Abstract: Dynamic refresh rate (DRR) switching is used to dynamically update a refresh rate of content presented on an interface. When a first application and a second application are presented on a user interface at a first refresh rate; a request may be received to temporarily boost the first refresh rate to a second, higher, refresh rate. DRR switching is initiated as the first refresh rate is temporarily boosted to a second refresh rate. Applications that are opted in to the second refresh rate receive signals to refresh content at the second refresh rate, while applications that are not opted in to the second refresh rate receive signals to refresh content at a virtualized refresh rate that matches the first refresh rate. Thus, the first application refreshes content at the first refresh rate and the second application refreshes content at the second, higher refresh rate, providing a smooth user experience without unnecessarily utilizing power consumption.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to techniques for converting a natural language utterance to a logical form query and deriving a natural language interpretation of the logical form query. The techniques include accessing a Meaning Resource Language (MRL) query and converting the MRL query into a MRL structure including logical form statements. The converting includes extracting operations and associated attributes from the MRL query and generating the logical form statements from the operations and associated attributes. The techniques further include translating each of the logical form statements into a natural language expression based on a grammar data structure that includes a set of rules for translating logical form statements into corresponding natural language expressions, combining the natural language expressions into a single natural language expression, and providing the single natural language expression as an interpretation of the natural language utterance.

Abstract: The wait time prediction technology determines expected wait times for businesses or other public services using a model generated based on at least historical wait times for the business. In response to a request from a user, an expected wait time for service at the business for at least one particular time period on a particular day of a week is determined using the model and provided for display. User feedback regarding the expected wait time may be requested, and used to refresh the model as new wait times and other information are collected.

Abstract: Example aspects include techniques for employing cross-service diagnostics for cloud service providers. These techniques may include dynamically generating a workflow of one or more diagnostic modules based on relationship information between an origin service experiencing an incident and one or more related services that the origin service depends on, and executing the workflow of one or more diagnostic modules to determine a root cause of the incident, each of the one or more diagnostic modules implemented by an individual service of the one or more related services in accordance with a schema. In addition, the techniques may include determining a diagnostic action based on the root cause, and transmitting, based on the diagnostic action, an engagement notification to a responsible entity.

Abstract: A method, computer system and computer program product for authenticating a transaction is provided. A service provider receives a transaction between a user and a website displayed on a first device. The service provider identifies a first geolocation of the first device. The service provider generates a code for display on the first device. The service provider receives credential information to identify the user and the code from a second device. The service provider identifies a second geolocation of the second device, and determines a level of risk for the transaction based at in part on the first geolocation and the second geolocation. In response to the level of risk being an acceptable level of risk, the service provider authenticates the user. The service provider generates information to enable the user on the first device to perform the transaction with the website, and sends the information to the website.

Abstract: A dark-field optical system may include a rotational objective lens assembly with a dark-field objective lens to collect light from a sample within a collection numerical aperture, where the dark-field objective lens includes an entrance aperture and an exit aperture at symmetrically-opposed azimuth angles with respect to an optical axis, a rotational bearing to allow rotation of at least a part of the dark-field objective lens including the entrance aperture and the exit aperture around the optical axis, and a rotational driver to control a rotational angle of the entrance aperture. The system may also include a multi-angle illumination sub-system to illuminate the sample with an illumination beam through the entrance aperture at two or more illumination azimuth angles, where an azimuth angle of the illumination beam on the sample is selectable by rotating the objective lens to any of the two or more illumination azimuth angles.

Abstract: The inspection system includes an illumination source, a TDI-CCD sensor, and a dark field/bright field sensor. A polarizer receives the light from the light source. The light from the polarizer is directed at a Wollaston prism, such as through a half wave plate. Use of the TDI-CCD sensor and the dark field/bright field sensor provide high spatial resolution, high defect detection sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, and fast inspection speed.

Abstract: The inspection system includes an illumination source, a TDI-CCD sensor, and a dark field/bright field sensor. A polarizer receives the light from the light source. The light from the polarizer is directed at a Wollaston prism, such as through a half wave plate. Use of the TDI-CCD sensor and the dark field/bright field sensor provide high spatial resolution, high defect detection sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, and fast inspection speed.

Abstract: A method, computer system and computer program product for authenticating a transaction is provided. A service provider receives a transaction between a user and a website displayed on a first device. The service provider identifies a first geolocation of the first device. The service provider generates a code for display on the first device. The service provider receives credential information to identify the user and the code from a second device. The service provider identifies a second geolocation of the second device, and determines a level of risk for the transaction based at in part on the first geolocation and the second geolocation. In response to the level of risk being an acceptable level of risk, the service provider authenticates the user. The service provider generates information to enable the user on the first device to perform the transaction with the website, and sends the information to the website.

Abstract: A fact extraction tool set (“FEX”) finds and extracts targeted pieces of information from text using linguistic and pattern matching technologies, and in particular, text annotation and fact extraction. Text annotation tools break a text, such as a document, into its base tokens and annotate those tokens or patterns of tokens with orthographic, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and other attributes. A user-defined “Annotation Configuration” controls which annotation tools are used in a given application. XML is used as the basis for representing the annotated text. A tag uncrossing tool resolves conflicting (crossed) annotation boundaries in an annotated text to produce well-formed XML from the results of the individual annotators. The fact extraction tool is a pattern matching language which is used to write scripts that find and match patterns of attributes that correspond to targeted pieces of information in the text, and extract that information.

