Patents Assigned to Sun Microsystems
  • Publication number: 20110043260
    Abstract: The described embodiments provide a configurable clock circuit. The clock circuit includes a control and enable circuit and a clock distribution circuit. During operation, when a signal on an enable input to the control and enable circuit is asserted and the control and enable circuit is configured in a clock mode, the control and enable circuit generates an enable signal on a control output to enable a signal on a clock input to propagate through the clock distribution circuit to the clock output. Alternatively, when a signal on the enable input to the control and enable circuit is asserted and the control and enable circuit is configured in a pulse mode, the control and enable circuit generates a pulsed control signal on the control output to control a length of a pulse generated from the clock input on a clock output by the clock distribution circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Hart, Robert P. Masleid
  • Publication number: 20110040548
    Abstract: A method of optimizing MOSFET device production which includes defining key independent parameters, formulating those key independent parameters into a canonical variational form, calculating theoretical extracted parameters using at least one of key independent parameters in canonical variational form, physics-based analytical models, or corner models. The method also includes calculating simulated characteristics of a device using the key independent parameters and extracting target data parameters based on at least one of measured data and predicted data, comparing the simulated characteristics to the target data parameters, and modifying the theoretical extracted parameters or key independent parameters in canonical form as a result of the comparison. Then, calculating and outputting the simulated characteristics based on the modified theoretical extracted parameters and the modified key independent parameters in canonical form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Ebrahim Khalily, Aaron J. Barker, Alexandru N. Ardelea
  • Publication number: 20110035561
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for operating a store queue, wherein the store queue buffers stores that are waiting to be committed to a memory system in a processor. During operation, the system examines an entry at the head of the store queue. If the entry contains a membar token, the system examines an unacknowledged counter that keeps track of the number of store operations that have been sent from the store queue to the memory system but have not been acknowledged as being committed to the memory system. If the unacknowledged counter is non-zero, the system waits until the unacknowledged counter equals zero, and then removes the membar token from the store queue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Haakan E. Zeffer, Robert E. Cypher, Shailender Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 7886300
    Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for implementing fast locking in a multi-threaded system. This mechanism enables fast locking to be performed even on an operating system platform that does not allow one thread to assign ownership of a lock on a mutex to another thread. In addition, the mechanism performs locking in a manner that ensures priority correctness and is low-memory safe. In one implementation, the priority correctness is achieved by using operating system mutexes to implement locking, and the low-memory safe aspect is achieved by pre-allocating a memory section to each thread. This pre-allocated memory section ensures that a thread will have sufficient memory to obtain a lock, even when a system is in a low-memory state. With this mechanism, it is possible to implement locking in a safe and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. formerly known as Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean R. E. Long, Yin Zin Mark Lam, Jiangli Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110029843
    Abstract: A method of writing data to and reading data from a storage medium includes cycle slip detection and correction. An LDPC matrix includes a first area for cycle slip detection and correction. The first area satisfies a set of conditions such that a cycle slip at a particular position creates a pattern of parity check errors indicative of the position and polarity of the cycle slip. Writing user data to the storage medium includes encoding the user data with parity data according to the LDPC matrix. Reading the user data and the parity data from the storage medium includes decoding the user data and the parity data according to the LDPC matrix. Decoding includes, upon detecting a pattern of parity check errors indicative of the position and polarity of a detected cycle slip, correcting the detected cycle slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jin Lu, Keith G. Boyer
  • Publication number: 20110026225
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling computer component with a liquid provided at atmospheric pressure, or low pressure, that flows through channel defined in the computer component. The liquid is pumped from a reservoir to a discharge port, or weir, that is located above the computer component. The liquid flows through an in-feed manifold to diverters that direct the liquid into in-feed tanks located above a row of the computer component. The liquid flows through the channels and flow control orifices to a drain that returns the liquid to the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ostwald, Daniel J. Plutt, Joseph P. Manes
  • Publication number: 20110018120
