Abstract: A horizontal combined head is provided which has both a thin film write and an MR read element located at an air bearing surface (ABS). The read element can be formed with a track width that is independent of the track width of the write element. The MR sensor or the read element is separated from one of the first and second pole pieces of the write element by an insulation layer. Accordingly, the shields for the read element remain more stable after a write operation. In one embodiment of the present invention a single stripe MR sensor is employed while in a second embodiment a dual stripe MR sensor is employed. A method of the invention includes forming the dual MR stripe in a single process step so that the dual MR stripes of the dual MR sensor are near identical for implementing near absolute common mode rejection of noise.

Abstract: In a database system with linkage between data in the database system and files in a system for filing data which is external to the database system (“the filing system”), backup and restoration of the database are coordinated with the filing system. Backup of a referenced file is initiated when the file is linked to the database system. The file backup is asynchronous to the linking process. When database backup occurs, all unfinished file backups are accelerated and completed before the database backup is declared successful. When a database is restored to a state with reference to files in a file manager, the database system causes the file manager to ensure that referenced files are linked to the database system.

Abstract: An object oriented framework provides a set of objects that perform computer system server functions and that permit a framework user to add extensions for defining a Server Process category of objects that perform service processes for the network and exchange implicit data with remote processes of the network, and also define an Implicit Data Handler Registry (IDHR) class of objects that receive registration information from Provider objects of the Server Process category.

Abstract: In a multiprocessing system, multiple concurrently operating task execution units are operated to perform an aggregate task by using incremental and on-demand sub-task allocation. A command is received to perform a machine-executed task divisible into multiple sub-tasks, i.e., an “aggregate task”. A granularity is then established, for dividing the aggregate task into sub-tasks. Preferably, the granularity is not too large to permit potentially uneven sub-task allocation, and not too small to incur excessive overhead in allocating sub-tasks. Having established the granularity, multiple task execution units are independently operated on-demand to sequentially self-allocate and execute sub-tasks of the aggregate tasks. Each sub-task is sized according to the established granularity. Operating “on-demand”, each task execution unit sequentially allocates and executes one sub-task at a time, then proceeding to the next unexecuted sub-task.

Abstract: A system for continuous monitoring and autonomous detection of patterns in the main memory subsystem of a computer system. The invention can be embodied as an extension to existing memory scrubbing hardware to permit stored code pattern analysis and identification during the autonomous transparent memory scrubbing process. A library of stored target signatures is provided to which code signatures are compared during analysis. Code signatures may be derived directly from the memory subsystem data pattern or may be indirectly and more efficiently derived from the error correction code (ECC) string associated with the stored data pattern. This invention is directly applicable to computer virus detection and neutralization systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus incorporating a binary function correlation of run edges for compressing periodic halftoned digital images while increasing compression ratios over currently known one- and two-dimensional and adaptive arithmetic methods and decreasing the time required to perform the operation. In one embodiment, the invention horizontally encodes an image's run edges located at or near least &tgr; pixels ahead of a reference run edge in raster sequential image data. After the image is divided into lines of digital bits containing digital information indicative of binary values, the lines are encoded. A value for &tgr;—where &tgr; is independent of the width of the image and represents the periodicity for an edge of a run—is selected. Thereafter, run edges located &tgr;±n pixels ahead of a designated run edge of a reference run are encoded.

Abstract: An automated optical character recognition method is provided for use in conjunction with a programmable digital processing device. The method inputs a sequence of values representing one or more characters in an array of characters to be optically recognized. The values define one or more dimensional characteristics of the characters. From the input values, a standard dimensional value is determined from a frequency distribution of a selected one of the character dimensional characteristics. For each of the input characters, a set of normalized values is determined from the standard dimensional value. The normalized values correspond to the one or more character dimensional characteristics. Optical character recognition is thereafter performed using the normalized values.

Abstract: A versioned-data management system (VDMSMS) is provided with a method for determining candidates for promotion in association with a user task. The VDMS maintains a list of parts changed as a result of a user task, referred to as a promote group. Before performing any changes the user informs the VDMS which user task is to be associated with the changes. All parts subsequently changed are automatically placed by the VDMS in the promote group associated with the given user task. When the parts associated with a user task for a given variant level are promoted, an iterative process is performed to determine the complete set of parts that must be promoted in support of the requested promote. Initially the set includes those parts in the promote group at the given variant level. Then all the other promote groups are searched to determine whether they contain any of the parts at the given variant level that are already in this set.

Abstract: Micro-conduit with enhanced wetting characteristics for use in providing a blood heat exchanger apparatus with improved heat exchange capability. The micro-conduit comprises a plurality of elongated fibers, which may be made of a hydrophobic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Each fiber is open at two opposing ends, and has an inner surface between the open ends. The inner surface is coated with a wetting agent, such as phosphatidyl choline or another ampiphilic material with a hydrophilic end and a hydrophobic end. The fibers may have a shape and size that without presence of the wetting agent, would otherwise substantially impair free passage of water. The micro-conduit may be provided as a heat exchanger micro-conduit wrapping material, wherein micro-conduit fibers are attached to a thin flexible interconnect, such as woven netting, to maintain the fibers at predetermined spacings in substantially parallel alignment with each other.

