Abstract: Systems and methods of configuring an add-on device to augment the capability of existing endpoint infrastructure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a video add-on device is configured to receive, augment or downgrade, and forward messages for an existing SIP audio-only phone. The video add-on device in this embodiment can receive messages from the existing SIP audio-only phone and augment the messages with information regarding the additional video capabilities being provided. The messages can then be forwarded to an infrastructure SIP Proxy/Registrar for further routing. From the perspective of the infrastructure SIP Proxy/Registrar and other network attached devices the outbound messages from the video add-on device appear as if they originated from the video add-on device, other devices will not be directly aware of the existing SIP audio phone providing its designed function. Utilizing devices similar to the disclosed video add-on device may allow incremental corporate network endpoint upgrades.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for finding an answer to a query from a table is provided. The method may include receiving the query and the table. The method may also include generating a hierarchical representation based on the received table, whereby the hierarchical representation comprises a primary tree and a secondary tree. The method may then include mapping the primary tree to the secondary tree. The method may further include generating a plurality of predicate triples in a semantic relationship form based on the primary tree and the secondary tree. The method may also include determining if a predicate triple within the plurality of predicate triples matches the query using query-side and table-side context and semantics. The method may then include adding the predicate triple within the plurality of predicate triples to a plurality of candidate answers based on determining that the predicate triple matches the query.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sodium-aluminum secondary cell. The cell includes a sodium metal negative electrode, a positive electrode compartment that includes an aluminum positive electrode disposed in a positive electrolyte mixture of NaAl2X7 and NaAlX4, where X is a halogen atom or mixture of different halogen atoms selected from chlorine, bromine, and iodine, and a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane that separates the negative electrode from the positive electrolyte. In such cases, the electrolyte membrane can include any suitable material, including, without limitation, a NaSICON-type membrane. Generally, when the cell functions, both the sodium negative electrode and the positive electrolyte are molten and in contact with the electrolyte membrane. Additionally, the cell is functional at an operating temperature between about 100° C. and about 200° C.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented for use by a mobile device to alter a scan operation. Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented for use by one or more electronic devices to determine one or more scan factors for use by a mobile device in altering a scan operation.

Abstract: A method of controlling an engine includes initiating a transition from homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) to spark ignited (SI) combustion mode of the engine under low load. The method includes commanding an exhaust valve actuator to increase lift of the exhaust valve to maximize expulsion of combustion chamber contents. The method also includes injecting into the combustion chamber sufficient amount of fuel after the lift of the exhaust valve was increased to generate substantially stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of the gas mixture contained in the chamber. The method also includes igniting the gas mixture after the fuel was injected into the combustion chamber to maximize combustion of the gas mixture. The method additionally includes commanding an intake camshaft phaser to change the position of the intake camshaft to a position configured for predetermined throttled SI combustion mode after the gas mixture was ignited to maximize operating efficiency of the engine.

Abstract: A system and method of cache monitoring in storage systems includes storing storage blocks in a cache memory. Each of the storage blocks is associated with status indicators. As requests are received at the cache memory, the requests are processed and the status indicators associated with the storage blocks are updated in response to the processing of the requests. One or more storage blocks are selected for eviction when a storage block limit is reached. As ones of the selected one or more storage blocks are evicted from the cache memory, the block counters are updated based on the status indicators associated with the evicted storage blocks. Each of the block counters is associated with a corresponding combination of the status indicators. Caching statistics are periodically updated based on the block counters.

Abstract: An ESD device that includes a gate and an n-drain region isolated from the gate and formed at least partially within an n-well region, which in turn is formed at least partially within a deep n-well region. The doping levels of the n-drain region, the n-well region and the deep n-well region are in a descending order. The ESD device has trigger and holding voltages, above the operation voltage of its protected circuit, which are layout-configurable by altering the distance between the n-drain and a side edge of the n-well region.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed herein for managing power with flip-flops having a retention feature. In an example aspect, an IC includes a constant power rail, a collapsible power rail, multiple flip-flops, and power management circuitry. Each flip-flop of the multiple flip-flops includes a master portion that is coupled to the collapsible power rail and a slave portion that is coupled to the constant power rail. The power management circuitry is configured to combine a clock signal and a retention signal into a combined control signal and to provide the combined control signal to each flip-flop of the multiple flip-flops.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system and a method for automated test suite optimization and recommendation, based on historical data, using randomized evolutionary techniques. The system analyzes historical data pertaining to file change pattern and test case execution history to identify test cases that match application being tested. Further, based on the test cases identified, the system generates optimized test suite recommendations to the user.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a self-contained imaging device that takes digital photographs of portions of documents (such as photos or photoalbums) instead of scanning those images. The imaging device uses a lens to zoom in on specific portions of the document that represent images that are to be digitized. Generally speaking, disclosed embodiments utilize a physical device having a housing, a location for retaining or holding an image to be imaged, such as a platen or image conveyance mechanism, a light source and the imaging system (which can be a digital camera). The disclosed device camera provides a low-cost mechanism that can at-once capture a high resolution image without the delays associated with most scanners.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first semiconductor layer is formed over substrate. An etching stop layer is formed over the first semiconductor layer. A dummy layer is formed over the etching stop layer. Isolation regions are formed in the dummy layer, the etching stop layer and the first semiconductor layer. The dummy layer and the etching stop layer between the isolation regions are removed to form a space. The first semiconductor layer is exposed in the space. A second semiconductor layer is formed over the first semiconductor layer in the space. A third semiconductor layer is formed over the second semiconductor layer in the space. The isolation regions are recessed so that an upper portion of the third semiconductor layer is exposed.

