Abstract: A system, method, and program product that optimizes system performance using performance monitors is presented. The system gathers thread performance data using performance monitors for threads running on either a first ISA processor or a second ISA processor. Multiple first processors and multiple second processors may be included in a single computer system. The first processors and second processors can each access data stored in a common shared memory. The gathered thread performance data is analyzed to determine whether the corresponding thread needs additional CPU time in order to optimize system performance. If additional CPU time is needed, the amount of CPU time that the thread receives is altered (increased) so that the thread receives the additional time when it is scheduled by the scheduler. In one embodiment, the increased CPU time is accomplished by altering a priority value that corresponds to the thread.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for configuring offline player behavior within a persistent world game. A player agent for an offline player includes an event monitor that monitors for events that occur in a persistent virtual world maintained by a game server. When a game event occurs that triggers an offline player rule, the player agent may generate game events on behalf of the offline player. The player agent may also receive messages from an offline player. The messages may include commands for adding, removing, or editing offline player rules. A message may also include a command to view a list of rules or fire a one-time execution of a rule upon receipt. Therefore, a player may contribute to the persistent virtual world even when offline by sending commands using a messaging client or Web browser.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for generating event notifications for offline characters from within a persistent world online game. A player agent for an offline player includes an event monitor that monitors for events that occur in a persistent virtual world maintained by a game server. When a game event occurs that triggers an offline player rule, the player agent composes an event notification message and sends the message to the offline player. Event notification messages may include images, voice (text-to-speech), sound, or video. Offline players may receive event notifications at various messaging clients, such as personal computers and wireless telephones. A notification server may transmit the event notifications via existing communications channels, such as electronic mail, facsimile, instant messaging, text messaging, and voice communications.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for optimizing thermal performance of a computer system. An identification of a set of processor cores associated with the computer system is made and a thermal index is requested for each of the set of processor cores to form a set of thermal indexes. Proximity information and conductive property information associated with the set of processors is loaded and software is mapped to execute on an optimal processor core form the set of processor cores based the set of thermal indexes, proximity information, and conductive property information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for optimizing thermal performance of a computer system. Identification of a set of system resources associated with the computer system is performed and a thermal index is requested for each of the set of system resources to form a set of thermal indexes. An action from a set of actions is identified to reduce resource utilization. The action is implemented to reduce a thermal state of the computer system.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for optimizing thermal performance of a computer system. A set of system resources associated with the computer system are identified. A thermal index is requested for each of the set of system resources to form a set of thermal indexes. A thermal constraint is loaded and software is compiled using the set of thermal indexes in order not to exceed the thermal constraint.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, computer usable code, and apparatus are provided for optimizing the thermal performance of a computer system. A set of processor cores associated with the computer system are identified. A thermal index is requested for each of the set of processor cores and the processor cores are ranked based on the thermal index. Software is then mapped to execute on an optimal processor core form the set of processor cores based on the ranking.

