Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for determining whether data has been modified. One node associated with at least one data unit and a last version number is received. A data structure having a plurality of nodes is processed, wherein there is one node associated with each data unit and at least one node that is capable of aggregating one or more nodes, and wherein version numbers are associated with the nodes. A determination is made from the data structure of one node that is associated with the data units associated with the received node. A determination is then made that at least one data unit associated with the received node has been modified if the received last version number is less than a version number of the determined node.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for optimizing electrical circuits by means of derivative-free optimization. Tunable parameters such as component values, transistor sizes or model parameters are automatically adjusted to obtain an optimal circuit. Any method of measuring the performance of the circuit, including computer simulation, can be incorporated into the optimization technique, with no derivative requirements. An arbitrary continuous optimization problem can be posed, including an objective function, equality and inequality constraints, and simple bounds on the tunable parameters. The optimization technique is efficient and guarantees that it will find a locally optimal solution from any starting point. Further, the procedure includes a method of automatically recovering from electrical failure to enable automatic and productive circuit optimization. A set of measurement widgets is provided to automatically introduce the checking required to recover from electrical failure.

Abstract: Changed information is provided to multiple masters of a multi-master environment. In order to facilitate the providing of the changed information to the various masters, at least one replication data structure is used. This data structure is managed in such a way that conflicts are avoided in updating the data structure, and thus, in communicating the changed information to the masters.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating pre-translated segments for use in virtual to real address translation is provided in which segments that are determined to meet a density threshold are promoted to a pre-translated segment class. The pages of these segments are moved to a contiguous portion of memory and the segment table entry corresponding to the segment is updated to indicate the segment to be a pre-translated segment and to include the base real address for the contiguous portion of memory. In one embodiment, as each page is moved, its page table entry is updated to point to the new location of the page so that the page is still accessible during promotion of the segment to a pre-translated segment. In this way, virtual-to-real address translation may be performed by concatenating the segment base real address, the page identifier, and a byte offset into the page.

Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit comprises (1) an isolation device comprising a control terminal and first and second terminals, the first terminal of the isolation device coupled to a signal line, (2) a gated diode comprising first and second terminals, the first terminal of the gated diode coupled to the second terminal of the isolation device, and the second terminal of the gated diode coupled to a set line; and (3) control circuitry coupled to the control terminal of the isolation device and adapted to control voltage on the control terminal of the isolation device in order to enable and disable the isolation device. A latch circuit further comprises a precharge device comprising a control terminal and first and second terminals, the first terminal of the precharge device coupled to a power supply voltage, and the second terminal of the precharge device coupled to the first terminal of the isolation device.

Abstract: A method for maintaining data access during failure of a controller in a multiple controller storage subsystem (103) is provided. The storage subsystem (103) has an array of data storage devices (109) and more than one controller (104, 105) for managing the data storage. The method comprises a first controller (201) saving its internal state information (212) and, optionally, resetting itself (213). One or more of the other controllers (202, 203) carry out the steps of pausing operation of the controller (221, 231), saving internal state information of the controller at the time of pausing (222, 232), and continuing operation of the controller (223, 233). The one or more other controllers (202, 203) may pause operation and save their internal state information when they receive a message broadcast (220, 230) from the first controller (201) which has detected an error.

Abstract: Content addressable data storage and compression for semi-persistent computer memory for a database management system including providing a data structure that associates data identifiers and retrieval keys for memory blocks for storing in semi-persistent memory data from the database management system; searching for a segment of a chunk of data from the database management system that matches a memory block from semi-persistent memory; and if a matching segment is found: discarding the matching segment; storing in the data structure in the database management system a retrieval key for the matching segment in association with a data identifier; identifying an unmatched portion of the chunk that does not match the memory block; storing the unmatched portion semi-persistently in a free memory block from a file system; and storing in the data structure in the database management system a retrieval key for the unmatched portion in association with the data identifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for computerized synchronization of an audio stream having a first synchronized textual representation usable for subtitling of the audio stream in the original language, with a second synchronized textual representation which can be used as an alternative subtitle including a transcription of the original language into another language. Time synchronous links can be built between the audio stream and, for instance, the textual representations of the words spoken in the audio stream. More particularly, the second representation can inherit the synchronization between the audio stream and the first representation using structure association information determined between the first and the second representation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a patterned silicon-on-insulator substrate which includes dual depth SOI regions or both SOI and non-SOI regions within the same substrate. The method of the present invention includes forming a silicon mask having at least one opening on a surface of Si-containing material, recessing the Si-containing material through the at least one opening using an etching process to provide a structure having at least one recess region and a non-recessed region, and forming a first buried insulating region in the non-recessed region and a second buried insulating region in the recessed region. In accordance with the present invention, the first buried insulating region in the non-recessed region is located above the second buried isolation region in the recessed region. A lift-off step can be employed to remove the first buried insulating region and the material that lies above to provide a substrate containing both SOI and non-SOI regions.

Abstract: A system and method that selects applications that are allowed to be performed by a particular user using a particular workstation is provided. The system identifies one or more roles that have been assigned to the user and matches the identified roles with one or more roles that have been assigned to the workstation. Roles that are allowed for both the workstation and the user are enabled to be used by the user using the workstation. In one embodiment, a user may be allowed to perform multiple roles from the user's workstation. The available roles are selected using an interface, such as a pop-up menu. In one embodiment, the desktop packages and components are received by, displayed on, and launched from a operating system platform-neutral shell application, such as a Java software application running on a Java virtual machine. In this manner, the packages and components are platform-independent.