Abstract: An energy transmission system for exchanging thermal energy of a medium in a sealed loop, the energy transmission system comprises a compressor (22) having a first end and a second end, a control valve (24) having a first end and a second end for controlling the flow of the medium in the sealed loop of the energy transmission system, a first passageway extending from the first end of the compressor (22) to the first end of the control valve (24), at least one portion of the first passageway configured to form a first heat exchanger such that a medium flowing therein absorbs thermal energy, and a second passageway extending from the second end of the compressor (22) to the second end of the control valve (24), at least one portion of the second passageway configured to form a second heat exchanger for releasing thermal energy of the medium flowing therein, wherein the compressor (22) is configured for changing the pressure of at least one portion of the medium in the first and second passageway such that the p

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for location detection devices for use in a courier services network. A first user may travel to a location for a particular reason, such as item purchases or appointments. While at the location, the user may be identified at the location by a server offering courier services to a seller and a second user purchasing items from the seller. Based on the first user's reason for traveling to the location and other indicia of trustworthiness or fraud, the server may determine whether the first user can be trusted as a courier. If the user is trusted as a courier, the server may update the first user and the seller to arrange delivery of the item to another location set by the second user. The first user may also be provided with additional items for the second user to deliver to further locations.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for communication device interfaces providing courier service information. A first user may travel to a location for a particular reason, such as item purchases or appointments. While at the location, the user may be identified at the location by a server offer courier services to a seller and a second user purchasing items from the seller. Based on the first user's reason for traveling to the location and other indicia of trustworthiness or fraud, the server may determine whether the first user can be trusted as a courier. If the user is trusted as a courier, the server may update the first user and the seller to arrange delivery of the item to another location set by the second user. The first user may also be provided with additional items for the second user to deliver to further locations.

Abstract: A system to collect and store in a special data structure arranged for rapid searching massive amounts of data. Performance metric data is one example. The performance metric data is recorded in time-series measurements, converted into unicode, and arranged into a special data structure having one directory for every day which stores all the metric data collected that day. The performance metric data is collected by one or more probes running on machines about which data is being collected. The performance metric data is compressed prior to transmission to a server over any data path. The data structure at the server where analysis is done has a subdirectory for every resource type. Each subdirectory contains text files of performance metric data values measured for attributes in a group of attributes to which said text file is dedicated. Each attribute has its own section and the performance metric data values are recorded in time series as unicode hex numbers as a comma delimited list.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure may include a first electrode over a substrate, a high-K dielectric material over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the high-K dielectric material, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode may include a material selected from the group consisting of a molybdenum nitride (MoaNb) material, a molybdenum oxynitride (MoOxNy) material, a molybdenum oxide (MoOx) material, and a molybdenum-based alloy material comprising molybdenum and nitrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical apparatus that deforms a reflecting surface of a mirror, comprising a base plate, a fixing member configured to fix a part of the mirror including a center of the mirror to the base plate, and a plurality of actuators each having a first end connected to the mirror and a second end connected to the base plate, and configured to apply force to a back face of the mirror, wherein the plurality of actuators include a plurality of first actuators and a plurality of second actuators, and the plurality of first actuators are arranged such that a distance between each first actuator and the center of the mirror is longer than half of a distance between the center and a periphery of the mirror.

Abstract: The method described herein provides a method for preparing trisilylamine. In one aspect, the method comprises: providing a reaction mixture of trisilylamine and monochlorosilane into a reactor wherein the reaction mixture is at a temperature and pressure sufficient to provide trisilylamine in a liquid phase wherein the reaction mixture is substantially free of an added solvent; contacting the reaction mixture with ammonia to provide a crude mixture comprising trisilylamine and an ammonium chloride solid wherein monochlorosilane is in stoichiometric excess in relation to ammonia; purifiying the crude mixture to provide trisilylamine wherein the trisilyamine is produced at purity level of 90% or greater; and optionally removing the ammonium chloride solid from the reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for plasma-based processing of a substrate based on a plasma source having at least two adjacent electrodes positioned with the long dimensions parallel to define a first minimum gap between the two electrodes of from 5 millimeters to 40 millimeters. A second minimum gap is defined between the two electrodes and the substrate. AC power is provided to the two electrodes through separate electrical circuits from a common supply with a phase difference therebetween. A first gas and a second gas are injected into the plasma-containing volume between the two electrodes at different positions relative to the substrate. A lower electrode with a lower electrode width that is less than the combined width of the two electrodes is powered from a separately controllable AC power supply at an AC frequency different from that supplied to the two electrodes.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques whereby a user may perform a system reset (e.g., to address system performance and/or reliability degradation, such as which may be caused by unused applications that unnecessarily consume system resources, an attempted un-install of an application that left remnants of the application behind, and/or other causes). In some embodiments, performing a system reset replaces a first instance of an operating system on the system with a new instance of the operating system, and removes any applications installed on the system, without disturbing the user's data.