Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for efficiently predicting the performance of a proposed cache memory within a proposed computer system. A number of actual cache memory performance values are first measured using a number of actual computer systems with various cache memory sizes and various processing capabilities. Once a sufficient number and variety of average actual cache memory performance values are measured, a predicted average cache memory performance value is calculated for the proposed cache memory size. This is preferably accomplished by extrapolating from selected average actual cache memory performance values. It is contemplated that contributions from various cache memory request types may be individually addressed.

Abstract: A preprocessing DLL which may be appended to a service request for transfer to a gateway that runs within a Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) environment, and is capable of receiving requests from one or more different types of DCOM clients for service by an On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) style application running on an enterprise server. The services on the OLTP system are designed to accomplish a specific task, for example, update a user's bank account balance following a debit or credit. In a preferred embodiment, the OLTP system is X/Open compliant. The DCOM Client can be any type of client, including a Visual Basic client, C++ client, or a Web Browser with Active Server Pages (ASP). The preprocessing DLL permits the efficient web server side preprocessing of data associated with the service request before the service request is transferred to and honored by the enterprise OLTP system.

Abstract: A method for analyzing input/output performance of a data processing system. The method comprises providing records of input/output operations performed by the data processing system. Each record has statistics related to a respective input/output operation for a respective process. One or more workload classes are specified for accumulating statistics, and the statistics from the input/output records are accumulated by workload class. The accumulated statistics are reported by workload class which supports analysis of the input/output behavior for different workload classes.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling storage locks based on cache line ownership. Ownership of target data segments is acquired at a memory targeted by a first requesting device. A storage lock is enabled that prohibits requesting devices, other than the first requesting device, from acting on the target data segments during the time the targeted memory possesses ownership of the target data segments. A storage lock release signal is issued from the first requesting device to the targeted memory when exclusivity of the target data segments is no longer required at the first requesting device. In response, the storage lock at the targeted memory is released, thereby allowing other requesting devices to act on the target data segments.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlling a motor or other multi-directional load using an H-bridge circuit having self-latching, high side switches. Thyristors are used as high side switches, and arranged to self-latch. The H-bridge thyristors are also arranged to automatically discontinue the triggering gate current upon the thyristor switch closing to conduct current, which advantageously terminates the flow of gate current as soon as it is no longer required.

Abstract: An improved transport bed for use with trailers or the like and having improved clamp-down and tie-down structures is disclosed. A telescoping clamp-down device operable in conjunction with a retention channel mounted in the bed provides variably positioning capabilities of clamp-down. Slidable tie-down mechanisms can be utilized in the same retention track. Improved structural members for supporting and protecting the bed material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for distributed, dynamic generation of graphics files. A database server system is configured and arranged with a service application and a graphics requester. The service application is arranged to generate a graphics file request that includes data to be graphed and a graph code indicative of a graph style. The graphics requester is coupled to the service application and arranged to provide transmission of the graphics request and receive a generated graphics file. A graphics server system is coupled to the database system and includes a graphics socket server and a graphics server application. The graphics socket server is arranged to receive graphics requests and transmit graphics files, and the graphics server application is coupled to the graphics socket server and arranged to generate a graphics file in response to the graphics request.

Abstract: A system and method for managing binary large objects in a database are described in various embodiments. A database management system manages a database table having a plurality of rows of data. Each row includes one or more fixed-length data elements and one or more object identifiers that reference and are associated with respective binary large objects. An object handler coupled to the database management system, the object handler configured and arranged to store each binary large object in a section of contiguous storage referenced by the associated identifier, manages binary large objects.

Abstract: A method for analyzing input/output operations of a data processing system. Input/output trace data of the system is stored in an input/output trace file. The trace file is interactively analyzed by first interactively obtaining data selection criterion and then reading input/output trace data from the trace file in accordance with the selection criterion. The input/output trace data read from the trace file is displayed, and the steps of obtaining the data selection criteria and displaying the trace data are repeated.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing processing performance in a computer system by asynchronously performing system activities that do not conflict with normal instruction processing, during inactive memory access periods. The computer system includes at least one instruction processor to process instructions of an instruction stream, and a memory to store data. One or more inactive data blocks in the memory are identified, and a list of addresses corresponding to the identified inactive data blocks is generated. Available computing cycles occurring during processing in the computer system are identified, such as processing stalls and idle memory write periods. The inactive data blocks associated with the list of addresses are initialized to a predetermined state, during the available computing cycles. Addresses corresponding to those initialized data blocks are then made available to the computing system to facilitate use of the data blocks.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for directly accessing data from, or submit runs to, another computer platform. Preferably, this is accomplished by providing a special program statement within the software code of a computer program that is executed on a local computer platform. The special program statement may include a remote request, and may call a utility that formats and sends the remote request to the desired remote computer platform. After the remote request has been processed by the desired remote computer platform, resulting data preferably is returned to the computer program on the local computer platform.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a user customizable help system for a data processing environment which utilizes a graphical interface to identify solutions and/or topics of interest. This graphical help system displays partitioned groupings of help topics organized in a intuitively functional, positional manner such that a user will instinctively know where to find the desired help topic. These partitioned groupings of help topics preferably represent hardware platforms, operating environments, application groupings, or groupings of functions within an application. Further, and within each of the partitioned groupings, the invention contemplates providing multiple “views” of help topics, each “view” corresponding to a different type of user of the data processing system.

