graphics system being configured to generate the pixel value for an image using a selected ray-tracing methodology in which simulated rays are shot from respective ones of a plurality of subpixels in the pixel each subpixel having coordinates in the image plane. The computer graphics system comprises a sample point generator and a function evaluator.

Abstract: A computer graphics system generates a pixel value for a pixel in an image, the pixel being representative of a point in a scene as recorded on an image plane of a simulated camera. The computer graphics system comprises a sample point generator and a function evaluator. The sample point generator is configured to generate a set of sample points representing at least one simulated element of the simulated camera, the sample points representing elements of, illustratively, for sample points on the image plane, during time intervals during which the shutter is open, and on the lens, a Hammersley sequence, and, for use in global illumination, a scrambled Halton sequence. The function evaluator is configured to generate at least one value representing an evaluation of a selected function at sample points generated by the sample point generator, those values corresponding to the pixel value.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an arrangement for switching high electric currents by way of a gas discharge at high voltages or for generating gas discharge plasma emitting EUV radiation. It is the object of the invention to find a novel possibility for generating a hollow cathode plasma that permits a longer life of the cathodes of short wavelength-emitting gas discharge radiation sources and pseudospark switches, also in high-power operation. This object is met in that the metal wall between the hollow cathode space and the discharge space has a thickness on the order of the centimeter range so that the openings of the metal wall change into relatively long channels and in that substantially radially extending cooling channels are introduced in the metal wall to reduce the ion erosion of the metal wall of the hollow cathode through efficient cooling.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and computer-implemented methods for evaluating integrals using quasi-Monte Carlo methodologies, and in particular embodiments, adaptive quasi-Monte Carlo integration and adaptive integro-approximation in conjunction with techniques including a scrambled Halton Sequence, stratification by radical inversion, stratified samples from the Halton Sequence, deterministic scrambling, bias elimination by randomization, adaptive and deterministic anti-aliasing, anti-aliasing by rank-1 lattices, and trajectory splitting by dependent sampling and rank-1 lattices.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems and computer program code (software) products for terminating spatial partition hierarchies and other hierarchies by a priori bounding, thereby to provide, among other aspects, more efficient ray tracing in computer graphics systems.

Abstract: A computer graphics system generates a pixel value for a pixel in an image, the pixel value being representative of a point in a scene as recorded on an image plane of a simulated camera, the computer graphics system comprising a sample point generator and a function evaluator. The sample point generator is configured to generate a set of sample points, at least one sample point being generated using at least one depenent sample comprising at least one element of a low-discrepancy sequence offset by at least one element of another low-discrepancy sequence. The function evaluator is configured to generate at least one value representing an evaluation of a selection function at one of the sample points, the value generated by the function evaluator corresponding to the pixel value.

Abstract: The invention broadly and generally provides a database comprising at least one record, the aforesaid at least one record comprising: (a) solution metadata relating to an information technology solution; and (b) evaluation metadata relating to a complexity evaluation of the aforesaid information technology solution.

Abstract: Techniques for expressing temporal relationships between lifecycle representations are provided. For example, one computer-implemented technique includes obtaining two or more lifecycle representations of at least two components of at least one computing system, annotating the two or more lifecycle representations with at least one temporal relationship, and storing the two or more annotated lifecycle representations as at least one deployment descriptor, wherein the at least one deployment descriptor is useable for managing the at least one computing system. In another computer-implemented technique, at least two internal lifecycle models of at least two components of at least one computing system are analyzed, at least one temporal relationship that exists between the at least two components are analyzed, and the at least one temporal relationship is transformed into at least one sequence of change management operations for use in managing the at least one computing system.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically creating at least one relationship specification are provided. For example, one computer-implemented technique includes observing at least one interaction between two or more components of at least one distributed computing system, consolidating the at least one interaction into at least one interaction pattern, and using the at least one interaction pattern to create at least one relationship specification, wherein the at least one relationship specification is useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system.

Abstract: Techniques for constructing change plans from one or more component interactions are provided. For example, one computer-implemented technique includes observing at least one interaction between two or more components of at least one distributed computing system, consolidating the at least one interaction into at least one interaction pattern, and using the at least one interaction pattern to construct at least one change plan, wherein the at least one change plan is useable for managing the at least one distributed computing system.