Abstract: Testing is performed on an amplifier wafer housing a transimpedance amplifier prior to packaging the transimpedance amplifier with an external photodetector, wherein the transimpedance amplifier includes a small, auxiliary, integrated silicon photodetector provided at the input of the transimpedance, in parallel with external photodetector attachment points. Totest the transimpedance amplifier, the transimpedance amplifier is stimulated by optically exciting the small auxiliary photodetector, wherein the small auxiliary photodetector is excited using short wavelength light, whereby advantages such as higher efficiency may be obtained. The testing method includes placing the amplifier wafer in a testing system, probing the power and ground connections on the amplifier wafer, illuminating the small auxiliary photodetector on the amplifier wafer, and detecting the output of the transimpedance amplifier housed on the amplifier wafer.

Abstract: A field effect device (2) includes a source electrode (14), a drain electrode (16), a channel (24) formed between the source electrode (14) and the drain electrode (16), and a gate electrode (22) separated from the channel (24) by an insulating layer (20), wherein the channel (24) comprises a switching material reversibly switchable between a lower conductivity state and a higher conductivity state, each of the conductivity states being persistent.

Abstract: Group communication is performed in the wireless ad-hoc network that has a rearrangement frequency of connection higher than the communication frequency due to the movement of communication terminals 101 to 116. Communication terminals 101 to 116 stores the identification information and valid time periods of adjoining terminals into the group management table 11, as well as its own station's time period during which it belongs to the group, and send a packet with appending its own identification information and further a valid time period of the group based on the information about the valid time periods stored in the group management table 11.

Abstract: A method and system enables network intermediaries such as proxies to transcode multimedia data without violating end-to-end security guarantees. In one embodiment, a content provider decomposes a data stream into a plurality of components, each of which are independently encrypted. In a preferred embodiment, an intermediary or proxy performs transcoding of the components by prioritizing and dropping predetermined components, in accordance with unencrypted clear-text metadata associated with each component, without the need for decrypting the components. Clear-text metadata preferably provides a semantic understanding of the absolute or relative importance/priority of the components with respect to each other, thereby facilitating the transcoding process. The destination/client device can subsequently decrypt the components transmitted by the transcoding proxy and reassemble them into a representation of the original data content.

Abstract: A system and method for incorporating “Application Responsibility Scope” for each distributed application in a million device installation using network topology. A distributed discovery engine is first used to discover the physical network and to define the physical scope per distributed network device. Thereafter, the logical network is created based on the physical network topology. Using the logical network, the application responsibility scope is defined for each application. Once application responsibility scopes have been defined, that information can be used to determine in runtime if an application has access to a particular endpoint. In the instance of a self-replicating program, the scope can be used to define and limit the span of control of endpoints at which the application can replicate itself.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a performance-based firewall at the protocol layer. Application Action Objects (AAOs) are created for requesting applications and are mapped to specific protocol events. Each AAO is then used as a Usage Based Firewall (UBF) to monitor all usage of the protocol at the endpoint identified by the application, thereby acting as a performance-based, protocol layer firewall for communications at that endpoint.

Abstract: A computer system includes a virtual machine supporting an object-oriented environment, in which programs to run on the virtual machine are formed from classes loaded into the virtual machine by a class loader. A class must be initialized before being used by a program. A first application is started on the virtual machine, and a set of one or more classes are loaded and initialized for the first application, which is then run. After the first application has finished running, at least one class from the first application is reset. A second application is then started on the virtual machine. This (re)-initializes any classes that have been reset from the first application, prior to using them, but does not have to reload any reset classes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying or annotating image and video content by assigning each class of event, action, region or object a unique symbol and then building symbol strings to represent sequences in space or time. The symbol strings can be decoded using a library of annotated PT descriptors to automatically label the image and video content. Furthermore, the PT descriptors can be used for searching by sketch or searching by example where the search query input is converted to symbol strings, which are efficiently compared based on the presence and relative counts of PT descriptors mapped into a PT matrices. The Precedence Template (PT) descriptor can be used for classifying and querying video based on the spatial and temporal orderings of regions, objects, actions or events. Applied to video, the PT descriptors provide a way to compare the temporal order of events, actions, or objects such as those represented in a scene transition graph, key-frame list, or event string.

Abstract: A method, a system and a device for data communication between a sender and a plurality of recipients are provided to be used for interactive multimedia systems such as interactive television game shows. First, the sender transmits over a data network a first message. The first message causes a response message returned by one of the plurality of recipients to be delayed for a random period of time. Then, the sender broadcasts a second message asking the plurality of recipients for a response message. After having received the second message, each recipient initiates a response message. The response message is delayed for a random delay time. Thereafter, the response message is transmitted to the sender over the data network. Finally, the sender waits for a second period of time for response messages to arrive at the return address. A major advantage of the invention is a reduction of a peak load caused by the recipients' response messages.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for detecting a defective pixel caused by a punch-through voltage that cannot be detected by a conventional apparatus for inspecting an array substrate. An apparatus for inspecting an array substrate according to the present invention comprises: means for applying a first voltage VGH1 to switching elements so as to accumulate electric charges in storage capacitors and gate-electrode capacitors of the array substrate; and means for applying a second voltage VGH2 having a different voltage value than the first voltage VGH1 has to the switching elements when the electric charges accumulated in the storage capacitors and the gate-electrode capacitors are read.

