Abstract: Space is allocated on data storage devices in proportion to weights associated with the storage devices. The weights can be dynamically adjusted at any time in order to accommodate changes in the system and to better utilize the storage devices. The technique used to perform the allocating is independent of the weights used by the allocating. Further, the allocation technique can accommodate general purpose data streams having varying lengths and/or varying access patterns, as well as special purpose data streams, such as video streams.

Abstract: Sockets of a computing environment are optimally tuned, even though the environment is dynamic. The tuning is based on information dynamically determined at the time a socket is opened. The information includes, for instance, application specific information and/or socket specific information. Based on the information, one or more parameters of the socket, such as a socket send buffer size and/or a socket receive buffer size, are set to reflect the current configuration of the environment.

Abstract: Concurrent access to data is managed through concurrency control techniques. Various types of techniques are employed to manage the access, including locking-based techniques and non-locking-based techniques. A dynamic switch from one type of concurrency control technique (e.g., a locking-based technique) to a different type of concurrency control technique (e.g., a non-locking-based technique) is enabled. This switching is based on access patterns and/or application requirements for each file. The switching allows enhanced performance for both coarse-grain sharing and fine-grain sharing of data.

Abstract: The management and use of replicated distributed transactions is facilitated. A distributed synchronous transaction system protocol is provided to manage the replication of distributed transactions for client application instances. The distributed synchronous transaction system allows transactions to be replicated without having the client application instances be aware of other instances to receive the transaction. Further, if a failure occurs during processing of a distributed replicated transaction, the distributed synchronous transaction system manages the recovery of the failure.

Abstract: Restarting of coupling facility commands. A restart token is obtained from one coupling facility command and used to restart another coupling facility command. The command from which the restart token is obtained is a different command from the command being restarted. In one example, the command being restarted is a duplexed command.

Abstract: Various components are provided to manage a clustered environment. These components include a System Registry that provides a global data storage; a Configuration manager that stores data locally on nodes of the clustered environment and globally within the System Registry; a Liveness component to provide status of communications paths of the cluster; a Group Services component that provides services to one or more other components of the clustered environment; and a Resource Management component that communicates with one or more resource controllers of the clustered environment. Each of the components of the clustered environment has one or more data and/or functional dependencies on one or more other components of the environment. However, relationships between the components are created such that the data and functional dependencies form an acyclic graph (i.e., a cycle of dependency relationships is avoided).

Abstract: The present invention controls the automation process in a computer network system. An Abstract Resource Model is introduced in which the model results in the automation being divided into two: an automation execution component and an automation decision-making component. The automation execution component controls how programs or resources are run within a specific environment, and the automation decision making component controls when a program or resource is run on an abstract decision-making level. In the Abstract Resource Model, the operator needs no specific knowledge as to which programs or program components belong to an overall application, or which programs or program components need to be started in which order.

Abstract: A considerable amount of area can be saved according to the present invention by reducing the number of input ports and the number of output ports to the number n of concurrently intended array accesses. This remarkable reduction of ports and thus an extraordinary associated area saving can be achieved when some knowledge about array utilization is exploited: The array accesses are to be performed with concurrent accesses from at most k particular groups. A group is defined by a plurality of array accesses which have at most one access to the same port at a time. Then, for reading the read results are aligned according to a simple re-wiring scheme to the respective read requesters, whereas for writing the accesses are aligned prior to the array access according to the same or a similar scheme.

Abstract: Communication between different entities of a computing environment is facilitated by an address mapping capability. Messages are sent between the entities to have desired tasks performed. Instead of providing within the messages the actual non-logical addresses (e.g., virtual, real addresses) used to perform the tasks, logical addresses are provided. The logical addresses are then mapped to the non-logical addresses. Each logical address can map to a plurality of non-logical addresses.

Abstract: An updating capability updates a component of a computing environment, while maintaining the availability of the computing environment. In particular, a component of the computing environment which is associated with at least a portion of a unit of work is updated from one version to another version. Subsequently, the updated component emulates the original version, or operates in a compatibility mode, while other components of the computing environment, which are similarly associated with the same unit of work, remain at the original version.

Abstract: An impact of configuration changes on controllers is projected. This projection quantifies the impact for each controller affected by the change, such that it is known by a quantifiable value how much the change impacts the controller. In order to project the impact, a projected I/O velocity of the controller is determined.

