Abstract: A transaction time measurement mechanism has a transaction time manager running on a server computer system, a transaction time agent running on a client computer system that is coupled to the server computer system via a network, and a simple protocol for allowing them to directly and efficiently communicate. The transaction time agent is configured according to configuration data stored in a configuration table in a transaction time database, and stores transaction time data in a statistics table according to this configuration. The data in the statistics table is indexed to allow retrieving only the transaction time data of interest. The simple communication protocol supports multiple transaction time managers in a network computing environment that may all communicate with a single client.

Abstract: A weather warning apparatus and associated method notifies a user when weather alerts are issued according to geographical areas of interest and weather notification parameters that are set by the user. The weather warning apparatus includes a communication link for receiving transmitted alerts, such as weather warnings, watches and statements, civil emergencies, and the like. The weather warning apparatus also includes a user interface for selecting geographic areas of interest and weather notification parameters, such as weather events that may be of interest to a user at a desired time of day or time interval. The user's selection of geographic area and weather notification parameters allows the weather warning apparatus to filter out unwanted weather alerts that are outside of the desired geographic area, type of weather event notification, time or time interval.

Abstract: In an object oriented computer system, an object oriented framework defines an interface mechanism that provides a common interface to a non-object oriented persistent datastore. This common interface can be customized by various types within the framework by effectively hiding attributes on the common interface that are not needed by a particular type. Attributes defined on the common interface may be accessed at any level in the framework through a process of delegation from one level to the next. In addition, one or more of these attributes on the common interface may be defined at various levels, which causes those attributes to be accessed at their respective levels instead of delegating to different levels.

Abstract: A framework for use with object oriented programming systems encapsulates the common attributes of log analysis tools and permits framework implementers to generate customized log analysis tools that share a common structure and organization but are extended only in attributes that are specific to a particular tool. The framework defines a Log object that represents the activity log that is to be analyzed and is responsible for dividing itself into multiple, smaller LogSection objects. Each of the LogSection objects represents a portion of the activity log from which some information can be gathered. The information in a LogSection object is further mapped onto LogEvent objects. Each LogSection object can be referenced by an Analyzer object that controls the analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for viewing multiple windows simultaneously within a dynamic window allows a user to relate several windows shown on a display without having to repeatedly arrange and size each individual window. In the preferred embodiment, once a window is selected and dragged into the dynamic window, the dynamic windowing mechanism dynamically sizes the window. Dynamic sizing causes the window to be sized in proportion to other windows already located within the dynamic window. For example, if the dynamic window is empty and a new window is dragged and dropped into the dynamic window, the new window will occupy the entire dynamic window; if the dynamic window contains two windows and a third window is dragged and dropped into the dynamic window, each window will occupy a portion of the dynamic window. The process of selecting and dragging windows into the dynamic window is repeated until all desired windows are displayed within the dynamic window.

Abstract: Rotary actuator arc compensation correction method and apparatus are provided for a direct access storage device (DASD). A reference feedforward correction signal is generated at each of a plurality of sectors around a predetermined track on a disk surface. A specific selected track is identified, and both magnitude and phase of the generated reference feedforward correction signal are modified to correct for the arced trajectory caused by the rotary actuator at the specific selected track. Improved actuator servo control is provided by using pseudo sector compensation to interpolate the feedforward correction signal between servo sectors.

Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a class versioning and mapping system allows a user to request a desired class without knowing which class version is the most recent or correct version for the desired class. The class versioning and mapping system uses a version mapping mechanism to cross reference the requested class, select the most recent or best version of the requested class, and then return an object to the user that belongs to the selected class. This feature allows the system to have multiple versions of the same class on-line at the same time and use objects from different versions of the same class in a way that is transparent to the user. Therefore, by using a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a client object can specify or request that an object be created without having any knowledge of the actual class version or version(s) that are available.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system for providing high-speed sequential modeling in a simulator or emulator environment is provided. The system includes a sequential control system (microprocessor board) which is attached directly to an emulator. The sequential control system cycles or operates at a higher speed than the emulator. This allows the sequential control system to execute multiple commands during each hardware emulation cycle so that the concurrent operations model within the accelerator/emulator and the sequential operations model within the sequential control system achieve a high degree of parallel operation, greatly enhancing system speed and performance. Further, the system includes direct high-speed connections between the sequential control system and the host workstation so that the control system can be programmed to execute a sequential model and/or to exchange data directly with the host without actually passing any information through the hardware emulator/accelerator.

Abstract: The present invention provides the capability to easily access many different application programs over the WWW via a common user interface. By providing standard procedures, routines, tools, and software "hooks" for accessing software applications over the WWW, software developers can concentrate on the functionality of the application program and easily use HTML to provide a GUI interface for the application program. HTML is a well-known language which can be used by almost any computer system on the market today. In addition, since HTML is a fairly well controlled and standardized language, new software application features can be added as they are developed and supported by HTML. In addition, since HTML is a widely adopted, non-proprietary technology, the present invention can provide open access to a large market for even very small software developers.

