Patents Assigned to Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130227132
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for selecting an appropriate platform to run an application deployed in a cloud computing environment. The appropriate platform is selected by employing a two phase process, where the first phase occurs prior to the deployment of the application and the second phase occurs after the application has been deployed. In the first phase, the cloud computing node selects a platform using various factors, such as application binaries, application metadata and artifacts, and qualities of service and application requirements. In the second phase, the cloud computing node determines whether an alternative platform needs to be implemented for subsequent deployments of the application using various factors, such as application runtime metrics and garbage collection metrics. In this manner, an appropriate platform is automatically selected thereby removing the requirement for the user to indicate the type of platform for the target environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130224939
    Abstract: Gate electrodes having different work functions can be provided by providing conductive metallic nitride layers having different thicknesses in a replacement gate scheme. Upon removal of disposable gate structures and formation of a gate dielectric layer, at least one incremental thickness conductive metallic nitride layer is added within some gate cavities, while not being added in some other gate cavities. A minimum thickness conductive metallic nitride layer is subsequently added as a contiguous layer. Conductive metallic nitride layers thus formed have different thicknesses across different gate cavities. A gate fill conductive material layer is deposited, and planarization is performed to provide multiple gate electrode having different conductive metallic nitride layer thicknesses. The different thicknesses of the conductive metallic nitride layers can provide different work functions having a range of about 400 mV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Vamsi K. Paruchuri
  • Publication number: 20130227704
    Abstract: Disclosed are a processor and processing method that provide non-hierarchical computer security enhancements for context states. The processor can comprise a context control unit that uses context identifier tags associated with corresponding contexts to control access by the contexts to context information (i.e., context states) contained in the processor's non-stackable and/or stackable registers. For example, in response to an access request, the context control unit can grant a specific context access to a register only when that register is tagged with a specific context identifier tag. If the register is tagged with another context identifier tag, the contents of the specific register are saved in a context save area of memory and the previous context states of the specific context are restored to the specific register before access can be granted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Carol Lynn C. Karger
  • Publication number: 20130227484
    Abstract: A method for customizing a tag cloud includes assigning a score to each tag in a source of tags, the score being based on a tag attribute; temporarily increasing the score for a new tag during a time period measured from a creation of the new tag; and customizing said tag cloud in a graphical user interface by emphasizing each tag according to its score.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130221413
    Abstract: After formation of a silicon nitride gate spacer and a silicon nitride liner overlying a disposable gate structure, a dielectric material layer is deposited, which includes a dielectric material that is not prone to material loss during subsequent exposure to wet or dry etch chemicals employed to remove disposable gate materials in the disposable gate structure. The dielectric material can be a spin-on dielectric material or can be a dielectric metal oxide material. The dielectric material layer and the silicon nitride liner are planarized to provide a planarized dielectric surface in which the disposable gate materials are physically exposed. Surfaces of the planarized dielectric layer is not recessed relative to surfaces of the silicon nitride layer during removal of the disposable gate materials and prior to formation of replacement gate structures, thereby preventing formation of metallic stringers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Sanjay Mehta
  • Publication number: 20130222942
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring fly height between a magnetic recording medium and a transducing head. In a first exemplary embodiment, magnetic spacing change value is calculated using media noise on the recording medium (instead of prerecorded tones) to provide a broadband frequency distribution that results in improved Wallace equation accuracy. In a second exemplary embodiment, a magnetic spacing change value is acquired by any suitable method but is adjusted as necessary to reflect transducing head wear, thus providing a methodology for calculating changes in fly height by taking into account the signal loss that is attributable to wear. In this way, a basic understanding of the mechanism causing changes in magnetic spacing is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Glenn Biskeborn
  • Publication number: 20130227366
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the conversion and execution of functional tests. In one embodiment, a current test step of a manual functional test is executed. The test includes a set of test steps each including at least one action and one target of the action. The test is associated with an application that includes a plurality of objects to be tested. At least two of the objects are determined to be associated with the target of the test step. A user is prompted to provide a selection of one of the at least objects for association with the target of the test step. A new test step is generated. The new test step associates the object selected by the user with the target of the current test step. The new test step is designated for automatic execution in place of the current test step for subsequent executions thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tessa A. LAU, Jalal U. Mahmud, Pablo Pedemonte