Abstract: A fact extraction tool set (“FEX”) finds and extracts targeted pieces of information from text using linguistic and pattern matching technologies, and in particular, text annotation and fact extraction. Text annotation tools break a text, such as a document, into its base tokens and annotate those tokens or patterns of tokens with orthographic, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and other attributes. A user-defined “Annotation Configuration” controls which annotation tools are used in a given application. XML is used as the basis for representing the annotated text. A tag uncrossing tool resolves conflicting (crossed) annotation boundaries in an annotated text to produce well-formed XML from the results of the individual annotators. The fact extraction tool is a pattern matching language which is used to write scripts that find and match patterns of attributes that correspond to targeted pieces of information in the text, and extract that information.

Abstract: Methods for determining an electrical parameter of an insulating film are provided. One method includes measuring a surface potential of a leaky insulating film without inducing leakage across the insulating film and determining the electrical parameter from the surface potential. Another method includes applying an electrical field across the insulating film. Leakage across the insulating film caused by the electrical field is negligible. The method also includes measuring a surface potential of the specimen and determining a potential of the substrate. In addition, the method includes determining a pure voltage across the insulating film from the surface potential and the substrate potential. The method further includes determining the electrical parameter from the pure voltage. The electrical parameter may be capacitance or electrical thickness of the insulating film.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating the work function of a non-contact voltage sensor are provided. The method includes preparing a reference sample to have a stable work function, measuring a voltage of the sample using a non-contact voltage sensor, and determining a work function correction factor of the sensor from the measured voltage. In turn, the calibrated work function may be used to adjust voltages of substrates measured by the sensor. A corona gun which includes a first electrode and one or more conductive rods is provided. In some embodiments, the conductive rods may be angled between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to a first electrode sidewall and/or be concentrically arranged less than 90 degrees from each other. In addition or alternatively, the corona gun may be adapted to alter its length and/or include a second electrode partially inset within a space surrounded by the first electrode.

Abstract: Non-contact methods for determining a parameter of an insulating film are provided. One method includes measuring at least two surface voltages of the insulating film. The surface voltages are measured after different charge depositions. Measuring the surface voltages is performed in two or more sequences. The method also includes determining individual parameters for the two or more sequences from the surface voltages and the charge depositions. In addition, the method includes determining the parameter of the insulating film as an average of the individual parameters. The parameter is substantially independent of leakage in the insulating film. Another method includes determining a characteristic of nitrogen in an insulating film using two parameters of the insulating film selected from equivalent oxide thickness, optical thickness, and a measure of leakage through the insulating film. The characteristic may be a nitrogen dose, a nitrogen percentage, or a presence of nitrogen in the insulating film.

Abstract: Methods for determining an electrical parameter of an insulating film are provided. One method includes measuring a surface potential of a leaky insulating film without inducing leakage across the insulating film and determining the electrical parameter from the surface potential. Another method includes applying an electrical field across the insulating film. Leakage across the insulating film caused by the electrical field is negligible. The method also includes measuring a surface potential of the specimen and determining a potential of the substrate. In addition, the method includes determining a pure voltage across the insulating film from the surface potential and the substrate potential. The method further includes determining the electrical parameter from the pure voltage. The electrical parameter may be capacitance or electrical thickness of the insulating film.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating the work function of a non-contact voltage sensor are provided. The method includes preparing a reference sample to have a stable work function, measuring a voltage of the sample using a non-contact voltage sensor, and determining a work function correction factor of the sensor from the measured voltage. In turn, the calibrated work function may be used to adjust voltages of substrates measured by the sensor. A corona gun which includes a first electrode and one or more conductive rods is provided. In some embodiments, the conductive rods may be angled between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to a first electrode sidewall and/or be concentrically arranged less than 90 degrees from each other. In addition or alternatively, the corona gun may be adapted to alter its length and/or include a second electrode partially inset within a space surrounded by the first electrode.

Abstract: A fact extraction tool set (“FEX”) finds and extracts targeted pieces of information from text using linguistic and pattern matching technologies, and in particular, text annotation and fact extraction. Text annotation tools break a text, such as a document, into its base tokens and annotate those tokens or patterns of tokens with orthographic, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and other attributes. A user-defined “Annotation Configuration” controls which annotation tools are used in a given application. XML is used as the basis for representing the annotated text. A tag uncrossing tool resolves conflicting (crossed) annotation boundaries in an annotated text to produce well-formed XML from the results of the individual annotators. The fact extraction tool is a pattern matching language which is used to write scripts that find and match patterns of attributes that correspond to targeted pieces of information in the text, and extract that information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a computer system having a plurality of logical partitions with a virtual operator panel is disclosed. The method and apparatus include displaying a plurality of operator panels on a single console corresponding to each of the logical partitions, and providing a buffer for each logical partition. The status codes from each of the logical partitions are then written directly to the corresponding buffer. To display the status codes of one of the logical partitions, the status code from the buffer corresponding the logical partition is read and sent to the corresponding operator panel for display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a computer system having a plurality of logical partitions with a virtual operator panel is disclosed. The method and apparatus include displaying a plurality of operator panels on a single console corresponding to each of the logical partitions, and providing a buffer for each logical partition. The status codes from each of the logical partitions are then written directly to the corresponding buffer. To display the status codes of one of the logical partitions, the status code from the buffer corresponding the logical partition is read and sent to the corresponding operator panel for display.