Abstract: A non-uniform memory access (NUMA) computer system includes a remote node coupled by a node interconnect to a home node including a home system memory. The remote node includes a plurality of snoopers coupled to a local interconnect. The plurality of snoopers includes a cache that caches a cache line corresponding to but modified with respect to data resident in the home system memory. The cache has a cache controller that issues a deallocate operation on the local interconnect in response to deallocating the modified cache line. The remote node further includes a node controller, coupled between the local interconnect and the node interconnect, that transmits the deallocate operation to the home node with an indication of whether or not a copy of the cache line remains in the remote node following the deallocation. In this manner, the local memory directory associated with the home system memory can be updated to precisely reflect which nodes hold a copy of the cache line.

Abstract: In a tape drive system performing read/write operations on a tape by inserting a tape cartridge into a tape drive, the tape cartridge having a tape on which servo and data tracks are arranged longitudinally and a predetermined servo pattern is recorded on each of the servo tracks, a method and system for re-setting coefficients of a low-pass filter for servo control of the tape drive, each time the tape cartridge is inserted into the tape drive so that a servo system of the tape drive is stabilized. More specifically, the servo pattern is read from the tape in the cartridge inserted into the tape drive, frequency analysis for the read servo pattern is performed, a singularity that exceeds a predetermined spectrum range is detected from frequency components obtained by the frequency analysis, and the coefficients of the low-pass filter are set so as to cancel a power spectrum of the singularity.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has the capabilities of communicating from the outer surface of an outer wellhead housing to a casing annulus. Seals between the outer and inner wellhead housings define an annular chamber when the inner wellhead housing lands. The outer wellhead housing has a communication port formed through one of its sidewalls. The inner wellhead housing has a passageway extending from the annular chamber to the bore of the inner wellhead housing. The casing annulus located radially inward of the inner wellhead housing is in communication with the outer surface of the outer wellhead housing through the passageway, the annular chamber between the seals, and the communication port.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing transmitter power levels within a cellular telephone communications network is disclosed. The method and system of the present invention are implemented within a cellular communications network which includes a cellular base station and a cellular telephone. A signal strength measurement is performed between the cellular base station and the cellular telephone. A determination is made periodically as to whether or not the measured signal strength is higher than a first threshold. In response to each determination that the measured signal strength is higher than the first threshold, the transmitter power at the cellular base station is reduced by one step such that the transmitter power levels within the cellular communications network are minimized.

Abstract: A susbsea well has communication passages to enable annulus pressure surrounding inner and intermediate strings of casings to be monitored at the surface. The passages both have outlets that allow communication to the tree assembly for monitoring. In one embodiment, the passage outlets are located in the bore of the high pressure well head housing and communicates to the tree assembly along an isolation sleeve. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate through a flying lead coming down from the tree. In another embodiment, the passage outlets are located on the exterior of the high pressure wellhead housing and communicate to an upward facing connection which is stabbed with a downward facing connection coming down from the tree.

Abstract: In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a first link protocol utilizing a set mode command is sent from one or more transmit terminals to establish a link with one or more receive terminals. The set mode command comprises a frame format including an identifying byte field in accordance with International Telecommunication Union's Q.921 Annex E protocol specification. The one or more transmit terminals wait a predetermined T200 time interval to receive a response from the one or more receive terminals to determine if the link is established. If a response is not received from the one or more receive terminals, the one or more transmit terminals resends the set mode command a predetermined N200 times. If the link is still not established within the predetermined N200 times, a second link protocol utilizing a set asynchronous balanced mode extended command having a different identifying byte field in accordance with International Telecommunication Union's Q.

Abstract: A downhole pump assembly is suspended by tubing in a well. The pump assembly has a separator attached below a progressing cavity pump with a flexible shaft to accommodate the concentric path of the shaft of the separator and the eccentric path of the rotor of the pump. Vanes on the shaft of the separator use centrifugal force to separate the heavier liquids from the lighter gases in the well fluids. The separator discharges the gas into the casing and the liquid to the pump. A motor drives both the separator and the pump. A gear reduction unit is located between the motor and the pump in order to reduce the rotational speed from the motor to the desired rotational speed of the rotor for the pump.

Abstract: A suspension arm (300) of a disk storage device has an elastic portion (310) with thickness d1 and a rigid portion (320) with thickness d2. At the free end of the suspension arm, a slider (325) is mounted on the suspension arm. The bottom surface of the slider has a distance FH to a top surface of a hard disk (329). The suspension arm particularly comprises a heating element (330) disposed on the suspension arm. An electric current Ic flowing through electrical supply wires (350) causes the temperature of the suspension arm locally to rise and therefore its spring constant to decrease. Together with the force Fa resulting from the air cushion effect of the slider a new equilibrium flying height FH is stabilized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a rotating storage device. The rotating storage device includes a storage medium driven to rotate, a head for reading and writing information on the storage medium and a ramped loading mechanism in which the head is stored. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the head is loaded from the ramped loading mechanism onto the storage medium. Next, location information stored in the storage medium via the head is read. A location of the head is then retained for a predetermined period above a track of a region other than a valid storage region of the storage medium after successfully reading the location information.

