Abstract: A method for invoking a WebDAV method via a component technology comprises receiving a request for a WebDAV method in a component technology format, and responsive to receiving the request, invoking the requested WebDAV method.

Abstract: A waveguide device is provided comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to the optical waveguide core. The cladding comprises an optically functional region defining a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to the optically functional region. The refractive index of the optically functional region is lower than the refractive index of the optical waveguide core. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the optically functional region may be characterized as a Kerr Effect medium. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Selection terminals, typically PC computers running internet browsers, make search requests to a searching station or search engine. The searching station receives search terms and performs a probabilistic searching operation. In this way, emphasis is placed upon received terms that occur infrequently within source material. Search results, in the form of web sites of interest of which the high value search terms occur are returned back to the selecting terminal for display. An icon is displayed at the selection terminals and search terms are supplied to the searching station by high-lighting text of interest and then dragging and dropping it to the icon. In this way, it is possible for sophisticated searching operations to be performed with significantly less effort required on the part of the user. In particular, there is no requirement for a user to specify Boolean operations.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a fabrication method for a device for regulating the flow of electric current with high dielectric constant gate insulating layer and a source and/or drain forming a Schottky contact or Schottky-like region with a substrate. In one aspect, the gate insulating layer has a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of silicon. In another aspect, the current regulating device may be a MOSFET device, optionally a planar P-type or N-type MOSFET, having any orientation. In another aspect, the source and/or drain may consist partially or fully of a silicide.

Abstract: A visibility sorting method coherently computes a visibility ordering of a collection of moving objects seen by a moving camera in an animated graphics scene. The method detects whether an object occludes other objects. Objects that form an occlusion cycle are grouped together in the ordering. Objects are represented using convex polyhedra to facilitate occlusion testing. A fast occlusion test determines whether the spatial and angular extents of the convex polyhedra overlap. An exact occlusion test detects collisions between convex polyhedra and the silhouettes of the convex polyhedra.

Abstract: An image generator takes graphical objects and an occlusion relationship for the objects and resolves non-binary occlusion cycles with image compositing operations to produce an output image of the objects. The image generator takes an occlusion relationship for objects in a scene and a set of antialiased image layers with transparency of the objects and produces an antialiased image of the objects with hidden surfaces eliminated. One implementation operates on subsets of the objects in a scene that form non-binary cycles. This implementation uses a chain of atop operators to combine occluding objects with a selected object from a subset, and then combines this result with other objects in the cycle using over image operations. Another implementation computes a chain of out image operations for each object to combine the image layers of the occluding objects with the image layer of the object. The results of each chain of out image operations are summed to produce an output image.

Abstract: A layered graphics rendering pipeline measures image fidelity ("fiducials") to determine how accurately a transformed image layer approximates a rendering of a 3D object. The graphics rendering pipeline approximates the change in position or color of 3D object by transforming a rendering of the 3D object from a previous frame. The pipeline uses the fiducials to control rendering of factored scene elements to independent image layers. The pipeline then combines the layers to compute frames of animation. The types of fiducials include sampling, visibility, and photometric fiducials. The sampling fiducial measures the distortion of an image sample when warped to screen coordinates. The visibility fiducial measures the change in visibility of a scene element since a previous rendering of the scene element.

Abstract: A layered graphics rendering pipeline for real time 3D animation independently renders terms in a shading model to separate image layers. The layered pipeline factors the shading model into separate image layers and renders geometry to these layers independently. Each layer can have an independent update rate and a spatial resolution different than the resolution of the output images. A compositor that supports one or more image operators composites the factored layers into an output image to generate frames of animation. To reduce rendering overhead, factored terms can be rendered once and then re-used in later frames by warping the initial rendering.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for planarizing a pattern of trenches and pillars on a substrate. The trenches are filled by depositing a filler material to a thickness greater than or equal to their depth. Photoresist is then patterned to open at least some areas overlying at least some of the pillars. Exposed resist and filler are then etched isotropically simultaneously to substantially planarize the pattern. In one embodiment, the ratio of resist etch rate to filler etch rate is greater than 1.0. In another embodiment, planarization may be achieved by etching filler material in nonactive areas without exposing caps of capped pillars, e.g., etching with endpoint detection. Then, caps of the capped pillars may then be exposed. These methods may be used in conjunction with chemical mechanical polishing steps with reduced pattern sensitivity, avoiding dishing and isolated pillar erosion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for moving a unit of data (such as an object, program, or file) from a computer operating at a current release level N to a computer operating at a previous release level N-M in a manner that assures that the unit of data will function predictably when restored to the previous release without having to make modifications or updates to the N-M level computer system. This invention allows a new release to be gradually phased in for a distributed computing system instead of requiring that all computers be upgraded to the new release before any units of data can be moved between systems.

Abstract: A plastic bottle for holding liquids such as carbonated beverages under pressure. The bottle, a one-piece, self-standing biaxially-oriented plastic container, is generally cylindrical in body configuration with a spherical bottom from which several lobes or feet extend for supporting the bottle upright on a surface. The feet are also spherical in configuration and extend downwardly from the container bottom adjacent to the sidewall of the cylindrical body to support the bottle in a more stable upright position. The center of the bottom of the bottle may be depressed inwardly into the bottle to increase the clearance between the bottom and a surface on which the bottle stands. The configuration of the bottle serves to impart adequate strength and good resistance to eversion. The bottle can be made with a minimal amount of plastic for given performance characteristics, and at speeds that are economical, even for relatively small bottles.