Abstract: A modification of rank priority arbitration for access to computer system resources through a shared pipeline that provides more equitable arbitration by allowing a higher ranked request access to the shared resource ahead of a lower ranked requester only one time. If multiple requests are active at the same time, the rank priority will first select the highest priority active request and grant it access to the resource. It will also set a ‘blocking latch’ to prevent that higher priority request from re-gaining access to the resource until the rest of the outstanding lower priority active requesters have had a chance to access the resource.

Abstract: A continually improving method for providing information to receivers which can include the step of receiving a request from a remotely located information requestor that specifies at least one information receiver. A transaction can be initiated to handle the request. The transaction can utilize previously recorded information to determine at least one adjustable condition to be used. The previously recorded information can be specific to the information requestor and/or the information receiver. The transaction can generate at least one result for the information receiver. The generated result can be tailored for information privileges granted to the information receiver by an information controller. The result can be conveyed to the information receiver. Feedback can be received concerning the result. At least one of the adjustable conditions can be adjusted in accordance with the feedback. The recorded information can be changed to include the adjusted condition.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for controlling data packet traffic flow into a link partner device such as an ethernet adapter. In one embodiment, an occupancy level of an adapter receive queue is monitored to detect a receive queue overrun or underrun condition or event. The detected overrun or underrun condition or event is utilized as the criteria for adjusting a pause time value within a pause time flow control frame. The pause time flow control frame is transmitted from the link partner device to a corresponding remote link partner device to pause data packet transmission in accordance with the adjusted pause time value.

Abstract: A method and structure for a single or dual damascene interconnect structure comprises forming wiring lines in a metallization layer over a substrate, shaping a laminated insulator stack above the metallization layer, patterning a hardmask over the laminated insulator stack, forming troughs in the hardmask, patterning the laminated insulator stack, forming vias in the patterned laminated insulator stack, creating sidewall spacers in the bottom portion of the vias, depositing an anti-reflective coating on the sidewall spacers, etching the troughs, removing the anti-reflective coating, depositing a metal layer in the troughs, vias, and sidewall spacers, and applying conductive material in the troughs and the vias. The laminated insulator stack comprises a dielectric layer further comprising oxide and polyarylene.

Abstract: Integrated circuits (IC) and a method of fabricating an IC, where the structure of the IC incorporates a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) thin film resistor below a first metal layer to achieve lower topography are disclosed. The resistor directly contacts any one of: a contact metal in the front-end-of-the-line (FEOL) structure; first metal layer in the BEOL interconnect; or the combination thereof, to avoid the necessity of forming contacts with differing heights or contacts over varying topography.

Abstract: A method of managing resources in a data processing configuration includes allocating system resources to an application to ensure a specified level of performance for the application. A system parameter is then modified to conserve power consumption upon detecting a condition resulting in a reduction of available system power. The original system resource allocation is then modified to maintain the specified level of performance following the modification of the system parameter. The system resources may include system CPU cycles and allocating system resources may include allocating a specified percentage of the CPU cycles to a high priority application. The reduction of available system power may be caused by an excessive ambient temperature or the failure of a power supply. Modifying the system parameter to conserve power consumption includes throttling the CPU speed and then dynamically increasing the percentage of CPU cycles allocated to the high priority application.

Abstract: A bus bridge for coupling between a first bus and a second bus includes: multiple ticket registers; a ticket dispenser counter; and a ticket call counter. The ticket dispenser counter dispenses a ticket value to a request received at the bridge from the first bus for access to the second bus. This ticket value is held in one ticket register of the multiple ticket registers. The ticket call counter provides ticket call values, and the request is granted access to the second bus when a current ticket call value equals the ticket value dispensed to the request. While the request waits for access to the second bus, the bus bridge can perform work on the request. When request coherency is maintained employing snooping, ticket values assigned to a plurality of requests maintain a snoop response ordering of the requests for access to the second bus.

Abstract: A method and system for authorizing access to resources requested by a first user. To begin the process, the first user submits an ID of the first user as an individual requesting access to one of the resources. The first user is also a member of a group comprising a plurality of individual users. A first table indicates at least one group of a plurality of individual users. A second table indicates which resources are accessible by which of the users and which resources are accessible by which of the groups. An authorization program compares the first user to entries in the first table to determine which group or groups the first user is a member. Next, the authorization program compares the first user and the group or groups in which the first user is a member to entries in the second table to determine which resources the first user is authorized to access.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fastening two substantially coplanar edges without a weld is disclosed. The method includes: configuring a dovetail feature on a first edge; configuring a complementary dovetail feature receptacle on a second edge to receive the dovetail feature therein; disposing the dovetail feature within the complementary dovetail receptacle; and swaging an interface defined between the dovetail feature in said first edge and said complementary dovetail feature in the second edge to swage mating edges defining the dovetail feature and the dovetail receptacle at at least six swage contact points. In one embodiment the swaging is with a hollow circle punch.

Abstract: A halftone spot function, for determining a shape of a halftone spot as a function of the intensity of an image being printed, is generated by creating one or two line segments forming a part of the shape of the spot function or by creating a number of contour lines that are interpolated to form the function. A halftone spot pattern is generated as a number of supercells, each of which includes a number of halftone spots, each defined within a halftone spot cell by a halftone spot function, with the supercell being defined to include a number of device pixels, each of which is fully inked of left without ink, a number of spot cells in each direction, and offset distance establishing angles of the lines dividing the spot cells from one another.

