Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for dynamically adjusting the bandwidth of a continuous bit rate virtual path connection established between a source node and a destination node within a packet or cell switching network comprising a plurality of nodes interconnected with transmission links. In the network, a bandwidth management server having access to information concerning network nodes and transmission links is defined. This server is informed each time a virtual path connection or a virtual channel connection is established on the network with an indication concerning the initial bandwidth reserved for said connection. The server detects and shares, on a continuous or periodical mode, the bandwidth which is available on transmission links among the bandwidth adjustable continuous bit rate virtual path connections and determines for each connection a new bandwidth. The source node is informed each time a new bandwidth is computed.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for protecting data within a hard disk drive included within a data processing system. Data is generated. A signature value is provided which is stored in a signature device. The signature device is capable of being inserted into and removed from a computer system. A textual description of the data is created. The data is encrypted utilizing both the signature value stored on the device and the textual description. The encrypted data is then stored on the hard disk drive. The data processing system does not permanently store encryption keys.

Abstract: The inputting apparatus and method is disclosed which associates at least two keys consecutively pressed with a corresponding Chinese character stroke. When a user presses keys associated with the strokes constituting a Chinese character, the inputting method of the invention will generate various strokes based on the user input and then meaningful Chinese character. Since the Chinese character inputting method according to the invention is only concerned with the direction of consecutively pressing at least two keys, it is only necessary for the user to consider the direction of depression of the keys corresponding to the strokes when inputting strokes without considering which key is to be pressed, thereby greatly reducing the memory burden of the user.

Abstract: A method for remotely powering up a computer, includes: receiving a telephone call by a device coupled to a powered down computer; determining an originator's telephone number for the telephone call; determining if the originator's telephone number matches one of a plurality of authorized telephone numbers; and powering up the computer if the originator's telephone number matches one of the plurality of authorized telephone numbers. The method and system utilizes the well known “Caller-ID” technology to determine the originator's telephone number for a telephone call received by a modem coupled to the computer. If there is no match, the computer remains in a powered down state. In this manner, the system discriminates between the received telephone calls, and avoids powering up the computer when the received call is not for this purpose. This avoids wasting power.

Abstract: A system for checking the integrity of data transfer in a switching element in a high speed packet switching network node where multicasting is performed by simultaneously shifting data from a first shift register into the targeted device shift registers. The outputs of the device registers are fed back into the first shift register. The checking system includes a device select circuit for selecting the targeted via a set of select lines and a negative OR gate circuit. The select line signals and the first register output are inputs to the OR gate, the output of which is fed back to the first register. A comparator circuit has inputs supplied by the device select lines and the outputs of the device registers. A processor compares the contents of the first register to the outputs from the logic comparator circuit to test whether the data has been properly multicast to the targeted.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for performing an authenticated boot of a computer system in a networked computing environment are provided. The aspects include integration of boot manager services into a power on self test (POST) routine of a client system. The client system provides a digital signature for a selected operating system when the POST routine transfers control to a basic input/output system (BIOS) routine. Booting is authorized with the operating system through authentication by a server system of the digital signature.

Abstract: A bit vector array apparatus provides a high speed method for processing network transmission controls. Complex data structures for controlling network access are represented in the simplest possible form as single bit vector elements. The bit vector elements are combined into bit vectors comprised of 32 single bit vector elements. The bit vectors are processed in parallel in the bit vector array apparatus, which is comprised of special-purpose bit manipulation functions to expedite the processing.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling pipes in a computer network is disclosed. The network includes processor(s) having a switch and a queue used for transmitting traffic through the switch. Minimum and maximum flows are set for each pipe. The queue level, any excess bandwidth and offered rate of packets are determined for the queue. A global transmit fraction is controlled using the queue level and offered rate so that the global transmit fraction and queue level are critically damped if the queue level is between certain levels. A transmit fraction for a flow is set to the minimum of the global and differential transmit fractions. The differential transmit fraction linearly increases the flow based on the minimum or maximum flow if excess bandwidth exists and the flow is less than the maximum and exponentially decreases the flow based on the minimum or maximum flow if excess bandwidth does not exist and the flow exceeds the minimum.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for providing a dynamically assigned network address to a client computer system. The data processing system includes a server computer system coupled to the network. An access port is provided which is coupled to the network. The computer system is coupled to the network utilizing the access port. The computer system is then powered on. The computer system requires a network address in order to communicate utilizing the network. The computer system initially has no stored network address each time prior to being powered on. A dynamic network address is provided to the computer system utilizing only the access port each time the computer system is powering on.

Abstract: A Switch Fabric system comprising at least one Switch Fabric subsystem (100, 200) further including a set of Switch cores elements (111, 112, 121, 122) that are mounted in a port expansion permitting attachment of at least a first and second sets of Protocol Adapters (1, 2) under a routing control process. A Primary Switch controller (PSC) has a complete knowledge of the topology of the switch, e.g., the number of subsystems, the nature of the port expansion etc., while each Secondary Switch Controller only has a limited knowledge of that topology. One particular Switch Core (111, 211) which has a full-duplex communication capability in each Subsystem is assigned the key function to interface communication between the PSC and the other SSC in a same Switch Fabric Subsystem.

