Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Matthew J. Bussan
-
Patent number: 8336032Abstract: A template debug mechanism is provided for executing an operation on at least one breakpoint within a program that includes a template. In one embodiment, in response to a first selection, a breakpoint is set in all expansions of the template and a multiple breakpoints icon is displayed. Preferably, the user may request display of a breakpoint properties dialog box listing each of the template expansions in which the multiple breakpoints are set. In response to a second selection, a breakpoint is set in only the current expansion of the template that is active in the call stack, and a single breakpoint icon is displayed. In response to the third selection, any breakpoint set in any expansion of the template is removed. Preferably, the first, second and third selections are respectively made by the user with a first, second and third click of an input device.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Cary Lee Bates
-
Patent number: 8323980Abstract: An early warning sulfur detection system for detecting the presence of corrosive gases, especially elemental sulfur (S8), in air employs a substrate that includes a polymer-bound phosphine compound having sulfur-getting functionality. The phosphine compound in the polymer reacts with any airborne elemental sulfur. This reaction is accompanied by a decrease in the fluorescence intensity (If) of the substrate. The If of the substrate is monitored in real time by a spectrofluorometer to detect a change in fluorescence intensity (?If). In an embodiment sited in a data center, an alarm is triggered if the ?If is above a predetermined threshold, thereby providing a real-time, early warning to IT professionals that corrective action is required to protect metal conductors from corrosion. Preferably, the phosphine compound in the polymer does not react with other components in the air (e.g., carbon dioxide).Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2012Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dylan Joseph Boday, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert Ernst Meyer, III
-
Patent number: 8316080Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method, system, and article of manufacture that provides an internationalization service in a generalized message-oriented middleware system. In one embodiment, the internationalization handler for the MOM messages exists on both the message-producing and the message-consuming sides. The front-end server and back-send server application containers pass control to the internationalization handlers at predefined points during message production and consumption. On the message production side, the message producer passes control to the internationalization handler after the creation of the MOM message is complete but before the message is dispatched by the MOM for routing and delivery. On the message consumption side, the back end application passes control to the consumer side JMS internationalization handler just before invoking an “onMessage” method or similar message listener method.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Debasish Banerjee, David Alan Zavala
-
Patent number: 8296547Abstract: An enhanced mechanism for loading entries into a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) in hardware via indirect TLB entries. In one embodiment, if no direct TLB entry associated with the given virtual address is found in the TLB, the TLB is checked for an indirect TLB entry associated with the given virtual address. Each indirect TLB entry provides the real address of a page table associated with a specified range of virtual addresses and comprises an array of page table entries. If an indirect TLB entry associated with the given virtual address is found in the TLB, a computed address is generated by combining a real address field from the indirect TLB entry and bits from the given virtual address, a page table entry (PTE) is obtained by reading a word from a memory at the computed address, and the PTE is loaded into the TLB as a direct TLB entry.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy H. Heil, Benjamin Herrenschmidt, Jon K. Kriegel, Paul Mackerras, Andrew H. Wottreng
-
Patent number: 8268251Abstract: An early warning sulfur detection system for detecting the presence of corrosive gases, especially elemental sulfur (S8), in air employs a substrate that includes a polymer-bound phosphine compound having sulfur-getting functionality. The phosphine compound in the polymer reacts with any airborne elemental sulfur. This reaction is accompanied by a decrease in the fluorescence intensity (If) of the substrate. The If of the substrate is monitored in real time by a spectrofluorometer to detect a change in fluorescence intensity (?If). In an embodiment sited in a data center, an alarm is triggered if the ?If is above a predetermined threshold, thereby providing a real-time, early warning to IT professionals that corrective action is required to protect metal conductors from corrosion. Preferably, the phosphine compound in the polymer does not react with other components in the air (e.g., carbon dioxide).Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dylan Joseph Boday, Joseph Kuczynski, Robert Ernst Meyer, III
-
