Abstract: The present invention relates to a garbage collector that uses an LRU algorithm to free memory from an XML DOM tree active in an application cache. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a threshold for the amount of memory permitted to reside in an application cache is set. Then, a garbage collector removes entries from the cache until it falls below the threshold. In one or more embodiments, a node table is used. When nodes are added to the XML DOM tree in the application cache the node table is updated. When the threshold for the amount of memory permitted to reside in the application cache is exceeded, the garbage collector applies an LRU algorithm uses the node table to determine which nodes to remove from the application cache. In one embodiment, the LRU algorithm scans the node table to determine the least recently used node in the table by examining time stamp entries in the table.

Abstract: A processor includes logic for tagging a thread identifier (TID) for usage with processor blocks that are not stalled. Pertinent non-stalling blocks include caches, translation look-aside buffers (TLB), a load buffer asynchronous interface, an external memory management unit (MMU) interface, and others. A processor includes a cache that is segregated into a plurality of N cache parts. Cache segregation avoids interference, “pollution”, or “cross-talk” between threads. One technique for cache segregation utilizes logic for storing and communicating thread identification (TID) bits. The cache utilizes cache indexing logic. For example, the TID bits can be inserted at the most significant bits of the cache index.

Abstract: A grammar to represent a hierarchical object-oriented database. The grammar comprises a set of keywords and a syntax. The keywords include “tree”, “entry”, “properties”, and “attributes”. Properties and attributes are defined by name-value pairs. The grammar is designed to be platform-independent and programming-language-independent and therefore descriptive of any hierarchical object-oriented database. A grammatical form, a description of an object-oriented database in a textual form according to the grammar, may be stored in a persistent form such as one or more files on disk. The grammatical form is human-readable and human-editable. The grammatical form can be created by hand, or it can be created from an object-oriented database in transient form through the process of serialization. The grammatical form can be transformed into an object-oriented database through the process of compilation.

Abstract: A shielded riser card assembly for reducing electromagnetic radiation from a computer enclosure is disclosed. The riser card assembly comprises a four-layer riser card having a connector adjacent its lower edge, such as a connector for an NLX system board. A cable connection socket is on the riser card a first distance away from the connector, and a plurality of traces on a surface of the riser card run between the cable connection socket and the connector. A sheet of conductive material covers the plurality of traces and is spaced a second distance apart from the surface of the riser card. At least one fastener connected is to the sheet and attached to the riser card. The fastener conductively connects the sheet of conductive material to a ground layer of the riser card. A plurality of non-conductive spacers are disposed between and in contact with both of the sheet and the riser card, for maintaining the sheet a predetermined distance away from the riser card.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing distributed object mapping in a Java language environment includes creating a first object associated with a first language environment and a second object associated with a second language environment. At least one of the objects is a native or legacy object-oriented language object.

Abstract: A mechanism for managing a plurality of profile data structures including a plurality of profile objects having an interface for sending and receiving information and a profile service mechanism having an interface for sending and receiving information. A protocol layer operatively coupled to the profile objects interface and the profile service interface, the protocol layer defining a plurality of request elements and a plurality of response elements. A protocol layer interface within the protocol layer receives user-entity specified set of request elements from the user entity and sends a responsive set of response elements to the user entity. A first set of methods within the profile service mechanism that create instances of the profile objects, where each of the first set of methods correspond to one of the request elements and one of the response elements.

Abstract: A method of concurrently performing a component test with returning test result data in a distributed environment is disclosed. In general, in order to assure compatibility of the various components in an enterprise computing system, a service test is created as part of a compatibility test suite and passed to a test application server having a test application program. The test application program makes an initial connection to the component being tested that, in response, creates a connection to a logging listener. The logging listener spawns an acceptor corresponding to the component being tested. Once spawned, the component returns test data to its corresponding acceptor concurrently with the execution of the test.

Abstract: A method of and system for control of access to add an event notification as a log record in a computer system. Each potential log record is associated with one or more logs, each of which has one or more log owners. Grant of access to add a log record to the information in a particular log is restricted to the owner(s) of that log. A list of owners of a log can be changed from time to time, based upon present circumstances or the presence of special conditions.

Abstract: A 90 degree bump placement layout for an integrated circuit power grid is provided. This layout improves integrated circuit performance and reliability and gives an integrated circuit designer added flexibility and uniformity in designing the integrated circuit. Further, a patterned bump array for a top metal layer of an integrated circuit having a plurality of 90 degree bump placement structures is provided.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for implementing multiple thread pools in a computer system to optimize system performance. In accordance with the invention, a plurality of thread pools is initially allocated within a process space, with each thread pool comprising one or more threads. Each thread pool has a set of characteristics associated therewith, and the characteristics of each thread pool are customized for one or more particular types of service. After the thread pools have been allocated, the system receives one or more requests. When a request is received, it is processed to determine with which thread pool the request is to be associated. This processing is carried out by determining the type of service being requested by the request, and then determining which thread pool is associated with that type of service. Alternatively, this processing is carried out by extracting a set of indication information (e.g.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a method for automating the allocation of network storage. The method of the present invention enables a system administrator or other authorized user to set policies for network storage. Available storage locations are dynamically located by attribute. The network storage policy is interpreted and applied to the available storage locations. By automating the storage allocation process, the storage policy is consistently applied without user intervention thus allowing a system administrator to devote more time to other network management responsibilities.

