Abstract: Systems or apparatus, methods, data structures and/or computer programs are provided for implementing an OLAP system that has increased query execution speed, requires reduced data storage capacity for an OLAP system and/or facilitates scaling of an OLAP system to large data cubes. The OLAP system can advantageously be implemented as an all-main memory OLAP system.

Abstract: Process-response statistical modeling of visual images can be used in determining similarity between visual images. Evaluation of the content of visual images—and, in particular, image similarity determinations—can be used in effecting a variety of interactions (e.g., searching, indexing, grouping, summarizing, annotating, keyframing) with a collection of visual images.

Abstract: Process-response statistical modeling of visual images can be used in determining similarity between visual images. Evaluation of the content of visual images—and, in particular, image similarity determinations—can be used in effecting a variety of interactions (e.g., indexing, grouping, summarizing, annotating, searching keyframing) with a collection of visual images.

Abstract: The invention automatically evaluates the quality of the visual images in a collection of visual images and selects one or more visual image(s) from the collection based on the evaluation of the quality of the visual images.

Abstract: The invention facilitates the distribution of content over a network (e.g., the Internet, a television network) and, in particular, the distribution of high-bandwidth (i.e., data intensive) content, such as video content or customized content. At least one of the sites of the network (a “core server”) is controlled (at least in part) by an entity that desires to distribute content to one or more other network sites (“client(s)”) at which the content is to be used. In accordance with the invention, a core server uses one or more other network sites (“node server(s)”) to distribute content on behalf of the core server to one or more clients. In particular, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the entit(ies) having control (at least in part) of each of one or more network sites (node server(s)) can be recruited to use their site(s) to distribute content on behalf of a core server to one or more clients.

Abstract: The invention identifies a blank segment (i.e., a segment that does not correspond to recorded visual content) in a set of visual recording data. The invention identifies a blank segment using a blank frame detector that is adapted to evaluate a frame of visual recording data to determine whether the frame of visual recording data is a blank frame, and a blank segment detector that is adapted to evaluate a characteristic of a group of frames of visual recording data to determine whether the group of frames of visual recording data is a blank segment comprising a plurality of blank frames. Identification of a blank segment can be used to, for example, decide whether to terminate digitization of a set of analog visual recording data.

Abstract: A visual recording can be automatically edited in a manner that creates a summary of the visual recording in which only content that is of unacceptably low quality and/or very little or no interest is eliminated, thereby enabling the original unsummarized visual recording to be discarded if desired. Additionally, a summary of a visual recording can be automatically produced in accordance with a format template that imposes a certain overall style to the visual recording summary. Further, a viewer of a visual recording can be enabled to provide input which can affect the visual recording content included in an automatically generated summary of the visual recording.

Abstract: Hearing assistive apparatus can be implemented to include sound replay capability, the hearing assistive apparatus enabling operation in a replay mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus replays sound that occurred prior to the current time), as well as in a current sound mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus reproduces—and, typically, enhances—sound as the sound occurs) and/or an off mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus does not produce sound). The hearing assistive apparatus can also, additionally or alternatively, be implemented so that part of the hearing assistive apparatus is spatially separated from another part of the hearing assistive apparatus (in particular, so that part of the hearing assistive apparatus is spatially separated from part of the hearing assistive apparatus that is ear-mounted).

Abstract: Hearing assistive apparatus can be implemented to include sound replay capability, the hearing assistive apparatus enabling operation in a replay mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus replays sound that occurred prior to the current time), as well as in a current sound mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus reproduces—and, typically, enhances—sound as the sound occurs) and/or an off mode (in which the hearing assistive apparatus does not produce sound). The hearing assistive apparatus can also, additionally or alternatively, be implemented so that part of the hearing assistive apparatus is spatially separated from another part of the hearing assistive apparatus (in particular, so that part of the hearing assistive apparatus is spatially separated from part of the hearing assistive apparatus that is ear-mounted).

Abstract: The invention automatically evaluates the quality of the visual images in a collection of visual images and selects one or more visual image(s) from the collection based on the evaluation of the quality of the visual images.

Abstract: The invention enables a new type of interaction with content represented by an active visual display element in response to double-clicking a point-and-click user interface apparatus when the active visual display element is selected.

Abstract: The invention enables construction of a microscope that has one or more advantageous characteristics as compared to previous microscopes. The microscope can be small and lightweight and, in particular, sufficiently small and light weight to be portable (e.g., smaller and far lighter than probe station microscopes used for microscopic liquid crystal analysis of a semiconductor device). The microscope can include a small and lightweight bellows that provides zoom capability. The microscope and/or a tripod that is used with the microscope can be implemented to provide objective lens position control capability (with any number of translational and/or rotational degrees of freedom). The microscope can include apparatus for ejecting a hot gas from the microscope to heat a specimen being observed with the microscope.

