Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an application and method of preserving persistent logical partitions, is suggested for use in a partitioned massively parallel processing system environment. All system data, including configuration data is stored in a central control element in a special configuration object class file. The configuration object class file maps the resources to different sub-environments. Upon a system shut-down or re-booting of any resource, the configuration information stored in the central control element is recovered to re-establish the sub-environments integrity.

Abstract: A method of cooling electronic devices in an electronic assembly is proposed where the said assembly has at least one board that houses electronic modules. The methodology comprises shaping a light weight plate with apertures as to compliment the geometric shape of the assembly and board to be cooled; affixing coolant passage tubes in the apertures of the plate and finally cooling the electronic assembly by placing the assembly in thermal contact with the plate and passage tubes after a coolant is introduced in the passages.

Abstract: A specially designed cooling device is proposed comprising of a light weight plate with apertures. Thin walled coolant passage tubes are provided in the apertures for the passage of a coolant. The coolant passages are made out of a material, preferably different than the plate itself and are to provide better heat dissipation than the plate and also prohibit liquid leakage. The cooling device is specially designed to accommodate an electronic assembly's geometry.

Abstract: A system and method for remote software installation and maintenance. A number of workstations are connected by a network. Each has basic peer-to-peer communication ability providing remote file transfer and remote command execution. An arbitrarily selected workstation captures user installation requirements and controls installation and maintenance processing. Task lists are selected based upon requirements and the steps of the task list are executed locally, or remotely, to satisfy the installation or maintenance requirement. Task list process is logged so that processing may be resumed following a failure or intentional suspension.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a non-disruptive connection between a local host and a remote host is introduced that allows the re-establishment of processing communications between the remote host and a new host in case the first host originally in processing communication with the remote host experiences an outage. The present invention particularly relates to loosely coupled environments connecting to a TCP/IP network. The system uses a communication box or an offload frontend box for holding all socket associations between the remote host and the local hosts. Each socket connection associates the remote host to an application being run on the local host but maintained by the communication or the offload frontend box.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus is disclosed for partitioning a massively distributed parallel processor into at least two isolated sub-environments. The parallel processing environment is comprised of a plurality of nodes connected to one another via a network in such a way as to form a single system unit initially. A central control element is provided for controlling and maintaining all communications and status information between nodes. The nodes and the central control element are in processing communication with one another via the network. All system data is deposited in a system data repository located in the central control element. Once the environment is partitioned, the system data stored in this repository is organized into system or partitioned classes, with the partitioned classes only being accessible selectively to nodes residing in one environment or another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling and rectifying possible metastability situations having a first circuit with a first clock signal (CLOCK1) at a first clock rate and a second circuit with a second clock signal (CLOCK2) at a second clock rate, the second circuit having an input circuit coupled to the first circuit and receiving signals therefrom. A control circuit for controlling possible metastability situations arising in communication between the first circuit and the second circuit is also provided. The control circuit receives as input the first clock signal and the second clock signal and provides a shifting of at least one of the two clock signals, in such a way that a possible metastable state of the input circuit is avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is discussed using a parity check matrix in order to acheive correction and detection of errors particularly pertaining to detection data fetched from a wrong address. The code structure enhances utilization of chip reliability by encoding and decoding digital signals through the utilization of a parity check matrix and parity bits generated from system address bits of a computer system with k symbols and b bits per symbol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing digital signal error detection and correction through the use of a string of received incoming system address bits. The incoming address bits are divided into groups according to whether they contain a high value of "1" or a low value of "0". At least one address parity bit is then generated from each group and used in checking the integrity of data received. Errors are corrected and detected through assignment of data bits to different modules in a memory of a computer system having symbols which are b bits in length.

Abstract: A method for testing the completion of a command issued earlier in a multiprocessing system having a plurality of nodes. During an initialization phase, each command has been identified by a handle and a record containing the task to be performed asynchronously had been established. When a request for checking the completion of a command is issued, the pre-established record is simply checked for location of last task executed and completed. If the last or most current task is not the last task before the completion of the total command, the user application can choose to either continue the operation of command processing or permanently or temporarily abandon it.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing digital signal error detection through the use of a string of received incoming system address bits. The incoming address bits are divided into groups according to whether they contain a high value of "1" or a low value of "0". At least one address parity bit is then generated from each group and used in checking the integrity of data received.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing data in a multiprocessing system having a plurality of nodes. Each node has a user application for issuing a blocking or a non-blocking command. A request handle identifies each non-blocking command, while being set to a null value when in blocking mode.For each requested command issued by any of the user applications, a report is generated comprising of data structures, for recording the sequence of functions to be executed asynchronously given a non-blocking command. Blocking commands are processed synchronously. Once the report is generated the sequence of functions recorded in the report are executed in the sequence presented in the report. However, whenever an internal dependency is encountered the control is returned to user application until the internal dependency is resolved. Upon completion of requested command, the user application is notified.

