Abstract: In a binary floating point processor, the exponents of each of the various types of operands are recoded into an internal format, by biasing the exponents with the minimum exponent value of the result precision (“Emin”), i.e., the recoded value of the exponent is the represented value of the exponent minus Emin. Emin depends only on the result precision of the instruction that is currently being executed in the binary floating point processor. The exponent computations are then performed in this new format. The underflow check for all result precisions is a check against zero and overflow checks are performed against a positive number that depends on the result precision. The exponent values are in a 2's complement representation, so the underflow check simply becomes a check of the sign bit.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and a computer readable article of manufacture identify local patterns in at least one time series data stream. A data stream is received that comprises at least one set of time series data. The at least one set of time series data is formed into a set of multiple ordered levels of time series data. Multiple ordered levels of hierarchical approximation functions are generated directly from the multiple ordered levels of time series data. A set of approximating functions are created for each level. A current window with a current window length is selected from a set of varying window lengths. The set of approximating functions created at one level in the multiple ordered levels is passed to a subsequent level as a set of time series data. The multiple ordered levels of hierarchical approximation functions are stored into memory after being generated.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing requests. Responsive to receiving a request from a client, a determination is made as to whether a connection within a pool of connections has a set of outstanding requests for the client to handle a previous request from the same client. Responsive to a determination that the connection has any outstanding request, a determination is made as to whether a set of requests queued for the connection is equal to or exceeds a threshold. Responsive to a determination that the set of outstanding requests is equal to or exceeds the threshold, subsequent requests from the client are unprocessed until the set of outstanding requests becomes less than the threshold.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for generating information on application tasks for component objects grouped in a composite object. A composite object in a computer readable medium is comprised of component objects, wherein different application tasks are used to process the component objects. Metadata associates the application tasks for the component objects grouped in the composite object with the composite object. An operation is performed on the composite object by processing the metadata indicating the application tasks for the component objects grouped in the composite object on which the operation is performed.

Abstract: Animating speech of an avatar representing a participant in a mobile communication including selecting one or more images; selecting a generic animation template; fitting the one or more images with the generic animation template; texture wrapping the one more images over the generic animation template; and displaying the one or more images texture wrapped over the generic animation template. Receiving an audio speech signal; identifying a series of phonemes; and for each phoneme: identifying a new mouth position for the mouth of the generic animation template; altering the mouth position to the new mouth position; texture wrapping a portion of the one or more images corresponding to the altered mouth position; displaying the texture wrapped portion of the one or more images corresponding to the altered mouth position of the mouth of the generic animation template; and playing the portion of the audio speech signal represented by the phoneme.

Abstract: A system for providing and developing information technology status information for various assets is provided. The system can comprise one or more electronic data processors configured to process, display, and manage data. The system can further include a module configured to execute on the one or more electronic data processors. The module can be configured to enable a user to pose one or more questions pertaining to the status of a particular asset in the system. Additionally, the module can be configured to parse the one or more questions pertaining to the status of a particular asset. The module can be further configured to select and conduct one or more tests to determine an answer to the one or more questions. Moreover, the module can be configured to generate and display to the user the answer to the one or more questions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a common cluster model for configuring, managing, and operating different clustering technologies in a data center. The common cluster model supports peer cluster domains and management server cluster domains. Each cluster domain may have one or more cluster nodes. For each cluster domains, one or more cluster resources may be defined. These resources may depend on one another and may be grouped into a resource group. A set of cluster domain and cluster resources logical device operations are provided to configure, manage, and operate cluster domains and its associated resources.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus, system composed of apparatuses in a chassis, and a method for managing access among a plurality of devices accommodated in a chassis. Setting information by the user on access between a first management unit including at least one device of said plurality of devices and a second management unit including at least one device of said plurality of devices is accepted. The first attribute information is acquired designating at least any one of an instruction issuing function and an instruction receiving function among the functions of said first management unit and the second attribute information designating at least any one of the instruction issuing function and the instruction receiving function among the functions of said second management unit. A determination is made as to whether or not said setting information is consistent with a combination of said first attribute information and said second attribute information.

