Patents Assigned to Sun Microsystems
  • Publication number: 20050028154
    Abstract: A method for installing an image on a client including obtaining a wanboot binary from the boot server, determining whether the wanboot binary is valid, obtaining a security payload from the boot server using the wanboot binary if the wanboot binary is valid, establishing a first secure connection between the client and boot server, obtaining a boot file system from the boot server using the first secure connection, installing the boot file system on the client to obtain a kernel, establishing a second secure connection between the client and an installation server using the security payload and the kernel, obtaining an installation image from the installation server using the kernel and the second secure connection, and installing the installation image on the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Smith, Michael Carney, Paul Sangster
  • Patent number: 6850979
    Abstract: Embodiments of message gates are described. A message gate is the message endpoint for a client or service in a distributed computing environment. A message gate may provide a secure endpoint that sends and receives type-safe messages. Gates may perform the sending and receiving of messages between clients and services using a protocol specified in a service advertisement. In one embodiment, the messages are eXtensible Markup Language (XML) messages. For a client, a message gate represents the authority to use some or all of a service's capabilities. Each capability may be expressed in terms of a message that may be sent to the service. Creation of a message gate may involve an authentication service that generates an authentication credential, and that may negotiate the desired level of security and the set of messages that may be passed between client and service. A message gate may perform verification of messages against a message schema to ensure that the messages are allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Saulpaugh, Gregory L. Slaughter, Bernard A. Traversat, Mohamed M. Abdelaziz
  • Patent number: 6850488
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates efficient flow control for data transmissions between a sender and a plurality of receivers. The system operates by sending a stream of packets from the sender to the plurality of receivers, wherein the packets include information specifying a sampling window for the stream of packets. The sender subsequently receives feedback information from the plurality of receivers, wherein a receiver sends feedback information to the sender if a congestion condition occurs at the receiver while receiving packets within the sampling window. In response to the feedback information, the sender adjusts a rate of transmission for the stream of packets. In one embodiment of the present invention, the feedback information from the receivers is aggregated at intermediate nodes prior to reaching the sender in order to eliminate redundant feedback information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Wesley, Dah Ming Chiu, Miriam C. Kadansky, Joseph E. Provino
  • Patent number: 6851068
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely power cycling a peripheral subsystem. A host system to remotely control the power cycling of a peripheral subsystem, without the need to include or add any dedicated or special signals beyond those needed for the normal interface between the host system and peripheral subsystem. A peripheral subsystem according to the present invention includes circuitry that senses the presence of a downstream, running switching signal such as a clock line or any “heart beat” type signal such as a clock pulse and initiates the power up event of the peripheral system. Conversely, the same circuitry also senses the absence of a downstream signal and initiates a power down event of the peripheral subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor E. Jochiong, Truong T. Nguyen, Balkar S. Sidhu, Diane S. Lee
  • Patent number: 6850236
    Abstract: A graphics system capable of super-sampling and performing real-time convolution. The graphics system may comprise a graphics processor, a sample buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor receives graphics data and generates a plurality of samples for each of a plurality of frames. The sample buffer stores the samples. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit is operable to generate output pixels by filtering the rendered samples using a filter. A display device then receives and displays the output pixels. A user may observe the displayed image and adjust properties of the filter according to the user's personal visual preferences. A display-monitoring device may be configured to capture the displayed image. The graphics system may then analyze the captured image and, in response to the captured image, perform filter adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Deering
  • Patent number: 6850856
    Abstract: A system and method of adjusting an I/O receiver includes providing an amplification control parameter to the I/O receiver. A temperature of the I/O receiver is monitored and the amplification control parameter to the I/O receiver is adjusted according to the temperature of the I/O receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude R. Gauthier, Shaishav A. Desai
  • Patent number: 6851118
    Abstract: Remote access to a target object, in particular a target bean object, is provided by generating a client object or objects forming a representation of a target object. The client object(s) identify(ies) methods of the target object which are accessible remotely and implements the remotely accessible methods. The target object is associated with a network adaptor for a network protocol at the remote station. The client object is associated with a network adaptor for the network protocol at the client machine. A client application can then access the target object by instantiating the client object. The target object does not need to be modified or to include specific communications code to be manipulated by a remote object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Osman Abdoul Ismael, Serge Andre Rigori
