Abstract: A semiconductor device which displays an oscillating voltage due to the creation of charge domains which includes a plurality of semiconductor layers and at least two electrodes spaced from one another in the direction of the layers, an upper of which has a composition and/or dimensions predetermined so that a charge therein balances a depletion from a surface charge of the upper layer on application of a potential difference across said electrodes. The electrodes may be in contact solely with the upper layer. A method of manufacturing the device is also provided.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) presents a primary icon in a minimal visual area of a video display screen of a computer. Selecting the primary icon directs the computer to display a line of segments, where each segment associated with one or more software programs or electronic documents. The GUI allows a user to directly access items of visual and/or audio media by selecting one or more documents or software programs associated with a selected segment. The GUI optionally allows selected a line or segment for transmission from the computer to another computer, wherein copies one or more documents or software applications are transmitted to the second computer.

Abstract: A method and versatile device for use-based context security is described. In an embodiment, the versatile device is implemented as a wristwatch. The wristwatch is configured to facilitate a wireless transaction for an authenticated user and is configured to be worn by the authenticated user such that to encircle a part of the authenticated user. Moreover, the wristwatch includes a validation mechanism for controlling use of the wristwatch based on whether the authenticated user continues to wear the wristwatch after initiating use of the wristwatch.

Abstract: A method for selecting skinnable interfaces and a system for implementing the same. The method discloses accessing user specific information upon installation of an application on a computing resource. The computing resource is associated with a user that is associated with the user specific information. The method continues by associating the user with a selected selected skin from a plurality of user interface (UI) skins. The association between the user and the selected UI skin is based on the user specific information. Thereafter, the method continues by configuring the application to display the selected UI skin as a default UI skin for the application.

Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for creating and running batch jobs in an object oriented environment, such as a J2EE environment. A request to execute a batch job is received. A deployment descriptor file is processed to identify a batch bean to be invoked. This batch job session bean processes the request, parses deployment descriptor file that comprises definitions of relationships between other helper classes, entity and session beans. The identified batch bean is invoked to execute the batch job step in the order described in the deployment descriptor applying checkpoints at intervals specified in the descriptor.

Abstract: A system for generating application content includes specifying an application definition or model in a flexible grammar, defining a set of templates that define generalized content output forms, and specifying a control definition for transforming the application definition into application content bused on the templates. A transformation engine accesses the application definition and performs output generation under the control of the control description.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for implementing container managed uses, ownerships, and references in an enterprise JavaBean™ environment. A user may specify a uses, ownership, reference relationships between entity beans and sessions in a deployment descriptor file. When the file is processed, the present embodiment generates methods on the entity beans and allows the container to recognize the relationships, such that the user may access the session beans based on the specified relationships.

Abstract: A method for generating application content includes specifying an application definition or model in a flexible grammar, defining a set of templates that define generalized content output forms, and specifying a control definition for transforming the application definition into application content based on the templates. A transformation engine accesses the application definition and performs output generation under the control of the control description.

Abstract: The present invention enables a component under test to bind to a single component, that is capable of simulating most depended upon services, including the details of their interface, whether or not they return explicit results or cause side effects, and regardless of the state of their implementation. This invention includes features that allow for dynamic reconfiguration to meet the needs of both manual and automated testing, including the ability to control normal and exceptional results, as well as features to support both unit and integration testing.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for implementing container managed uses, ownerships, and references in an enterprise JavaBean™ environment. A user may specify a uses, ownership, reference relationships between entity beans and sessions in a deployment descriptor file. When the file is processed, the present embodiment generates methods on the entity beans and allows the container to recognize the relationships, such that the user may access the session beans based on the specified relationships.

