Abstract: System, method and computer program product for estimating the cost of a product and/or service. The product and/or service comprises a multiplicity of components. One or more first components with no cost dependencies are determined and assigned to a first tier. One or more second components whose costs depend on the costs of the one or more first components are determined and assigned to a second tier. One or more third components whose costs depend on the one or more second components are determined and assigned to a third tier. A determination is made if any of the one or more third components were assigned to said second tier, and if so, such one or more third components are removed from the second tier. One or more fourth components whose costs depend on the one or more third components are determined and assigned to a fourth tier.

Abstract: A resource management method (400c) and a corresponding system implementing an adaptive model are proposed. The method allows an authority to define a desired target state of several kinds of resources, which are directly controlled by different subjects. The authority publishes (460) a series of rules in a shared repository; each rule indicates the target state of a resource for a corresponding category of the subjects. Each subject retrieves (444-456;462-468) the rules corresponding to its category from the shared repository. The rules are then applied (458;469) by the subject directly. In this way, the subjects self-adapt to the rules, without requiring any direct interaction with the authority.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an improved bulk read socket call are provided. With the apparatus and method, a new field, so_rcvlen, is added to the socket structure that identifies the bulk read size requested by the user. The kernel of the prior art recv( ) function is also modified so that it sets the so_rcvlen to the size requested by the user prior to the recv( ) function going to sleep and waiting for the full data size requested by the user. A new flag, SP_MSGWAITALL, is also provided in the socket structure. In the TCP input processing, when data is received for a particular socket, the current setting of the SP_MSGWAITALL is checked. If the SP_MSGWAITALL flag is set, it is determined whether the amount of data stored in the socket receive buffer is less than the value of so_rcvlen. If not, the TCP input processing does not wake up the recv( ) thread. However, for every alternate segment, the TCP input processing sends back an acknowledgment (ACK).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for monitoring the voltage available in each domain of multiple voltage domains of a partitioned electronic chip. The apparatus comprises a single conductive link coupled to the chip, and further comprises a domain selection network having a single output and a plurality of switchable inputs, the output being connected to the single conductive link, and two inputs being connected to monitor respective voltage levels of two of the plurality of voltage domains. A control mechanism is disposed to operate the selection network, in order to selectively connect one of the inputs to the single conductive link, and a sensor device external to the electronic chip is connected to measure the monitored respective voltage levels of two of the plurality of voltage domains using the single conductive link.

Abstract: Recovery circuits react to errors in a processor core by waiting for an error-free completion of any pending store-conditional instruction or a cache-inhibited load before ceasing to checkpoint or backup progress of a processor core. Recovery circuits remove the processor core from the logical configuration of the symmetric multiprocessor system, potentially reducing propagation of errors to other parts of the system. The processor core is reset and the checkpointed values may be restored to registers of the processor core. The core processor is allowed not just to resume execution just prior to the instructions that failed to execute correctly the first time, but is allowed to operate in a reduced execution mode for a preprogrammed number of groups. If the preprogrammed number of instruction groups execute without error, the processor core is allowed to resume normal execution.

Abstract: In-band firmware executes instructions which cause commands to be sent on a coherency fabric. Fabric snoop logic monitors the coherency fabric for command packets that target a resource in one of the support chips attached via an FSI link. Conversion logic converts the information from the fabric packet into an FSI protocol. An FSI command is transmitted via the FSI transmit link to an FSI slave of the intended support chip. An FSI receive link receives response data from the FSI slave of the intended support chip. Conversion logic converts the information from the support chip received via the FSI receive link into the fabric protocol. Response packet generation logic generates the fabric response packet and returns it on the coherency fabric. An identical FSI link between a support processor and support chips allows direct access to the same resources on the support chips by out-of-band firmware.

Abstract: A windshield for bicycles and scooters. The windshield includes a media player, such as a compact disc player, that may be operated while riding a bicycle or scooter.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting noise events in a system with time variable operating points is provided. A first voltage, which is averaged over time, is compared to a second voltage. A signal is generated to instruct circuits within a processor to initiate actions to keep a voltage from drooping further.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a shield to protect a surface from the impact of hyper-velocity projectiles. The apparatus comprises a foam material that is configured to cover the surface to be protected and is attached directly to that surface. A coating material is typically disposed on the outer surface of the foam material and may penetrate the foam material to a predetermined depth. The foam material and the coating material are selected to form a composite having predetermined values of sonic velocity, toughness, and thermal conductivity. The composite of foam material and coating material can be significantly lighter in weight than a metal shield having equivalent protective characteristics.

