Patents Assigned to Sun Microsystems
  • Publication number: 20020083416
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically providing an adapter or a stub in a runtime environment are provided. An adapter generator is provided with input parameters that are in turn processed and input to a compiler. The compiler, in turn, is coupled to an adapter library used to store the generated adapters. The adapter library, in turn, provides adapters, on demand to a runtime system when executing a bytecode, or a series of bytecodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford N. Click, Christopher A. Vick, Michael H. Paleczny
  • Publication number: 20020083309
    Abstract: A spill/fill engine detects when a register window spill trap or a register window fill trap is imminent. The spill/fill engine takes steps to avoid the trap so as to not incur an undue amount of overhead in servicing the trap with a software trap handler. The spill/fill engine may be implemented in hardware. The traps may be avoided by injecting appropriate instructions into an instruction stream for execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Leibholz, Jason Eisenberg
  • Publication number: 20020083176
    Abstract: A processing unit is connectable to a communications network. The processing unit has a data carrier reader operable to read a network identity from a portable data carrier. The processing unit is operable on being powered up to check for the presence of a said data carrier, and when a data carrier is present to use the network identity from the data carrier for communicating via the network. The data carrier can be in the form of a card having readable storage, for example a portable storage device having a readable semiconductor memory of a type know, for example, as a smart card, or memory card. The processing unit may be arranged to use only the network address read from the data carrier, and, in the absence of such a data carrier to prevent access to the network. Access to the network can be achieved by aborting the power up of the processing unit. The processing unit may therefore access the network only when the network address is present in the carrier reader when the processing unit is powered up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Heffernan, James E. King, Rhod J. Jones, Robert Littlewood
  • Publication number: 20020083209
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and products provided for facilitating the reuse of data blocks. In one implementation, a registration server receives request data objects from programs that request use of a data block. When the data block is not already registered with the registration server, the registration server registers the data block, for example in a list of registration data objects. A registration handle object is returned to the requesting program and provides a reference to the resources for accessing the data block. The present invention facilitates efficient use of resources in connection with multiple requests for a data block because resources needed for handling the binary data block are not duplicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Ahrens, Sven Jacobi
  • Patent number: 6411131
    Abstract: A receiver is provided which quickly and efficiently recognizes signals by including with the receiver a resolving circuit which is coupled to a signal generation circuit which provides a differential current. The resolving circuit is coupled to a latching circuit. The resolving circuit can operate with supply voltage levels as low as one threshold voltage. Also, the signal setup and hold times are inherently vary small due to the high intrinsic bandwidth of the receiver. Other advantages include reduced power consumption, high speed operation, good rejection of input noise and power supply noise, ability to resolve small (e.g., 1.0 mVolt) voltage differences, reduced capacitive loading, and the ability to function with a variety of types of drivers, including HSTL, DTL and PECL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Ang, Jonathan E. Starr
  • Patent number: 6412109
    Abstract: A method for optimizing bytecode in the presence of try-catch blocks comprises generating an Intermediate Representation of the bytecode, scanning each basic block of the bytecode to identify try blocks, scanning each basic block of the bytecode to identify try-blocks, splitting each try-block into a first half and a second half at the first statement that can throw an exception, establishing an edge between the first half and the second half of each try-block, between the first half and the catch block, and between the catch block and the basic block subsequent to the second half of each try-block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanjoy Ghosh
  • Patent number: 6411956
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing distributed transaction support functionality using JDBC 1.0 drivers. Instead of creating a new physical database connection for each connection request, an interface driver internally maintains a mapping in a table between a global transaction identifier and the physical database connection. Even if an application requests multiple connections to the same database for the same transaction, all database access through those connections would actually be redirected to the same physical database connection as maintained in the table. This allows all the work to be coordinated under the same transaction. Thus, limited JDBC 2.0 Standard Extension driver compatibility is achieved using standard JDBC 1.0 drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Tony Chun Tung Ng
  • Patent number: 6412021
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing user notification. In a desktop environment in which multiple applications, or applets may be simultaneously resident in main memory, it may be necessary to release or unload one or more applications or applets from main memory to provide memory space for a newly selected application or applet. Applications or applets thus unloaded are incapable of providing feedback or user notification of state changes associated with the respective application or applet. An embodiment of the invention provides a user notification class for notifying users of application or applet state changes. For each application or applet that needs to provide user notification, the desktop manager loads an instance of a notification class as an independent thread which will operate even when the associated application or applet is not resident in main memory. The user notification class instance performs all notification functions on behalf of the application or applet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phuong T. Nguyen, Linda Schneider, Joseph F. Di Pol
  • Patent number: 6412001
    Abstract: A covert channel is established between a network service and one or more service monitors in a service group. The covert channel minimizes overhead by providing an indication of the status of the service through use of operating system utilities rather than conventional remote procedure calls (RPCs) or posting methods. The covert channel relies on one or more communication files established and updated by the service and having attributes which are in proportion to the workload of the service. By monitoring these attributes, the service monitor is able to determine the status of the service, including its workload and availability, without incurring costly operational overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Wong, Panagiotis Tsirigotis, Swee Lim, Sanjay Radia
  • Patent number: 6412019
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus in an object oriented programming environment for invocation of objects with interface inheritance. An object reference using mtables contains two parts, more specifically, a pointer to the data for an object and a pointer to the methods on the object. The methods on the object are represented by a collection of mtables. An mtable for a given interface consists of pointers to mtables for inherited interfaces and pointers to functions implementing the operations declared in the interface. An mtable pointer in an object reference points to an mtable for an apparent interface of the object reference. Mtables for any inherited interfaces are reached by indirection from the mtables for the apparent interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Gibbons, Graham Hamilton, Peter B. Kessler, Michael L. Powell, Sanjay R. Radia