Abstract: A power control circuit is used to control the power supplied to a circuit from a power source. The power control circuit is operable to connect and disconnect the power source from the circuit. The power control circuit connects the power source to the circuit in response to an externally applied magnetic field.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for accessing, managing, organizing and using local and online content from a personal computer. The graphical user interface is divided into several modules, displayed on the display screen of the computer. Some of these modules are categories, which contain links to content online and on the hard drive of the computer. The user can customize these categories and the links within them to suit his or her personal needs, interests, and tastes. One of the modules within the GUI are media players. The user can select content by dragging and dropping a link from the desktop, another application, or a category within the GUI onto the media player. Applications required to access content referred to by links within the categories of the graphical user interface are launched at the time that the GUI is launched. The GUI also contains a search tool for searching content stored on the hard drive of the computer as well as accessing online search engines.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for accessing, managing, organizing and using local and online content from a personal computer. The graphical user interface is divided into several modules, displayed on the display screen of the computer. Some of these modules are categories, which contain links to content online and on the hard drive of the computer. The user can customize these categories and the links within them to suit his or her personal needs, interests, and tastes. One or more of the modules within the GUI are media players. The user can select content by dragging and dropping a link from the desktop, another application, or a category within the GUI onto the media player. Applications required to access content referred to by links within the categories of the graphical user interface are launched at the time that the GUI is launched.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a moveable search engine interface that remains visible on the desktop are provided. In one embodiment, a search engine interface is created by displaying a graphical image of a window on a screen of the computer. The window may receive search terms for searching information available to a search engine. The search engine interface is also created by associating a two dimensional graphical image that has a specified shape and color with the window. The search engine interface is designed to remain available on the screen of the computer regardless of whether a browser associated with the computer is open or closed. Further the search engine interface is designed to be moved anywhere on the screen.

Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method for launching a graphical user interface player with a computing resource. A plurality of applications for accessing electronic content can be launched concurrently with the launching of the graphical user interface player. An electronic content can be automatically opened in response to the dropping of a pointer to the electronic content onto the graphical user interface player.

Abstract: A method for selecting skinnable interfaces and a system for implementing the same. The method discloses accessing user specific information upon installation of an application on a computing resource. The computing resource is associated with a user that is associated with the user specific information. The method continues by associating the user with a selected selected skin from a plurality of user interface (UI) skins. The association between the user and the selected UI skin is based on the user specific information. Thereafter, the method continues by configuring the application to display the selected UI skin as a default UI skin for the application.

Abstract: Remote tracing from a local data processing node of the execution of a process within an application program running on a remote data processing node in a distributed data processing network. The application program includes its own local trace facility and the nodes communicate by asynchronous messaging via mailboxes. Each node includes process-provate interrupt handling means for indicating the presence of a command for the respective process in the mailboxes.

Abstract: A system for efficiently generating keys for subsequently objects during object creation and for finding and activating objects using the generated keys in an object oriented system includes one or more processors, a storage system, one or more I/O controllers, a system bus, operatively connecting the processors, the storage system and the I/O controllers, a system control program for controlling the operation of the system, and an extensible instance manager which generates keys and manages instances of objects under the control of the system control program.

Abstract: Bimetallic plate is produced by providing a substrate of a first metal and, with the preheated substrate positioned in a mold cavity with a major surface of the substrate facing upwardly and to fill a portion of the depth of the cavity, a second metal is cast against that surface to form a cladding component and, with the substrate, to form the bimetallic plate. Prior to the cladding being cast, the major surface is rendered substantially oxide-free and is protected against oxidation. The cladding is cast by a melt, of a composition required for it, being poured at a superheated temperature whereby, with the preheating of the substrate, an overall heat energy balance is achieved between the substrate and the cladding.

Abstract: Bimetallic plate is produced by providing a substrate of a first metal and, with the preheated substrate positioned in a mold cavity with a major surface of the substrate facing upwardly and to fill a portion of the depth of the cavity, a second metal is cast against that surface to form a cladding component and, with the substrate, to form the bimetallic plate. Prior to the cladding being cast, the major surface is rendered substantially oxide-free and is protected against oxidation. The cladding is cast by a melt, of a composition required for it, being poured at a superheated temperature whereby, with the preheating of the substrate, an overall heat energy balance is achieved between the substrate and the cladding.