Patents Assigned to International Business Machines Corp.
  • Publication number: 20080162079
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, electronic device, and computer readable medium for determining an end-of-life stage of the flash memory. The method includes detecting at least one life cycle event associated with a flash memory residing on an electronic device. A counter that is associated with the life cycle event is then incremented. Based on the counter, a total number of occurrences for the one life cycle event is determined. The total number of occurrences for the at least one given threshold is also determined. A current life cycle stage of the flash memory is identified based at least in part on determining if the total number of occurrences exceeds at least one given threshold. The life cycle stage is associated with the at least one given threshold. A user is then notified of the life cycle state of the flash memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: TARA ASTIGARRAGA, William E. Atherton, Michael E. Browne
  • Publication number: 20080155194
    Abstract: A system for improving a performance of a write process in an exemplary RAID system reduces a number of IOs required for a short write in a RAID algorithm by using a replicated-parity drive. Parity is stored on the parity portion of the disk drives. A replicated-parity drive comprises all the parity information. Parity information for each parity drive is co-located or mirrored on the replicated-parity portion of the disk drives for fast access during a read portion of the read-modify-write process. Consequently, the system accesses parity data with one seek, as opposed to P seeks in a conventional disk array system utilizing P parity drives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: JEFFREY R. HARTLINE, James Lee Hafner, Tapas Kanungo
  • Publication number: 20080154866
    Abstract: A dynamic foldering system automatically manages the creation and deletion of run-time dynamic folders and selection of documents, items, or object graphs found in the run-time dynamic folders. The system comprises a query/predicate for a design-time folder group based on which dynamic folders are automatically managed, a variable binding mechanism, automatic identifications of dynamic folders containing a particular object, parallel navigation, and customized combination of foldering results. The dynamic folder hierarchy is defined by a hierarchy of design-time folder groups defined by a query/predicate on a document comprising structured or semi-structured data. Modifiable criteria for creating the dynamic folder hierarchy are provided by the user. Variable binding provides powerful query/predicate definitions on hierarchical data or graph-structured data. Given a document, the system automatically identifies which dynamic folders contain the document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: KEVIN SCOTT BEYER, Hui-I Hsiao, Joshua Wai-Ho Hui, Ning Li
  • Patent number: 7392366
    Abstract: A multithreaded processor, fetch control for a multithreaded processor and a method of fetching in the multithreaded processor. Processor event and use (EU) signs are monitored for downstream pipeline conditions indicating pipeline execution thread states. Instruction cache fetches are skipped for any thread that is incapable of receiving fetched cache contents, e.g., because the thread is full or stalled. Also, consecutive fetches may be selected for the same thread, e.g., on a branch mis-predict. Thus, the processor avoids wasting power on unnecessary or place keeper fetches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Pradip Bose, Alper Buyuktosunoglu, Richard J. Eickemeyer, Lee E. Eisen, Philip G. Emma, John B. Griswell, Zhigang Hu, Hung Q. Le, Douglas R. Logan, Balaram Sinharoy
  • Publication number: 20080147723
    Abstract: A method and system that allows efficient shredding of large instances of hierarchical data structures into relational data structures. Large instances of hierarchical data structures, which are able to be larger than the random access storage of a computer used to shred them into relational data structures, are incrementally shredded into a temporary storage. When the amount of data shredded into the temporary storage reaches or exceeds a predetermined commit count, the data in the temporary storage is transferred to a relational data structure maintained by a relational database manager. A Document Type Description annotation is provided to allow the end user to specify execution order for SQL commands and to specify commit count values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: DIKRAN S. MELIKSETIAN, George Andrel Mihaila, Nianjun Zhou
  • Publication number: 20080147262
    Abstract: A system and method for providing customized help to a vehicle user when a vehicle problem is detected. The method includes detecting vehicle data that indicates a condition of a vehicle and obtaining profile data comprising an estimated mechanical skill level of a user. The method further includes providing instructions, based upon the profile data and the vehicle data, to the user for addressing the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP.
