Abstract: A system for calculating control pulse duration for optimal stepper motor performance. Duration of control pulses to a stepper motor is increased until stepper motor function begins. The duration of control pulses continues to be increased. It is determined whether stepper motor failure is detected. In response to detecting a failure, the duration of control pulses at the time of the failure is recorded. The duration of control pulses is decreased until stepper motor function is restored. The duration of control pulses continues to be decreased. It is determined whether a second failure is detected. In response to detecting a second failure, the duration of control pulses at the time of the second failure is recorded. A control pulse duration is calculated that optimizes performance of the stepper motor using recorded control pulse duration data. The calculated control pulse duration is applied to the stepper motor.

Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for a mobile device for managing ring tones. A radio frequency transmission is detected from another mobile device. In response to detecting the radio frequency transmission from the other mobile device, a ring tone used by the other mobile device is identified to form an identified ring tone. The current ring tone is selectively changed for the mobile device to an alternate ring tone, depending on the identified ring tone.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for optimizing thermal performance of a computer system. An identification of a set of processor cores associated with the computer system is made and a thermal index is requested for each of the set of processor cores to form a set of thermal indexes. Proximity information and conductive property information associated with the set of processors is loaded and software is mapped to execute on an optimal processor core form the set of processor cores based the set of thermal indexes, proximity information, and conductive property information.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for reducing the overhead associated with distributed password policy enforcement operations using a proxy server. When a proxy server provides a request from a client to a backend directory server, the proxy server determines whether a password policy check is required to be performed at the backend directory server. If a password policy check is not required to be performed at the backend directory server, the proxy server sends the client request together with a skip password policy control to the backend directory server. This skip password policy control informs the backend directory server to skip the password policy check on the client request.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for allocating resources based on predictions of service level agreement (SLA) breaches in order to minimize costs are provided. With the method, apparatus, and computer instructions, a prediction that an SLA will be breached is received from a prediction engine associated with the SLM system. Based on a prediction that an SLA will be breached, a minimum cost analysis is performed to determine if computer resources may be shifted from another service consumer under another SLA to facilitate the service consumer of the potentially breached SLA in order to reduce the cost of the penalty associated with breaching SLAs. If so, resources are reallocated in order to minimize penalties associated with SLA breaches.

Abstract: A mechanism for mutual authorization of a secondary resource in a grid of resource computers is provided. When a primary resource attempts to offload a grid computing job to a secondary resource, the primary resource sends a proxy certificate request to the user machine. Responsive to a proxy certificate request, the user machine performs authorization with the secondary resource. If authorization with the secondary resource is successful, the user machine generates and returns a valid proxy certificate. The primary resource then performs mutual authentication with the secondary resource. If the authorization with the secondary resource fails, the user machine generates and returns an invalid proxy certificate. Mutual authentication between the primary resource and the secondary resource will fail due to the invalid proxy certificate. The primary resource then selects another secondary resource and repeats the process until a resource is found that passes the mutual authorization with the user machine.

Abstract: A Chinese to English Translation Tool (CETT) locates pre-existing translations of phrases and increases probabilities for a match by searching independently of proper nouns and Western characters. The CETT comprises an enhancement program, a search program and a display program. The CETT is adapted to access a translation database, a proper noun table, and an unmatched translation table. The translation database is a central repository of an accumulated body of translated literature. The proper noun database is a table showing the associations between English and Chinese for proper nouns.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for an N-port network adaptor that is interchangeable between a network switch and a network adaptor. Embodiments of the invention include a method in a network device having a random access memory, a nonvolatile random access memory and a flash memory, the method including operating in a network switch/router mode of operation, operating in a network adapter mode of operation and switching in between the network switch/router operation and the network adapter operation in response to receiving a device configuration signal.

Abstract: A system for broadcasting a notification. In response to receiving a new telephone number for a communication device from a service provider, a telephone number change notification is automatically broadcast to a plurality of contact telephone numbers within a contact list. Each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers within the contact list is tracked to determine whether each of the plurality of contact telephone numbers received the telephone number change notification. In response to a contact telephone number within the plurality of contact telephone numbers not receiving the telephone number change notification, a configurable indicator is displayed in a display when a user inputs the contact telephone number into the communication device.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle comprises a torque detector for detecting a first torque level and a second torque level applied to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The first torque level is associated with a lower boom position of a boom. An accelerometer detects an acceleration level of the boom during or after raising of the boom. A first hydraulic cylinder is capable of raising a boom from the lower boom position to raise an available torque from the first torque level. A second hydraulic cylinder is adapted to upwardly rotate or curl a bucket associated with the vehicle if the detected acceleration level of the boom is less than a minimum level during an attempt to raise the boom.

