Abstract: An apparatus for generating a graphical representation of a content display in a virtual reality environment, comprising: controller circuitry configured to determine a position of a device relative to a virtual reality headset in the real world, and when the device is at a predetermined position in front of the virtual reality headset, the controller circuitry is further configured to: generate a graphical representation of a content display in the virtual reality environment, the position of the graphical representation in the virtual reality environment being determined by the real world position of the device in front of the virtual reality headset, wherein the size of the graphical representation of a content display is changed in dependence on the position of the distance between the virtual reality headset and the device, wherein, in response to a user input, the controller circuitry is configured to: lock the position of the graphical representation of the content display in the virtual reality enviro

Abstract: An image processing method includes partitioning an image under test to form a plurality of contiguous image segments having similar image properties, deriving feature data from a subset including one or more of the image segments, and comparing the feature data from the subset of image segments with feature data derived from respective image segments of one or more other images so as to detect a similarity between the image under test and the one or more other images.

Abstract: Data processing apparatus comprises vector processing circuitry to selectively apply vector processing operations defined by vector processing instructions to generate one or more data elements of a data vector comprising a plurality of data elements at respective data element positions of the data vector, according to the state of respective predicate flags associated with the positions of the data vector; and generator circuitry to generate instruction sample data indicative of processing activities of the vector processing circuitry for selected ones of the vector processing instructions, instruction sample data indicating at least the state of the predicate flags at execution of the selected vector processing instructions.

Abstract: A technique is provided for accessing metadata when debugging a program to be executed on processing circuitry. The processing circuitry operates on data formed of data granules having associated metadata items. A method of operating a debugger is provided that comprises controlling the performance of metadata access operations when the debugger decides to access a specified number of metadata items. In particular, the specified number is such that the metadata access operation needs to be performed by the processing circuitry multiple times in order to access the specified number of metadata items. Upon deciding to access a specified number of metadata items, the debugger issues at least one command to cause the processing circuitry to perform a plurality of instances of the metadata access operation in order to access at least a subset of the specified number of metadata items.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for accessing metadata when debugging a device. In particular, debug access port circuitry is provided that comprises a debug interface to receive commands from a debugger, and a bus interface to couple to a bus to enable the debugger to access a memory system of the device. The device operates on data formed of data granules having associated metadata items, and the bus interface enables communication of both the data granules and the metadata items over the bus between the memory system and the bus interface. The debug access port circuitry further has a plurality of storage elements accessible via the commands issued from the debugger, such that the accesses performed within the memory system via the bus interface are controlled in dependence on the storage elements accessed by the commands.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus comprising processing circuitry to execute a transaction comprising a number of program instructions that execute to generate updates to state data, to commit the updates if the transaction completes without a conflict, and to generate trace control signals during execution of the number of program instructions. The processing circuitry uses at least one resource during execution of the program instructions. Transaction trace circuitry generates trace items in response to the trace control signals. In response to the trace control signals indicating that a change in a usage level of the at least one resource has occurred during execution of the program instructions, the transaction trace circuitry generates at least one trace item that indicates the usage level of the at least one resource.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for diagnosing a processor executing a stream of instructions by causing the processor to execute the stream of instructions in a sequence of stages with a diagnostic exception being taken between each stage. The method involves controlling the processor in a current stage, when a point is reached where the diagnostic exception is to be taken, to store in a storage location type indicator information comprising a type indicator for a current instruction in the stream and a type indicator for a next instruction in the stream. The diagnostic exception is then taken, causing a diagnostic operation to be performed which includes accessing the type indicator information from the storage location and, dependent on the type indicator for the current instruction and the type indicator for the next instruction, determining control information to identify at least one trigger condition for a next diagnostic exception.

Abstract: A method of analyzing measured microseismic events obtained from monitoring induced hydraulic fracturing of underground geological formations, the method involving (a) postulate a geomechanical model for the region bounding the microseismic events, the model including the parameters vertical stress, reservoir pore pressure, minimum horizontal stress and the orthogonal horizontal stress, (b) select a microseismic event and (c) for the selected microseismic event assume an associated slippage plane with a postulated orientation, (d) apply the geomechanical model to the postulated orientation to determine the resulting shear stress and normal stress applied to the postulated orientation, (e) repeat steps (c) and (d) to produce a number of postulated slippage planes each with their own shear stress and normal stress attributable to them, (f) select the fracture plane having the highest ratio of shear stress to normal stress as being the fracture plane most likely to be representative of a real slippage plane cons

Abstract: A data processing system (2) supports non-speculative execution of vector load instructions that perform at least one contingent load of a data value. Fault detection circuitry (26) serves to detect whether a contingent load is fault-generating contingent load or a fault-free contingent load. Contingent load suppression circuitry (28) detects and suppresses a fault-free contingent load that matches a predetermined criteria that may result in an undesired change of architectural state (undesired side-effect). Examples of such predetermined criteria are that the contingent load is to a non-memory device or that the contingent load will trigger a diagnostic response such as entry of a halting debug halting mode or triggering of a debug exception.

