Abstract: Integrated circuit structures having air gaps are described. In an example, an integrated circuit structure includes alternating conductive lines and air gaps above a first dielectric layer. A dielectric structure is between adjacent ones of the conductive lines and over the air gaps. A first etch stop layer is on the dielectric structure but not on the conductive lines. A second etch stop layer is on the first etch stop layer and on the conductive lines. A second dielectric layer is above the second etch stop layer. A conductive via structure is in the second dielectric layer, in the second etch stop layer, and on one of the conductive lines.

Abstract: An alarm rationalization system receiving and responsive to industrial process information collected from a process control system for identifying one or more alarms and executing an artificial intelligence (AI) alarm engine. The AI alarm engine builds a process/domain model based on the received industrial process information and historized alarm information to evaluate the alarms in accordance with a predefined alarm philosophy. The AI alarm engine then generates a plurality of alarm definitions based on the model to optimize the alarms. The AI alarm engine automatically populates a Master Alarm Database (MADB) with the alarm definitions. The alarms are then rationalized based on the alarm definitions stored in the MADB.

Abstract: A system and method for visually depicting component states in a computing system. A graphical analysis tool includes a graphical user interface for use in viewing the history of a selected component. A user selects a system component for viewing and then using a timeline “drags” the state of the selected component to various points on the timeline in order to view states of the component at the selected point in time. States of the selected component may also be played forward or backward in a continuous manner. Logging agents in the system are configured to log data corresponding to detected events and forward the log data to a central repository. The analysis tool may access the data in the repository for use in creating visual displays. Point-in-time snapshots of a component may also be stored in the central repository and used to reproduce the history.

Abstract: A method for efficiently synchronizing configuration data within distributed computing systems may include: 1) maintaining a hash tree that is based on the hierarchical relationship of each object within a distributed computing system that is relevant to the computing device, 2) determining, during a reconciliation process with an additional computing device, that a hash of a top-level node of the hash tree differs from a hash of a corresponding node of the additional computing device's hash tree, 3) identifying, by iterating through the hash levels of the computing device's hash tree, at least one leaf node within the computing device's hash tree whose hash differs from a hash of a corresponding leaf node within the additional computing device's hash tree, 4) receiving the changed leaf node's value from the additional computing device, and then 5) updating the identified leaf node's value to match the changed leaf node's value.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing configuration partitioning are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for configuration partitioning comprising a module for providing one or more policy managers, a module for providing one or more applications, the one or more applications assigned to one or more application groups, a module for associating related application groups with one or more blocks, and a module for assigning each of the one or more blocks to one of the one or more policy managers, wherein if one or more of the one or more blocks cannot be assigned to a policy manager, breaking the one or more blocks into the one or more application groups and assigning the one or more application groups to one of the one or more policy managers.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing configuration partitioning are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for configuration partitioning comprising a module for providing one or more policy managers, a module for providing one or more applications, the one or more applications assigned to one or more application groups, a module for associating related application groups with one or more blocks, and a module for assigning each of the one or more blocks to one of the one or more policy managers, wherein if one or more of the one or more blocks cannot be assigned to a policy manager, breaking the one or more blocks into the one or more application groups and assigning the one or more application groups to one of the one or more policy managers.