Abstract: A system and method for virtualization of processor resources is presented. A thread is created on a processor and the processor's local memory is mapped into an effective address space. In doing so, the processor's local memory is accessible by other processors, regardless of whether the processor is running. Additional threads create additional local memory mappings into the effective address space. The effective address space corresponds to either a physical local memory or a “soft” copy area. When the processor is running, a different processor may access data that is located in the first processor's local memory from the processor's local storage area. When the processor is not running, a softcopy of the processor's local memory is stored in a memory location (i.e. locked cache memory, pinned system memory, virtual memory, etc.) for other processors to continue accessing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for analyzing performance of a computer or data processing system, during the time that a specified task is running on the system. The analysis is used to furnish a system user with a list of proposed hardware component upgrades that would improve system performance in various respects, each being accompanied by a parameter value indicating the improvement a particular upgrade would provide. Usefully, listed upgrades are made available over the Internet, for purchase by system users. In an embodiment directed to a method, for use with a computer system comprising a configuration of hardware components, selected hardware components are monitored as the system performs a specified task. This is done to acquire statistics representing the operation of respective selected components. The statistics are processed, to identify at least one selected component that impedes the system in performing the task.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to deliver messages to processors operating in a multi-processing environment. In a multi-processor environment, interrupts are managed by storing events in a queue that correspond to a particular support processor. A main processor decodes an interrupt and determines which support processor generated the interrupt. The main processor then determines whether a kernel or an application should process the interrupt. Interrupts such as page faults, segment faults, and alignment errors are handled by the kernel, while “informational” signals, such as stop and signal requests, halt requests, mailbox requests, and DMC tag complete requests are handled by the application. In addition, multiple identical events are maintained, and event data may be included in the interrupt using the invention described herein.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for analytical generation of software thermal profiles. In order to generate a thermal profile, a set of instruction streams are analyzed for a program being executed by a set of processors to create analyzed information. A thermal index is generated based on the analyzed information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for using software and hardware thermal profiles to schedule the execution of applications. Hardware and software thermal profiles are generated for a set of processors and a set of applications, respectively, to form a plurality of hardware and software thermal profiles. Then a set of hardware and software thermal profiles are selected from the plurality of hardware and software thermal profiles. The set of software thermal profiles and the set of hardware thermal profiles are used to generate a thermal index. Finally, the execution of the set of applications is scheduled using the thermal index.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, computer usable code, and apparatus are provided for generation of software thermal profiles for applications executing on a set of processors. Sampling is performed of the hardware operations occurring in a set of processors during the execution of a set of workloads to create sampled information. A thermal index is then generated based on the sampled information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided the generation of software thermal profiles for applications executed on a set of processors in a simulated environment. Execution of a software program being run on a software simulator is detected and hardware operations for the software program being executed by the set of processors are analyzed to create analyzed information. Then, a thermal index is generated based on the analyzed information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for generation of software thermal profiles for applications executing on a set of processors using thermal sampling. Sampling is performed of the thermal states of the set of processors for the set of workloads to create sampled information. A thermal index is then generated based on the sampled information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for generation of hardware thermal profiles for a set of processors. Sampling is performed of the thermal states of the set of processors during the execution of a set of workloads to create sampled information. The sampled information and thermal characteristics of the set of processors are combined and a thermal index is generated based on the sampled information and characteristics of the set of processors.

Abstract: A system and method for using a handler to detect asynchronous lock line reservation lost events, and switching tasks based upon whether a condition is true or a mutex lock is acquired is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) invokes a first thread and, during execution, the first thread requests external data that is shared with other threads or processors in the system. This shared data may be protected with a mutex lock or other shared memory synchronization constructs. When requested data is not available, the SPU switches to a second thread and monitors lock line reservation lost events in order to check when the data is available. When the data is available, the SPU switches back to the first thread and processes the first thread's request.

Abstract: A system and method for asynchronously traversing a disjoint linked data structure is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) includes a handler that works in conjunction with a memory flow controller (MFC) to traverse a disjoint linked data structure. The handler compares a search value with a node value, and provides the MFC with an effective address of the next node to traverse based upon the comparison. In turn, the MFC retrieves the corresponding node data from system memory and stores the node data in the SPU's local storage area. The MFC stalls processing and sends an asynchronous event interrupt to the SPU which, as a result, instructs the handler to retrieve and compare the latest node data in the local storage area with the search value. The traversal continues until the handler matches the search value with a node value or until the handler determines a failed search.

Abstract: A system and method for a processor thread acting as a system service provider is presented. A computer system boots up and initiates a service thread. The service thread is responsible for service related tasks, such as ECC checks and hardware log error checks. The service provider invokes a second thread which is used as an operational thread. The operational thread loads an operating system, a kernel, and runs various applications. While the operational thread executes, the service thread monitors the operational thread for proper functionality as well as monitoring service events. When the service thread detects a problem with either one of the service events or the operational thread, the service thread may choose to store operational data corresponding to the operational thread and terminates the operational thread.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to improve software simulation. A software emulator is used in conjunction with a hardware simulator. A special snapshot instruction is included in the software code that is emulated. When the snapshot instruction is encountered, values such as register, memory, and program stack values, are stored creating an initial snapshot. Code continues to be emulated and, when the next snapshot instruction is encountered, the values are written to create a second snapshot. The initial values are used to set an initial state in a hardware model that is simulated on a hardware simulator. The results of the hardware simulation are compared to the second snapshot to uncover software errors and/or hardware errors so that the software can be modified or the hardware design can be modified. Multiple sets of snapshots can be taken to analyze multiple sections of the software program.