Abstract: A buffering protocol and a streaming media player which utilizes the buffering protocol designed for minimizing the occurrences of pauses during the presentation due to network congestion and for scheduling pauses at appropriate times in the presentation. The data comprises coded content information comprising a time synchronous media, together with various other sources, synchronized to appear at predetermined time points in the media presentation. The presentation is delivered in streaming fashion, so that the end user does not have to wait for the entirety of the data to be downloaded before starting the presentation. The invention does not require that media data and events data be multiplexed into a single streaming file and it does not require that the file provided to the media player be customized for prefetching of content.

Abstract: A microelectronic device is designed such that it includes a region between electrodes having a switchable ohmic resistance wherein the region is made of a substance comprising components Ax, By, and oxygen Oz. The ohmic resistance in the region is reversibly switchable between different states by applying different voltage pulses. The different voltage pulses lead to the respective different states. An appropriate amount of dopant(s) in the substance improves the switching, whereby the microelectronic device becomes controllable and reliable.

Abstract: A system for the automated testing of software in a distributed environment. A system server includes a test bucket for storing test data. System resource availability data is maintained in the system server. Test requests submitted by a user are processed by the system server. Upon appropriate resource availability a dynamic test script is generated by the system server and sent to appropriate client machines for execution. Client processes on the client machines manage the execution of the tests. Client machines return test results to the system server for generation of a test report.

Abstract: A system and method for using write-and-destroy transaction cards which cannot be reprogrammed. The write-and-destroy transaction cards are programmed (i.e., written to) at bit increments representing, in total, the stated value of the card. The stated value may be represented in one or a plurality of denominations and currencies. In use, the remaining value of a card can be ascertained at a merchant location by reading those bits which have not been erased. The remaining value can additionally be confirmed by contacting the issuing financial institution using a unique serial number which may be encoded onto each transaction card. Upon confirmation that the card has sufficient value to conduct the desired transaction, the card is decremented by erasure of the bits representing that value.

Abstract: Detecting and tracking of new events/classes of documents are disclosed. A method for detecting new events and/or classes of documents and tracking evolution thereof in a database, said new events and/or classes of said documents being added to said database, said documents including attribute data related to a temporal parameter, said method includes the steps of providing vectors of said documents related to attribute data including said temporal parameter included therein, and detecting said new events and classes and tracking the evolution thereof using said vectors.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic scheduling and establishment of telephone conferences over a network such as the Internet. A user inputs conference information to a desktop application, and the scheduling, the contacting of participants, and the control of the conference are conducted automatically. If the conference is scheduled to dial out to the participants and is marked as a calendar entry, the desktop application stores the conference information, including the start/end time of a conference, the telephone numbers of the participants, the choice of service provider, and an account id. Once a teleconference calendar entry is created, the process starts and the conference is established automatically. At the scheduled time, the desktop application warns the user by running an alarm function to remind them of the time of the conference.

Abstract: Scheme for processing an input signal A(t) by N resonators (17), each having parameters characterizing it, to generate N individual output signals. Then each of the N individual output signals is weighted using a corresponding weight to generate N individual weighted output signals which are superposed to obtain M output signals C(t). One of the parameters or the weight depend on a time signal P(t).

Abstract: The invention provides method and apparatus for an improved data processing system having an administrative control server; an administrative control database, connected to said administrative control server; and at least one group of servers having similar, but not necessarily identical, configurations adapted for communication with the administrative control server for administrative control thereby, in which the control server can change the configurations of the administered servers to a new desired configuration for each administered server where the new configuration is in synchronization with the configuration of each of said other administered server, by generating synchronization instructions from parameterized synchronization scripts stored in the control database.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing high dielectric constant decoupling capacitors for semiconductor structures. The high dielectric constant decoupling capacitor can be fabricated by depositing high dielectric constant material between adjacent conductors on the same level, between conductors in successive levels, or both, to thereby provide very large capacitance value without any area or reliability penalty.

Abstract: A method and a system for embedding information in document data that include text written in a page description language. First, an analysis is made of the layout of the document data in which information is to be embedded. Then, based on the analysis of the layout, a sequence of locations is generated whereat the information is to be embedded. A page description of the text at a determined location is changed in accordance with the embedded information. As a result, the information is embedded in document data that include text written in a page description language. The sequence of locations is generated by producing a string of sequential pseudo-random numbers.