Abstract: Methods for modeling a random variable with spatially inhomogenous statistical correlation versus distance, standard deviation, and mean by spatial interpolation with statistical corrections. The method includes assigning statistically independent random variable to a set of seed points in a coordinate frame and defining a plurality of test points at respective spatial locations in the coordinate frame. A equation for a random variable is determined for each of the test points by spatial interpolation from one or more of the random variable assigned to the seed points. The method further includes adjusting the equation of the random variable at each of the test point with respective correction factor equations.

Abstract: A monitoring facility that is operable in two modes allowing compatibility with prior existing monitoring facilities. In one mode, in response to encountering a monitored event, an interrupt is generated. In another mode, in response to encountering a monitored event, one or more associated counters are incremented without causing an interrupt.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for solving a scheduling or capacity planning problem of a workforce of a service center, given an anticipated workload, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of calculating the number of workers and skills required in order to supply the adequate level of service; determining the number of workers required at a given period of time; and assigning specific workers subject to specific constraints to a specific period of time, by constructing and solving a mixed integer programming problem. The steps are implemented in either of computer hardware configured to perform said steps and computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and data processing system.

Abstract: Using metamodels during context-sensitive analyses of reusable components of computer software applications, including identifying entry and exit paths into and from a reusable component within a metamodel of a computer application development environment, determining during a static analysis of a computer software application that navigation will proceeds along a path corresponding in the metamodel to such an entry or exit path, retaining, if an entry path, an identifier of an invoking node along the path within the computer software application, and, if an exit path, for each terminal node along each of a plurality of paths from the reusable component within the computer software application, comparing an identifier of an invoking node preceding the terminal node with the retained invoking node identifier, and determining, if the invoking node identifiers match, that the path among the plurality of paths is a correct path for a current context of the static analysis.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for adjusting brightness of an optical touch panel. The optical touch panel comprises a microprocessor, a display module including a back light source, and an optical position detection device including optical transmitting devices and optical receiving devices. The method comprises detecting, via the optical receiving devices, a current ambient light level on the display module. The method further comprises generating, via the optical receiving devices, a current ambient light level signal indicative of the current ambient light level and transmitting the current ambient light level signal to the microprocessor. Furthermore, the method comprises adjusting, via the microprocessor, brightness of the back light source based on the current ambient light level signal.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a composite spatial representation are presented. For example, a method includes obtaining a plurality of source spatial representations from a plurality of source applications, and forming the composite spatial representation by combining the plurality of source spatial representations. The composite spatial representation is operative to interact with at least one behavioral element that is separate from the composite spatial representation. The obtaining of the plurality of source spatial representations and the forming of the composite spatial representation are executed on a computing system comprising a processor and a memory. One or more computer program instructions for implementing the obtaining of the plurality of source spatial representations and the forming of the composite spatial representation are obtained from the memory and executed by the processor device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for language translation in a computing environment associated with a virtual application are presented. For example, a method for providing language translation includes determining languages of a user and a correspondent; determining one or more sequences of translators; determining a selected sequence of selected translators from the one or more sequences of the translators; requesting a change in virtual locations, within the computing environment associated with the virtual application, of one or more selected translator virtual representations of the selected translators to a virtual meeting location within the computing environment associated with the virtual application; and changing virtual locations of the one or more selected translator virtual representations to the virtual meeting location.

Abstract: Administering the polling of a number of devices for device status including determining whether a task identification for polling the device is in the delayed polling queue; if the task identification for polling the device is not in the delayed polling queue, determining whether the task identification for polling the device is in the immediate polling queue; if the task identification for polling the device is in the immediate polling queue; calculating a new time interval for polling the device in dependence upon a predetermined base period and a random selection of a time offset, wherein the time offset is within a predetermined range; calculating a next polling time for polling the device in dependence upon the current time and the new time interval; inserting the task identification in the delayed polling queue in dependence upon the next polling time.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling an electromagnetic head module to detect antigens on a biosample track comprising a processor for receiving position-error-servo signal from the PES read sensor, a write head for magnetizing nanoparticles attached to antigens, and a read sensor for detecting the nanoparticle-labeled antigens. The circuit may further comprise an X-axis actuator for controlling the head module in the direction perpendicular to the track and an Y-axis actuator coupled to the head module and the X-axis actuator for controlling the head module in the direction of the track. Target antigens are attached to the biosample track and nanoparticles via antibodies.