Abstract: A directory-based cache coherency system is disclosed for use in a data processing system having multiple Instruction Processors (IP) and multiple Input/Output (I/O) units coupled through a shared main memory. The system includes one or more IP cache memories, each coupled to one or more IPs and to the shared main memory for caching units of data referred to as cache lines. The system further includes one or more I/O memories within ones of the I/O units, each I/O memory being coupled to the shared main memory for storing cache lines retrieved from the shared main memory. Coherency is maintained through the use of a central directory which stores status for each of the cache lines in the system. The status indicates the identity of the IP caches and the I/O memories having valid copies of a given cache line, and further identifies a set of access privileges, that is, the cache line “state”, associated with the cache line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a survey database, wherein a user can perform a wide variety of requests to the survey database without having to independently calculate a desired result. In accordance with the present invention, this may be accomplished by using a rules-based expert system for forming and executing requests to a survey database. In a rules-based expert system, a number of rules are provided wherein the rules contain much of the “knowledge” of the experts, thereby allowing “non-expert” users to perform “expert” analysis of client satisfaction data in an accurate and repeatable fashion.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of automatically generating, transmitting, receiving, and verifying test request messages within a large scale resource sharing computer system. In the preferred mode, the testing technique is applied to a memory resource having up to four requester ports. The test messages are simultaneously but randomly generated within each of the requester ports. These test messages are transferred to the memory resource. The responses from the memory resource are automatically verified within each of the receiving requester ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an endless loop in a rules-based expert system. This is preferably accomplished by maintaining a count for each of the rules during rule processing. The count indicates the number of times a corresponding rule is executed by the rules based expert system. If the count corresponding to any of the rules exceeds a predetermined value, it is concluded that the rules-based expert system is stuck in an endless loop, and the rules-based expert system is interrupted.

Abstract: An improved trailer bed structure for use with trailers or the like and having an improved structural member. A bed structure having a least one bed member having a predetermined number of edges, with at least two support members joined in a predetermined configuration and a loading frame structure to support and protect the loading edge of the bed. The loading frame structure has a removable elongated member in cooperation with a frame member, each having mating structures to permit slidable removal and replacement of the removable elongated member.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for efficiently traversing and placing cells in a circuit design database are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more leaf cells are identified as base objects. The base objects are placed and aligned along a selected dominate axis. Once the base objects are identified, an input port is identified by the circuit designer. In many cases, selected base objects will have at least one common input port name, such as “A”. By selecting a common input port name, the corresponding input port for each of the selected base objects is identified. Once identified, the source leaf cells that have an output port that is coupled to the identified input ports can be identified, placed and aligned as desired.

Abstract: A common programming interface for multiple types of document processing systems. An object interface is defined that includes properties, methods, and events that are applicable to multiple types of document processing systems. For a particular document processing system of a particular type, an instance of the object interface is established, and an application program controls overall operations of the document processing system by setting values of properties in the object interface, invoking methods in the object interface, and responding to events reported via the object interface. System specific track drivers handle system specific interface requirements and interact with an application program via an instance of the object interface. The single application programming interface promotes ease of development for application programs and some reuse of code.

Abstract: Methods for calculating total mass storage requirements for a relational database table including database storage requirements, application and software requirements, system table requirements, scratch and sort requirements, log file requirements, and growth requirements. One method utilizes detailed inputs for each table and table index. Another method produces and utilizes estimates for the database and index requirements for all tables together. Methods can use input parameters including the page size, a fill factor, the log file space, the temporary space, the operating system and application software space, the system database space, the growth percent space, and the page file space. Some methods also take into account inputs such as the number of table, the amount of data, the average number of columns per row, the average row size, the percent of variable length columns, and the average variable length column size per table.