Abstract: Breakpoints are handled in an asynchronous debug model by building a queue of basic operations to run a debug application program interface (API). User commands are each broken down into a simple command and placed on the queue. In response to a debug event, a new simple command is generated. If, when a first command on the queue is processed, a thread is not stopped at a location with an installed breakpoint, an operation corresponding to the first command is started, the operation is removed from the queue, and a next operation is started. If the thread is stopped at the location with the breakpoint, the thread performs a hop. When the hop terminates, the first command is removed from the queue. If the first command is a run command, and there is no cause to stop the thread, the run command is moved to the end of the queue.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for synchronizing documents by designating a local server are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A data network is formed that includes several data processing systems, each data processing system having a separate version of a document. A candidate data processing system is designated from the several data processing systems as a local server. Separate versions of the document are sent from the several data processing systems to the local server. The separate versions of the document are synchronized with a baseline version of the document to form a synchronized version of the document. The synchronized version of the document is returned to the several data processing systems. In addition, the data network may be formed if the data connectivity to an original server has been lost.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for autonomic component service state management for a multiple function component. The mechanism determines whether independent functions within a multiple function service boundary can be serviced. When a single function experiences a failure that requires service, repair, or replacement, the surviving functions notify the service management software of the state of the independent functions. The service management software then determines the state of the overall component and implements the appropriate service method.

Abstract: A system comprises a circuit analysis module configured to analyze a device under test (DUT), the DUT comprising a plurality of latches coupled together in a scan chain. A don't-care analysis module identifies absolute don't-care latches within the DUT, assigns a weighted value to the bit positions of identified don't-care latches, and identifies absolute don't-care bits within a general test pattern. The circuit analysis module replaces identified absolute don't-care bits in the general test pattern according to the weighted value of the associated bit position, generating a weighted test pattern. A test vector module generates a test vector based on the weighted test pattern and an input module applies the test vector to the DUT.

Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for facilitating transitioning of a digital circuit from backgate biased standby mode to active mode. The digital circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, multiple n-channel transistors disposed at least partially in one or more p-type wells in the semiconductor substrate, multiple p-channel transistors disposed at least partially in one or more n-type wells in the semiconductor substrate, and a backgate control circuit. The backgate control circuit is electrically coupled to the p-type well(s) and to the n-type well(s) to facilitate transitioning of the multiple n-channel transistors and the multiple p-channel transistors from backgate biased standby mode to active mode by automatically shunting charge from the n-type well(s) to the p-type well(s) until a well voltage threshold is reached indicative of a completed transition of the transistors from backgate biased standby mode to active mode.

Abstract: A presentation session can be identified in which at least one participant of the presentation session is associated with a computing device. A participation artifact can be conveyed to one or more participants. The participation artifact can be configured to solicit a response from a participant and to ensure that each artifact receiving participant is paying attention. The response can result from interactions between the associated participant and the computing device. The interactions can be specific to the participation artifact and can be responsive to a receipt of the participation artifact. A response to the participation artifact can be received from each participant receiving a participation artifact. The received response can be processed to assess an attention level of each participant receiving a participation artifact.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for advertisement complexity scaling via traffic analysis. A motion module receives movement information from one or more sensors. The movement information comprises information relating to a speed of one or more people relative to an advertisement display device. A complexity module maintains an advertisement complexity rating for each of a plurality of advertisements. The advertisement complexity rating is based on an estimated viewing time of each advertisement. An advertisement selection module selects an advertisement from the plurality of advertisements based on the movement information and the advertisement complexity rating of the advertisement. The advertisement selection module correlates the speed of the one or more people relative to the advertisement display device with the advertisement complexity rating such that a higher speed correlates to a lower advertisement complexity rating. A display module displays the advertisement on a display device.

Abstract: A receiver for a serial link port that is enhanced by a clock-data-recovery loop connected to the forwarded clock signal lane. The receiver includes a phase interpolation means controlled by a phase position logic which gets its update signal from local phase update signals of the clock-data-recovery loop via a digital low pass filter. The receiver also provides a global phase update source selection logic to control which clock-data-recovery loop is distributing phase update information, and which clock-data-recovery loop is receiving phase update information based on the clock analysis block.

