Abstract: A method for run-to-run control and sampling optimization in a semiconductor manufacturing process includes the steps of: determining a process output and corresponding metrology error associated with an actual metrology for a current processing run in the semiconductor manufacturing process; determining a predicted process output and corresponding prediction error associated with a virtual metrology for the current processing run; and controlling at least one parameter corresponding to a subsequent processing run as a function of the metrology error and the prediction error.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for predicting a failure of equipment from prior maintenance data of the equipment collected during a time duration estimate a number of preceding failures of the equipment prior to the time duration. The system, method and computer program product construct a model, based on the prior maintenance data, of an impact of an external intervention on a failure of the equipment. The system, method and computer program product construct a model, based on the constructed model of the impact of the external intervention and the estimated number of preceding failures, a replacement policy of the equipment and a probability of a subsequent failure of the equipment in a subsequent time period.

Abstract: A system for predicting a failure of equipment from prior maintenance data of the equipment collected during a time duration estimate a number of preceding failures of the equipment prior to the time duration. The system constructs a model, based on the prior maintenance data, of an impact of an external intervention on a failure of the equipment. The system constructs a model, based on the constructed model of the impact of the external intervention and the estimated number of preceding failures, of a replacement policy of the equipment and a probability of a subsequent failure of the equipment in a subsequent time period.

Abstract: Automated control of a cooling system cooling at least one electronic component is provided. The control includes monitoring over a period of time variation of an operational variable of the cooling system or of the at least one electronic component, and based, at least in part, on variation of the operational variable over the period of time, automatically determining whether to adjust control of the cooling system to limit variation of the operational variable. In one implementation, depending on the variation of the operational variable, and whether control of the cooling system has been previously adjusted, the method may further include automatically determining a probability of fail or an expected residual life of the cooling system, and responsive to the predicted probability of fail exceeding a first acceptable threshold or the expected residual life being below a second acceptable threshold, automatically scheduling for a cooling system repair or replacement.

Abstract: Automated control of a cooling system cooling at least one electronic component is provided. The control includes monitoring over a period of time variation of an operational variable of the cooling system or of the at least one electronic component, and based, at least in part, on variation of the operational variable over the period of time, automatically determining whether to adjust control of the cooling system to limit variation of the operational variable. In one implementation, depending on the variation of the operational variable, and whether control of the cooling system has been previously adjusted, the method may further include automatically determining a probability of fail or an expected residual life of the cooling system, and responsive to the predicted probability of fail exceeding a first acceptable threshold or the expected residual life being below a second acceptable threshold, automatically scheduling for a cooling system repair or replacement.

Abstract: A method includes defining a first component set of one or more first components; defining a second component set of one or more second components; and defining an original set of relationships, each relationship being between one component of the first component set and one component of the second component set. The method further includes decomposing the original set of relationships into a collection of view sets, each view set having at least one subset of the original set of relationships where the first and second components are associated with the respective relationships of the subset, and each view set satisfies a set of constraints. The components may be elements of a business model.

Abstract: A method to reduce large temperature over/undershoot in a computer system. Using workload data, the method proactively modifies controls of mechanical cooling system to anticipate power and take appropriate actions to maintain temperature. Workload control modifies workload and scheduling to reduce power transients and subsequent temperature deviations. In addition, workload control allows more even distribution of temp across chips, allowing for even wear and reduction of small/ripple/noise temp oscillations. A system and program product for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: An asymmetric approach is used for evaluating process control data, whereby one approach is used for determining entry into the emerging life cycle phase (i.e., presence of a new defect) and a different approach is used for detecting entry into the other life cycle phases such as cresting and recovering. An evidence curve is created from observed instance data for a particular defect, and the slope of this evidence curve is analyzed programmatically by applying one or more tests, in combination with sequential time-reversed estimation, to determine return-to-normal conditions with a desired level of confidence.

Abstract: An asymmetric approach is used for evaluating process control data, whereby one approach is used for determining entry into the emerging life cycle phase (i.e., presence of a new defect) and a different approach is used for detecting entry into the other life cycle phases such as cresting and recovering. An evidence curve is created from observed instance data for a particular defect, and the slope of this evidence curve is analyzed programmatically by applying one or more tests, in combination with sequential time-reversed estimation, to determine return-to-normal conditions with a desired level of confidence.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for maintaining an infrastructure of components. The system receives structured data, unstructured data, and infrastructure data from a database. The system runs at least one statistical and optimization modeler with one or more of: the received structured data, the received unstructured data and the received infrastructure data, in order to calculate a health index of at least one component of the infrastructure. The health index represents a health attribute of the at least one component. The system establishes at least one maintenance plan of the infrastructure, based on the calculated health index. Each established maintenance plan is associated with at least one health index. The system compares health indices of the at least one established maintenance plan. The system selects a plan, among the at least one established maintenance plan, whose health index is a maximum among the compared health indices.

