Patents Represented by Attorney Daniel E. McConnell
  • Patent number: 6816479
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for pre-loading access nodes with the location of more frequently requested resources. The method includes declaring each locally supported communication protocol for participating to control message exchanges between nodes supporting a same communication protocol; receiving a message to locate a target resource; searching for information related to the location of the target resource in the Local Directory Database; broadcasting an undirected message to the other access nodes in the network to locate the target resource; receiving a control message from the destination access node providing access to the target resource, this control message comprising information related to the location of the target resource; and storing the information related to the location of the target resource in the Local Directory Database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guy Euget, Didier Giroir
  • Patent number: 6816152
    Abstract: A digitizer which enables the user to set a collection of forms on a forms set portion and write on any page of the collection of forms with an input pen to input the data regarding the content of writing corresponding to the page, such that a user can efficiently open to a desired page of the collection of forms, is provided for. Additionally, a page turning side depression is provided in a right side frame portion delineating the right side of the forms set portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 6813632
    Abstract: Storage capability otherwise going underutilized in a LAN is made available for sharing among workstations connected to the LAN. Systems connected to a LAN are surveyed for storage capability potentially available for sharing, a weighting function is derived for each system which is indicative of shared system storage capability, and data files to be stored are scattered among and gathered from the connected systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Rod David Waltermann
  • Patent number: 6803905
    Abstract: A touch sensitive apparatus and method of operation to improve visual feedback and visual perception of tactile input to an operator. The apparatus includes a touch screen device or display having a touch overlay, a processor and stored program instructions in a memory in which a three-dimensional graphical image, such as a key element, is created in the apparatus and shown on the display as an input device or keypad to the processor. Each key element includes a beveled surface surrounding a flat surface. When a displayed key element is touched by a probe, such as a finger, the screen area about the displayed key element and the finger, visually enlarges or “splats” confirming the selection of the particular key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Louis Capps, Scott Michael Hallihan, Brenda Maltba Scott, Gayle Colby Steinbugler
  • Patent number: 6804257
    Abstract: A method and a system for framing variable-length packets in a data communications system are disclosed. The successive variable-length packets carrying users' data, are formed in a stream of chained packets comprising a header. Two CRC's are computed. One over the data and another one over the header however, including also the data CRC of the immediate previous packet, thus chaining successive packets in a steam of such packets. The invention also assumes that encryption is performed independently over header and corresponding CRC's and, on the other hand, over the data of current packet. The invention allows to better adapt the transportation of multi-media users' data in packets of variable-lengths while securing transport by chaining successive packets, thus preventing that accidental or malicious deletion and insertion of packets occur and remain undetected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Benayoun, Patrick Michel, Jean-Francois Le Pennec, Gilles Toubol
  • Patent number: 6799215
    Abstract: A method and system for centralizing the LU definitions for one or a plurality of TN3270 servers. More particularly, a method and system for dynamically providing a Systems Network Architecture (SNA) Logical Unit (LU) definition for the establishment of a SNA session between a SNA client and a SNA application. The method of the present invention includes receiving a SNA session request from a telnet 3270 client, and in response thereto, retrieving a definition of a SNA LU from a table shared by one or more telnet 3270 servers. A local table within the telnet 3270 server is dynamically updating with the retrieved SNA LU definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Didier Giroir, Olivier Hericourt
  • Patent number: 6793132
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for inputting and outputting money, and to a method for identifying and collecting money that is input to this apparatus. Further, an apparatus for inputting and outputting money includes any type of apparatus, such as an automatic teller machine (ATM), a money exchange machine or an automatic vending machine, used for the input and the output of all types of currencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6792461
