Abstract: A method for performing configuration tasks prior to and including memory configuration within a processor based system is disclosed. A memory location is first reserved by a basic input/output system (BIOS) firmware for each individual BIOS task. A target routine is then performed using the reserved memory location by the BIOS firmware. The target routine is designed to perform a specific BIOS task. Finally, the reserved memory location is released by the BIOS firmware, after the target routine has been successfully completed.

Abstract: A method of enabling a Web browser user to interact with a given application running on a Web server begins by constructing and returning a cookie to the Web browser upon a given occurrence, e.g., user login to the application. Without additional user input, the routine then forces the Web browser to check with the Web server that the cookie was set on the Web browser. Preferably, this is accomplished by sending the cookie from the Web server in a refresh page that redirects the HTTP flow back to itself with a parameter to check if the cookie was set. At the Web server, a test is then done to determine whether the cookie is valid. If so, the user is allowed to interact with the given server application (e.g., to take a given action or to log off from the application without closing the Web browser). A novel cookie construction and validation mechanism is also described.

Abstract: A damping device with a top element, a bottom element, and a viscoelastic element between the top and bottom elements. The damping device exerts significant shear displacement across the viscoelastic element upon deflecting. The damping device may have first and second ends and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The damping device may have a generally longitudinal extension with an elevation in the direction of the top element in the intermediate portion. The elevation may have a substantially triangular V-shape when the damping device is unloaded. A system in accordance with the principles of the present invention including a system cabinet, a plurality of carriers mounted in the system cabinet for receiving hard disk drives, and a plurality of damping devices according to the invention mounted between the carriers and the system cabinet.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing drag-out is provided. The apparatus is arranged at an exit where a workpiece leaves a plating chamber. Brush members are arranged to contact both sides of the workpiece as it leaves the plating chamber. The brush members are adjustably arranged in a housing such that the angle of the brush member relative to the workpiece can be varied. A locking mechanism is provided to hold the brush member at a selected angle. The entire apparatus is adjustably inward and outward with respect to the workpiece as well as with respect to the plating chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for updating a registry object during the installation of a computer program on a computer system. The operating system includes an installation program that updates the registry object during installation of the computer program on the computer system. The registry object and installation program are operating system specific. During execution of the program, a call is made to a cross-platform installation program. The cross-platform installation program is capable of installing the computer program on different operating system platforms. The cross-platform installation program installs the installed components for the computer program on the computer system. The cross-platform installation program further makes a call to an operating system interface program specific to the operating system on which the computer program is being installed.

Abstract: A frame for inserting and/or removing circuit cards from the housing of a machine includes a circuit card carrier connected to a locking CAM slide that is disposed to move within the channel of an actuator bar. A slot with a locking feature is fabricated on the locking CAM slide. A pin extending from a surface of the actuator bar into the channel coacts with the locking mechanism to lock the actuator bar relative to the locking CAM.

Abstract: A method of forming a dual damascene pattern in a dielectric, includes etching a pattern of lines minus vias overlapping the lines to a line depth, leaving the dielectric unetched at the via locations; while the vias are etched in a separate step, starting from the top surface of the dielectric and continuing to a via depth greater than the line depth.

Abstract: A method of maintaining cache-coherency in a multi-processor computer system provides new states to indicate that a sector in an upstream cache has been modified, without executing unnecessary bus transactions for the lower-level cache(s). These new “U” states can indicate which sector in the cache line was modified, or if the cache line was the subject of a cachable write-through operation. The protocol is implemented as an improvement to the prior-art “MESI” cache-coherency protocol. The new protocol is especially useful in handling allocate-and-zero instructions wherein data is modified in the cache (zeroed out) without first fetching the old data from memory. In the embodiment wherein there are only two sectors in a given cache line, three new states are provided to indicate which sector was modified, or whether any cachable write-through operation was performed on the cache line of the first-level cache.

Abstract: A structure and method for checking semiconductor designs for design rule violations includes generating a predicted printed structure (i.e., an ideal image) based on the semiconductor designs, altering the ideal image to include potential manufacturing variations, thereby producing at least two production images representing different manufacturing qualities, and comparing the production images to the design rules to produce an error list.

Abstract: A process for removing material from a substrate. The material is exposed to an aqueous solution comprising about 4% to about 30% of at least one acid and at least one surfactant.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for improving recognition of patterns such as alphanumeric characters. A known recognition system is expanded to further include a complementary recognition system which is linked with the primary recognition system. An image that can not be positively recognized by the primary recognition system is passed on to the complementary recognition system and any characters not positively recognized by the complementary recognition are again passed on to a correction system. At the correction system, an operator classifies unrecognized characters which are then used to teach the complementary recognition system. Thus, the classified data of the correction system provide the training data for a continuous training process which is coupled with the correction system by a pattern adaptation system.