  • Publication number: 20130223234
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for concurrently processing order sensitive data packets. A first data packet from a plurality of sequentially ordered data packets is directed to a first offload engine. A second data packet from the plurality of sequentially ordered data packets is directed to a second offload engine, wherein the second data packet is sequentially subsequent to the first data packet. The second offload engine receives information from the first offload engine, wherein the information reflects that the first offload engine is processing the first data packet. Based on the information received at the second offload engine, the second offload engine processes the second data packet so that critical events in the processing of the first data packet by the first offload engine occur prior to critical events in the processing of the second data packet by the second offload engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald E. Fuhs, Scott M. Willenborg
  • Publication number: 20130226852
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention collect data or information from a dynamic and adaptive target group selection. Sets of experts are selected. Responses to a survey are used to expand the set of experts by adding experts noted in answer referrals. The survey is updated by removing satisfied questions, and expert selections, answers analysis and survey updating and resending steps are iteratively repeated until each question is satisfied, wherein the expert sets may be dynamically revised in each iteration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130224924
    Abstract: A non-planar semiconductor device is provided including at least one semiconductor nanowire suspended above a semiconductor oxide layer present within a portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor oxide layer has a topmost surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A gate surrounds a portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire, a source region located on a first side of the gate, and a drain region located on a second side of the gate. The source region is in direct contact with an exposed end portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire, and the drain region is in direct contact with another exposed end portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire. The source and drain regions have an epitaxial relationship with the exposed end portions of the suspended semiconductor nanowire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130227216
    Abstract: A data storage system includes a data storage module having at least a first I/O port and a second I/O port, a first controller module directly connected to the first I/O port, and a second controller module directly connected to the second I/O port. The second controller module is also in communication with the first controller module via a communication link, wherein the first and second controller modules are redundant controllers for the data storage module, and wherein, when the data storage module is controlled by the first controller module, the first controller module writes data to, or reads data from, the data storage module via a direct path to the first I/O port, and writes data to, or reads data from, the data storage module via an indirect path through the communication link and the second controller module to the second I/O port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130226925
    Abstract: A method for improving the usability of product feedback data can begin with the receipt of product feedback search parameters by an intelligent product feedback analytics tool. The product feedback search parameters can represent a product or a group of products. Product feedback search results having a rating value and/or textual feedback content can be obtained for the product feedback search parameters. For each product in the search results, a composite rating value can be synthesized from the rating values contained in the search results. For each product in the search results, the product feedback search results can be analyzed for analytic parameters using natural language processing techniques. An analytic parameter can represent a commonality within a subset of the search results. The product feedback search results, composite rating values, and analytic parameters can be presented within a user interface, providing context for the composite rating value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: LEE A. CARBONELL, TSZ SIMON CHENG, JEFFREY L. EDGINGTON, PANDIAN MARIADOSS
  • Publication number: 20130220423
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for responding to moisture at one or more zones around an outer surface of a liquid-carrying pipe are provided. Embodiments include monitoring, by a moisture correction controller, a plurality of moisture sensors, each moisture sensor configured to detect moisture at a separate zone around the outer surface of the liquid-carrying pipe; based on the monitoring of the plurality of moisture sensors, calculating and tracking, for each zone, a level of moisture detected by a moisture sensor; based on the tracked levels of moisture detected at the zones, selecting, between condensation or a leak from within the liquid-carrying pipe as a source of the moisture detected at the zones around the liquid-carrying pipe; and administering a corrective action based on the selection of the source of the moisture detected at the zones around the liquid-carrying pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith M. Campbell, Vinod Kamath, Christopher L. Wood
  • Publication number: 20130227338