Abstract: A tagging method and apparatus, including computer program products, based on a structured data set are provided, the tagging method comprising: creating classification models for respective nodes in the structured data set of an event; acquiring public opinions on the event; and tagging the opinions to corresponding nodes of the structured data set using the created classification models. The tagging method and apparatus of the present disclosure are able to provide well-ordered, focused public opinions for each event to users, and to exhibit the evolution of the public opinions along with time.

Abstract: A relationship map includes multiple nodes that display related information from node to node in a tree-like, hierarchical fashion. The relationship map associates a formula with a particular node of the relationship map. The relationship map also associates range information with the particular node, the range information indicating a range of nodes to which the formula should be applied. The range information may indicate whether the nodes in the range extend leafward or rootward from the particular node in the relationship map. The relationship map displays the particular node updated with result information that a relationship map generator generates when applying the formula to the nodes specified by the range information.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for identifying an advertisement in a web page. The method includes the steps of: receiving a sample page; analyzing a source code of the sample page to obtain a node feature of the sample page; analyzing the node feature using a preset rule to find a sample advertisement in the sample page; analyzing a first link of the sample advertisement to obtain a link mode of the sample advertisement; and utilizing the link mode to identify a second advertisement, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device so that the advertisement in a web page is identified.

Abstract: A content management system (CMS) synchronization mechanism synchronizes content attributes, preferably in metadata, with content documents. For each of one or more content attributes (e.g. metadata fields), a respective content document context is associated. Each attribute is synchronized to content in the content document according to the associated context. Preferably, the content document contains multiple nested files, and context limits synchronization to a subset of files. Synchronization rules, enforced by a synchronization engine, define respective attributes and content to be synchronized, each rule having an associated context in the content document. Rules are preferably created in XML format, and parsed to produce a document object model upon which the synchronization engine operates.

Abstract: Nuclear Magnetic Resonant Imaging (also called Magnetic Resonant Imaging or “MRI”) devices which are implantable, internal or insertable are provided. The disclosure describes ways to miniaturize, simplify, calibrate, cool, and increase the utility of MRI systems for structural investigative purposes, and for biological investigation and potential treatment. It teaches use of target objects of fixed size, shape and position for calibration and comparison to obtain accurate images. It further teaches cooling of objects under test by electrically conductive leads or electrically isolated leads; varying the magnetic field of the probe to move chemicals or ferrous metallic objects within the subject. The invention also teaches comparison of objects using review of the frequency components of a received signal rather than by a pictorial representation.

Abstract: A configuration adaptation layer (CAL) for I/O devices such as I/O adapters is provided. This configuration adaptation layer (CAL) explicitly provides a mapping between adapter functions and adapter resources in a way such that it is senseable in-band by the computer system using the adapter, e.g., by a virtual machine monitor.

Abstract: A method including: obtaining, via a plurality of communication devices, a plurality of speech signals respectively associated with human speakers, the speech signals including verbal components and non-verbal components; identifying a plurality of geographical locations, each geographic location associated with a respective one of the plurality of the communication devices; extracting the non-verbal components from the obtained speech signals; deducing physiological or psychological conditions of the human speakers by analyzing, over a specified period, the extracted non-verbal components, using predefined relations between characteristics of the non-verbal components and physiological or psychological conditions of the human speakers; and providing a geographical distribution of the deduced physiological or psychological conditions of the human speakers by associating the deduced physiological or psychological conditions of the human speakers with geographical locations thereof.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) cell includes a first read port, the first read port having a first beta ratio; and a write port, the write port having a second beta ratio that is substantially lower than the first beta ratio. A static random access memory (SRAM) array includes a plurality of SRAM cells, an SRAM cell including a first read port, the first read port having a first beta ratio; and a write port, the write port having a second beta ratio that is substantially lower than the first beta ratio.

Abstract: Techniques for enriching a taxonomy using one or more additional taxonomies are provided. The techniques include receiving two or more taxonomies, wherein the two or more taxonomies comprise a destination taxonomy and one or more additional taxonomies, determining one or more relevant portions of the two or more taxonomies by identifying one or more common terms between the two or more taxonomies, importing one or more relevant portions from the one or more additional taxonomies into the destination taxonomy, and using the one or more imported taxonomy portions to enrich the destination taxonomy.

