Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates placing flip-flops in an integrated circuit based on timing requirements. The system operates by first receiving a netlist for flip-flop connectivity. Next, the system determines a metal layer class definition for each signal in the netlist based upon timing requirements of a corresponding flip-flop. The system then classifies a flip-flop instance using the metal layer class definition by defining a flip-flop type for each flip-flop instance and associating the flip-flop with a group of other flip-flops that have a same metal layer class definition. Finally, determining a position for the group by replacing an existing repeater in the integrated circuit with the group of flip-flops.

Abstract: A graphics system comprises pixel calculation units and a sample buffer which stores a two-dimensional field of samples. Each pixel calculation unit selects positions in the two-dimensional field at which pixel values (e.g. red, green, blue) are computed. The pixel computation positions are selected to compensate for image distortions introduced by a display device and/or display surface. Non-uniformities in a viewer's perceived intensity distribution from a display surface (e.g. hot spots, overlap brightness) are corrected by appropriately scaling pixel values prior to transmission to display devices. Two or more sets of pixel calculation units driving two or more display devices adjust their respective pixel computation centers to align the edges of two or more displayed images. Physical barriers prevent light spillage at the interface between any two of the display images. Separate pixel computation positions may be used for distinct colors to compensate for color distortions.

Abstract: A system for leasing a group membership in a distributed processing system is provided. In accordance with this system, a remote object requests from an activation group a membership in the activation group for a period of time. Responsive to this request, the activation group determines an appropriate lease period during which time the remote object becomes a member of the activation group and runs in the same address space as other objects of the activation group.

Abstract: An electro-desorption actuator comprises a fixed member, a movable member which is coupled to the fixed member, a pressure chamber which is disposed between the fixed member and the movable member, and a sorption compression system which is in communication with the pressure chamber. The sorption compression system comprises first and second electrical conductors, a sorbent which is positioned between the first and second conductors, a sorbate which is capable of combining with the sorbent in an adsorption reaction to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, and a power supply which is connected to the conductors and which is selectively actuated to generate a current that is conducted through the sorbate/sorbent compound to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent in a desorption reaction. The sorbate is communicated from the sorption compression system to the pressure chamber during the desorption reaction and from the pressure chamber back to the sorption compression system during the adsorption reaction.

Abstract: A routing scheme using intention packets is contemplated. At times, one or more switching devices within a network may become overloaded with traffic or may encounter other adverse transmission conditions. When this occurs, a switching device may drop one or more packets to alleviate some of the congestion or other adverse condition. The switching devices may support a particular amount of resources (e.g. bandwidth, buffers, etc.) in and out of each of their ports. When a packet or a header portion of a packet arrives at a switching device, the switching device may determine what port the packet will need and the amount resources required by the packet on that port. If the required resources available for the packet on the port, then the switching device may route the packet to a next device. If the required resources are not available for the packet on the port, then the switching device may drop at least a portion of the packet. As opposed to or in addition to congestion (e.g.

Abstract: A socket, such as a Land Grid Array (LGA) socket, for forming electrical connections between a first surface having a first contact array and a second surface having a second contact array. The socket includes a plurality of compliant contacts, each contact inserted into one of a plurality of passages that extend through a plate. Each contact has a first contact surface for electrically engaging the first contact array, and a second contact surface for electrically engaging the second contact array. At least one of the contacts is a low current contact, and at least one of the contacts is a high current contact capable of passing more current than the low current contact.

Abstract: A method generates a test pattern for an integrated circuit (IC) design using a functional verification program. The functional verification program includes a stimulus generator, an expected-response generator, and an interface defining ports of the IC design. The method includes (a) converting input ports in the interface into bi-directional in/out ports, (b) supplying stimuli to the converted in/out ports and original in/out ports in the interface by executing the stimulus generator, (c) sampling the stimuli supplied to the converted in/out ports and the original in/out ports, and (d) recording the sampled stimuli. The method may further include (e) creating bi-directional shadow ports in the interface, the shadow ports corresponding to the in/out ports and output ports of the IC design, (f) supplying expected responses to the shadow ports by executing the expected-response generator, (g) sampling the expected responses from the shadow ports, and (h) recording the sampled expected response.

Abstract: A housing is provided for a modular computer system. The housing comprises a face through which a first removable computer system module is receivable at a module receiving location. The housing also comprises a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for extending a program element in a dynamically typed programming language. In one embodiment, a program element is extended without altering the source code defining the program element. An extend structure is used to extend a program element in a particular program. In one embodiment, the program element is a function. The function is extended by adding code to be executed by the function. In another embodiment, the program element is an enumeration. The enumeration is extend by adding additional constants to the enumeration. In another embodiment, the program element is a class. In one embodiment, a class is extended by adding code to the constructor of the class. In another embodiment, a class is extended by adding member variables to the class. In yet another embodiment, a class is extended by adding member functions to the class.

Abstract: A crossbar switch is disclosed. The crossbar switch comprises a plurality of input sorting units and a plurality of merge and interleave units. Each input sorting unit is capable of receiving from a respective device an access request to any one of a plurality of physical memory devices. Each merge and interleave unit is capable of arbitrating among competing access requests received from any of the input sorting units, selecting one of the competing access requests and forwarding the selected request for implementation on a respective memory device. Also disclosed is method implemented by the crossbar switch.

