Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A peripheral device (which is preferably a disk drive) can automatically collect trace data upon detecting certain error conditions. The peripheral device has the ability to selectively alter the range of state data collected in a trace depending on the error type. Preferably, the device includes a programmable processor executing a control program. A set of trace switches, each enabling a corresponding set of trace points, can be independently set by the control program. An error trace identification table identifies, for each error type, a corresponding set of trace switches. If an error is encountered, the trace switches corresponding to the error type are determined from the table, and the switches are set accordingly. In another invention aspect, a set of trap switches in the device can be set to trap on the occurrence of a specific error type, thereby supporting a more detailed error analysis.

Abstract: A smart chip protection system contains a unique public/private identity key pair and uses a separate public/private signature key pair. The identity private key is stored in permanent, secure storage such that it can not be read outside the chip. An issuing entity generates a descriptor containing the identity public key, attribute data, and a digital signature. The digital signature is generated by enciphering a derivation of the identity public key and the attribute data with the signature private key known only to the issuer. The authenticity of the descriptor data is verified by decrypting the signature with the signature public key using a known algorithm, and comparing the result to the derivation of the descriptor data. The identity of the object can be verified requesting the smart chip ro perform an encryption/decryption operation using its identity private key, and performing the complement using the public key.

Abstract: A processor supports logical partitioning of hardware resources including real address spaces of a computer system. An ultra-privileged supervisor process, called a hypervisor, regulates the logical partitions and can dynamically re-allocate resources. Preferably, the processor supports hardware multithreading, each thread independently capable of being in either hypervisor, supervisor, or problem state, and is capable of entering hypervisor state only upon occurrence of certain pre-defined events. A logical partition identifier is stored in a processor register, and can be altered by the processor only when in hypervisor state. Certain bus communications contain a logical partition identifier tag, and the processor ignores such communications if the tag does not match its own logical partition identifier in its register.

Abstract: The circumferential edges of glass or ceramic disks used in disk drive data storage devices are preferably finished by ductile grinding to produce an essentially fracture-free surface, which is not chemically strengthened. Preferably, the material is glass, and both the inner and outer edges of the disk are finished. Edge finishing is preferably achieved in a two-stage process, involving a coarse grind and a ductile grind, using air bearing spindles rotated at high speed for grinding wheels and workpiece. Preferably, the grinding wheels are shaped to provide a radius at the juncture of the circumferential edges and flat disk surfaces.

Abstract: A photographer adds explanatory text to a captured image by speaking the text at approximately the time the image is captured by the digital camera. The spoken information is reduced to text by recognizing the user's speech, and is associated with the digital image. Preferably, the digital camera contains an on-board speech reduction capability to produce an intermediate symbolic form expressing the user's speech as a series of basic sounds, or phonemes, which can be later reduced to natural language text by a computer system having access to sophisticated vocabulary lists and syntactical analysis.

Abstract: A business method prompts users of electronic payment cards and automatically adjusts automobile fuel pricing based upon the number of passengers in a vehicle at a refueling station. When the driver stops to refuel the vehicle, the system prompts the driver to insert a payment card to pay for the fuel. If there are other passengers in the vehicle, they too are prompted to insert their cards to indicate that they are riding with the driver. The system is provided with numerous protocols for ensuring that the system is not inappropriately circumvented. For example, the system can verify that the additional cards are not from other patrons at the same service center, or that the additional cards are not from other family members of the purchasing card holder. After all cards have been read and verified, the reduced price of the fuel is displayed and the fuel is dispensed.

Abstract: In a computer processor, multiple partially translated real addresses for a pipelined operation are compared with the real addresses of one or more other operations in the pipeline to detect an address conflict, without waiting for the address translation mechanism to fully translate the real address. Preferably, if a match is found, it is assumed that an address conflict exists, and the pipeline is stalled one or more cycles to maintain data integrity in the event of an actual address conflict. Preferably, the CPU has caches which are addressed using real addresses, and an N-way translation lookaside buffer (TLB) for determining the high-order portion of a real address. Each of the N real address portions in the TLB is compared with other operations in the pipeline, before determining which is the correct real address portion.

Abstract: A processor allocation mechanism for a logically partitionable computer system allows an administrator to specify processing capability allocable to each partition as an equivalent number of processors, where the processing capability may be specified as a non-integer value. This processing capability value is unaffected by changes to the processing capability values of other partitions. The administrator may designate multiple sets of processors, assigning each physical processor of the system to a respective processor set. Each logical partition is constrained to execute in an assigned processor set, which may be shared by more than one partition. Preferably, the administrator may designate a logical partition as either capped, meaning that a partition can not use excess idle capacity of the processors, or uncapped, meaning that it can.

Abstract: A digital printing device is manually moved across a medium, and automatically prints an image on the medium by selectively engaging one or more print elements at positions corresponding to the image. Preferably, the printing device comprises a multi-element print head a pair of optical sensors which provide position and orientation data. A controller causes the print head to print the image responsive to the location and orientation determined by the optical sensors. The printing device may be hand-held and integrated into a personal digital assistant device.