Abstract: A method for estimating downhole pressure in wells during a treatment procedure. A pressure head in a treatment well may be determined without requiring downhole sensors. The method for measuring downhole pressure may be used in long horizontal wells. By improving the accuracy of such pressure head estimates and providing the data substantially in real time, the data can also be used to control the treatment being applied to the well. The pressure head may be determined by detecting pump harmonics at a detector, typically positioned outside of the well and/or not in direct contact with the fluid in the well. The detector may be a microseismic array.

Abstract: An apparatus includes processor circuitry to perform data processing operations. Interface circuitry forms a connection to a plurality of other apparatuses and receives a foreign exception message indicative of a foreign exception event having been triggered on one of the other apparatuses. In response to receiving the foreign exception message, the interface circuitry forwards the foreign exception message to a set of the plurality of other apparatuses.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a graphical representation of a content display in a virtual reality environment, comprising: controller circuitry configured to determine a position of a device relative to a virtual reality headset in the real world, and when the device is at a predetermined position in front of the virtual reality headset, the controller circuitry is further configured to: generate a graphical representation of a content display in the virtual reality environment, the position of the graphical representation in the virtual reality environment being determined by the real world position of the device in front of the virtual reality headset, wherein the size of the graphical representation of a content display is changed in dependence on the position of the distance between the virtual reality headset and the device, wherein, in response to a user input, the controller circuitry is configured to: lock the position of the graphical representation of the content display in the virtual reality enviro

Abstract: A protective cover for cable connectors and methods of fabricated the protective cover. The protective cover comprises a tube open at one end and substantially closed at the opposed end by an end cap. The end cap bears at least one opening formed therein. The protective cover has a foil outer layer, a soft felt inner layer, and an insulating fiberglass core between the outer and inner layers. The tube is made by overlappingly rolling and bonding a section of foil-backed fiberglass. The end cap may be separately made, made as part of the pattern for the tube, or may be formed by cutting pointed teeth into one end of the tube pattern and bonding them generally perpendicularly to the length of the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating and processing a trace stream indicative of instruction execution by processing circuitry. An apparatus has an input interface for receiving instruction execution information from the processing circuitry indicative of a sequence of instructions executed by the processing circuitry, and trace generation circuitry for generating from the instruction execution information a trace stream comprising a plurality of trace elements indicative of execution by the processing circuitry of instruction flow changing instructions within the sequence.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, comprising: receiver circuitry configured to receive i) a video stream comprising a plurality of images, each image containing at least one object located at a position in a plane and the image having associated image timing information indicating its temporal position in the video stream and ii) a stream of object tracking information each having associated object timing information indicating its temporal position in the stream of object tracking information wherein the stream of object tracking information corresponds to the video stream and separately defines the position of the object in the plane captured in each image in the video stream; and controller circuitry configured to perform pattern matching on the position of each of the objects in the video stream and the object tracking information, and when there is a closest matching position, synchronising the image timing information and the object timing information.

Abstract: Statistical sampling of diagnostic data within an apparatus for processing data 2 is performed based upon sample interval monitoring and address monitoring. A program instruction has its diagnostic data stored when it meets a sample interval criteria and an address match criteria. The address match may correspond to an instruction address of the program instruction or a target address to be read or written by the program instruction.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a subterranean geologic formation's response to hydraulic fracturing is presented.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for diagnosing a processor executing a stream of instructions by causing the processor to execute the stream of instructions in a sequence of stages with a diagnostic exception being taken between each stage. The method involves controlling the processor in a current stage, when a point is reached where the diagnostic exception is to be taken, to store in a storage location type indicator information comprising a type indicator for a current instruction in the stream and a type indicator for a next instruction in the stream. The diagnostic exception is then taken, causing a diagnostic operation to be performed which includes accessing the type indicator information from the storage location and, dependent on the type indicator for the current instruction and the type indicator for the next instruction, determining control information to identify at least one trigger condition for a next diagnostic exception.

Abstract: A data processing system supporting execution of transactions comprising one or more program instructions that execute to generate speculative updates is provided. The speculative updates are committed in normal operation if the transaction completes without a conflict. Start of execution of a transaction may be detected and execution diverted to be performed by software emulation rather than direct execution by the processing hardware. The software emulation may store data representing one or more versions of the speculative updates generated during the emulation. The software emulation may also detect conflicts with the transaction being emulated. In order to facilitate modifying the behaviour of other parts of the system interacting with a transaction under investigation, a non-standard response signal may be returned in response to a detected memory access request to a transaction being emulated.

Abstract: A method can include receiving locations of microseismic events associated with a fracturing operation performed in a geologic environment; determining an individual correlation exponent for one of the microseismic events based at least in part on distances where each of the distances is between the location of the one microseismic event and a location of another one of the microseismic events; and, based at least in part on the individual correlation exponent, associating the one of the microseismic events with a fracture generated or activated by the fracturing operation.