Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method utilize metadata collected for a lock in a computer program to determine an optimal lock acquisition strategy for the lock. The metadata is typically collected via profiling of the computer program to determine a wait characteristic for the lock in the particular runtime environment in which the computer program executes, and the metadata is used to select from among different lock access implementations to be used to attempt to acquire the lock, often enabling an optimum lock access implementation to be selected for a lock.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus, program product, and method that utilize a user interface, also referred to as a “transparency skin”, to allow users of software applications with new or unfamiliar user interfaces to learn such interfaces while still being productive in their work related tasks. A first user interface is displayed on a computer display. The first user interface includes a first control configured to perform a computer operation in response to user input directed thereto. A second user interface is overlaid over the first user interface, where at least a portion of the second user interface is at least semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first user interface is visible while the second user interface is overlaid. The second user interface includes a second control configured to perform the computer operation in response to user input directed thereto.

Abstract: A portable phone a portable phone is equipped with a personal area network (PAN) detection mechanism to detect all portable phones and electronic identifiers (e.g., key fobs) in its PAN. A buddy list is included in the portable phone. If an electronic identifier is detected, such as from a key fob, but its corresponding portable phone is not, a proxy signal mechanism signals to the wireless telephone network that the phone may receive calls for a different phone. In response, the wireless telephone network routes calls for the different phone to the proxy phone instead. In this manner a phone may change functions automatically as devices enter and leave the PAN.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method improve management of available computing resources by adjusting use of the resource over a first interval according to actual use of the resource during a second interval. This feature enables a computing resource to exceed its normal limits during the first interval of operation. Use during the second interval may be limited to balance out the burst, or excessive resource usage of the first interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus autonomically analyze computer software performance to identify performance problems and isolate particular pieces of software that contribute to those performance problems to improve overall computer system performance. In preferred embodiments, performance problems are identified based on information learned from running an application, and instrumentation hooks are dynamically inserted at instrumentation points to isolate the performance problems.