Abstract: A transient overbalance condition is created in a wellbore interval such that a pressure of the wellbore interval is greater than a reservoir pressure in surrounding formation. Creating the transient overbalance condition causes a near-wellbore region of the formation to increase in pressure. The pressure in the wellbore interval is reduced at a rate that produces a relative underbalance condition in which the pressure in the wellbore interval is less than the pressure of the near-wellbore region of the formation, but the pressure in the wellbore interval is greater than the reservoir pressure.

Abstract: A circuit board includes reference plane layers and a dielectric between the reference plane layers. A resistive element is also provided between the reference plane layers to provide a resistive path between the reference plane layers. Optimally, a decoupling capacitor is provided having a first electrode electrically connected to the resistive element, and a second electrode electrically connected to one of the reference plane layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus receives customer feedback and analyzes words in the customer feedback. The words in the customer feedback are compared to rating data to generate an indication to rate the customer feedback. The rating data associates predefined words with respective values. In one arrangement, the rating data is according to a user-defined data type (UDT) stored in a relational table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of analyzing a target system comprises receiving information relating to an environment of the target system and storing cost data based on the environment information. The plan and its estimated performance for a query may be determined based on the cost data. The environment information may pertain to the environment of a parallel system (e.g., a multi-node parallel system, a single-node parallel system having plural central processing units or a system running plural virtual processors) that is running a parallel database. The cost data may identify a number of nodes in the target system, a number of central processing units in each node of the target system, and other types of system information. The cost data may be stored in a relational table having a plurality of rows. Each row of the relational table may correspond to a different target system.

Abstract: A circuit board includes first and second reference plane layers. A first decoupling capacitor is mounted to a surface of the first reference plane layer, and a second decoupling capacitor is mounted to a surface of the second reference plane layer. Vias extend generally along a first direction through the circuit board. The first and second decoupling capacitors are aligned generally along the first direction to increase an amount of space through which the vias are extendable.

Abstract: A database system includes components for executing stored procedures that include at least one of a conditional expression, assignment expression, and dynamic database query language (e.g., SQL) statement. For each such expression, a predetermined type of code is generated and inserted into the object code corresponding to the stored procedure. When executing the stored procedure object code, the predetermined type of code is evaluated directly without having to generate a separate database query language statement.

Abstract: An execution plan of a query for a parallel database system is determined. In one arrangement, the parallel database system is a relational database management system. The execution plan of the query is determined by an optimizer program. Execution plans are inserted into one or more explain tables that are accessible by a visual explain and compare module to display the steps of the execution plan in a graphical user interface. Parallel execution of steps of the execution plan can be depicted in the graphical user interface. Further, plural execution plans for a given query under different conditions may be compared.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables a client system to perform multi-phase parallel operations upon data in a database system. A data transaction request received by the client system. A plurality of multi-phase parallel tasks are executed in response to the request to perform the data operations upon the data in the database.

Abstract: A circuit board includes multiple segments, with a first segment having plural signal layers and a second segment having plural signal layers. Signal paths provided by signal layers of the first segment exhibit higher speed signal transmission capability than signal paths provided by the signal layers of the second segment.

Abstract: An execution plan of a query for a parallel database system is determined. In one arrangement, the parallel database system is a relational database management system. The execution plan of the query is determined by an optimizer program. Execution plans are inserted into one or more explain tables that are accessible by a visual explain and compare module to display the steps of the execution plan in a graphical user interface. Parallel execution of steps of the execution plan can be depicted in the graphical user interface. Further, plural execution plans for a given query under different conditions may be displayed for comparison.

Abstract: A database system includes a locking mechanism for a view defined on one or more base relations. A B-tree index is defined on the view. In response to updates of a base relation, predefined locks are placed on the view. With locking mechanisms according to some embodiments of the invention, concurrency of transactions that access the view and B-tree index is enhanced by enabling concurrent updates of the materialized view by plural transactions in certain cases, while avoiding read-write and write-read conflicts.

Abstract: A server system is capable of receiving requests from a client system for data within a database system, such as an object relational database system. In one arrangement, objects are stored in relational tables, with the objects containing geospatial data. The geospatial data contains one or more of the following: an image, points, lines, and polygons. The objects containing the geospatial data are combined by a layer manager executing in the server system to form a composite image. The composite image is represented in a file, such as a markup language file, that is communicated to the client system. In one embodiment, the file is a Virtual Reality Markup Language file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables partitioning of data to efficiently store and retrieve data relating to a database system (either a parallel or non-parallel database system). Such partitioning may be performed by receiving information associated with at least one characteristic of the data and performing an algorithm to divide the data into related data segments. The data segments may be stored in a distributive database system based on the characteristic associated with the data.

Abstract: A stratified sampling mechanism is provided in a database system. The stratified sampling mechanism includes defining a clause in a query that indicates stratified sampling is desired. Data from a source table is stratified into different subgroups based on stratification conditions in the query. Sampling is performed within each subgroup.

Abstract: A downhole tool that is connectable to a line to be run downhole with the tool includes a housing, a sensor and a mechanism that is located inside the housing. The mechanism is coupled to the sensor to, in response to the detection of the feature by the sensor, generate a tension signal in the line without physically contacting a downhole structure.

Abstract: A method for use with a computer system includes modulating a first clock signal according to a first frequency-time profile to generate a second spread spectrum clock signal. The first clock signal is modulated according to a second frequency-time profile that is asynchronous to the first frequency-time profile to generate a third spread spectrum clock signal.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory array and at least two sets of row decoders to drive row lines in the memory array. Select lines (such as row select lines) carry signals to select one or more decoders in one of the two sets of decoders. At least some of the select lines are shared between the two sets of row decoders to decrease the space needed to route signal lines in the memory array.