Abstract: The invention enables construction of a microscope that has one or more advantageous characteristics as compared to previous microscopes. The microscope can be small and lightweight and, in particular, sufficiently small and light weight to be portable (e.g., smaller and far lighter than probe station microscopes used for microscopic liquid crystal analysis of a semiconductor device). The microscope can include a small and lightweight bellows that provides zoom capability. The microscope and/or a tripod that is used with the microscope can be implemented to provide objective lens position control capability (with any number of translational and/or rotational degrees of freedom). The microscope can include apparatus for ejecting a hot gas from the microscope to heat a specimen being observed with the microscope.

Abstract: An adaptive filter is used to filter a target version of a visual image that is produced by processing an original version of the visual image, the characteristics of the adaptive filter being determined in accordance with one or more characteristics of the original version of the visual image. The orientation and/or strength of filtering of the adaptive filter can be adjusted based on local properties of the original image, which can enable the adaptive filter to avoid introducing blurring across true edges in an image.

Abstract: The invention enables a cryptographic device to be easily, securely and/or irreversibly customized to provide specified cryptographic functionality. For example, the invention can enable easy and secure modification (expansion, reduction or changing) of application code (which interacts with code stored on a cryptographic device) via the exposure of, for example, the mathematical primitive operations available on the cryptographic device. In particular, the invention can enable modification of available cryptographic operations at a relatively high level of programming abstraction, thus enabling such modification to be accomplished relatively easily. Further, the invention can enable the modification to be accomplished in a manner that does not necessitate or allow access by the application developer to other operations of the cryptographic device, thus providing security for the proprietary code and/or cryptographic keys of other persons or entities that may be present on the cryptographic device.

Abstract: Data representing one or more characteristics of an input airflow (e.g., an airflow associated with a human being, such as breath or an airflow resulting from motion of the human being, or a wind tunnel airflow) is acquired and, if necessary or desirable, processed, then stored, transmitted to a remote location, and/or played back. Playback of acquired airflow data entails generating a display airflow corresponding to the input airflow. The characteristic of an airflow regarding which data is acquired is often the velocity of the airflow, though data regarding other airflow characteristics (e.g., direction, temperature, humidity, odor) can also be acquired in addition to, or instead of, airflow velocity.

Abstract: Semiconductor process yield analysis in which the relationship between a wafer-level parameter and a die-level parameter is evaluated can be performed more quickly and with greater accuracy than has been the case with previous such yield analysis. The yield analysis can be performed by selecting regions of a semiconductor wafer or wafers from which parametric data is to be obtained for use in the analysis, based on one or more characteristics of the wafer(s). The yield analysis can be performed by grouping the parametric data based on both a grouping of the wafer-level parametric data and a grouping of the die-level parametric data. The yield analysis can be performed by grouping the parametric data in greater than 3 groups.

Abstract: The invention enables construction of a microscope that has one or more advantageous characteristics as compared to previous microscopes. The microscope can be small and lightweight and, in particular, sufficiently small and light weight to be portable (e.g., smaller and far lighter than probe station microscopes used for microscopic liquid crystal analysis of a semiconductor device). The microscope can include a small and lightweight bellows that provides zoom capability. The microscope and/or a tripod that is used with the microscope can be implemented to provide objective lens position control capability (with any number of translational and/or rotational degrees of freedom). The microscope can include apparatus for ejecting a hot gas from the microscope to heat a specimen being observed with the microscope.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a sound replay capability. The hearing aid can operate in a normal mode, augmenting sound as the sound occurs, or the hearing aid can operate in a replay mode (typically in response to input from the wearer of the hearing aid), replaying sound beginning up to a specified duration of time prior to the current time.

Abstract: The invention enables a layer of metal to be formed on a substrate with few or no voids formed in the layer, with increased throughput and without raising the temperature of the substrate to a level that may damage the substrate. A layer of metal can be formed on a substrate using a cold deposition step followed by a hot deposition step. The cold deposition step need only be performed for a time sufficient to deposit metal over the entire surface on which the metal layer is to be formed. In the hot deposition step, further metal is deposited while the substrate is rapidly heated to a target temperature. The rapid heating quickly mobilizes the atoms of the deposited metal, making the deposited metal far less susceptible to cusping and voiding than has been the case with previous methods for depositing a metal layer on a substrate that include a cold deposition step followed by a hot deposition step.