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an approach for reconfiguring interrelationships between components of virtual computing networks (e.g., a grid computing network, a local area network (LAN), a cloud computing network, etc.). In a typical embodiment, a set of information pertaining to a set of components associated with a virtual computing network is received in a computer memory medium or the like. Based on the set of information, a graphical representation (e.g., hierarchical tree) depicting the set of interrelationships between the set of components is generated. When a failure in the virtual computing network is detected, at least one of the set of interrelationships between the set of components is reconfigured based on the graphical representation and the set of rules to address the failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles S. Lingafelt, James W. Murray, James T. Swantek, James S. Worley
  • Publication number: 20130225198
    Abstract: A method for processing a first message group and a second message group submitted by a user on the basis of the date and time submitted with each message includes executing, with a computer, a learning operation and an estimating operation. The learning operation includes extracting a first location message having a specifiable location from the first message group, extracting a first expression message including a specific expression from the first message group; and associating the location and the expression on the basis of the date and time submitted with each message, and for generating learning data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130226951
    Abstract: An approach is provided that visually distinguishes between entity types in a communication system. A Data store with entities is queried, with entities connected to one another as senders and receivers, resulting in a query result. A node data structure corresponding to each of the entities is created and an edge data structure corresponding to each of the connections between the entities is also created. Nodes corresponding to the node data structures are displayed, along with edges (e.g., connection lines) corresponding to the edge data structures. A user selects one of the nodes that is displayed, and the selected node is visually highlighted. Different types of non-selected nodes are identified based on the selected node. Types of nodes may include sender type nodes, receiver type nodes, and sender/receiver type nodes. The types of identified nodes are highlighted in a manner that visually distinguishes each type from the other types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130227525
    Abstract: A method for allowing selective delivery of changesets by environment includes selecting at least one value in software code of a software program; specifying at least one environment for the selected at least one value; compiling the software code in each specified at least one environment; delivering the software code to a central repository; determining how the specified at least one environment is defined; and choosing at least one environment to build against, thereby ensuring that only software code for the chosen environment is pulled from the central repository.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Soobaek Jang
  • Publication number: 20130226956
    Abstract: In a method for searching for a previously visited web page, a first computer receives a plurality of search parameters from a second computer. The plurality of search parameters include a parameter identifying a characteristic of an element of a previously visited web page and a parameter identifying a weight of confidence in a recollection of a user that the element has the characteristic. The first computer searches for the characteristic of the element in a database including one or more characteristics of elements of indexed web pages. The first computer finds a match between the characteristic of the element and a characteristic of an element of an indexed web page of the indexed web pages. The first computer creates a list including an identification of the indexed web page. The first computer sends the list to the second computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vandana Mallempati, Jehan Moghazy, Suparna S. Roy
  • Publication number: 20130224896
    Abstract: A tiltable micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) system lens comprises a microscopic lens located on a front surface of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate and a semiconductor rim surrounding the periphery of the microscopic lens. Two horizontal semiconductor beams located at different heights are provided within a top semiconductor layer. The microscopic lens may be tilted by applying an electrical bias between the lens rim and one of the two semiconductor beams, thereby altering the path of an optical beam through the microscopic lens. An array of tiltable microscopic lenses may be employed to form a composite lens having a variable focal length may be formed. A design structure for such a tiltable MEMS lens is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130226650
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for modeling and validating a user process. In an embodiment of the invention, a model validation method can include linking in memory of a computer a task of an activity modeled within a business process model to a defined role specifying information accessible to end users associated with the defined role and additionally linking in the memory of the computer the task of the activity to an object model specifying information required by an end user to complete a corresponding task. The method also can include generating a mapping from the linkings. Finally, the method an include validating the business process by determining from the mapping whether or not an end user associated with the role can access information necessary to perform the task.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation