Patents Assigned to Business Machines Corporation
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Patent number: 7467410Abstract: A system and method for preventing misuse conditions on a data network are described. Embodiments of the system and method evaluate potential network misuse signatures by analyzing variables such as the state of the network and/or target, the context in which the potential misuse signatures are detected, the response/reaction of the target and/or the fingerprint of the target. These and other variables may be factored in to the misuse determination, either alone, or in combination.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert David Graham, Peter Kavaler
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Patent number: 7465882Abstract: Signal line conductors passing through vertical vias in an insulative substrate for supporting and interconnecting integrated circuit chips are provided with shielding conductors in adjacent vias that link respective power and ground planes. The shielding conductors' presence in positions around a signal via is made possible through the employment of power plane and ground plane conductive grids that are laid out in rhomboid patterns. The power plane and ground plane grids possess a left-right mirror relation to one another and are displaced to place the rhomboid's corners to avoid overlapping any of the grid lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Wiren D. Becker, Zhaoqing Chen, George Katopis
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Patent number: 7466604Abstract: A static random access memory (“SRAM”) is provided which includes a plurality of SRAM cells arranged in an array having a plurality of portions. The SRAM includes a plurality of voltage control circuits corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of portions of the array. Each of the plurality of voltage control circuits is coupled to an output of a power supply, each voltage control circuit having a function to temporarily reduce a voltage provided to power supply inputs of a plurality of SRAM cells that belong to a selected one of the plurality of portions of the SRAM. The power supply voltage to the selected portion is reduced during a write operation in which a bit is written to one of the SRAM cells belonging to the selected portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Wayne F. Ellis, Randy W. Mann, David J. Wager, Robert C. Wong
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Patent number: 7466996Abstract: Methods, and arrangements for power reduction in links, such as transmitters and receivers, based upon global decisions such as the data transmission frequencies, communications media, and traffic types associated with links, are disclosed. In particular, embodiments take advantage of high-level decisions by reconfiguring internal circuits of transmitters and receivers of links to reduce power consumption. At the global level, a decision determines the links that are active, the data frequency at which the links operate, and the media through which the links transmit the data. At the local level, the links receive the decisions and reconfigure circuitry automatically to minimize power based upon the decisions. In some embodiments, the links may receive the decisions in the form of power modes. In further embodiments, the links may receive settings such as on/off settings, data frequency settings, and traffic/media settings, the combination of which indicates power modes.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Juan-Antonio Carballo
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Patent number: 7466861Abstract: An output mechanism of a character recognition device includes a category classifier for classifying image data of characters to be recognized for each category recognized in character recognition processing, a clustering processor for determining feature values related to shapes of characters included in the image data in each category classified by the category classifier, and for classifying the image data into one or more clusters based on the feature values, and a screen creator for creating a confirmation screen for displaying the image data for each cluster classified by the clustering processor.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Shin Katoh, Toshimichi Arima, Michitoshi Sumikawa
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Patent number: 7467168Abstract: Provided is a method for mirroring data. A mirror policy indicating volumes in a first storage system is processed to mirror to volumes in a second storage system and volumes in the second storage system to mirror to volumes in a third storage system. The third storage system is at a first geographical location remote with respect to a second geographical location including the first and second storage systems. A command is transmitted to cause the copying of updates to the volumes in the first storage system to corresponding volumes in the second storage system indicated in the mirror policy. Upon an occurrence of an event, the causing the suspension of the copying of updates to the volumes in the first storage system indicated in the mirroring policy to the volumes in the second storage system.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Frederic Kern, William Frank Micka, Gail Andrea Spear, David B. Petersen
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Patent number: 7467181Abstract: A system and method for context-specific instant messaging are presented. A user views a page of data that is segmented into regions. The user performs a user action and, in turn, a message generator displays context-specific phrases for the user to select based upon the region that the user action was performed and a corresponding object type. When a region corresponds to a meeting time, a context-specific phrase may also be time-sensitive. When a region corresponds to meeting participants, a context-specific phrase may include recipient identifiers. The user selects one of the context-specific phrases, and the message generator invokes a message session between the user and a recipient based upon the selected context-specific phrase. The message generator includes a link to the corresponding object such that the message recipient may easily identify the context of the message.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Patrick Gabriel McGowan, Christopher Joseph Paul, Jeremy Gray Perry
