Abstract: A method and system for preventing sending of messages to incorrect email recipients are provided. The method includes determining (120) the intended recipients of an email message prior to sending and comparing the intended recipients to defined recipient groups (126, 122). Potential errors in the intended recipients are identified and a prompt (125) is provided to amend the intended recipients. The prompt (125) provides a suggestion to replace, add or remove an intended recipient. The defined recipient groups include one or more of groups of recipients formed from an organization data structure (122), groups of recipients defined by a user, and groups of recipients (126) mined from one or more user's previous email correspondence.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for an alternate type system for optimizing the evaluation and use of meta-template instantiations. The computer-implemented method obtains a source code, instantiates an element of the source code to form an instantiated element and identifies a meta-template within the instantiated element to form an identified meta-template. The computer-implemented method creates an entry for the identified meta-template in a first data structure, wherein the entry comprises a set of mapped entries, creates an associated entry in a second data structure linked to the entry comprising the set of mapped entries, wherein the associated entry represents the set of mapped entries, and uses the associated entry of the second data structure in combination with the entry of the first data structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a self-aligned well implant for a transistor includes forming a patterned gate structure over a substrate, including a gate conductor, a gate dielectric layer and sidewall spacers, the substrate including an undoped semiconductor layer beneath the gate dielectric layer and a doped semiconductor layer beneath the undoped semiconductor layer; removing portions of the undoped semiconductor layer and the doped semiconductor layer left unprotected by the patterned gate structure, wherein a remaining portion of the undoped semiconductor layer beneath the patterned gate structure defines a transistor channel and a remaining portion of the doped semiconductor layer beneath the patterned gate structure defines the self-aligned well implant; and growing a new semiconductor layer at locations corresponding to the removed portions of the undoped semiconductor layer and the doped semiconductor layer, the new semiconductor layer corresponding to source and drain regions of the transistor.

Abstract: Autoconfiguration of an IPv6 component in a segmented network including receiving an IPv6 packet; determining whether the received IPv6 packet is a router advertisement or a router solicitation; if the received IPv6 packet is a router advertisement, then retrieving through an out-of-band link a MAC address for the IPv6 component, removing a MAC address of a sending router, inserting in the packet instead an internal MAC address for forwarding packets to the IPv6 component, removing a multicast destination MAC address, inserting in the packet the destination MAC address of the IPv6 component, and forwarding the packet to the IPv6 component as a unicast message; if the received IPv6 packet is a router solicitation, then removing the MAC address of the sending IPv6 component, inserting in the packet instead an external MAC address for forwarding packets to the router, and forwarding the packet to the router as a multicast message.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for presenting Uniform Resource Locator (URL) search results in response to a user query. The method includes receiving inputs from a plurality of users, each input from a respective user representing a path traversal of web pages identified by that user as having a relevance as determined by that user from a list of search result URLs generated by a search engine in response to a query. The system generates, from the received user inputs, a traversal result comprising a super directed graph, or a sub-directed graph constructed from the super directed graph, of web page nodes representing the URLs interconnected by edges, the super directed graph configured to include those URLs based on a popularity measure of the pages traversed; and the traversal result is displayed to include the URLs for user selection, in response to a subsequent user query.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for producing a semantic query by example are provided. The method includes receiving examples of potential results from querying a database table with an associated ontology, and extracting features from the database table and the examples based on the associated ontology. The method further includes training a classifier based on the examples and the extracted features, and applying the classifier to the database table to obtain a semantic query result. The method also includes outputting the semantic query result to a user interface, and requesting user feedback of satisfaction with the semantic query result. The method additionally includes updating the classifier and the semantic query result iteratively in response to the user feedback.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of monitoring an infrastructure comprising managed units, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring data associated with a first performance indicator from a first managed unit; determining a first quantized distribution function of at least a subset of pieces of data of the acquired data of the first managed unit; determining if the first quantized distribution function verifies one or a plurality of predefined rules describing particular distribution functions of performance indicators.

