Abstract: In a first aspect, a system is provided that includes a first device that can store data and transfer data. The first device is capable of transferring data at a first rate, although the first device may transfer data at other rates. An intermediate storage location is coupled to the first device, and a second device is coupled to the first device and to the intermediate storage location. The second device includes a processor that is adapted to execute a computer program that requires data to be transferred to the processor at a second rate which is lower than the first rate. Computer program code is provided that can initiate the transfer of data at the first rate from the first device to the intermediate storage location and that can initiate the transfer of data at the second rate from the intermediate storage location to the processor.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling a logic module includes an evaporator housing including an evaporator block in thermal communication with the logic module. The evaporator housing includes a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity within the evaporator housing. The system further comprises a controller for controlling a refrigeration unit supplying cold refrigerant to the evaporator block in response to the operating conditions of the logic module and the temperature of the evaporator block. In another aspect of the invention, two modular refrigeration units are independently operable to cool the evaporator block, and each refrigeration unit is controllable in various modes of operation including an enabled mode in which it is ready to cool the evaporator and an on mode in which it is actively cooling the evaporator. In another aspect of the invention, the evaporator block and a heater on a reverse side of the circuit board are particularly controlled during concurrent repair operations.

Abstract: A word line for a row of memory elements of a dynamic random access memory. A first transistor is connected to a source of negative potential and to the word line for switching the word line to a source of negative potential in response to a decoder signal. A diode is additionally connected to the word line and to a selector signal. A second transistor applies a positive potential to the word line in response to a decoder signal. The word line is charged to a positive potential. The word line is reset to a substantially negative potential in two stages. In the first stage, conduction is through the diode to a ground connection which dissipates a majority of the charge of the word line. The remaining charge is dissipated during a second stage when the first transistor discharges the word line remaining charge through a source of negative potential.

Abstract: According to the present invention a pad arrangement is provided for applying reworks or engineering changes to an electronic circuits to be formed on the circuit board, the pad arrangement comprising a first signal pad for being electrically connected to a first signal line, a second signal pad for being electrically connected to a second signal line, a ground pad being connected to a ground line provided on the circuit board, and a voltage pad being connected to a supply voltage line provided on the circuit board, whereby the pads are arranged in proximity to each other for facilitating a placement of electronic devices between at least two of the pads.

Abstract: Data stored in a block of first memory is updated over a LAN. The block is larger than the unused part of a second memory. After compressing the data it is transferred over a LAN to a device where the first and second memory are located. The data is decompressed in increments smaller than the unused part of the second memory and then written to the first memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scrolling database records, particularly in a client-server computing system, are disclosed. A database holds records, accessible by a server, that each include a unique identifier. A client requests the server to retrieve a set of database records. Records are retrieved from the database and stored on the server. The server determines an upper context token and a lower context token corresponding to the end records for a subset of those records. The upper and lower context tokens include a reference to the respective unique identifier. The first subset records is passed to the client for display. The client then makes a scrolling request by a previous or next subset of data, and passes the relevant upper or lower context token to the server.

Abstract: Method and system aspects for securely transferring a computer system are described. A computer system is disabled at a shipping point via an RFID (radio frequency identification) interface and re-enabled at a receiving point via the RFID interface. Disabling the computer system includes selecting a boot password, writing the boot password to storage in the computer system via the RFID interface, and setting a disable bit in the storage via the, RFID interface. Re-enabling the computer system includes entering the boot password via the RFID interface and clearing the disable bit.

Abstract: A network switch apparatus, components for such an apparatus, and methods of operating such an apparatus in which data flow handling and flexibility is enhanced by the cooperation among a plurality of interface processors and a suite of peripheral elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The interface processors and peripherals together form a network processor capable of cooperating with other elements including an optional switching fabric device in executing instructions directing the flow of data in a network.

Abstract: Enabling users of systems maintaining periodically sampled error logs to selectively make real-time responses to certain error conditions. An error management system which comprises an implementation for monitoring error conditions and responsive to the monitoring for recording the error conditions in an error log together with an implementation for periodically sampling said error log for said error conditions. The user is enabled to sense one or more of the error conditions prior to the periodic sampling of the condition in the error log to thereby bypass the error log sampling to provide for a possible real-time response to a sensed error condition. The implementations for monitoring, for recording, for sampling and for the real-time sensing are preferably in the server computer.

Abstract: A data transform system comprises a processor, a memory connected to the processor, storing a collection of data, and a data transform module, accepting two data constraints and the collection of data from memory, wherein a first constraint is a usage constraint and a second constraint is a privacy constraint, the data transform module transforming the collection of data according to the usage constraint and the privacy constraint.