    Inventors: Fonda DANIELS, Deirdre H. DUTHIL, Sandra K. JOHNSON, Ruthie D. LYLE, Kelly MALONE, Demethria Johnson RAMSEUR
  • Patent number: 7389106
    Abstract: Changes in wireless service user behavior are encouraged and produced to shape utilization patterns among cells within a rate plan region by using shaping rules which define potential discounts from a standard charge rate under certain cell-specific utilization conditions, analyzing the shaping rules and utilization statistics of a cell upon service initiation, generating a discount from the standard rate for underutilized cells. The user is notified of these discount opportunities using text messages, icons, or other means. Over time, the users learn that at certain places and times, significant discounts are offered, and thus changes their behavior to take advantage of those discounts, thereby shaping traffic in a manner desired by the service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Christopher James Dawson, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, James Wesley Seaman, Timothy Moffett Waters
  • Patent number: 7356766
    Abstract: A web-based system, method and program product are provided for adding content to a content object stored (e.g., a custom compilation or prepublished work) in a data repository as a group of hierarchically related content entities. Each noncontainer content object is preferably stored as a separate entity in the data repository. Each content entity is also stored as a row in a digital library index class as a collection of attributes and references to related content entities and containers. As the user selects desired objects for inclusion in a content object, the system arranges the objects hierarchically, e.g., into volumes, chapters and sections according to the order specified by the user. The system then creates a file object (e.g., a CBO) defining the content object that contains a list or outline of the container and noncontainer entities selected, their identifiers, order and structure. This file object is stored separately in the data repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corp., Pearson Education Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Baer, Edward Hanapole, Robert C. Hartman, Jr., Richard D. Hennessy, Eugene Johnson, Jr., I-Ming Kao, Janet L. Murray, Jerry D. Robertson, III, Richard W. Walkus
  • Publication number: 20080082972
    Abstract: A method and computer readable medium for automatic replacement of object classes in a library with custom classes to improve program efficiency. The method begins with static analysis preformed on a program containing a plurality of objects in order to determine type-correctness constraints and to detect unused functionality in one or more of the objects to be replaced. The plurality of objects is instrumented to detect usage patterns of functionality in one or more objects. Customized classes are generated based upon the static analysis and usage patterns detected. Bytecode is rewritten which is used for generating classes. The present invention provides transparency in the replacement of the objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: BJORN DE SUTTER, Julian Dolby, Frank Tip
  • Patent number: 7349853
    Abstract: A method and system for routing hardcopy mail is provided. Specifically, a recipient is assigned a unique identifier. The recipient can electronically designate a mailing address to be associated with the assigned identifier. A sender wishing to send the recipient a piece of hardcopy mail can obtain the recipient's identifier and affix the same to the piece of hardcopy mail. The identifier will be read and the piece of hardcopy mail will be routed to the recipient at the mailing address associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventor: Clark Thurston Hill
  • Publication number: 20080071753
    Abstract: A computing system and method receive a query; separate a plurality of information sources into individual elements of content (EOC); tag each EOC with metadata that indicate source, date, and other relevant information; pattern match each EOC; calculate the respective distance function from every EOC to every other EOC; and output EOC to a set of virtual buffers (404) containing appropriately related EOC less than a given distance value. The method further creates virtual summary buffers (406); then concatenates the EOC in each virtual buffer (404); applies a comparative analysis filter (318) to remove redundant sub-elements; and presents the results as summary digests (408).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Arnon Amir, Gal Ashour, Brian Blanchard, Matthew Denesuk, Reiner Kraft
  • Publication number: 20080068065
    Abstract: An electronically scannable multiplexing device is capable of addressing multiple bits within a volatile or non-volatile memory cell. The multiplexing device generates an electronically scannable conducting channel with two oppositely formed depletion regions. The depletion width of each depletion region is controlled by a voltage applied to a respective control gate at each end of the multiplexing device. The present multi-bit addressing technique allows, for example, 10 to 100 bits of data to be accessed or addressed at a single node. The present invention can also be used to build a programmable nanoscale logic array or for randomly accessing a nanoscale sensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Hemantha Wickramasinghe, Kailash Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20080065593
    Abstract: Elements of one or more database manipulation language (DML) commands strings are stored in tables, read from those tables and DML commands are generated. Storing these command elements in tables facilitates access to and modification of database commands used in data processing applications. Temporary storage control elements are also stored in and read from those tables. The DML query command string is executed, the retrieved data is stored in temporary storage as specified by the temporary storage control elements and is bound to the parameters to the DML storage command strings which are executed to modify target database tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Sharon Minder, Teresa Beck
  • Patent number: 7340481
    Abstract: A web-based system, method and program product are provided for adding content to a content object stored (e.g., a custom compilation or prepublished work) in a data repository as a group of hierarchically related content entities. Each noncontainer content object is preferably stored as a separate entity in the data repository. Each content entity is also stored as a row in a digital library index class as a collection of attributes and references to related content entities and containers. As the user selects desired objects for inclusion in a content object, the system arranges the objects hierarchically, e.g., into volumes, chapters and sections according to the order specified by the user. The system then creates a file object (e.g., a CBO) defining the content object that contains a list or outline of the container and noncontainer entities selected, their identifiers, order and structure. This file object is stored separately in the data repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corp., Pearson Education Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Baer, James A. Barker, Edward Hanapole, Robert C. Hartman, Jr., Richard D. Hennessy, Eugene Johnson, Jr., I-Ming Kao, Janet L. Murray, Jerry D. Robertson, III, Richard W. Walkus
  • Publication number: 20080005253
    Abstract: A method and system enter a correction for a previously sent message, determine whether to send a complete corrected message or a message correction specification, and send the selected message to a messaging server. The messaging server receives the message correction specification and a message identifier (ID), and sends the message correction specification and the message ID to a recipient client system if a message with a corresponding message ID has previously been sent to the recipient client system. Then, the recipient client system receives the message correction specification and message ID, retrieves the message with a corresponding message ID from its conversation log, corrects the message, updates the conversation log, and activates an alert to notify a user of an update. If the message has not previously been sent, the messaging server corrects the message and sends the corrected message and the message ID to the recipient client system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machine Corp.