Abstract: A method for automatically retrieving interaction information between objects, including: with a server, transforming a first image and a second image submitted to said server from a source into first and second sets of parameters, respectively; searching a database for an interaction relationship between the first and second images using the first and second sets of parameters; and returning a representation of the interaction relationship to the source.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for improving the performance and efficiency of multi-core processors. A system controller in a data processing system determines an operational function for each primary processor core in a set of primary processor cores in a primary processor core logic layer and for each secondary processor core in a set of secondary processor cores in a secondary processor core logic layer, thereby forming a set of determined operational functions. The system controller then generates an initial configuration, based on the set of determined operational functions, for initializing the set of primary processor cores and the set of secondary processor cores in the three-dimensional processor core architecture. The initial configuration indicates how at least one primary processor core of the set of primary processor cores collaborate with at least one secondary processor core of the set of secondary processor cores.

Abstract: A method and circuit that gives a sequence pattern that represents directions of positive and negative transitions of the phase that continue over a predetermined number from a certain reference symbol to an adjoining next reference symbol; finds (heuristically) one or more interpolate symbols that meet conditions (such as standards for power spectra) of a predetermined frequency spectrum, i.e., band, and a predetermined (range of) amplitude with reference to the given sequence pattern; and stores the found sequence pattern and a phase value and an amplitude value corresponding to the found one or more interpolate symbols in a memory as a lookup table against the prepared memory area.

Abstract: Chat sessions are managed between at least one sending computer and a receiving computer. A first chat session is initiated by a receiving computer in response to a first request from a first sending computer. A second chat session is initiated by the receiving computer in response to a second request from a second sending computer. The first and second chat sessions are prioritized in accordance with priority parameters to identify a higher priority chat session and a lower priority chat session. The lower priority chat session is restricted until the higher priority chat session is downgraded to a priority level that is below the lower priority chat session.

Abstract: Compliant conduction rail assembly and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronics structure. The rail assembly includes a first thermally conductive rail mounted to a surface of the electronics structure, a second thermally conductive rail thermally conductively interfaced to the first rail, and a biasing mechanism biasing the second rail away from the first rail. The first and second rails and the biasing mechanism are configured for slidable insertion into a housing with the electronics structure, the housing containing a liquid-cooled cold plate(s). With insertion of the electronics structure into the housing, the second rail engages the liquid-cooled cold plate and is forced by the biasing mechanism into thermal contact with the cold plate, and is forced by the cold plate towards the first rail, which results in a compliant thermal interface between the electronics structure and the liquid-cooled cold plate of the housing.

Abstract: A method executes computerized instructions stored within a computer storage medium within an integrated and packaged semiconductor device using a centralized programming interface within the packaged semiconductor device to perform in-system preventive and recovery actions, configure and issue stimulus to chips, components and sensors within the semiconductor device. The method monitors chip, components and sensors within the packaged semiconductor device, using the centralized programming interface, to measure characteristics of the packaged semiconductor device in response to the stimulus. The structure including chips, components and sensors produce outputs representing the characteristics.

Abstract: Selections from a long list of elements on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) are presented. When a context window is presented for the selections, different cues are provided in the context window to provide feedback regarding the selections that are not in the current view, and to also facilitate rapid navigation to those selections on the GUI. Interaction with the GUI widgets within the context window, and interaction with the context window itself, facilitates the navigation toward the other selections that are not in the current view. Interaction with the GUI widgets also facilitates the preview of the selections that are not in the current view, thus making it easier to determine what has been selected without having to navigate to the view that contains those selections.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are provided for failover responses to configuration node failures in SVC clusters. An SVC cluster manages a plurality of storage devices and includes a plurality of SVCs interconnected via a network, each SVC acting as a separate node. A new configuration node is activated in response to configuration node failures. The new configuration node retrieves client subscription information about events occurring in storage devices managed by the SVC cluster from the storage devices. In response to events occurring in the storage device managed by the SVC cluster, the new configuration node obtains storage device event information from a storage device event monitoring unit. The new configuration node sends storage device events to clients who have subscribed to this information according to subscription information obtained. The storage device is not installed in the original configuration node.