Abstract: A floating point processor unit includes a shift amount calculation circuit within a normalizer portion of the floating point unit, wherein the shift amount calculation circuit is utilized to compute the normalizer shift amount for a log estimate instruction that runs as a pipelinable instruction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for identifying sub-graphs similar to a sample sub-graph from a network, in particular for identifying similar community structures from a network, are disclosed. Specifically, when a sample sub-graph is a community structure, it usually contains a plurality of nodes densely associated with each other. The method proposes first screening the network via key nodes of community structures so as to find sub-graph candidates that are potentially similar to the sample sub-graph, then strictly comparing the sub-graph candidates with the sample sub-graph to find similar sub-graphs of the sample sub-graph.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for storing a cable, including receiving one or more cables on an adjustable central coil. An RFID chip connected to the cable is read via a RFID reader proximate the central coil. The cable is routed from the central coil to one or more adjustable middle coils, and routed from the middle coil to an adjustable outer coil. The cable is dispensed from the outer coil; and, the RFID chip is read via a RFID reader proximate the outer coil. The method modifies the distance between the central coil and the middle coil, the central coil and the outer coil, and/or the middle coil and the outer coil. Specifically, the diameter of the central coil, the middle coil, and/or the outer coil is adjusted. The modification accommodates for the arc limit and/or head size of the cable.

Abstract: Executing an accelerator application program in a hybrid computing environment with a host computer having a host computer architecture; an accelerator having an accelerator architecture, the accelerator architecture optimized, with respect to the host computer architecture, for speed of execution of a particular class of computing functions; the host computer and the accelerator adapted to one another for data communications by a system level message passing module, where executing an accelerator application program on an accelerator includes receiving, from a host application program on the host computer, operating information for an accelerator application program; designating a directory as a CWD for the accelerator application program, separate from any other CWDs of any other applications running on the accelerator; assigning, to the CWD, a name that is unique with respect to names of other CWDs of other applications in the computing environment; and starting the accelerator application program on the a

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a fault condition within software can include, responsive to a fault condition within a computing system belonging to an organization, automatically sending call-stack information for the fault condition to a first server within the organization. Within the first server, the call-stack information for the fault condition can be compared with call-stack information from prior fault conditions that occurred within the organization to determine whether the call-stack information for the fault condition matches call-stack information from one of the prior fault conditions. The method further can include sending the call-stack information to a second server for comparison with call-stack information from prior fault conditions that occurred within at least one different organization if the call-stack information for the fault condition does not match.

Abstract: A method for prioritizing features that can be incorporated into a product, the method including: issuing a weighting factor to each stakeholder having an economic interest in the product, a size of the weighting factor being proportional to a size of a budget for each stakeholder; bidding an amount of the weighting factor for each feature by each stakeholder, a total amount bid by each stakeholder is not to exceed the size of the weighting factor issued to each stakeholder; summing the amounts bid for each feature to provide a total feature bid for each feature; and prioritizing the features in order from highest total feature bid to lowest total feature bid.

Abstract: Thermal energy transfer between the adjoining building units is measured. Actual energy consumption is measured in each of the adjoining building units. An energy compensation is calculated for each of the adjoining building units based upon the measured thermal energy transfer between the adjoining building units and the measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A floor tile has a top surface, a lower surface substantially parallel to the top surface, and at least one base mount extending along the lower surface of the floor tile at at least one respective mounting angle. A panel can be selectively mounted in a base mount of the floor tile and configured such that a mounted panel projects from the lower surface at a projection angle. An air handling system employing a plurality of the tiles enables formation of baffles in a plenum below mounted tiles by arranging the mounted panel edges.

Abstract: A cache server receives a request from a client that includes a requesting entity tag. In turn, the cache server extracts a starting identifier and an ending identifier from the requesting entity tag. The starting identifier is associated with a starting entry and the ending identifier is associated with an ending entry. Next, the cache server determines whether a subsequent entity tag exists that includes a subsequent starting identifier that matches the requesting entity tag's ending identifier. When the cache server identifies a subsequent entity tag, the cache server sends the subsequent entity tag and one or more update entries corresponding to the subsequent entity tag to the client.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically displaying electronic documents on a vehicle display screen, is provided. One implementation involves transferring an encrypted digital certificate to a control module in a vehicle, the vehicle including a display screen embedded in a window area of the vehicle, wherein the control module is configured for connection to the display screen; storing the digital certificate in a memory unit of the control module; automatically displaying information on the display screen by: retrieving the digital certificate from the memory unit of the control module; and upon validating the digital certificate in the control module, displaying said information associated with the digital certificate on the display screen.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for balancing latency versus bandwidth trade-offs in packet transmission utilizing PCI-Express. The method may comprise identifying at least one system element along a path of a packet to be transmitted; determining and storing an optimum payload size for each one of the at least one system element; configuring a Max Payload Size parameter for each one of the at least one system element, wherein the Max Payload Size parameter is configured based on the optimum payload size for each one of the at least one system element.

