Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for arbitration between multiple pipelines over shared resources for an SMP computer system. The computer includes logic to defer arbitration until later in the pipeline to help reduce latency to each pipeline. Also, introduced is the concept of retry tags for better priority to avoid lock-out. The system also includes round-robin tokens to manage rejected requests to allow better fairness on conflicts. While the processing logic employed specifically applies to cross-interrogation, the logic can be extended to other common resources. The illustrated SMP computer system also has self-correcting logic to maintain good round-robin tokens.

Abstract: In a computer system with multiple chips connected via a connection module with high speed elastic interface buses that support bus repair is enhanced by use of a spare net. Support is provided to ensure that the spare net can be tested in the same way that every normal bus net can be tested at all supported environments. It ensure that the system controller can find out what connections are bad and how to apply the controls to repair them for all tests and in the field for the customer.

Abstract: A method for regulating system power using a power governor for DRAM in a multi-node computer system regulating memory power consumption of an entire computer system employs a closed ring that connects all the power governors within the system to enable them to work in concert so that each of the power governors has the knowledge of memory activities within the entire system. They then control and limit the memory usage based on a true overall measurement instead of just local measurement. Each nodal power governor has memory command counter, ring number receiver, ring number transmitter, governor activation controller, and memory traffic controller. Each nodal power governor counts the weight of memory command. The degree of limiting actual memory activities can be programmed when the governor is active. Besides, the command priorities can be adjusted in activation too. A hybrid ring structure can be employed with a nodal power structure to achieve the fastest number circulation speed economically.

Abstract: An electronic system comprising: an electronic system support substrate for the attachment of components of the electronic system, the electronic system support substrate including electric signal propagation paths for the propagation of electric signals between the system components; at least a first and a second electronic components, wherein at least the first electronic component is part of a module in mechanical and electrical connection with the electronic system support substrate, the module comprising a module substrate to which the first electronic component is at least mechanically connected, and an electric coupling between the first and the second electronic components, for the electric coupling allowing the first and the second electronic components exchange of electric signals.

Abstract: Detecting and correcting errors in arrays after ABIST testing, after ABIST testing, detected errors are faults are isolated by blowing a fuse.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product for a data processing system having multiple hosts which dynamically determines blocking of packets in the data processing system. A connection is established between a host and an adapter for communication with a Local Area Network. A set of parameters is established for blocking packets transmitted from the adapter to the host. The set of parameters is stored in the adapter to be used by that connection. The packets transmitted from the adapter to the host are grouped or blocked in accordance with the set of parameters for that connection. Periodically, the packets being transmitted from the adapter to the host are evaluated for determining changes in the parameters. Changes to the set of parameters are recorded in the adapter for that connection to the host.

Abstract: A memory system having a memory element chip (DRAM) and a memory controller chips having a plurality of drivers and receivers and latches for transferred data. For writes clocks, write data and write for CRC (cyclic redundancy checks) is transferred to the DRAM from the memory controller and latched for error checking. The reads are clocked and the read data is received and transferred to a read data latch with also receives a clocked read strobe for verification of data integrity from DRAM. Each chip has a bi-functional pin that acts as a shared CRC pin during write and acts as a shared strobe pin during READ. Data transfers with the CRC signal and DQS signal are transferred across two paths CRC0/DQS and CRC1/DQS1. One could also transfer the CRC signal across one path with only the CRC0/DQS signal. Read operations have no CRC, and have no need for CRC because transfer errors during read can be detected by memory error correction coding (ECC).

Abstract: Storage protection keys and system data share the same physical storage. The key region is dynamically relocatable by firmware. A Configuration Array is used to map the absolute address of the key region in to its physical address. The absolute address of keys can be fixed even though the physical location of the keys is relocated into a different region. A triple-detect double correct ECC scheme is used to protect keys. The ECC scheme is different from regular data in the storage and can be used to detect illegal access. Extra firmware and hardware is also designed to restrain customer's applications from directly accessing keys. With the key region being relocatable, the firmware could move the key region away from a known faulty area in a memory to improve system RAS. We also achieved the commonality objective that key memory device can use the same memory devices with other server systems that do not use keys.

Abstract: A DDR SDRAM DIMM for a mainframe main storage subsystem has a plurality of DDR SDRAMs on a rectangular printed circuit board having a first side and a second side, a length (152 MM=6 inch) between 149 and 153 millimeters and optimized at 149.15 mm or 151.35 mm in length and first and second ends having a width smaller than the length; a first plurality of connector locations on the first side extending along a first edge of the board that extends the length of the board, a second plurality of connector locations of the second side extending on the first edge of the board, a locating key having its center positioned on the first edge and located between 80 mm and 86 mm and optimized with a locating key 1.5 mm wide centered at 81.58 or 85.67 mm from the first end of the board and located between 64 and 70 mm and optimized with the locating key centered at 67.58 or 65.675 from the second end of the board.

Abstract: Portions of data in a processor system are stored in a slower main memory and are transferred to a faster memory comprising a hierarchy of cache structures between one or more processors and the main memory. For a system with shared L2 cache(s) between the processor(s) and the main memory, an individual L1 cache of a processor must first communicate to an associated L2 cache(s), or check with such L2 cache(s), to obtain a copy of a particular line from a given cache location prior to, or upon modification, or appropriation of data at a given cached location.