Abstract: A system and method for rasterizing and rendering graphics data is disclosed. Vertices may be grouped to form primitives such as triangles, which are rasterized using two-dimensional arrays of samples bins. To overcome fragmentation problems, the system's sample evaluation hardware may be configured to over-evaluate samples each clock cycle. Since a number of the samples will typically not survive evaluation because they will be outside the primitive being rendered, the remaining surviving samples may be combined into sets, with one set being forwarded to subsequent pipeline stages each clock cycle in order to attempt to keep the pipeline utilization high.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a proxy cache preloader. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client intermediary having a proxy cache is used to provide multiple client computing devices with access to Internet data in the cache. When a device needs access to Internet data (i.e., a web page), a preloader/refresh mechanism is employed which uses a preloader algorithm. In one embodiment, the preloader algorithm checks to see if the current request is for an HTTP Uniform Resource Locator (URL). If not, the data is re-loaded into the proxy cache. If the current request is a request for HTTP, the preloader mechanism determines if optimization is enabled for the URL. If not, the data is re-loaded into the proxy cache. Otherwise, an information retrieval method (e.g., an HTTP GET) optimization algorithm is employed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates configuring the network interfaces coupling together a group of computers. The system operates by receiving a request at a computer to configure the group of computers into a cluster of computers that function in concert as a single unit. Next, the system establishes whether each network interface within the computer is private or public, wherein a private network interface is used for intercommunications within the cluster of computers and a public network interface is used for communications with client computers. Using the private interconnects, the system determines the connectivity among the plurality of computers. Next, the system calculates a configuration for the cluster of computers. This configuration is presented to an administrator, which allows the administrator to edit the configuration to establish a more desirable configuration. Finally, the cluster of computers is installed using the configuration.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for eliminating C recursion from interpreter loops are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for substantially eliminating C recursion from the execution of static initializer methods in a virtual machine environment includes rewriting native C code associated with a static initializer as a Java programming language method, and using a transition frame in a Java programming language stack to execute the Java programming language method. The method also includes using a native method to manipulate the Java programming language stack, and using a first opcode in the transition frame. In one embodiment, using the first opcode in the transition frame includes using the first opcode to determine that the transition frame is associated with the static initializer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for synchronizing and consolidating information from multiple source systems within a metadirectory system. The metadirectory contains peers such as adapters and join engines which may communicate in a peer-to-peer fashion. Adapters are associated with source systems and broadcast data changes. Join engines have specifications for combining data types to generate other data types and may request data from adapters. Special communication channels may be dedicated to data types and/or to query responses to join engines. The system scales well both horizontally and vertically without a centralized server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a reference voltage potential, also known as an input switching reference, using differential clock signals or other differential signals that ideally have a 180 degree phase shift is provided. The differential signals are generated by a transmitting circuit. The reference voltage potential is dependent on the differential signals. The voltage potentials of the differential signals are averaged and low-pass filtered. Comparators in a receiving circuit compare an input signal's voltage potential to the reference voltage potential to determine if the transmitted input signal is a binary one or binary zero.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that receives a representation of the function ƒ and stores the representation in a memory. Next, the system performs an interval global optimization process to compute guaranteed bounds on a globally minimum value of the function ƒ(x) over a subbox X. This interval global optimization process applies term consistency to a set of relations associated with the function ƒ over the subbox X, and excludes any portion of the subbox X that violates any member of the set of relations. It also applies box consistency to the set of relations associated with the function ƒ over the subbox X, and excludes any portion of the subbox X that violates the set of relations.

Abstract: A fan tray assembly for an electronics enclosure includes two opposing, spaced apart shells made of a sheet material. The opposing shells are attached to each other by attachment features formed in the sheet material of each shell. Advantageously, the attachment features reduce or eliminate the need for separate fasteners, spring steels, or adhesives to attach the shells. Each shell has openings and grills. Each shell also has retention features formed in the sheet material around a periphery of their respective grills. A ventilation fan unit (e.g., two fans) is retained between the two shells by the retention features. An electrical connector is connected to the ventilation fan and retained by at least one of the shells. The shells may also include features for retaining the electrical connector without using fasteners or adhesives. Such features may allow the connector to float in a plane perpendicular to its principal axis of alignment.

Abstract: A small footprint device can securely run multiple programs from unrelated vendors by the inclusion of a context barrier isolating the execution of the programs. The context barrier performs security checks to see that principal and object are within the same context or to see that a requested action is authorized for an object to be operated upon. Each program or set of programs runs in a separate context, however, one context has access to all program modules without context barrier constraints.

Abstract: An interactive software tool for testing a user in a web-based learning environment. The interactive software tool is embedded in a course page of a web-based curriculum. The software tool provides a question to a user regarding the information presented in the course, and an answer box containing a plurality of correct and incorrect answers. The software tool instructs the user to select at least one answer to the question. The software tool provides feedback to the user, and allows the user to revise an incorrect answer selection.