Abstract: A computing environment climate-aware policy management system provides decision support by receiving a request to perform an action, where the request is communicated from or on behalf of a computing resource. Upon receiving the request, an indication of a computing environment climate is obtained, which may include for example, information related to the workflow associated with the requested action, information external to the workflow or other information that contextualizes the computing environment of components thereof. At least one policy is obtained that is associated with at least one of the action associated with the request, the resource associated with the request to perform the action received by the policy system manager, and the indicated climate. Each obtained policy is evaluated and a response to the request to perform the action is provided based upon the results of the policy evaluation.

Abstract: A spread spectrum controller that adjusts frequency range subject to a bit error rate (BER). Measuring the bit error rate (BER) at different clock frequency ranges and comparing the BER to a BER threshold. Narrowing or widening the clock frequency range based on whether the BER is above or below the BER threshold to optimize a system for both performance and compliance.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, the illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for configuring devices. Device information for a plurality of devices is retrieved from an object data manager. A determination is made as to whether a keyboard-video-mouse environment exists. If a keyboard-video-mouse environment does not exist, each device in a plurality of devices is configured to either an available state or a defined state. If a keyboard-video-mouse environment exists, each device in the plurality of devices is configured to the available state. A list of all enumerated devices is requested and a determination is made as to whether a particular device is in the list of enumerated devices. If the particular device is not in the list of enumerated devices, a pseudo device is added to the list to form a modified list of all enumerated devices.

Abstract: A multilayer embedded stressor having a graded dopant profile for use in a semiconductor structure for inducing strain on a device channel region is provided. The inventive multilayer stressor is formed within areas of a semiconductor structure in which source/drain regions are typically located. The inventive multilayer stressor includes a first conformal epi semiconductor layer that is undoped or lightly doped and a second epi semiconductor layer that is highly dopant relative to the first epi semiconductor layer. The first and second epi semiconductor layers each have the same lattice constant, which is different from that of the substrate they are embedded in. The structure including the inventive multilayer embedded stressor achieves a good balance between stress proximity and short channel effects, and even eliminates or substantially reduces any possible defects that are typically generated during formation of the deep source/drain regions.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for automatic distribution of emergency data during an emergency. The method includes loading an emergency planning and coordination program onto a computer system connected to a Voice over IP network and inputting emergency data for a location into the program. The method includes storing the data inputted to a database coupled to the system, and automatically transmitting, responsive to confirming receipt of a communication corresponding to an emergency number stored in the database, pertinent data from the emergency data accessed from the database to another computer system of an emergency service provider for distribution to one or more respective devices used by respective emergency responders available to respond to the emergency situation at the location, wherein the pertinent data transmitted to the respective devices used by the emergency responders available facilitates handling of the emergency situation at the location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for providing information describing locations to users of an immersive virtual environment. In one embodiment, patterns of locations visited by various users of the virtual environment may be stored in a searchable data structure(s). Further, characteristics of the location visits may be used to determine whether a given location visit was favorable for each user. Subsequently, locations visited by a current user may be matched to one of the stored patterns of locations. The matching pattern may then be used to provide favorability information describing other locations available to the current user. The favorability information may be presented to the user as graphical indications visible within the user's view of the virtual environment.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product and a data processing system acoustically monitor an internal data processing system component. The internal data processing system component is selected for diagnosis. The internal data processing system component is within the data processing system and has an associated microphone located proximate to the component. The microphone associated with the internal data processing system component is enabled, and an acoustic signal for the internal data processing system component is identified. An exemplar fingerprint for the internal data processing system component is then identified from storage. A determination is then made as to whether the acoustic signal deviates from the exemplar fingerprint by more than a defined statistical variance.

