Abstract: Computer system, method and program for defining first and second virtual machines and a memory shared by the first and second virtual machines. A filesystem cache resides in the shared memory. A lock structure resides in the shared memory to record which virtual machine, if any, currently has an exclusive lock for writing to the cache. The first virtual machine includes a first program function to acquire the exclusive lock when available by manipulation of the lock structure, and a second program function active after the first virtual machine acquires the exclusive lock, to write to the cache. The lock structure is directly accessible by the first program function. The cache is directly accessible by the second program function. The second virtual machine includes a third program function to acquire the exclusive lock when available by manipulation of the lock structure, and a fourth program function active after the second virtual machine acquires the exclusive lock, to write to the cache.

Abstract: A method and incorporated hybrid air and liquid cooled heat sink that is provided for cooling electronic components. The heat sink comprises a finned structure having fins positioned for air to pass easily through them. The finned structure is flanked by a heat source plate on one side (closer to direction of heat flowing from electronic components) and a second plate on its opposing side such that both of the plates are in thermal communication with fin tips and fin base of the finned structure. The heat source plate itself is composed of two complementary halves with fins on each half. When brought together, the two halves form a unitary, fluid sealed plate while allowing passage of fluids through it by allowing the fins on each half to create and interleaving structure. A fluid re-circulator is also disposed at least partially in the plates for circulating fluids though the plates and the finned structure such that both fin tips and fin base are cooled.

Abstract: A system for scheduling tasks for execution includes a queue of tasks ordered by scheduled time for execution. A timer thread monitors status of tasks in the queue and selectively dispatches tasks. A guard thread monitors status of tasks in the queue and selectively creates timer threads. The guard thread is responsive to a next task in the queue becoming ready for execution while a first timer thread is still processing a prior task to create a new timer thread to dispatch the next task and mark the first timer thread for closure. Thereafter, the first timer thread closes responsive to the prior task completing.

Abstract: A system for protecting electronic components to be disposed inside a computer housing comprising a gliding connector aligner for disposing inside the housing. The aligner has a central flat surface to be disposed over electronic components and a plurality of appendages with at least one nub each disposed at an opposing end to that of the central surface. The appendages are substantially perpendicular to the flat surface. An EMC gasket is also provided around the housing. The gasket in one embodiment has a plurality of portions with each portion having a central support line from which a plurality of complementary spring fingers emanates. The portions are connected to one another via a tab such that said gasket can be stretched around all housing corners such that said spring fingers from different portions are placed in a substantially perpendicular direction to one another.

Abstract: A technique for utilizing resources in a virtual machine operating system. The virtual machine operating system comprises a multiplicity of virtual machines. A share of resources is allocated to each of the virtual machines. Utilization by one of the virtual machines of the resources allocated to the one virtual machine is automatically monitored. If the one virtual machine needs additional resources, the one virtual machine is automatically cloned. The clone is allocated a share of the resources taken from the shares of other of the virtual machines, such that the resultant shares allocated to the one virtual machine and the clone together are greater than the share allocated to the one virtual machine before the one virtual machine was cloned. The clone performs work with its resources that would have been performed by the one virtual machine if not for the existence of said clone.

Abstract: A hybrid immersion cooling apparatus and method is provided for cooling of electronic components housed in a computing environment. The components are divided into primary and secondary heat generating components and are housed in a liquid sealed enclosure. The primary heat generating components are cooled by indirect liquid cooling provided by at least one cold plate having fins. The cold plate is coupled to a first coolant conduit that circulates a first coolant in the enclosure and supplies the cold plate. Immersion cooling is provided for secondary heat generating components through a second coolant that will be disposed inside the enclosure such as to partially submerge the cold plate and the first coolant conduit as well as the heat generating components.

Abstract: Securing and supporting electronic components in a computer node disposed on a computer rack. The method comprises the steps of first disposing a tray having one or more wedge block assemblies in the rear of said rack such that each wedge block assembly can be moved under and engaged with each node. The wedge block mechanism is retained from side to side using guide brackets. The mechanism and the tray are then torqued into place by using incorporated hard stop feature on said tray. The nodes can then be engaged and disengaged through the engaging and disengaging of the wedge block assembly. This is done by using a rod that is connected to a fastener one end and to a pivot at another end and is integrated into the wedge block mechanism. Once the fastener is moved the pivot is also moved causing the mating and unmating of the node.

Abstract: A first aspect addresses a method and device for making a media file accessible via a web page. First, a web design tool receives a media file to be made accessible via a web page. Then, said media file is sent to a streaming service provider. Subsequently, a key generated by said streaming service provider allowing to unambiguously identifying said sent media file is received and an identifier derived from said key is placed into the web page through which the media file should be accessed. A second aspect addresses a method and device installed at the streaming service provider's side for serving a user's request for hosting a media file to be streamed to a visitor's computer on its request.