Abstract: In a computer system having a logical-partitioned server, each partition of the server is provided with its own separate lock and access corridor, in addition to a global lock. When the locking of a partition lock is followed by the locking of the global lock, the system is serialized. The partition locks are controlled by system firmware on behalf of an OS isolating each partition; however, the global lock is controlled by the system firmware to be unlocked independent of the lock/unlock status of the partition locks. In this manner, the ability or inability of an OS that issued a machine check interrupt to unlock its partition lock after the machine check analysis is complete is irrelevant; once the machine check analysis is complete, the system firmware unlocks the global lock, giving other partitions access to shared system resources to run their own machine checks.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide failover capability to a data storage and retrieval system in the event of a failure of a data storage drive, where that data storage and retrieval system includes one or more active data storage devices and one or more reserve data storage devices. In the event of a failure of an active data storage device, Applicants' data storage and retrieval system suspends all pending operations using that failed device, allocates a reserve data storage device to perform those suspended operations, and then resumes those suspended operations.

Abstract: A method for operation of dynamic server page engines, including opening a first dynamic server page in a first dynamic server page engine comprising a dynamic server page meta-engine, writing, to an output of the dynamic server page meta-engine, the content of the first dynamic server page, and writing to a second dynamic server page the content to be rendered by a second dynamic server page engine. Embodiments also include rendering, in the second server page engine, the second dynamic server page, providing back to the dynamic server page meta-engine as output from the rendering the second dynamic server page as rendered, and writing the second dynamic server page as rendered to the output of the dynamic server page meta-engine.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for flow composition model searching by holding in a repository (120) records (130) of flow composition models containing information representative of predetermined flow composition model characteristics thereof, specifying (200) information representative of desired ones of the predetermined flow composition model characteristics, and retrieving from the repository flow control model records matching the specified information. The FCM characteristics may include Message Flow, Work Flow and Connector characteristics. The specified information may include wild card characters. This provides the advantage that a new specification of flow characteristics, derived from the general model FCM, is used. Hence using it enables the application of search, reuse, compare, etc., on any present and future FCM realization.

Abstract: A method of automatically creating an electronic document definition can include querying an application using a meta data interface of the application to obtain meta data describing at least one other interface of the application. The meta data can be received responsive to the querying. The meta data can be processed to determine at least one electronic document definition describing the at least one other interface in accordance with the received meta data and a message specification of the application.

Abstract: A hypervisor (management) layer synchronizes use of virtualized input/output (I/O) devices that may regularly be used by multiple partitions of a logically partitioned data processing system by making them callable by any system partition to the hypervisor layer. A partition makes a call to the hypervisor to reserve an I/O resource. If the I/O resource is presently allocated to another partition when a call is made to reserve the resource, the hypervisor rejects the request to reserve the device. If the resource is available, the hypervisor issues a command to the resource to service calls made from the reserving partition. After utilizing the resource as necessary, the reserving partition releases control over the I/O device and sends a notification to hypervisor that it has released the I/O device. Upon release, the I/O device will automatically be available for use by another partition via a call to the hypervisor.

Abstract: An interface connection is described for joining a host device, such as a Network Processor, to peripherals such as modems, printers, local area networks, Ethernets and Token-Ring interfaces. The connection is particularly useful for joining portable computers, such as laptops, to these peripherals. The connector utilizes a programmable Network Processor (NP) either in the host device or in an external fan-out box. This programmable Network Processor adapts the host device to a variety of peripheral devices utilizing different protocols and I/O speeds. The NP can use a Digital Signal Processor to provide programmable services to the physical layers. The host device may contain a high-speed communication interface with the NP contained in the external connection box.

Abstract: A notebook computer force-controlled pointing stick device incorporates a more comfortable cap with enhanced ergonomic features. The device is generally cylindrical in shape and is located between the G, H, and B keys on the computer keyboard. The upper end of the device has a donut-like shape with a concave or crown-shaped central portion that forms well to the user's finger and provides better control, but does not interfere with typing. The upper end preferably has a rubber tip that provides improved control for a finger of a user. In an alternate version, the device is similar in shape to a bicycle saddle.

Abstract: A method and system for placing logic nodes based on an estimated wiring congestion are provided. Specifically, under the present invention, relative probabilities for potential implementations of wiring interconnects between logic nodes are determined. Then, for each edge between adjacent bins, a total of corresponding relative probabilities is compared to a wiring availability. Based on the comparison, the logic nodes can be placed within wiring constraints.