Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for facilitating coordination of user activities in accordance with information processing systems and, more particularly, to techniques for managing encounters with persons using such information processing systems. For example, a method for facilitating user coordination of one or more activities comprises the following steps. User personal preference input for managing an encounter with at least one other person is accepted. Input of at least one user schedule entry is received. Schedule entries of the at least one other person are evaluated and it is automatically determined whether there is an overlap between the at least one user schedule entry and the schedule entries of the at least one other person. A response to a determined overlap is automatically determined. The user personal preference input may comprise an indication of whether the user wishes to avoid an encounter with the at least one other person or coordinate an encounter with the at least one other person.

Abstract: Improved ranking and grouping techniques are disclosed for communication systems such as a multiple input multiple output system. For instance, techniques are disclosed for ranking and grouping users that are eligible for single-user and/or multiple-user transmissions. In one case, ranking and grouping are performed independently and, in another case, ranking and grouping are performed jointly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptive link partner transmitter equalization. According to one aspect of the invention, a local transceiver adapts one or more equalization parameters of a link partner by receiving a training frame over a channel between the link partner and the local transceiver, wherein the training frame is comprised of a predefined training pattern; adjusting one or more of the equalization parameters of the link partner; and determining whether the equalization of the channel satisfies one or more predefined criteria based on whether the predefined training pattern is properly received by the local transceiver. The predefined training pattern can be a pseudo random pattern, such as a PN11 pattern Noise margins and jitters margins for the channel can optionally be improved.

Abstract: A path comparison unit is disclosed for determining paths in a trellis that compete with a survivor path. The disclosed path comparison unit comprises a first type functional unit comprising a multiplexer and a register to store one or more survivor bits associated with the survivor path; and at least two second type functional units, wherein each second type functional unit comprises a multiplexer and a logical circuit to compute at least one equivalence bit indicating whether the bit for a respective path and the bit for the survivor path are equivalent. Generally, the respective path is one or more of a win-lose path and a lose-win path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for reporting about a download of an item of digital data to an end user from a plurality of logged data sources. The item of digital data is downloadable in one or more sessions but also divisible into portions. The apparatus comprises multiple event logs being associated with the logged data sources of the plurality of logged data sources. The apparatus further comprises a retrieving device for retrieving the multiple event logs from the logged data sources. The apparatus further comprises multiple event logs indicating the portions of the item of digital data downloaded in at least one of the one or more sessions. The apparatus further comprises a reporting device for combining the at least one event log and producing a report of the download of the item of digital data.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed that comprise receiving, from one or more client terminals, two or more purchase requests, wherein each of the purchase requests identifies a wager for one or more multi-player games. A wager result is then determined for each wager at the time of purchase and stored in a database. Once all the wagers for an instance of a game are received, an outcome, such as a set of cards, is determined for each player and, if appropriate, the house (the host of the game). The outcome for each player is based on the previously determined wager result(s) and the type of game played. The outcome(s) are then stored with the wager(s) and wager result(s) in a transaction history file corresponding to each of the game's patrons (players) and in a game status file.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for equalizing a received signal. A received signal is equalized by determining a data rate of the received signal; obtaining one or more equalization parameters associated with the determined data rate; and equalizing the received signal using the obtained one or more equalization parameters. The equalization parameters may comprise, for example, one or more of a gain parameter, zero control for a high pass filter and one or more threshold settings for one or more latches used during the equalizing step, such as data latches or transition latches (or both).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for wireless communication between an integrated circuit device and a monitoring station. Each integrated circuit device has one or more antennas that permit wireless communication with an external monitoring station. A signal destined for an integrated circuit device is transmitted by the monitoring station using an associated antenna. An antenna associated with the destination integrated circuit receives the transmitted signal. The antenna(s) may be embodied, for example, as pins that are external to the integrated circuit device, or printed or etched on the integrated circuit device itself. Greater bandwidth can be achieved, if necessary, by pooling the bandwidth of several antennas.

Abstract: A background process is used to install at least one system hook for message interception of integrated circuit chip layout display software. A call message is intercepted through the system hook, and, responsive to the call message, current layout coordinates are read from the integrated circuit chip layout display software. A representation of the current layout coordinates is entered into tool control software configured to control a physical tool for analyzing integrated circuits, and the physical tool is controlled with the tool control software, based on the representation of the current layout coordinates. In an “inverse” approach, a background process is used to install at least one system hook for message interception of tool control software configured to control a physical tool for analyzing integrated circuits, and a call message is intercepted through the system hook. Responsive to the call message, current coordinates are read from the tool control software.

Abstract: An IO interface circuit for use in a high voltage tolerant application is provided. The IO interface circuit includes a signal pad and at least a first parasitic bipolar transistor having an emitter adapted for connection to a voltage return of the interface circuit, a base adapted to receive a first control signal, and a collector connected directly to the signal pad in an open collector configuration. The interface circuit further includes a MOS control circuit coupled to the parasitic bipolar transistor and being operative to generate the first control signal. The IO interface circuit may further include an active pull-up circuit connected between a voltage supply of the interface circuit and the signal pad.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying bi-directional text using a browser program on a computer (20) coupled to drive a display (22) and having an operating system such that the computer normally writes text to the display in a default language in a first, default direction. The computer opens a window (44) on the display and receives a string of codes, each code corresponding to a character in a passage of text (54), at least a portion of which is in a non-default language that is written in a second direction, opposite to the default direction. The computer displays the characters 10 corresponding to the codes in the window such that the passage of text is displayed with all portions thereof arranged in respectively-appropriate directions, substantially without reference to language support provided by the operating system or browser.

