Abstract: A system and method whereby the process cycle efficiency (PCE) of individual workflows may be determined using a combination of data collection tools, data manipulation routines, and statistical analysis methods. The individual workflows may be statistically analyzed to determine the PCE for the overall production process. Changes in performance for on set of workflows over a period of time may be determined by statistical hypothesis testing.

Abstract: An improved method and system is provided for performing regression tests on modifications made to user help documentation software. In the method, expected results based on the anticipated effects of proposed modifications are compared with the actual results detected after the modifications have been made. In one embodiment, a set of expected results is prepared, wherein the set comprises results expected when specified changes are implemented in a prior version of the specified software. Each of the specified changes is then implemented, to produce a modified version of the specified software. The modified version is monitored, to determine actual results caused by the specified changes, and the expected results are compared with the actual results, to detect variances therebetween. Usefully, an automated software tool is configured to rapidly extract specified user help elements from the modified user documentation software.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a recording layer provided on a substrate. The recording layer includes first and second information layers and a spacer layer therebetween. The optical recording medium also includes a warpage adjusting layer provided on the side of the substrate opposite to the recording layer to reduce the warpage of the spacer layer caused by curing. A moisture proof layer is formed on the surface of the warpage adjusting layer opposite to the recording layer to reduce the warpage of the warpage adjusting layer caused by moisture absorption and releasing by the warpage adjusting layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting cache coherency in a multiprocessor computing environment having multiple processing units, each processing unit having one or more local cache memories associated and operatively connected therewith. The method comprises providing a snoop filter device associated with each processing unit, each snoop filter device having a plurality of dedicated input ports for receiving snoop requests from dedicated memory writing sources in the multiprocessor computing environment. Each of the memory writing sources is directly connected to the dedicated input ports of all other snoop filter devices associated with all other processing units in a point-to-point interconnect fashion.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a base-2 logarithm approximation to a binary number is disclosed. A position k of the most significant bit within a binary number is located. Then, all bits that are less significant than position k within the binary number are assigned as a fractional portion of a base-2 logarithm approximation of the binary number. Next, a subset of the fractional portion is utilized to generate an adjustment value ?m for the fractional portion. The numeric value k is then converted to a binary value representing an integer portion of the base-2 logarithm approximation of the binary number. Finally, the integer portion is added to the fractional portion along with the adjustment value ?m for the fractional portion to form the base-2 logarithm approximation of the binary number.

Abstract: A low cost spectral camera may include a multiple Fabry-Perot cavity filter with silicon photodetectors distributed one beside another in a two-dimensional matrix fashion. Each cavity may be designed to capture a pixel from an image. The two-dimensional fabry-perot array may function as a sensor to capture an image in spectral form. Spectral information may be obtained to generate spectral displays.

Abstract: A heat dissipating structure of an interface card is applied in an electronic device. The structure includes a heat dissipating apparatus attached to a circuit board of the electronic device, wherein the heat dissipating apparatus comprises a heat sink and a fan received in a room of the heat sink; and an interface card electrically connected to the circuit board of the electronic device via a connector. At least a surface of the interface card that is mounted with semiconductor components is mounted on top of a part of the heat dissipating apparatus in a faced-down manner to dissipate heat generated during operations of the semiconductor components to an external environment through the heat sink and the fan.

Abstract: Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with manipulating a transportation plan based on system assisted exception resolutions are described. One exemplary computer-implemented method embodiment includes accessing transportation orders and an actionable plan of loads. The method may also include identifying planning exceptions, identifying candidate planning actions for resolving the exceptions, and providing data concerning the impact that resolving the exception using the candidate planning action will have.

Abstract: Under the present invention, index keys are generated for a set of documents. This is typically accomplished by examining the set of documents, and connecting data values extracted from the set of documents to yield the index keys. Once the index keys are generated, an index view will be generated into which the index keys are populated. Using the index keys in the index view, an agent will automatically obtain the set of documents (i.e., in the background). Then, when a user requests one of the documents, the document will already have been retrieved from storage. As such, it can readily be provided to the user. It should be understood that as used herein, the term “document” is intended to refer to any type of electronically stored data.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer; a high dielectric constant gate insulation film disposed above the semiconductor layer, the high dielectric constant gate insulation film containing a plurality of elements; a gate electrode disposed on the high dielectric constant gate insulation film; and an impurity region disposed in the semiconductor layer and serving as one of a source region and a drain region, wherein the gate electrode includes a first gate electrode layer made of a material hardly bonded to at least one of the elements included in the high dielectric constant gate insulation film.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the performance of a cache. The cache may include an array of tag entries where each tag entry includes an additional bit (“reused bit”) used to indicate whether its associated cache line has been reused, i.e., has been requested or referenced by the processor. By tracking whether a cache line has been reused, data (cache line) that may not be reused may be replaced with the new incoming cache line prior to replacing data (cache line) that may be reused. By replacing data in the cache memory that might not be reused prior to replacing data that might be reused, the cache hit may be improved thereby improving performance.

