Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for determining the mechanical properties of the surfaces of materials including thin films. Generally, the method is comprised of laterally scanning the surface of the film with an array of cantilever tips varying temperature, load and time to obtain a measurement of mechanical properties, such as hardness and glass transition temperature. The method can be used to obtain mechanical properties of films that would otherwise be unobtainable using standard methods.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for attenuating a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. In one embodiment, the method includes optimizing a coverage area of an RFID reader.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pre-processing mapping information for efficient decomposition of an XML document for storage in a database are provided. The method includes receiving a mapping document that describes how all of (or a portion of) an XML document is to decomposed, transforming the mapping document into a data structure for decomposing an XML document, and making the data persistent for use with a subsequent decomposition operation that decomposes an XML document.

Abstract: Apparatus for repairing one or more shorted memory cells in a memory circuit includes control circuitry. The control circuitry is operative in one of at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the control circuitry is operative to apply a first signal to a selected memory cell in the memory circuit for reading a logic state of the selected memory cell and to determine whether or not the selected memory cell is shorted. In the second mode, the control circuitry is operative to apply a second signal to a selected memory cell which has been determined to be shorted for initiating a repair of the selected memory cell, the second signal being greater in magnitude than the first signal.

Abstract: For detecting an invalid RFID tag, an identifier and authentication information is read from a given RFID tag. The authentication information is then verified dependent on at least a given part (IDP_TAG) of the identifier (ID_TAG) and it is determined that the given RFID tag is the invalid RFID tag if the verification was negative. Accordingly, an RFID tag is manufactured by determining an identifier (ID), determining an authentication information dependent on at least a given part (IDP) of the identifier (ID) and storing the identifier (ID) and the authentication information on or in the RFID tag.

Abstract: A dual inline memory module (DIMM) includes a card having a length of about 151.2 to about 151.5 millimeters, a pluality of individual local memory devices attached to the card, and a buffer device attached to the card, the buffer device configured for converting a packetized memory interface. The card includes at least 276 pins configured thereon.

Abstract: A rigidized compliant foam and a method are provided for implementing a rigidized compliant foam. A compliant foam includes an encapsulated adhesive. The encapsulated adhesive includes a plurality of resin microcapsules and curing agent microcapsules dispersed in a closed cell foam. The rigidized compliant foam is produced following compression of the closed cell foam by a predefined normal force.

Abstract: A client-server application is provided to clients across a network. Requests from the client are accepted by a reliable proxy and sent to master and standby configurations of the client-server application. Each configuration processes the request to produce master and standby responses respectively. The proxy selects one response based on various criteria including a length being greater than the other response by more than a fixed value. The selected response is returned to the client over the internet. The configuration producing the selected response is thereafter designated as the master configuration. A recovery process may be initiated on the unselected configuration.

Abstract: A stacked semiconductor apparatus has at least one die attached to a first side of a carrier substrate. A first circuitized substrate is attached to the first side of the carrier substrate and overlying the at least one die in a manner such that the first circuitized substrate serves as an electrical interconnection device and a heat spreading lid. The first circuitized substrate is further configured so as to facilitate cooling of the at least one die by at least a cross flow of a cooling medium therethrough.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving enhanced e-fuse programming reliability. By providing an e-fuse device with redundantly coded fuse structures each with a differing fuse size dimension, reliable encoding of a fuse with a programmed bit is enhanced. That is, for each e-fuse device, each of the multiple fuse structures and a corresponding programming devices associated with each fuse structure is dimensioned to achieve the coding redundancy such that one fuse structure of the multiple fuse structures provides for a current flow of sufficient current density to ensure programming reliability of the e-fuse device. In one embodiment, each the corresponding programming transistor device is of substantially identical size and, each fuse structure of the multiple fuse structures is of a different size. Alternately, each fuse structure is of substantially identical size and each programming transistor device is of a different size, thereby ensuring reliable coding over a programmed current range.