Abstract: A three-tiered data imaging system is used on a distributed computer system comprising hosts connected by a network. The lowest tier comprises management facade software running on each machine that converts a platform-dependent interface written with low-level kernel routines that actually implement the data imaging system to platform-independent method calls. The middle tier is a set of federated Java beans that communicate with each other, with the management facades and with the upper tier of the system. The upper tier of the inventive system comprises presentation programs that can be directly manipulated by management personnel to view and control the system. In one embodiment, the federated Java beans can run on any machine in the system and communicate, via the network. A data imaging management facade runs on selected hosts and at least one data imaging bean also runs on those hosts.

Abstract: Data volumes on local hosts are discovered and managed by federated Java beans that run on each host. The Java beans form part of a three-tiered data services management. The lowest tier comprises management facade software running on each machine that converts platform-dependent interface written with the low-level kernel routines to platform-independent method calls. The middle tier is a set of federated Java beans that communicate with the management facades and with the upper tier of the system. The upper tier of the inventive system comprises presentation programs that can be directly manipulated by management personnel to view and control the system. The federated beans can configure and control data volumes with either a SCSI terminal emulation interface or a storage volume interface and use a logical disk aggregator to present all volumes available on a local host as a single “logical volume” in which all information regarding the various volumes is presented in a uniform manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding a Motion Compensated-Discrete Cosine Transform (MC-DCT) video stream includes an input port to receive an MC-DCT video stream with an associated hierarchy of data structures including a sequence data structure, a picture data structure, a slice data structure, and a macroblock data structure. A monitor processor splits the MC-DCT video stream into a set of video streams. A set of sub-processors processes the set of video streams. Each sub-processor has an assigned computational task performed on a specified hierarchical level of the associated hierarchy of data structures. Each sub-processor performs the assigned computational task with a designated data structure including all parameter data required at the specified hierarchical level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing electromagnetic radiation emanating from a computer enclosure are disclosed, for application to computer enclosure enclosing at least one source of electromagnetic radiation of a computer system, where the enclosure includes an unshielded opening in the computer enclosure through which an undesirable amount of electromagnetic radiation from the source is capable of passing to an exterior of the computer enclosure. The apparatus includes a system board mounted to a frame of the computer enclosure, and a riser card connected to the system board within the computer enclosure. The riser card is a PCB having at least one ground layer and a signal layer, and extends transversely from the system board. The riser card divides an interior space of the computer enclosure into two compartments, a source compartment containing the source of electromagnetic radiation, and an unshielded compartment having the unshielded opening in it.

Abstract: A high-performance band combine function to transform a source image of n bands to a destination image of m bands. A source image vector is multiplied with a transformation matrix having n+1 columns and m rows. The values in the transformation matrix may be user-selected. The product of the source image and the transformation matrix is a destination image vector. The destination image vector may be displayed on a computer monitor. To perform the function in a digital system, the pixels of the source image are converted to a partitioned format. The source image is multiplied with the transformation matrix values using partitioned arithmetic. In the digital system, a plurality of partitioned arithmetic operations may be performed in parallel.

Abstract: The problems outlined above may in large part be solved by a system and method for testing integrated passive components in a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, testing of integrated passive components may be conducted prior to completing the final lamination of the printed circuit board. The testing may be conducted on a tester having movable test probes. The method may include connecting a first test probe to a conductive plane, which may be electrically connected to the first terminals of two or more components. The conductive plane may be a ground plane, a power plane, or a signal plane. The first test probe may remain in a fixed position throughout the testing. A second test probe may be electrically connected to the second terminal of the first component. Following the connection of the second test probe, an electrical characteristic of the first component may be measured.

Abstract: A distributed settings control protocol. One or more embodiments of the invention provide the ability for an application running on a server across a network to modify various settings related to the terminals such as display resolution, audio output configuration (such as volume control or headphones v. speaker), and energy saver procedures. These abilities are provided by adhering to several protocol properties.

Abstract: A network access authentication system including a directory service containing a remote access password and a standard access password for each user of the network, using an authentication protocol that provides information on whether a user is accessing the network locally of remotely, and including a front-end between the directory service and the authentication protocol. The front-end executes the steps of: receiving a user identifier and a user password entered by a user through said authentication protocol; retrieving from the directory service the remote access password and the standard access password corresponding to the user identifier; if the authentication protocol indicates a remote access, comparing the user password to the remote access password, else comparing the user password to the standard access password; and granting access to the network if the comparing step is successful.

Abstract: A computer system includes processing circuitry and alarm circuitry connectable to a network. A power sub-system includes at least three power supply units, wherein at least a predetermined plurality of power supply units are required to power the computer system. A power distribution mechanism is connectable to the power supply units. The power distribution mechanism is connected to the processing circuitry to supply main power thereto and is connected to the alarm circuitry to supply standby power thereto. The power distribution mechanism is operable to supply main power to the processing circuitry when at least a said predetermined plurality of connected power supplies are operative and is operable to supply standby power to the alarm circuitry when at least one power supply is operative.