    Abstract: A method and system for managing data traffic between an intranet and the internet. The Intranet composed of client computers connected to a router system which bridges the connection to a plurality of proxy servers. The proxy servers act as a gateway to the internet and operate on a designated application level protocol. The router system redirecting packets based on application level protocols to the proxy servers while checking the destination proxy server with an authorized list. The router system blocking or transmitting based on the application level protocol and the authorized server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Olivier Hericourt
  • Patent number: 6788530
    Abstract: A notebook type PC, for easier use by a user, including a liquid crystal monitor unit, a mainframe section, and an arm for connecting the liquid crystal monitor unit to the mainframe section, is provided. One end of the arm is connected to the liquid crystal monitor unit by a rotatable first hinge. The other end of the arm is connected to the mainframe section by a rotatable second hinge. The angle and distance of the liquid crystal monitor unit with respect to the mainframe section can be set freely by the first hinge and the second hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Wayne Hill, John Peter Karidis, Tomoyuki Takahashi, Kenichi Tanaka, Hideyuki Usui, Kazuhiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6785736
    Abstract: A method and system for computing the shortest path for traveling inside a network and visiting a predefined list of network addresses. The method can be used by a system management workstation communicating and a mobile program visiting the list of networks addresses; the system management workstation communicates with said mobile program to get the list of network addresses to be visited; the system management workstation communicates also with all the networks addresses of the list to get the parameter values for determining the shortest path. The system management platform computes the shortest path by running a Kohonen neural network reading in input the references to nodes and their,parameter values which form bi dimensional coordinates; the output is the ordered list of network addresses to be visited by the mobile program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Franck Barillaud
  • Patent number: 6785807
    Abstract: A data processing system with bootcode support for communicating with a noncompliant external device has a motherboard, non-volatile memory connected to the motherboard, a volatile memory, processing resources, a communications port that utilizes a first communications protocol, and one or more buses interconnecting those components. Startup instructions obtained from the non-volatile memory load a device driver for the external device from the non-volatile memory into the volatile memory. However, unlike the communications port, the external device utilizes a second communications protocol. Diagnostic instructions then utilize the device driver to communicate with the external device via the communications port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Maximino Aguilar, Sanjay Gupta, James Michael Stafford
  • Patent number: 6771653
    Abstract: A system for providing prioritized queue management within a data transmission network node that supports different types of data frame traffic is disclosed herein. The system includes a frame buffer for storing an incoming frame that has an identifiable frame type. A queue is pre-associated with the frame type of the incoming frame such that upon arrival of the frame at the network node, the queue stores a location address at which the frame is stored within the frame buffer such that the frame is maintained within the queue. The queue that contains the frame is stored within a frame table. Processing means are provided for determining a time at which the queue forwards the frame from the frame buffer in accordance with a pre-determined sub-queue priority list. The system further includes time metering means associated with the frame for temporally assigning the frame to a virtual sub-queue among multiple virtual sub-queues that are associated with the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Le Pennec, Jacques Fieschi, Aline Fichou, Claude Galand
  • Patent number: 6772371
    Abstract: A system and method for freezing a processing unit to facilitate on-line debugging of a protocol engine within a switching node of a data transmission network. In accordance with the system of the present invention, the protocol engine includes a plurality of processing units such as an identification unit, a lookup unit, a traffic management and congestion unit, an enqueue unit, a dequeue unit, a traffic management scheduling unit, a frame transmission unit, a control unit, and a control block unit. The control block unit includes a freeze register containing multiple freeze bits, wherein each freeze bit is associated with one processing unit. In response to setting a freeze bit, resources and settings of a processing unit associated with the set freeze bit are prevented from being changed by the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Orsatti, Dominique Rigal, Bruno Rousseau, Jean-Claude Zunino
  • Patent number: 6765873
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a connection bandwidth management process and system for use in a high speed packet switching network. The network comprises a plurality of switching nodes interconnected through a plurality of communication links. Each of the switching nodes comprises means for switching packets from at least one input link to at least one output link. Each of the output links are coupled to at least one buffer in the switching node for queuing packets before they are transmitted over the output link. Each of the communication links supports the traffic of a plurality of user connections statistically multiplexed over the link. Each user connection is allocated an initial agreed-upon bandwidth through the network, with each of the communication links being possibly oversubscribed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aline Fichou, Claude Galand, Jean-Francois Le Pennec