  • Patent number: 6851117
    Abstract: A technique for supplanting the display of a Motif dialog box is disclosed. In a first aspect, the invention includes a method for supplanting a Motif dialog box. The method comprises interposing a functionality between a graphical interface of an application and an Xt Library layered on top an X-Window system; intercepting a function call from the graphical interface for a display of a Motif dialog box from the X-Window system; determining whether the Motif dialog box is to be supplanted; and supplanting the Motif dialog box. In a second aspect, the invention includes a computing system programmed to supplant a Motif dialog box. The computing system comprises an application including a graphical interface; an X-Window system; an Xt library layered on top the X-Window system; and an interposed library interposed between the graphical interface and the Xt library. The Xt Library includes an original function for calling a display of a Motif dialog box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Tracey
  • Patent number: 6850953
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for having a primary process spawn a secondary process to create multiple data sets, thereby allowing the primary process to continue performing other tasks or to terminate. The primary and secondary processes can be virtual machines, such as Java Virtual Machines running in a computer system. The primary process gathers the raw data used to create the multiple data sets and stores the data in a serialized object. The primary process also runs a script to spawn a secondary process which accepts the serialized object as input. The serialized object is then deserialized and the raw data is operated on by the secondary process without any interference from the primary process. The primary process, responsible for maintaining a GUI for the user, can perform other tasks or terminate without effecting the secondary process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alka K. Deshpande, William Edwards
  • Patent number: 6851114
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for isolating the execution of a plurality of applications which access shared data. A limited number of special classes encapsulate data that should be shared by all classes in the multitasking system. Static fields of all classes, including the special classes, are virtualized such that each application has its own copy of static fields and class monitors. However, a special class has special program code associated with it, such that an invocation of any of the methods of the special class causes a switch of an application ID associated with the thread (referred to herein as an effective thread application ID or TA-ID) to a constant value. Thus, the applications may access a single, shared copy of the special class. The TA-ID may be changed back to the original value upon exiting one of the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Grzegorz J. Czajkowski
  • Patent number: 6850878
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the required decoupling capacitors for a power distribution system using an improved capacitor model. In one embodiment, a method for determining the decoupling capacitors for a power distribution system includes creating a model of the power distribution system using circuit simulation software, such as SPICE. The power distribution system model includes a plurality of cells interconnected at predetermined nodes. The method then selects one or more decoupling capacitors for the power distribution system. The decoupling capacitors are represented in the power distribution system model by a capacitor model, which is a mathematical model of an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit upon which the capacitor model is based is a ladder circuit. Following the selecting of the decoupling capacitors, the power distribution system model is update based on the selections, and operation of the power distribution system is then simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. Smith, David Hockanson
  • Publication number: 20050021655
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sharing data provided by a first application to two or more additional applications (e.g., probes) are disclosed. It is ascertained whether the first application is executing. When it is ascertained that the first application is executing, data produced by the first application is provided to the two or more additional applications if data provided by the first application can be shared by the two or more additional applications. When it is ascertained that the first application is not executing or if data provided by the executing first application cannot be shared by the two or more additional applications, the first application is executed such that data provided by the first application can be provided to the two or more additional applications and the data produced by the first application is distributed to the two or more additional applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Liu, Chien-Hua Yen, Raghavender Pillutla
  • Publication number: 20050022202
    Abstract: A system and method for a request failover mechanism on a load balancing system. The method may include a load balancer selecting a node from among a plurality of nodes associated with the load balancer to handle a request. The load balancer may limit selection to those nodes not known by the load balancer to be inactive. The load balancer may then determine if the selected node is able to service the request. In response to determining the selected node is unable to handle the request, the load balancer may select another node from among the plurality of nodes not known by the load balancer to be inactive. In various embodiments, the load balancer may mark nodes which are unable to service requests as inactive. The load balancer may determine if nodes are able to service requests by various methods, including active probing, passive probing, and dummy probing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harichandra Sannapa Reddy, Balaji Koutharapu, Sridhard Satuloori