Abstract: A pipelined processor and method are disclosed for speculatively determining dependencies. The processor processes a plurality of instructions in order. A speculative detection circuit which takes multiple clock cycles to operate determines whether a dependency exists. The speculative detection circuit inserts a single-cycle pipeline stall only in response to a determination that a speculative dependency exists.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an exercise machine receives exercise-related data for a particular user via a communication interface with an independent computing device specified by the particular user, such as a portable computer system, personal storage device, or network system. The exercise machine specifies control of the exercise machine according to the exercise-related data for the particular user, such that a particular level of control of the exercise machine is specified according to exercise-related data for the particular user from the independent computing device. In addition, the exercise machine transmits indicators of usage of the exercise machine to a server system that may be utilized by a manufacturer to track the usage of a particular exercise machine.

Abstract: A data processing system and method of fetching instructions in a data processing system are described. The data processing system includes at least one execution unit that executes fetched instructions and instruction sequencing logic that fetches instructions from memory. In response to detection of a particular instruction trigger within an instruction stream, the instruction sequencing logic fetches one or more non-sequential blocks of instructions from memory, where each of the non-sequential blocks includes a plurality of instructions.

Abstract: A multiplexing system and method for servicing serially linked targets or RAID devices. The multiplexing system couples service interfaces from various targets and devices. The multiplexing system provides a single service link to a single service unit interface. The single service link allows easy access/communications or remote access/communications to an individual target or disk drive within the RAID system. A service unit is directly or remotely coupled to the service unit interface. The multiplexing system has an outgoing multiplexer, an in-going multiplexer, and a multiplexer controller. The service unit communicates with the multiplexing system to select the desired target or disk drive to be serviced. The multiplexer controller detects incoming select target commands and compares incoming target address information with a presently defined multiplexer controller target address information.

Abstract: A method for increasing performance optimization in a multiprocessor data processing system. A number of predetermined thresholds are provided within a system controller logic and utilized to trigger specific bandwidth utilization responses. Both an address bus and data bus bandwidth utilization are monitored. Responsive to a fall of a percentage of data bus bandwidth utilization below a first predetermined threshold value, the system controller provides a particular response to a request for a cache line at a snooping processor having the cache line, where the response indicates to a requesting processor that the cache line will be provided. Conversely, if the percentage of data bus bandwidth utilization rises above a second predetermined threshold value, the system controller provides a next response to the request that indicates to any requesting processors that the requesting processor should utilize super-coherent data which is currently within its local cache.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product, in which a stateful EJB session bean is used as the front end to client calls. In this configuration, a queue is represented by a session bean instance. “Put” and “get” are called on the relevant session bean instances. Thus, for example, a client, instead of first finding a home for a given type of OMs then calling “put” on the home to send out messages, will find a session bean home, create a session bean instance corresponding to a queue, and call “put” on the bean instance to send messages. In this manner, the message queue can be managed using standard EJB techniques.

Abstract: A gas dissipation chamber, installed between the tubing crossover and the production tubing string, for a through tubing conveyed ESP pumping system prevents gas discharged from the gas separator from entering the pump intake and subsequently gas locking the pumping system. The gas dissipation chamber secures to a lower end of production tubing. An electrical motor assembly is suspended on the lower end of the chamber. The gas separator and the pump are lowered through the tubing and land in the chamber in operative engagement with the motor assembly. Well fluid flows into the chamber to the separator, and gas separated by the separator vents out of the chamber into the casing. Liquid separated from the well fluid by the separator is pumped by the pump into the production tubing.

Abstract: A marine air conditioning system for installation on a boat has a compressor, a water-cooled condenser, and an evaporator. The compressor is directly driven by an engine used for propelling the boat. The condenser is installed inline in a cooling-water intake tube, through which a pump draws water from outside of the hull for cooling the engine. Water from the intake tube is drawn through a portion of the condenser in thermal communication with the refrigerant for transferring heat from the refrigerant to the water. The water then continues into and through the engine and is exhausted through a discharge tube. The refrigerant then passes through an orifice or an expansion valve, and then into the evaporator. Air is passed through the evaporator for cooling the air, and the refrigerant returns to the compressor for recirculation in the system.

Abstract: System bus snoopers within a multiprocessor system in which dynamic application sequence behavior information is maintained within cache directories append the dynamic application sequence behavior information for the target cache line to their snoop responses. The system controller, which may also maintain dynamic application sequence behavior information in a history directory, employs the available dynamic application sequence behavior information to append “hints” to the combined response, appends the concatenated dynamic application sequence behavior information to the combined response, or both. Either the hints or the dynamic application sequence behavior information may be employed by the bus master and other snoopers in cache management.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a body for a hard disk carriage assembly from polyphenylene sulfide 40% glass fill. An injection mold is heated to approximately 130° C.; then a volume of polyphenylene sulfide 40% glass fill is injected into the mold to form the body of the carriage assembly. The polyphenylene sulfide 40% glass fill is then cooled within the mold for approximately 45 seconds before the body is ejected from the mold cavity. The body is then heated to approximately 130° C. for at least 2 hours in a post-bake operation.

Abstract: A bottom connector for the tendon of a tension leg platform uses a latch ring with an outer profile to engage a mating profile in a receptacle on the sea floor. The latch ring moves radially within a housing, relative to the receptacle, between an engaged position and a retracted position. The latch ring engages the receptacle by lowering the connector into the receptacle below the mating profile and then lifting it until the latch ring locks into the receptacle. The latch ring disengages the receptacle by lowering the connector beyond a recess located below the mating profile and then lifting the connector out of the receptacle. As the connector is lifted above the recess, a retaining ring is actuated by the recess to retain the latch ring in its retracted position.