Abstract: A method of storage management in document databases wherein residence times are assigned to individual documents on entry to the database. Two different residence times are preferably assigned to the document. The first residence time (residual time) is defined as the time span between storage of the document in the document management system (DMS) and the time at which the document may be relocated for the first time. The second residence time (keep time) is defined as the time span between recall of the relocated document to the DMS and time at which it may be relocated again. A further feature of the invention subsists in the fact that the second residence time is only stipulated if the document is recalled to the first storage means following relocation. Assignment of the residual and keep time is effected on entry of the document into the DMS. Residence times can be assigned by the user or also by a program.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fibre channel control units to execute commands locally when a channel sends a repeat execute indicator in conjunction with certain other field settings, wherein the control unit will repeat and chain control words until certain predefined conditions occur.

Abstract: This invention describes a method and system for virtualizing an internal capability of a computing system; specifically, the invention describes a method and system for establishing a virtual machine containing a programmed hardware-machine function that is normally executed natively as proprietary internal code in its own hardware environment, a Central Electronics Complex (CEC) or logical partition of a CEC. The code resides in a separate hardware domain of the CEC called the Service Element (SE). The IBM VM/ESA (VM) operating system requests the SE to transfer a copy of the code into a virtual machine that VM has initialized, where the machine function is provided (in the current embodiment) as an isolated and encapsulated part of a virtual Parallel Sysplex system comprising multiple virtual CECs in a testing environment.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for matching the an information technology enhancement project with the resource and priorities of an enterprise is presented herein. A set of objectives for the information technology resources is defined and prioritized as to their importance to the enterprise. The information technology resources for the enterprise are partitioned into segments along a predetermined common property such as geography or skill-base. Each segment is compared to a set of desire information technology characteristics and a score for each characteristic is assigned to each segment and summed providing a total characteristic score for each segment. The total characteristic score is weighted in light of the prioritized objects by virtue of a correlation created between the objectives and the characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibre channel networks the ability to use extended link service commands, previously confined to networks including a fabric controller, in a direct attach, point-to-point configuration.

Abstract: Enables a processor to quickly recover reliable use of a multi-cycle index used in a branch prediction mechanism for certain types of flush events occurring in the processor pipeline, whether the flush event occurs for a non-branch instruction or for a branch instruction contained in the same dispatch group. A GHV (global history vector) value is used in the generation of a multi-cycle index required for locating a prediction in a GBHT (global branch history table) for the instruction associated with the GHV value. The GHV value is captured in a BIQ (branch information queue) element representing each branch instruction selected for execution of a program. The BIQ element also captures an associated GHV count when the GHV value is captured.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product for determining a required processing capacity to accommodate a computational workload migration from a first computer system to a second computer system is described herein. A processing benchmark for the workload on the first computer system is determined along with a scaling factor for converting the processing benchmark to the second computer system. An adjusted processing benchmark is then determined for the workload on the second computer system and is multiplied by the number of computers in the second system on which the workload is to be run to provide a total processing benchmark for workloads on the second computer system. From the total processing benchmark a mean and maximum utilization factor may be derived to determine the average and peak use of the workload during a predetermined time period. A skew factor may further be derived to represent the excess capacity required on the first system due to the imbalance of the workload across multiple computers.

Abstract: Defines and handles segments in messages to place pauses and interruptions within the communication of a message between transmitted segments of the message. A port cache of the destination node of each transmitted message obtains a message control block (MCB) which is used to control the reception of inbound segments within each message sent or received by the node. Each MCB stays in the cache only while its message is being communicated to the port and may be castout between segments in its message when there is no empty cache entry to receive a MCB for a current message being communicated but not having its MCB in the cache.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for optimizing an IT environment, the method incorporating relational databases in conjunction with unique data acquisition and querying techniques providing a flexible query feedback of IT software, hardware and network parameters.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for determining the value to an enterprise of a proposed technology modification is presented herein. The information technology resources of an enterprise are partitioned into segments along any number of various lines such as business process, geography, etc. The partitioning creates one or more sets of partitioned segments. Within a given segment the resources are profiled in accordance with the information technology priorities of the enterprise and mapped against the complexity of the proposed modification to derive an opportunity score. The opportunity scores for the profiled segments are examined to determine if the partitioning has been effective and if not, the process is repeated. Once an effective partitioning has been effected the opportunity scores of the segments indicate a measure of the respective value of the proposed modification within each segment.

Abstract: The present invention provides fiber channel networks the ability to use extended link service commands to convey implementation dependent information between ports.

