Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an error condition during initialization of a multiprocessor data processing system is provided. A master processor identification indicator is initialized to an initial value by a service processor in the data processing system. The master processor identification indicator may be a location in nonvolatile RAM to protect data integrity. One of the plurality of processors in the multiprocessor system is selected to be the master processor by being released by the service processor and winning the “race condition” to fetch the first instruction from memory for program execution. This processor then sets the master processor identification indicator to a unique processor identification value. The initial value may be a spoof number indicating whether the master processor has yet written its unique processor identification value. At some later point in time, the service processor detects a freeze or hang condition in the data processing system.

Abstract: An object oriented transaction processing system based on the Object Management Group Object Management Architecture provides effective transaction scheduling and servicing through a combination of Object Transaction Services and a Transactional Object Request Broker. The Object Transactional Services manage the information needed to provide reliability in transactions, including a two phase commit process to implement transaction atomicity. The transactional Object Request Broker includes a transaction monitor facility to schedule objects to respond to object transaction requests. The tunable transaction monitor increases the efficiency of transaction processing by optimizing use of computer system resources allocated to servicing transactions. The transaction monitor activates the objects necessary to satisfy a transaction request. Activation includes an ability to start new processes or threads of execution or to reuse existing processes or threads.

Abstract: A method, memory, and apparatus, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, for creating a virtual pointing device. The method includes the steps of displaying a non-activated virtual pointing device on the touchscreen, in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the virtual pointing device, activating the virtual pointing device, and moving the virtual pointing device in accordance with movement of the at least one finger.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed in a network application for decreasing performance degradation by preventing inadvertent launching of multiple copies of identical network applications. Initially, a remote application is launched from a server to a client in response to a user input event. Next, it is determined if a remote application identical to the remote application has already been launched. If the remote application has already been launched, an elapsed time since the identical remote application was initially launched is determined. Thereafter, the launching of the network application is terminated if the elapsed time is less than a preset value. Alternatively, if the elapsed time is greater than the preset value, the network application is launched. Additionally, if the elapsed time is greater than the preset value, a weighted value of applications running with the client is determined. Thereafter, the network application is launched if the weighted value is small.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting physically challenged users in positioning cursor objects at desired icons displayed within a graphic interface of a computer system. Icons are displayed within the graphic interface, such that an icon, when graphically selected by a user, facilitates a particular application function. Icon domains are established about each icon, wherein each icon domain is larger than the icon itself. The cursor object may thereafter be automatically positioned at the center of a particular icon, in response to moving the cursor object into an icon domain associated with that particular icon, thereby assisting physically challenged users in efficiently positioning the cursor object at the icon in order to graphically select a particular function associated with the icon.

Abstract: A multiprocessor data processing system includes a shared main memory and a plurality of processors connected to the memory utilizing a system bus. Data is transferred utilizing the system bus. The plurality of processors include a first processor and a second processor. The first processor includes a first cache, and the second processor includes a second cache. The multiprocessor data processing system executes a test program. During execution of the test program, a first and a second trace are generated. The first trace is generated by monitoring all events occurring at a first location within the system. The second trace is generated by monitoring all events occurring at a second location within the system. Each event is associated with a time of occurrence of that event. The first trace includes each event which was monitored at the first location and the time associated with each event.

Abstract: A method and system in a superscalar data processing system are disclosed for the temporary designation and utilization of a plurality of physical registers as a stack. For each of the multiple instructions to be processed during a single clock cycle by the data processing system, a determination is made whether each of the instructions is a particular type of instruction. If a determination is made that an instruction is a particular type of instruction, a quantity of physical registers to be temporarily designated as a stack is determined utilizing the instruction. A second plurality of physical registers available to be utilized as a stack are determined whether the second plurality of the quantity. The second plurality of physical registers are then temporarily designated and utilized as a stack.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for permitting a server computer system to generate a detailed repair request utilized to a remote client computer system. The server and client computer systems are coupled together utilizing a local area network. In response to an error in operation of the client caused by a malfunctioning part included within the client, the client identifies the malfunctioning part. The client automatically transmits a notification of the error and an identification of the part to the server without requiring a user's presence at the client. The server generates a detailed repair request which includes the identification of the part. The repair request is detailed including an identity of the malfunctioning part to be repaired and is generated remotely by the server without a user's presence at the client being required.

Abstract: A method and system in a superscalar data processing system are disclosed for the temporary designation of a physical register as a particular general register. The data processing system is capable of processing multiple instructions during a single clock cycle. Physical registers are established. None of the physical registers are initially designated as a particular general register. No general registers exist which are initially designated as particular general registers. For each of the multiple instructions, a determination is made as to whether the instruction is a load register instruction. If the instruction is a load register instruction, a determination is made as to whether the instruction is associated with a logical register name. Each one of the logical register names identifies a different general register.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for the determination of performance characteristics of a cache design by simulating cache operations utilizing a cache output trace. A first plurality of references are input into a cache during a specified period. In response to the inputs, the cache generates an output which includes a second plurality of references. The output is stored as a trace. The trace may be modified by specifying at least one of the second plurality of references as a particular type of reference. A quantity of the first plurality of references input into the cache during the specified period is determined. Cache operation is simulated utilizing the trace by inputting the trace into a cache simulator. A result of the simulation is determined. Performance characteristics of the cache design are determined utilizing the result of the simulation and the quantity of the first plurality of references.

