Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to perform prognostic health monitoring of a turbine engine.

Abstract: According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include a decoder circuit, a scheduler circuit, and an execution circuit. The decoder circuit may be configured to detect, within an instruction stream, a first instruction followed by a second instruction, wherein the first instruction takes as input a dividend and a divisor, and wherein the second instruction produces a remainder. The scheduler circuit may be configured to: merge the first and second instructions into a third instruction, wherein the third instruction takes as input the dividend and the divisor, and produces the remainder, replace, within an instruction pipeline, the first instruction with the third instruction, and delete, within the instruction pipeline, the second instruction. The execution circuit may be configured to execute the third instruction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a data analysis system that may automatically generate memory-efficient clustered data structures, automatically analyze those clustered data structures, automatically tag and group those clustered data structures, and provide results of the automated analysis and grouping in an optimized way to an analyst. The automated analysis of the clustered data structures (also referred to herein as data clusters) may include an automated application of various criteria, rules, indicators, or scenarios so as to generate scores, reports, alerts, or conclusions that the analyst may quickly and efficiently use to evaluate the groups of data clusters.

Abstract: Methods of forming a contact for a semiconductor device with double barrier layer sets, and a device so formed are disclosed. Methods may include: depositing a first metal layer contacting a semiconductor substrate in a contact opening; depositing a first nitride barrier layer on the first metal layer; and annealing after depositing the first nitride barrier layer to form silicide region in a junction area underlying the contact opening with the first metal layer and the semiconductor substrate. After the annealing, a second metal layer may be deposited, followed by a second nitride barrier layer. A conductor is formed in a remaining portion of the contact opening. The double barrier layer sets prevent the formation of volcano defects and also advantageously reduce contact resistance.

Abstract: A simulation technique that handles accesses to a frame of memory via a proxy object provides improved throughput in simulation environments. The proxy object, if present, processes the access at a head of a linked list of frames. If a check frame is not inserted in the list, the memory frame handles the request directly, but if a check frame is inserted, then the check operation is performed. The check frame can be a synchronization frame that blocks access to a memory frame while the check frame is present, or the check frame may be a breakpoint, watch or exception frame that calls a suitable handling routine. Additional check frames may be chained between the interface and the memory subsystem to handle synchronization, breakpoints, memory watches or other accesses to or information gathering associated with the memory frame.

Abstract: A simulation technique that handles accesses to a frame of memory via a proxy object provides improved throughput in simulation environments. The proxy object, if present, processes the access at a head of a linked list of frames. If a check frame is not inserted in the list, the memory frame handles the request directly, but if a check frame is inserted, then the check operation is performed. The check frame can be a synchronization frame that blocks access to a memory frame while the check frame is present, or the check frame may be a breakpoint, watch or exception frame that calls a suitable handling routine. Additional check frames may be chained between the interface and the memory subsystem to handle synchronization, breakpoints, memory watches or other accesses to or information gathering associated with the memory frame.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for detecting, validating, and correlating form-fields in a scanned document. The method comprises displaying a plurality of interactive form-fields associated with a scanned document, wherein each interactive form-field in the plurality of form-fields is defined by a location in the document where one or more previous users entered information on the scanned document, and a data type for the entered information.

Abstract: A method of operating a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) having at least one of an aerobic digester (AD) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) is described. The method of operating AD is comprised of monitoring and controlling AD in real-time using an online extended Kalman filter (EKF) having a online dynamic model of AD. The EKF uses real-time AD measured data, and online dynamic model of AD to update adapted model parameters and estimate model based inferred variables for AD, which are used for AD control by AD control system having supervisory and low-level control layers. The method of operating MBR is similar to that of AD. The supervisory control ensures the WWTP satisfying the effluent quality requirement while minimize the operation cost. A WWTP having at least one of an AD or MBR is disclosed. The method of operating a WWTP can be implemented using a computer.

Abstract: A method for identifying an ingress router with collected IP network traffic data captured at an egress router is described. The method includes receiving, at a learning database, an ingress network traffic data flow exported from the ingress router and an ingress interface. The method then proceeds to receive, at a flow processing module, an egress network traffic data flow exported from the egress router and an egress interface. The method then enables the flow processing module to query the learning database with the egress network traffic data flow. The method determines the ingress router corresponding to the egress network traffic data flow, when the learning database matches the egress network traffic data flow with the ingress network traffic data flow.

Abstract: A method includes supplying feed water in a forward direction into a ceramic membrane treatment system at a first rate the ceramic membrane treatment system including at least one ceramic membrane (120), and determining production cycle data of the system, the production cycle data including one of more of accumulation data, feed pressure data, and time since last backflush. The method further includes determining optimal physical flux parameters based on the production cycle data and efficiency of a previous flux maintenance event, conducting a flux maintenance event including accelerated cleaning of the at least one ceramic membrane at a second rate by using a square step backwash rate based on optimal physical flux parameters. The squre step rate can be generated by ramping up pressure by a pump (220) against a closed valve (222) and a sudden openin of said valve.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a peer business relationship value is described. The system and method enables at least one peer to communicate with a communications service provider (CSP). The CSP includes a CSP sub-system that determines a data traffic flow for each peer. The CSP sub-system also receives peer information including a total network cost for each peer. The total network cost includes a network asset cost. Additionally, the CSP sub-system determines an attributed revenue for each peer. The CSP sub-system then proceeds to calculate a net margin by subtracting the total network cost from the attributed revenue. The CSP sub-system then calculates the margin per unit traffic by taking the net margin and dividing by the data traffic flow. The CSP sub-system then calculates the net margin percentage by taking the net margin and dividing it by the attributed revenue.