Abstract: Compile and/or run time instruction scheduling is used in a multiprocessing system to reorder memory access instructions such that a strongly consistent programming model is emulated in a fashion transparent to the programmer. The multiprocessing system detects potential shared memory conflicts, avoiding these conflicts by restarting operation of the affected processing unit at a predetermined previous state, previously archived in a rollback register set, and resuming instruction execution from that state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring resistance of a blood sample in order to determine the hematocrit of that blood sample. The present invention makes a direct ratiometric measurement. That is, the alternating current that flows through the sample is directly measured by applying that alternating current to an integrator which converts the current to a D.C. voltage which is directly proportional to the applied current.

Abstract: A processor includes an alias unit having high-speed memory storage locations allocated at compile time for variable-sized data objects. The storage locations are accessed through a table of alias entries that consist of a base address in the processor memory to which the alias entry is aliased, the number of bytes in the alias entry, and a base address that points to the first byte of alias buffer memory representing the value of the alias entry. Each alias entry is given a unique name from a small name space that is encoded into relevant machine opcodes. The names are used to reference the data objects. The processor can optionally include a data cache and can be used in either single processor or multi-tasking environments. Reference to a memory location address associated with an alias register entry would be redirected to the intermediate storage.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for dispersing storage of a plurality of related and unrelated data items on a plurality of removable recordable media instances (RMIs). A first storage device is provided for storing a data item on a qualifying related RMI, the qualifying related RMI having one or more related data items stored on it and having sufficient actual storage space remaining for storing the data. A multiplier device is connected to the first storage device for multiplying the actual size of a data item, which is not stored by the first storage device because there is no qualifying related RMI, by a factor greater than one, to produce reserved storage space data which characterizes any other RMI that actually stores the data item.

Abstract: A headerless data storage format is implemented in a library environment. The header information, otherwise stored on the data storage media, is consolidated in one or more indices of the library, thus freeing the media from header information. To export an existing storage medium from the library, the storage medium is modified to include the previously missing header information and then ejected from the library; the medium is thus compatible, as a self-sufficient unit, with other libraries or standalone data storage drives. Conversely, to import a new storage medium containing data and interspersed header information, the medium is received into the library, whereupon the header information is removed from the medium and stored in the appropriate index.

Abstract: An interactive computer system having one or more user terminals connected to at least one host server via a network system and having a printer connected to one of the host servers includes a print manager interface in each user terminal that detects output generated by an application, prepares the output for transmission to a host server, and initiates transmission of the prepared output in accordance with the network protocol, and also includes a host printer interface in each host server that receives prepared output from a user terminal and creates a host print process that initiates printing of the prepared output at a printer designated by the application process.

Abstract: A multiprocessor including a plurality of processing systems is disclosed for discovering consumer purchasing tendencies. Each processing system of the multiprocessor identifies consumer transaction itemsets that are stored in a database that is distributed among the processing systems and which appear in the database a user-defined minimum number of times, referred to as minimum support. Then, the system discovers association rules in the itemsets by comparing the ratio of the number of times each of the large itemsets appears in the database to the number of times particular subsets of the itemset appear in the database. When the ratio exceeds a predetermined minimum confidence value, the system outputs an association rule which is representative of purchasing tendencies of consumers.

Abstract: A method for attaching pads to a high density printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of through-holes opening on the top surface. The method includes forming a plurality of pads on a carrier sheet so that each of said pads have a copper layer proximate to said carrier sheet and a joining metal layer formed on top of said copper layer, positioning the plurality of pads on the carrier sheet so that they are aligned with the through-hole pattern on the top surface of the PCB, laminating the pads to the through-holes on the top surface using the joining metal, and separating the carrier sheet from the plurality of pads that are joined to the through-holes so that the copper layer is exposed. The pads may comprise a variety of shapes such as disk-shaped, elongated, or rectangular, and can cover one or multiple through-holes. An electrical component may be soldered to the pad.

Abstract: A device adapter maintains a device polling table in memory that can be dynamically changed in response to disk drive device failures and is updated with each poll so that failed devices can be quickly deleted from the table and alternate device polling mapping can be achieved. A system reconfiguration is not necessary to implement the modifications to the system processing. The device adapter is capable of a greater variety of processing tasks than is conventional, including determining cylinder head position and copying data that otherwise would be performed by a control unit.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve, either of the mechanical type, or the bioprosthetic type, comprises a circular frame element, a check valve element and a suturing member surrounding the circular frame element. The circular frame element defines a circular opening for the passage of blood therethrough. The check valve element is connected to, and extends across, the circular frame element and is configured to substantially permit the flow of blood through the circular opening in a first direction and to substantially impair the flow of blood through the circular opening in a second direction opposite the first direction. The suturing member surrounds the circular frame element and has a first radial width in a first circumferential region substantially greater than a second radial width in a second circumferential region to define an extended portion of the suturing member.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical membrane-type fiber bundle blood oxygenator concentrically surrounds a generally cylindrical blood heat exchanger including a fiber bundle made of thousands of polymer material micro-conduits. A heat transfer fluid such as water is introduced into the upper end of the heat exchanger and flows downwardly around the outside surfaces of the micro-conduits to an outlet. Upper and lower seals of urethane potting compound separate the heat transfer fluid from the open ends of the micro-conduits through which blood flows. A transition manifold at the upper end of the heat exchanger directs out flowing blood radially outwardly to the upper end of the oxygenator fiber bundle. The blood flows downwardly around the outside surfaces of the fibers of the oxygenator fiber bundle to a blood outlet manifold that collects the oxygenated blood.