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Patent number: 7467390Abstract: The present invention is an enhanced staged event-driven architecture (SEDA) stage. The enhanced SEDA stage can include an event queue configured to enqueue a plurality of events, an event handler programmed to process events in the event queue, and a thread pool coupled to the event handler. A resource manager further can be coupled to the thread pool and the event queue. Moreover, the resource manager can be programmed to allocate additional threads to the thread pool where a number of events enqueued in the event queue exceeds a threshold value and where all threads in the thread pool are busy.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David Blair Gilgen, Thomas Owings Rowe
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Patent number: 7467364Abstract: Database mining, analysis and optimization techniques in conjunction with the model-based functional coverage analysis are used to turn raw verification and coverage data into design intelligence (DI) and verification intelligence (VA). The required data and attributes are automatically extracted from verification, simulation and coverage analysis databases. Design finite state machine extraction, design functional event extraction, and automatic coverage model generation and optimization techniques are applied to the design HDL description. Coverage model tuning and optimization directives, as well as test spec tuning and optimization directives are generated based on the analysis and mining of various verification, simulation, and coverage databases. An integrated web-based interface portlet is used for access, analysis and management of the resulting databases, generated reports and verification directives.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Amir Hekmatpour
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Patent number: 7467369Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method which perform cell transforms that decrease overall wire length, without degrading device timing or violating electrical constraints. The process computes delay constraint coefficients for a data set. The process performs a detailed placement transform by moving a subset of cells, making the placement legal, computing a half perimeter wire length change for each output net that is a member of the subset of nets, and computing a Manhattan distance change for each source-sink gate pair within the move cells. the process computes a weighted total wire length incremented value for the transformed data set. Further, the process continues by evaluating arrival time constraints, electrical constraints, and user configurable move limits for violations, and restoring the move cells to the original placement if a violation is found.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles J. Alpert, Gi-Joon Nam, Haoxing Ren, Paul G. Villarrubia
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Patent number: 7467288Abstract: A system and method for processing operations that use data vectors each comprising a plurality of data elements, in accordance with the present invention, includes a vector data file comprising a plurality of storage elements for storing data elements of the data vectors. A pointer array is coupled by a bus to the vector data file. The pointer array includes a plurality of entries wherein each entry identifies at least one storage element in the vector data file. The at least one storage element stores at least one data element of the data vectors, wherein for at least one particular entry in the pointer array, the at least one storage element identified by the particular entry has an arbitrary starting address in the vector data file.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2003Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Clair John Glossner, III, Erdem Hokenek, David Meltzer, Mayan Moudgill
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Patent number: 7467188Abstract: A method for scheduling and transmitting messages is disclosed. The method comprises storing a plurality of audio files in an audio database, generating a schedule of queued messages via the plurality of audio files, transmitting the queued messages based on the schedule, reconfiguring the schedule based on a user interaction delivering the queued messages in accordance with the reconfigured schedule. Through the use of the method in accordance with the present invention, a scheduled plurality of messages can be transmitted in a clear and professional manner. Additionally, “ad hoc” messages can be incorporated into the schedule without significantly disrupting the other messages.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Robert S. Hoblit
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Patent number: 7464869Abstract: The present invention relates to a self check-out method which uses contact free tags embedded in a receptacle, e.g., a plate, glass, etc. The method relates the tag to a service area and uses that relationship to associate the receptacle with a charge to be made to a customer.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Dimitris Gibault