Patent number: 8250212Abstract: A requester-side autonomic governor is provided for a requester configured to send service requests to a service provider. For example, the requester and service provider may be disposed in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) architected system. A feedback loop, preferably a monitor portion of a Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute (MAPE) loop, is configured to monitor responses to service requests. An autonomic governor mechanism limits the type and/or number of concurrent service requests according to a resource pool scheme, and dynamically adjusts a resource threshold of the resource pool scheme based on information provided by the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the resource threshold is reduced if more than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs, and is increased if more than a predetermined number of service requests are being held awaiting available pool resources and less than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mitchell D Felton, Robert A Morgan, Kenneth W Roberson
-
Patent number: 8230592Abstract: An enhanced mechanism is disclosed for via stub elimination in printed wiring boards (PWBs) and other substrates. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a plurality of insulator layers and internal conductive traces. First and second through-holes extend completely through the substrate and respectively pass through first and second ones of the internal conductive traces, which are at different depths within the substrate. Photolithographic techniques are used to generate plated-through-hole (PTH) plugs of controlled, variable depth in the through-holes before first and second conductive vias are respectively plated onto the first and second through-holes. The depth of these PTH plugs is controlled (e.g., using a photomask and/or variable laser power) to prevent the first and second conductive vias from extending substantially beyond the first and second internal conductive traces, respectively, and thereby prevent via stubs from being formed in the first place.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph Kuczynski, Kevin Albert Splittstoesser, Timothy Jerome Tofil, Paul Alan Vermilyea
-
Patent number: 8230317Abstract: An enhanced mechanism for providing data protection for variable length records utilizes high performance block storage metadata. In an embodiment, an emulated record that emulates a variable length record, such as a Count-Key-Data (CKD) record or an Extended-Count-Key-Data (ECKD) record, is generated by a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) of a mainframe system. The emulated record comprises a sequence of extended fixed-length blocks, each of which includes a data block and a footer. A confluence of the footers defines a high performance block storage metadata unit associated with the emulated record and includes a checksum that covers all data blocks and all footers of the entire emulated record. In one embodiment, the checksum is checked during transit of the emulated record between a HBA and a storage subsystem (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Stefan Amann, Gerhard Banzhaf, Kenneth Wayne Boyd, Kenneth Fairclough Day, III, Jeffrey William Palm, Helmut H. Weber, Harry Morris Yudenfriend
-
Patent number: 8230410Abstract: An enhanced mechanism for parallel execution of computer programs utilizes a bidding model to allocate additional registers and execution units for stretches of code identified as opportunities for microparallelization. A microparallel processor architecture apparatus permits software (e.g. compiler) to implement short-term parallel execution of stretches of code identified as such before execution. In one embodiment, an additional paired unit, if available, is allocated for execution of an identified stretch of code. Each additional paired unit includes an execution unit and a half set of registers. This apparatus is available for compilers or assembler language coders to use and allows software to unlock parallel execution capabilities that are present in existing computer programs but heretofore were executed sequentially for lack of a suitable apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Larry W. Loen
-
Patent number: 8212156Abstract: An enhanced contact metallurgy construction for plastic land grid array (PLGA) modules and printed wiring boards (PWBs). The PWB may, for example, have subcomposite laminate construction and/or a double-sided LGA site. A plurality of preform contacts are each respectively soldered to one of a plurality of metal pads on a PLGA module carrier and/or a PWB. Each of the preform contacts comprises a metal preform base (e.g., copper, nickel) soldered to one of the plurality of metal pads and an electrolytic noble metal plating (e.g., gold) over the metal preform base. An electrolytic non-noble metal underplating (e.g., nickel) may be interposed between the metal preform base and the electrolytic noble metal plating. In one embodiment, the electrolytic non-noble metal underplating is 80-400 microinches thick to provide an enhanced diffusion barrier, and the electrolytic noble metal plating is 30-60 microinches thick and incorporates one or more hardening agents to provide enhanced wear and corrosion resistance.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William Louis Brodsky, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer
