Abstract: Application of an adhesion promoter to a cap layer and oxidation of the adhesion promoter prior to deposition of an organic interlevel dielectric thereon reduces via resistance problems during thermal cycles of semiconductor wafers embodying multiple levels of metal and organic interlevel dielectrics.

Abstract: A keyboard integrated with a computer with a mechanism for determining a pressure sensitivity needed to register a desired keystroke is disclosed. A keystroke is registered for a given key if a force on the given key exceeds the determined pressure sensitivity. A user configuration profile can be utilized to specify a needed pressure sensitivity. Pressure sensitivity can also be determined dynamically. A threshold amount of pressure needed to register a keystroke can be compared to a measured amount of pressure applied during the keystroke and if the measured pressure meets the threshold pressure, the keystroke is registered. A control module, which can include an alphanumeric scale, can be utilized to set a threshold amount of pressure needed to register a keystroke. Some embodiments can also include a threshold amount of pressure set for each individual key.

Abstract: A system and method for thread scheduling with a weak preemption policy is provided. The scheduler receives requests from newly ready work. The scheduler adds a “preempt value” to the current work's priority so that it is somewhat increased for preemption purposes. The preempt value can be adjusted in order to make it more, or less, difficult for newly ready work to preempt the current work. A “less strict” preemption policy allows current work to complete rather than interrupting the current work and resume it at a later time, thus saving system overhead. Newly ready work that is queued with a better priority than the current work is queued in a favorable position to be executed after the current work is completed but before other work that has been queued with the same priority of the current work.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product provide an annealing process for setting a magnetization condition of a read head. An amount of heat for stabilizing magnetization condition of a read head is calculated. A width and amplitude of a voltage pulse that generates the calculated amount of heat in the read head are calculated. A voltage pulse of the calculated width and amplitude is applied to the read head for generating Joule heating in the read head. The width of the voltage pulse is less than one second.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for data communications. A transmitter transmits a plurality of packets, wherein each packet is transmitted after a time interval. A receiver receives at least one part of the plurality of packets. The receiver determines whether all parts of a packet are received before expiration of the time interval, wherein the received packet is valid if all parts are received before the expiration of the time interval.

Abstract: A described computer network includes a first computer system and a second computer system. The first computer system transmits screen image information and corresponding speech information to the second computer system. The screen image information includes information corresponding to a screen image intended for display within the first computer system. The speech information conveys a verbal description of the screen image. When the screen image includes one or more objects (e.g., menus, dialog boxes, icons, and the like) having corresponding semantic information, the speech information includes the corresponding semantic information. The second computer system responds to the speech information by producing an output (e.g., human speech via an audio output device, a tactile output via a Braille output device, and the like). The semantic information conveyed by the output allows a visually-impaired user of the second computer system to know intended purposes of the objects.

Abstract: A method and system for updating a root of trust measurement (RTM) function in a personal computer is disclosed. The RTM function is located in a boot block of the personal computer. The method and system comprise initializing a request to update the RTM function and unlocking the boot block based on an authentication process. The method and system further includes updating the RTM function. Through the use of the method and system in accordance with the present invention, the RTM function in a personal computer is updated in a manner that ensures that the update is authentic.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and structure for fabricating a trench capacitor within a semiconductor substrate having a buried plate electrode formed of metal silicide. A collar is formed in a trench etched into a substrate; a conformal metal film is deposited thereover, and is annealed to form a silicide that is self-aligned to the collar. Silicide will not be formed on the collar, pads and other areas where the silicon is not directly exposed and hence the metal layer can be removed from these areas by selective etching.

Abstract: A collaborative workload management system comprises a workload scheduler co-operable with a schedule to submit work units for processing on a computer system according to the schedule; and a workload manager adapted to monitor work units being submitted for processing and to allocate resources for processing respective work units on the computer system according to a respective service class of the work units. The workload manager retrieves the work unit attributes and tunes the resources required to process the work unit according to the work unit's targeted completion schedule without exceeding the resources allowed for processing work units of the work unit's service class.

Abstract: A network processor is used for the routing of objects in non-data networking applications. The processor utilizes the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) algorithm to capitalize on the benefits of data control for object traffic control and costs. A network processor is used at each point in a grid represented by intersecting paths. One or more routing tables are embedded in each network processor. Each routing table describes links with other network processors in the grid to which the network processor is interconnected. A cost factor is associated with each link and is constantly updated by the OSPF as new information becomes available. If a link or route becomes unavailable, the cost is set at infinity. The system then creates an alternative path for the object between a source and the desired destination that bypasses the unavailable link or route.

