Abstract: A software module for use within an integrated circuit fabrication facility sends commands to a tool according to a method that operates with any tool that satisfies SEMI standards to add or subtract steps in a process without reprogramming or recompiling. The program operates autonomously to change parameters of commands that it sends to the tool to improve performance of the fab.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Padmavathi Chukka, Ying Du, Barry Herbold, Benjamin Herta, Krithikpriya Kunka, Frank Liang, Robert MacHugh, Sorabh Murgai, Thomas O'Leary, Chinmay Oza, Rakesh Parimi, Martin Soyka
Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for transforming markup language documents is provided. A first markup language document in a first format to be transformed into a second document of a second format is obtained. A reference to a source of a data fragment to be inserted into the second document is identified. A data fragment cache is interrogated. A determination of whether the data fragment is located in the data fragment cache is made. The first markup language document is transformed into the second document. The second document includes the data fragment.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 30, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Scott Boag, Gennaro Cuomo, Harvey Gunther
Abstract: A method and model for modeling a characteristic C that is distributed within a domain. A provided base equation expresses C as a function f of a variable V through use of N+1 parameters C0, C1, . . . , CN in the form C=f(C0, C1, . . . , CN, V), wherein N?1, and wherein C0, C1, . . . , CN are subject to uncertainty. A probability density function (PDF) is provided for describing the probability of occurrence of C0 in accordance with the uncertainty. Subsidiary equations expressing C1, . . . , CN in terms of C0 are provided. A value of C may be sampled by: providing a value V? of V; picking a random value C0R of C0 from the PDF; computing values C1R, . . . , CNR of C1, . . . , CN, respectively, by substituting C0R into the subsidiary equations; and calculating C by substituting C0R, C1R, . . . , CNR and V? into the base equation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 30, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Abstract: Method, apparatus and system for controlling input/output adapter data flow operations in a data processing system that includes at least one of a traffic class mechanism in conjunction with virtual channel resources so as to be able to associate Load/Store and DMA flows to/from an input/output adapter, and a relaxed ordering mechanism for associating a relaxed ordering bit to Load/Store operations to an input/output adapter. Functionality for controlling the input/output adapter data flow is provided in a host bridge that connects the input/output adapter to a system bus of the data processing system.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Richard Arndt, Patrick Buckland, Gregory Nordstrom, Steven Thurber
Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing enhanced power system performance. Power system data are processed and a power path in a power supply system having a predefined component failure mode is identified for placement of a fuse. Transient and steady state current levels are determined for each identified power path. A fuse size is selected within an identified fuse size range based upon the determined transient and steady state current levels. A selected fuse energy rating is lower than an energy rating of the solid-state devices in the identified power path.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Timothy Daun-Lindberg, Patrick Egan, Richard Fishbune, Nathan Mandelko
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.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 28, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Abstract: Inserting into a document at least one screen image of a computer software application including inserting a macro at a location in the document for the screen image, the macro including instructions for navigating the computer software application to the screen image and for capturing the screen image and executing the macro. In typical embodiments, inserting a macro at a location in the document for the screen image also includes navigating the computer software application to the screen image by a user's operations of user interface controls and capturing the user's operations of user interface controls as instructions for navigating the computer software application to the screen image. Typical embodiments also include executing the macro by navigating the computer software application to the screen image and storing the screen image in computer memory. Executing the macro may include executing the macro for a language in dependence upon regional configuration settings.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Brian Bauman, Amanda Burton, Michael Carlson, Herman Rodriguez
Abstract: Within a display device, a respective one of a plurality of design graphical representations is displayed for each of a plurality of hierarchically arranged design entity instances within a simulated system. The design entity instances include a particular design entity instance containing a latch that is represented by a particular design graphical representation. A configuration entity instance associated with the particular design entity is identified within a configuration database associated with the simulated system. The configuration entity instance has a plurality of different settings that each reflects a value of the latch. Within the display device, a configuration graphical representation of the configuration entity instance is presented in association with the particular design graphical representation corresponding to the particular design entity instance.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are described for implementing a trusted computing environment within a data processing system. The data processing system includes a primary hardware trusted platform module (TPM) and a secondary hardware backup TPM. The data processing system also includes multiple logical partitions. The primary hardware TPM is used to provide trusted computing services to the logical partitions. A determination is made as to whether the primary hardware TPM is malfunctioning. If a determination is made that the primary hardware TPM is malfunctioning, the secondary hardware TPM is designated as a new primary hardware TPM and is utilized instead of the primary TPM to provide trusted computing services to the logical partitions.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Steven Bade, Thomas Dewkett, Nia Kelley, Siegfried Sutter, Helmut Weber
Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple-gate transistor that includes a channel region and source and drain regions at ends of the channel region. A gate oxide is positioned between a logic gate and the channel region and a first insulator is formed between a floating gate and the channel region. The first insulator is thicker than the gate oxide. The floating gate is electrically insulated from other structures. Also, a second insulator is positioned between a programming gate and the floating gate. Voltage in the logic gate causes the transistor to switch on and off, while stored charge in the floating gate adjusts the threshold voltage of the transistor. The transistor can comprise a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET), where the channel region comprises the middle portion of a fin structure and the source and drain regions comprise end portions of the fin structure.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 28, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Abstract: A method for confirming an action on a display of a computer device includes selecting a button object to initiate the action and utilizing the button object to confirm the action. According to the method of the present invention, an action and its confirmation are enforced within the integral functionality of the same button object.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 2, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for sending a user's availability information to an instant messaging (IM) partner. A user predefines areas of the user's display and associates these predefined areas, or “hotspots”, with user defined messages. If the user is not available to immediately respond to an incoming message, the user may move the IM dialog window to a “hotspot” in the display. Depending upon the user-defined message associated with the “hotspot”, the IM application generates an automated response indicating the user's availability to respond to the message, and sends the message to the IM partner. The user also may predefine and associate the user's IM status with a “hotspot”. Moving an IM dialog window into a “hotspot” automatically changes the user's status based on the associated “hotspot”. This change is communicated to only the particular IM dialog window partner while other IM partners are unaffected.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Bethany Kessen, Craig Lawton, Jonathan Lewis, Martin Moore, Jesse Overby, Christopher Peters, Lorin Ullmann
Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring resources in a utility computing environment (UCE). Measurements are evaluated to determine whether or not a particular resource requires remedial or other type of action. A sliding measurement window is employed to assemble a number of measurements corresponding to a particular resource. The number of intervals in a sliding measurement window is based upon best practices corresponding to the resource being measured and analyzed. A first threshold-crossing event and subsequent events are stored until the window is full, or closed. When the window is closed, the threshold-crossing measurements are analyzed to determine whether or not there exists an issue with the resource that requires action. Once a window has been closed and analyzed, the first threshold-crossing event and each subsequent event up to a second threshold-crossing event are discarded and the window reopens.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Rhonda Childress, Miguel Gasca, Elfred Pagan, Abigail Tittizer
Abstract: A method (300) of placing a to-be-placed integrated circuit macro (404) adjacent one or more already-placed macros (400) aboard an integrated circuit chip (100). The method includes the step of performing a canonical ordering of the edges of the to-be-placed and already placed macros. Then, an edge constraint vector (500, 526) is generated for each active edge (668) of the already-placed macro(s) and each edge of the to-be-placed macro. Each of the edge constraint vectors of the to-be-placed macro is compared to each edge constraint vector of the active edge(s) using a string matching algorithm so as to determine whether any edges of the to-be-placed macro are compatible with any active edges of the already-placed macro(s). The method may be implemented in a CAD system (600).
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Robert Allen, Steven Lovejoy, Kevin McCullen
Abstract: There are many files in the current generation of computers, especially on the hardfile, that are not used or used only infrequently during operation. For instance, the system may contain many help text files which may never be accessed. The same applies to the DLL's. Also, some files are accessed only during a boot cycle. The present invention provides a method and program to track the locations of files in a computer which have been accessed so that, when an error occurs, only the files that need to be tested are diagnostically tested for errors, thus saving time and resources.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Joseph Freeman, Steven Goodman, Randall Springfield
Abstract: A method and structure for fabricating semiconductor wafers. The method comprises providing a plurality of semiconductor wafers. The plurality of semiconductor wafers comprises a first semiconductor wafer and a second semiconductor wafer. The first semiconductor wafer is located adjacent to the second semiconductor wafer. A relationship is provided between a plurality of values for an electrical characteristic and a plurality of materials. A material is chosen from the plurality of materials existing in the relationship. A substructure is formed comprising the material sandwiched between a topside of the first semiconductor wafer and a backside of a portion of the of the second semiconductor wafer. The plurality of semiconductor wafers are placed into a furnace comprising an elevated temperature for processing resulting in a value for the first semiconductor wafer of the electrical characteristic that corresponds to said material in said relationship.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Casey Grant, Heidi Greer, Steven Shank, Michael Triplett
Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided for migrating entity relationship data residing in an object oriented program environment to a relational database schema. Further, functionality is provided to facilitate more efficient searching and reconstruction of the entity relationship data in the relational database.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Abstract: Computer systems with direct updating of cache (e.g., primary L1 cache) memories of a processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU). Special addresses are reserved for high speed memory. Memory access requests involving these reserved addresses are routed directly to the high speed memory. Memory access requests not involving these reserved addresses are routed to memory external to the processor.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Bruce Beukema, Jon Kriegel, Jamie Kuesel, Eric Mejdrich, Robert Shearer, Bruce Walk
Abstract: The present invention provides a method for retarding the diffusion of dopants from a first material layer (typically a semiconductor) into an overlayer or vice versa. In the method of the present invention, diffusion of dopants from the first semiconductor into the overlayer or vice versa is retarded by forming a monolayer comprising carbon and oxygen between the two layers. The monolayer is formed in the present invention utilizing a chemical pretreatment process in which a solution including iodine and an alcohol such as methanol is employed.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 30, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Inventors:
Kevin Chan, Huajie Chen, Michael Gribelyuk, Judson Holt, Woo-Hyeong Lee, Ryan Mitchell, Renee Mo, Dan Mocuta, Werner Rausch, Paul Ronsheim, Henry Utomo
Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for predicting the availability of an instant messaging user in an instant messaging system and providing that information to a message sender. The present invention analyzes a user's collaborative data to determine the user's availability to respond to an instant message and monitors z-order movement of an instant messaging window on a user's screen to determine how much attention the user is paying to the instant messaging. The instant messaging application then uses the collaborative data and the z-order information to predict the availability of the user to respond to the instant message. This information is subsequently displayed to an instant messaging partner in the partner's instant messaging window.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 29, 2004
Publication date:
February 2, 2006
Applicant:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Bethany Kessen, Craig Lawton, Jonathan Lewis, Martin Moore, Jesse Overby, Christopher Peters, Lorin Ullmann