Patents Assigned to Microsystems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7206843
    Abstract: A system and method for using a management interface such as Portable Management Interface (PMI) in a thread-safe and efficient manner. A secondary scheduler receives PMI management requests from multi-threaded manager applications in a thread-safe manner, such as through a lock. The secondary scheduler monitors the flow of PMI-related requests into PMI to ensure that, at any point in time, only one management request (e.g., callback function) is running on the PMI thread. When a request in the secondary queue is ready for scheduling with the primary scheduler, the secondary scheduler then accesses the primary scheduler in a thread-safe manner, such as through a lock, to send the request to the primary scheduler. The management requests are dispatched from the primary scheduler and executed on managed objects though a Management Information Server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sai V. Allavarpu, Rajeev Angal, Anand J. Bhalerao
  • Patent number: 7205979
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for generating control signals for the manipulation of virtual objects in a computer system according to the gestures and positions of an operator's hand or other body part. The apparatus includes a glove worn on the hand which includes sensors for detecting the gestures of the hand, as well as hand position sensing means coupled to the glove and to the computer system for detecting the position of the hand with respect to the system. The computer system includes circuitry connected to receive the gesture signals and the hand position signals for generating control signals in response thereto. Typically, the control signals are used to manipulate a graphical representation of the operator's hand which is displayed on a monitor coupled to the computer system, and the graphical representations of the operator's hand manipulates virtual objects or tools also displayed by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Zimmerman, Jaron Z. Lanier
  • Patent number: 7206824
    Abstract: Embodiments of a Bundle Configuration Utility (BCU) for configuring network deliverable pluggable components for deployment in embedded servers are described. Preferences of a pluggable component may be accessed at runtime on the embedded server. The BCU may enable the configuration of the preferences prior to distribution. The BCU may provide functions including, but not limited to: providing a list of preferences; allowing preference values to be changed; updating the preferences in the pluggable component; creating a new pluggable component with a new set of preferences; and resetting the preferences in the pluggable component to default values. In one embodiment, pluggable components may be configured using a graphical user interface of the BCU. In one embodiment, the BCU may include a command line interface with commands for configuring pluggable components. In one embodiment, multiple pluggable components may be configured by the BCU in batch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Parvathi Somashekar, David John Burrowes, Pierre Delisle
  • Patent number: 7203881
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a method for simulating the operation of a system. The method includes providing a fault tree representation of the system. The fault tree defines a set of problems that may occur in the system, and specifies propagations in the system whereby a problem may create one or more errors that may in turn be detected by error detectors to produce corresponding error reports. The fault tree representation allows the presence of a problem in the system to be simulated, and the set of error reports resulting from the simulated problem to be determined. This simulation can be repeated for different problems to compare the sets of error reports potentially produced by the different problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Emrys Williams, Andrew Rudoff
  • Patent number: 7203878
    Abstract: A computer system may include several integrated circuits and a routing circuit configured to route several data streams between the integrated circuits. The routing circuit includes several input ports, several output ports, and a signature analysis register coupled to one of the output ports. The signature analysis register is configured to collect data conveyed via the output port dependent upon whether the signature analysis register receives a tag identifying one of the plurality of data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel David Naegle, David W. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7203753
    Abstract: System and method for representing and rate the trustworthiness of peers as providers of content and data (codats) relevant to the peers' interests. In one embodiment, trust may be propagated through transaction pipes (paths) along which codats located in a search for codats relevant to an area of interest may be accessed by the requestor. In some embodiments, the trust a peer has in another peer as a provider of codats may be a function of the trust values of the provider peer and all other peers on a path. If there are multiple paths, trust in the provider peer may be an average of the trust values for all the paths. Trust in a provider peer may be used to determine confidence in codats provided by the peer. Embodiments may provide mechanisms for feeding back trust information to the providing peer and for propagating trust information to other peers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Yeager, Rita Y. Chen
  • Patent number: 7203821
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling window management instructions without post serialization in an out-of-order multi-issue processor includes an instruction decode unit arranged to decode the window management instruction. A plurality of register windows are indexed by a current window pointer, and a working copy of the current window pointer is stored in a register in the instruction decode unit. The instruction decode unit uses the working copy of the current window pointer to handle the window management instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra M. R. Thimmannagari
  • Patent number: 7203613
    Abstract: An analog debugging block of an integrated circuit includes a multiplexor, a buffer, and a voltage-controlled oscillator. An analog voltage signal-of-interest is selectively passed through the multiplexor to the buffer. The buffer outputs an analog control voltage dependent on the selected analog voltage signal-of-interest. The analog control voltage serves as an input to the voltage-controlled oscillator and is used to control a frequency of a digital output signal generated from the voltage-controlled oscillator. The digital output signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator is driven off-chip, whereupon a frequency of the digital output signal is determined and compared against a collection of known frequencies that correspond to particular known voltages of the analog voltage signal-of-interest, thereby resulting in a determination of the value of the selected analog voltage signal-of-interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gin S. Yee, Claude R. Gauthier
  • Patent number: 7203945
    Abstract: A method of processing data in a system including an utility, includes the steps of starting a session, selecting a file on a local drive or by URL, wherein the file includes a name of a business object, uploading the file including the name of a business object to a server, storing data of the file in a database of the utility, performing asynchronous data processing, and downloading and saving a report after the data processing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Kravtchenko, Leonid Khodulev, Andrei Skaldin
  • Patent number: 7203820