Abstract: Each of plural rows in an aligned Instruction cache (AIC) contains a plurality of aligned sectors, each sector having space for a block of sequentially-addressed instructions in an executing program. A “fetch history table” (FHT) contains FHT sets of FHT entries for specifying execution sequences of the sectors in associated AIC rows. Each FHT entry in a FHT set specifies an AIC row and a sector sequence arrangement to be outputted from that row. In this manner, each FHT entry can associate itself with any row in the AIC and is capable of specifying any output order among the sectors in its associated row. Unique fields are selected in each instruction address for locating an associated FHT set, and for associating the instruction address with an AIC sector through a unique “sector distribution table” (SDT) to locate the sector which starts with the instruction having this instruction address.

Abstract: This invention relates to concept of transferring information in a program storage device and a computer program device readable by a digital processing apparatus and a program means on the program storage device and including instructions executable by the digital processing apparatus for performing method steps for transferring of information in a network computing system. The method steps include: sending packets of data consecutively to and from said main storage; transferring execution of certain channel functions to said control unit so that certain commands can be combined with said data packets in one sequence; and sending only one start data command and only one end command notification before and after a plurality of data packets is transferred respectively.

Abstract: In a distributed computing environment, a method, system and program product for monitoring, from a client computer system the performance of an application program residing on a server computer system. A probe program residing at the client computer generates requests for the services of the application program and records transaction records based upon service responses therefrom. The requests and transaction record generation is controlled by a set of probe configuration information at the client computer. Transaction records are provided to a central repository whereat statistical information is pre-processed and inserted into statistics tables. A display system enables a computer user to interactively request and view a plurality of displays of data sets of the monitoring data. Each data set includes data elements which may be interactively indicated by the viewer to cause the retrieval and display of related data sets having data elements associated with those in the original display.

Abstract: The present invention provides checking on information units sent and received as packets over fiber channel networks by providing check bits on the header information and separate check bits on the data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic system, in particular a mobile data capture and data output device in which the electronic system has a processor (1) and at least one i/o unit (8) with a control unit (7), and in which the processor (1) is connected to the control unit (7), and the control unit (7) is connected with at least one i/o unit (8). The electronic system is switched to a standby-mode, in which a control software unit (2), which is connected to the processor (1) and the control unit (7) executes part of the processor work, and the control software unit (2) monitors the time when data input from at least one i/o unit (8) commences. If commencement of data input is registered the steps needed for data capture are initiated and concluded before the data input is terminated.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for sizing a programming effort associated with the migration of a computer program from a first to a second computer platform is described herein. The size of a computer program is estimated and an adjustment factor is applied to represent a base estimate of the programming effort required for the migration. Analysis of availability of required middleware, object and program libraries may further lead to modification of the estimate. An evaluation of scaling issues related to the migration and a comparison of the programming models for the first and second computer platform may additionally affect the estimate. If the migration port is to be made from a multiple system platform to a single system platform the re-architecting effort to reduce path lengths such as replacing network interfaces with direct file sharing must be added to the base estimate.

Abstract: This invention describes a method and system for virtualizing an internal capability of a computing system; specifically, the invention describes a method and system for establishing a virtual machine containing a programmed hardware-machine function that is normally executed natively as proprietary internal code in its own hardware environment, a Central Electronics Complex (CEC) or logical partition of a CEC. The code resides in a separate hardware domain of the CEC called the Service Element (SE). The IBM VM/ESA (VM) operating system requests the SE to transfer a copy of the code into a virtual machine that VM has initialized, where the machine function is provided (in the current embodiment) as an isolated and encapsulated part of a virtual Parallel Sysplex system comprising multiple virtual CECs in a testing environment.

Abstract: The information technology environment and requirements of a business entity are evaluated via an interactive engagement process, system and program product to successively match the entity's needs to a set of information technology solutions so as to generate a business solution deliverables such as a formal solution proposal. The engagement entails the determination of the entity's ability to participate in the evaluation. The engagement next includes partitioning the entity's information technology infrastructure into segments along the lines of established business criteria, receiving profile information from the entity thereon and mapping the profiled segments to potential solutions creating an ordered listing of solutions. Ordered solutions may be selected for detailed investigation including a further profiling of the segment to which the solution is to be applied and a workload analysis of the proffered solution.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a design method for VLSI-chips. The chips are partitioned into segments in order to enable DRC and LVS. Thus, the memory requirements are kept below the limits of the platform used for the verification and the turnaround time is drastically reduced.