Abstract: A method for physically executing parallel operations in a resource manager (10) while retaining the effect of a defined logical serial ordering is provided. A plurality of operations is applied by a client application (16, 17, 18) to the resource manager (10). The method includes commencing a transaction between the client application (16, 17, 18) and the resource manager (10). The resource manager (10) receives a plurality of operations from the client application (16, 17, 18) in a logical order. The client application (16, 17, 18) indicates to the resource manager (100 that these operations can be applied in parallel. The resource manager (10) implements the operations in parallel and controls the parallel operations to ensure that the plurality of operations is executed such that the result of the parallel execution is the same as the result that would have been achieved by serial execution in the logical order. The transaction then ends.

Abstract: The present invention generally is directed to a system, method and article of manufacture for accessing data independent of the particular manner in which the data is physically represented. In one embodiment, a data repository abstraction layer provides a logical view of the underlying data repository that is independent of the particular manner of data representation. In one embodiment, the data repository abstraction layer specifies a location of data in a repository and a method for accessing the data. A query abstraction layer is also provided and is based on the data repository abstraction layer. A runtime component performs translation of an abstract query into a form that can be used against a particular physical data representation.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for reducing overhead associated with software lock monitoring in a multiple-processor data processing system having a memory that is shared among the multiple processors. Multiple memory locations in the shared-memory are associated with one of multiple locks. Overhead is reduced by generating a trace hook only in response to activity associated with lock misses.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for providing an editing mode for a graphical user interface (GUI) is described. A toggle widget is provided to a user of a GUI during execution of the application presenting the GUI. When the user presses the toggle widget, the GUI is placed in an editing mode, whereby the normal functions of all of the widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, are suspended. While in editing mode, the user is allowed to modify the locations of all of the widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget. The user subsequently modifies the locations of widgets of the GUI. Then, the user presses the toggle widget again and the GUI is exited from editing mode. Once exited from editing mode, the normal functions of all of the widgets of the GUI are restored and the new locations of the widgets are fixed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for updating a flash memory. A configuration of the flash memory is determined to form an identified configuration. A code update is applied to the flash memory based on the identified configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for testing one or more electrical components. The apparatus and method execute similar portions of a test segment on a known device, i.e., a device for which it has been determined that the test segment executes successfully, and on a device-under-test (DUT), i.e., a device for which it has been determined that the test segment does not execute successfully. The results of the tests are compared to determine if the test passed or failed. The test segment is executed iteratively on the known device and the DUT, increasing or decreasing the amount of the test segment that is executed each pass until the failing instruction is identified.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus is disclosed to allow a wrist pad to be rotationally mounted to a forward end of a computer. The wrist pad is operably coupled to a leg near the rearward end of the computer. Rotation of the wrist pad causes a linkage to draw the leg inward into the computer or extend the leg outward from the computer. The wrist pad can be placed in a storage configuration against an exterior surface of the computer or the wrist pad can be placed in a configuration in front of the computer or on top of a keyboard when the computer is opened and configured for use. Placing the wrist pad in at least two operable positions gives the user flexibility in relieving pressure points along the user's lower arm and hand area. Also, placing the wrist pad in a storage configuration makes the exterior surface of the stored pad coplanar with the exterior surface of the computer.

Abstract: A method for detecting semiconductor process stress-induced defects. The method comprising: providing a polysilicon-bounded test diode, the diode comprising a diffused first region within an upper portion of a second region of a silicon substrate, the second region of an opposite dopant type from the first region, the first region surrounded by a peripheral dielectric isolation, a peripheral polysilicon gate comprising a polysilicon layer over a dielectric layer and the gate overlapping a peripheral portion of the first region; stressing the diode; and monitoring the stressed diode for spikes in gate current during the stress, determining the frequency distribution of the slope of the forward bias voltage versus the first region current at the pre-selected forward bias voltage and monitoring, after stress, the diode for soft breakdown. A DRAM cell may be substituted for the diode. The use of the diode as an antifuse is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microstrip-type of circuit board is used as a source driver for a liquid crystal display. Video signal buses extend in a longitudinal direction on the board. Along a centerline of the longitudinal direction of the board, there are provided through vias to which a signal from a tab driver is propagated. Each video signal bus has a plurality of through vias disposed symmetrically with respect to the though vias disposed along the centerline of the longitudinal direction of the board, with tab leads electrically connected to the symmetrically disposed through via. The substantial symmetry of the circuit board provides the advantage of substantially suppressing EMI.

Abstract: An efficient input/output (I/O) retry method which can be implemented in an enterprise-server configured with QDIO. The method can include attempting a QDIO-based data transfer between outbound and inbound queues in respective sending and target LPARs in the enterprise server. Responsive to detecting a busy condition resulting from the attempt; it can be determined whether the busy condition arose from an asynchronous busy condition. If it is determined that the busy condition arose from an asynchronous busy condition in the target LPAR, any attempt to retry the QDIO-based data transfer can be delayed. Subsequent to the delay, the QDIO-based data transfer can be re-attempted.