Abstract: A hardware device for processing the tasks of an algorithm of the type having a number of processes the execution of some of which depend on binary decisions has a plurality of task units (10, 12, 14), each of which are associated with a task defined as being either one process or one decision or one process together with a following decision. A task interconnection logic block (16) is connected to each task unit for communicating actions from a source task unit to a destination task unit. Each task unit includes a processor (18) for processing the steps of the associated task when a received action requests such a processing. A status manager (20) handles actions coming from other task units and builds actions to be sent to other task units.

Abstract: A printed circuit board for use in an electronic device package such as a ball grid array package or organic chip carrier package. This printed circuit board includes a glass-free dielectric for separating and insulating power cores, circuitry or plated through holes from each other to prevent shorts caused by a migration of conductive material along glass-based prepreg substrates.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product are provided for real time evaluation of compressed picture quality, in hardware, software or a combination thereof, during encoding of a sequence of video data. A received video signal is encoded by quantizing the signal after frequency transformation to produce a quantized video signal which is automatically evaluated in real time for data loss. Loss statistics, representative of picture quality of the quantized video signal, are generated for comparison with, for example, a predefined threshold as a dynamic control over outputting of the quantized video signal to the encode pipeline. As an enhancement, multiple quantizers are employed in parallel, each using a different quantization scale to produce multiple different quantization signals. The multiple quantization signals are evaluated in real time for picture quality and an optimum signal is selected for forwarding within the encode pipeline.