Abstract: A method and system for leasing storage locations in a distributed processing system is provided. Consistent with this method and system, a client requests access to storage locations for a period of time (lease period) from a server, such as the file system manager. Responsive to this request, the server invokes a lease period algorithm, which considers various factors to determine a lease period during which time the client may access the storage locations. After a lease is granted, the server sends an object to the client that advises the client of the lease period and that provides the client with behavior to modify the lease, like canceling the lease or renewing the lease. The server supports concurrent leases, exact leases, and leases for various types of access. After all leases to a storage location expire, the server reclaims the storage location.

Abstract: A network adapter for allowing packet data to be separated over multiple bus targets, without impact to input/output bus bandwidth or network performance, having: a bus interface circuit; a bus protocol circuit coupled to the bus interface circuit; a burst dispatcher circuit coupled to the bus protocol circuit; a network interface coupled to a read processing circuit and a write processing circuit, wherein the read processing circuit and the write processing circuit are coupled to the burst dispatcher; and, a synchronization and buffering circuit coupled to the bus protocol circuit, the burst dispatcher circuit, the read processing circuit and the write processing circuit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that supports space and time dimensional program execution by facilitating accesses to different versions of a memory element. The system supports a head thread that executes program instructions and a speculative thread that executes program instructions in advance of the head thread. The head thread accesses a primary version of the memory element, and the speculative thread accesses a space-time dimensioned version of the memory element. During a reference to the memory element by the head thread, the system accesses the primary version of the memory element. During a reference to the memory element by the speculative thread, the speculative thread accesses a pointer associated with the primary version of the memory element, and accesses a version of the memory element through the pointer. Note that the pointer points to the space-time dimensioned version of the memory element if the space-time dimensioned version of the memory element exists.

Abstract: The protocol for controlling a network is encapsulated within the token circulated through the token ring network. Each computer in the network that receives the token examines the token and implements the network protocol specified in the token. In this manner, the protocol of the network can be easily changed, and automatically promulgated throughout the network.

Abstract: Method, system and article of manufacture for creating object oriented components having one or more bidirectional ports for use with in connecting object oriented based components. The two way or bidirectional ports are first initialized to their two way state. The ports can then dynamically function as either input or output ports based solely on the manner in which they are used. The components set themselves internally to reflect the actual status of their bi-directional ports. When a connection to another component is completed, the connecting component object sends a message to the component at the other end of the connection indicating how its own port is set, input or output. The message receiving component then makes sure that its connection participating port is set oppositely. If the message receiving component's connecting port is bidirectional, that port is set opposite to the status of the first connected port.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing computing overhead by creating fast, local-only objects in a distributed client/server based computing system are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, within an object-based computing system, a method for creating an object reference that is associated with a local-only servant object includes implementing a first base class to create a first object that represents the object reference, and obtaining a local-only create closure. An operation is called on a second base class using the local-only create closure. The operation creates a server-side representation associated with the local-only servant object, and is stored in the first object that represents the object reference. In one embodiment, creating the local-only create closure includes creating a skeleton object and calling a local m-table builder for the skeleton object.

Abstract: A method for reducing soft error rates in semiconductor devices includes adding an isotopically enriched 11B compound during the manufacture of a semiconductor device. Such isotopically enriched 11B compounds include orthoborates (BOR3), acyl borates (B(OCOR)3), peroxo borates (OOR)3, boronic acids (RB(OH)2), boron halides, boron hydrides, inorganic boranes, amine boranes, aminoboranes, carboranes, and borazines, where R is an alkyl group. Disclosed uses include adding between 1% to 100% of the isotopically enriched 11B compound to an underfill material in flip-chip assembly; adding between 1% to 100% of the isotopically enriched 11B compound to an encapsulent; and adding between 1% to 100% of the isotopically enriched 11B compound to an adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for bit synchronization in an optical time division multiplexed communication system. The apparatus is couplable to an optical gate, such as an optical demultiplexer. The apparatus includes a programmable optical delay line couplable to an input clock; an optical synchronizer coupled to the programmable optical delay line and couplable to the optical gate; and a processor coupled to the programmable optical delay line and to the optical synchronizer. The processor includes program instructions to track bit synchronization between a clock pulse and a selected data bit during a communication session; and when a bit tracking range is approaching a predetermined limit, the processor having further instructions to interrupt the communication session, return the bit tracking range to a zero offset and correspondingly adjust a programmable delay, and resume the communication session.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for management of communications over media of finite bandwidth. One embodiment of the invention allows management of communications comprising a plurality of data streams from a plurality of sources. One embodiment of the invention effectively quantifies and controls data streams comprising data transferred at either regular or irregular data rates. One embodiment of the invention provides for estimation of data rate needs, measurement and analysis of current and historical data rate parameters, dynamic allocation of available bandwidth, and supports cooperation between data sources and destinations in the management processes.