-
Patent number: 8209554Abstract: A partition power policy wizard receives power policy adherence information for at least one of a plurality of logical partitions (LPAR) and calculates a processing units allotment (PUA) for each LPAR based on the power policy adherence information. In one embodiment, a power management policy reduces an operating frequency of one or more processor(s) allocated to a plurality of LPARs. The power policy adherence information, which is input via a graphical user interface (GUI), specifies whether each LPAR is to be impacted by the power management policy, and if so, by how much. The PUA calculated for each LPAR by the partition policy wizard rebalances the processing units allocated to the individual LPARs to accommodate the power policy adherence information input by the user. Preferably, the partition power policy wizard includes a validation mechanism to validate the executability and/or advisability of each PUA so calculated.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2009Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher Stephen Parker, Jr., Nathan Allan Rabe
-
Patent number: 8190832Abstract: A sequence of fixed-size blocks defines a page (e.g., in a server system, storage subsystem, DASD, etc.). Each fixed-size block includes a data block and a footer. A high performance block storage metadata unit associated with the page is created from a confluence of the footers. The confluence of footers has space available for application metadata. In an embodiment, the metadata space is utilized to record a “write activity level” metric, and a timestamp. The metric indicates the write frequency or “hotness” of the page, and its value changes over time as the activity level changes. Frequently accessed pages may be mapped to higher performance physical disks and infrequently accessed pages may be mapped to lower power physical disks.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Selwyn David Dickey, Timothy John Klubertanz, Ginny Mahrer McCright, Jeffrey William Palm
-
Patent number: 8179693Abstract: Apparatus for electrically connecting two substrates using a land grid array (LGA) connector provided with a frame structure having power distribution elements. In an embodiment, the frame structure includes a frame having one or more conductive layers sandwiched between non-conductive layers. The frame may, for example, be a printed wire board (PWB) having power planes that distribute power from a first substrate (e.g., a system PWB) and/or a power cable to a second substrate (e.g., an electronic module). The frame includes one or more apertures configured to receive an LGA interposer for electrically connecting the two substrates. Preferably, the frame includes four apertures arranged in quadrants that each receive an interposer, and at least one power plane extends between two quadrants and/or adjacent to a peripheral edge of one or more quadrants in the form of stacked and/or parallel bus bars each defining a power domain.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William Louis Brodsky, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer
-
Providing improved message handling performance in computer systems utilizing shared network devices
Patent number: 8166146Abstract: In a massively parallel computer system embodiment, when receiving a message at a compute node from an input/output node, the compute node performs the steps of: obtaining a lock on a collective network device; checking a shared storage location for a message pending for a thread; if such a message is pending, receiving the message's remaining packets directly to a user's buffer, unlocking, and returning; if no such message is pending, receiving one packet from the network device; if the packet indicates that the message is for the thread, receiving the message's remaining packets directly to the user's buffer, unlocking, and returning; and if the packet indicates that the message is for another thread, updating the shared storage location with a thread id of the other thread, unlocking, waiting for a time out, locking, and repeating from the checking step. Accordingly, data copying is eliminated with an attendant performance benefit.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Michael Basil Mundy -
Patent number: 8136240Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for providing horizontally split vias in printed wiring boards (PWBs) and other substrates. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a plurality of insulator layers and internal conductive traces. First and second through-holes extend completely through the substrate and respectively pass through first/second ones and third/fourth ones of the internal conductive traces, which are at different depths within the substrate. Photolithographic techniques are used to generate plated-through-hole (PTH) plugs of controlled, variable depth in the through-holes before first/second conductive vias are plated onto the first through-hole and before third/fourth conductive vias are plated onto the second through-hole. The depth of these PTH plugs is controlled (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph Kuczynski, Kevin Albert Splittstoesser, Timothy Jerome Tofil, Paul Alan Vermilyea
-
