Patents Assigned to International Business Machine Corporations
  • Patent number: 9626209
    Abstract: A streams manager monitors performance of a streaming application, and when the performance needs to be improved, the streams manager automatically requests virtual machines from a cloud manager. The cloud manager provisions one or more virtual machines in a cloud with the specified streams infrastructure and streams application components. The streams manager then modifies the flow graph so one or more portions of the streaming application are hosted by the virtual machines in the cloud. When performance of the streaming application indicates a virtual machine is no longer needed, the virtual machine is maintained and placed in a ready state so it can be quickly used as needed in the future without the overhead of deploying a new virtual machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lance Bragstad, Michael J. Branson, Bin Cao, James E. Carey, Mathew R. Odden
  • Patent number: 9626256
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an aborted transaction from a plurality of transactions is executed by a processor core with a transactional memory, that stores information corresponding to a plurality of transactions executed by the processor core, and a transaction diagnostic register. The processor core retrieves context summary information from at least one register of the processor core. The processor core stores the context summary information of aborted transactions into the transactional memory or the transaction diagnostic register. The context summary information can be used for diagnosing the aborted transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Harold W Cain, Bradly G Frey, Hung Q Le, Cathy May
  • Patent number: 9628425
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for handling notifications. An instruction from the user is received to redirect notifications to alternative computing device(s). After a notification (e.g., operating system update) is received from a computing device (e.g., computing device of the presenter of an electronic presentation), the notification is queued. A graphical representation of the notification is saved as an image and the action buttons within the notification are translated into textual actions. The image of the graphical representation of the notification and the textual actions are sent to the alterative computing device(s), such as via MMS. In this manner, notifications are prevented from being displayed and interrupting the user, such as a presenter of a presentation, by redirecting such notifications to an alternative computing device. Furthermore, in this manner, the user of the alternative device is able to respond to the notification via SMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Kenna, Dana L. Price
  • Patent number: 9626993
    Abstract: A computer program product according to one embodiment includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a controller of a data storage device to cause the controller to perform a method including, determining, by the controller, a test skew gain of a coil using skew information from a servo subsystem of the controller; comparing, by the controller, the test skew gain to a stored reference gain; and taking an action, by the controller, in response to the comparing of the test skew gain to the reference gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David H. F. Harper, Randy C. Inch
  • Patent number: 9624312
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a composite material is prepared by blending a flame retardant modified cellulosic nanomaterial (FR-CN) filler into a polymer, wherein the FR-CN filler comprises a cellulosic nanomaterial (e.g., cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and/or cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs)) having a surface functionalized to incorporate a phosphorus-containing moiety. In some embodiments, the FR-CN filler is prepared by reacting hydroxyl groups on the surface of the cellulosic nanomaterial and a halogenated phosphorous-containing monomer (e.g., diphenyl phosphoryl chloride). In some embodiments, the surface of the cellulosic nanomaterial is further functionalized to incorporate an orthogonal functionality selected to enhance the compatibility of the FR-CN filler with the polymer by reacting hydroxyl groups on the surface of the cellulosic nanomaterial and a monomer (e.g., epichlorohydrin when the polymer is an epoxy-based polymer).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dylan J. Boday, Joseph Kuczynski, Jason T. Wertz
  • Patent number: 9626495
    Abstract: An approach for authenticating a device is provided. The approach includes a computer implemented method for receiving a first stage biometric variable verification data for accessing the device. The approach further includes a computer-implemented method for computing a second stage binary authentication data for accessing the device. The approach further includes analyzing the received first stage biometric variable verification data and the second stage binary authentication data. The approach further includes receiving the second binary authentication data for accessing the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Suzanne C. Deffeyes, Francis J. Hildenbrand, Jr., Garreth J. Jeremiah, Amir Khan, C. Steven Lingafelt
  • Patent number: 9627373
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes dummy gate structures formed on a dielectric layer over a substrate and forming a gap therebetween. A trench silicide structure is formed in the gap on the dielectric layer and extends longitudinally beyond the gap on end portions. The trench silicide structure forms a resistive element. Self-aligned contacts are formed through an interlevel dielectric layer and land on the trench silicide structure beyond the gap on the end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veeraraghavan S. Basker, Kangguo Cheng, Theodorus E. Standaert, Junli Wang
  • Patent number: 9628402
    Abstract: Reservation of resources for a service includes receiving a request for resources for a project duration with a start time and an end time; determining if the requested resources are available for the project duration; determining a utilization level of one or more resource provisioning components during a provisioning time prior to the start time of the project; and determining if the one or more resource provisioning components have capacity to handle the provisioning of resources for the request prior to the start time of the project. The one or more resource provisioning components can be reserved for a provisioning time prior to the start time of the project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francoise Alabiso, Olivier Boehler, Michael C. Buzzetti, Frank J. De Gilio, Sebastien Llaurency
  • Patent number: 9628446
    Abstract: Mapping and obscuring digital representations of a number of user accounts on a social network map includes identifying a primary user account from a number of user accounts of a social network, determining, based on metadata associated with the user accounts, a relationship for each of the user accounts relative to the primary user account, mapping, based on the relationship for each of the user accounts relative to the primary user account, a digital representation of each of the user accounts to a territory on a social network map, determining, based on the relationship for each of the user accounts relative to the primary user account, an obscurity level for each of the user accounts, and obscuring, based on the obscurity level, the territory associated with the digital representation of each of the user accounts on a social network map from the primary user account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cameron J. Bosnic, Jr., Vijay Francis, Jacob M. Lineberry, Scott H. Prager, Erika Varga
  • Patent number: 9625939