Abstract: Rotary actuator arc compensation correction method and apparatus are provided for a direct access storage device (DASD). A reference feedforward correction signal is generated at each of a plurality of sectors around a predetermined track on a disk surface. A specific selected track is identified, and both magnitude and phase of the generated reference feedforward correction signal are modified to correct for the arced trajectory caused by the rotary actuator at the specific selected track. Improved actuator servo control is provided by using pseudo sector compensation to interpolate the feedforward correction signal between servo sectors.

Abstract: Automatic generation of post-layout optimization circuitry allows a computer system running an integrated circuit design tool to automatically compensate for timing errors by synthesizing circuit elements to bring the timing within specified timing constraints. A new circuit element is assigned a location without determining an allowable physical location on the integrated circuit, and all timing calculations are based on the assigned location. Then, once the timing constraints have been met by one or more new circuit elements, an incremental layout is performed to find physical locations for the new circuit elements, using the assigned locations as initial targets. By using assigned locations during timing calculations and later determining valid physical locations, many different circuit configurations may be evaluated in a short period of time, with only the best ones going through the more time-consuming step of layout and routing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adaptively controls the biasing current applied to individual magnetoresistive (MR) heads within a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) to provide an optimized bias current based on the thermal properties of each MR read head. An optimal bias current is determined by using a ratio of resistances of the MR read head at different bias levels. The use of the resistance ratio allows the bias level to be optimally adjusted for each individual MR read head within a DASD unit based on the physical geometry of the individual MR stripe within the MR read heads. The optimal bias supply enhances MR read head sensitivity, improves the signal-to-noise ratio, and thereby reduces errors in reading data from magnetic storage media within the DASD. The maximum allowable bias current level is controlled so as to preserve the overall life expectancy of the MR heads.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a pipelined SRAM structure and clocking method is disclosed. The SRAM interface and clocking method are specifically intended for use with Level 2 and Level 3 cache SRAM memory devices. In the present invention, the oscillator that generates the clock signal for the CPU is also used to generate the clock signals for all of the other components that interface with the SRAM. Each of the generated clock signals are dependant on the same clock event, allowing the clock speed to be decreased for testing or debugging while maintaining higher speed clock edge relationships. The various clock signals that are generated from the oscillator are used to cycle-steal time from multiple cycles. This technique allows sub-5 nanosecond (nS) access to Level 2 and Level 3 cache memory devices that have access times greater than 5 nS.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows a compiler to optimize code in the presence of exception handlers. According to a first embodiment, arcs are added to a control flow graph, prior to performing global optimizations, to account for exception handling code. According to the second embodiment, information relating to control flow to exception handlers is provided in pseudo-references in the code, which allows the compiler to determine how to appropriately optimize the code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coloring an interference graph yields a higher number of colored nodes by taking into consideration the colors of neighbors of a node's uncolored constrained neighbors. By assigning a color to a node that is also the color of a neighbor of an uncolored constrained neighbor, one color constraint is removed, increasing the probability of coloring the uncolored constrained neighbor. If more than one of the neighbors of the uncolored constrained neighbors are colored, one of the colors may be selected over the others using an appropriate heuristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for truncating runaway lifetimes of program variables calculates liveness for each variable based on upwardly exposed uses. Reaching definitions are then calculated for at least the program variables that have runaway lifetimes. The liveness information is compared to the reaching definition information to determine whether a variable that is live upon entry to a basic block has a definition that reaches the end of each predecessor block, or has a use within the basic block. If the reaching definition for a variable reaches the beginning of the block and if there is a predecessor block for which there is no reaching definition, the variable has a runaway lifetime. The variable also has a runaway lifetime if there is a use of the variable in a block without a reaching definition for the variable at the beginning of the block. The runaway lifetime is truncated by inserting an instruction such as a pseudo-definition of the variable into the instruction stream at an appropriate place.

Abstract: Methods for testing interconnections on an electronic assembly include the steps of dynamically generating an interconnect topology model from one system, generating test patterns to test the interconnections, applying the test patterns to the boundary scan cells of the system under test to test the interconnections, and determining whether the interconnections match the interconnect topology model. The invention thus dynamically generates an interconnect topology model from a known working system, rather than deriving the interconnect topology model from design data that describes all the interconnections on an electronic assembly.

Abstract: A controlled variable is detected at each predetermined timing by a detecting section 2, and the controlled variable is compared with a target value by a comparator 3 to obtain a deviation. A manipulated variable is calculated, based on the deviation, by a compensating section 4, and a height H corresponding to the manipulated variable is calculated by a controlling section 5. A manipulated pulse having the height H and a predetermined width W is provided to a controlled system 6 by the controlling section 5.