Abstract: A virtual universe application and a media (e.g. 3-D movie) presentation application communicate with each other to obtain a location of a current activity application and find, using a search engine or a content addressable index developed during use, a corresponding location accessible from the other application to synchronize the location and time of location and time of scenes in both applications. Point of view can optionally be synchronized and additional search criteria or parameters can be applied to find the best match of views presented to a user when the user toggles between the VU location and the media presentation.

Abstract: A method for delivering content to a requesting device over a content delivery network, the content being deliverable in only one or more restricted geographic regions and the requesting device being communicatively connected to a cellular communications service provider via a cellular communications network, the method comprising steps of: receiving a network identifier of the requesting device uniquely identifying the requesting device in the cellular communications network; transmitting a verification message over the cellular communications network for receipt by the requesting device; receiving, from the requesting device, an access control submission; receiving, from the cellular communications service provider, location information corresponding to a geographic location of the requesting device; and in response to a determination that the access control submission derives from the transmitted verification message and the location information indicates the requesting device is in one of the one or more

Abstract: A reference model may be defined to refer to a matrix of a target computerized system. The reference model may comprise a reference index and a reference matrix. The reference index may have a non-deterministic value enabling the reference matrix to refer to the matrix using a fewer number of cells. The disclosed subject matter may enable a more efficient model checking process of a computerized device by using a reference model that is relatively easy to define or maintain or by using a reference model that is configured to be more efficient for model checking as it uses non-determinism.

Abstract: Computing the gradients of capacitances in an integrated circuit chip layout with respect to design and process parameters is described. Included is a shape processing engine in the form of a variational mapping engine and a capacitance calculation engine that includes a gradient calculation engine. The variational mapping engine translates physical parameter variations into variations on the edges of the elementary patterns to which the layout of the integrated circuit is decomposed. The gradient calculation engine computes capacitance gradients by combining information from two sources. The first source consists of pre-existing gradients in a capacitance lookup table. The second source consists of analytical expressions of capacitance correction factors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system of creating at least one functional equivalent code segment of at least one original code segment of a computer software program with a lower energy footprint, configured to operate on at least one computer system. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include (1) creating at least one alternative code segment of the original code segment using at least one re-coding rule, (2) calculating a required energy consumption of the original code segment, (3) finding a required energy consumption of the alternative code segment, (4) comparing the required energy consumption of the original code segment with the required energy consumption of the alternative code segment, and (5) returning the functional equivalent code segment corresponding to the code segment with the minimum required energy consumption with respect to the results of the comparing.

Abstract: A client-server computing system suited particularly for clients of varying functional capabilities. Information handling capabilities are provided at the client and server on a customized, as-needed basis. When a service is needed by a client, the server determines a number of factors that may be relevant to the manner in which the service is to be provided. Then, the server selects from between two or more services having different executable code, and uploads the selected service to the client. Thus, the code may be tailored to the client's capabilities, or other aspects of its function. Services are not permanently retained by a client; rather, the client performs an analysis to determine whether services should be retained or purged. Also, state information is not permanently retained by a client; the server retains the information and uploads that information to the client. The server also manages its resources by loading service components on an as-needed basis.

Abstract: Fin-FETS and methods of fabricating fin-FETs. The methods include: providing substrate comprising a silicon oxide layer on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate, a stiffening layer on a top surface of the silicon oxide layer, and a single crystal silicon layer on a top surface of the stiffening layer; forming a fin from the single crystal silicon layer; forming a source and a drain in the fin and on opposite sides of a channel region of the fin; forming a gate dielectric layer on at least one surface of the fin in the channel region; and forming a gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for identifying false positive indications of high impedance faults in an AC electric power transmission and distribution network. In one embodiment, the method comprises using a procedure to monitor a phase conductor of the network for faults, said procedure generating a fault signal indicating a specified fault in the conductor. In this embodiment, the voltage and current waveform of the electric power conducted through the conductor are monitored. When a phase shift in said waveform is detected over a defined period of time, and said detected phase shift meets one or more given criteria, a correction signal is generated indicating that said fault signal is a false indication of the specified fault. The given criteria may include, for example, that the phase shift is more than a threshold value for a specified period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a system comprising a peripheral component interface (PCI) host bridge. The PCI host bridge is configured to be coupled to a PCI bus, and to receive a system reset signal, to generate a PCI bus reset signal based on the received system reset signal, to detect a PCI operational mode of the PCI bus, and to generate a voltage indicator signal based on the detected PCI operational mode. A voltage regulator is coupled to the PCI host bridge and configured to receive the voltage indicator signal and to regulate a signaling voltage for the PCI bus based on the voltage indicator signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a coordinated transaction processing system capable of providing primary-primary high availability as well as minimal response time to queries via utilization of a virtual reply system between partner nodes. One or more global queues ensure peer nodes are synchronized.