Abstract: A method and associated assembly is provided for a collapsible EMC gasket is provided. In one embodiment, the gasket comprises a flexible conductive sheet disposed between corner of a first and a second surface of a computer frame capable of housing electronic components. The sheet is larger in area than the corner area of the frame such that when disposed, said sheet forms a curved structure. The sheet is being fabricated of a material that can be compressed and then decompressed back to its original shape.

Abstract: A method and incorporated assembly is provided for cooling of an electronic device or component. The assembly comprises a thermal duct having a fixed duct portion and a removable duct portion. The portions each have complementary interlocking components to secure them to one another. Also a first attachment block is provided. The first attachment block has complementary interlocking portions with the fixed and removable duct portions such that the block can be secured at least partially to each of the fixed duct portion and the removable duct portion. A second attachment block is also provided that has a complementary interlocking portion with the removable duct portion. This second attachment block can be secured to one or more electronic devices requiring cooling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used for actuation is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an actuation body having a gradually tapered wider end received at one end by an expandable member and at an opposing end by a drive shell. The actuation body being movable from a first position to a second position by means of the drive shell such that this movement causes a looser or tighter fit at the wider end with respect to the expandable member.

Abstract: A method and incorporated assembly is provided to enhance structural integrity and prevent interface deflection in a computer rack having a midplane and capable of housing a plurality of nodes. The assembly comprises at least one structural filler book capable of being disposed above or below said midplane where any node may be disposed having geometry and material properties to resist and counteract the plugging force of said node an causing a cancellation effect. The filler book have at least two horizontal supports being connected to one another via a vertical support and a plenum an air for directing air flow. The filler book is being secured to said rack or midplane via an engagement component disposed on one of its horizontal supports.

Abstract: A data processing system and method providing a jumper which provides standby power from a redundant power supply to one of at least two critical functions in a frame having bays for holding at least two nodes. The redundant power supply supplying power to one of the nodes in the frame and one of the critical functions. A jumper is slidably engageable in the frame in place of one of the nodes. The jumper, when engaged in the frame, transfers power from the redundant power supply to the other of the critical functions. The jumper is included in a jumper book of an airblock which includes passive airblock books. Mechanical keys on the passive airblock books prevent the removal of the jumper book until after the passive airblock books are removed.

Abstract: System, method and program for managing a script program sent from a first computer to a second computer. The first computer embeds in the script program an identity of a program module within the first computer that generated the script program. The first computer sends to the second computer the script program with the embedded identity. The second computer attempts to execute the script program and encounters a problem with execution of the script program. In response, the second computer reads the identity of the program module from the script program and notifies the first computer of the problem and the identify of the script program based on the reading of the identity of the program module from the script program. By way of example, the identity of the program module which generated the script program comprises a name of the program module which generated the script program and a name of another program module which called the program module which generated the script program.

Abstract: A collection of equivalence rules involving the multiset version of the relational algebraic theta-semijoin operator is used to generate relational algebraic expressions equivalent to a computer programming language query. These expressions may be employed as a search space which is utilized by, for example, optimizing software or software that determines the equivalency of queries. Cost formulas for the multiset version of the theta-semijoin operator may be used in computing cost estimates for the generated expressions. Based on these computed cost estimates, the least costly implementation of a complex query is determined. Thus, queries are cost-based optimized on both a local and global basis by use of the relational algebraic theta-semijoin operator.

Abstract: In a method of administering a telephone local loop plant, a substantial portion--preferably at or above 80%--of the existing narrowband plant is caused to be "dedicated," so that constituent segments of an existing local loop therewithin are not allowed to be used to form other local loops when the existing loop is taken out of service. The remainder of the narrowband plant--the "non-dedicated" plant--is used to fill subscriber current orders for new service. Administration of the narrowband plant that has been dedicated is given over to an administrative system that is deployed to administer broadband facilities within the local loop plant. In preferred embodiment, the local loop plant is upgraded from narrowband to broadband in a way which gives priority to those geographical areas for which the costs of maintaining the narrowband plant are the greatest. The method, overall, provides a mechanism for reducing the costs associated with administering all of the narrowband plant using the legacy systems.

Abstract: A logical data architecture for fetch-intensive database applications includes a first and a second logical database. The second database includes materialized views over the first database. Updates are propagated from the first database to the second database using so-called view maintenance techniques. In preferred embodiments, the first database may be optimized for update transactions and the second database may be optimized for read transactions. At least one of the materialized views included in the second database is based on a pre-defined application read transaction. The update processing overhead associated with view maintenance is substantially performed at the first database.

Abstract: In a switch fabric environment, which includes a buffer, packet data of different class-types from different sources is received, stored in the buffer, processed and outputted to its intended destination. As the buffer fills up, transmission from some of the data sources is stopped to avoid dropping of packets. To avoid packet loss, when the occupancy of the buffer reaches a first threshold value, further transmission of a first-class type of data is precluded from the particular source of that data then being received, while transmission from other sources of that same first-class type of data is not precluded from these other data sources until first-class type of data from such other sources is also received. Further, data of a second-class type is not precluded from being transmitted as long as the amount of data stored in the buffer remains below a second threshold, which is greater than the first threshold.