Abstract: A database synchronization system for synchronizing a plurality of local databases in a plurality of distributed computing systems is disclosed. The plurality of distributed computing systems form a distributed computing environment (DCE). The synchronization system includes a system server, a registry database, coupled to the system server, a local area network (LAN) synchronization server, coupled to the system server, a LAN server synchronization library, coupled to the system server, and a LAN server, coupled to the LAN synchronization server and selected ones of the plurality distributed computing systems forming a LAN. Synchronization between the LAN and the DCE registry occurs when registry modifications in the registry database affecting at least one of the plurality of local LAN databases invokes the LAN server synchronization library to synchronize the affected database. The synchronization system utilizes a registry database coupled to each of the local databases.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system of permitting concurrent processing of multiple conditional branch instructions are disclosed. A condition register is established within the processing system. First and second conditional branch instructions are dispatched during a single cycle of the processing system. Prior to speculatively executing the first conditional branch instruction, a first copy of the condition register is stored. Prior to speculatively executing the second conditional branch instruction, a second copy of the condition register is stored. Multiple copies of the condition register are concurrently maintained so that the first and second conditional branch instructions may be concurrently processed during a single cycle of the processing system.

Abstract: An interface in a data-processing system for identifying operating parameters of storage systems and enclosures is disclosed. The data-processing system communicates with the storage systems utilizing a serial bus. The storage systems are included within a storage system enclosure which includes a backplane. A backplane interface is included within the backplane and is utilized for coupling a storage system to the storage system enclosure. The storage system has a first and a second connector which are coupled together. The second connector is coupled to the backplane interface and is utilized to transmit data to be stored to and read from the storage system. A plurality of resistors are coupled to the first connector. A physical location is selected for a storage system by connecting selected ones of the resistors to a first potential, while all remaining resistors are connected to a second potential.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system for associating source code instructions with an optimized listing of object code instructions are disclosed. Source code instructions are compiled utilizing an optimizing compiler to generate a listing of object code instructions. The object code instructions are included within the listing in an optimized sequence. One of the object code instructions is compared with a second plurality of object code instructions. The second plurality of object code instructions are all located after the one object code instruction in the listing. In response to the comparison, a determination is made whether a selection of the one object code instruction will prohibit selection of a third plurality of object code instructions. If a determination is made a selection of the one object code instruction will not prohibit selection of a third plurality of object code instructions, the one object code instruction is associated with one of the source code instructions.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed in a first data processing system for processing a first instruction in response to an initiation of processing of a second instruction in an emulation environment. The first data processing system includes a first architecture, a first processing environment, and an emulation environment. The first instruction is executable within the first processing environment. The emulation environment is generated by the first architecture. The emulation environment emulates a second data processing system. The second data processing system includes a second architecture and a second processing environment. The second instruction is executable within the second processing environment. A file is established within the emulation environment. The file includes a plurality of routines. Each routine is associated with one of the second plurality of instructions. One of the routines is associated with the second instruction.

Abstract: A data processing system and method for maintaining coherency between a high-level (L2) cache and a low-level (L1) cache are disclosed. The L2 (high-level) cache operates in a first mode of operation where a cache line is in a modified and inclusive state, and in a second mode of operation where a cache line is in an invalid and inclusive state. The high-level cache snoops a request from another computing unit for access to data previously stored in the high-level cache. The high-level cache determines if the requested data stored in the high-level cache is invalid or modified, and possibly stored in the low-level cache. If the data is contained in the low-level cache and is modified, the data is returned from the low-level cache to the high-level cache, and from there is written to memory. In the first mode of operation, if no data is returned, and the data in the high-level cache is marked as modified, the data in the high-level cache is written to memory.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for writing an item of data to a line in a memory table shared by a plurality of processors is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of determining if the item is already in the line; if the item is not in the line, then determining if the line is empty; if the line is empty, then performing the following steps: creating a reservation for the line for a processor requesting to write the item to the line and trying to write, by the processor requesting to write the item to the line, the item to the line. Although more than one processor can hold a reservation for the line, only one processor can add an item to the line since the reservation for the line is removed or cleared in all processors when the first processor, holding a reservation for the line, writes an item to the line.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism to control presentation of visible desktop objects in a graphical user interface (GUI). It is particularly related to a scenario where application windows are masking icons with regard to a window overlaying technique. The concept of the invention is to move hidden icons or windows to visible locations of the desktop when they are obscured by other windows, or other desktop objects like icons themselves. Desktop objects which are provided with the above presence functionality regularly call up a routine which compares the actual positions of all windows or other desktop objects with the own location. Calling-up can be initiated also by changes of the desktop contents. If an icon is covered by an other object, it determines a visible target location and will be presented at the new position. The motion of a desktop object can be performed without need of any interaction by the user. Therefore, this mechanism enables a very intuitive comprehensible solution of the above problems.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a reshapable pointing device. The method includes the steps of displaying a pointing device on the touchscreen and, in response to detecting at least one finger placed on the pointing device, reshaping the pointing device in accordance with the size of the finger.

Abstract: A data processing system that includes a data store, means for archiving files within the data store, and a graphical user interface is disclosed that uses a novel query system. The query system includes a domain scope control field, a narrowing search control funnel, a specific item search field, and a broadening search control funnel. The domain scope control field allows a user to perform a hierarchical search within a plurality of topics available in the domain control field. The search query generates a search cell. The narrowing search control allows a user to narrow the scope of the search cell. The specific item search field allows a user to identify specific key words to be searched within the search cell. The broadening search control allows a user to broaden the scope of the search cell.