Abstract: Data having a desirable and machine readable structure, but which is not known in advance may be thought of as semi-structured data. Semi-structured data may be represented in Resource Document Framwork (RDF) format, and such documents may be parsed to form a table of triples. Relatively small amounts of data give rise to substantial number of triples, meaning that a triple store for relatively small amounts of data will have relatively large number of rows. A management programme for a triple store monitors the number of occasions on which a given query is executed, and if the frequency of the query exceeds a given threshold, then the triples forming the result set of the query are migrated to an auxiliary triple store, thus reducing the number of rows searchable as a result of execution of the given query.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system in an inkjet printer for determining the amount of a fixer to be applied to a medium. The system comprises a fixer generation circuit where the fixer generation circuit determines an amount of a fixer to be applied to a dot location on a medium based on an amount of ink to be applied to the dot location. A bloom encoder circuit is also disclosed for identifying amounts of fixer to be deposited adjacent to dot locations containing ink.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fault resilient booting of a multi-processor system. The apparatus attempts a cold reset of the system, during which each processor performs a built-in self test. The apparatus selects a boot strap processor to perform a warm reset, during which any failed processors are tristated using a flush command. If no boot strap processor is available, the apparatus performs the warm reset and tristates any failed processor including the processor predesignated to be the boot strap processor, and then repeats the attempt to establish the boot strap processor.

Abstract: A multi-chip module (MCM) having a substrate including a first surface, a second surface and a multi-layer interconnection arrangement disposed between the two surfaces. A high-density thin-film circuit region is provided on the substrate first surface to interconnect a plurality of integrated circuit chips and the multi-layer interconnection arrangement. The integrated circuit chips are powered through the high-density thin-film circuit region, which receives power from the multi-layer interconnection arrangement. A plurality of discrete on-board voltage converter devices, mounted on at least one substrate surface, provide uniform power supply distribution to multi-layer interconnection arrangement power planes, converting an MCM input voltage and current to a relatively lower output voltage and a relatively higher output current.

Abstract: A method is provided for electrically coupling a magnetoresistive memory MRAM circuit component to a host component. The method includes keeping the temperature of the MRAM circuit component below about 200° C. while aligning at least one interface feature of the MRAM circuit component with at least one interface feature of the host component and electrically coupling the interface features using a z-axis conductive material. In certain exemplary implementations, the temperature of the magnetoresistive memory circuit component is kept below about 180° C. It has been found that lower temperatures such as these eliminate the need to conduct additional MRAM annealing processes to re-set/re-pin a selected magnetic direction in certain materials within the MRAM.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for searching a parent code sequence for a target code sequence. In various embodiments, a first circuit arrangement selects and stores subsets of codes of the parent code sequence. A matching circuit determines in parallel matches between the subset of codes and the target code sequence, and provides a programmed binary value for each match. The binary values provided by the matching circuit are summed in a pipelined fashion.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention encompasses a method of identifying the location of interchangeable media handling devices relative to one another and relative to an image forming device. A data communication path is provided in parallel data communication with a plurality of media handling devices, and also in data communication with a processor. A power connection path is provided and configured to provide power sequentially to the media handling devices. The media handling devices are initially in an lower power state. Power is provided through the power connection path to the individual media handling devices to change the power state of the media handling devices from the lower power state to an higher power state. The power travels sequentially through the power connection path to each of the media handling devices, and the individual media handling devices send a signal to the processor after they receive power.

Abstract: Methods of guard-banding, methods of dynamic guard-banding, and related apparatus for real time image-data processing are described. In one embodiment, at least one image-processing pipeline variance is measured. Responsive to measuring the image-processing pipeline variance, a guard band is imposed around a processing parameter of the image-processing pipeline. In another embodiment, a first parameter relating to processing time of a predetermined amount of data through an image-processing pipeline is determined. A second parameter relating to processing time of the predetermined amount of data through the image-processing pipeline is determined. The second parameter is related to the first parameter. The first and second parameters are compared, and responsive thereto, a guard band is imposed on at least a portion of the processing which takes place in the image-processing pipeline. In preferred embodiments, the guard bands are adjustable dynamically or on-the-fly.

Abstract: An infrastructure for a real time bank-centric universal payment system (2) in which a central processing system (CPU) defines an electronic commerce trust system (1) formed from a plurality of financial service provider members (4) subscribing to a common standard having applicability throught the infrastructure. The central processing unit is operatively interconnected to the correspondent processing units of financial service provider members (4) that in turn are operatively interconnected through access mechanisms to a network of customers (3) and goods and services providers (5) who are account subscribers with the financial service provider member (4) and subject to the common standard of the system. The CPU provides non-revocable real time debit and credit transactions and effects net settlement between and among members through a central exchange monetary system.

Abstract: A computer device cooling system controls a cooling fan (190) based on components in the computer device (100) and packaging of the computer device (100). A BIOS (125) of the computer device (100) identifies the components of the computer device (100), which include a microprocessor (110), memory configuration (120), peripheral cards (150) and the like. The BIOS (125) also identifies the packaging, which includes the housing, power supply, storage device and the like. Based on the identified packaging and the components, the BIOS (125) selects a threshold temperature and sets a reference voltage in a fan control circuit (180) associated. The reference voltage is associated with the threshold temperature. The fan control circuit (180) detects the temperature of the computer device (100) and outputs a voltage associated with the detected temperature.

