Abstract: A blockage aware zero skew clock routing method for calculating the distance, and therefore the delay, between two points takes into account any blockages along the path between the two points and therefore creates a more usable and realistic measure of delay and allows for minimization, or elimination, of clock skew in the system being designed using the method of the invention.

Abstract: A content provisioner controls access to digital content by receiving a digital content request comprising a request for digital content, creating an authenticated digital content request if a user associated with the digital content request is authorized to access the digital content, determining one or more delivery parameters identifying a target device to receive the digital content, and sending the authenticated digital content request including the one or more delivery parameters. A content repository validates the authenticated digital content request, determines a session key if the authenticated digital content request is valid, encrypts the digital content using the session key, and sends the encrypted digital content. Determining a session key includes determining a target key based at least in part on a target ID, and applying a cryptographic process to a first key based at least in part on the authenticated digital content request, together with the target key.

Abstract: Techniques for developing and exchanging virtual machine implementations and/or support library implementations are described. In one embodiment, the virtual machine design specifies a set of functions for executing all or substantially all support library operations that are dependent on the implementation of the virtual machine. When a developer desires to substitute one virtual machine implementation for another, the developer is able to basically “plug-in” the second virtual machine implementation with minimal impact on the support libraries since both virtual machine implementations provide implementations for the set of specified functions that are dependent on the implementation of the respective virtual machine. Conversely, different support libraries may be utilized in conjunction with a particular virtual machine implementation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for saving and loading Java applet data to and from, respectively, a local file system of a client computer system. It is not necessary to render the local file system accessible to the Java applet to save and load the Java applet data. Thus, the Java applet data is saved and loaded without compromising the security of the local file system and without requiring special certification of the Java applet.

Abstract: Access to digital content may be controlled by sending a digital content request comprising a request for digital content, receiving an authenticated digital content request in response to the request, and sending the authenticated digital content request including one or more delivery parameters to a content repository that provides storage for the digital content, receiving encrypted digital content in response to sending the authenticated digital content request, and sending the encrypted digital content to a target device identified by the one or more delivery parameters and configured for decrypting the encrypted digital content and for rendering the decrypted digital content on the target device. According to one aspect, the encrypted digital content is sent directly from the content repository to the target device based at least in part on the one or more delivery parameters.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses electrostatic forces to align semiconductor chips relative to each other. The system operates by fabricating a first set of conductors on the top surface of a first chip and fabricating a corresponding second set of conductors on the top surface of a second chip. To align the chips, the system electrically charges the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors. The system also places the first chip face-to-face with the second chip, so that the first set of conductors is in close proximity to the second set of conductors. This allows electrostatic forces between the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors to bring the first chip into alignment with the second chip and to hold them in place.

Abstract: An integrated information appliance includes a central processing unit for executing an action in response to a user request, a storage for storing information for use by the central processing unit in responding to the user request, and a cradle which includes a scanning device for scanning an image and storing the scanned image in the storage. An information pad is removably mounted on the cradle. The information pad includes a screen display for displaying information to a user and for receiving information and requests from the user and a plurality of application buttons for sending a request to the central processing unit to perform a specific action.

Abstract: A system and associated method for authorizing, or withholding authorization of, user access to a selected computer application or other resource, based on the user's response to one or more user authentication tests. If the user satisfies one or more authentication tests but satisfies less than all the tests, the system optionally allows the user access to a selected subset of the resource. Alternatively, the user loses access to a selected subset of the application for each test not satisfied by the user. An authentication test or its associated weight may change at a selected time, and the selected time may be determined with reference to a time at which the resource changes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating compacted method signatures from method signature representations in Java™ class files are disclosed. The use of compacted signatures reduces the amount of memory space occupied by the signatures and, further, improve the efficiency with which a virtual machine may operate. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method a method for creating a compact representation of a method signature using a virtual machine includes creating 4-bit representations for each of a first parameter, a separator, and a return type included in the method signature. Once the 4-bit representation are created, the representations are packed into a word. In one embodiment, the word is a 32-bit word. In such an embodiment, the 32-bit word may be a 32-bit integer.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling threads in a Java application while avoiding the unsafe conditions inherent in the use of existing java.lang.Thread methods. In one embodiment, a first class is defined for handling threads in an application. The first class uses a target variable to indicate whether a thread should continue to run, or whether it should be stopped. This first class provides a start( ) method to set up the target variable, a stop( ) method to set the target variable to indicate that the thread should be stopped, and an abstract run( ) method. The functionality of the run( ) method is provided by one or more additional classes which extend the first class. The additional classes override the abstract run( ) method and define the tasks to be performed by threaded objects instantiated from these classes. When a thread needs to be stopped, the corresponding target variable is set to indicate that it should be stopped.

