Abstract: Method and system for automating operations of a computing arrangement. A pattern database is configured with pattern definitions and associated response definitions, and one or more of the response definitions include one or more commands for operating the computing arrangement. A message processor receives messages from components in the computing arrangement and matches the messages against the patterns in the database. If a message matches a pattern, the message processor performs the actions specified in the associated response definition. One or more of the response definitions queue commands to a command queue. The message processor then dequeues and issues the commands at times that are compatible with the operation being automated.

Abstract: An arrangement which includes a telephone and an interface unit, which interfaces the telephone to both a standard switched telephone communications network and an Internet communications network, is disclosed. The interface unit includes an input coupled to the telephone to receive audio information and two output ports configured to be respectively coupled to the standard switched telephone communications network and the Internet communications network. A processing unit couples the audio information received from the telephone to the first output port when the telephonic communication is to be performed using the standard switched telephone communications network. Alternatively, the processing unit processes the audio information received from the telephone in accordance with standard Internet transfer protocols and couples the processed audio information to the second output port when the telephonic communication is to be performed using the Internet communications network and the standard protocols.

Abstract: Defect analysis of a semiconductor die is enhanced in a manner that makes possible the viewing of spatial manifestations of the defect from virtually any angle. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, substrate is removed from a semiconductor die while simultaneously obtaining images of the portions of the die from which substrate is being removed. The images are taken at various points in the substrate removal process, recorded and combined together to form a three-dimensional image of selected portions of the die. The image is then used to view the selected portions, and the nature of one or more defects therein are analyzed.

Abstract: Dimensional parameters of metal-containing structures such as films, interconnects, wires and stripes, and nanoparticles are detected using an approach involving plasmon-excitation and one or more metal-constituency characteristics of the metal-containing structures. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, plasmon-exciting light is used to excite plasmons in a structure, the plasmon excitation being responsive to the metal constituency. A characteristic of light reflected from the structure is then used to detect dimensional parameters of the structure. In one implementation, a characteristic of the reflected light that is related to the state of plasmon excitation in the structure is used to detect the dimensional parameters. In another implementation, the angle of incidence of the plasmon-exciting light is used in connection with an intensity-related characteristic of light reflected from structure to detect one or more dimensions of the structure.

Abstract: Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is enhanced by compensating for a depleted gas concentration zone in a CVD reactor. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a chemical-vapor deposition (CVD) gas injector is adapted to supply gas to a CVD chamber in a manner that enhances the properties of deposited films. The injector has a gas inlet coupled to a gas source and supplies gas from the source to the CVD system via at least one gas outlet. The injector is adapted to deliver gas in a manner that sufficiently maintains uniform supply of the gas in a zone of the CVD system that would exhibit a depleted gas supply absent the injector. The uniform gas supply improves the CVD process in various manners, including making possible the deposition of films having uniform properties, such as reflectivity, extinction coefficient, thickness and refractive index.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a desired degree of fairness of access to data transfer resources by a plurality of command-initiating bus agents. A bus arbiter allocates general ownership of the bus to one of a plurality of bus agents, and a fairness module imposes a desired degree of fairness to the data transfer resources by mandating data transfer resource access to bus agents whose commands have been subjected to a retry response. The degree of fairness is controllable, in order to appropriately balance the desired throughput and data transfer resource allocation for a particular application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a marker at the end of the adaptive self-servowrite process for adaptive formatting via the self-servowrite process. The mark is used later in the drive manufacturing process to identify the number of tracks written on the surface and thus determine the appropriate format to use in the drive.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively collecting information within logical modules of the computing system, where the content collected and the collection periods are dynamically controllable to accurately target the most relevant information. One of a plurality of information storage modes is dynamically selected, where each of the information storage modes identifies a different set of information from the plurality of logical segments that is to be stored. At least one of a plurality of data collection periods is dynamically selected, where the data collection periods define temporal windows in which storage of the designated set of information is enabled. The designated set of information identified by the designated information storage mode is stored only during the designated data collection period.