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for synchronizing a common reference clock over optics. For example, a reference clock from a host device may be frequency adjusted based on a pass-band of an optical link, decoded, and converted into an optical signal, and transferred to a controller of a target device via one or more optical cables. The controller may be used to recover the reference clock using the optical signal, which may be used as a common-reference clock for communications between the host and target devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph J. Cahill, Daniel M. Dreps, Kaveh Naderi, James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 9628847
    Abstract: A mobile device controls content partitioning at a separate renderable content storage device of an item of renderable content into multiple partitioned content segments that are each less in size than the entire item of renderable content and that each fit within available memory of the mobile device. The mobile device renders on a display device of the mobile device multiple received content partition identifiers that each identify one partitioned content segment. The mobile device retrieves from the separate renderable content storage device a partitioned content segment of the item of renderable content identified by a user-selected content partition identifier. The mobile device renders the partitioned content segment. The mobile device automatically retrieves, in response to completion of rendering of the partitioned content segment, a second partitioned content segment using a second content partition identifier of the received multiple content partition identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan A. Baker, James D. Creasman, Barry J. Pellas, Adrian P. Vrouwenvelder
  • Patent number: 9628107
    Abstract: Each binary floating-point value in a set of binary floating-point values is converted to a decimal floating-point value. Data are determined including an exponent, a mantissa and a quantity of decimal digits of the mantissa for each decimal floating-point value. The exponents, the mantissas and the quantity of decimal digits are individually compressed to produce compressed floating-point values based on the individual compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Garth A. Dickie
  • Patent number: 9623337
    Abstract: A proximity threshold of an avatar is defined with respect to proximity to an artifact located within a virtual universe domain. Activity by the avatar within the virtual universe domain is tracked, with activity data generated from the tracking. The activity data is analyzed to determine proximity of the avatar to the artifact within the proximity threshold, and a report is generated from the analyzing, the report noting a determined proximity of the avatar to the artifact within the proximity threshold. In one aspect, the report is provided to a supervisory entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Clifford A. Pickover, James W. Seaman
  • Patent number: 9626630
    Abstract: A computing device determines one or more first degree correlations based on valuation information. The computing device determines one or more important variables based on at least a comparison between the absolute value of the one or more first degree correlations to a first threshold value. The computing device determines a valuation function based on at least one or more of the determined one or more important variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vitaly Feldman, Jan Vondrak
  • Patent number: 9626631
    Abstract: An analysis device which analyzes a system that inputs input data including a plurality of input parameters and outputs output data, including an acquisition unit that acquires learning data including a plurality of sets of the input data and the output data, and a learning processing unit that learns, based on the acquired learning data, the amount of difference of output data corresponding to a difference between input parameters of two pieces of input data, an analysis method using the analysis device, and a program used in the analysis device are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Hara, Tetsuro Morimura, Raymond H. Rudy
  • Patent number: 9627511
    Abstract: A method of forming a spacer for a vertical transistor is provided. The method includes forming a fin structure that includes a fin on a semiconductor substrate, forming a source junction or a drain junction at an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate and at a base of the fin and epitaxially growing a rare earth oxide (REO) spacer to have a substantially uniform thickness along respective upper surfaces of the source or drain junction and on opposite sides of the fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Juntao Li, Geng Wang, Qintao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9625982
    Abstract: Management of power consumption in large computing clusters is disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method includes using a power manager to receive, via a communication interface, information associated with the cluster of computing nodes. The method includes determining whether a switch is coupled to an inactive computing node of the cluster of computing nodes based on the received information. Further, the method includes communicating a command to the switch to remove power supplied to a switch port of the switch coupled to the inactive computing node in response to determining that the switch is coupled to an inactive computing node of the cluster of computing nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shareef F. Alshinnawi, Gary D. Cudak, Christopher J. Hardee, Edward S. Suffern, J. Mark Weber, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9626111
    Abstract: A mirrored storage system comprising a system controller coupled to a first storage system comprising a primary controller and a first storage and to a second storage system comprising a secondary controller and a second storage. The second storage contains an image of data stored in the first storage. The system controller receives data to be written to storage and sends the data to the primary controller of the first storage system and to the secondary controller of the second storage system. The system controller instructs the primary controller to write the data to the first storage of the first storage system in an ordered manner; and instructs the secondary controller to write the data sequentially to a data area on the second storage of the second storage system. Writing the data sequentially to the second storage improves the write performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Diederich, Frank Krick, Thorsten Muehge, Erik Rueger
  • Patent number: 9626169
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an execution of a binary code by multiple threads includes a detection unit configured to detect an occurrence of modification of a first part that is a part of a first binary code by a self-modifying code; a specifying unit configured to specify a second part that is a part corresponding to the first part in a second binary code acquired by converting the first binary code, in response to detection of the occurrence of modification of the first part by the self-modifying code; and a correction unit configured to correct the second part such that a specific thread that executes the second part of the second binary code among the multiple threads causes an exception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohiro Kawahito, Toshihiko Koju, Xin Tong
  • Patent number: 9626500
    Abstract: A method, system or computer usable program product for managing access to an electronic system through a touchscreen device including presenting a display of a first and a second scrolling stream of icons; responsive to user input, detecting contemporaneous selection of a first icon from the first scrolling stream and a second icon from the second scrolling stream; and responsive to the selection of the first and second icon matching an established unlock pattern, unlocking the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Faraz Ahmad, Adekunle Bello, Gregory J. Boss, Anto A. R. John