Abstract: A data processing system-based password protection system protects a resource with an access password that may be user selected. The access password and an encryption key unique to the resource are stored in non-volatile storage at a data processing system, where the encryption key is at least partially derived from unique information associated with the resource. In response to receipt of an attempted access password at the data processing system, access to the resource is permitted if the attempted access password matches the stored access password. However, in response to an indication that the access password has been forgotten, an encrypted access password generated at the data processing system from the stored access password utilizing the encryption key is output from the data processing system. The access password can thereafter be recovered from the encrypted access password and the unique information.

Abstract: A system for cooling a component in a computer system is disclosed. The cooling system of the present invention comprises a heat collection chamber including an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein the inlet opening is located in a position vertically higher than a location of the outlet opening. The system includes a heat conductive jacket adapted to be in thermal contact with the component. The jacket includes an inlet port and an outlet port through which a cooling fluid circulates. The system also includes a first hollow tube for coupling the outlet port to the inlet opening, and a second hollow tube for coupling the outlet opening to the inlet port.

Abstract: Modems, methods, and computer program products select a data rate based on error signals in a modem. In an illustrative embodiment, error signals representing the difference between an output of an equalizer and an output of a detector are accumulated and an average error value is computed therefrom. A signal to noise ratio is determined using the average error value. The signal to noise ratio is then used to select a data rate. In another illustrative embodiment, the mean squared error at the output of the equalizer is determined and then used, along with the probability of error in correctly detecting a symbol, to select a data rate. Incorrect decisions in detecting received data symbols can cause a catastrophic failure in a decision feedback equalizer used in a modem receiver as errors are repeatedly fed back causing the tap coefficients for the equalizer filters to be shifted from their normal operating values.

Abstract: In a docking station for a PC, a PCI adapter, an IDE controller, and a PC card controller operate when a PCI clock is supplied from the PC, and stop when the supply of the PCI clock is stopped by the PC entering a sleep mode. A driving signal output circuit outputs an actuation signal to a cooling fan drive circuit when the PCI clock is supplied thereto, and outputs a stop signal to the cooling fan drive circuit when the supply of the PCI clock is stopped. The cooling fan drive circuit includes a temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of a power supply unit, and controls on/off of the cooling fan on the basis of the detected temperature by this temperature sensor and an output signal from the driving signal output circuit.

Abstract: Modems, methods, and computer program products select a data rate based on error signals in a modem. In an illustrative embodiment, error signals representing the difference between an output of an equalizer and an output of a detector are accumulated and an average error value is computed therefrom. A signal to noise ratio is determined using the average error value. The signal to noise ratio is then used to select a data rate. In another illustrative embodiment, the mean squared error at the output of the equalizer is determined and then used, along with the probability of error in correctly detecting a symbol, to select a data rate. Incorrect decisions in detecting received data symbols can cause a catastrophic failure in a decision feedback equalizer used in a modem receiver as errors are repeatedly fed back causing the tap coefficients for the equalizer filters to be shifted from their normal operating values.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for constellation generation which determine initial ucode boundaries and an initial minimum signal level spacing. A work constellation set is generated based on the initial ucode boundaries and the initial minimum signal level spacing. The work constellation set is then iteratively adjusted so as to provide an adjusted work constellation set which achieves an error probability target. The adjusted work constellation set is then iteratively pruned so as to provide a pruned work constellation set which achieves a power limit. The pruned work constellation set is then iteratively fine-tuned so as to provide a final constellation set which is within a specified tolerance of the error probability target and/or the power limit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for managing peripheral bus timeouts. The method includes: sending a request to a peripheral in a performance of a task; determining that a peripheral bus timeout occurred; sending an interrupt signal; retrying for an access to the peripheral; completing the request if the retry for the access to the peripheral is successful; and resuming the performance of the task. The present invention provides a software method in which an input/output (I/O) request to a peripheral is sent by a recoverable access routine. When a bus timeout occurs, a hung bus detector asserts an interrupt signal. The peripheral bus is freed from the hung condition. The recoverable access routine is suspended, and a bus timeout interrupt handler is then loaded. The interruption and the freeing of the peripheral bus frees the microprocessor from the processing of the I/O request so that other requests may be performed.

Abstract: A method and system are described for activating a password requirement in a computer system included within a data processing system. A wireless signal is transmitted to the computer system such that computer system receives the signal. In response to a receipt of the wireless signal, a requirement that a password be entered is activated. Thereafter, a correct entry of a password is required prior to the computer system being fully operable.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for permitting only preregistered client computer hardware to access a service executing on a remote server computer system. A log-in token is established including a unique identifier which identifies a particular client computer hardware. The client computer hardware logs-on to the server computer system. Subsequent to the client computer hardware logging-on to the server computer system, the client computer hardware attempts to access the service. During the attempt, the client computer hardware transmits the log-in token to the server computer system. The server computer system utilizes the unique identifier included within the log-in token to determine if the client computer hardware is registered to access the service. In response to a determination that the client computer hardware is registered to access the service, the server computer system permits the client computer hardware to access the service.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a flexible cable includes a pattern of transmission lines formed thereon, the lines having a predetermined width. On the transmission lines are formed a first set of lands each for connecting a connection pin of an RJ45 connector and a second set of lands each for connecting a connection pin of a transmission line connector—each land being wider than a transmission line. A transition region is provided in each transmission line in the vicinity of the land, the width of the transition region increasing gradually from the line width to the land width as the transmission line approaches the pin.