Abstract: A system that characterizes an integrated circuit manufacturing process is presented. During operation, the system receives a layout which includes a plurality of test structures for semiconductor devices, wherein each test structure varies one or more design variables. The system then fabricates a plurality of wafers based on the layout, wherein each wafer in the plurality of wafers is fabricated using one of a plurality of process settings. Next, the system obtains performance characteristics for the plurality of test structures on the plurality of wafers. The system then generates a process model that is based on at least the effect that values for the one or more design variables and the plurality of process settings have on the performance characteristics of the plurality of test structures.

Abstract: An improved quiet (low noise) hair dryer, which includes a handle for holding the same and supporting its blower assembly having a motor driven centrifugal fan assembly, achieves a significant reduction of noise by employing balanced volume inlets above and below the fan rotor, a special fan rotor configuration having blades with airfoil shapes and a curved trailing edges and diffuser ring in its outlet that employs the Coanda effect in the air exiting the dryer. The dryer can also include a resistive heating element to increase the temperature of the exiting air and, includes the necessary switches and cords for operation of its heating element and electric motor.

Abstract: A display package for scissors consists of an elongated, generally flat member having a top and bottom end, a raised hollow pedestal means mounted adjacent to said bottom end of said member, the pedestal means having a top portion with means operable to secure a finger ring of a pair scissors thereto and support the scissors horizontally above the card with arch means located adjacent to said top end of said member operable to restrain the swing of at least one of the blades of a pair of scissors mounted on the top portion of the pedestal when the handles of such scissors are manipulated by a customer. It is preferred that the top of the pastel include means for rotation of the connection with the scissors so that a greater range of manipulation is available to a prospective customer. In addition the card can include a clear cover if desired.

Abstract: A system that characterizes an integrated circuit manufacturing process is presented. During operation, the system receives a layout which includes a plurality of test structures for semiconductor devices, wherein each test structure varies one or more design variables. The system then fabricates a plurality of wafers based on the layout, wherein each wafer in the plurality of wafers is fabricated using one of a plurality of process settings. Next, the system obtains performance characteristics for the plurality of test structures on the plurality of wafers. The system then generates a process model that is based on at least the effect that values for the one or more design variables and the plurality of process settings have on the performance characteristics of the plurality of test structures.

Abstract: A display package for scissors consists of an elongated, generally flat member having a top and bottom end, a raised hollow pedestal means mounted adjacent to said bottom end of said member, the pedestal means having a top portion with means operable to secure a finger ring of a pair scissors thereto and support the scissors horizontally above the card with arch means located adjacent to said top end of said member operable to restrain the swing of at least one of the blades of a pair of scissors mounted on the top portion of the pedestal when the handles of such scissors are manipulated by a customer. It is preferred that the top of the pastel include means for rotation of the connection with the scissors so that a greater range of manipulation is available to a prospective customer. In addition the card can include a clear cover if desired.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the work load on a distributed system comprising a plurality of stages are provided. The capacity of a present stage is monitored, using either various resources of the present stage or rates of work completion and work receipt of the present stage. Information indicating the capacity of a succeeding stage are obtained and communicated to the present stage. The monitored capacity information of the present stage and the communicated information of the succeeding stage, either alone or in combination, are used to determine if a throttling action is necessary to control the load of work at the present stage. A provided throttling technique inserts an appropriate delay before the present stage to allow the present stage to process an amount of work without saturating the capacity of the present stage. This technique is applied at each stage of the distributed system to control the work load of the overall system by controlling the work load at each stage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for defining interesting portions of a workflow of a business or other type of process. Using a tracking profile editor, a portion of a given workflow is selected and associated with a named process part. Items of payload data to be used in reports are selected from a message schema associated with the given workflow. A profile is generated based on the given workflow and the selected items of payload data. A tracking profile compiler receives the created tracking profile and generates a star schema, a flattened view and OLAP cube based on the tracking profile. An interceptor extracts monitored workflow events and stores event information to a tracking stream, based on the tracking profile. A tracking service extracts information pertaining to the monitored events from the tracking stream and stores the information in the queryable database. The OLAP cube and the flattened view are updated based on the information written to the queryable database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for defining interesting portions of a workflow of a business or other type of process. Using a tracking profile editor, a portion of a given workflow is selected and associated with a named process part. Items of payload data to be used in reports are selected from a message schema associated with the given workflow. A profile is generated based on the given workflow and the selected items of payload data. A tracking profile compiler receives the created tracking profile and generates a star schema, a flattened view and OLAP cube based on the tracking profile. An interceptor extracts monitored workflow events and stores event information to a tracking stream, based on the tracking profile. A tracking service extracts information pertaining to the monitored events from the tracking stream and stores the information in the queryable database. The OLAP cube and the flattened view are updated based on the information written to the queryable database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for defining interesting portions of a workflow of a business or other type of process. Using a tracking profile editor, a portion of a given workflow is selected and associated with a named process part. Items of payload data to be used in reports are selected from a message schema associated with the given workflow. A profile is generated based on the given workflow and the selected items of payload data. A tracking profile compiler receives the created tracking profile and generates a star schema, a flattened view and OLAP cube based on the tracking profile. An interceptor extracts monitored workflow events and stores event information to a tracking stream, based on the tracking profile. A tracking service extracts information pertaining to the monitored events from the tracking stream and stores the information in the queryable database. The OLAP cube and the flattened view are updated based on the information written to the queryable database.