Abstract: A method of analyzing production steps includes inputting application data associated with a production process having a plurality of process steps into a memory with each of the plurality of process steps including a plurality of tools. The method also includes loading process data associated with one of the plurality of process steps into the memory, performing a tool commonality analysis on each of the tools associated with the at least one of the plurality of process steps, identifying all tool-to-tool differences for the at least one of the plurality of process steps, performing a tool stratification analysis to identify one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps, and stopping the one of the plurality of tools that provides the largest variance contribution to the at least one of the plurality of process steps.

Abstract: A customer support system enhanced with virtual world features to make the support experience more interactive and pleasant. The system includes a web user interface for web-based customers and an optional voice interface for voice-based customers, a support server and a virtual world component for enhancing the interaction between a customer and the support center. A routing server with virtual world targets route the customer to appropriate support center contacts in the virtual world. The virtual world targets include a “Greeter” avatar for greeting and prompting the customer with support-related questions. The customer is routed to a “CSR” avatar once support information is obtained. Other avatars like “Expert” avatars, “Advisor” avatars, and “Friend” avatars may also join the support session to assist the customer on specific support items, depending on the customer needs.

Abstract: Managing file distribution in an online file sharing system implemented by at least one server includes inviting a first entity to access a shared file hosted by the online file sharing system, and allowing the first entity to reshare the shared file through the online file sharing system with at least a second entity only to an extent permitted by a resharing policy stored by the online file sharing system.

Abstract: A system and method for generating compact iris representations based on a database of iris images includes providing full-length iris codes for iris images in a database, where the full-length iris code includes a plurality of portions corresponding to circumferential rings in an associated iris image. Genuine and imposter score distributions are computed for the full-length iris codes, and code portions are identified that have a contribution that provides separation between imposter and genuine distributions relative to a threshold. A correlation between remaining code portions is measured. a subset of code portions having low correlations within the subset is generated to produce a compact iris representation.

Abstract: A first set of antibodies are bonded to a substrate, and are exposed to and bonded with target antigens. A second set of antibodies are bonded to nanoparticles, and the nanoparticle labeled antibodies are exposed to the targeted antigens. An electromagnetic write-head magnetizes the nanoparticles, and then a read-sensor detects the freshly magnetized nanoparticles. The substrate comprises a flexible film or a Peltier material to allow selective heating and cooling of the antigens and antibodies. Nanoparticles of different magnetic properties may be selectively paired with antibodies associated with different antigens to allow different antigens to be detected upon a single scan by the read-sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods and arrangements for processing multi-leg transactions. Embodiments of the invention process multi-leg transactions while allowing later arrived orders to get processed during the time when an earlier, tradable multi-leg transaction is pending using a look-ahead mechanism without violating any relevant timing or exchange rules.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing sparse matrix-vector multiplication (SpMV) on a graphics processing unit (GPU) are provided. The techniques include receiving a sparse matrix-vector multiplication, analyzing the sparse matrix-vector multiplication to identify one or more optimizations, wherein analyzing the sparse matrix-vector multiplication to identify one or more optimizations comprises analyzing a non-zero pattern for one or more optimizations and determining whether the sparse matrix-vector multiplication is to be reused across computation, optimizing the sparse matrix-vector multiplication, wherein optimizing the sparse matrix-vector multiplication comprises optimizing global memory access, optimizing shared memory access and exploiting reuse and parallelism, and outputting an optimized sparse matrix-vector multiplication.

Abstract: System and method are provided for cooling an electronics rack. A modular cooling unit (MCU) is associated with the rack to provide system coolant to an electronics subsystem and a bulk power assembly. The MCU includes a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, and defines portions of facility and system coolant loops. Chilled coolant from a facility source is passed through the liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger to cool system coolant flowing through the system coolant loop. The system also includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger in fluid communication with the system coolant loop, a pump in fluid communication with the system coolant loop, and a controller. The controller controls operation of the pump to adjust flow of system coolant through the system coolant loop dependent upon a mode of operation. In a standby mode, system coolant flows through the air-to-liquid heat exchanger at a lower flow rate, and expels heat to ambient air.