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer usable code are provided for protocol definition for software bridge failover. In a first aspect of the present invention, a first software bridge determines the proper working operation of a physical adapter. Limbo packets are sent to a second software bridge alerting the second software bridge that the first software bridge is no longer bridging traffic responsive to the physical adapter failure in the first software bridge. The second software bridge receives the limbo packets, and, in response to receiving the limbo packets, asserts primary control and initiates bridging of traffic. In an alternative aspect of the present invention a first software bridge sends keep-alive packets. A second software bridge monitors the keep-alive packets from the first software bridge and, in response to a failure to detect the keep-alive packets from the first software bridge, the second software bridge initiates bridging of traffic.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a platform, a stylus, and an ultrasonic energy generation system. The platform may be capable of holding a sheet of material. The stylus may be capable of impinging the sheet of material to incrementally form a shape for a part. The ultrasonic energy generation system may be capable of sending ultrasonic energy into at least a portion of the sheet of material in a location on the sheet of material where the stylus impinges the sheet of material.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing the display of a new document. In response to receiving a user input indicating that the new document is to be displayed, a list of browser windows including an indication of a presently displayed document in each respective browser window in the list of browser windows is displayed; and a document displayed in the browser window is replaced with the new document responsive to a user selection of a browser window from the list of browser windows.

Abstract: An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for creating and running batch jobs in an object oriented environment, such as a J2EE environment. A request to execute a batch job is received. A deployment descriptor file is processed to identify a batch bean to be invoked. This batch job session bean processes the request, parses deployment descriptor file that comprises definitions of relationships between other helper classes, entity and session beans. The identified batch bean is invoked to execute the batch job step in the order described in the deployment descriptor applying checkpoints at intervals specified in the descriptor.

Abstract: An apparatus and a computer implemented method for monitoring and recording the orientation data for an object. The orientation apparatus comprises an outer casing. Inside the outer casing is an orientation device that comprises six chambers, with a ball sensor in each chamber, and a ball. The orientation apparatus also comprises a data recorder for recording an event history of the orientation device, and a communicator for conveying the event history.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and computer program product for sharing licensed applications between virtual machines. When an event is intercepted which comprises an attempted access of a file stored in a hard disk of a guest operating system, wherein the file type has no association with any application installed on the guest operating system, an application installed on a host operating system capable of opening the file is identified. An association of the file type with an application on the host operating system is established, and the file is copied from the hard disk of the guest operating system to a temporary location on the host operating system. The file is opened and accessed using the associated application on the host operating system. The file is then copied back to the hard disk of the guest operating system.

Abstract: An airship comprises a shell, a gas storage system, an air storage system, a cargo storage system, a heating system, and a propulsion system. The shell encompasses a volume. The gas storage system is located within the volume, wherein the gas storage system is capable of storing a lighter than air gas. The air storage system is located within the volume, wherein the air storage system is capable of storing heated air. The heating system is capable of heating air. The propulsion system is capable of propelling the shell during flight.

Abstract: An impact test system for collecting hail storm data comprises a vehicle, a video recorder, a container, a plurality of dynamic force sensors, an atmospheric instrument system, a mounting fixture, and a data processing system. The plurality of dynamic force sensors is capable of detecting force generated by an impact of an object. The plurality of markers is capable of being used to determine an orientation of an incoming object. The mounting fixture is capable of holding a test specimen. The data processing system is capable of collecting data from the plurality of dynamic force sensors, the atmospheric instrument system, and the video recorder.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for mapping a content description to a container. The process identifies a container placed in a storage unit to form an identified container. The identified container includes an unidentified content. The process displays a set of predictive content descriptions for the unidentified content. In response to receiving a selection of a content description from the set of predictive content descriptions, the process maps the selected content description to the unidentified container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for assisting in rating and filtering multimedia content, such as images, videos and sound recordings. One embodiment comprises a computer implemented method for rating the objectionability of specified digital content that comprises one or more discrete content items, wherein the method includes the step of moving the specified content to one or more filtering stages in a succession of filtering stages. After the specified content is moved to a given one of the filtering stages, a rating procedure is carried out to determine whether a rating can be applied to one or more of the content items, and if so, a selected rating is applied to each of the one or more content items. The method further comprises moving content items of the specified content to the next stage in the succession after the given stage, when at least one content item of the specified content remains without rating, after the rating procedure at the given stage.