Patent number: 8069317Abstract: An enhanced mechanism for the allocation, organization and utilization of high performance block storage metadata provides a stream of data (e.g., in a server system, storage system, DASD, etc.) that includes a sequence of fixed-size blocks which together define a page. Each of the fixed-size blocks includes a data block and a footer. A high performance block storage metadata unit associated with the page is created from a confluence of the footers. Each footer in the confluence of footers has space available for application metadata, which are provided as one or more information units. At least one of the footers includes a Checksum field containing a checksum that covers at least the confluence of footers. This approach is advantageous in that it provides data integrity protection, protects against stale data, and significantly increases the amount of metadata space available for application use.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kenneth Wayne Boyd, Jeffrey William Palm, George Oliver Penokie
-
Patent number: 8032633Abstract: A requester-side autonomic governor is provided for a requester configured to send service requests to a service provider. For example, the requester and service provider may be disposed in a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) architected system. A feedback loop, preferably a monitor portion of a Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute (MAPE) loop, is configured to monitor responses to service requests. An autonomic governor mechanism limits the type and/or number of concurrent service requests according to a resource pool scheme, and dynamically adjusts a resource threshold of the resource pool scheme based on information provided by the feedback loop. In one embodiment, the resource threshold is reduced if more than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs, and is increased if more than a predetermined number of service requests are being held awaiting available pool resources and less than a predetermined number of service requests generated time-outs.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mitchell D Felton, Robert A Morgan, Kenneth W Roberson
-
Patent number: 7968987Abstract: A chip module assembly includes a CO2 getter exposed through a gas-permeable membrane to a chip cavity of a chip module. One or more chips is/are enclosed within the cavity. The CO2 getter comprises a liquid composition including 1,8-diaza-bicyclo-[5,4,0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) in a solvent that includes an alcohol, preferably, 1-hexanol. In one embodiment, a sheet of gas-permeable membrane is heat-welded to form a pillow-shaped bag in which the liquid composition is sealed. The pillow-shaped bag containing the liquid composition is preferably disposed in a recess of a heat sink and exposed to the cavity through a passage between the recess and the cavity. The CO2 getter can remove a relatively large amount of carbon dioxide from the cavity, and thus effectively prevents solder joint corrosion. For example, based on the formula weights and densities of the DBU and 1-hexanol, 200 g of the liquid composition can remove over 34 g of carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Joseph Kuczynski
-
Patent number: 7944698Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus comprises a load frame having load springs and an open region that exposes an electronic component. The load frame is mounted to a printed circuit board on which the electronic component is mounted. A heat sink assembly is disposed on the load frame and has a main body in thermal contact with the electronic component through a thermally conductive material. The heat sink assembly has load arms for engaging the load springs. A load plate extends between the load arms and has an actuation element operative to displace the main body relative to the load plate and thereby resiliently deform the load springs and produce a load force that compresses the thermally conductive material to achieve a desired thermal interface gap between the main body and the electronic component. Non-influencing fasteners secure the heat sink to the load frame and maintain the desired thermal interface gap.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Lee Colbert, Eric Alan Eckberg, Roger Duane Hamilton, Mark Kenneth Hoffmeyer, Amanda Elisa Ennis Mikhail, Arvind Kumar Sinha
-
Patent number: 7941553Abstract: A method, device, and program product are provided for streaming a media file over a distributed information system to a client computer running a browser application. First, a server receives a request for a particular media file from the client computer. Then, the server dynamically generates a metafile, whereby said metafile contains information about the identification, location and format of the media file, and returns it back to the client computer. Advantageously, the server intercepts a download request for the actual media file and reinterprets the download request in into a request for receiving a corresponding metafile. Thus, instead of returning the requested media file, a metafile is returned that allows immediate streaming of the requested media file without the need of waiting for the download to be finished.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2003Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sascha Baumeister, Bernhard Schmid