    Abstract: A chip package is described. This chip package includes a stack of semiconductor dies or chips that are offset from each other, thereby defining a terrace with exposed pads. A high-bandwidth ramp component, which is positioned approximately parallel to the terrace, electrically couples to the exposed pads. For example, the ramp component may be electrically coupled to the semiconductor dies using: microsprings, an anisotropic film, and/or solder. Consequently, the electrical contacts may have a conductive, a capacitive or, in general, a complex impedance. Furthermore, the chips and/or the ramp component may be positioned relative to each other using a ball-and-pit alignment technique. By removing the need for costly and area-consuming through-silicon vias (TSVs) in the semiconductor dies, the chip package facilitates chips to be stacked in a manner that provides high bandwidth and low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Drost, James G. Mitchell, David C. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20110010696
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for duplicate virtual function table removal. The method includes identifying, using a processor of a computer, a first virtual function table formed when a first source code is compiled into a first object code. The method further includes using the processor, identifying a second virtual function table formed when a second source code is compiled into a second object code. The method further includes, independent of linking the first object code to a first executable binary code and the second object code to a second executable binary code, identifying, using the processor, that the first virtual function table and the second virtual function table are identical and, using the processor, deleting the second virtual function table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Sheldon M. Lobo, Fu-Hwa Wang
  • Publication number: 20110010478
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing resources from a plurality of on-board device nodes to a hot-plugged device node in a computer is provided. The apparatus comprises a resource manager configured to receive a resource request over a bus system indicative of a set of desired resources from the hot-plugged device node. The resource manager is further configured to probe a parent device and at least one upper level device node positioned above the parent device node for the set of desired resources. The resource manager is further configured to provide the set of desired resources from the parent device node and one or more nodes of the at least one upper level device node over the bus system for transmission to the hot-plugged device node to enable the hot-plugged device node to operate in the intended manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Colin Zou, Wesley W. Shao, Govinda Tatti
  • Publication number: 20110004882
    Abstract: A method for scheduling a thread on a plurality of processors that includes obtaining a first state of a first processor in the plurality of processors and a second state of a second processor in the plurality of processors, wherein the thread is last executed on the first processor, and wherein the first state of the first processor includes the state of a cache of the first processor, obtaining a first estimated instruction rate to execute the thread on the first processor using an estimated instruction rate function and the first state, obtaining a first estimated global throughput for executing the thread on the first processor using the first estimated instruction rate and the second state, obtaining a second estimated global throughput for executing the thread on the second processor using the second state, comparing the first estimated global throughput with the second estimated global throughput to obtain a comparison result, and executing the thread, based on the comparison result, on one selected fr
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Vengerov, Savvas Gitzenis, Declan J. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20100332766
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that acquires a lock in a shared memory multiprocessor system. During operation, the system loads the lock into a cache associated with the thread and then reads a value of the lock. If the value indicates that the lock is currently held by another thread, the system periodically executes an instruction that tests a status of the lock. If the status indicates the lock is valid, the system continues to test the status of the lock. Otherwise, if the status indicates that the lock was invalidated by a store, the system attempts to acquire the lock by executing an atomic operation. On the other hand, if the status indicates that the lock was invalidated by an atomic operation, or that the lock is not present in the cache, the system repeats the loading and reading operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Haakan E. Zeffer, Robert E. Cypher
  • Publication number: 20100329450
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a processor, which includes a set of general-purpose registers and at least one execution unit. Each general-purpose register in the set of general-purpose registers is at least 64 bits wide, and the execution unit supports one or more Data Encryption Standard (DES) instructions. Specifically, the execution unit may support a permutation-rotation instruction for performing DES permutation operations and DES rotation operations. The execution unit may also support a round instruction to perform a DES round operation. Since the DES instructions use general-purpose registers instead of special-purpose registers to perform DES-specific operations, the processor's circuit complexity and area are reduced. Furthermore, in some embodiments, since the DES instructions require at most two operands, the number of bits required to specify the location of the operands are reduced, thereby enabling a larger number of instructions to be supported by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Leonard D. Rarick, Christopher H. Olson, Gregory F. Grohoski
  • Publication number: 20100333091
    Abstract: A method and system for creating and executing tasks within a multithreaded application composed according to the OpenMP application programming interface (API). The method includes generating threads within a parallel region of the application, and setting a counter equal to the quantity of the threads. The method also includes, for each one of the plurality of threads, assigning an implicit task, and executing the implicit task. Further, the method includes, upon encountering a task construct, during execution of the implicit tack, for an explicit asynchronous task generating the explicit asynchronous task, adding the explicit asynchronous task to a first task queue, where the first task queue corresponds to the one of the plurality of threads; and incrementing the counter by one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yuan Lin, Xi Qian