Abstract: An electronic system having a power efficient differential signal between a first and second electronic unit. A controller uses information, such as compliance with data transmission rate requirement and bit error rate (BER) versus a BER threshold to control power modes such that a minimal amount of power is required. Amplitude of transmission and single ended or differential transmission of data are examples of the power modes. The controller also factors in a failing phase in a differential signal in selecting a minimal power mode that satisfies the transmission rate requirement of the BER threshold.

Abstract: A method and a system for processing an HTTP request. There is provided a method for processing an HTTP request, including: receiving an original HTTP request for accessing an instance of an application; modifying a domain name to be accessed; and sending the new HTTP request to a server of the application so as to access the instance of the application, wherein the domain name to be accessed by the original HTTP request and the new domain name correspond to a same IP address. This avoids various problems such as data confusion, data error, and use inconvenience in the related art occurring when a plurality of service instances of a same application run in a same hypertext transfer protocol session. A system for carrying out the above method is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for searching multi-dimensional data are provided. The techniques include providing a parallelization framework for a search algorithm, wherein the search algorithm exposes one or more architecture-sensitive tunable optimization parameters, and using the one or more architecture-sensitive tunable optimization parameters to tune the search algorithm to search multi-dimensional data in any underlying architecture.

Abstract: An apparatus for cross-browser testing of a web application is disclosed, including: a first broker residing among a plurality of browsers for receiving information of a user action from a browser operated by a user among the plurality of browsers and for transmitting the information of the user action to other browsers so that the other browsers can execute the user action; a second broker residing between the plurality of browsers and the web application for receiving at least one web request generated by executing the user action from the plurality of browsers and for determining whether to be able to merge the at least one web request, so as to determine whether the plurality of browsers are compatible with the web application. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for writing to memory using adaptive write techniques. An adaptive write technique includes receiving at a computer a message including a plurality of symbols. The message is written to a memory. The writing to memory includes performing for each symbol in the message: writing a data value to a memory location in the memory and reading contents of the memory location after the data value has been written. The data value is determined at the computer in response to the symbol and to the contents of any memory locations previously read as part of writing the message to the memory. It is determined at the computer if the contents of the memory locations reflect the message. The writing is restarted at the computer in response to determining that the contents of the memory locations do not reflect the message.

Abstract: Registration of a plurality of customers, each having an information technology infrastructure, with a manager of remote services is facilitated. Registration of a plurality of service partners with the manager is also facilitated. The manager detects an issue with a given one of the information technology infrastructures of a given one of the customers. Responsive to the detecting, responses from a subset of the service partners for potential selection to address the issue are facilitated. The partners in the subset are ranked based at least in part on ratings of the service partners in a rating database. A top-ranked one of the service partners is assigned to address the issue.

Abstract: Data representative of a plurality of mortgage applications is obtained. The applications participate in a mortgage origination process, and each of the applications has associated therewith customer-specific attributes and product-specific attributes. The mortgage origination process has a plurality of statuses. Data representative of at least one environmental attribute is also obtained. Each given one of the mortgage applications in a given one of the plurality of statuses at a given time is ranked by likelihood of not closing, based at least on the customer-specific attributes, the product-specific attributes, and the at least one environmental attribute. Those of the mortgage applications likely not to close which are likely not to close due to non-exogenous attributes are identified.

