Abstract: A method and apparatus of interconnecting with a system board is presented. A system board having a metal stiffener mounted thereon is provided with an opening in the stiffener to provide access to an area of interest on the system board. A probe test assembly is positioned at the opening and secured to the stiffener when testing is desired to provide access to the pins of the device under test (e.g., a Multi Chip Module (MCM) on the system board). Alternatively, a system enhancement device, such as a MCM or Single Chip Module (SCM) having additional Central Processing Units (CPU's) or other features, may be installed on the system board at the opening in the stiffener to enhance the function of the system board. Another alternate includes an interface assembly positioned at the opening in the stiffener. A cover is positioned at the opening and secured to the stiffener at all other times.

Abstract: An earthquake resistant frame structure which is shippable in a fully populated condition has a base member, a plurality of support members extending from the base member, a top portion disposed over the ends of the support members, a extension member disposed over the top portion, side stiffeners positioned perpendicularly between the support members, and a tie down assembly system positioned between the base member and a flooring surface. The extension member has a platform section and at least two legs depending substantially perpendicularly therefrom that slidingly engage the support members. The two legs have slots therethrough configured to receive fasteners that, when secured to support members, secure and maintain the extension member in position. First and second panels protrude laterally from the frame structure to form an extension area, from which a bracket hingedly depends. A variety of pin arrangements are used to prevent the removal of the bracket from the hinge.

Abstract: An earthquake resistant frame structure which is shippable in a fully populated condition has a base member, a plurality of support members extending from the base member, a top portion disposed over the ends of the support members, a extension member disposed over the top portion, side stiffeners positioned perpendicularly between the support members, and a tie down assembly system positioned between the base member and a flooring surface. The extension member has a platform section and at least two legs depending substantially perpendicularly therefrom that slidingly engage the support members. The two legs have slots therethrough configured to receive fasteners that, when secured to support members, secure and maintain the extension member in position. First and second panels protrude laterally from the frame structure to form an extension area, from which a bracket hingedly depends. A variety of pin arrangements are used to prevent the removal of the bracket from the hinge.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing an object to a surface comprises a mounting cover having a first surface and a pair of sidewalls depending away from the first surface. The sidewalls are in a facing spaced relationship and secured to a second surface. At least two securement members are secured to the first surface between the pair of sidewalls. The securement members are configured to define a receiving area. Each securement member has a pair of engagement members secured within at least a pair of openings in the first surface. Each pair of engagement members include an upper surface. The upper surfaces of the pairs of engagement members are flush with respect to the first surface. An actuating member having a first portion, and a second portion depending away from said first portion, is configured to be slidably engaged in the receiving area. The second portion has a pair of engagement openings for slidably receiving a pair of guide members mounted to the object.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment is a method and apparatus for a multiple card enclosure. The multiple card enclosure is arranged for mounting a mother card enclosure and a daughter card enclosure and at least another daughter card enclosure. The mother card enclosure has a first and second daughter card enclosure removably inserted into the mother card enclosure for connecting the first and second daughter card with the mother card. The first daughter card enclosure and the second daughter card enclosure are independently removable to facilitate interchanging the first daughter card and the second daughter card. The daughter card enclosures connected to the mother card enclosure are enclosed in the multiple card enclosure and a mother card connects to a back plane connector of a logic board.

Abstract: A mode conditioning patch (MCP) is provided for conditioning a single mode fiber optic signal for propagation within a multimode optical fiber. The MCP includes a single mode optical fiber section and a transition region with increasing diameter. The transition region diameter preferably increases to approximately that of a multimode fiber section through which the conditioned signal is to propagate. In one embodiment, the transition region is a flared end of the single mode optical fiber section, which is fabricated of plastic. The single mode optical fiber section with the flared end can be fusion splice joined to the multimode optical fiber section to further enhance mixing of the single mode signal within the multimode fiber optic section.

Abstract: Message-passing capability is provided in a computer system with a plurality of asynchronous computing nodes interconnected for transmission of messages between threaded user tasks executing in ones of the computing nodes. A message is received at a receiver computing node employing a threaded message passing interface (MPI), which includes a means by which a user-defined program can be called by an interrupt service thread at the MPI. The user-defined program takes a predefined action in response to the asynchronous arrival of the at least one message packet. For example, the user-defined program might comprise a program to initiate a function to receive the at least one message packet at the receiver's threaded MPI, which may include awaking a waiting thread.

Abstract: Message-passing capability is provided in a computer system with a plurality of asynchronous computing nodes interconnected for transmission of messages between threaded user tasks executing in ones of the computing nodes. A message is received at a receiver computing node employing a threaded message passing interface (MPI), which includes a means by which a user-defined program can be called by an interrupt service thread at the MPI. The user-defined program takes a predefined action in response to the asynchronous arrival of the at least one message packet. For example, the user-defined program might comprise a program to initiate a function to receive the at least one message packet at the receiver's threaded MPI, which may include awaking a waiting thread.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a network computing environment having a controlling program and a main storage in processing communication with an interface element including one or more adapters. A queuing mechanism is first established in the main storage for asynchronous transmittal of data between the program and said interface element. At least one queue-set is dedicated to input data and another queue-set to output data in the queuing mechanism. Queuing priorities both for said input and output queue-sets are then determined according to importance of data to be processed or transferred or other internal dependencies and a queue-description record is established by passing a QDIO queue command. From this the priority and number of the output queue are provided by order in which the order specified in the queue descriptor record relative to any other output queues described in that record.