Abstract: A system and method for testing memory management functions of a data processing system. A controller is configured to start and monitor progress of one or more programs, and each of the one or more programs is configured to start a number of threads as specified by input parameter values. At least one or more of the threads are configured to create, modify, and delete one or more memory areas. A feedback activity measures performance characteristics of the data processing system while the one or more threads are executing and selectively adjusts the parameter values in response to the performance characteristics relative to target performance characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for previewing accessories prior to purchasing is disclosed. In one embodiment a first image of a portion of a person can be provided to an input device. Then, a second image including an image of an accessory is selected from an electronic database of accessory images. After obtaining the first and second images, data of the first and second images are used to generate data of a composite image, preferably on a server computer. The composite image is displayed on an output device and includes an image of the accessory on the person. The input device, the output device, and the client computer can be located at a first location, while the server computer is located at a second location. In this image, the accessory can be previewed by the customer before purchasing the accessory. Preferably, the accessories include sunglasses, jewelry, eyeglasses or other personal fashion items, which are purchased over the Internet or at a kiosk in communication with the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing data coherency in a file system implemented on a data processing arrangement. A record of file addresses is maintained for addresses that are not targeted by write operations, and word address ranges for write operations are selected from the record of file addresses not targeted by other write operations. A plurality of asynchronous write operations that specify word address ranges and data to be written are issued. For each completed write operation, an asynchronous read operation that references the address range of the completed write operation is issued. The data returned from the read operation is verified against data issued in the completed write operation. The record of file addresses not targeted by write operations is updated when the verifying step is complete.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate a history trace of system bus activity in a Symmetric Multi-Processor (SMP) environment. A dynamic scan capability is provided to User (516) via Computer (504) that allows dynamic configuration of History Control Register (518), thus providing a maskable history stack of system bus activity to be obtained from History Memory (508) for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A memory processing approach involves implementation of memory status-driven access. According to an example embodiment, addresses received at an address buffer are processed for access to a memory relative to an active location in the memory. Addresses corresponding to an active location in the memory array are processed prior to addresses that do not correspond to an active location. Data is read from the memory to a read buffer and ordered in a manner commensurate with the order of received addresses at the address buffer (e.g., thus facilitating access to the memory in an order different from that received at the address buffer while maintaining the order from the read buffer).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for enhancing the routing of telephony data. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a telephony private branch exchange routing arrangement is adapted to route IP telephony data. The routing arrangement includes a call-control application having an OOP telephony interface and programmed, using OOP and the OOP telephony interface, to control the routing of calls. A device-control application is adapted to provide telephony communication signals for the routed calls and to interface between the call-control application and a plurality of telephony devices. Configuration information for the call-control application is provided via a configuration manager. In this manner, voice and data networks are effectively fused, allowing the easy integration of computer telephony applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for multiplying and accumulating numeric quantities, including a multiplier for receiving the numeric quantities, with the multiplier having a sum output and a carry output. A first shift register has an input coupled to the sum output of the multiplier, and a second shift register has an input coupled to the carry output of the multiplier. An adder and third shift register are used to complete processing of the apparatus' arithmetic operations.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a thyristor having at least one body region thereof disposed in a substrate, and a filled trench having a conductive material. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a conductive material having a narrow upper portion over a relatively wide lower portion is in a filled trench adjacent to at least one thyristor body region in a substrate. In one implementation, a thyristor control port is located over the wide lower portion and adjacent to the narrow upper portion of the conductive shunt and is adapted for capacitively coupling to the thyristor body region in the substrate for controlling current in the thyristor. In another implementation, the conductive material is electrically coupled to a buried emitter region of the thyristor and arranged for shunting current between the buried emitter region and a circuit node near an upper portion of the conductive material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a computing arrangement. In various embodiments, a plurality of parameter definitions are established, including a static-value parameter and a dynamic-value parameter. A plurality of sets of parameter values are established in association with the parameter definitions. A results storage area has portions respectively associated with the sets of parameter values. A test program is associated with the parameter definitions and is configured to execute using one set of parameter values at a time. The test program inputs a parameter value associated with a static parameter, automatically generates a value for each dynamic parameter, and exercises the computing arrangement using the parameter values in a set, the value of each parameter affecting behavior of the computing arrangement via the test program.

Abstract: Method and system for report selection in a system that provides a plurality of reports. A database is populated with selected data elements of a plurality of data types, and a database content table is created that indicates the data types of the data elements present in the database. For each report, a report identifier and an associated set of report requirements are established in a report table. Each set of report requirements identifies a set of data types required for the associated report. A set of report identifiers is output for the data types of data elements in the database that satisfy the associated sets of report requirements.

Abstract: Methods and mechanisms for reducing the impact of cross talk interference in multi-carrier data transmission systems are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of canceling cross talk interference in a received data signal. The method includes receiving an input signal that includes a primary data signal and a superimposed cross-talk signal. An estimation of the primary data signal and an estimation of the superimposed cross talk signal are iteratively computed. The probable estimation of the primary data signal is based at least in part upon the iteratively computed probable estimation of the cross talk signal and the probable estimation of the superimposed cross talk signal is based at least in part upon the iteratively computed probable estimation of the primary data signal.

Abstract: A wafer-scale fabrication approach for manufacturing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) tips is implemented. Catalyst material is selectively placed (e.g., patterned) onto a plurality of prefabricated elevated structures (e.g., silicon tips) on a wafer. SWNTs are grown protruding from the catalyst on the elevated structures. The resulting SWNT protruding from a tip can be implemented in a variety of applications, such as in atomic force microscopy (AFM). With this approach, nanotube tips can be implemented for a variety of applications, including advanced nanoscale imaging, imaging of solid-state and soft biological systems and for scanning probe lithography.