Abstract: Example multi-layer printed circuit boards (‘PCBs’) are described as well as methods of making and using such PCBs that include layers of laminate; at least one via hole traversing the layers of laminate, and a via conductor contained within the via hole, the via conductor comprising a used portion and an unused portion, the via conductor comprising copper coated with a metal having a conductivity lower than the conductivity of copper.

Abstract: A teleportation proxy and teleportation proxy service which monitors the usage of a networked computer or terminal to determine contextual metadata for a user reflecting current usage of the networked computer or terminal. A search engine then searches metadata of virtual universe locations in accordance with at least a portion of said contextual metadata and candidate matches are compared against the contextual metadata to determine suggested teleportation destinations in a virtual universe.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication method includes depositing a dummy gate layer onto a substrate, patterning the dummy gate layer, depositing a hardmask layer over the dummy gate layer, patterning the hardmask layer, etching a recess into the substrate, adjacent the dummy gate layer, depositing a semiconductor material into the recess, removing the hardmask layer, depositing replacement spacers onto the dummy gate layer, performing an oxide deposition over the dummy gate layer and replacement spacers, removing the dummy gate and replacement spacers, thereby forming a gate recess in the oxide and depositing a gate stack into the recess.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment provides a computer-implemented process for distributed management of native interface arrays. The computer-implemented process obtains an array type native interface call in a first system from a caller in a second system, identifies an array type of the array type native interface call to form an identified array type, and requests array elements associated with the identified array type to form requested array elements, wherein added metadata is associated with the requested array elements. The computer-implemented process builds an enhanced data structure using the requested array elements and the associated added metadata and returns a pointer within the enhanced data structure to the caller. The pointer can be used by the caller to manipulate array data of the array elements, and the first system can calculate an address of the added metadata in constant time from the pointer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for maintaining distributed state consistency in a distributed computing application. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for maintaining distributed state consistency in a distributed computing application can include registering a set of components of a distributed computing application, starting a transaction resulting in changes of state in different ones of the components in the registered set and determining in response to a conclusion of the transaction whether or not an inconsistency of state has arisen amongst the different components in the registered set in consequence of the changes of state in the different ones of the components in the registered set. If an inconsistency has arisen, each of the components in the registered set can be directed to rollback to a previously stored state. Otherwise a committal of state can be directed in each of the components in the registered set.

Abstract: A method for optimizing program code is provided. The method comprises detecting a branch instruction comprising a condition expression, wherein the branch instruction, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute either a first set of instructions or a second set of instructions according to a value of the condition expression; and replacing the branch instruction with a third set of instructions that are non-branching, wherein the third set of instructions, when executed by a processor, has a collective effect same as if either the first or second set of instructions were executed according to the value of the condition expression. The third set of instructions comprises a negation instruction to normalize the value of the condition expression.

Abstract: A shared address space on a compute node stores data received from a network and data to transmit to the network. The shared address space includes an application buffer that can be directly operated upon by a plurality of processes, for instance, running on different cores on the compute node. A shared counter is used for one or more of signaling arrival of the data across the plurality of processes running on the compute node, signaling completion of an operation performed by one or more of the plurality of processes, obtaining reservation slots by one or more of the plurality of processes, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for anonymizing data comprising a plurality of graph data sets. The mechanisms receive input data comprising a plurality of graph data sets. Each graph data set comprises data for generating a separate graph from graphs associated with other graph data sets. The mechanisms perform clustering on the graph data sets to generate a plurality of clusters. At least one cluster of the plurality of clusters comprises a plurality of graph data sets. Other clusters in the plurality of clusters comprise one or more graph data sets. The mechanisms also determine, for each cluster in the plurality of clusters, aggregate properties of the cluster. Moreover, the mechanisms generate, for each cluster in the plurality of clusters, pseudo-synthetic data representing the cluster, from the determined aggregate properties of the clusters.