  • Publication number: 20050021823
    Abstract: A microchip configured to reliably transmit data is provided. The microchip includes a memory region and a selection module configured to select a portion of the data from the memory region. An error checking module configured to calculate a value derived from the selected portion of the data is provided. A pointer region including a plurality of object pointers is included. One of the object pointers is associated with an address of the portion of the data. The object pointer associated with the address is configured to receive a signal indicating an error associated with the transmission of the data. A scheduler module in communication with each of the plurality of object pointers is provided. The scheduler module is configured to schedule re-transmission of the selected portion of the data. A system and a method for reliably transmitting data between microchips are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anup Sharma, Michael Wong
  • Publication number: 20050021978
    Abstract: Methods and systems thereof for controlling access to resources are described. When a user attempts to access a resource via a remote interface such as a Web server, the request is initially evaluated by a source of policy definitions such as a policy server. This source returns a policy decision to the remote interface. The policy decision is stored in memory by the remote interface. The remote interface can then evaluate subsequent requests from the user for the resource using the stored policy decision instead of having to communicate again with the source for the policy decision. Enhancements to this approach are also described. Accordingly, policy definitions and decisions are more efficiently implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Shivaram Bhat, Hua Cui, Ping Luo, Dilli Arumugam, Aravindan Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 6848071
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that updates an error-correcting code for a line when only a portion of the line is updated during a store operation. The system operates by receiving the store operation, wherein the store operation includes new data to be stored to the portion of the line, as well as an address of the portion of the line. Next, the system reads old data for the portion of the line from the address, and then stores the new data to the portion of the line at the address. The system also updates the existing error-correcting code for the line to reflect the new data. This involves calculating a new error-correcting code for the line from the existing error-correcting code, the old data and the new data. The system then replaces the existing error-correcting code with the new error-correcting code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailender Chaudhry, Marc Tremblay
  • Patent number: 6847369
    Abstract: A data queue optimized for receiving loosely packed graphics data and suitable for use in a computer graphics system is described. The data queue operates on first-in-first-out principals, and has a variable width input and output. The variable width on the input side facilitates the reception and storage of loosely packed data. The variable width output allows for the single-cycle output of multi-word data. Packing of the data occurs on the write-side of the FIFO structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Lavelle, Ewa M. Kubalska, Anthony S. Ramirez, Huang Pan
  • Patent number: 6847247
    Abstract: A plurality of clock signal phases are distributed to a circuit and at least one jitter source is coupled between at least two selected clock phases of the plurality of clock signal phases to introduce a jitter between at least the selected two clock signal phases. In a specific embodiment, the clock distribution system provides N clock phases and, if the phases have an order, there is one jitter source provided between each of the first N?1 phases and the following phase, so that each phase has a jitter relative to each other phase. Several implementations are possible for the jitter sources, which can be noise sources or pseudo-random noise sources, depending on which is easier to design and implement in a specific clock distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian W. Jones, Ivan E. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 6847368
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for rendering polygons. In some embodiments, parameter values may be rendered for only one sample position of multiple neighboring sample positions. The parameter values rendered for the one sample position may then be stored in multiple memory locations that correspond to the multiple neighboring sample positions. In some embodiments, storing parameter values in multiple memory locations may be achieved in a single write transaction. In some embodiments, utilization of a method for storage of a rendered sample to multiple memory locations may be subject to a specified test. The method may calculate a value needed for the specified test from vertex data and compare the calculated value with a specified limit. In some embodiments, a multiple storage mode may only be utilized for polygons greater than a certain size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Deering
  • Patent number: 6848111
    Abstract: Apparatus and processes, including computer implemented processes, for managing exceptions throwable during execution of methods in one or more classes by a machine. Each method includes an exception handler array defining exception handlers associated with the method. The method includes combining the exception handler arrays for all methods into a single exception handler table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Judith E. Schwabe, Joshua B. Susser