Abstract: A method is provided for prioritizing jobs in a computing environment having a plurality of nodes sharing one or more resources,. Such method includes, given a job A to be scheduled having certain resource requirements, generating a list P of already scheduled jobs which utilize resources required by job A and which can be preempted by job A. For each resource requirement of job A, an ordered list of jobs which can be preempted by job A is created which is ranked by the applicability of each job in the list relative to resource requirements of job A, so as to provide a plurality of ordered lists, one for each resource requirement. An ordered list L is generated by selecting one of the ordered lists, adding the top-ranked job from that ordered list to list L, then adding the top-ranked job from another one of the ordered lists to list L and so on, by repetitively selecting the top-ranked job from individual ones of all the ordered lists.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method of manufacturing a dielectric material with a reduced dielectric constant is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) forming a dielectric material layer including a trench on a substrate; and (2) forming a cladding region in the dielectric material layer by forming a plurality of air gaps in the dielectric material layer along at least one of a sidewall and a bottom of the trench so as to reduce an effective dielectric constant of the dielectric material. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device is provided for dynamic data formatting during transmittal of generalized byte string data across a computer network. Remote server dynamically changes format of each column string data value from the result set separately, according to actual size of the string data value, and returns it to a client. Small-size data value is returned in a single network return message as varchar type, in-line with the rest of the query data. Medium-sized data value is retrieved without locators and streamed in multiple return network messages in a separate data object following the query data and in the same response. Large-size data value is retrieved using locators and returned as a progressive reference in pieces of specified size, where each piece of data value is separately transferred under client's control when needed, thus eliminating the need to buffer large amount of data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous composite material in which substantially all of the pores within the composite material are small having a diameter of about 5 nm or less and with a narrow PSD. The inventive composite material is also characterized by the substantial absence of the broad distribution of larger sized pores which is prevalent in prior art porous composite materials. The porous composite material includes a first solid phase having a first characteristic dimension and a second solid phase comprised of pores having a second characteristic dimension, wherein the characteristic dimensions of at least one of said phases is controlled to a value of about 5 nm or less.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to wiring components in a component based application and provide a method, system and computer program product for heuristically assembling components in a component based application. In one embodiment, a data processing system configured to assemble component based applications can include a component aggregation application including an application builder configured to assemble components into a component based application. The system further can include a property broker coupled to the component aggregation application and configured to apply a wiring scheme to selected components in a component based application. Finally, a collaborative heuristic integration matching engine (CHIME) can be coupled to the property broker and a data store of behaviorally derived data, the CHIME including program enabled to suggest components for assembly in a component based application based upon behaviorally derived data in the data store.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for read/write control and bit selection with false read suppression in an SRAM. According to one aspect of the invention, a bit select circuit is provided for an SRAM. The disclosed bit select circuit comprises one or more transistors controlled by a write control gate signal to prevent data from being read from one or more data cells during a write operation. The transistors can comprise, for example, a pair of gated transistors controlled by the write control gate signal. The write control gate signal prevents data from being read from one or more data cells while the write control gate signal is in a predefined state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for allocating multiple tags to multiple requesters in back to back clock cycles. A tag pool may be divided into a predetermined number of sections. Each requester may be associated with at least one of the sections in the tag pool. When multiple tag requests are received from multiple requesters each section containing available tags may provide a tag to a requester associated with the section per clock cycle. Therefore, multiple tags may be provided to multiple requesters in back to back clock cycles, thereby increasing efficiency and improving performance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a gate electrode stack having sidewalls and a top surface with a gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode, and LDD/LDS regions in the substrate aligned with the stack. Conformal L-shaped etch-stop layers with a thickness from about 50 ? to about 200 ? are formed with a vertical leg on the sidewalls of the stack and a horizontal leg reaching over the LDD/LDS regions next to the stack. RSD regions are formed in contact with the substrate aside from the etch-stop layers. The RSD regions cover the horizontal leg of the etch-stop layer and cover at least a portion of the vertical leg of the etch-stop layer on the sidewall of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing timing of responses to customer communications comprises a contact center and an operations center. The operations center includes a decision module that receives each communication and determines whether a partial response, such as an acknowledgement that the communication was received, is required. If a partial response is required, a response module sends a partial response to the sender that indicates the communication was received and preferably includes an estimate of the time required for a full response to the communication. All received communications are forwarded to a queue to await processing by an agent. The decision module determines whether a partial response is required based on an estimate of the amount of time required for a full response. If the time estimate is less than a predetermined threshold, a partial response is not sent and the communication is forwarded to a queue for processing.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for changing submitted asynchronous business events to synchronous business events in a business processing system. A first business event is received in the business system. The first business event is then established as a first asynchronous business event. Thereafter, a second business event is received in the business system. The second business event calls for modification of processing of the first business event. The first asynchronous business event is then converted to a first synchronous business event.