Abstract: A dispatch optimization system leverages ambient and market forecast data as well as asset performance and parts-life models to generate recommended operating schedules for gas turbines or other power-generating plant assets that substantially maximize profit while satisfying parts-life constraints. The system generates operating profiles that balance optimal peak fire opportunities with optimal cold part-load opportunities within a maintenance interval or other operating horizon. To reduce the computational burden associated with generating the profit-maximizing operating profile, the system uses an estimated price of life value that accounts for creation (by cold part-loading) and exhaustion (by peak fire operation) of factored fired hour credits by means of computing the cost of such credits.

Abstract: A dispatch optimization system leverages ambient and market forecast data as well as asset performance and parts-life models to generate recommended operating schedules for gas turbines or other power-generating plant assets that substantially maximize profit while satisfying parts-life constraints. The system generates operating profiles that balance optimal peak fire opportunities with optimal cold part-load opportunities within a maintenance interval or other operating horizon. During real-time operation of the assets, the optimization system can update the operating schedule based on actual market, ambient, and operating data. The system provides information that can assist operators in determining suitable conditions in which to cold part-load or peak-fire the assets in an optimally profitable manner without violating target life constraints.

Abstract: In various implementations, a digital media recording is received from a user for conversion into an authenticated instrument of an oral agreement. The digital media recording is embedded into an electronic agreement document that is configured to represent an instrument of the oral contract terms between two or more contracting parties. The digital media recording forms a content portion of the electronic agreement document, which is reviewed by each of the contracting parties. A playback status associated with the content portion is monitored to determine that each of the contracting parties have substantially reviewed the terms of the agreement. Upon determining that the content portion has been substantially reviewed by all parties, the contracting parties are requested to electronically sign the electronic agreement document.

Abstract: A method of operating a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) having at least one of an aerobic digester (AD) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) is described. The method of operating AD is comprised of monitoring and controlling AD in real-time using an online extended Kalman filter (EKF) having a online dynamic model of AD. The EKF uses real-time AD measured data, and online dynamic model of AD to update adapted model parameters and estimate model based inferred variables for AD, which are used for AD control by AD control system having supervisory and low-level control layers. The method of operating MBR is similar to that of AD. The supervisory control ensures the WWTP satisfying the effluent quality requirement while minimize the operation cost. A WWTP having at least one of AD or MBR is disclosed. The method of operating a WWTP can be implemented using a computer.

Abstract: A cooling tower simulation system may receive a measurement from a cooling tower sensor and generate a predicted output of a cooling tower system based on a model of the cooling tower system. The simulation system may generate an estimated output using an extended Kalman filter with the measurement and the predicted output as inputs, wherein the estimated output represents a characteristic of the cooling tower system.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, data associated with the operation of a desalter vessel (150), adapted to receive a raw crude input and a water input and facilitate creation of a desalted crude output and a salt water output, may be stored in a computer storage device (630). A computer processor (610) may determine at least one parameter associated with the data in the computer store. The computer processor (610) may then automatically calculate, based on the determined parameter and a physics-based dynamic desalter model (400), an adjustment value for a second parameter associated with operation of the desalter vessel. Using the automatically calculated adjustment value, the computer processor (610) may automatically generate and transmit an indication of the adjustment value so as to improve operation of the desalter vessel (150).

Abstract: In various implementations, an electronic signature platform implements an electronic signing workflow that includes receiving, from a signer device, annotations made by a signer role to an electronic document in response to a request to sign the electronic document. A reply is received, from an advisor device, is made by an advisor role and is responsive to the annotations. Based on providing the reply to the signer device, an electronic signature is received that is provided by the signer role in response to the request to sign the electronic document. An audit trail is maintained that includes descriptions for events associated with the electronic signature, and timestamps associated with the events. The annotations and the reply are recorded by one or more of the events.

Abstract: Improved document processing workflows provide a secure electronic signature framework by reducing attack vectors that could be used to gain unauthorized access to digital assets. In one embodiment an electronically signed document is removed from an electronic signature server after signed copies of the document are distributed to all signatories. The electronic signature server optionally retains an encrypted copy of the signed document, but does not retain the decryption password. This limits the amount of data retained by the electronic signature server, making it a less attractive target for hackers. However, the electronic signature server still maintains audit data that can be used to identify a signed document and validate an electronic signature. For example, a hash of the document (or other document metadata) can be used to validate the authenticity of an electronically signed document based on a logical association between an electronic signature and the signed document.

Abstract: A method utilizes event-driven reoptimization to reallocate one or more logical partitions within a pool of logically-partitioned data processing systems in a logically-partitioned computing environment in response to detection of a system event that is likely to increase or decrease the collective resource demands of logical partitions resident in a logically-partitioned computing environment. The reoptimization may be used to consolidate logical partitions on fewer processor nodes to improve the potential for powering down hardware resources and thereby reduce power consumption.