Abstract: A memory cell having N transistors including at least one pair of access transistors, one pair of pull-down transistors, and one pair of pull-up transistors to form a memory cell, wherein N is an integer at least equal to six, wherein each of the access transistors and each of the pull-down transistors is a same one of an n-type or a p-type transistor, and each of the pull-up transistors is the other of an n-type or a p-type transistor, wherein at least one of the pair of the pull down transistors and the pair of the pull up transistors are asymmetric.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for characterizing long range variability in integrated circuit manufacturing. A model derivation component tests one or more density pattern samples, which are a fabricated integrated circuits having predetermined pattern densities and careful placement of current-voltage (I-V) sensors. The model derivation component generates one or more empirical models to establish range of influence of long range variability effects in the density pattern sample. A variability analysis component receives an integrated circuit design and, using the one or more empirical models, analyzes the integrated circuit design to isolate possible long range variability effects in the integrated circuit design.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for business process error handling through process instance backup and recovery includes the step of creating a backup profile of selected one or more portions of a business process model at modeling stage. The method also includes the steps of deploying the backup profile into a runtime environment, and upon occurrence of an error in execution instances of the business process model, re-executing at least one of the one or more portions of the backup profile to recover from the error.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus to perform a valid transfer of an electronic mobile ticket on a mobile device by a ticketing application system of a ticket processing center. One method includes: receiving a first electronic message from a first user, where the first message includes an encrypted electronic mobile ticket and a mobile device number of a second user, and where the electronic mobile ticket is encrypted with a key shared between the first user and the ticketing application system; decrypting the encrypted electronic mobile ticket; generating an electronic mobile ticket encrypted with a key shared by the ticketing application system and the second user; and transmitting a second electronic message that includes the electronic mobile ticket encrypted with the key shared between the ticketing application system and the second user to a mobile device of the second user.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for monitoring and recording the orientation data for an object. The orientation apparatus comprises an outer casing. Inside the outer casing is an orientation device that comprises six chambers, with a ball sensor in each chamber, and a ball. The orientation apparatus also comprises a data recorder for recording an event history of the orientation device, and a communicator for conveying the event history.

Abstract: A method for displaying multimedia content created by a user of a first computerized messaging device to a user of a second computerized messaging device communicatively coupled to the first computerized messaging device by a network includes: displaying, with the second computerized messaging device, a textual instant messaging exchange between the user of the first computerized messaging device and the user of the second computerized messaging device; receiving the multimedia content at the second computerized messaging device over the network; and dynamically embedding a player for the multimedia content in-line in the display of the textual instant messaging exchange at the second messaging device.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of and system for multiple party communications in a processing system including multiple processing subsystems. Each of the processing subsystems includes a central processing unit and one or more network adapters for connecting said each processing subsystem to the other processing subsystems. A multitude of nodes are established or created, and each of these nodes is associated with one of the processing subsystems. A first aspect of the invention involves pipelined communication using RDMA among three nodes, where the first node breaks up a large communication into multiple parts and sends these parts one after the other to the second node using RDMA, and the second node in turn absorbs and forwards each of these parts to a third node before all parts of the communication arrive from the first node.

Abstract: A computer-implemented methods and systems for a running virtual machine image in a host machine. One method includes: receiving a virtual machine image provisioning request; sending to a storage server a request to copy a virtual machine image related to the virtual machine image provisioning request; receiving a portion of the virtual machine image; starting a virtual machine in the host machine by running the received portion of the virtual machine image; intercepting a file operation request of a program running in the virtual machine; and acquiring a file related to the file operation request.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes at least one processor configured to: receive a request to perform a snapshot of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; instruct I/O Freezers on different servers to freeze data requests from instances of the application running on the servers; and instruct the I/O Freezers to initiate snapshot processing on the data associated with the application so that the I/O Freezers perform the snapshot processing within the same window of synchronization.

