Abstract: A method and device for supporting a sheet of material is provided optionally for plant support and/or protection. A fencing device includes a rigid post and two or more flexible arms. A shading material, or a protective barrier material, such as a wire mesh, a plastic netting or a deer netting material, or a solar energy collection panel may be attached to distal ends of the flexible arms and may extend for seven feet or more from a ground plane to a top height of flexible arms above the ground plane. Flags may extend vertically above the barrier material to further discourage intrusion by animals. Horizontal lines may be extended from a plurality of fencing posts to even further discourage intrusion by animals and/or to support the barrier material. A trellising device may be coupled with and above another trellising device to provide layers of shading and plant support.

Abstract: Uplink signaling for controlling a plurality of decoders at a remote site. An uplink has a control server for controlling a storage system of the decoders at the remote site. The control server of the uplink controls the storage system by injecting at least one global control stream multiplexed with a transport stream. The transport multiplexed with the global control stream is formed at the uplink for controlling the decoders simultaneously.

Abstract: Control system with global control stream for controlling a plurality of decoders. The control system simultaneously controls a plurality of decoders at a remote location by using a global control data stream. A global control stream is a collection of data used for global applications. There are currently three global data streams—disaster recovery, live event control, and storage control. The streams may exist on a shared or independent PID. A control server forms a transport stream and the global control stream is injected into the transport stream by the control server.

Abstract: A storage control system for a decoder. A decoder with a hardware platform for receiving and decoding coded data and a storage system for temporarily holding the decoded data from the hardware platform. A transport stream containing a global control data stream is used to manage the storage system. The global control data stream has an acquisition table (ACT) for providing a schedule of contents to be recorded, a playout control table (PCT) for providing a schedule of content that is to be played out by the decoder, and a content control table (CCT) for listing content that exists on the decoders.

Abstract: In a method of recycling sealed batteries, the batteries are shredded to form a shredded feedstock. The shredded feedstock is heated above ambient temperature and rolled to form a dried material. The dried material is screen separating into a coarse fraction and a powder fraction and the powder fraction is output. A system for recycling sealed cell batteries comprises an oven with a first conveyor extending into the oven. A rotatable tunnel extends within the oven from an output of the first conveyor. The tunnel has a spiral vane depending from its inner surface which extends along a length of the tunnel. A second conveyor is positioned below an output of the rotatable tunnel.

Abstract: Uplink signaling for controlling a plurality of decoders at a remote site. An uplink has a control server for controlling a storage system of the decoders at the remote site. The control server of the uplink controls the storage system by injecting at least one global control stream multiplexed with a transport stream. The transport multiplexed with the global control stream is formed at the uplink for controlling the decoders simultaneously.

Abstract: Uplink signaling for controlling a plurality of decoders at a remote site. An uplink has a control server for controlling a storage system of the decoders at the remote site. The control server of the uplink controls the storage system by injecting at least one global control stream multiplexed with a transport stream. The transport multiplexed with the global control stream is formed at the uplink for controlling the decoders simultaneously.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product are provided for moving data from a source memory zone to a target memory zone of a computer. A source host operating system invokes a synchronous multiple move command for SBAL output buffers with a common target zone. The machine firmware identifies and validates the target argument of the first SBAL, validates the target zone state, moves the data associated with the first SBAL to the target zone; and then iteratively moves the data associated with the remaining SBALs to the target zone.

Abstract: Inbound packets received by a physical network adapter of a processing device are routed by evaluating an inbound frame to determine if an inbound frame destination MAC address is associated with the processing device and determining whether the inbound frame should be routed to a corresponding logical interface or to drop the inbound frame if the inbound frame destination MAC address is equal to a virtual MAC address supported by the processing device. If it is determined that the inbound frame should be routed to the corresponding logical interface, then any necessary layer 3 functions are performed and the inbound frame is routed to the corresponding logical interface, thereby combining both layer 2 and layer 3 routing into a single logical function.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applications to utilize cross operating system features. Exemplary embodiments include a method for applications to utilize cross operating system features under system environments, the method including providing a communication stack in a provider system, generating protocol stack calls from an application in a consumer system, intercepting the protocol stack calls through a protocol stack interceptor-consumer residing on the consumer system, handing the intercepted protocol stack calls to a protocol stack interceptor-provider on the provider system and processing the protocol calls in the communication stack on the provider system for availability over a network to clients.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving data transfer in complex computing environments. Internal routing enhancements are defined, which enable traffic of virtual servers to be processed more efficiently, thereby improving overall data transfer rates. Instead of performing routing operations in the Internet Protocol (“IP”) layer of a networking stack, a “mini-routing” table is created programmatically and is used to perform routing at the Data Link Control (“DLC”) layer. This technique avoids bottlenecks in the IP layer and speeds the data transfer process.

