Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques operate in a computerized device to perform backup and restore operations on data portions such that if a backup server already has a copy of the content of a data portion, no client computer systems need to transfer a copy of the data portion to the backup server, even if the data portion in those clients has a different name, location, or other attributes. A backup client produces an identification of a data portion stored within a first computerized device to be backed up. The backup client conveys, to a backup server, the identification of the data portion stored within the computerized device and receives, over the communications interface, a transfer indication from the backup server.

Abstract: A graphics system and method for panning from one portion of a stored image to another portion of the image includes a frame buffer, one or more display devices, one or more raster parameter registers, and one or more raster parameter updaters. The image is stored in the frame buffer and each display device is configured to display less than the entire image. A panning operation is initiated by requesting an update of one or more of the raster parameter registers during a next blanking period.

Abstract: In a method for execution control acquisition of a program, during the execution of the program, it is determined when a hardware performance counter has reached a threshold. When the threshold is reached, execution control is switched to a dynamic optimizer. Thereafter, an optimized version of the program is executed. In a method for executing an optimized version of a program, during execution of the optimized version, an interrupt is received and execution control is returned to an operating system. An original version of the program is then executed. During the execution of the original version, a hardware performance counter is monitored. When the hardware performance counter reaches a threshold during the execution of the original version, execution control is switched to a dynamic optimizer. Thereafter, the execution of the optimized version of the program is continued as directed by the dynamic optimizer.

Abstract: Techniques for providing and using schema data for markup languages are disclosed. A schema model can be used to generate signed (or verifiable) schema data (e.g., XML schema data). The model can be used as a standard model that provides enhanced security and better performance. As a result, schema data can be verified more efficiently. A base class for XML schema data is provided. The base class can be instantiated to generate an XML schema file (or document). A digital signature can then be applied to the XML schema file to generate a signed XML schema file (or document). Furthermore, the resolution of data can be achieved more efficiently for markup languages because the resolution of data can be achieved systematically. In addition, techniques for storing and using signed schema data for markup languages are disclosed. An XML library can be used to store XML schema data that has been verified (or authenticated).

Abstract: An application that was not internationalized when coded may be internationalized through the addition of interception and localization logic and tables without modification of the original application logic. The interception logic may be configured to intercept calls to an application component and invoke localization logic in response to an intercepted call to the application component. The interception logic may use dynamic proxies to intercept method calls from a client component to an application component both before and after the execution of the method. The interception logic may use JAVA reflection to determine whether input parameters or return values associated with the method call are localizable. The application component logic may operate on data stored in a primary database table in which the data is represented in the system default locale.

Abstract: A phase locked loop design uses a diode operatively connected to a loop filter capacitor to control a leakage current of the loop filter capacitor. By positioning a diode in series with the loop filter capacitor, a voltage potential across the loop filter capacitor is reduced, thereby reducing the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor. Moreover, the leakage current of the loop filter capacitor is controlled in that it cannot exceed the current through the diode. Control and reduction of the loop filter capacitor leakage current leads to more reliable and stable phase locked loop behavior.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates fault-tolerance by using redundant processors. This system operates by receiving store operations from a plurality of redundant processors running the same code in lockstep. The system compares the store operations to determine if the store operations are identical, thereby indicating that the redundant processors are operating correctly. If the store operations are identical, the system combines the store operations into a combined store operation, and forwards the combined store operation to a system memory that is shared between the redundant processors. If the store operations are not identical, the system indicates an error condition. In a variation on this embodiment, the system similarly combines store operations.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for securely providing billable multicast data. The invention describes a solution that provides an architecture for enabling different types of security devices to operate interchangeably in very large consumer networks, corporate networks, for authentication and metered access to services, as well as payment. An embodiment of the invention comprises a mechanism for ensuring that only authorized parties may obtain access to a particular data stream. For example, the present invention provides a way build a restricted-channel system. In a restricted-channel system, a multicast server transmits encrypted information that can be deciphered by authorized multicast client programs or multicast client programs operating under authorized conditions. Access to the multicast data is allowed when the data is appropriately decrypted or otherwise verified and/or the payment is obtained from a portable device such as a smart card.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a database is separated into at least a first partition and a second partition. An instruction comprising access to the database is received. An address is determined for the instruction, with a first address being assigned if the access involves a read of data in the database and a second address being assigned if the access involves a write of data in the database. The instruction is executed on the first partition of the database if the instruction involves a read of data and on the second partition of the database if the instruction involves a write of data.

Abstract: A superscalar processor having a content addressable memory structure that transmits a first and second output signal is presented. The superscalar processor performs out of order processing on an instruction set. From the first output signal, the dependencies between currently fetched instructions of the instruction set and previous in-flight instructions can be determined and used to generate a dependency matrix for all in-flight instructions. From the second output signal, the physical register addresses of the data required to execute an instruction, once the dependencies have been removed, may be determined.

