Abstract: In a computer system having a memory and an operating system persistently stored in a storage device, a method for comparing System States of the system from time to time. The method includes creating a snapshot object for interfacing with functionalities of the system; and using the snapshot object, creating a first collection of System State objects which record the status of the system at a given instant in time. Next, the first collection of System State objects is stored in the memory. A second collection of System State objects, which was previously created and stored in the storage device, is then loaded into the memory. A comparison of the first collection with the second collection is made and an indicia of any differences therebetween is provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a user customizable help system for a data processing environment which utilizes a graphical interface to identify solutions and/or topics of interest. This graphical help system displays partitioned groupings of help topics organized in a intuitively functional, positional manner such that a user will instinctively know where to find the desired help topic. These partitioned groupings of help topics preferably represent hardware platforms, operating environments, application groupings, or groupings of functions within an application. Further, and within each of the partitioned groupings, the invention contemplates providing multiple “views” of help topics, each “view” corresponding to a different type of user of the data processing system.

Abstract: An emulation system functions to translate instructions comprising a target application of a target system into corresponding instructions native to a host system and executes the instructions on the host system. During execution, the emulation system encounters target disk read/write operations. As the memory architectures of the host and target computer systems differ, the data in host memory is conformed to a target memory format when data in keyboard memory buffer is processed. Also, the host and target disk controllers cause storage of data on diskettes in differing byte orders. However, the emulation system performs disk/read write operations without byte-reversal prior to disk-write or subsequent to disk read operations. Thus, the host does not produce storage media having data conforming to that of target storage media.

Abstract: A directory-based cache coherency system is disclosed for use in a data processing system having multiple Instruction Processors (IP) and multiple Input/Output (I/O) units coupled through a shared main memory. The system includes one or more IP cache memories, each coupled to one or more IPs and to the shared main memory for caching units of data referred to as cache lines. The system further includes one or more I/O memories within ones of the I/O units, each I/O memory being coupled to the shared main memory for storing cache lines retrieved from the shared main memory. Coherency is maintained through the use of a central directory which stores status for each of the cache lines in the system. The status indicates the identity of the IP caches and the I/O memories having valid copies of a given cache line, and further identifies a set of access privileges, that is, the cache line “state”, associated with the cache line.

Abstract: An integrated circuit tester includes a fail-safe mechanism for moving an integrated circuit chip between an initial position where the integrated circuit chip is inserted into the tester, and a test position where the integrated circuit chips is actually tested. This fail-safe mechanism includes a motor and a shaft which the motor rotates to move the integrated circuit chip. An electronic control circuit can be included to automatically stop the motor when the integrated circuit reaches its initial position, or its test position; but if the control circuit fails to operate properly, then damage to the integrated circuit tester is prevented by the fail-safe mechanism.

Abstract: A fiber optic channel loop provides a transmission path between a computer platform and a multiple number of peripheral devices. When any change occurs in the number of connected peripheral devices or their operation status, then Fiber Channel loop is interrupted so to disable ongoing Input/Output operations to a targeted peripheral device. When this interruption is sensed, the Master Control Program of the platform will institute corrective measures to re-originate any interrupted I/O operations.

Abstract: A method of tracking a document in a system for feeding and transporting documents includes detecting a document trailing edge at a fixed location upstream of a feeder. The system includes a feeder stage and a transport stage downstream of the feeder stage. The feeder stage includes the feeder and a separator. The method further includes tracking a position of the document trailing edge as the document trailing edge moves between the fixed location and the feeder, and performing an operation dependent on the document trailing edge position when the document trailing edge is between the fixed location and the feeder.

Abstract: A document transport utilizes a pneumatic pinch force generator in lieu of a conventional spring-loaded pinch roller, thereby minimizing problems associated with pinch roller inertia and debris collection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a survey database, wherein a user can perform a wide variety of requests to the survey database without having to independently calculate a desired result. In accordance with the present invention, this may be accomplished by using a rules-based expert system for forming and executing requests to a survey database. In a rules-based expert system, a number of rules are provided wherein the rules contain much of the “knowledge” of the experts, thereby allowing “non-expert” users to perform “expert” analysis of client satisfaction data in an accurate and repeatable fashion.