Abstract: An electro optic display (10) provides an electrode configuration adjacent each pixel which allows a non-uniform electrical field to be applied across the pixel (22) so that the optical output varies in the direction transverse to the pixel thickness. This allows only part of the pixel to be turned ON, or for shading within the pixel, depending on the characteristics of the electro-optic material. In a preferred embodiment the row and column electrodes (14, 17) are each made up of a group of conductive tracks (12, 18) connected into groups by impedance elements (13, 19). Voltage ramps are applied across the electrodes via input electrodes 15 and 20. A multiphase drive scheme is described for ferro-electric and similar materials in which a number of different voltage ramps are applied to a row in succession, and at each phase the appropriate ramps are applied simultaneously to the column electrodes to build up the required pixel shape over a number of phases.

Abstract: A system of classifying the type of incoming media entering an inkjet or other printing mechanism is provided to identify the media according to markings or identifying indicia on the back surface of the media opposite the printing surface which ultimately bears the printed image. The printing surface of the incoming media is optically scanned using a blue-violet light to obtain both diffuse and specular reflectance values. A spatial frequency signature for the incoming media is compared with known values for different types of media to classify the media according to major categories (transparencies, glossy photo media, premium or plain paper), and specific types of media within these categories (matte photo, premium, or high-gloss photo media). An optimum print mode is selected according to the determined media type to automatically generate outstanding images without bothersome user intervention. A printing mechanism constructed to implement this method is also provided.

Abstract: A mandrel for electroforming non-uniformly thick orifice plates and a method of making the mandrel are disclosed. The orifice plates have a thicker border surrounding a thinner orifice area. The mandrel has a metallic layer on a substrate. The metallic layer has a first molding surface that is electrically isolated from a second molding surface. The first and second molding surfaces are for substantially electroforming the border and the orifice area respectively. The mandrel also has dielectric areas patterned on the metallic layer for electroforming orifices in the orifice area. In use, the first molding surface is used to first electroform the border without electroforming the orifice area. As the border builds up, it electrically connects the first and the second molding surfaces to allow the second molding surface to subsequently electroform the orifice area.

Abstract: Production of a permanent ink-jet image with a fusible, wettable, toner and ink-jetted ink.

Abstract: CAN bus termination circuits, and CAN bus auto-termination methods are described. In one embodiment, a CAN bus termination circuit includes a first circuit in electrical communication with a CAN bus. The first circuit is configured to monitor an electrical operating parameter associated with operation of the CAN bus. A second circuit is in electrical communication with the first circuit, and is selectively enabled by the first circuit responsive to the first circuit's sensing a change in the electrical operating parameter that it is configured to monitor. When enabled, the second circuit terminates the CAN bus.

Abstract: In a medium access control (MAC) protocol for a wireless communications network, communications between a control point and other nodes are coordinated by a repeated superframe. This superframe contains in sequence a contention-free period (CFP1), a contention-based period, and second contention-free period (CFP2). Prior to CFP1 a node hops from one channel frequency to another. CFP2 in a superframe is used for initial transmission of isochronous data (such as voice signals); CFP1 of the following superframe is used for retransmission of any such data which were not correctly received at the first attempt, after the frequency hop at the start of that following superframe. This arrangement minimises delay before retransmission of data, and improves the robustness of the system.

Abstract: A print cartridge support structure holds one or more print cartridges in a stationary position while applying ink on media. A printhead servicing station is located outside of the print zone and has one or more servicing modules dedicated for interaction with one of the nozzle arrays of a print cartridge when such nozzle array is positioned in aligned proximity with its dedicated servicing module. The printhead servicing modules may include wipers, scrapers, cleaning fluid applicators, ink receiving receptacles and cappers. A motorized device may be used to relocate the print cartridge and/or the servicing modules to be in close proximity for servicing the printhead during a period when the nozzle arrays are not applying ink to the media.

Abstract: A speech input stream is fed to a first speech recogniser. A confidence measure is formed for each recognition hypothesis produced in output by the first speech recogniser and this confidence measure is compared against an acceptability threshold. Where the confidence measure of a recognition hypothesis is below the threshold, the corresponding portion of the speech input is passed to a second speech recogniser and the recognition hypothesis produced is used instead of, or as a supplement to, that output by the first speech recogniser. In a preferred embodiment, the first speech recogniser is a recogniser trained to a particular user whilst the second recogniser is one associated with a particular speech application currently being accessed by the user.

Abstract: A method of routing a mobile device connection between a first network (700) and a second network (710) comprises the steps of, providing a software agent upon a processing element, monitoring a data transfer application resident upon, and/or input-output (IO) port of, the device (720) using the software agent and determining whether the application requires mobile network addressing upon the device (720) moving from the first network (700) to the second network (710) to maintain said connection using the results of the monitoring.

Abstract: A method of searching for data upon a plurality of mobile network elements (A-D) within a first, ad hoc, wireless network (9) comprises the steps of: