Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of performing nested speculative regions are presented. The method includes responding to entering a speculative region by storing link information to an abort handler and responding to a commit command by removing link information from the abort handler. The method may include storing link information to the abort handler associated with the speculative region. When the speculative region is nested, the method may include storing link information to an abort handler associated with a previous speculative region. Removing link information may include removing link information from the abort handler associated with the corresponding speculative region. The method may include restoring link information to the abort handler associated with a previous speculative region. Responding to an abort command may include running the abort handler associated with the aborted speculative region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arc handling in plasma processing operations are disclosed. The method includes providing current with a power supply to a plasma load at a first voltage polarity and energizing an energy storage device so when it is energized, the energy storage device applies a reverse polarity voltage that has a magnitude that is as least as great as the first voltage polarity. When an arc is detected, power is applied from the energy storage device to the plasma load with a reverse polarity voltage that has a polarity that is opposite of the first voltage polarity, the application of the reverse polarity voltage to the plasma load decreases a level of the current that is provided to the plasma load.

Abstract: A computing device initiates a transaction, corresponding to an application, which includes operations for accessing data stored in a shared memory and buffering alterations to the data as speculative alterations to the shared memory. The computing device detects a transaction abort scenario corresponding to the transaction and notifies the application regarding the transaction abort scenario. The computing device determines whether to abort the transaction based on instructions received from the application regarding the transaction abort scenario. When the transaction is to be aborted, the computing device restores the transaction to an operation prior to accessing the data stored in the shared memory and buffering alterations to the data as speculative alterations to the shared memory. When the transaction is not to be aborted, the computing device enables the transaction to continue.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a non-dissipative snubber circuit configured to boost a voltage applied to a load after the load's impedance rises rapidly. The voltage boost can thereby cause more rapid current ramping after a decrease in power delivery to the load which results from the load impedance rise. In particular, the snubber can comprise a combination of a unidirectional switch, a voltage multiplier, and a current limiter. In some cases, these components can be a diode, voltage doubler, and an inductor, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a bus lock and a translation lookaside buffer invalidate transaction includes receiving, by a lock master, a lock request from a first processor in a system. The lock master sends a quiesce request to all processors in the system, and upon receipt of the quiesce request from the lock master, all processors cease issuing any new transactions and issue a quiesce granted transaction. Upon receipt of the quiesce granted transactions from all processors, the lock master issues a lock granted message that includes an identifier of the first processor. The first processor performs an atomic transaction sequence and sends a first lock release message to the lock master upon completion of the atomic transaction sequence. The lock master sends a second lock release message to all processors upon receiving the first lock release message from the first processor.

Abstract: A sputtering system and method are disclosed. The system has at least one dual magnetron pair having a first magnetron and a second magnetron, each magnetron configured to support target material. The system also has a DMS component having a DC power source in connection with switching components and voltage sensors. The DMS component is configured to independently control an application of power to each of the magnetrons, and to provide measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons. The system also has one or more actuators configured to control the voltages at each of the magnetrons using the measurements provided by the DMS component. The DMS component and the one or more actuators are configured to balance the consumption of the target material by controlling the power and the voltage applied to each of the magnetrons, in response to the measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons.

Abstract: The invention also relates to a method to increase stain resistance and penetration resistance of aqueous coating compositions which method comprises providing a coating composition which contain at least one pigment, at least one film-forming polymer in the form of an aqueous polymer dispersion and at least one anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises at least 85% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight, based on the total weight of anionic surfactant in the coating composition, of at least one anionic surfactant S, which is selected from semi-esters of sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid with an alcohol, which alcohol carries at least one alkyl radical having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms or an alkyl substituted phenyl radical wherein alkyl has from 4 to 30 carbon atoms and which alcohol may carry an oligo-C2-C3-alkylene-ether group provided that the number of repeating units in the oligo-C2-C3-alkylene-ether group is at most 15, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of performing nested speculative regions are presented. The method includes responding to entering a speculative region by storing link information to an abort handler and responding to a commit command by removing link information from the abort handler. The method may include storing link information to the abort handler associated with the speculative region. When the speculative region is nested, the method may include storing link information to an abort handler associated with a previous speculative region. Removing link information may include removing link information from the abort handler associated with the corresponding speculative region. The method may include restoring link information to the abort handler associated with a previous speculative region. Responding to an abort command may include running the abort handler associated with the aborted speculative region.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a non-dissipative snubber circuit configured to boost a voltage applied to a load after the load's impedance rises rapidly. The voltage boost can thereby cause more rapid current ramping after a decrease in power delivery to the load which results from the load impedance rise. In particular, the snubber can comprise a combination of a unidirectional switch, a voltage multiplier, and a current limiter. In some cases, these components can be a diode, voltage doubler, and an inductor, respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arc handling in plasma processing operations are disclosed. The method includes providing current with a power supply to a plasma load at a first voltage polarity and energizing an energy storage device so when it is energized, the energy storage device applies a reverse polarity voltage that has a magnitude that is as least as great as the first voltage polarity. When an arc is detected, power is applied from the energy storage device to the plasma load with a reverse polarity voltage that has a polarity that is opposite of the first voltage polarity, the application of the reverse polarity voltage to the plasma load decreases a level of the current that is provided to the plasma load.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes determining a number of outstanding out-of-order instructions in an instruction stream. The method includes determining a number of available hardware resources for executing out-of-order instructions and inserting fencing instructions into the instruction stream if the number of outstanding out-of-order instructions exceeds the determined number of available hardware resources. A second method is provided for compiling source code that includes determining a speculative region. The second method includes generating machine-level instructions and inserting fencing instructions into the machine-level instructions in response to determining the speculative region. A processing device is provided that includes cache memory and a processing unit to execute processing device instructions in an instruction stream.