Abstract: The power supply of equipment being tested for common mode noise problems is connected to a source of power with the power and neutral input terminals of the power supply isolated from the power ground. Recorded common mode noise signals are then inserted between the power supply's neutral input terminal and power ground to produce problem conditions. When the cause of the problem conditions are identified, steps are taken to eliminate the condition.

Abstract: A method of providing direct data processing access in a network computing system environment. The system environment has a main storage which can be connected to one or more application servers and is in processing communication with an interface element. The interface element has at least one adapter and can be connected to one or more application user(s). One or more queues are established in the main storage that can handle data without causing interrupts in the running programs. Incoming data is received using the adapter and as data is received or modified, the status of the network computing system will be updated to reflect the new data or change. Data is then processed in the main storage after interrogating the multiple existing queues in the main storage and forwarding them in turn to their appropriate destination or application server after a determination has been made by interrogating these queues.

Abstract: A checkpoint of a parallel program is taken in order to provide a consistent state of the program in the event the program is to be restarted. Each process of the parallel program is responsible for taking its own checkpoint, however, the timing of when the checkpoint is to be taken by each process is the responsibility of a coordinating process. During the checkpointing, various data is written to a checkpoint file. This data includes, for instance, in-transit message data, a data section, file offsets, signal state, executable information, stack contents and register contents. The checkpoint file can be stored either in local or global storage. When it is stored in global storage, migration of the program is facilitated. When a parallel program is to be restarted, each process of the program initiates its own restart. The restart logic restores the process to the state at which the checkpoint was taken.

Abstract: A method for grouping I/O vectors to be transferred across a distributed computing environment comprising a plurality of processing nodes coupled together over a network. The method reduces the number of packets transmitted over a network between two or more nodes. The method includes the grouping of two or more I/O vectors into a single message, consisting of one packet with a predetermined maximum size, provided the sizes of the vectors are small enough to be placed into a single packet. The grouping method finds an efficient collection of vectors to form groups that fit inside a single packet. If two or more of the vectors can be combined so that the resulting single packet size does not exceed the predetermined maximum size, the vectors are grouped accordingly. Vectors whose size approach the predetermined maximum packet size are sent as a separate message.

Abstract: A computer program product for use with a computer system having a host and a plurality of clients coupled to one another via a local area network (LAN), to provide a multicasting of messages using a special command set. First computer readable code means is generated for issuing a first special command to add a new IP multicast address providing a group multicast address and an IP multicast address. Then computer readable code means is created for entering said special control command in a multicast routing table, one entry per connection request received. Computer readable code means is then provided for a use count mechanism for keeping track of numbers of communication stacks which have registered with a certain IP multicast address. Also computer readable code means is generated for comparing all inbound IP packets destined for an IP multicast address with said entries in said table and routing all matches to their appropriate communication stacks.

Abstract: A method, and a system for implementing the method, for implementing the method, for determining if a wire has been miswired in a network comprising service nodes and switch elements.

Abstract: A transmission line for carrying digital signals is provided with auxiliary line drivers at the receiver end, which are used in combination with the data line driver at the transmitting end to apply a sequence of sets of test voltages onto the line. The voltage resulting at the receiver input is used to detect open signal conductors and/or shorts in the receiver.

Abstract: A fiberoptic communications method is presented which allows an open-link condition on one link of a multi-link fiberoptic connection to be propagated to other links of the connection while satisfying the Open Fiber Control safety standard. Each link comprises a duplex link and at least one optical repeater is employed. The at least one optical repeater is adapted to propagate an open-link condition in one link of the multiple duplex links between the links of the fiberoptic connection. Propagating the open-link condition can be accomplished using an out band signal, an electrical wrap mode, or a hybrid approach using both an out band signal and electrical wrap mode. Automatic propagation of a closed-link condition is provided once the originally opened link is closed.

Abstract: A fiberoptic communication system is presented which allows an open-link condition on one link of a multi-link fiberoptic connection to be propagated to other links of the connection while satisfying the Open Fiber Control safety standard. Each link comprises a duplex link and at least one optical repeater is employed. The at least one optical repeater is adapted to propagate an open-link condition in one link of the multiple duplex links between the links of the fiberoptic connection. Propagating the open-link condition can be accomplished using an out band signal, an electrical wrap mode, or a hybrid approach using both an out band signal and electrical wrap mode. Automatic propagation of a closed-link condition is provided once the originally opened link is closed.

Abstract: A fiberoptic communications computer program product is presented which allows an open-link condition on one link of a multi-link fiberoptic connection to be propagated to other links of the connection while satisfying the Open Fiber Control safety standard. Each link comprises a duplex link and at least one optical repeater is employed. The at least one optical repeater is adapted to propagate an open-link condition in one link of the multiple duplex links between the links of the fiberoptic connection. Propagating the open-link condition can be accomplished using an out band signal, an electrical wrap mode, or a hybrid approach using both an out band signal and electrical wrap mode. Automatic propagation of a closed-link condition is provided once the originally opened link is closed.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for fastening an object flush to a surface. The method comprises inserting an engagement member of the object into an opening in the planar member. The engagement member moves in a first direction and remains at or below the surface of the planar member. The engagement member of the object is repositioned in the opening while moving in a second direction. An engaging force is then applied to the engagement member in a third direction. The engaging force causes the engagement member of the object to be secured within the opening flush or below the surface of the planar member.