Abstract: As a performance critical (high or full speed) request for a computer system data bus travels down a central pipeline, the system detects whether the interface data bus is currently empty or there is an ongoing half-speed transfer. If there is an ongoing low speed transfer, the system dynamically time shift or slows down the read rate out of the interleave buffer to half speed, and utilizes the free half of the bandwidth. This dynamic “zippering” or time shifting of data prevents a pipe pass from being rejected because the whole data bus is unavailable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for verifying the proper operation of a digital logic circuit and program product therefore. In order to add a useful alternative in the field of functional, exhaustive simulation and of symbolic simulation, it is proposed to perform the steps of: a) marking a net with an additional property other than a bit value, wherein both said bit value and said additional property are valid at said net at a given time; b) propagating the marking of the net according to a set of predetermined semantic rules, wherein the set of predetermined semantic rules are defined according to a predetermined simulation; and c) generating an output at a predetermined downstream location of the digital logic circuit, said output providing an information, if or if not said property has propagated through the circuit to said predetermined downstream location or not.

Abstract: A microprocessor simulation method, system, and program product, which are built upon the underlying hardware design of the microprocessor, stop normal functions of a simulation testcase, start the scan clocks, and record a first “snap shot” of the scan ring data at an initial time. The hardware logic then rotates (shifts) the scan ring using the current scan data, and when the scan clock stops (where the stop of the scan clock is controlled based on the number of latches on the scan ring), another “snap shot” of scan ring data is taken. The “snap shots” are compared and if both of the “snap shots” are identical the functional scan is successful. But if the functional scan verification fails to rotate the scan chain correctly, that is, if some of the latches do not match in the two “snap shots,” it becomes necessary to locate the broken spot within the large number of scan latches.

Abstract: A method implemented as a computer program product for comparing two designs of electronic circuits, wherein the design representations comprise several hierarchically related sheets. The method comprises the steps of (a) identifying corresponding top-sheets of the first hierarchy level in the design versions; (b) generating a list of all sub-sheets for each top-sheet and comparing the lists to identify added, removed and common sheets of the corresponding top-sheets; (c) defining the common sheets as corresponding top-sheets of a next hierarchy level; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until at least one of the top-sheets does not comprise any sub-sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting a computer system from array reliability failures uses Array Built-In Self-Test logic along with code and hardware to delete cache lines or sets that are defective, identify corresponding fuse repair values, proactively call home if spare fuses are not available, schedule soft fuse repairs for the next system restart, schedule line deletes at the next restart, store delete and fuse repairs in a table (tagged with electronic serial id, timestamp of delete or ABIST fail event, address, and type of failure) and proactively call home if there were any missed deletes that were not logged. Fuse information can also be more permanently stored into hardware electronic fuses and/or EPROMs. During a restart, previous repairs are able to be applied to the machine so that ABIST will run successfully and previous deletes to be maintained with checking to allow some ABIST failures which are protected by the line deletes to pass.

Abstract: According to the present invention a method for the placement of electronic circuit components is provided that supports design modifications by realizing and maintaining relations between the layouts of the components (i1 to i6). These relations are based on relations between the geometrical shapes represented by the layouts for the components. The invention can be implemented by an interactive layout editor. When a layout or the placement of a layout is changed manually, then the placement of the components that are placed already is changed automatically such that the all the relations between the components are realized or maintained. A parent-child relationship can be defined between components such that when the parent component is changed or moved then only the placement of its children is updated automatically. The prioritisation of relations allows resolving conflicts between conflicting relations.

Abstract: A method to use of dual valid bit sets including a regular bit set and alternate valid bits set which prevents new requests to a given cache line from entering a multi-nodal computer systems' nest system until all requests to the given cache line have been completed successfully. By providing the alternate valid bits the dual set of resource valids for each remote requester is provided for each remote requester, where one set of valids indicates if the resource is valid and actively working on the line, and the other set of valids indicates if the resource was valid but encountered some conflict that requires resolution before the request can complete. Only on successful reload and completion of the remote operation does this alternate address valid bit reset and open the way for any pending interface requests to proceed, so all outstanding requests currently loaded in a local resource within the nest system are able to complete before new interface requests are allowed into the system.

Abstract: A microprocessor simulation method, which is built upon the underlying hardware design of the microprocessor, stop normal functions of a simulation testcase, start the scan clocks, and record a first “snap shot” of the scan ring data at an initial time. The hardware logic then rotates (shifts) the scan ring using the current scan data, and when the scan clock stops (where the stop of the scan clock is controlled based on the number of latches on the scan ring), another “snap shot” of scan ring data is taken. The “snap shots” are compared and if both of the “snap shots” are identical the functional scan is successful. But if the functional scan verification fails to rotate the scan chain correctly, that is, if some of the latches do not match in the two “snap shots,” it becomes necessary to locate the broken spot within the large number of scan latches.

Abstract: An electronic system comprising: an electronic system support substrate for the attachment of components of the electronic system, the electronic system support substrate including electric signal propagation paths for the propagation of electric signals between the system components; at least a first and a second electronic components wherein at least the first electronic component is part of a module in mechanical and electrical connection with the electronic system support substrate, the module comprising a module substrate to which the first electronic component is at least mechanically connected, and an electric coupling between the first and the second electronic components, for the electric coupling allowing the first and the second electronic components exchange of electric signals.

Abstract: A method includes pre-compilation operations on HDL source code files, creating a “make it” file, on demand processing of the HDL source code in an HDL source browser, and resolving overloaded function and operator calls in an HDL source code browser debugger. Construct a list of all HDL files a list of HDL files to be processed. Send an HDL file in the list for compiling. If compilation is successful, branch to add the HDL file to an end of target file and that HDL file is removed from the list. The list is tested for remaining files and then a next file in the list is sent for compiling. After all files in the list have been processed, the HDL files which have been processed are checked for failures to compile and if any of said HDL files to be processed have failed to compile the method branches back to repeating the process until all runs are successful.