Abstract: Techniques for altering application user-interface controls are provided. More particularly the customization of a new or existing user-interface control in an application user-interface is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a method for customizing user-interface controls of an existing application comprises the recording of a procedure description performed by a user in the application user-interface. A new or modified application user-interface control relating to the procedure description is then installed in the existing application.

Abstract: A provider of remote information technology infrastructure monitoring services obtains, from a customer, via a remote managed infrastructure services web site, a choice of at least one remote managed information technology infrastructure monitoring service for an information technology infrastructure of the customer, and corresponding data necessary to provide the at least one service. Based on the choice and the necessary data, the provider determines at least two different options for providing the at least one monitoring service, including at least price and service coverage. The provider obtains from the customer, via the remote managed infrastructure services web site, a selection of one of the at least two options.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for overload control of prioritized message flows in a state machine execution environment. A state machine employs a flow graph associated with a system. The flow graph provides a flow control mechanism that defines a plurality of states and one or more transitions between the states. Tokens circulate within the flow graph and execute functions during the transitions between the states. The state machine parses one of the tokens to extract one or more predefined information elements; assigns a priority to the token based on the extracted information elements and a state occupancy of the token, wherein the assigned priority controls an order in which the token is processed; assesses an overload status of the system and selectively discards one or more of the tokens based on the assigned priority and assessed overload status.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for maintaining and processing provenance data in such data stream processing systems. For example, a method for processing data associated with a data stream received by a data stream processing system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of processing elements, comprising the following steps. A portion of data associated with the data stream is maintained. The maintained data comprises inputs to each processing element that contributed to an output of each processing element. In response to an alert generated by one of the processing elements, a scheduler is triggered to determine when a pre-calculation of a prospective query related to the alert should be executed. In response to the scheduler, at least a portion of the maintained data is used to determine a set of data that contributed to the alert such that the alert-contributing set of data can be used to respond to the prospective query upon arrival thereof.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that efficiently obtain channel crosstalk estimates in DSL systems and other communication systems that may include unsynchronized channels. For example, a method includes obtaining a first set of estimated measures of crosstalk for a first portion of a plurality of communication channels over which data signals are to be transmitted from a transmitter to a plurality of receivers, and interpolating a second set of estimated measures of crosstalk for a second portion of the plurality of communication channels based on the first set of estimated measures of crosstalk. The first portion of the plurality of communication channels may be a subset of the plurality of communication channels and the second portion of the plurality of communication channels is a remainder of the plurality of communication channels. Each estimated measure of crosstalk may relate to at least one tone associated with at least one of the plurality of communication channels.

Abstract: A method for managing a conference between two or more parties comprises an identity based authenticated key exchange between a conference management element and each of the two or more parties seeking to participate in the conference. Messages exchanged between the conference management element and the two or more parties are encrypted based on respective identities of recipients of the messages. The method comprises the conference management element receiving from each party a random group key component. The random group key component is computed by each party based on a random number used by the party during the key authentication operation and random key components computed by a subset of others of the two or more parties seeking to participate in the conference. The conference management element sends to each party the random group key components computed by the parties such that each party can compute the same group key.

Abstract: An endpoint or other communication device of a communication system includes a clock recovery module. The communication device is operative as a slave device relative to another communication device that is operative as a master device. The clock recovery module comprises a clock recovery loop configured to control a slave clock frequency of the slave device so as to synchronize the slave clock frequency with a master clock frequency of the master device. The clock recovery loop utilizes a frequency error estimator implemented as a maximum-likelihood estimator with slope fitting based on a sequence of arrival timestamps, and a loop filter implemented as a series combination of an adaptive-bandwidth filter and a proportional-integral controller.

Abstract: At least one channel is joined to a group of active channels in a communication system by transmitting control signals to configure respective customer premises equipment (CPE) of the active channels into a joining mode of operation, and transmitting a joining signature sequence to CPE of the joining channel over a downstream data signal path of the joining channel. A central office (CO) or other access node of the system receives correlation results from respective active channel CPE, estimates crosstalk from the joining channel into the active channels based on the correlation results, configures a precoder based on the estimated crosstalk, and adds the joining channel to the group of active channels. The channels may comprise respective subscriber lines of a DSL communication system.

Abstract: In an information management system, a controller implements a heuristic bundle optimizer to facilitate a migration or other type of transition of at least a portion of a data center from a first configuration to a second configuration. The controller identifies a plurality of component bundling scenarios each specifying a separation of a given set of components associated with the first and second configurations into bundles for transitioning on a per-bundle basis from the first configuration to the second configuration. The controller also evaluates the component bundling scenarios, and determines an optimal one of the component bundling scenarios. The portion of the data center is then transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration with the components being transitioned in the bundles specified by the optimal component bundling scenario.