Abstract: A computing device initiates a transaction, corresponding to an application, which includes operations for accessing data stored in a shared memory and buffering alterations to the data as speculative alterations to the shared memory. The computing device detects a transaction abort scenario corresponding to the transaction and notifies the application regarding the transaction abort scenario. The computing device determines whether to abort the transaction based on instructions received from the application regarding the transaction abort scenario. When the transaction is to be aborted, the computing device restores the transaction to an operation prior to accessing the data stored in the shared memory and buffering alterations to the data as speculative alterations to the shared memory. When the transaction is not to be aborted, the computing device enables the transaction to continue.

Abstract: A system and method for the automatic provisioning of an openline circuit, specifically for use with a network management system, the system comprising a web GUI (Graphical User Interface) and middleware, wherein the middleware may be synchronized with and instructs a prior art network management system is disclosed. The GUI can be accessed by personnel in an IT department, or by dealers over the Internet via their dealer board using “secure sockets” to be able to make the changes to their openline circuits, including the provisioning of a new openline circuit, the various different inputs being processed by the middleware. The middleware manipulates many SQL (Structured Query Language) databases and is adaptable to work with any network management platform and further is able to provide billing information.

Abstract: The invention also relates to a method to increase stain resistance and penetration resistance of aqueous coating compositions which method comprises providing a coating composition which contain at least one pigment, at least one film-forming polymer in the form of an aqueous polymer dispersion and at least one anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises at least 85% by weight, preferably at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight, based on the total weight of anionic surfactant in the coating composition, of at least one anionic surfactant S, which is selected from semi-esters of sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid with an alcohol, which alcohol carries at least one alkyl radical having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms or an alkyl substituted phenyl radical wherein alkyl has from 4 to 30 carbon atoms and which alcohol may carry an oligo-C2-C3-alkylene-ether group provided that the number of repeating units in the oligo-C2-C3-alkylene-ether group is at most 15, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method performing an operation in a subsea wellhead assembly through a riser extending between the wellhead assembly and a surface platform includes the step of connecting a surface blowout preventer to an upper portion of the riser. Then a tool is connected to a string of conduit. A control line is then connected to the tool, extended alongside the conduit. The tool and control line are lowered through the blowout preventer and riser. The method also includes the step of mounting a slick joint to an upper end of the conduit when the tool is near the wellhead assembly. The control line is then linked through the slick joint and extends to the surface platform. The method also includes the step of communicating with the tool via the control line and performing an operation in the wellhead assembly with the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing operations on an offshore well includes a subsea wellhead assembly. A riser extends from the subsea wellhead assembly to a surface vessel. A tool connects to a running string and is lowered through the riser into the wellhead assembly for performing operations at the wellhead assembly. A subsea controller is located adjacent the subsea wellhead assembly. The subsea controller controls the operation of the tool. A surface controller is positioned on the surface vessel, and is in communication with the subsea controller via a control line extending downward from the surface controller to the subsea controller. The control line extends downward from the surface controller along an exterior of the riser.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention an apparatus and method for controlling a dc magnetron plasma processing system that automatically adjusts the control signal to the power supply based upon the dynamic impedance of the load to control the output power to the plasma. The output voltage and the output current of the power supply that supplies power to the plasma is sampled over at a sampling frequency at least four to five times higher than the switching frequency and the dynamic impedance of the plasma is calculated based upon the sampled voltage and current from the algorithm R plasma = ? ? ? ? V n ? ? ? ? I n wherein ?Vn and ?In is the maximum difference among samples on one switching cycle. If the dynamic impedance seen is negative in nature then the control signal is compensated accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides the ability to use an existing store-and-forward massaging network such as an electronic mail system to replicate data between computer sites. The replication provided by the present invention can be useful with software applications, such as workgroup applications, to replicate data located on multiple sites. Workgroup replication data is sent to other sites via electronic mail (“e-mail”) messages. The present invention provides reliability features to handle errors in electronic mail transmissions. For example, the present invention provides the ability to reassemble objects at a replication site such that an object and all of its dependencies exist prior to the object's use at the site. Messages referred to as “ACK” messages are used to communicate a site's state and to provide other control information. Each site maintains latency information to determine transmission failures.

Abstract: The present invention provides the ability to use an existing store-and-forward messaging network such as an electronic mail system to replicate data between computer sites. The replication provided by the present invention can be used with software applications, such as workgroup applications, to replicate data located on multiple sites. Workgroup replication data is sent to other sites via electronic mail (“e-mail”) messages. The present invention provides reliability features to handle errors in electronic mail transmissions. For example, the present invention provides the ability to reassemble objects at a replication site such that an object and all of its dependencies exist prior to the object's use at the site. Messages referred to as “ACK” messages are used to communicate a site's state and to provide other control information. Each site maintains latency information to determine transmission failures.

Abstract: In paper coating slips containing, as a binder, a copolymer which is obtainable by free radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, at least one of the ethylenically unsaturated compounds is a polymer having at least one copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group, a number average molecular weight of from 500 to 50000 g/mol and at least one carboxyl group (referred to below as ethylenically unsaturated polymer for short).