Abstract: Advanced statistical detection of emerging trends in a process is disclosed, based on a Repeated Weighted Geometric Cumulative Sum analysis, which may be combined with time window-based estimation of proportions and related thresholds. Threshold derivation and significance computation is based on parallel simulation runs with power-exponential tail approximations. A battery of tests using the statistical theory of sequential analysis and change-point theory in combination with targets is used to evaluate non-conforming conditions in a process. Trends in fall-out rates are detected based on non-time-to-failure data that corresponds to counts of failures in consecutive time periods, with possibility of delayed input.

Abstract: Advanced statistical detection of emerging trends in a process is disclosed, based on a Repeated Weighted Geometric Cumulative Sum analysis, which may be combined with time window-based estimation of proportions and related thresholds. Threshold derivation and significance computation is based on parallel simulation runs with power-exponential tail approximations. A battery of tests using the statistical theory of sequential analysis and change-point theory in combination with targets is used to evaluate non-conforming conditions in a process. Trends in fall-out rates are detected based on non-time-to-failure data that corresponds to counts of failures in consecutive time periods, with possibility of delayed input.

Abstract: Determining a suitable target for an entity (such as a product) in a process control environment, based on observed process control data.

Abstract: Determining a suitable target for an entity (such as a product) in a process control environment, based on observed process control data.

Abstract: A computer-based measurement monitoring system and method for monitoring multi-stage processes capable of producing multi-orderable data and identifying, at any stage in the monitored process, unacceptable deviations from an expected value at particular stages of the process, and communicating same detected deviation to facilitate corrective action in the process. The system and method consolidate data obtained at various stages of the process, arrange the measurement data in a multi-orderable data framework, compare the multi-orderable framework data with expected parameter values corresponding to the various stages, and detects-unacceptable deviations from the expected values. The unacceptable deviations are communicated to responsible personnel, and the system and method provides same personnel with supplemental information useful in diagnosing the root cause of the problem leading to the detected deviations.

Abstract: A method includes defining a first component set of one or more first components; defining a second component set of one or more second components; and defining an original set of relationships, each relationship being between one component of the first component set and one component of the second component set. The method further includes decomposing the original set of relationships into a collection of view sets, each view set having at least one subset of the original set of relationships where the first and second components are associated with the respective relationships of the subset, and each view set satisfies a set of constraints. The components may be elements of a business model.

Abstract: A system and method of determining performance metrics for inclusion in a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between a customer and a host computing service provider. The method comprises: receiving a provisioning request from a customer including receiving computing performance requirement parameters and environmental parameters for inclusion in the SLA from the customer; deploying discovery tools to identify relevant infrastructure components based on performance metrics. Based on identification of the customer's relevant infrastructure components, probes are deployed and installed. Then, data is obtained from the probes while changing infrastructure components for simulating and assessing impact of one or more different customer scenarios for different performance policies. In one aspect, the obtained data is used to identify and implement an a priori risk sharing agreement between the customer and service provider.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer program product for managing granularity of a computing infrastructure, wherein the program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to: identify at least one set of service functions suited to characterization by one or more sets of metrics; create a representation of at least one supplied functionality for the set of service functions for input to a formal process; characterize at least one rule and at least one constraint for input to the formal process; determine at least one set of metrics for evaluating the service functions; quantify benefits associated with at least one of the sets of service functions using the set of metrics; and provide one or more of the sets of service functions as output, wherein the output is based on the metrics determining the output by use of the formal process. Systems and infrastructure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for assessing a probability of failure of operation of a semiconductor wafer. The method includes inputting risk factor data into a memory and inputting a plurality of wafers into a semiconductor fabrication manufacturing process. A subset of wafers is select to obtain a sample population and at least one region of each wafer of the sample population is inspected. Circuit design data associated with each wafer of the sample population is obtained and one or more defects that present an increased risk to the operation of a particular wafer are identified. The identification is a function of the risk factor data, the inspecting step and the circuit design data. A probability of semiconductor wafer failure is calculated.

Abstract: A computer-based measurement monitoring system and method for monitoring multi-stage processes capable of producing multi-orderable data and identifying, at any stage in the monitored process, unacceptable deviations from an expected value at particular stages of the process, and communicating same detected deviation to facilitate corrective action in the process. The system and method consolidate data obtained at various stages of the process, arrange the measurement data in a multi-orderable data framework, compare the multi-orderable framework data with expected parameter values corresponding to the various stages, and detects unacceptable deviations from the expected values. The unacceptable deviations are communicated to responsible personnel, and the system and method provides same personnel with supplemental information useful in diagnosing the root cause of the problem leading to the detected deviations.