Abstract: An exemplary solution-processed thin film transistor formation method of the invention forms conductive solution-processed thin film material contacts, semiconductor solution-processed thin film material active regions, and dielectric solution-processed thin film material isolations in a sequence and organization to form a solution-processed thin film structure capable of transistor operation. During or after the formation of the transistor structure, laser ablation is applied to one or more of the conductive solution-processed thin film material contacts, the semiconductor solution-processed thin film material active regions and the dielectric solution-processed thin film material isolations to pattern or complete patterning of a material being selectively ablated.

Abstract: An interrupt controller is provided for processing interrupt requests in a system having a plurality of data processing units operable to service those interrupt requests, each interrupt request having an associated priority level. The interrupt controller comprises request logic operable to receive an indication of unserviced interrupt requests, to apply predetermined criteria to determine which of said plurality of data processing units are candidate data processing units for servicing at least one of said unserviced interrupt requests, and to issue a request signal to each said candidate data processing unit. Priority encoding logic is operable to determine a highest priority unserviced interrupt request based on the associated priority levels of the unserviced interrupt requests.

Abstract: An interrupt controller and interrupt controlling method are provided for prioritizing interrupt requests generated by a plurality of interrupt sources. The interrupt controller comprises an interrupt source interface operable to receive interrupt requests generated by a first plurality of interrupt sources, and a daisy chain interface operable to receive a daisy chain interrupt request output by a further interrupt controller based on a second plurality of interrupt requests generated by a second plurality of interrupt sources. The daisy chain interface includes a priority input operable to receive a daisy chain priority signal indicating a priority associated with the daisy chain interrupt request. Prioritization logic is operable to receive the daisy chain priority signal and to apply predetermined prioritisation criteria to determine the highest priority interrupt request selected from the daisy chain interrupt request and the interrupt request generated by the first plurality of interrupt sources.

Abstract: A method for serializing and deserializing program objects that is versioning sensitive. A program object is serialized into a persistent object by saving only those data fields that contain non-default data. The persistent object is deserialized to be used by a deserializing application by first creating a blank program object of the same version as the deserializing application and then populating it with the non-default data stored in the persistent object. The version of the deserializing application need not be the same as the version of the serializing application.

Abstract: This invention is a method for speeding up block matching based motion estimation for video encoder. The invention 1) calculates statistics for a candidate motion vector for a predetermined fraction of the pixels of a macroblock, 2) makes an early decision based on this preliminary cost function, and 3) terminates the block matching process without calculating the cost function for other pixels if the preliminary cost function is not less than a predetermined threshold. This early decision for goodness estimation provides an economy of processing load when a large portion of data is left untouched (i.e. unprocessed). The present invention employs feedback control to reduce the predetermined threshold for quick convergence upon each detection of a better match.

Abstract: This invention corrects chrominance misalignment that occurs during chrominance down-sampling and up-sampling. The invention extracts a binary index from the corresponding luminance signal. The binary index enables generation of a filter window. On down-sampling the filter window is applied to a block of source chrominance pixels which are filtered or not based upon the binary index. On up-sampling the binary index of the filter window for the target chrominance pixels determines which are filtered or not.

Abstract: A quantizer employs a scaled integral inverse ratio division for quantization of an input T by a quantization step Q. The quantizer forms an integral approximation q of 2r/Q by either trunc(2r/Q) or round(2r/Q). A multiplier multiplies the absolute value of T by the q. An adjustment factor is added alternatively to the absolute value of T prior to multiplication or to the product after multiplication. This adjustment factor minimizes errors near transition points in the quantization. This invention is applicable to both trunc(T/Q) and round(T/Q).

Abstract: Motion compensation as for video compression with motion estimation with either frame mode or field mode by initial prediction of motion mode and when prediction error is small enough truncate motion estimation search.

Abstract: A method of variable length coding classifies each received symbol into one of a plurality of classifications having a corresponding variable length code table selected based upon a probability distribution of received symbols within the classification. The variable length codeword output corresponds to the received symbol according to the variable length code table corresponding to the classification of that received symbol. The plurality of classifications and the corresponding variable length code tables may be predetermined and fixed. Alternatively, the variable length code table may be dynamically determined with data transmitted from encoder to decoder specifying the variable length code tables and their configurations. Universal variable length code (UVLC) is used to code the symbols. Universal variable length code can instantiate to different variable length code tables with different parameters.

Abstract: The invention herein provides method and apparatus, including software for determining a set of materialized views or indices of the contents or a subset of the contents of a database in a data processing system to be created for one or more users of the database. The method and apparatus provide method and means for evaluating a workload presented by a user to the database; evaluating the data processing system characteristics; evaluating the database characteristics; and, using the above evaluations for recommending a set of suitable materialized views or indices to the user.

Abstract: This invention is a method to automatically configure the universal variable length coding (UVLC). The method is applicable to code the syntax elements with a lot of symbols like the transform coefficients and motion vectors. The configuration problem includes a configuration method based on a genetic algorithm (GA). The method can be applied to on-the-fly configuration of codewords during video encoding, or to off-line training of code tables. This invention also includes several techniques to reduce the required operations for applications which have only limited processing power.

Abstract: This invention is a method to automatically configure the universal variable length coding (UVLC). The method is applicable to code the syntax elements with a lot of symbols like the transform coefficients and motion vectors. The configuration problem includes a configuration method based on a genetic algorithm (GA). The method can be applied to on-the-fly configuration of codewords during video encoding, or to off-line training of code tables. This invention also includes several techniques to reduce the required operations for applications which have only limited processing power.

Abstract: A pre-inked hand stamp includes a platen carrying a microporous imaging member on its lower portion and having a centrally located threaded stem extending upward from its upper portion; an upper case member having an open bottom and a centrally located opening in its top, the stem of the platen extending through the centrally located opening; a spring and an adjustable stopping assembly coaxially mounted on the stem; and a handle threadably coupled to the end of the stem. The adjustable stopping assembly includes: a lower base member which is mounted in the central opening of the upper case member, a rotatable member which is mounted on the lower base member, and an upper threaded member which is mounted in the rotatable member, engaging it with a spline and groove structure. Rotation of the rotatable member causes rotation of the upper threaded member which results in movement of the upper threaded member along the threaded stem.