Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to critical-path ordering of content, such as web pages, are disclosed. A request to transmit content is received at a critical-path server. The content includes one or more components. The one or more components of the content are received. A critical-path ordering for the one or more components is determined. The critical-path ordering can be based on device information, critical-path data, and/or one or more content rules. The critical-path data can be related to one or more preferences, such as but not limited to time-budget entries and content-priority preferences. One or more critical components of the one or more components can be determined based on the critical-path ordering. The one or more components, beginning with the one or more critical components, are transmitted in accordance with the critical-path ordering.

Abstract: A budgeted time for displaying content at a client device is determined. The budgeted time is based on time-budget values. The content can be delivered and displayed in one or more phases. The time-budget values correspond to the one or more phases. Transmission of given content is requested. At least one component of the given content is received. The received at least one component of the given content is displayed within the budgeted time after requesting the transmission of the given content.

Abstract: Construction of a novel multilayer conductive interconnection for an integrated circuit having more than one conductive layer is disclosed comprising a lower barrier layer which may be in contact with an underlying silicon substrate and comprising a material selected from the class consisting of TiW and TiN; an intermediate layer of conductive metal such as an aluminum base metal; and an upper barrier layer which may be in contact with a second aluminum base metal layer and which is selected from the class consisting of TiW, TiN, MoSi.sub.x and TaSi where x equals 2 or more.