Abstract: The Power Conversion Unit includes a single stage rectifier circuit that generates a DC voltage which is stored on a first capacitor. A circuit arrangement connected to the first capacitor monitors the DC voltage at the capacitor and other predefined signals to generate signals for smoothing ripples associated with the DC voltage and maintains the DC voltage at a predefined level for a predefined time interval. The holdup and smoothing voltages are generated by developing and storing a high voltage on a second capacitor. A switching device connected to the second capacitor causes energy to flow from the second capacitor into the primary winding of a transformer whose secondary winding are switched to deposit the energy stored in said transformer onto the first capacitor. A circuit for charging the second capacitor is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for distributing events between application instances that are connected by intermittent connections. The application instances are provided with brokers that communicate with each other and their respective application instances according to an interface. The application instances provide events to the brokers, which forward them to the other brokers in the system. If a particular broker cannot be reached, the broker queues the events in a local data store, monitors the connection, and sends them once the connection is reestablished. The broker similarly receives events generated by the application instance associated with the remote broker that could not be communicated while the connection was inactive. As a result, users in the system are provided with a best possible and most complete state of the entire application that is available given the connection statuses in the system at a given time.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for transforming an original graph data set into a representative form having a smaller number of dimensions that the original graph data set. The mechanisms generate a graph transformation basis structure based on an input graph data structure. The mechanisms further transform an original graph data set based on an intersection of the graph transformation basis structure and the input graph data structure to thereby generate a transformed graph data set data structure. The transformed graph data set data structure has a reduced dimensionality from that of the input graph data structure but represents characteristics of the original graph data set. Moreover, the mechanisms perform an application specific operation on the transformed graph data set data structure to generate an output of a closest similarity record in the transformed graph data set to a target component.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a frame boundary detection system and a synchronization system for a data stream received by an Ethernet Forward Error Correction layer. The frame boundary detection system includes a shifter, two descramblers, a syndrome generator and trapper. The error trapper includes a big-little endian mode controller for controlling the big-little endian conversion of the error trapper. If the error trapper operates in the big endian mode, the error trapper implements the function of the syndrome generator, operates at the same time with the syndrome generator, and performs a second FEC check, wherein when the shifter performs the FEC check by intercepting data with a length of one frame plus A bits, two start positions of the frame can be verified, where A is a positive integer less than a length of one frame. The invention can improve the frame boundary detection speed and the frame synchronization speed, and increase only a few hardware overheads.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an identity search in a database of iris images for a probe iris image includes generating a full-length iris code and a compact iris code for iris images in a database, and generating a full-length iris code and a compact iris code for a probe iris image. The compact iris code for the probe image is scored against all compact iris codes in the database. A fraction of the database is retained based on score data. The full length iris code for the probe image is scored against all the full length iris codes in the retained portion of the database.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for selecting a work queue associated with a processor within a multiple processor architecture to assign a new task. A local and a remote queue availability flag is maintained to indicate a relative size of work queues, in relationship to a mean queue size, for each processor in a multiple processor architecture. In determining to which processor to assign a task, the processor evaluates its own queue size by examining its local queue availability flag and evaluates other processor's queue sizes by examining their remote queue availability flags. The local queue availability flags are maintained asynchronously from task assignment. Remote flags are maintained at time of task assignment. The presented algorithm provides improved local processor queue size determinations in systems where task distribution processes execute with lower priorities that other tasks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for translation verification of source strings for controls in a target application graphical user interface (GUI). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for translation verification of source strings for controls in a target application GUI can include loading a target GUI for an application under test in a functional testing tool executing in memory by a processor of a computing system, retrieving different translated source strings in a target spoken language for respectively different control elements of the target GUI and, determining a score for each one of the translated source strings. Thereafter, an alert can be provided in the functional testing tool for each translated source string corresponding to a determined score failing to meet a threshold value, such as a score that falls below a threshold value, or a score that exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A wireless communication transceiver and a mode switch device thereof. The transceiver includes: a first band transmission path; a first band reception path; a second band transmission path; a second band reception path; a path switch and a control unit. In a dual band time division duplexing mode, the control unit controls the path switch so that the path switch connects a received radio frequency signal from an antenna to the first band reception path, and connects a transmitted radio frequency signal from the second band transmission path to the antenna in an odd cycle or an even cycle; and controls the path switch so that the path switch connects a received radio frequency signal from the antenna to the second band reception path, and connects a transmitted radio frequency signal from the first band transmission path to the antenna in another odd cycle or another even cycle.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical structure. The electrical structure comprises an interconnect structure and a substrate. The substrate comprises an electrically conductive pad and a plurality of wire traces electrically connected to the electrically conductive pad. The electrically conductive pad is electrically and mechanically connected to the interconnect structure. The plurality of wire traces comprises a first wire trace, a second wire trace, a third wire trace, and a fourth wire trace. The first wire trace and second wire trace are each electrically connected to a first side of the electrically conductive pad. The third wire trace is electrically connected to a second side of the electrically conductive pad. The fourth wire trace is electrically connected to a third side of said first electrically conductive pad. The plurality of wire traces are configured to distribute a current.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and apparatus for hardware resource arbitration in a data processing environment having a plurality of logical partitions. A hypervisor receives a request for a hardware resource from a first logical partition, wherein the request corresponds to an operation. The hypervisor determines the hardware resource is free from contention by a second logical partition. The hypervisor writes the hardware resource to a hardware resource pool data structure, as associated with the first logical partition, in response to a determination the hardware resource is free. The hypervisor presents the hardware resource to the first logical partition. The hypervisor determines that the operation is complete. The hypervisor release the hardware resource from a hardware resource pool, responsive to the determination that the operation is complete.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a cache for emulating larger linesize in a substrate with smaller linesize using gang fetching and gang replacement. Gang fetching fetches multiple lines on a cache miss to ensure that all smaller lines that make up the larger line are resident in cache at the same time. Gang replacement evicts all smaller lines in cache that would have been evicted had the cache linesize been larger. The mechanism provides adaptive linesize using set dueling by dynamically selecting between multiple linsizes depending on which linesize performs the best at runtime. Set dueling dedicates a portion of sets of the cache to always use smaller linesize and dedicates one or more portions of the sets of cache to always emulate larger linesizes. One or more counters keep track of which linesize has the best performance. The cache uses that linesize for the remainder of the sets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to magnetizing and detecting nanoparticle-labeled antigens on biosample tracks deposited on a tape media. An aspect of the invention comprises apparatus and methods for labeling antigens with demagnetized nanoparticles, magnetizing the nanoparticles with an electromagnetic write head, and detecting the antigens via the magnetized nanoparticles by reading the tape media with a read sensor in a read-after-write operation. The write head and read sensor are part of a head-module of magnetic tape drive. Target antigens are attached to the biosample tracks by antibodies. Nanoparticles of differing magnetic properties may be selectively paired with antibodies associated with different antigens to allow multiple antigens to be detected upon a single scan by the read sensor.

