Abstract: The present invention relates to storage systems for computer data and relates particularly to diagnosis of errors and status monitoring of such a system. The invention provides a system for storing computer data in which different error messages are generated according to how many times a specified low-level error has occurred. In the particular embodiment, different combinations of error messages are generated according to how many times a particular low-level error has occurred.

Abstract: A system and method for providing redundant access to a network-based storage medium. The storage medium is divided into at least two partitions and two computers are configured as network servers, one each of the computers acting as a server for one each of the partitions. Each of the computers is assigned a unique name to identify it to the network. A first one of the computers supports multiple network names. When the other computer fails or goes off-line the first computer is configured to respond to both the first name and the second name, and to act as a network server for both partitions. The network can thus access the partition served by the second computer even though the second computer is off-line. When the second computer returns on-line, the first computer is re-configured to its initial configuration.

Abstract: A system clock switch circuit for a computer main board sends a reset signal to the chipset from the clock generator or a additional reset signal generator as soon as the system clock frequency is changed by the CPU. In result, the computer main board restarts with a new system clock frequency after the reset signal is canceled to avoid the malfunctions caused by the non-synchronization between the system clock frequency and the clock frequencies of peripherals.

Abstract: A method and device for identifying the manufacturer make and model type of a computer involves scanning the BIOS area of memory for personal computer (PC) configuration data. This scanned data is then used to generate a character-based computer identification string that is unique to a certain type of computer. This string is then compared to a set of known strings to determine the manufacturer make and model type of the polled computer. From scanning a number of personal computers and through user feedback, the process may build upon its knowledge base of personal computers.

Abstract: A packet transfer scheme for realizing a control of a packet inspection device to pass only packets from those mobile computers that can be recognized as authenticated among non-management target mobile computers that had moved inside the network, to outside the network.

Abstract: A computer system having a processor, a microcontroller, a flash ROM is provided with an address remapper for handling warm-boot events, and an arbiter for selectively assigning the ownership of the flash ROM to either the microprocessor or the microcontroller. The arbiter assigns the flash ROM initially to the microcontroller when power is initially provided to the system. After the flash ROM boots up and checks the integrity of the flash ROM and updates the content of the flash ROM with valid firmware if necessary, the microcontroller releases the flash ROM to the microprocessor to enable the computer system to proceed with the normal boot-up process. In this process, various system self tests are performed. Next, the microprocessor copies or shadows one or more portions of the flash ROM BIOS into a main memory array. After the shadow operation, the processor sets a remap bit to indicate that the ROM BIOS content has been copied into the main memory array.

Abstract: A computer system and new method of generating peripheral device configurations in a computer system having multiple types of system resources is disclosed. The method defines a resource priority list for the system resources and configures a device a resource type at a time based on the resource type priority list. The resource priority list is a function of the number of resource items for each system resource and the available resources in the computer system. The method thus serves to minimize the number of testing or checking iterations in configuring a device, whereby significant improving device configuring and conflict resolution in a computer system.

Abstract: A TAP linking module (21, 51) permits plural TAPs (TAPs 1-4) to be controlled and accessed from a test bus (13) via a single TAP interface (20).

Abstract: In an SMP computer system where data is partitioned across one or more chips a circuit and method permits detecting errors across chip boundaries due to a control error even though the ECC is not bad. A Multiple-input Shift-Register (MISR) on each bus is used to collect a dynamic signature representing all the critical buses on each chip that need to be compared. The MISR state combines present and previous states of these buses, so the MISR will be different if one or more bus controls break. Since an N-bit MISR shifts, comparing a single bit of the MISR each cycle guarantees detection within N cycles of a problem. The method of identifying errors includes accumulating bus signature information which is a function of current and previous values of an input bus and then comparing portions of the signatures of two or more input bus structures to determine sync of buses. Part of the signature is wrapped around into the signature to cause past information to be maintained indefinitely.

Abstract: Password identification information for identifying a password for key verification is set for each of a plurality of applications. A current password storage unit for storing a password which has recently been input and the password identification information of the password is arranged. When one application is selected, password identification information corresponding to the application is verified with the password identification information stored in the current password storage unit. If the two password identification information match, key verification is performed using the password in the current password storage unit. With this operation, a plurality of data can be read out by performing the password input operation once. One or two select keys are arranged in place of a ten-key pad. By repeating an operation using the select keys and the enter key, a password having a plurality of digits is input. Therefore, the password can be input using a minimum number of keys.

Abstract: When an I/O request block is received from a file system, a number-of-system's-failures setting section stores the present number of failures in the I/O request block, and hands over the I/O request block to a software driver after taking a checkpoint. When the I/O request block is received from the software driver, a number-of-failures determining section determines whether or not the number of failures stored in the I/O request block coincides with the present number of failures. If they do not coincide, an I/O request error return section will return the I/O request block to the software driver without handing over it to a device driver and causes an I/O request completion processing section to reissue the I/O request block again.

