Author: claimsbot

1. A method of reconfiguring software at a software defined radio (SDR) terminal including one or more reconfigurable elements, the method comprising:
indentifying program installation time and program startup time with respect to the respective reconfigurable elements;
selecting a reconfigurable element from the one or more reconfigurable elements based on the program installation time and the program startup time; and
placing a program on the selected reconfigurable element.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the selecting of one reconfigurable element, a reconfigurable element having the largest sum of the program installation time and the program startup time is selected.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
prior to the selecting of one reconfigurable element, generating an element list including information of the respective reconfigurable elements upon receipt of a request for initiating a new wireless communication service; and
after the selecting is performed, deleting the selected reconfigurable element from the element list.
4. The method of claim 3, after the deleting of the selected reconfigurable element, further comprising:
determining whether or not the element list still includes other reconfigurable elements,
wherein when it is determined that other reconfigurable elements are included in the element list, a reconfigurable element is selected from the other reconfigurable elements.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein when it is determined that no other reconfigurable elements remain on the element list, the placing of the program is finished.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the placing of the program involves the copying of a corresponding program to a storage space associated with the selected reconfigurable element.
7. The method of claim 1, after placing of the program, further comprising requesting installation and startup of the program placed in the selected reconfigurable element.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein information about the program installation time and the program startup time is obtained from program installation configuration information.
9. The method of claim 3, wherein information of reconfigurable elements is obtained from program installation configuration information.
10. A software reconfiguring apparatus comprising:
one or more reconfigurable elements, the programming of each of which being reconfigurable; and
a control unit to select a configurable element from the reconfigurable elements based on program installation time and program startup time and to place the program on the selected reconfigurable element.
11. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit selects a reconfigurable element having the largest sum of the program installation time and the program startup time.
12. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:
an information storage unit to store information about the program and information about the one or more reconfigurable elements,
wherein the control unit identifies the program installation time and the program startup time with respect to the respective reconfigurable elements based on the information stored in the information storage unit.
13. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit generates an element list of the reconfigurable elements based on the information stored in the information storing unit, selects one of the reconfigurable elements from the element list and deletes the selected reconfigurable element from the element list.
14. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:
a common bus to provide a connection channel for data communications between the control unit and each of the reconfigurable elements,
wherein the control unit controls the common bus.
15. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:
a plurality of memories dedicated to the respective reconfigurable elements,
wherein the control unit places the program on the selected reconfigurable element by copying the program information stored in the information storage unit to the memory dedicated to the selected reconfigurable element.
16. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit requests the reconfigurable element in which the program is completely placed to install and start up the placed program.
17. The software reconfiguring apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit is a reconfigurable element.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A semiconductor device which has semiconductor elements, a wiring layer, and a plurality of interlayer insulating film layers on a semiconductor substrate, wherein
a seal ring which encloses a semiconductor element region is formed with a damascene wiring structure using conductor material which forms the wiring layer, said seal ring having a first side and a second side, said first side being nearer than said second side to the semiconductor element region, and
an isolated pocket group having a plurality of first and second isolated pockets of insulating material arranged in designated regions of the seal ring, said plurality of first isolated pockets constituting a first row of said isolated pocket group near said first side of said seal ring and said plurality of second isolated pockets constituting a second row of said isolated pocket group near said second side of said seal ring,
wherein said plurality of first and second isolated pockets are arranged in a zigzag pattern along said first and second sides of said seal ring adjacent the semiconductor element region, and a shortest distance between said first side of said seal ring and said first row of said isolated pocket group is smaller than a shortest distance between said second side of said seal ring and said second row of said isolated pocket group.
2. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal ring is formed in a multilayer structure comprising an upper layer damascene wiring structure and a lower layer damascene wiring structure which are connected together, and the first and second isolated pockets of insulating material formed in designated regions in the upper layer damascene wiring structure are arranged to not be aligned over isolated pockets of insulating material formed in the lower layer damascene wiring structure.
3. A semiconductor chip comprising:
a semiconductor wafer;
a plurality of semiconductor elements within a semiconductor element region of the semiconductor wafer;
a plurality of interlayer insulating film layers overlying the semiconductor wafer and the semiconductor element region;
wiring layers within the plurality of interlayer insulating film layers and connected to the semiconductor elements;
a seal ring that encloses the semiconductor element region, said seal ring having a first side and a second side, said first side being nearer than said second side to the semiconductor element region,
the seal ring is a damascene wiring structure within a continuous groove in the plurality of interlayer insulating film layers along an entire periphery of the semiconductor wafer; and
a plurality of first and second isolated pockets of insulating material within the seal ring that extend through the continuous groove, wherein said plurality of first isolated pockets constitute a first row near said first side of said seal ring and said plurality of second isolated pockets constitute a second row near said second side of said seal ring, said plurality of first and second isolated pockets are arranged in a zigzag pattern, and a shortest distance between said first side of said seal ring and said first row of said first isolated pockets is smaller than a shortest distance between said second side of said seal ring and said second row of said second isolated pockets.