Abstract: A method for providing the ability for systems personnel to use a personal wireless device, such as a mobile phone, palm device, or blackberry device, to receive a system alert regarding a developing situation requiring action and to be notified of pre-selected workflows that can resolve the situation prompting the alert. The systems personnel are then able to select a workflow, provide needed parameters, and provide the human approval to execute the workflow. The application packages the information provided by the user into a form usable by the orchestration/provisioning server. The server will perform the requested workflow as if entered on a local console and will respond to the device with a workflow status.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for allowing a user to search for specific content across many television channels in order to locate desirable television shows related to the searched content. Multiplexed cable signals flow thorough a logical unit which buffers text associated with the voice stream of each station via the pre-encoded closed-captioning signal or through the real-time voice translation within the logical unit. The user then enters search terms through one of a variety of different input devices. Upon entry of the search terms, the logical unit will compare the entered term with those available keywords stored in each buffer. Lexical parsing associates terms which may differ from plural to singular forms, or in tense. Additionally, synonym comparisons may be made. The logical unit will return a list of matches for the search criteria and allows the user the option of going directly to the television program.

Abstract: A method for mutual authorization of a secondary resource in a grid of resource computers is provided. When a primary resource attempts to offload a grid computing job to a secondary resource, the primary resource sends a proxy certificate request to the user machine. Responsive to a proxy certificate request, the user machine performs authorization with the secondary resource. If authorization with the secondary resource is successful, the user machine generates and returns a valid proxy certificate. The primary resource then performs mutual authentication with the secondary resource. If the authorization with the secondary resource fails, the user machine generates and returns an invalid proxy certificate. Mutual authentication between the primary resource and the secondary resource will fail due to the invalid proxy certificate. The primary resource then selects another secondary resource and repeats the process until a resource is found that passes the mutual authorization with the user machine.

Abstract: There is disclosed a source messaging system having a queue for receiving messages. The source messaging system has means for determining whether a message should be permitted to become INDOUBT. This is done by retrieving a value denoting the maximum number of messages that may be permitted to become INDOUBT at any one time; determining whether the message falls within the range denoted by the value; and responsive to determining that the message falls within the range, permitting the message to become INDOUBT.

Abstract: A method for processing calls. Initiation of a call by a user is detected in the communications device. In response to detecting the call, a geographic identification based on a number assigned to the communications device and/or language identification based on a user of the communications device is identified. The geographic identification and the language identification are transmitted with caller identification information for use by a called party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a 2:1 MUX to control read access, data bypass, and page size bypass in a memory array. The mechanism of the present invention reduces the 3:1 MUX normally required to manage these three functions to a 2:1 MUX.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for cutting a corner post. The apparatus includes a blade disposed within the apparatus. A piston is coupled to the blade for actuating the blade. A trigger switch is coupled to the piston. The piston causes the blade to actuate when the trigger is depressed. The apparatus includes an opening through the apparatus for receiving the corner post through the opening. The blade is actuated to move through the opening and cut through the corner post.

Abstract: A system and method in a data processing system for error checking and resolving failed input/output open calls. A configuration mechanism configures the options, such as the information stored in databases, details of how each error check is performed, and what actions should be taken when improper error checking occurs. Based on data stored in databases, such as an I/O calls database, a rules with syntax database, and an usage calls database, an error check of a failed input/output open call is performed.

Abstract: A method for managing operating systems. A request from an operating system is received in the multi-partitioned data processing system to register for access to hardware in the multi-partitioned data processing system. The request includes a key code for the operating system. A determination is made as to whether the operating system is an authorized operating system using the key code in response to receiving the request. The operating system is registered if the operating system is the authorized operating system. Otherwise, the operating system is terminated.

Abstract: A method is provided for using a templated pattern to define part types on a web service definition language (WSDL) interface. Applying the templated pattern enables peer services to define a transparent contract between specific WSDL part types. The templated pattern is used to wrap the original business object with the enriched business graph schema. The templated business graph is created by extending the business graph complex type that is provided by the business object framework runtime and adding an element delegating to the original business object.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for expressing high availability (H/A) cluster demand based on probability of breach. When a failover occurs in the H/A cluster, event messages are sent to a provisioning manager server. The mechanism of embodiments of the present invention filters the event messages and translates the events into probability of breach data. The mechanism then updates the data model of the provision manager server and makes a recommendation to the provisioning manager server as to whether reprovisioning of new node should be performed. The provisioning manager server makes the decision and either reprovisions new nodes to the H/A cluster or notifies the administrator of detected poisoning problem.