Abstract: A device and method for interactively debugging a system controlled by a microprocessor. The device continuously monitors the signals passed along the system bus, watching for signals that match interactively defined break conditions and trace conditions. When a breakpoint condition is satisfied, the device causes the system's microprocessor to execute debug code, which either may mediate interactive control of the system by the user or may initiate the execution of a software patch. When a trace condition is satisfied, the device initiates tracing of bus activity. The device is controlled by the user using conventional interactive interface means such as a video terminal or a personal computer.

Abstract: Methods for generating and implementing digital orientational filters. A first method of the present invention is provided for generating digital orientational filters of uniform size but each having a different fixed orientation. A second method provides for dilation of the digital orientation filters generated by the first method, both in a decimated and an undecimated format. A third method of the present invention provides for steering the orientation of the filters generated by the first method. Also, associated VLSI hardware based systems implementing the above methods are disclosed. The above methods and systems allow digital orientational filters to be utilized in computer vision and other applications requiring a large amount of video signal data to be processed in real-time.

Abstract: In a network server redundancy configuration method of executing a client-server application to allow a client terminal to use services provided by a plurality of server terminals, the client terminal is connected to each server terminal through an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network. Switching control is performed on the server terminal connected to the client terminal by controlling the virtual channel to which an ATM cell belongs in the client terminal or the ATM network. A network server redundancy configuration system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer program product is for use with a computer system that executes methods. Scope permission setting computer readable program code includes access request reception computer readable program code for receiving a request from a first method, executing at a first security level, to be dynamically empowered to access methods to be executed at a second security level, wherein the second security level is higher than the first security level. Dynamic capability activation computer readable program code is responsive to the access request reception code and includes static capability determination computer readable program code for determining if the first method is statically capable of accessing security methods generally and dynamic capability indication computer readable program code, responsive to the static capability determination code, for indicating in the activation record for the first method that the first method has been dynamically empowered to access security methods generally.

Abstract: System and method aspects for testing a hierarchical storage management (HSM) system extension of a data processing system are provided. In a system aspect, the system for testing includes a script file mechanism for providing serialized system calls from processes of at least a pseudo device driver of the data processing system, and a compiled test engine means for performing the serialized system calls of the script file. The system calls from processes further include parallel processes of a file system and a pseudo device driver. In a method aspect, the method includes providing a test engine compiled for at least one operating system platform of the data processing system, and performing a test script with the test engine for serializing system calls from parallel processes of the file system and pseudo device driver.

Abstract: A timeout monitoring system including plural timeout value setting mechanisms, each of which sets a timeout value as a result of the start-up. Also included is plural timeout monitoring mechanisms, each of which do not start the timeout value setting mechanism at the following stage but stop it, when the timeout value set by the timeout value setting mechanism at the preceding stage is not set again even after a specific time has elapsed. A watchdog timer outputs an abnormality notice, when the timeout value set by the timeout value setting mechanism at the last stage is not set again even after a specific time has elapsed. Hierarchizing the software of the watchdog timer makes it possible to set a suitable timeout value in the watchdog timer for a higher-speed sensing of timeout and monitor the timeouts of plural systems at plural levels, which improves the monitoring capability.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of creating a secure sandbox within which a plurality of downloaded software components can execute in a secure manner. The software components can be of any type, e.g., Java, ActiveX, Netscape plugin, etc. The invention implements a security monitor that is injected to the address space of an arbitrary monitored application such as a Web browser, e.g., Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, etc. The monitored application then executes in a secure mode in which every software component downloaded executes in a secure sandbox. The security monitor detects when such a software component is downloaded and is operative to create the sandbox around it before it is permitted to execute. If the software component attempts to commit an action that breaches security, it halts the software component's execution and issues a warning to the user. The security monitor detects attempted security breaches by the software component in accordance with a user configurable security policy.

Abstract: An automated method and system for tailoring a plurality of commonly configured computer environments. The method includes searching one of the commonly configured environments for predetermined data items which must be tailored in each environment. Tailored data items are generated for each of the predetermined data items, and a table is made indicating where in each common environment each particular tailored data item should be stored. A store process executes in each common environment, and reads the table and stores the tailored data items at the appropriate locations. The method achieves the rapid reconfiguration of many computers in a reliable manner.

Abstract: A computer, and particularly a mobile client computer system, in which flexibility in use of the system is enhanced by a capability of receiving and dynamically recognizing a variety of what are here called docking options. Docking options are peripheral devices, such as radio transceivers, which can be selectively connected to and used with a mobile client system. A docked option is identified by an exchange of signals between the system and the option, accomplished through a plurality of input/output ports which together define an interface to the option.