Abstract: A system and method for performing visible object determination based upon a dual search of a cone hierarchy and a bound hierarchy performed by multiple processors. Each processor is configured to read a (global and/or local) problem queue to access a bound-cone pair. The bound-cone pair points to a bound in the bound hierarchy and a cone in the cone hierarchy. The processor computes a bound-cone distance between the bound and the cone, and compares the bound-cone distance to a visibility distance associated with the cone. If the bound-cone distance is smaller than the visibility distance, the processor may write two or more refined bound-cone pairs corresponding to a refinement of the original pair to the global or local problem queue. When the processor detects a leaf bound and a leaf cone, it updates a nearest object pointer and the visibility distance associated with the leaf cone.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an inductor with a variable inductance within a semiconductor chip. This inductor includes a primary spiral composed of a conductive material embedded within the semiconductor chip to provide a source of variable inductance. It also includes a control spiral composed of the conductive material vertically displaced from the primary spiral in neighboring layers of the semiconductor chip. This control spiral is magnetically coupled with the primary spiral so that changing a control current through the control spiral induces a change in inductance through the primary spiral. The inductor also includes a controllable current source coupled to the control spiral that is configured to provide the control current. One embodiment of the present invention includes a core surrounding the primary spiral and the control spiral in the semiconductor chip.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to use gaze-tracking devices to determine an area of a display screen of most interest to a user and if that area of interest has a bandwidth allocation of increasing that allocation. Thus, the data transfers of interest to the user receive a larger bandwidth allocation than the data transfers that do not interest the user.

Abstract: A system for scheduling storage accesses of multiple continuous media streams may include a plurality of media stream clients. Associated with each media stream client is one of a plurality of media stream managers. Each media stream manager maintains a ring of buffers configured to buffer media stream data between its associated media stream client and one or more storage systems. A different deadline queue may be associated with each one of the storage systems. Each deadline queue may be configured to queue buffer requests from the media stream managers. Each buffer request may include a deadline by which the buffer request must be fulfilled by the corresponding storage system. Each media stream manager may be configured so that once one of its buffers is consumed by the associated media stream client, the media stream manager submits a buffer request and deadline for that buffer to the appropriate deadline queue. Buffer requests may be ordered in each deadline queue from earliest to latest deadline.

Abstract: A memory device that combines RAM and ROM devices into a single memory array is provided. The memory array includes a memory cell for the RAM that is associated with a first bit line and a first word line. The memory array also includes a second memory cell for the ROM that is associated with a second bit line and a second word line. The first bit line and the second bit line are connected with each other. The second memory cell is provided with a circuit that discharges the second bit line to represent a logical value “0” in response to a signal from the second word line.

Abstract: An insulating guard is mounted over a backplane or motherboard in an electronic system that accepts hot pluggable circuit cards. The insulating guard has openings that expose only the connectors and allow a hot pluggable circuit card to be inserted without the possibility of shorting the backplane. In order to prevent contact between a card being inserted and adjacent cards that have already been connected to the system, the invention provides for insulating card dividers which are connected to the insulating guard and fit between adjacent cards. The card dividers can be attached to the insulating guard by parts which snap together, fasteners or adhesives.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for clipping a function, such as a quadratic Bezier function defining a shading characteristic of an object being modeled. In accordance with the invention, a second or higher order function is clipped in “linear” fashion using barycentric coordinates. In accordance an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of determining a second or higher order function to be clipped, determining barycentric coordinates for at least one clipping point associated with a first order (i.e. linear) function associated with the second or higher order function and generating at least one clipping point associated with the second or higher order function using the barycentric coordinates. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the method includes the steps of using the barycentric coordinates to determine a reparameterized clipped function.

Abstract: A graphics system comprising a rendering engine, a sample buffer and a filtering engine. The rendering engine receives graphics primitives, generates sample positions, computes a depth value and color values for each sample position interior to each primitive. The blur value is assigned to each sample based on its depth value relative to an estimate of the concentration depth of the viewer. The per-sample data are stored in the sample buffer. The filtering engine reads samples in a neighborhood of a current filter position, and filters the samples to generate a video output pixel which is transmitted to a display device. The filtering engine applies to each sample in the neighborhood a corresponding filter function. The filter function has a spatial cutoff frequency determined by the sample's blur value.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for viewing objects on a display that allows a user to scroll through the objects by varying a non-positional display attribute of the objects. This non-positional display attribute may include attributes such as transparency, fadedness and size. The system operates by receiving an intrinsic value for an object, which specifies a value for a display attribute associated with the object. The system also receives a reference value for the display attribute against which intrinsic values for objects are compared. This reference value may be received from a user through a scroll bar that is manipulated by the user. The system uses the intrinsic value and the reference value to compute a display value for the object. Next, the object is displayed using the display value to specify the non-positional display attribute for the object.

Abstract: Connection information for open database connections is stored or “cached” in a connection manager at the database client. Therefore, even when a query is complete and the connection between the client and server is released, the manager maintains the database connection open. When a new query arrives at the client, the connection manager compares the connection information in the query to the corresponding information stored for each open connection. If there is a match and the connection is not in use, the already open connection is used for the new query. If there is no match, a new connection is opened until a predetermined limit of the number of connections is reached. When the limit is reached, an open connection which is not in use is closed and a new connection is established. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a “free” list of open connections which are not in use is maintained so that a quick comparison can be made with the incoming query information.

Abstract: An interprise computing manager in which an application is composed of a client (front end) program which communicates utilizing a network with a server (back end) program. The client and server programs are loosely coupled and exchange information using the network. The client program is composed of a User Interface (UI) and an object-oriented framework (Presentation Engine (PE) framework). The UI exchanges data messages with the framework. The framework is designed to handle two types of messages: (1) from the UI, and (2) from the server (back end) program via the network. The framework includes a component, the mediator which manages messages coming into and going out of the framework.