Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for providing optimized access to pointer or externally-tagged primitive type data-values. The invention maintains a type identifier external to the variable that contains the data-value. The invention determines the type distribution of data-values stored in the variable and optimizes access to the variable accordingly. Some of these optimizations are targeted towards called routines and the call sites for the called routines. Other optimizations are targeted towards object-oriented programming language implementations. These optimizations generate optimized versions of a class/map. Objects are linked to the optimized versions of the class/map depending on the type configuration of the data-values stored in the object. Thus, the invention optimizes access to variables in the object when the object contains commonly used type configurations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for making predictions about data records from an incoming stream of data records. This system operates by discovering predictive relationships in an online manner between fields in records in the incoming stream of data records as the incoming stream of data records is received. These predictive relationships can used to predict values in fields based on other field values in the same record. This facilitates cleansing of data by allowing transaction values to be validated based upon predictions made from other field values in the same transaction record. It also allows missing field values to be predicted based upon the other field values. A variation of this embodiment provides for filtering transaction records based upon discovered predictive relationships and routing the transaction records to other servers in real-time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for managing a virtual private network operating over a public data network. This public data network has been augmented to include a plurality of virtual private network gateways so that communications across the virtual private network are channeled through the virtual private network gateways. One embodiment of the present invention includes a system that operates by receiving a command specifying an operation on the virtual private network. The system determines which virtual private network gateways are affected by the command. The system then automatically translates the command into configuration parameters for virtual private network gateways affected by the command. These configuration parameters specifying how the virtual private network gateways handle communications between specific groups of addresses on the public data network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for ensuring that attachments intended to be included with an electronic mail message are affixed to the message prior to release of the message from a sender's electronic mail program. This embodiment eliminates the need to initiate a follow-up transmission to forward the intended attachment. This saves the sender from potential embarrassment as well as eliminating unnecessary network traffic. In this embodiment, the method includes maintaining a modifiable list of keywords and phrases which, when found in an electronic mail message, indicate that the composer of the message intends to include an attachment with the message. Upon composition of a message, an attachment verifier scans the message for the keywords and phrases. In this embodiment, if a keyword or phrases is found in the message and no attachments have been specified, a user is alerted to the possibility that an attachment was overlooked.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed describing a data structure and associated processes that optimize garbage collection. The invention sections a card vector associated with a card marked heap into portions. Each portion can be individually write protected. A section vector contains section data structures that are used to control their respective portions. When a write-barrier executes and attempts to mark a card marker in a read-only portion of the card vector, the invention traps the mark operation, sets the portion to read-write, changes the status of the section data structure and completes the mark operation. When a garbage collection phase scans the heap during the garbage collection process, it skips over portions of the card vector associated with sections having a read-only status--thus, improving the garbage collection process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of providing two different modes of operation for an output driver on an integrated circuit. A first mode provides an open drain driver, such as an enhanced GTL+ driver, for high-speed data transmission. A second mode provides a totem pole output driver, such as a TTL or a LVTLL driver, which does not require additional circuitry for external terminations, as is required for open drain drivers. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention can be characterized as a method of providing a dual mode output from an integrated circuit. This method includes receiving an output mode signal indicating an enhanced GTL+ output mode or a totem pole output mode. This method also includes providing an enhanced GTL+ output signal if the mode signal indicates the enhanced GTL+ output mode, and providing a totem pole output signal if the mode signal indicates the totem pole output mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for providing two different modes of operation for an output driver on an integrated circuit. A first mode provides an open drain driver, such as an enhanced GTL+ driver, for high-speed data transmission. A second mode provides a totem pole output driver, such as a TTL or a LVTLL driver, which does not require additional circuitry for external terminations, as is required for open drain drivers. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention can be characterized as an integrated circuit with an output buffer having a first mode that provides a driver for an open drain bus, and a second mode that provides a totem pole output. This output buffer receives a signal to be outputted from the integrated circuit and a mode select signal that selects between the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method and an apparatus for decoding a variable length code using lookup tables. This embodiment improves lookup performing by allowing multiple symbols to be retrieved in a single lookup, and allowing lookups into different tables to proceed in parallel. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for multiple secondary lookup tables to be selected based upon a prefix value decoded by a primary lookup table. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention can be characterized as an apparatus for decoding a variable length code. This apparatus includes an input from an encoded bitstream, the input including a first set of bits and a second set of bits. This apparatus also includes a first table indexed by the first set of bits, which includes entries containing decoded symbols corresponding to variable length codewords in the first set of bits.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided whereby an expansion card can be inserted in a multi-contact computer backplane connector and then gates provided between bus lines and respective connector contacts can be enabled. Hot insertability of the card and improved fault protection results. A plurality of gate signals for respective connectors can be provided so that a bus controller can selectively supply a gate signal for enabling transmission gates of only one connector for a given bus cycle, thereby providing dynamic cycle switching of the cards. The transmission gates can be provided in a backplane connector for a card. Preferably, a power supply signal is supplied to a switch gate connected between a power line and a power contact of the connector when a card has been inserted in a connector such that power is only supplied to the card only after insertion. A bus request signal can be enabled after a predetermined delay following the supply of power to the card.