Abstract: A method and network for managing attachments in applications. The method comprises the steps of creating a plurality of attachment databases to contain said attachments; and embedding an attachment engine within said applications for creating, deleting, and re-using said attachments in said plurality of attachment databases. The method further comprises the steps of connecting said plurality of attachment databases to each other, and performing load balancing between said plurality of attachment databases. Preferably, the method also includes the steps of archiving attachments from the attachment databases under defined conditions, and providing attachment database indexes to keep track of the attachments in the attachment databases. In addition, preferably the embedding step includes the step of embedding a respective one attachment engine within each of said applications.

Abstract: A laser based inspection tool (LIT) for inspecting planar surfaces is described. In a preferred embodiment the LIT can simultaneously inspect both planar surfaces of disks for use in disk drives. In an embodiment of the invention, light reflected from the surface at an angle slightly offset from perpendicular is routed through a telecentric lens to a detector which converts the intensity of the reflected beam into an analog signal. The analog signal is sampled and digitized to generate pixel data. A data acquisition system sequentially stores the pixel data in a buffer. A median filter and derivative analysis can be applied to the pixel data to detect deviations indicating defects. An optional calibration system periodically reflects the scanning beam back to a detector to form a reference signal for use in absolute reflectivity measurements.

Abstract: A computer system which permits deterministic and preemptive scheduling of threads in a software application. In one embodiment, a scheduler is utilized to schedule the threads in a queue. Once the threads are scheduled, they are divided up into instruction slices each consisting of a predetermined number of instructions. The scheduler executes each instruction slice. An instruction counter is utilized to keep track of the number of instructions executed. The thread is permitted to run the instruction slice until the predetermined number of instructions has been executed. Alternatively, the thread stops if it is blocked while waiting for an input, for example. The next thread is then executed for the same number of instructions. This process permits for the efficient debugging of software which utilizes traditional cyclic debugging.

Abstract: A method for indexing magnetic disks by using a scanning probe is disclosed. A magnetic disk includes several essentially concentric magnetic tracks. The magnetic disk is attached to a rotating spindle. A number of data tracks is then written in a specific circular arc at an inner radial position of the magnetic disk. The beginning or the end of the written data tracks is defined to be in a co-incident or in a defined relation to an index or trigger signal defined by the rotating spindle. The rotating spindle is stopped from rotation, and a scanning probe microscope is moved radially at a fixed rotating angle to a second radial position. A tip of the scanning probe microscope is moved towards a surface of the magnetic disk. At least one scan line is recorded and analyzed in order to determine if a magnetic track is imaged by the tip of the scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching messages from a primary message channel to a secondary message channel in a message queuing system in which messages are placed in a first transmission queue of a local system for transmission to a remote system via a primary message channel. A local queue manager continuously checks to see whether a high water mark has been reached in the first transmission queue, indicating an apparent failure in the primary message channel. On determining such an apparent failure in the primary message channel, the queue manager determines whether the secondary message channel is associated with the first transmission queue. If so, the queue manager activates the secondary message channel to serve said first transmission queue. If, on the other hand, the secondary message channel is associated with another transmission queue, the queue manager transfers messages already in the first queue to the other queue and redirects any new messages intended for the first queue to the other queue.

Abstract: Start with a semiconductor substrate with contacts exposed through an insulating layer. Form a base over the contacts, with the base composed of at least one metal layer. Then form a conductive metal layer over the base. Form a mask over the top surface of the conductive metal layer with C4 solder bump openings therethrough with the shape of C4 solder bump images down to the surface of the conductive metal layer above the contacts. Etch away the exposed portions of the conductive metal layer below the C4 solder bump openings to form through holes in the conductive metal layer exposing C4 solder bump plating sites on the top surface of the base below the C4 solder bump openings with the conductive metal layer remaining intact on the periphery of the through holes at the C4 solder bump plating sites. As an option, form a barrier layer over the plating sites next.

Abstract: A multicast communication system for small groups using a protocol to indicate to routers receiving a packet according to the protocol to perform the following process: (1) determining a next hop for each of the destination nodes listed in the packet received; (2) partitioning the destination nodes into groups according to the next hop determined for each destination node in the preceding step; (3) replicating the packet such that there is at least one copy of the packet for each of the next hops; (4) modifying the list of addresses for the destination nodes such that the list of addresses for each of the next hops includes only the addresses for the destination nodes to be routed in that next hop; and (5) transmitting the modified copies of the packet to the next hops found in the previous steps for routing to the addresses included in each packet.

Abstract: A method is provided to adjust time delays and sequence ordering of data channels in synchronous clocked bus systems. In particular, the invention relates to a method to re-synchronize data in respective channels which have a relative delay to each other caused by different path lengths, etc., on the way from sender to receiver. Still more specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus used to eliminate those delays in order to make data usable again on the receiver side. The method can be carried out using standard microprocessors without the need for special hardware implementations. Thus the use of costly and performance intensive ASICs and signal processors can be avoided.

