Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for determining a first gaming session; determining a rank of the first gaming session; determining at least one gaming session, each at least one gaming session of the first set having a respective rank that is not higher than the rank of the first gaming session, determining data corresponding to the at least one gaming session; determining at least one bonus based on the data; and applying the at least one bonus to the first gaming session.

Abstract: An image processing method of processing an image data uses an image file. The image file includes the image data and image processing control information being used for processing the image data. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a degree of auto adjustment for adjusting lightness and contrast of the image data according to lightness of a whole image expressed by the image data, based on the image processing control information; and (b) performing the auto adjustment based on the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems for counting items in storage containers in an array of at least two storage containers, the method including the steps of: providing a storage array of at least two storage containers, each of the storage containers containing an unknown amount of items; providing a receiving array of at least two receiving containers, wherein the receiving containers initially contain no items; extracting a layer of the items from the storage array; inserting the layer into corresponding locations in the receiving array; repeating the steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of the storage containers is not empty; counting, for each storage container in the storage array, a productive-extraction amount; and reporting, for at least some of the storage containers, the productive-extraction amount from each storage container. Preferably, the method further includes recovering a storage identity upon recovery from a system failure that erases the productive-extraction amount.

Abstract: An unknown named territory encloses a known physical target location that is specified by a target longitude and a target latitude. An operation is performed to identify a number of rectangular-shaped terrestrial areas that each enclose both the target longitude and the target latitude. Each of the identified rectangular-shaped terrestrial areas respectively encloses a polygonal-shaped named territory. Each polygonal-shaped named territory is defined by a respective circumscribing set of contiguously positioned vectors. An operation is performed to evaluate the circumscribing sets of contiguously positioned vectors of the polygonal-shaped named territories to determine if a given polygonal-shaped named territory includes both the target longitude and the target latitude. When both the target longitude and the target latitude are found to reside within a given polygonal-shaped named territory, the identity of the given polygonal-shaped named territory is conveyed.

Abstract: A cell of a semiconductor device is disclosed to include a diffusion level including a plurality of diffusion regions separated by inactive regions. The cell also includes a gate electrode level including a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the conductive features within the gate electrode level is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. The gate electrode level includes conductive features defined along at least four different virtual lines of extent in the first parallel direction. A width size of the conductive features within a five wavelength photolithographic interaction radius within the gate electrode level is less than a wavelength of light of 193 nanometers. The cell also includes a number of interconnect levels formed above the gate electrode level.

Abstract: Multiple non-defective samples of a DUT are selected. A quiescent power supply current (IDDQ) is measured for each of test vectors which are switched, for each of the non-defective samples. Statistical IDDQ values are measured in increments of the test vectors, and first array data is created including identifiers for the test vectors and the statistical IDDQs as elements. The first array data is sorted using the IDDQ value as a key so as to create second array data. The difference in quiescent power supply current is calculated by making difference between adjacent current elements of the second array data, so as to create third array data including the identifiers for the test vectors and the differences of current value as the elements. The third array data is sorted using the difference in current value as a key, and creates fourth array data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for managing storage in a computer system using a solid state drive (SSD) read cache memory are presented. The method includes receiving a read request, which causes a miss in a cache memory. After the cache miss, the method determines whether the data to satisfy the read request is available in the SSD memory. If the data is in SSD memory, the read request is served from the SSD memory. Otherwise, SSD memory tracking logic is invoked and the read request is served from a hard disk drive (HDD). Additionally, the SSD memory tracking logic monitors access requests to pages in memory, and if a predefined criteria is met for a certain page in memory, then the page is loaded in the SSD. The use of the SSD as a read cache improves memory performance for random data reads.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to detect and control a voltage potential applied in a plasma chamber for processing a semiconductor wafer. The plasma chamber includes circuitry for monitoring and adjusting a pulsed RF bias voltage signal to be applied to a chuck in the plasma chamber, where the chuck is configured to mount the wafer for processing. The circuitry includes an RF bias voltage detector for detecting individual pulses of the pulsed RF bias voltage signal applied to the chuck. A timing circuit is provided for determining a time for sampling each of the individual detected pulses and a sample and hold circuit.

Abstract: An input device for interfacing with a computing device is provided. The input device includes a body configured to be held within a human hand. The input device includes a light emitting diode (LED) affixed to the body and a power supply for the LED. A mode change activator is integrated into the body, where the mode change activator is configured to cause a change of a color of a light originating from the LED. The color change is capable of being detected to cause a mode change at the computing device. Methods for detecting input commands from an input source within a field of sight of an image capture device, and a computing system which includes the input device are provided.

Abstract: A speech recognition engine is provided with an acoustic model and a layered grammar and dictionary library. The layered grammar and dictionary library includes a language and non-grammar layer that supplies types of rules a grammar definition layer can use and defines non-grammar the speech recognition engine should ignore. The layered grammar and dictionary library also includes a dictionary layer that defines phonetic transcriptions for word groups the speech recognition engine is meant to recognize when voice input is received. The layered grammar and dictionary library further includes a grammar definition layer that applies rules from the language and non-grammar layer to define combinations of word groups the speech recognition system is meant to recognize. Voice input is received at a speech recognition engine and is processed using the acoustic model and the layered grammar and dictionary library.