Abstract: A handle for ejecting a fan tray from an electronics enclosure comprises an elongated lever arm and a pair of opposing spring tabs extending from the lever arm disposed at an end of the lever arm. In an embodiment of the invention, the handle further includes a first bushing protruding from one of the opposing spring tabs and a second bushing protruding from a second one of the opposing spring tabs. The first bushing and the second bushing define a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to a long axis of the elongated lever arm, and are configured to snap into opposing retention features of the fan tray. The elongated lever arm is thereby attached to the fan tray and pivotable between a closed position folded against an end of the fan tray, and an open position extending from the fan tray. In another embodiment, the handle further includes a bump edge protruding from the end of the elongated lever arm in a direction opposite to the pair of opposing spring tabs.

Abstract: A dual mode memory interface includes a bus switch and a register/buffer operatively coupled to the bus switch. The dual mode memory interface may include, operatively coupled to the bus switch and the register/buffer, enable/disable pins configured so that only one of the bus switch and the register/buffer is active at a time. The bus switch may be a transistor configured as a pass gate. The dual mode memory interface may be implemented in a single integrated circuit package. The dual mode memory interface may further include a system controller for detecting a type of memory module connected to the dual mode memory interface and enabling one of the bus switch and register/buffer based on the type of memory module detected.

Abstract: A memory array or structure and method for decoding a read address to facilitate simultaneous reading of successive rows. The memory includes row decoders in the form of decoding logic for enabling multiple rows of the memory structure to be read in response to a single row address. The memory structure helps to reduce the number of ports that are required for the memory structure and, thus, reduces the die area occupied by the memory structure. The row address may be divided into most significant bits and least significant bits. Further, the decoding logic may decode the most significant bits differently from the least significant bits when processing the row address. The most significant bits may be preprocessed or predecoded into a fully decoded format while the least significant bits may be decoded into a priority decoded format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digital content access control comprises determining the occurrence of a synchronization event that triggers synchronization of information used by one or more content provisioners to create an authenticated digital content request that is based at least in part on a digital content request comprising a request for digital content with information used by one or more content repositories to validate the authenticated digital content request and to return the digital content based at least in part on the validation. The method also comprises determining the information in response to the sychronization event and sending the information to at least one of the group comprising the one or more content provisioners and the one or more content repositories.

Abstract: A system for digital content access control comprises a first user device configured to send an authenticated digital content request received in response to sending a digital content request comprising a request for digital content. The system also comprises one or more content provisioners configured to send the authenticated digital content request to the first user device if a user associated with the digital content request is authorized to access the digital content. The system also comprises one or more content repositories configured to send the digital content to a second user device if the authenticated digital content request is associated with the digital content. The system also comprises a synchronizer configured to synchronize information used by the one or more content provisioners to create an authenticated digital content request with information used by the one or more content repositories to validate the authenticated digital content request.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for a process monitor based keeper scheme for dynamic circuits. A semiconductor die having a process monitor based keeper scheme of the embodiments of the present invention generally includes a plurality of dynamic circuits, each having an adaptive keeper circuit capable of being adjusted based on a bit code. In addition, a plurality of process monitors is included. Each process monitor is disposed within a corresponding die block, which defines a local area of the die. The process monitors are capable of detecting process corner data for the corresponding die block. In communication with each process monitor and the plurality of dynamic circuits is a test processor unit. The test processor unit obtains process corner data for each die block from the process monitor disposed within the die block, and provides a bit code based on the process corner data to the dynamic circuits disposed within the die block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digital content access control method comprises receiving a digital content request comprising a request for digital content, determining whether a user associated with the digital content request is authorized to access the digital content, creating an authenticated digital content request if the user is authorized to access the digital content and sending the authenticated digital content request for use in accessing the digital content stored by a content repository.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an electrical assembly comprising a circuit board an electrical device, and a heat dissipation device. The electrical device is capable of emitting thermal energy and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The electrical device is secured to the circuit board. The heat dissipation device is secured to the circuit board and is in thermal communication with the electrical device. The heat dissipation device also includes a continuous EMI fence and a plurality of fins disposed in a matrix orientation. The fins are spaced from one another to allow for efficient heat dissipation and have a substantially square cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digital content access control comprises receiving an authenticated digital content request based at least in part on a digital content request comprising a request for digital content, validating the authenticated digital content request and providing the digital content if the authenticated digital content request is valid. The validating comprises indicating the authenticated digital content request is valid if the authenticated digital content request is validly associated with the digital content and if the authenticated digital content request authenticates the digital content request, and indicating the authenticated digital content request is invalid if the authenticated digital content request is not validly associated with the digital content.

Abstract: A method for controlling a component list of an issue tracking system, including (a) maintaining a component list in a database, (b) providing access to the component list to an authorized user, the providing access including permitting the authorized user to download the component list, modify the component list, and upload the modified component list back to the database, (c) providing access to the system to a submitter of an issue report relating to a component, the providing the access to the system including permitting the submitter to download the component list from the database, and (d) updating the downloaded component list for the submitter without terminating the access to the system.