Abstract: An acoustic pressure type sensor fabricated on a supporting substrate is disclosed. The acoustic sensor is fabricated by depositing and etching a number of thin films on the supporting substrate and by machining the supporting substrate. The resulting structure contains a pressure sensitive, electrically conductive diaphragm positioned at a distance from an electrically conductive fixed electrode. In operation, the diaphragm deflects in response to an acoustic pressure and the corresponding change of electrical capacitance between the diaphragm and the fixed electrode is detected using an electrical circuit. Two or more such acoustic sensors are combined on the same supporting substrate with an interaural flexible mechanical connection, to form a directional sensor with a small surface area.

Abstract: An intervertebral stabilizer includes: a first plate member operable to engage an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine; a second plate member spaced apart from the first plate member and operable to engage an endplate of an adjacent second vertebral bone of the spine; a ball element depending from the first plate member; and a socket element depending from the second plate member, wherein at least one of the ball and socket elements include one or more keyed surfaces such that: (i) an assembly function is obtained in which the ball element may at least one of be received into, and removed from, the socket element in one or more first articulation positions of the first and second plate members; and (ii) a capture function is obtained in which the ball element may at least one of not be received into, and not be removed from, the socket element in one or more second articulation positions of the first and second plate members.

Abstract: A fixing device is provided with a fixing member for thermally fixing a transferred toner image to a transfer material, and a pressing member held in contact with the fixing member to form a nip portion where the transfer material is caused to pass through, wherein the fixing member includes a nonmagnetic metal layer made of nonmagnetic metal, a temperature-sensitive metal layer made of temperature-sensitive metal, and an induction coil for induction heating by supplying magnetism toward the nonmagnetic metal layer and the temperature-sensitive metal layer. The thickness of the nonmagnetic metal layer is set such that an amount of heat produced by the fixing member is larger than an amount of heat evolved singly by the temperature-sensitive metal layer.

Abstract: An in-vehicle mount type wireless communication device includes a wireless communication unit which can perform wireless communication in a first wireless communication system when within a first wireless communication area, and can perform wireless communication in the first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system when the wireless communication device is located in a second wireless communication area. The device further includes a control unit for controlling the wireless communication unit to start wireless communication according to any one of the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication system. The control unit controls the wireless communication unit to start the wireless communication according to the first wireless communication system if the wireless communication device is located in the second wireless communication area and a content of an application associated with wireless communication is a predetermined one.

Abstract: A robot body includes a front half and rear half and a rotatable and driven articulating joint interconnecting the front half and rear half. Multi-limbed legs extend from the robot body and are adapted to engage a ground surface to form a support polygon for each half and for the robot body. A controller is operative with each leg for determining the position and orientation of the robot body with respect to a support polygon, mapping the posture of the robot body with respect to the ground surface via the articulating joint, and determining a direction and magnitude of locomotion and translating a trajectory of locomotion to specific limb motions for each leg.

Abstract: An ignition coil includes a primary coil, a secondary coil, a spool, and a center core. The primary coil and the secondary coil are arranged substantially coaxially with each other. The secondary coil is on an inner side of the primary coil. The secondary coil is wound around the spool. The center core is inside of the spool. The spool has a tapered inner surface, which is axially defined at least partially in the spool. The tapered inner surface has the diameter that increases as being distant from a high voltage tip end of the secondary coil on the high voltage side of the secondary coil. The center core has a tapered outer surface, which is axially defined at least partially in the center core. The tapered outer surface has the diameter that increases as being distant from the high voltage tip end of the secondary coil.

Abstract: A secure card adapter provides for writing of highly secure, single transaction information on a machine-readable medium of a card structure in accordance with a format that may be downloaded from an external data source. The card structure may be, for example, an existing access authorization card or an existing credit card containing account-specific information which can be read and stored in memory of the secure card adapter. Once such account-specific information is read from an existing access authorization or credit card, secure transaction information can be written, together with the account specific information in accordance with the downloaded format information on another card structure to provide a universal access authorization and/or credit card. Thus the secure card adapter provides an enhanced degree of security through an existing or transitional communication infrastructure.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing transmission system that comprises an input/output terminal station for an optical signal, and an intermediate station located between the terminal stations and connected by an optical transmission line for performing wavelength division multiplexing and transmission of the optical signal, wherein the signal transmission system comprising the terminal station and the intermediate station has a redundant configuration comprising the active system and standby system, and an input/output means for the optical signal to be transmitted through the active system and the standby system is provided on both the active system and the standby system on the side of the active system of the terminal station.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying and removing potentially unwanted software. A mechanism is provided that identifies suspect programs to a user and allows the user to prevent the suspect programs from running without actually deleting them. In one embodiment, scanner data identifying potentially unwanted software is displayed in a GUI that allows the user to inhibit its continued execution. For example, any software not on a list of known, benign applications/processes may be identified as potentially unwanted. Similarly, software that displays one or more suspect behaviors may be so identified, allowing the user to distinguish between normal and suspect software without irreversibly altering the user's system.