Abstract: A dual-issue instruction is decoded to determine a plurality of LSU dependencies needed by an LSU part of the dual-issue instruction and a plurality of non-LSU dependencies needed by a non-LSU part of the dual-issue instruction. During dispatch of the dual-issue instruction by the microprocessor, the dual dependency matrices are employed as follows: a Load-Store Unit (LSU) dependency matrix is written with the plurality of LSU dependencies and a non-LSU dependency matrix is written with the plurality of non-LSU dependencies; an LSU issue valid (LSU IV) indicator is set as valid to issue; an LSU portion of the dual-issue instruction is issued once the plurality of LSU dependencies of the dual issue instruction are satisfied; a non-LSU issue valid (non-LSU IV) indicator is set as valid to issue; and a non-LSU portion of the dual-issue instruction is issued once the plurality of non-LSU dependencies of the dual issue instruction are satisfied.

Abstract: A method, programmed medium and system are provided for enabling a user to choose a degree to which displayed input panes are opened for user input. Initially, an information record is segmented into input panes by type of content, and different types of content are presented in separately displayed information input panes on a display screen. Icon buttons are implemented in one exemplary embodiment to enable the user to control the degree to which the separately displayed panes are opened for information input. In one exemplary embodiment, there is described a partially open state, i.e. one in which only one or two critical interaction elements are visible in the display screen. For example, a partially open state may include only a single text entry field with its accompanying label. This state corresponds to the “fast path” or expert mode in current applications.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product is disclosed for scheduling data packets in a multi-processor system comprising a plurality of processor units and a multitude of multicast groups. The method comprises associating one of the processor units with each of the multicast groups, receiving a multitude of data packets from the multicast groups, and scheduling all of the data packets received from each of the multicast groups for processing by the one of the processor units associated with said each of the multicast groups. In one embodiment, scheduling is based on affinity of both transmit and received processing for multiple connections to a processor unit. In another embodiment, a system call is provided for transmitting the same data over multiple sockets. Additional system calls may be used for building multicast group socket lists.

Abstract: A method of processing multiple workload using virtualized operating system environments. The creation of a new user in a global operating system may automatically cause the creation of a working partition (WPAR) instance. The user will be associated with the WPAR instance and a virtualized operating system environment will be created from the global operating system within the WPAR instance. Within the WPAR instance, the user may be assigned a root identification which enables the user to have root access privileges to perform operations or processes that may only be performed by a root user. The removal of a user from the system also results in the deletion of the associated WPAR.

Abstract: A method for adding senders of email to a contact list, including: a user creating and storing a contact list in an email system; the user entering a rule into the email system defining when a sender of an email that is received by the user will be added to the contact list automatically by the email system based on text in the sender's email matching text required by the rule; the user receiving emails from a plurality of senders, some of the emails having the matching text required by the rule and others of the emails not having the matching text required by the rule; the email system automatically adding to the contact list only any of the plurality of senders that sent emails having the matching text required by the rule and that are not already included on the contact list.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a memory system including a memory cell array and being connected to an address input, a command input, and a data input/output, said memory system including latching circuits (RALTH and WALTH) for latching a read address and a write address being inputted from the address input, an address selection circuit (ACOMSEL) for selecting, as an access address, any one of the read address and the write address being latched in the latching circuits, a read latching circuit (PFLTH) for latching a read data being read from the memory cell array, a write latching circuit (DINLTH) for latching a write data being inputted from the data input/output and a control circuit (ACTL) for controlling the access address being selected by said address selection circuit in response to a command being inputted from said command input, said control circuit for controlling, if the memory cell corresponding to said selected access address is activated and further said selected access address is a write

Abstract: An event to toggle a screen state of a screen of a desktop environment can be detected. The desktop environment can include a set of screens. Screen states of the screens can include a minimized screen state and a restored screen state. The minimized screen state can be a state in which all windows associated with the screen have a minimized window state. The restored screen state can be a state in which at least one window associated with the screen has an open display state. An open display state can include a maximized window display state or an adjusted window display state. The screen state of the screen of the desktop environment can be toggled responsive to the detected event without affecting a screen state of other ones of the set of screens.