Abstract: A single-mode optical waveguide with a core, surrounded by a cladding consisting of an inner soft layer and an outer harder layer is described. The outer layer has a grating structure on its inner surface, whose spatial frequency is the same as that of the guided mode. The thickness of the inner cladding is sufficient to keep the grating outside the mode field in undeformed regions of the waveguide, so that normally no out-coupling of the light results. Connections are made by crossing two such waveguides at an angle and pressing them together. This results in deformation of the two waveguides such that the gratings are brought into proximity with the cores. Light is coupled out of one waveguide and into the other in the deformed region, resulting in a self-aligning optical connection. The out-coupled light propagates normal to the waveguide axis, so errors in the crossing angle cause little change in efficiency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to monitor a container associated with an item. According to one embodiment, an indication that a container has been opened is received. For example, the container may transmit a signal when a person opens the container to access an item. Based on the received indication, ownership of the item may be transferred and/or another item may be provided (e.g., to the person who opened the container). According to other embodiments, item quality information, item warranty information, and/or security information are determined based on the received indication. According to still other embodiments, a sender receives a notification based on the indication or the indication is recorded as an acceptance of an agreement. In yet another embodiment, the indication is used to verify that the container was opened in accordance with an item requirement.

Abstract: A method for distribution of wear for a touch display, includes: providing at least one graphic at a first location on a touch display, where the display includes at least one target area corresponding to the graphic; registering a first touch within the target area; and moving the graphic to a second location on the touch display, where the target area moves in accordance with its corresponding graphic. By moving the target area in this manner, the wear of the touch display is distributed to avoid accelerated wear of particular target areas due to repeated use.

Abstract: A conveyor system for a self-checkout apparatus including a first side support rail having an inner side and an outer side and a second side support rail spaced apart from said first side support rail and positioned parallel thereto, where the second side support rail includes an inner side and an outer side. The system also includes a first motor mount affixed to the first side support rail at a first end, a second motor mount affixed to the second side support rail at the first end, and a drive roller having a knurled surface. The drive roller transmits a driving force from a drive motor and positioned at one end of the first side support rail and the second side support rail. The system further includes a return roller positioned at a second end of the first side support rail and the second side support rail, a pair of first tracking guides provided adjacent both ends of the driver roller, a pair of second tracking guides provided adjacent both ends of the return roller and a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A tape head comprised of a substrate and a closure coupled to the substrate. Read and/or write elements are embedded in the substrate. Contact pads are coupled to the substrate, the pads being in electrical communication with the read and/or write elements. At least one lapping element is embedded in the substrate. Supplemental pads are coupled to the substrate, the supplemental pads being in electrical communication with at least one lapping element. A tape head according to another embodiment includes a substrate, a patterned (e.g. generally U-shaped, rectangular, etc.) closure formed on the substrate, read and/or write elements embedded in the substrate, and two rows of contact pads coupled to the substrate, the pads being in electrical communication with the read and/or write elements.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for ordering multiple elements within a set of elements in a list in a data processing system. The set of elements are presented in a list format in a graphical user interface. The present invention waits for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the first user input, monitoring is performed for a second user input indicating a movement of the selected elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the second user input, the selected elements are automatically reordered within the set of elements based on the user input. In this manner, the elements may be manipulated within the list using a single user input rather that requiring a user input to manipulate each element individually.

Abstract: A method and system for providing distributed printing is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of printers, at least one print spooler, and at least one relational database coupled with the print spooler. The print spooler(s) are for managing printing operations. The relational database(s) are coupled with the print spooler. The relational database also includes a plurality of tables that store a plurality of print objects.

Abstract: The process, apparatus, and system estimate the size of a data block in a data buffer to efficiently recover the data block to the memory of a computer. The data block resides in a data buffer prior to being written to a destination medium. If the data block cannot be written to the destination medium, the process, apparatus, and system create a data block size estimate. The data block size estimate may be based on the size of the largest data block in the data buffer. Alternately, the data block size estimate may be based on the size of a data block in the memory of the computer. The computer reserves a memory space proportional to the data block size estimate and recovers the data block to the memory space.

Abstract: Computer networks are provided with a resource efficient ability to generate link performance statistics. Two counters accumulates the number of I/O operations processed by a link and the time required by the link to complete each I/O operation. The average link utilization per I/O operation may then be calculated. The number of operations per second for a link may be computed by dividing the output from the first counter by a predetermined period of time and the average number of operations using the link may be computed by dividing the output from the second counter by the predetermined period of time. An optional third counter may be employed to accumulate the number of bytes transferred by a link during each I/O operation and used to compute the average size of an I/O operation. The generated statistics are useful for such activities as problem resolution, load balancing and capacity planning.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for testing semiconductor devices, such as individual integrated circuits in semiconductor chips, by directing a current in each circuit through a respective selected predetermined path to establish, in each circuit, a respective focused magnetic field and converting each such magnetic field into a respective voltage which, when fed to respective amplifier gated with a respective selected frequency, will modulate each such respective voltage. Each such respective voltage is then used to create a respective pulsating magnetic field that when detected by a respective remote magnetic sensor will provide a series of respective signals representative of the current in the respective circuit from which the pulsating magnetic field was derived.