  • Publication number: 20100327982
    Abstract: The described embodiments provide a configurable pulse generator circuit. More specifically, the described embodiments include a pulse generator circuit; an inverting difference oscillator (IDO) enabling circuit coupled to the pulse generator circuit; and a disable signal coupled to the IDO enabling circuit. When the disable signal is asserted, the IDO enabling circuit is disabled and the pulse generator circuit is configured as a pulse generator. In contrast, when the disable signal is deasserted, the IDO enabling circuit is enabled and the pulse generator circuit is configured as part of an IDO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Anand Dixit, Robert P. Masleid
  • Publication number: 20100329460
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system to assure enhanced security, e.g., by assuring that information is not revealed over a covert channel. All communications between a source system and a destination system may pass through an intermediate system. In some embodiments, the intermediate system may perform an additional level of blinding to ensure that the source system does not covertly reveal information to the destination system. In some embodiments, the intermediate system may request the source system to perform a modification operation, and then check if the source system performed the modification operation. Examples of the modification operation include a blinding operation and a cryptographic hashing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Radia J. Perlman
  • Publication number: 20100332622
    Abstract: A distributed resource and service management system includes at least one node and a registry service. The at least one node is configured to execute at least one node controller. The registry service is configured to provide at least one service description via a control interface, and to offer logical resources to the at least one node controller. The at least one node controller is configured to discover the registry service, to initiate on-going communications with the registry service, and to execute at least one of queries, updates and inserts to the registry service to maintain service levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Thomas Carolan, Jan Mikael Markus Loefstrand, Robert Thurstan Edwin Holt
  • Publication number: 20100327466
    Abstract: A processing technique facilitating the fabrication of the integrated circuit with microsprings at different vertical positions relative to a surface of a substrate is described. During the fabrication technique, microsprings are lithographically defined on surfaces of a first substrate and a second substrate. Then, a hole is created through a first substrate. Moreover, the integrated circuit may be created by rigidly mechanically coupling the two substrates to each other such that the microsprings on the surface of the second substrate are within a region defined at least in part by an edge around the hole. Subsequently, photoresist that constrains the microsprings on the surfaces of the two substrates may be removed. In this way, microsprings at the different vertical positions can be fabricated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Drost, John E. Cunningham, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Publication number: 20100333189
    Abstract: A computer readable medium that includes computer readable program code embodied therein. The computer readable medium causes the computer system to receive, by a data link rule enforcer, a packet from a packet source of the packets, and obtain a data link rule applying to a data link. The data link is operatively connected to the packet source, and the data link is associated with a media access control (MAC) address. The computer readable medium further causes the computer system to determine, by the data link rule enforcer, whether the packet complies with the data link rule, and drop, by the data link rule enforcer, the packet when the packet fails to comply with the data link rule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas G. Droux, Sunay Tripathi, Eric T. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20100332775
    Abstract: A memory system that interleaves storage of data across and within a plurality memory modules is described. The memory system includes a hybrid interleaving mechanism which maps physical addresses to locations within memory modules and ranks so that physical addresses for a given page all map to the same memory module, and physical addresses for the given page are interleaved across the plurality of ranks which comprise the same memory module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Sanjiv Kapil, Blake Alan Jones
  • Publication number: 20100332945
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that provides error detection and correction after a failure of a memory component in a memory system. During operation, the system accesses a block of data from the memory system, wherein the memory system is previously determined to have a specific failed memory component. Each block of data in the memory system includes an array of bits logically organized into R rows and C columns, including a row checkbit column including row-checkbits for each of the R rows, an inner checkbit column including X<R inner checkbits and R?X data bits, and C?2 data-bit columns containing data bits. Note that each column is stored in a different memory component, and the checkbits are generated from the data bits to provide block-level detection and correction for a failed memory component. Next, the system attempts to correct a column of the block from the failed memory component by using the checkbits and the data bits to produce a corrected column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert E. Cypher