Abstract: A method for identifying latches in physical designs with unbalanced slack, comprising: creating a netlist describing a logical design, the logical design having a plurality of latches therein; performing a placement of the logical design to obtain a physical design; measuring a slack difference of each of the plurality of latches; selecting a color for each of the plurality of latches based on the slack difference correspondingly measured for each of the plurality of latches; and generating a graphical image identifying each one of the plurality of latches with slack difference in color, the color selected for each one of the plurality of latches with slack difference being indicative of the severity of the slack difference.

Abstract: A method for providing navigation information to a user, the method including: inputting identification associated with the user into one terminal of a plurality of terminals distributed throughout an area visited by the user, each terminal being located in a kiosk and operating in kiosk mode; inputting a destination; computing a route from the kiosk to the destination; and presenting the route as the navigation information to the user.

Abstract: A method for preventing a browser timeout resulting from multiple requests sent from a client to a server is provided. In response to receiving a request from the client, an application thread is initialized on the server for submitting data to the client. The application thread is observed using a daemon observation thread. If a loading time of the application thread exceeds a timeout, the application thread is terminated. In response to terminating the application thread, an empty response is sent to the client. In response to receiving the empty response to the client, a determination is made whether to make an additional request to the server.

Abstract: A method, program product and apparatus include extending lengths that project from a microchip trace into dielectric material. The extending lengths may not connect to another trace. Placement of the extending lengths may be optimized to increase the dissipation of heat from the trace, while maintaining an acceptable level of capacitance.

Abstract: A method is provided for executing and organizing collaborative exchange during a telephone call utilizing a user interface (UI). A telephone call is placed, such that participants are connected. Audible content transmitted and received over a network for the telephone call. A user interface, representing the telephone call itself, is provided and is configured to allow collaborative exchange among participants of the telephone call. The telephone call is placed without having to set up a meeting session to facilitate collaborative exchange or without having to set up a web conference to facilitate collaborative exchange. The telephone call is placed without having to schedule in advance to allow for collaborative exchange. The user interface provides real time collaboration tools for collaboration exchange, and the collaboration tools do not have to be set up in advance.

Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption by electrical appliances, is provided. One implementation involves obtaining power consumption information for a use cycle of a each of multiple appliances; and automatically scheduling a time slot for an operation cycle of a selected appliance as a function of power consumption by appliance cycles scheduled in that time slot, such that an upper limit of power consumption is not exceeded by the collective power consumption for scheduled appliance cycles in the time slot.

Abstract: Systems and articles of manufacture for managing annotations made for a variety of different type data objects manipulated (e.g., created, edited, and viewed) by a variety of different type applications are provided. Some embodiments allow users collaborating on a project to create, view, and edit annotations from within the applications used to manipulate the annotated data objects, which may facilitate and encourage the capturing and sharing of tacit knowledge through annotations. Further, annotations may be stored separate from the application data they describe, decoupling the tacit knowledge captured in the annotations from the applications used to manipulate the annotated data.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting a platform independent model (PIM) from the existing implementation artifacts of a composite application via an intermediary platform specific model (PSM) using model-driven transformations. Meta-models for the PSM and PIM are prepared and mapping rules are specified therebetween. The mapping rules can be created manually or derived automatically via ontology mapping techniques. Once specified, model driven transformations that codify the mapping rules generate the PIM which may include the structural, behavioral and user experience models of the composite application. To enhance the reusability of the extracted PIM, a business level service model along with a service dependency model is generated rather than IT level classes. These higher levels of abstraction enable the models to be linked with business objectives, which is important for companies to understand and maintain their service portfolios.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for forming topographic features on a surface of a polymer layer comprising: a polymer layer (1); a substrate (2) comprising a conductor, a first surface (1a) of the polymer layer (1) being provided on the substrate (2); and at least one electrode (3) which, when the device is in use, interacts with a second surface (1b) of the polymer layer (1), wherein, when in use, the device is operable to apply a first electrical potential (P1) to the at least one electrode (3) relative to the substrate (2), thereby to cause a protrusion (4) to be formed on the second surface (1b) of the polymer layer (1).