Abstract: An optimized HTML (HyperText Markup Language) viewer formats documents and other information into a convenient, newspaper-like, multi-column format. The viewer can display one or many documents simultaneously, wherein a new document can be appended to the end of a currently displayed document. A multiple-column document can be scrolled by whole columns, images in documents are scaled as necessary, and tables are intelligently broken across multiple columns at row boundaries.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for implementing translatable text in user modifiable standard query language (SQL) scripts. A set of multiple queries are generated including comments and associated delimited names. The comments and associated delimited names are translated into multiple language versions. A user selected national language is identified. The user selected national language version of the translated comments and associated delimited names are utilized for generating a query. In accordance with features of the invention, the user is given the option to view the query and to make any desired modifications.

Abstract: A system and method for balancing a load among a web server farm includes two components: 1) a static component that functions to create the logical assignment of web sites to servers; and, 2) a dynamic component that performs real-time web site customer scheduling. The static component consists of two stages. First, based on web site demand forecasts, an optimization technique is employed for solving an apportionment problem to determine the optimal number of copies per web site. Second, a method is implemented which makes good quality logical assignments of these optimal number of web site copies to servers and may be run either in initial or incremental mode. The incremental mode is preferably run periodically, e.g., once per week or once per month, however, one could also run this mode when the cluster farm configuration changes, for example when new servers are added to the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method attaching a heatsink to a surface of an electronic package comprising a substrate, an integrated circuit chip attached to the surface of the substrate, an encapsulant encapsulating the integrated circuit chip and contacting at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, and an orifice formed in the top portion of the encapsulant to attach the heatsink to the surface of the electronic package. The heatsink may be attached and removed as desired to allow for package identification or rework.

Abstract: A system and method for automating the contract negotiation and preparation cycle and for electronically facilitating subsequent contractual activities executed pursuant to the contract. The system for generating a contract comprises a Business Rules Book containing a set of rules from which specific rules may be selected for inclusion in the contract. A Terms and Conditions Set representing a unique set of instances of rules selected from the Business Rules Book is selected from a plurality of stored Terms and Conditions Sets. The seller and the buyer settle the provisions of the contract by agreeing to a mutually acceptable set of Terms and Conditions. The administering organization creates a Product List Filter specific to each seller or buyer, targeting products in which there is a mutual interest.

Abstract: A differential linear amplifier includes a main differential amplification circuit, coupled to receive a differential input signal at the input of the amplifier and to generate a differential output signal at the output of the amplifier. Odd- and even-order compensation circuits respectively sample odd- and even-order harmonic currents in the main differential amplification circuit and amplify the sampled currents so as to generate odd- and even-order compensation signals for subtraction from the differential output signal. A filter provides phase matching of second- and third-order harmonic components at a desired frequency at the output of the amplifier between the differential output signal and the even- and odd-order compensation signals.

Abstract: A polarized component is obtained with a high conversion efficiency in a light guide which produces one of the polarized components by having it transmitted. The light from a light source is incident to a light guide which comprises a plurality of light guide layers and reflected by the end surface to an interface between the light guide layers. The polarized component transmitting through the end surface is rotated in its polarization plane by a wave length plate and reflected by a reflecting plate for reentrance to the light guide at the end surface of the light guide toward the interface. The reentering light mostly transmits through the interface because the polarization plane is rotated. A reflected light polarized component is returned to the wave length plate and the reflecting plate, and directed back to the interface again. The polarized component transmitting through the interface is similarly transmitted and reflected in the next interface.

Abstract: A system and method for presentation of user interface for conducting contractual activity over a computer network. The contract comprises a Business Rules Book containing a set of rules from which specific rules may be selected for inclusion in the contract, Terms and Conditions Set representing a unique set of instances of rules selected from the Business Rules Book is selected from a plurality of stored Terms and Conditions Sets, and a Product List Filter specific to each seller or buyer, targeting products in which there is a mutual interest. Contractual activities are executed through user interfaces developed by the parameters in the contract and are executed through the contract, which automatically inserts values from the terms and conditions of the contract.

Abstract: A method of and a system for processing a transaction on an end user application and an application server. This is accomplished by initiating the transaction on the end user application in a first language (such as a markup language) with a first application program (such as a Web browser), and transmitting the transaction to the server and converting the transaction from the first language of the first end user application to a language running on the application server, processing the transaction on the application server, and transmitting the transaction from the application server back to the end user application, and converting the transaction from the language running on the application server to the language of the end user application.