Abstract: A method for a non-disruptive TCP connection switch is introduced that allows the re-establishment of communications between a remote host and a new host when the host originally in processing communication with the remote host takes an outage. The present invention particularly relates to loosely coupled environments connecting to a TCP/IP network. The method involves three important steps of initialization, during which all hosts and remote hosts are identified by a communication box; failure detection step during which a host outage is detected by the communication box; and re-registration step during which the communication box provides and re-establishes processing connection between the remote host and a new host replacing the initial failing host.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing digital signal error detection through the use of a string of received incoming system address bits. The incoming address bits are divided into groups according to whether they contain a high value of "1" or a low value of "0". At least one address parity bit is then generated from each group and used in checking the integrity of data received.

Abstract: A distributed database application for logging large volumes of data to a plurality of database servers. Central configuration management is employed to balance the database load, to direct requesting workstations to the appropriate database, and to manage the mirroring of data for fault tolerance and the location of distributed data for query, print, or archive purposes. This system is implemented using workstations and database servers, and configuration controllers connected to a dual network. Dual networks and dual configurators provide system redundancy for fault tolerance. The configuration controller provides database server access information to each requesting workstation. Each database server reports status and availability to the configuration controller which can then adjust future logging requests. The network operator can change the configuration stored in the configuration controller whenever reconfiguration is necessary such as by the addition of new database servers.

Abstract: A system for providing distributed control of a resource with centralized configuration management. A network of distributed workstations is provided for controlling a resource such as a large mainframe computer. Server workstations for applying control commands to the resource are attached to each resource, preferably through redundant connections. Remote client consoles are defined which may be connected to the server for control of that resource. Server and resource location and primary and fallback connection paths are maintained by a centralized control server. Upon client console request, the central control server causes the server workstation associated with a particular resource to establish a control session between the server and the client console. A record of each dynamic connection is maintained by the central control server. Upon failure of a client console, the server accesses central server fallback information and establishes a fallback connection with an operational client console.

Abstract: A method and device for correcting hardware errors without loss of resources while maintaining continuous operation of the computer system. Same method and device can be used for repair or addition of hardware parts to this system. The method and device can operate in a fault tolerant system which allows continuous service during the occurrence of a hardware failure or while parts are being repaired or added to the system. The method and device also use Hamming code to detect and correct all hardware failures, particularly a soft-soft uncorrectable error and a special uncorrectable error or a SUE.

Abstract: Fault tolerant systems allow continuous service during the occurrence of a hardware failure. To provide such service, usually dual copies of data are stored in case of a hardware failure affecting the original copy. This dual copying causes the system an overall performance degradation. The present invention discloses a device and method for performing parallel fetch and store commands, allowing multiple copying of data into storage without affecting the performance of the system. In one embodiment of the invention, a method is described utilizing a multiprocessor system having two system controllers (SCs) and a plurality of requestors defined as a plurality of central processors (CPs) and input-output (I/O) processors. Asymmetric structure is accomodated. Single and dual requests can be intermixed. Each requestor has access to both system controllers, allowing either controller to process a requestor issued command.

Abstract: A distributed database application for logging large volumes of data to a plurality of database servers. Central configuration management is employed to balance the database load, to direct requesting workstations to the appropriate database, and to manage the mirroring of data for fault tolerance and the location of distributed data for query, print, or archive purposes. This system is implemented using workstations and database servers, and configuration controllers connected to a dual network. Dual networks and dual configurators provide system redundancy for fault tolerance. The configuration controller provides database server access information to each requesting workstation. Each database server reports status and availability to the configuration controller which can then adjust future logging requests. The network operator can change the configuration stored in the configuration controller whenever reconfiguration is necessary such as by the addition of new database servers.

Abstract: The screen display scale is changed in an easy and intuitive manner, without intermediate steps or operations, and without taking up additional screen display area. At least one so-called scroll bar must be displayed on the screen and be functional at any time that the scale could be changed by the user. Additional function is loaded onto screen scroll bars to support the change of scale function as well as the scrolling function. The scroll bar is composed of a bar and a slider, and the slider position and size respectively indicate the location of working area relative to the virtual screen and the relative size of the working area as a function of the total size of the virtual screen area. Scrolling, or panning, is accomplished by moving the slider within the bar. In addition, the size of the slider can be changed in order to effect a change in the scale of the working area, thereby providing a zoom function for the scroll bar.