Abstract: An alignment device includes a crossbar and two brackets. Each one of the two brackets includes at least one guide hole, with each guide hole having a front opening. The crossbar couples the two brackets and defines a connector opening. The alignment device also includes two connector alignment posts. Each one of the two connector alignment posts has a first end coupled to the crossbar and an opposing end protruding into the connector opening. A method of connecting a circuit card to a mid plane and a computer including the alignment device also are described.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an integrated circuit (IC) having a plurality of connection pins, a carrier socket configured to carry the IC. The carrier socket protects the pins of the IC from bending. In addition, the carrier socket straightens pins that have been bent prior to placing the IC into the carrier socket.

Abstract: An interface adapter is provided that allows a host device that communicates through a first interface protocol, such as a Fiber Channel compliant interface or a SCSI compliant interface, to connect to a plurality of storage devices that communicate through a second interface protocol, such as an IDE/ATA compliant interface. The interface adapter is configured to convert transmissions received from the host device to the second interface protocol and to convey the converted transmissions to the plurality of storage devices. The interface adapter is also configured to convert transmissions received according to the second interface protocol from the plurality of storage devices to the first interface protocol and to convey the converted transmissions to the host device. In this manner, the host device and the storage devices can accomplish input/output (I/O) transactions despite the fact that they implement different interface protocols.

Abstract: Improved techniques for managing operations of clustered computing system are disclosed. The improved techniques provide protection against potential problems encountered in operation of clustered computing. More particularly, the improved techniques can be implemented as an integral solution that provide protection against undesired partitions in space and partitions in time. The improved techniques do not require any human intervention.

Abstract: A memory system is disclosed in which hardware assisted leases are utilized to control access to shared data resources among data users. The lease is a type of lock on content in the memory system that automatically expires after a preset period of time. The lease enables the lease owner exclusive use of the associated content in the memory system. Furthermore, the memory system has a memory access mechanism that is separate from the data users. The memory access mechanism includes hardware components to enforce lease-based access to the memory system. Since the lease expires rather than being permanently granted, no CPU or software thread is able to monopolize a lease forever. Moreover, since the lease-base access is hardware-assisted, faulty CPUs or software are prevented from unauthorized access to leased (or locked) content in which another CPU or software already holds a lease.

Abstract: A service discovery protocol may allow clients in a distributed computing environment to search for services using flexible search criteria. A client may send a search message that may be formatted in a data representational language and may include search criteria. The search criteria may specify a service name or a service type or both a service name and a service type. The search criteria may be compared to advertisements for services within the distributed computing environment to find advertisements that match the search criteria. An advertisement may be a document in the data representation language that provides access information for a corresponding service. The client may receive one or more search response messages indicating one or more advertisements that match the search criteria. The client may obtain and advertisement for a located service and may use the advertisement to construct a message gate to communicate with the service according to messages defined by the advertisement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a platform independent object to bind to and access platform dependent software are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a software object that includes a wrapper and an associated platform dependent software. The platform independent object calls the wrapper. The wrapper, in turn, directly calls the associated platform dependent method. In this way, a platform independent object accesses the platform dependent method by directly calling the wrapper associated with the method.

Abstract: A computer system is arranged to provide protection against faults. The computer system comprises a plurality of processing sets (14, 16), each having at least one processor (52) and a bridge (12) coupled to each of the processing sets (14, 16) and operable to monitor a step locked operation of said processing sets (14, 16). Each of the processors (52) has a processor identification register (64) which is read/writeable and is operable to store in the register data representative of a processor identification. The processors (14, 16) are arranged, consequent upon a masking condition, to load a common predefined data value into the processor identification register, which predefined common data value has an effect of masking the processor identification. The erroneous detection by the bridge (12) of a fault condition resulting from functionally the same processors having a different processor identification is thereby avoided, or at least the likelihood of a false detection reduced.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates avoiding locks by speculatively executing critical sections of code. During operation, the system allows a process to speculatively execute a critical section of code within a program without first acquiring a lock associated with the critical section. If the process subsequently completes the critical section without encountering an interfering data access from another process, the system commits changes made during the speculative execution, and resumes normal non-speculative execution of the program past the critical section. Otherwise, if an interfering data access from another process is encountered during execution of the critical section, the system discards changes made during the speculative execution, and attempts to re-execute the critical section.

Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques operate in a computerized device to perform a memory management technique such as garbage collection. The mechanisms and techniques operate to detect, within a storage structure associated with a thread, general memory references that reference storage locations in a general memory area such as a heap. The storage structure may be a stack utilized by the thread, which may be, for example, a Java thread, during operation of the thread in the computerized device. The system maintains a reference structure containing an association to the general memory area for each detected general memory reference within the storage structure. The system then operates a memory management technique on the general memory area for locations in the general memory area other than those for which an association to the general memory area is maintained in the reference structure, thus increasing the performance of the memory management technique.