    Inventor: CHRISTOPHER VINCENT
  • Patent number: 7313137
    Abstract: A main execution thread retrieves a data object from a comparatively slow, mass storage device as a series of data blocks and stores each data block within an addressable element of a global counted list stored in memory. The main execution thread initiates a communication thread for each recipient device. Each communication thread is initialized with the network address of a corresponding recipient device and a list of addresses for the counted list elements containing the data blocks of the data object to be distributed. The communication threads operate independently and in parallel to retrieve the data object blocks from the global list for transmission to their respective recipient devices. Distribution status of each data block is maintained using a counter, associated with each addressable element, that is initiated to the total number of recipient devices and decremented each time the data block within the addressable element is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventor: Andrew Stephen Chasin
  • Patent number: 7296035
    Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a first data repository with a second data repository is disclosed. The method includes: a) detecting a change to data in the first data repository; b) communicating the change from the first data repository to the second data repository via the Internet using SOAP over HTTP; and c) updating data in the second data repository with the change. The system includes a first computing device which communicates with the first data repository and a second computing device which communicates with the second data repository. The first computing device detects a change to data in the first data repository and communicates the change to the second computing device via the Internet using SOAP over HTTP. The second computing device updates data in the second data repository with the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Michael G. Polan, Alice T. Yeung
  • Patent number: 7296020
    Abstract: A computerized method and system of document analysis. The method and system categorise documents according to a taxonomy. This is accomplished by rating training documents on a lower level by associating either of the following predicates to a training document: either correct, inbound, outbound, or unassigned, Rating categories are established on a lower level by determining precision/recall values for each category, and generating higher level category rating attributes from the lower-level rating steps. This is done by associating one or more of: aa) weak category, bb) existing source/sink relationship between categories, cc) close categories to the categories, and deriving an overall quality measure for the training base from the lower-level and higher-level rating step. The lower-level and higher-level evaluation results are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
    Inventors: Peter Gerstl, Ulrich Hofmann, Alexander Lang
  • Patent number: 7273638
    Abstract: A method of oxidizing a substrate having area of about 30,000 mm2 or more. The surface is preferably comprised of silicon-containing materials, such as silicon, silicon germanium, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and metal suicides. A mixture of oxygen-bearing gas and diluent gas normally non-reactive to oxygen, such as Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and/or Rn are ionized to create a plasma having an electron density of at least about 1e12 cm?3 and containing ambient electrons having an average temperature greater than about 1 eV. The substrate surface is oxidized with energetic particles, comprising primarily atomic oxygen, created in the plasma to form an oxide film of substantially uniform thickness. The oxidation of the substrate takes place at a temperature below about 700° C., e.g., between about room temperature, 20° C., and about 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corp., Infineon Technologies, North American Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Belyansky, Oleg Glushenkov, Andreas Knorr
  • Patent number: 7270848
    Abstract: A method for increasing deposition rates of metal layers from metal-carbonyl precursors by mixing a vapor of the metal-carbonyl precursor with CO gas. The method includes providing a substrate in a process chamber of a deposition system, forming a process gas containing a metal-carbonyl precursor vapor and a CO gas, and exposing the substrate to the process gas to deposit a metal layer on the substrate by a thermal chemical vapor deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Emmanuel P. Guidotti, Gerrit J. Leusink, Fenton R. McFeely, Sandra G. Malhotra