Abstract: A controller is provided for transitioning a drive signal to a single phase motor between a square wave and pulse width modulation modes, wherein the drive signal is in square wave mode at low motor frequencies and in pulse width modulation mode during normal operation. The transitioning includes using a real time motor model to effectuate transition of the drive signal between the modes, and a sampling rate for sampling the real time motor model during the transitioning. The sampling rate is automatically modified during the transitioning, wherein acceleration of the motor includes transitioning the drive signal from square wave mode to pulse width modulation mode, including periodically increasing the sampling rate during the transitioning. Conversely, when transitioning from pulse width modulation mode to square wave mode, the controller automatically deaccelerates the sampling rate during the transitioning.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for the automatic detection and fixing of security vulnerabilities in both individual software components and across complex, multi-component software solutions. The architecture of the software solution to be monitored is analyzed prior to its being monitored. Data derived from the analysis is used to proactively identify possible ways to attack the software solution. The software solution being monitored and the system on which it runs is periodically scanned, and attacks on it are attempted. A list of possible attacks is continuously updated, for example, in a manner similar to virus signatures provided by virus security companies, and a log is generated describing which attacks were successful and which ones failed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for packaging optical communication devices include optical bench structures, such as silicon-optical benches (SiOB). An optical communications apparatus includes an optical bench comprising a substrate having an electrical turning via formed therein. An optoelectronic (OE) chip and integrated circuit (IC) chip are mounted on the optical bench and electrically connected using the electrical turning via. The electrical turning via extends in directions both perpendicular and transverse to a surface of the substrate such that the OE chip and IC chip can be mounted on perpendicular surfaces of the optical bench in close proximity and electrically connected using the electrical turning via.

Abstract: When a user performs a specified operation, a resolution changing unit 22 changes display resolution of a display device 10, allowing the size of texts and images, which are displayed inside of a window, to be increased or decreased at a touch. In order not to maintain the position and size of a window in the display area before and after changing display resolution, an unchanged information acquisition unit 21 acquires the position and size of the window before changing resolution, and then a window display changing unit 23 performs window display processing using the acquired information. In addition, the resolution of texts and images displayed inside of a window is changed with change of display resolution.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for programmatically calculating directions (or other types of paths between points) without reliance on proprietary file formats or binary shape files, and without requiring application programmers to write code that performs complex manipulations of directed graphs. Preferred embodiments leverage built-in functions of a spatially-enabled object relational database system. Information about intersections between streets is used in a novel manner to compute paths between points. The intersection information is preferably obtained from precomputed information stored in a spatially-enabled relational database table.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product for differential particle detection in electronic devices is provided. A first particulate sensor is positioned in proximity to an air intake of the electronic device. A second particulate sensor is positioned in proximity to the air exhaust of the device. A comparator compares the particulate concentrations detected by the first and second particulate sensors. Differential particle detection between the air intake and air exhaust of an electronic device enables early detection of potential fire conditions existing within the electronic device.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal device having a uniform vertical alignment, a method for fabricating it easily, and its fabricating apparatus in fabricating an ECB-type vertically aligned liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal device includes liquid crystal molecules 12 each having a negative dielectric anisotropy and polyimide films for homogeneous alignment, wherein a method for fabricating a liquid crystal device including a process of vertically orienting liquid crystal molecules is constructed by exposing the liquid crystal molecules to light from either or both sides of substrates 14 of the liquid crystal device whose liquid crystal molecules each having a negative dielectric anisotropy are homogeneously oriented using polyimide films for homogeneous alignment. In addition, an aligner used for exposure is equipped with a filer so as to cut light having wavelengths of 400 nm or less and 600 nm or more, so that light having a wavelength of 400 to 600 nm can be utilized.

Abstract: A dual mode write driver providing both a voltage mode of operation and a current mode of operation by combining the required topology in a write driver circuit to allow either current mode operation or voltage mode operation. A logic control signal is applied to an input to the dual mode write driver to cause the circuit to configure for either voltage mode operation or current mode operation. The dual mode write driver is typically used in a tape or disk drive system to write data onto a tape or disk recording medium. The dual mode write driver has a first PFET (P3) coupled to a first NFET (N1) at a first node which is connected through a resistor (R1) to a first side of a write head (L1) of the write driver, and a second PFET (P4) coupled to a second NFET (N2) at a second node which is connected through a resistor (R2) to a second side of the write head.

Abstract: A system and method for managing voicemails using metadata is presented. The metadata includes an audible introduction which a user records and associates the audible introduction to a voicemail. The user is also able to associate other types of metadata to a voicemail, such as a description data flag, a reminder flag, and a retention flag. Once the user associates the metadata with a voicemail, the user is able to retrieve the audible introduction and the voicemail in a sequential manner or through search criteria. The user is able to customize metadata based upon the user's requirements.

Abstract: A cross-coupled voltage controlled oscillator having reduced phase noise. A pair of bipolar transistors having common emitter connections are coupled to reduce that oscillation frequency which is determined from a tuning circuit connected across the collectors of transistors. First and second varactor diodes provide analog tuning of the circuit, and a digitally controlled capacitor provides for a selection of a band of frequencies to be tuned by the varactor diodes. A current source provides the current to the emitter connections of the bipolar transistors. Second harmonic signals generated at the emitter of the transistors are significantly suppressed by a tuned filtered trap connected to the common emitter connections. By reducing the second harmonic signals, the phase noise or the voltage controlled oscillator can be significantly improved.