Abstract: At a data center controller, a first server location is determined from a set of available server locations at which to change a server active state for a data center. A time and configuration change for the data center are forecasted. A second server location is determined from the set of available server locations at which to change the server active state based upon the forecasted configuration change for the data center. An available server location is selected at which to change the server active state based upon the first server location, the second server location, and the forecasted time associated with the forecasted configuration change for the data center.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a system and of an associated method for estimating the leakage current of an electronic circuit. The embodiments analyze a layout of an electronic circuit in order to identify all driven and non-driven nets within the electronic circuit, to identify all of the driven net-bounded partitions within the electronic circuit (based on the driven and non-driven nets), and to identify, for each driven net-bounded partition, all possible states of the electronic circuit that can leak. Then, using this information, the embodiments estimate the leakage current of the electronic circuit. This is accomplished by first determining, for each state of each driven net-bounded partition, a leakage current of the driven net-bounded partition and a probability that the state will occur in the driven net-bounded partition during operation of the electronic circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides an enhanced two phase commit process to perform a transaction started by an application program and involving access to one or more resources managed by respective resource managers. The method comprises the steps of: enlisting the resource managers participating in the transaction, said enlisting step including associating a priority rank with each identified resource manager based on predefined priority rules; sending a prepare signal to said enlisted resource managers to begin the process of committing the transaction; and if a ready signal is received from all resource managers in response to the prepare signal, committing the resource managers in the order defined from the priority ranks associated with the resource managers.

Abstract: Techniques for writing to memory using shared address buses. A memory device that includes a plurality of memory arrays connected to a common address bus, the common address bus used to broadcast memory addresses simultaneously to the plurality of memory arrays. Each memory array includes a plurality of memory locations and circuitry for: receiving the broadcasted memory addresses from the address bus; selecting a memory address in the memory array from a list of most recent memory addresses received from the address bus; and performing a memory access at the selected memory address, such that at a given point in time at least two of the memory arrays perform the memory access at a different broadcasted address when the memory access is a write.

Abstract: Following development of an application, the application is deployed in a pre-production environment. A user role plays against that application, typically by performing one or more operations as a particular user in a particular group. As the operator role plays, access logs are written, and these logs are then analyzed and consolidated into a set of commands that drive a policy generator. The policy generator creates an optimized security policy that it then deploys to one or more enforcement points. In this manner, the framework enables automated configuration and deployment of one or more security policies.

Abstract: A fan control system for a computer system is provided. The fan control system includes a power sensor and a controller. The power sensor detects the power dissipated by a target device in the computer system. The controller calculates a suggested airflow speed required for the target device and thus outputs a control signal for controlling a fan within the computer system according to at least the dissipated power.

Abstract: A method and system for providing relationships in search results are provided. The method includes indexing an entity in a search index as an entity index entry, the entity index entry including facets providing information on the entity type and related entities. Search results are obtained by a search engine in the form of ranked result entities, wherein the result entities include multiple types of entities. The method then includes retrieving index entries to determine relationships between search result entities and providing the relationships in search results. The method further includes, for each result entity, retrieving its entity index entry and cross-checking the facets of the retrieved entity index entry for other result entities.

Abstract: A heat potential value for each of a set of available server locations is calculated via a data center controller based upon at least one active server in a data center. A minimal calculated heat potential value for the set of available server locations is identified. An available server location associated with the identified minimal calculated heat potential value is selected from the set of available server locations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for building collaboration work environments within the virtual world through computer generated (and possibly controlled) avatars and other three dimensional (3D) objects. It provides a solution to a problem where computer generated avatars and objects visually represent the execution, progress and output of a collaboration project. It provides the system and method for quickly visualizing collaboration activities and outputs to allow people to quickly and easily track progress of said activities. Visually representing collaboration activities allows observers to identify the number and different types of collaboration activities which are currently occurring, the progress of each collaboration activity, the system or component that the collaboration activity is creating or any problems or issues identified during activities supporting the collaboration work effort.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting antigens on biosample tracks comprising a processor, an electromagnetic write head for magnetizing nanoparticles attached to the antigens via antibodies in response to a write signal from the processor, and a first amplifier for supplying power to the write head. The circuit further comprises a magneto-resistive read sensor for detecting the magnetized nanoparticles upon receiving a read signal from the processor, and a second amplifier for supplying power to the read sensor. The write head and read sensor may be part of a head module in a magnetic tape drive. Nanoparticles of differing magnetic properties may be selectively paired with antibodies associated with different antigens to allow different antigens to be detected upon a single scan by the read-sensor.