Abstract: A novel and useful framework, system and method of monitoring one or more performance parameters (e.g., distributed system performance), filtering the performance parameters data collected and identifying one or more performance parameters that affect one or more target performance measures. This can be achieved in the case of a delay parameter, for example, by determining the root-cause of the increased delay and taking corrective actions in order to avoid violation of the timeliness constraints. The present invention is a statistical based performance monitoring mechanism that uses statistical signal processing techniques and is applicable, for example, in soft real-time distributed systems. The monitoring framework efficiently and distributively characterizes the behavior of the varying network conditions as a stochastic process and performs root-cause analysis to detecting the parameters which affect one or more target performance measures, e.g., latency.

Abstract: A measurement sampling facility takes snapshots of the central processing unit (CPU) on which it is executing at specified sampling intervals to collect data relating to tasks executing on the CPU. The collected data is stored in a buffer, and at selected times, an interrupt is provided to remove data from the buffer to enable reuse thereof. The interrupt is not taken after each sample, but in sufficient time to remove the data and minimize data loss.

Abstract: A method, test circuit and test system provide measurements to accurately characterize threshold voltage changes due to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) and positive bias temperature instability (PBTI). Both the bias temperature instability recovery profile and/or the bias temperature shifts due to rapid repetitions of stress application can be studied. In order to provide accurate measurements when stresses are applied at intervals on the order of tens of nanoseconds while avoiding unwanted recovery, and/or to achieve recovery profile sampling resolutions in the nanosecond range, multiple delay or ring oscillator frequency measurements are made using a delay line that is formed from delay elements that have delay variation substantially caused only by NBTI or PBTI effects. Devices in the delay elements are stressed, and then the delay line/ring oscillator is operated to measure a threshold voltage change for one or more measurement periods on the order of nanoseconds.