Abstract: An initial stage of a multi-stage algorithmic pattern generator which generates bit streams for testing IC chips, is comprised of multiple sets of input registers which store respective addresses; and an address modifying circuit that is coupled to the input registers, which receives commands, and in response, selects one register in one set and generates a modified address by performing arithmetic operations on the address in the selected register. Also, the initial stage includes a boundary check circuit that is coupled to the address modifying circuit, which stores a respective minimum limit and a respective maximum limit for each register set. This initial stage is particularly useful in generating sequences of addresses for memory cells in a chip that is to be tested, where the cells are arranged in rows and columns. When a particular Min/Max limit for a row/column is reached, then that event is remembered by the boundary check circuit.

Abstract: A method and an estimator program for estimating the optimum Server Farm size and the availability of the Server Farm for a given Redundancy Factor and a given particular number of clients.

Abstract: An LZW compressor implementation architecture utilizes a plurality of limited length character tables corresponding to the respective characters of the alphabet. A string is stored by storing the code associated with the string in the character table corresponding to the extension character of the string at a character table location corresponding to the code of the string prefix. A character table is created when the character corresponding thereto is first encountered in the input. The input data character stream is searched by comparing the input stream to the stored strings to determine longest matches therewith. The codes associated with the longest matched strings are outputted so as to provide an output stream of compressed codes. The respective lengths of the character tables are limited in accordance with the frequency of occurrence of the characters of the alphabet.

Abstract: A performance measurement tool is developed to measure performance of a terminal server servicing multiple Clients who operate on remote systems in a farm of multiple PC's. Test scripts to simulate actual operating conditions are run on each PC Client-User over a sequence of time which varies the number of concurrently active PC Client-Users from a small number of Users to a vary large number of current Users. During this test period, a record is kept of designated simulated-user-initiated actions such as log-on times, time to open various application programs, and character entries thus to determine acceptable operating configurations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a computer system that compares a portion of a signal and information transferred from a cache memory, while the information is in transit from the cache memory. The information may be routed differently depending on the outcome of the compare. Specifically, the information may be delivered to a memory bus when it matches the portion of the signal and when the signal is a read command. Alternatively, the information may not be delivered to a memory bus when it matches the portion of the signal and when the signal is a write command. If the information does not match the portion of the signal, it may be transferred to a main memory via a memory bus. The information may be compared to the portion of the signal for a first time interval, and the portion of the signal may be compared to the information for a second time interval.

Abstract: In a system where a remote backup platform is enabled to automatically duplicate each registry key change in a local platform, a method is provided wherein restoration of original remote registry key data can be accomplished by utilizing a remote disk file which stores original data. When local original registry data on the local platform is lost to due breakdown, then a restoration program can access the backup remote registry key data for conveyance to the local registry key.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of automatically generating, transmitting, receiving, and verifying test request messages within a large scale resource sharing computer system. In the preferred mode, the testing technique is applied to a memory resource having up to four requester ports. The test messages are simultaneously but randomly generated within each of the requester ports. These test messages are transferred to the memory resource. The responses from the memory resource are automatically verified within each of the receiving requester ports.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for representing JAVA in UML in a computer system executing a repository program. The method comprises the steps of determining if a file is a JAVA package or project. If it is, then determining if there is a JAVA subpackage not represented in UML, and if so; recursively creating UML subpackages representing each nested JAVA subpackage. If it is determined that the file is not a JAVA package or project, then the method creates UML files representing each JAVA source file.

Abstract: A system, method, and adapter card for providing, via a network, emulation of a console of a host computer system on another, remotely located computer system on the network, includes the ability to remotely control a peripheral device connected to a peripheral device interface controller on the adapter card. The adapter card further comprises a processor, a network interface controller providing a connection to the network, a communications client program executing on the processor, and at least one computer-readable medium having stored therein a modified BIOS extension for said peripheral device interface controller. The modified BIOS extension comprises first program code and second program code, the second program code being embedded within the first program code and defining a separate server program.

Abstract: A method of document overlap/gap error detection and correction includes detecting a trailing edge of a first document at a feeder, and detecting a leading edge of a second document at an edge detector between the feeder and a transport stage. An overlap/gap error is determined and the feeder is controlled to correct the overlap/gap error, when the error is present. An overlap may be measured before the first document trailing edge arrives at the edge detector, providing a greater remaining length of the second document left in the feeder with which to perform the necessary feeder motions to correct the overlap/gap error.

Abstract: A method of compressing image data utilizing CCITT Group 4 coding criteria reduces compression time and the amount of required data transfer by combining pixel data thresholding and transposition steps through the capabilities of a customized processing chip. Additional economies are achieved by using black/white and white/black transition pointers rather than the conventional approach requiring examination of every pixel to locate the transitions in preparation for conventional CCITT Group 4 encoding.