Abstract: Methods for generating a biased layout for making an integrated circuit are disclosed. One such method includes obtaining a nominal layout defined by one or more cells, where each cell has one or more transistor gate features with a nominal gate length. Then, obtaining an annotated layout. The annotated layout contains information describing gate-length biasing of one or more of the transistor gate features in one or more cells of the nominal layout. A biased layout is produced by modifying the nominal layout using the information from the annotated layout. The biasing modifies a gate length of those transistor gate features identified by the information of the annotated layout.

Abstract: Methods and systems to optimize wafer placement repeatability in semiconductor manufacturing equipment using a controlled series of wafer movements are provided. In one embodiment, a preliminary station calibration is performed to teach a robot position for each station interfaced to facets of a vacuum transfer module used in semiconductor manufacturing. The method also calibrates the system to obtain compensation parameters that take into account the station where the wafer is to be placed, position of sensors in each facet, and offsets derived from performing extend and retract operations of a robot arm. In another embodiment where the robot includes two arms, the method calibrates the system to compensate for differences derived from using one arm or the other. During manufacturing, the wafers are placed in the different stations using the compensation parameters.

Abstract: A display unit includes an image data output device, an image projecting device that projects image data so as to be perceived by eyes of a user, a skeleton frame on which the image projecting device is mounted, the sunglass lenses being disposed on the skeleton frame, in which the sunglass lenses are set so that a transmissivity of visible light in a predetermined wavelength region is peculiarly low and so that transmissivities of visible light in wavelength regions other than the visible light in the predetermined wavelength region are peculiarly high, and in which the coloring of image light visualized by the image projecting device is formed by light differing in color from the visible light having peculiarly high transmissivities in the sunglass lenses.

Abstract: A memory system self-initiates hibernation mode and responds to host commands issued during hibernation within a host protocol timeout period. Hibernation mode is entered after controller state data has been stored and while no host command to the memory system is pending. Power to volatile data storage is diminished during hibernation mode. Upon receiving a host command during hibernation mode, power is restored and a reduced portion of the controller state data is read from non-volatile memory. A removable data storage device or a portable electronic device with embedded data storage may be constructed with such a self-hibernating memory system.

Abstract: A system for authenticating a request to access a protected network resource behind two security layers is disclosed. The system includes a client which contains a web browser, a first server tier, and second server tier. The first server tier is protected behind a first security layer and hosts a first software object and second software object. The first server tier is operatively coupled to the client system via a first connection wherein the first software object and second software object are configured to be in communications with the web browser. The second server tier is protected behind the first security layer and second security layer and hosts an authentication service. The second server tier is operatively coupled to the first server tier via a second connection wherein the authentication service is configured to be in communications with the second software object.

Abstract: We have developed an improved vapor-phase deposition method and apparatus for the application of films/coatings on substrates. The method provides for the addition of a precise amount of each of the reactants to be consumed in a single reaction step of the coating formation process. In addition to the control over the amount of reactants added to the process chamber, the present invention requires precise control over the total pressure (which is less than atmospheric pressure) in the process chamber, the partial vapor pressure of each vaporous component present in the process chamber, the substrate temperature, and typically the temperature of a major processing surface within said process chamber. Control over this combination of variables determines a number of the characteristics of a film/coating or multi-layered film/coating formed using the method. By varying these process parameters, the roughness and the thickness of the films/coatings produced can be controlled.

Abstract: A host device is provided to include a processor, a memory, and a peripheral device communication port. The processor and the memory are defined to collectively execute a computer application. The host device is defined to establish a communication channel for a datastream associated with the computer application as transmitted through the peripheral device communication port. A bluetooth host chip is connected within the host device to enable bluetooth communication with a bluetooth client chip in an external device outside the host device. The host device is further defined to enable connection of the bluetooth client chip to the communication channel for the datastream, such that the datastream can be monitored by the external device.

Abstract: Methods, data structures, and systems are provided for encoding communication data. The methods allow an application to compose communication data in any language and using any characters it wishes. One method constructs a Bitmask Table that includes Bitmask Character Values for each character represented in a national character where the Bitmask Character Value represents which National Character Set among a group of National Character Sets can be used to encode communication data containing a particular character, with adjustments for characters represented in East-Asian Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) languages. Another method encodes the communication data, by utilizing the Bitmask Table, in a format that conforms to data communication standards and interoperates with most third party recipient clients worldwide.

Abstract: Methods and systems for post-processing video to identify interests based on clustered user interactions are provided. A client application program running on a set-top box is provided to enable a user to interactively select a point of interest within video content being played via the set-top box. The selected points of interest of multiple users is aggregated, and clusters of the points of interest are determined. Objects associated with the clusters are determined by analyzing video segments containing the clustered points of interest. Messages related to the objects are created and sent to the relevant users that indicated selection of points of interest which correlate to the objects.