Abstract: In parallel-serial architecture based networks that include a transmission media and at least one I/O processor connected to the transmission media by a core, a buffering device is provided that compensates for different latencies from all physical lanes in data links so that data transmission occurs at the same time in the receive path of the I/O “processor.” The processor can be an I/O device for a host channel adapter, a target channel adapter, or an interconnect switch in an InfiniBand-type network.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and data processing system for accessing extended attributes. An extended attribute descriptor in a dinode may be read to determine if there exists extended attributes associated with a file system object that is associated with the dinode. An extended attribute descriptor points to a dinodex associated with the dinode if there exists an extended attribute associated with the file system object. The dinodex may then be read to retrieve the extended attritbutes stored either inside or outside the dinodex. However, if there is no extended attribute associated with that particular file system object, then the extended attribute descriptor comprises a null value and does not point to a dinodex associated with the dinode.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display structure, includes a glass substrate and at least one or more chips mounted on the glass substrate including flexible printed circuit connect pins. A common wiring for connecting the at least one or more chips to a flexible printed circuit is formed on the glass substrate. The common wiring is connected to the flexible printed circuit connect pins of the at least one or more chips and to the flexible printed circuit at at least one position on the common wiring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing inter-object communication are provided. With the apparatus and method, objects obtain licenses to interact with one another via a licensing framework. When an object wishes to enter into an interaction with another object, the first object sends its license to the second object. The second object then sends a request to the framework requesting that a partnership between the objects be generated. The partnership request includes an identification of the two objects' licenses. The objects' licenses are then validated and, assuming the licenses are valid, a partnership object is created. References to the partnership object are forwarded to the objects which then use the reference to the partnership object to communicate with the other object in the partnership rather than a direct reference to the other partner object.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fiber optical arrays, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to 3-dimentional array fiber optical couplers. More particularly, the present invention provides means of coupling semiconductor laser light sources to fiber-optic transmission devices.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to computer databases and, more particularly, to data mining and knowledge discovery. The invention specifically relates to a method for constructing segmentation-based predictive models, such as decision-tree classifiers, wherein data records are partitioned into a plurality of segments and separate predictive models are constructed for each segment. The present invention contemplates a computerized method for automatically building segmentation-based predictive models that substantially improves upon the modeling capabilities of decision trees and related technologies, and that automatically produces models that are competitive with, if not better than, those produced by data analysts and applied statisticians using traditional, labor-intensive statistical techniques. The invention achieves these properties by performing segmentation and multivariate statistical modeling within each segment simultaneously.

Abstract: Provider are a method, system, and program for maintaining data in a distributed computing environment. Data is stored at a primary storage site. A data structure is processed indicating an association of data sets in the stored data, secondary storage sites, and update frequencies. In response to processing the data structure, a determination is made of one of a plurality of secondary storage sites and a determination is made of at least one data set to transmit to the determined secondary storage site at an update frequency. The determined data set is transmitted to the determined secondary storage site according to the update frequency.

Abstract: An interconnect structure having an increased chip connector pad and plated through hole density is provided. In particular, the interconnect structure includes a substrate having at least one plated through hole therein, and a first conductive layer sealing the at least one plated through hole. The substrate includes a layer of dielectric material thereon. The dielectric layer includes at least one aperture selectively positioned directly over the at least one plated through hole. The substrate further includes a metal layer, at least a pair of conductive layers that can carry signals, and at least another pair of conductive layers that can carry power, wherein the pair of conductive layers are shielded by the metal layer and the other pair of conductive layers.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for configuring device addresses used by a source device to communicate with at least one target device. A determination is made of a number of device addresses supported by a target device and an identifier of the source device. The determined identifier and the number of device addresses supported by the target device are used to determine device addresses from the device addresses supported by the target device to communicate with the target device.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, program, and data structure for maintaining metadata in a storage system, wherein metadata provides information on customer data in the storage system. A first metadata structure includes a plurality of fields, each field having a field length and including information on a block of customer data. A second metadata structure is generated to include a same plurality of fields in the first metadata structure, each field having the same field length as in the first metadata structure, wherein both the first and second metadata structures provide metadata on a same block of customer data. Metadata is included in at least one field in the second metadata structure from at least one field in the first metadata structure. Metadata is included in at least one field in the second metadata structure that is not included in the first metadata structure.

Abstract: Provided is a system, method, and program for maintaining a backup copy of files in a primary storage device in a backup storage device. The files in the primary storage device are capable of being restored from the backup copy of the files in the backup storage device. An association of one of a plurality of priority values is maintained for each file in the backup copy in the backup storage device. The priority value associated with each file in the backup copy of the files is used to determine the order in which the files in the backup copy are restored from the backup storage device to the primary storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing access rights information on computer accessible content are provided. The apparatus and method provide a mechanism through which access rights information is provided in association with information and content such that use of the information and content is controlled based on the access rights information. The apparatus and method include access rights information tags being associated with information and content. A web browser is provided with code, either in the web browser, or as a plugin application or browser extension, to process the access rights information and thereby control the usage of the associated information and content. Such control may include enabling and/or disabling options in the web browser application. The access rights information may be used to control access to content, identify how access to content may be obtained, monitor or keep a record of access to the content, and the like.