Abstract: Various components are provided to manage a clustered environment. These components include a System Registry that provides a global data storage; a Configuration manager that stores data locally on nodes of the clustered environment and globally within the System Registry; a Liveness component to provide status of communications paths of the cluster; a Group Services component that provides services to one or more other components of the clustered environment; and a Resource Management component that communicates with one or more resource controllers of the clustered environment. Each of the components of the clustered environment has one or more data and/or functional dependencies on one or more other components of the environment. However, relationships between the components are created such that the data and functional dependencies form an acyclic graph (i.e., a cycle of dependency relationships is avoided).

Abstract: At least a portion of a table stored in a global data repository is selected to be accessed and modified. The selected portion is stored in a local table in local memory of a node of a client-server environment. The local table is modified, and then at least a portion of the modified local table is merged with the global table. The merger is performed without requiring any user locking of the global table.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an image processing apparatus includes an original image data input unit 11 for receiving the original low resolution image data; a connection detector 13 for detecting a connection of a target pixel in the original image data and neighboring pixels; a rule application unit 17 for employing a relationship between a coordinate position of a pixel in the original image data and a coordinate position of a resultant pixel in the expansion image data to define a plurality of types into which the relationship can be sorted, and for applying a specific rule for the plurality of types; and a results output unit 19 for determining the value of the resultant pixel in accordance with the rule, and for outputting the expansion image data, wherein, when the connection detector 13 ascertains that the target pixel constitutes a one-pixel width line, the rule application unit 17 applies a rule that will maintain the one-pixel width even in the expansion image data.

Abstract: An input pen for a touch panel excellent in a using feeling without causing any flaw in a display, and an input pen. A touch ball made of, for example, an acetal resin is provided at a pen tip of an input pen. The touch ball is held via a first spring and a second spring. Furthermore, respective spring constants of the first spring and the second spring are set in such a manner as to establish the relationship of (a displacement of the first spring)>(a displacement of the second spring)>(a deformation of the touch ball) when pressing force for pressing the touch ball toward a main body shaft acts. Thus, it is possible to suppress any deformation of the soft touch ball even if the input pen is strongly pressed against a screen of a touch panel or the like.

Abstract: One or more tables stored in a global data repository are concurrently accessible and modifiable. A client requests the locking of one or more tables within a global server data repository on behalf of a local tree. This locking creates a lock block, which enables at least a portion of the locked tables to be selected, modified and then merged back with the tables residing in the server. One or more other clients may also request to use the same lock block and thus, the same local tree, if shared concurrency is allowed. These other clients would also be allowed to select, modify and merge at least a portion of the tables. The merging of the tables is serialized at the global data repository, if necessary.

Abstract: Data is written to an unsegmented buffer located within shared memory. While data is being written to the unsegmented buffer, at least a portion of the data is being read from the buffer. A counter is used to indicate how much space is available in the buffer to receive data. Further, the counter is employed to ensure that the reader does not advance beyond the writer.

Abstract: Changes in locking configurations are managed. A locking configuration includes one or more locking facilities and the one or more locking facilities include one or more locks. When a change in a locking configuration, either planned or unplanned, is detected, one or more of the locks are redistributed. For example, one or more of the locks affected by the change are moved from one or more of the locking facilities to one or more other locking facilities. This redistribution is independent of the location of the data associated with the one or more locks being moved. Thus, data and locks may be moved independently of one another and without affecting one another. Further, the redistribution can take place while the system is available or mostly available, thereby minimizing downtime.

Abstract: It is one object of the present invention to use an access control process to evaluate under a specific condition an access permission request. An access control system 100 comprises a resource document 40 in which a policy description is stored; a policy evaluation module 10 for receiving an external request 110 for accessing the data file, for extracting, from the resource document 40, the policy description that is associated with target data for the access request 110, and for evaluating the policy description to determine whether or not the access request 110 is to be permitted; an enforcement function verification module 20 for, when an existing condition can not be evaluated using only the information included in the policy evaluation module 10, determining whether the condition can be evaluated or can be established; and an enforcement module 30 for evaluating or establishing the condition that, in accordance with the enforcement function verification module 20, can be evaluated or established.

Abstract: In order to provide an improved wiring management approach, a multiple port memory apparatus (200) is proposed, which comprises a first memory field of a first memory array (201) of at least three memory arrays (201, 202, 203) storing first data, wherein the first memory field is identified by a first address, a first memory field of a second memory array (202) of the at least three memory arrays (201, 202, 203) storing second data, wherein the first memory field of the second memory array (202) is also identified by the first address, and a first memory field of a third memory array (203) of the at least three memory arrays (201, 202, 203) storing select data indicating, whether the first data or the second data, each stored under the first address but in different memory arrays, have been lastly written.