  • Patent number: 6754182
    Abstract: A method and system for enforcing a transmission control parameter for a virtual connection comprising multiple cells within an input port. The virtual connection has a nominal inter-cell arrival rate increment. Each of the cells are associated with a theoretical arrival time and an early arrival limit, wherein a difference of the early arrival limit from said theoretical arrival time delineates a lower boundary of a good zone, while the theoretical arrival time minus the sum of the early arrival limit and the nominal inter-cell arrival rate increment delineates an upper boundary of the good zone. The method includes determining an actual arrival time for an incoming cell from the cells that make up the virtual connection. Next, the actual arrival time is compared to the upper boundary and the lower boundary to determine whether or not the actual arrival time falls within the good zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ange Aznar, Daniel Orsatti, Jose Iruela, Bruno Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6744734
    Abstract: A method for constructing the set of optimal complex node representations of a PNNI peer group based on a restrictive cost database (e.g. a cost matrix) associated with the border nodes. The resulting set of complex node representations is the optimal in that it contains all the possible complex node representations that use the minimum possible number of exception bypasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ilias Iliadis, Paolo Scotton
  • Patent number: 6680951
    Abstract: A system and method for selecting one port among multiple output ports having various transmission rates attached to an output adapter of a switching node in a data transmission network and enabling it to transmit its data over the network. The system of the present invention includes a storage device that contains a list of identification codes for the ports. The identification code list is arranged in a prioritized order from the port having the highest transmission rate to the port having the lowest transmission rate. The system further includes port service request means that generate a service request signal for each port, wherein the service request signal has a frequency corresponding to the transmission rate of the object port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ange Aznar, Jose Iruela, Daniel Orsatti, Dominique Rigal
  • Patent number: 6643814
    Abstract: Maximum transition run encoding of a succession of M-bit data words to produce a succession of N-bit code words, where N→−M, for supply to a magnetic recording channel is described. Each M-bit data word is encoded in accordance with an MTR coding scheme to produce a G-bit word, where N→−G→M, such that the maximum number of consecutive bits of a first value, generally bits of value “1”, in a succession of the G-bit words is limited to a first predetermined value j1. The G-bit word is then encoded to produce an N-bit word in accordance with a second coding scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roy D. Cideciyan, Jonathan D. Coker, Evangelos S. Eleftheriou, Richard L. Galbraith, Dave James Stanek
  • Patent number: 6618811
    Abstract: A method for automatically determining whether power consumption devices can be powered up in a power consuming system having multiple power consumption devices to be powered up by one or several voltages among a set of voltages V1, V2 . . . Vm. The set of voltages are provided by multiple power supplies, wherein each power supply provides at least one voltage. The power consuming system also includes a control point for controlling the power supplied to the power consumption devices. The method includes determining a set of linear inequations linking each variable PV1, PV2. . . PVm representing the power being consumed for each voltage, or combinations of several variables, to predetermined power limits PVC. Next, the real power value (P) requested for each voltage in order to power up each one of the first plurality of power consumption devices is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Berthaud, Jean-Francois Fauh
  • Patent number: 6292466
    Abstract: In a high-speed packet switched communication system such as an ATM network, the number of existing connections is limited by a Connection Admission Control (CAC) procedure. For each newly requested connection, the expected traffic rate is added to an already reserved bandwidth and a test is made whether the sum is above a given limit. According to the invention, the reserved bandwidth (r_bw) is updated not only for each new connection adding the additional requested capacity (RQ), but also in-between using an effective traffic capacity value derived from measuring the actual traffic (EC). For obtaining a reasonable effective traffic capacity value, the traffic sample sequence is modified by filtering out the “noise” representing short-time variations. This is done in an iterative procedure in which the cutoff between the signal and the “noise” portion is adaptively and dynamically changed so that the available buffer capacity can accommodate just that noise portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick Droz