Abstract: An improved hair razor includes a cylindrical barrel forming the first part of an elongated handle having a razor blade holder joined to one end thereof, a tubular member forming the second part of the elongated handle having a finger ring formed therein, and an armature means connecting other ends the first part and the second part of the elongated handle in axial alignment, the armature means operable to allow the first part and the second part to rotate relative to each other and selectively lock the first part and the second part against rotation at a plurality of positions. The multiple positions available for the finger ring orientation lessens fatigue and stress of beauticians and barbers using the novel razor.

Abstract: An improved hair razor includes a cylindrical barrel forming the first part of an elongated handle having a razor blade holder joined to one end thereof, a tubular member forming the second part of the elongated handle having a finger ring formed therein, and an armature means connecting other ends the first part and the second part of the elongated handle in axial alignment, the armature means operable to allow the first part and the second part to rotate relative to each other and selectively lock the first part and the second part against rotation at a plurality of positions. The multiple positions available for the finger ring orientation lessens fatigue and stress of beauticians and barbers using the novel razor.

Abstract: A hand held mirror unit for use in beauty salons includes a planer housing, a mirror mounted in housing in a parallel relationship to the housing and a pair of handles extending from the planer housing on opposite sides of the housing with the handles having a cross-section exceeding the combined thickness of the planer housing and the mirror whereby neither said housing nor said mirror will contact a flat surface of a counter on which the unit is resting through engagement of the handles, along with a non-skid coating on the handles to prevent the mirror from sliding on such a flat surface.

Abstract: An article, such as a cape, with an adjustable magnetic collar closure includes an cloth portion having a collar formed therein with pockets formed in each end of the collar, a flexible magnetic strip inserted into one of the pockets and a separate flexible magnetic strip inserted into the other pocket whereby over lapping said magnetic strips inserted into the pockets of the collar will hold said collar closed around the neck of a person using the article due to magnetic attraction between said strips clamping the fabric of the cape there between. The article or cape may include means for releaseably retaining the magnetic strips in the pockets whereby these strips can be removed when the article is laundered, or closures for permanently retaining the magnetic strips in the pockets of the collar of the article.

Abstract: A hair brush with a body having bristles extending therefrom for brushing hair and a tubular handle connected to the body which handle has a bore disposed normal to its longitudinal axis adjacent to its distal end along with a blind aperture extending from its distal end into the handle, generally along its longitudinal axis; plus a hair pick with a circular opening therein which pick is configured to snugly fit into the blind aperture and so that its opening will register with the bore in the handle. As a result the brush can be conveniently supported on a hook or like device utilizing the bore in the handle while the pick is inserted, and the pick can be easily removed when the brush is in use.

Abstract: Heterogeneous resources of an integrated network environment are managed from a single network management station by correlating information pertaining to those resources. The integrated network environment generally comprises SNA and NetBIOS entities coupled to IP routers. Address information pertaining to selected IP routers and SNA entities are acquired by the routers through a series of SNA message flows. Similarly, a series of NetBIOS message flows among those IP routers coupled to the NetBIOS entities result in the acquisition of IP and NetBIOS address information of these resources at the routers. This information is used to create an IP-centric map of the network. In addition, the SNMP agents provide name information pertaining to the SNA-specific and NetBIOS-specific resources to the console using an SNMP protocol. The name information are overlaid on the map to facilitate monitoring of those specific resources by the SNMP tool.

Abstract: Backup peers in an asymmetrically organized computer network are organized into a "pool" of available devices that are activated as necessary. The network comprises a set of remote peers and a set of local peers directly associated with a central computational facility, the local peers facilitating connection between the remote peers and the central facility. During the capabilities exchange, the "primary" local peer to which the remote peer connects provides a list of backup peer devices to the remote peer. If the primary peer fails (or if the rate of message exchange falls below some predetermined threshold), the remote peer can use the backup information to access a backup peer from the pool. The invention allows each backup peer to be assigned to multiple remote peers, with the total number of backup peers determined by aggregate backup utilization (rather than simply assigning an individual backup peer to each primary peer regardless of whether such a high level of redundancy is justified).

Abstract: A hierarchical wide-area network architecture which conforms to the DLSw protocol is provided, in which multiple routers having a logical connection to one another are designated as a peer group. At least one router in each peer group is designated as a border peer, and functions as a gateway between the members of its group and other peer groups. The peer group structure reduces broadcast traffic on slow links by changing the source of the broadcast from a small access router with a relatively slow link to another, more powerful router, with a faster link on the network. More than one border peer can be included in each group, to share the transmission workload and act as a backup. The border peers can share information about the groups that they service and can cooperate to provide a single-point broadcast service to all of the users of the service. When two or more routers are connected to a network in parallel to provide back-up facilities, conditional filters are employed to prevent redundant operations.