    Abstract: In a set of registers, each individually addressable by register operations using a corresponding register identification, at least one register of the set of registers is an extended register having multiple storage locations. Values stored in the multiple storage locations are accessed, for example, according to the order in which they have been stored. Less than all of the multiple storage locations are accessible by a register operation at a given time. Older versions of software that do not recognize extended registers identify the extended register as having only one storage location. An extended register can be, for example, a stack register, a queue register, or a mixed register and values stored in the multiple storage locations are read and stored according to the characteristics of the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter C. Damron
  • Patent number: 7203774
    Abstract: A kernel device file system publication system for dynamically enumerating and configuring an instance of a device in the kernel device tree upon request by a user level application. The kernel device file system logically arranges system level devices in a hierarchical tree-like topology defining devices as nodes of a device tree to allow for a top-down access. The top-down access allows devices connecting to the computer system to be configured based on the physical path of the device. This process starts at a bus nexus and drives device configuration down the device tree. The bus configuration interfaces permit each nexus in the device tree hierarchy to participate in the device lookup and readdirs operations performed by the device file system. The device file system path operations are performed as an iterative sequence of bus configure operations, whereby each nexus controls the enumeration and configuration of that nexus' children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shudong Zhou, John Danielson, Jerry A. Gilliam, David A. Butterfield
  • Patent number: 7203082
    Abstract: Dual match line circuits having race condition improvements. A dual match line circuit may include precharge logic configured to precharge each of a hit match line, a miss match line and an evaluate node to an asserted state, where a coupling device couples the hit and miss match lines to the evaluate node. The miss match line may discharge through a number of load devices that may be activated by respective miss signals. A positive feedback circuit coupled to the miss match line may accelerate its discharge. The hit match line may be additionally coupled to discharge through a discharge path. The hit and miss match lines may be electrically isolated from one another, such that when any of the respective miss signals is asserted, current from the hit match line does not discharge through the miss match line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Bhatia, Sanjay M. Wanzakhade, Shashank Shastry
  • Patent number: 7203928
    Abstract: A method for maintaining standardized test results is provided. The method includes executing a test suite that includes embedded reporter codes and generating uniform test results using the embedded reporter codes. The embedded reporter codes are configured to include data as to anticipated test results and rationale supporting the anticipated test results. The method also includes storing the uniform test results so as to allow viewing of the uniform test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Babu Mandava, Jean-Francois Arcand
  • Publication number: 20070075263
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating a beam of charged particles is described in which a beam of charged particles is produced by a particle source and a varying electric field is induced within an ultra-small resonant structure. The beam of charged particles is modulated by the interaction of the varying electric field with the beam of charged particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael Maines, Paul Hart
  • Publication number: 20070075264
    Abstract: We describe an ultra-small structure that produces visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries can be etched or plated from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael Maines
  • Publication number: 20070075907
    Abstract: We describe an ultra-small structure that produces visible light of varying frequency, from a single metallic layer. In one example, a row of metallic posts are etched or plated on a substrate according to a particular geometry. When a charged particle beam passed close by the row of posts, the posts and cavities between them cooperate to resonate and produce radiation in the visible spectrum (or even higher). A plurality of such rows of different geometries can be etched or plated from a single metal layer such that the charged particle beam will yield different visible light frequencies (i.e., different colors) using different ones of the rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael Maines
  • Publication number: 20070075265
    Abstract: A coupled nano-resonating structure includes a plurality of a nano-resonating substructures constructed and adapted to couple energy from a beam of charged particles into said nano-resonating structure and to transmit the coupled energy outside said nano-resonating structure. The nano-resonant substructures may have various shapes and may include parallel rows of structures. The rows may be symmetric or asymmetric, tilted, and/or staggered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Michael Maines
  • Publication number: 20070075326
    Abstract: A diamond field emission tip and methods of forming such diamond field emission tips, for use with cathodes that will act as a source of and emit beams of charged particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Gorrell
  • Patent number: 7200117
    Abstract: A system for selecting routing information from a routing table describing alternative routes between end nodes. The routing table represents a set of minimum cost, deadlock-free routes between end nodes. The selected routing information is included in forwarding tables, and sent to networking devices in the network. The selected routing information is optimized for at least one network performance metric, such as overall network capacity or fault tolerance. Capacity optimization is obtained by selecting from alternative routes stored within the routing table such that the standard deviation of the number of routes flowing over each link in the network is minimized. Fault tolerance optimization is achieved by selecting from the alternative routes stored in the routing table such that the selected route for a given end node pair has a “failover” route with a maximum number of dissimilar links from the selected route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dah Ming Chiu, Miriam C. Kadansky, Murat Yuksel
  • Patent number: 7200763
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the power consumption of a semiconductor device such as a CPU or other form of processor that is operable to process a sequence of instructions. The device includes a monitor for checking the power consumption of the device, in order to detect any significant change in power consumption (which can cause problems for the power supply circuitry). In order to mitigate such change, one or more dummy instructions are inserted into the sequence of instructions. The dummy instructions do not affect the logical processing, but are selected in order to limit the change in power consumption. Thus if the change in power consumption represents an increase, then dummy instructions are selected that do not require much current. Conversely, if the change in power consumption represents a decrease, then dummy instructions are selected that draw a relatively large amount of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Emrys J. Williams