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Patent number: 7467146Abstract: System, method and program product determine whether a first web page returned to a web browser is a redirected web page. A dummy URL is created by appending one or more characters to a URL of the first web page. The one or more characters are chosen such that the dummy URL is likely to elicit a redirected web page. The request for the dummy URL is sent. A second web page is received in response to the request. The content of the second web page is compared to content of the first web page to determine if the first web page is a redirected web page. If the content of the second web page matches the content of the first web page, a record is made indicating that the first web page is a redirected web page.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gregory Frank Coppola, Brian Patrick Singer
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Patent number: 7467323Abstract: A cache coherent data processing system includes a plurality of processing units each having at least an associated cache, a system memory, and a memory controller that is coupled to and controls access to the system memory. The system memory includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a memory block of data, where each of the plurality of storage locations is sized to store a sub-block of data. The system memory further includes metadata storage for storing metadata, such as a domain indicator, describing the memory block. In response to a failure of a storage location for a particular sub-block among the plurality of sub-blocks, the memory controller overwrites at least a portion of the metadata in the metadata storage with the particular sub-block of data.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James Stephen Fields, Jr., Sanjeev Ghai, Warren Edward Maule, Jeffrey Adam Stuecheli
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Patent number: 7466647Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a 2:1 MUX to control read access, data bypass, and page size bypass in a memory array. The mechanism of the present invention reduces the 3:1 MUX normally required to manage these three functions to a 2:1 MUX.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Andrew James Bianchi, Eric Jason Fluhr, Masood Ahmed Khan, Michael Ju Hyeok Lee, Edelmar Seewann
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Patent number: 7467295Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, receive a command that requests a name of a boot image and a network address of a boot server that contains the boot image, invoke a plug-in to determine the name of the boot image and the network address of the boot server based on an address of a client that sent the command, and send the name of the boot image and the network address of the boot server to a client that sent the command. In various embodiments, the address of the client may be a network address or a MAC (Media Access Control) address. The client retrieves the boot image via the name and the network address of the boot server, and the boot image initializes the client when executed at the client. In various embodiments, the name of the boot image or the network address of the boot server are changed to second names or addresses and sent to the client in response to another command.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven C. Erickson, David Joseph Gimpl, Fraser Allan Syme
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Patent number: 7466217Abstract: A system for signaling that a person is in an vehicle is provided and includes a power source, a processing unit including a counter, a state monitoring unit configured to monitor an internal temperature of the vehicle and to monitor whether the vehicle is in an off state and a door monitoring unit configured to monitor whether any of the vehicle doors are open or closed, a first buckle receiver, including a first signal issuing unit, a first buckle to be removably inserted into the buckle receiver and to thereby cause the first signal issuing unit to issue an installation signal to the processing unit, a second buckle receiver, including a second signal issuing unit, a second buckle to be removably inserted into the second buckle receiver and to thereby cause the second signal issuing unit to issue an occupation signal to the processing unit, and an alarm unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Alexander C. Johnson, Scott W. Nelson, Hal A. Porter, Joshua R. Paulson
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Patent number: 7467063Abstract: Methods, systems and program products are disclosed for determining whether a measurement system under test (MSUT) matches a fleet including at least one other measurement system. The invention implements realistic parameters for analyzing a matching problem including single tool precision, tool-to-tool non-linearities and tool-to-tool offsets. A bottom-line tool matching precision metric that combines these parameters into a single value is then implemented. The invention also includes methods for determining a root cause of a matching problem, and for determining a fleet measurement precision metric.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles N. Archie, George W. Banke, Jr., Eric P. Solecky
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Patent number: 7467331Abstract: A method for preserving error data on a computing platform that lacks non-volatile storage (e.g., a “diskless” platform) is provided. In response to detecting a platform error (e.g., automatically by hardware, software, or manually by a user when a wait or loop condition is suspected), platform error data may be gathered and temporarily stored in volatile storage accessible on the platform. In order to preserve the platform error data in the event power is lost after the error, the platform error data is transferred to a target system with access to non-volatile storage. Once the target system indicates the platform error data has been stored in non-volatile storage, the volatile storage used to temporarily store the platform error data may be freed-up.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Salim Ahmed Agha, Brent Robert Tiefenthaler