1. A method of communicating data between a wireless unit and at least one base station comprising the steps of:
transmitting by said wireless unit according to an autonomous mode where data is transmitted autonomously after said wireless unit switches from a scheduling mode after a request for transmission of data is made by said wireless unit; and
transmitting a sequence of bits on a control channel to said base station to indicate operation in said autonomous mode.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
receiving an indication of a waiting period by said wireless unit while in said scheduling mode prior to a schedule grant that grants a request by said wireless unit for transmission of said data from said wireless unit.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising:
receiving rate control information from said base station to control transmission of data from said wireless unit in said autonomous mode.
4. A method of communicating data between a wireless unit and at least one base station comprising the steps of:
receiving a sequence of bits on a control channel from said wireless unit to indicate operation in an autonomous mode or a scheduling mode; and
receiving data in an autonomous mode where data is received from said wireless unit autonomously after said wireless unit has switched from a scheduling mode and after a request is made by said wireless unit for transmission of data.
5. The method of claim 4 comprising:
transmitting an indication of a waiting period prior to a schedule grant that grants a request by said wireless unit while in said scheduling mode for transmission of said data from said wireless unit.
6. The method of claim 4 comprising:
transmitting rate control information from said base station to control transmission of data from said wireless unit in said autonomous mode.
7. A method of communicating data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations comprising the steps of:
receiving a first schedule grant from a first base station of said plurality of base stations and a second schedule grant, which is independent of said first schedule grant, from a second base station of said plurality of base stations for transmission of said data from said wireless unit; and
transmitting said data by said wireless unit according to said first schedule grant and receiving an acknowledgment from at least said second base station that said data was received.
8. The method of claim 7 comprising:
transmitting encoder packet format information for said transmission.
9. The method of claim 7 comprising:
receiving said first and second scheduling grants over a time division multiplexed common control channel.
10. A method of communicating data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations comprising the steps of:
transmitting a first schedule grant by a first base station of said plurality of base stations for transmission of data from said wireless unit which receives a second scheduling grant, which is independent from said first schedule grant, from a second base station;
receiving said data according to said second schedule grant; and
transmitting an acknowledgment by at least said first base station that said data was received.
11. The method of claim 10 comprising:
receiving encoder packet format information for said transmission.
12. The method of claim 10 comprising:
transmitting said first scheduling grant over a time division multiplexed said common control channel.
13. A method of transmitting data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations, said method comprising the steps of:
transmitting data by said wireless unit using an autonomous mode established for
transmitting data autonomously to at least a first base station of said plurality of base stations; and
transmitting data by said wireless unit using a scheduling mode after a request is granted for transmission of data, which is independent from said the autonomous mode, established for transmitting data between said wireless unit and at least a second base station of said plurality of base stations.
14. The method of claim 13 comprising: autonomously transmitting data at lower data rates; and scheduling transmissions of data at higher data rates.
15. A method of receiving data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving data transmitted by a wireless unit using an autonomous mode established for transmitting data autonomously to at least a first base station of said plurality of base stations; and
receiving data transmitted by said wireless unit using a scheduling mode where data is transmitted after a request is made for transmission of data, which is independent from said the autonomous mode, established for transmitting data between said wireless unit and at least a second base station of said plurality of base stations.
16. The method of claim 15 comprising:
autonomously receiving data at lower data rates; and
scheduling transmissions of at higher data rates.
17. A wireless unit for use in communicating data with at least one base station, said wireless unit comprising:
transmission circuitry configured to transmit according to an autonomous mode where data is transmitted autonomously after said wireless unit switches from a scheduling mode after a request for transmission of data is made by said wireless unit, said transmission circuitry further configured to transmit a sequence of bits on a control channel to said base station to indicate operation in said autonomous mode.
18. A data communication system for use in communicating data between a wireless unit and at least one base station, said system comprising:
receiver circuitry configured to receive a sequence of bits on a control channel from said wireless unit to indicate operation in an autonomous mode or a scheduling mode, said receiver circuitry further configured to receive data in an autonomous mode where data is received from said wireless unit autonomously after said wireless unit has switched from a scheduling mode after a request is made by said wireless unit for transmission of data.
19. A wireless unit for use in communicating data with a plurality of base stations, said wireless unit comprising:
transceiver circuitry configured to receive a first schedule grant from a first base station of said plurality of base stations and a second schedule grant, which is independent of said first schedule grant, from a second base station of said plurality of base stations for transmission of said data from said wireless unit, to transmit said data by said wireless unit according to said first schedule grant, and to receive an acknowledgment from at least said second base station that said data was received.
20. A data communication system for use in communicating data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations, said system comprising:
transceiver circuitry configured to transmit a first schedule grant by a first base station of said plurality of base stations for transmission of data from said wireless unit which receives a second scheduling grant, which is independent from said first schedule grant, from a second base station, to receive said data according to said second schedule grant, and to transmit an acknowledgment by at least said first base station that said data was received.
21. A wireless unit for use in communicating data with a plurality of base stations, said wireless unit comprising:
transmitter circuitry configured to transmit data by said wireless unit using an autonomous mode established for transmitting data autonomously to at least a first base station of said plurality of base stations, and to transmit data by said wireless unit using a scheduling mode after a request us granted for transmission of data, which is independent from said the autonomous mode, established for transmitting data between said wireless unit and at least a second base station of said plurality of base stations.
22. A data communication system for use in communicating data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations, said system comprising:
receiver circuitry configured to receive data transmitted by a wireless unit using an autonomous mode established for transmitting data autonomously to at least a first base station of said plurality of base stations, and to receive data transmitted by said wireless unit using a scheduling mode after a request us granted for transmission of data, which is independent from said the autonomous mode, established for transmitting data between said wireless unit and at least a second base station of said plurality of base stations.
23. A method of transmitting data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations, said method comprising the steps of:
transmitting data by said wireless unit using a first scheduling mode established for transmitting data to at least a first base station of said plurality of base stations, where data is transmitted after a request is granted for transmission of data; and
transmitting data by said wireless unit using a second scheduling mode, which is independent from said first schedule mode established for transmitting data between said wireless unit and at least a second base station of said plurality of base stations, where data is transmitted after a request is granted for transmission of data.
24. A method of receiving data between a wireless unit and a plurality of base stations, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving data transmitted by a wireless unit using a first schedule mode established for transmitting data after a request is made by the wireless unit to at least a first base station of said plurality of base stations; and
receiving data transmitted by said wireless unit using a second schedule mode after a request is made by the wireless unit, which is independent from said first schedule mode, established for transmitting data between said wireless unit and at least a second base station of said plurality of base stations.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of fabricating a memory device, comprising:
forming a plurality of first contacts connected to a plurality of peripheral transistors on a substrate;
forming a plurality of data storages two-dimensionally arranged on a cell region of the substrate;
forming an interlayered dielectric covering uppermost surfaces of the plurality of first contacts and uppermost surfaces of the plurality of data storages;
patterning the interlayered dielectric to form a plurality of first trenches exposing the uppermost surfaces of the plurality of data storages;
patterning the interlayered dielectric to form a plurality second trenches exposing the uppermost surfaces of the plurality of first contacts;
forming a plurality of first bit lines connected to the plurality of data storages in the plurality of first trenches; and
forming a plurality of second bit lines connected to the plurality of first contacts in the plurality of second trenches,
wherein the plurality of first trenches and the plurality of second trenches are formed using different etching processes.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second trenches each have a lowermost surface lower than a lowermost surface of each of the plurality of data storages.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second bit lines are formed at a process temperature lower than a process temperature used to form the plurality of first contacts.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the plurality of first and second bit lines includes,
forming a conductive layer filling the plurality of first and second trenches; and
performing a planarization process to expose the interlayered dielectric.
5. A method of fabricating a memory device, comprising:
forming a first contact electrically connected to a peripheral transistor in a peripheral circuit region of a substrate;
forming a data storage in a cell region of the substrate;
forming an interlayered dielectric layer covering uppermost surfaces of the first contact and uppermost surfaces of the data storage;
forming a first trench exposing the uppermost surfaces of the data storage by patterning the interlayered dielectric layer only over the cell region using a first etching process;
forming a second trench exposing the uppermost surfaces of the first contact by patterning the interlayered dielectric layer only over the peripheral circuit region using a second etching process;
forming a first bit line connected to the data storage in the first trench; and
forming a second bit line contacting the first contact in the second trench.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data storage includes a magnetic tunnel junction.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein a lowermost surface of the second bit line is lower than a lowermost surface of the magnetic tunnel junction.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
providing a cell transistor in the cell region electrically connected to the data storage via a second contact, prior to forming the data storage,
wherein the first contact and the second contact are formed of different materials.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second contact is formed of a material containing tungsten.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of peripheral transistors each include a sourcedrain region, and
wherein the plurality of first contacts are each connected to the sourcedrain region of one of the plurality of peripheral transistors.
11. The method of claim 5, wherein the peripheral transistor includes a sourcedrain region, and
wherein the first contact is connected to the sourcedrain region of the peripheral transistor.
12. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of second bit lines each have an uppermost surface that is higher than the uppermost surface of each of the plurality of data storages.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein an uppermost surface of the second bit line is higher than the uppermost surface of the data storage.