Abstract: A database manager selectively caches journal entries for certain database changes based on dynamic selection criteria. Preferably, a journal disk drive is provided for storing changes to the database. Database change entries are sequentially cached in a main memory journal buffer, awaiting journal write. When a buffer is filled, its buffer contents are written to the journal disk. However, certain change operations will cause the contents of the buffer to be written to the journal disk immediately, before filling the buffer. Certain database change entries selectively cause the buffer to be written, depending on dynamic selection criteria. Preferably, these selection criteria take into account both the estimated time to recover in the event of a system crash and the current level of activity on the system. Generally, the busier the system, the more data will be cached, and vice versa.

Abstract: A process manager supports the interactive definition of multiple user groups having access to process application software, and for each group, the interactive definition of a respective group interface which is unique to the group. Preferably, the group interface is a project tracking notepad which lists tasks applicable to the group, and functions as both a selection menu and a status indicator or reminder of actions to be performed or which have been performed. The project tracking notepad is an alternative user interface, which exists in addition to any other user interfaces available. Preferably, an administrator defines, for each group, the task selections applicable to the group, and the task description which will display on project tracking notepad. Thus it is possible to describe the same task with different descriptive words or phrases when the task selection is displayed in the notepads of different groups.

Abstract: A digital camera contains biometric capability to identify a photographer, which is preferably provided by the camera's own optical sensors. The biometric feature is preferably the iris of a photographer's eye, which is recognized as unique for each individual. The camera captures an image of an iris, abstracts a set of distinguishing features, and matches this set to an on-board database. The iris image is preferably captured when the photographer brings his eye in the vicinity of the camera's viewing window, through a combination of mirrors, lenses, prisms, and the like. This capability may be used to record the identity of a photographer with the image, as an anti-theft or privacy device, or to personalize the camera settings.

Abstract: A database query optimizer for a computer system having dynamically configurable logical partitions generates an optimized query strategy which is dependent on a logical partition configuration. When the query is executed, the configuration of the logical partition in which the query is executed is compared to the logical partition configuration for which the query was optimized. If the configurations are different, a new query can be automatically generated. Optimizing database queries to the current system configuration of a dynamic, logically partitioned system potentially offers greater efficiency in the execution of database queries for complex, logically partitioned systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for externally managing data within an asynchronous pipeline. The asynchronous pipeline over which control is sought includes a data path and a control path. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a data tag value is assigned to the data prior to its entry into the asynchronous pipeline. The data tag value is sent into the control path at the same time the data is sent into its data path such that the data tag value passes through the asynchronous pipeline in parallel with the data to which it is assigned. At a given stage within the asynchronous pipeline, the data tag value is compared with a control tag value, and only in response to the data tag value matching the control tag value is the data permitted to pass to the next stage within the asynchronous pipeline.

Abstract: Write operations less than full block size (short block writes) are internally accumulated while being written to disk in a temporary cache location. Once written to the cache location, the disk drive signals the host that the write operation has completed. Accumulation of short block writes in the drive is transparent to the host and does not present an exposure of data loss. The accumulation of a significant number of short block write operations in the queue make it possible to perform read/modify/write operations with a greater efficiency. In operation, the drive preferably cycles between operation in the cache location and the larger data block area to achieve efficient use of the cache and efficient selection of data access operations. In one embodiment, a portion of the disk surface is formatted at a smaller block size for use by legacy software.

Abstract: An interactive process navigation window is a hybrid of a file-based paradigm and a task-based paradigm. The window contains multiple panes, in which at least one pane (object pane) lists objects, while another pane lists tasks which are applicable to a selected object in the object pane, and which serves as a launchpad for various application software. A root object pane is placed in the upper left portion of the window, displaying groupings and sub-groupings of objects. A content object pane is placed in the upper right portion, the content pane displaying the contents of a group selected from the root pane. A task pane occupies the bottom of the window, the task pane displaying tasks applicable to the group selected from the root pane.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for testing a device driver on a data processing system. An operating system allocates a memory address range for executing a device driver. The device driver is executed as an application on top of the operating system to test the device driver. The system and method monitor to detect whether a target address for a request made by the device driver is within the memory address range. In response to detecting the target address for the request being made outside of the memory address range, the target address is trapped, and a data exception handler is executed to emulate a target device.

Abstract: A hybrid locking method for preventing a reduction in the processing speed of a frequently executed path which includes locking, accessing and unlocking an object is provided. According to the present invention, at least one contention bit is introduced. The contention bit, which is prepared separately from a lock field, is set when a contention occurs in a light-weight lock, and is cleared when a light-weight lock is shifted to a heavy-weight lock (“inflate” function).

Abstract: A multi-processor system includes a system bus communicating between processors, and a bus arbiter. Responsive to a cache line invalidation command, a processor cache conditionally casts back the cache line to a transition cache. Based on the system response to the invalidation command, the transition cache either discards the cast back or writes it to main memory. The processor also converts an exclusive read command requiring a reservation to non-exclusive if the reservation has been lost before placing the command on the system bus. Furthermore, the transition cache may shift memory coherency image state for a non-exclusive command, which is waiting for data to return, if a command involving the same real address is snooped. Responsive to a cache line request, the cache copies that cache line to the transition cache and updates cache line state. The transition cache holds the cache line pending system response.