Abstract: An efficient input/output (I/O) retry method which can be implemented in an enterprise-server configured with QDIO. The method can include attempting a QDIO-based data transfer between outbound and inbound queues in respective sending and target LPARs in the enterprise server. Responsive to detecting a busy condition resulting from the attempt; it can be determined whether the busy condition arose from an asynchronous busy condition. If it is determined that the busy condition arose from an asynchronous busy condition in the target LPAR, any attempt to retry the QDIO-based data transfer can be delayed. Subsequent to the delay, the QDIO-based data transfer can be re-attempted.

Abstract: An adapter device is provided for converting a grenade launcher into a weapon for firing shot shells. The adapter includes an elongate barrel member of a gauge for shot shell which is adapted to be received in, and extend through, the barrel of the host barrel assembly of the grenade launcher. A cap secures the barrel member in place in the host barrel assembly. A replacement barrel assembly for firing shot shells is also provided which includes a shell extractor for extracting shells from the replacement barrel.

Abstract: An efficient input/output (I/O) retry method which can be implemented in an enterprise-server configured with QDIO. The method can include attempting a QDIO-based data transfer between outbound and inbound queues in respective sending and target LPARs in the enterprise server. Responsive to detecting a busy condition resulting from the attempt; it can be determined whether the busy condition arose from an asynchronous busy condition. If it is determined that the busy condition arose from an asynchronous busy condition in the target LPAR, any attempt to retry the QDIO-based data transfer can be delayed. Subsequent to the delay, the QDIO-based data transfer can be re-attempted.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving data transfer in complex computing environments. Internal routing enhancements are defined, which enable traffic of virtual servers to be processed more efficiently, thereby improving overall data transfer rates. Instead of performing routing operations in the Internet Protocol (“IP”) layer of a networking stack, a “mini-routing” table is created programmatically and is used to perform routing at the Data Link Control (“DLC”) layer. This technique avoids bottlenecks in the IP layer and speeds the data transfer process.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving the efficiency of data transfer within interconnected components of a virtual network, and in particular components of a single physical computing device, where the components exchange data as if they were communicating over an actual communications network using networking protocols. Data packets to be sent from one component to another are buffered by next-hop address (and optionally by final destination address as well) to improve efficiency of packet delivery.

Abstract: The invention reduces the number of data input/output interrupts in a computer, based on dynamic communication between an I/O adapter and a host. The invention can receive data and pass the data to the host for long periods of time with only a single initial interrupt of the host. If the host begins to fall behind in its processing of received data, the invention monitors the situation and initiates additional interrupts to the host. If additional interrupts are needed because the host is falling behind, the invention may further initiate additional processes for the processing of the data to relieve the host situation.

Abstract: The invention interconnects stacks executing the same protocol in the same node by means of a software implemented input/output device, thereby eliminating the need for physical resources otherwise required for data communication between the stacks. First and second connection objects are built in the virtual device in association with the first and second stacks, respectively. An association is also built between the first and second connection objects, thereby enabling communication between the stacks via the first and second connection objects.

Abstract: The invention interconnects stacks executing different protocols in the same node by means of a software implemented input/output device, thereby eliminating the need for physical resources otherwise required for data communication between the stacks. First and second connection objects are built in the virtual device in association with the lower layers of the first and second stacks, respectively. An association is also built between the first and second connection objects, thereby enabling communication between the stacks via the first and second connection objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for extending channel programs in a computer system which uses a channel sub-system. An initial channel program is built to end with a terminating channel command word (CCW) followed by a dummy CCW. When required, a new channel program is built separately, then the dummy CCW in the initial channel program is modified to transfer channel execution to the new channel program. Once modification of the dummy CCW is completed, the terminating CCW in the initial channel program is modified to allow the newly-built transfer CCW to execute.