Abstract: A method for pseudo-randomly, without bias, selecting instructions for marking in a microprocessor. Responsive to reading an instruction from an instruction cache, an instruction tag associated with the instruction is compared against a pseudo-randomly generated value in a linear feedback shift register (LFSR). If the instruction tag matches the value in the LFSR, a mark bit, indicating the instruction is a marked instruction, is sent with the instruction to an execution unit. Responsive to an indication from the performance monitor, the value in the LFSR is incremented prior to selecting a next instruction to mark. If the value equals a predetermined prime number of increments, the value is reset to all ones to avoid any harmonics with the code stream being executed. Upon receiving the marked instruction, the execution unit combines the marked bit with a selected event and reports the marked event to the performance monitor.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for determining a cause of a primary error in a complex communications topology without clockstop. A time of day register, or another synchronized register, is provided in each node of the topology for another existing purpose. When an error is encountered, a copy of the register is captured and frozen. The node with the lowest value in the register is determined to be the node that saw the error first. With the copy of the register frozen, the system can continue to function using the time of day register. For the case of determining the cause of primary error for system checkstop only, the actual register may be frozen, providing a solution without requiring the addition of latches to the design.

Abstract: The present invention, a multiprocessor chip pervasive command interface, collects different types of pervasive commands into individual queues for each command type. As permitted by various grouping rules, valid commands are grouped together into one single command and placed on a functional interchip communications bus. This grouping of commands maximizes pervasive command bandwidth while the use of the functional bus minimizes the number of interchip connections.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for synchronizing the triggering of multiple hardware trace facilities using an existing bus. The multiple hardware trace facilities include a first hardware trace facility and a second hardware trace facility. The data processing system includes a first processor that includes the first hardware trace facility and first processing units that are coupled together utilizing the system bus, and a second processor that includes the second hardware trace facility and second processing units that are coupled together utilizing the system bus. Information is transmitted among the first and second processing units utilizing the system bus when the processors are in a normal, non-tracing mode, where the information is formatted according to a standard system bus protocol.

Abstract: Monitoring is performed to detect a hang condition. A timer is set to detect a hang based on a core hang limit. If a thread hangs for the duration of the core hang limit, then a core hang is detected. If the thread is performing an external memory transaction, then the timer is increased to a longer memory hang limit. If the thread is waiting for a shared resource, then the timer may be increased to the longer memory hang limit if another thread or, more particularly, the thread blocking the resource has a pending memory transaction. Responsive to detecting a hang condition, instructions dispatched to the plurality of execution units may be flushed, or the processor may be reset and restored to a previously known good, checkpointed architected state.

Abstract: In a multiprocessor environment, by executing cache-inhibited reads or writes to registers, a scan communication is used to rapidly access registers inside and outside a chip originating the command. Cumbersome locking of the memory location may be thus avoided. Setting of busy latches at the outset virtually eliminates the chance of collisions, and status bits are set to inform the requesting core processor that a command is done and free of error, if that is the case.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of integrating performance monitor data with thermal event information are provided. A thermal event, in this case, is when the temperature of a chip within which is embedded a processor exceeds a user-configurable value while the processor is processing instructions and/or using storage devices that are being monitored. In any event, when the thermal event occurs, the temperature of the chip along with the performance monitor data is stored for future uses, which include performance and diagnostic analyses.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer instructions are provided to autonomically monitor and adjust system characteristics based on a customer optimization goal specified in a policy or profile. An autonomic management component is implemented in firmware comprising a set of control algorithms. Response to reading system characteristics from a plurality of sensors, the autononmic management component selects at least one control algorithm from the set and the control algorithm adjusts the parameters of the system characteristic to optimize performance according to the optimization goal specified by the customer.

Abstract: A number of data collection devices (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) are free to move relative to each other through their environment, collecting data from their environment. They form an ad hoc wireless network (19, 29, 39, 49, etc) in which data collected by a device (20) (either by its own sensors (23), or relayed from another device (10)) is transmitted to a destination (90) either directly or by means of one or more other devices (30). The destination (90) collects data collected by the mobile terminals (10, 20, 30 etc) for subsequent processing. The wireless links (19, 29, 39 etc) between them have to re-arranged in order to provide the optimum network. Each device (20, 30) defines a scalar status value determined by factors including remaining battery life and amount of data in the buffer. The devices exchange information about their status values. Each device will only forward payload data to other devices having lower status values than its own.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamic characterization observability using functional clocks for system or run-time process characterization. Silicon characterization circuitry may be read after silicon chips have been assembled in a package and installed in a system. A characterization circuit comprising one or more oscillators generates signal pulses, wherein the signal pulses represent a frequency of a circuit in the processor chip. A sampler circuit is connected to the characterization circuit, wherein the sampler circuit counts the number of the signal pulses from the characterization circuit within a predetermined time period. A control unit is connected to the sampler circuit, wherein the control unit comprises macros for collecting count data from the one or more oscillators to determine the silicon characterization. Based on the silicon characterization, the optimal operating frequency of the processor chip may be identified, as well as possible lifetime degradation of circuits on the chip.

Abstract: A multimedia file and methods of generating, distributing and using the multimedia file are described. Multimedia files in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that can be used to generate a menu interface to access the contents of the file and ‘meta data’ concerning the contents of the file. Multimedia files in accordance with several embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and ‘meta data’ external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file in accordance with the present invention includes a series of encoded video frames and encoded menu information.

Abstract: A voltage measurement instrument such as a digital multimeter is provided with transient overvoltage input protection. Internal walls are integrally molded with the instrument case and disposed in close proximity to the input receptacles and terminals to separate conductive surfaces and provide transient overvoltage barriers. Top and bottom wall portions are fitted together in tongue-and-groove fashion to increase the creepage and clearance path without increasing the linear distance between conductive surfaces. This arrangement also allows the instrument to maintain a low profile.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a method of determining focal spot position in a computed tomography system using conventional scan data. The computed tomography system includes, in one embodiment, a bowtie filter attenuating an x-ray beam along two symmetrically disposed raypaths. The symmetrical raypaths impinge upon respective detector channels at identifiable path lengths. The raypath lengths are compared to determine whether the focal spot has shifted.