  • Patent number: 6412016
    Abstract: For bypassing a computer system coupled between first and second network links, the computer system executes a software which provides a predetermined control signal on a control line. The control line is polled by a bypass device that will cause the computer system to be bypassed when said control signal is not present on the control line. The control signal may be in the form of periodic pulses and a bypassing is caused when a pulse is not received on the control line within a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Martin, Steve McKinty
  • Patent number: 6411996
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating and utilizing To-Be-Visited sites in a web enabled application accessible list is provided. The apparatus includes an access unit for adding the TBV site to the web enabled application accessible list, and a dating/deleting unit for determining whether the TBV site is expired, and deleting the TBV site if the TBV site has expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Albers
  • Publication number: 20020078071
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program for processing software modules is provided. Each software module has a version management file associated with it. A version management file includes a comment field for recording at least one tag. Each tag relates to an attribute of the associated software module and has an attribute value. In operation, when an attribute of a software module needs to be known, the comment field of the version management file of the software modules is searched for a predetermined tag. The attribute value that is associated with the predetermined tag is detected when said predetermined tag is found. Processing of the software module is then selectively effected in accordance with the attribute value when said predetermined tag is found, and in accordance with the lack of a predetermined tag when said predetermined tag is not found. The version management file includes history data defining current and prior versions of the software module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Foster
  • Publication number: 20020075982
    Abstract: A system and method for switching between input clock signals from different clock sources without losing lock by providing a supplemental correction signal to the loop filter in a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit. The phase detector includes a supplemental correction pulse generator configured to offset, at least partially, the effects of losing an input clock signal from a first clock source failure. The phase detector is coupled to receive the input clock signal and a feedback signal. The phase detector outputs a phase error signal indicative of a comparison between the input clock signal and the feedback signal. The loop filter is coupled to receive the phase error signal and to output an error correction signal. A voltage controlled oscillator is coupled to receive the error correction signal and to generate the output signal of the PLL, with the feedback signal indicative of the output signal. Switching logic is coupled to monitor the input clock signal from the first clock source for a failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew G. Doblar
  • Publication number: 20020078371
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of using proxies for accessing a computer network, e.g. through a publicly accessible network, is disclosed. A connection between the client and a network server is established not directly but through a client proxy device located at the client and a proxy server at the local area network. The connection between the client proxy device at the client and a proxy server at the local area network may be established through a firewall restricting access to the local area network and/or client. In establishing the connection, ports of the client proxy device at the client side may be mapped in multiple operations to the ports of network servers of the local area network. The invention allows the client to utilize common network protocols such as for example ftp, http, IMAP and similar at the client side to access data or services available at the local area network side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Heilig, Matthias Huetsch
  • Publication number: 20020078310
    Abstract: A multiprocessor digital data processing system comprises a plurality of processing cells arranged in a hierarchy of rings. The system selectively allocates storage and moves exclusive data copies from cell to cell in response to access requests generated by the cells. Routing elements are employed to selectively broadcast data access requests, updates and transfers on the rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Frank, Henry Burkhardt, Linda O. Lee, Nathan Goodman, Benson I. Margulies, Frederick D. Weber
  • Publication number: 20020077800
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for creating a cluster availability model that takes into account availabilities of software components in the cluster. Aspects of the disclosure include defining a repair model and failure parameters for a repair mode in the repair model, and modeling availabilities of software components based on the repair mode and failure parameters. Additional aspects include combining availability models of software components in a computationally feasible manner and determining repair rates of node and cluster reboots. A cluster availability model is determined using the combined availability models of software components and the repair rates of node and cluster reboots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Kampe
  • Patent number: 6408417
    Abstract: On data writes to a cache memory in a digital data processing system, the existing data currently stored on the desired cache storage line is read out and parity checked. The read-out data is modified with new data only if there is no parity error. If a parity error is detected, a cache miss is signaled and the read-out line of data is written back into the cache memory with error correction code checking and error correction being performed on the defective line of data as part of this write-back to the cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anuradha N. Moudgal, Rick Hetherington, Timothy G. Goldsbury, John P. Petry
  • Patent number: 6408187
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically determining the behavior of a communications device based upon the likelihood that a user is within relatively close proximity to the communications device. The apparatus comprises one or more sensors, one or more behavioral mechanisms, and a behavior determining mechanism. The sensors (which may, for example, be mechanical, audio, heat, or motion sensors) provide indications as to the likelihood that a user is within relatively close proximity to the communications device. These indications are received by the behavior determining mechanism, and in response, the behavior determining mechanism determines, based upon the indications, one or more appropriate behaviors for the apparatus. The behavior determining mechanism then causes one or more of the behavioral mechanisms to carry out the appropriate behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Merriam
  • Patent number: 6407759
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows the user to escape from unwanted Java modal dialog boxes displayed by an applet, even though the Java modal dialog box does not contain a user interface designed to cancel or remove the dialog box from the display. The described embodiment allows the user to use so-called “escape” keys to indicate that the Java modal dialog box should be removed and/or closed. In general, these escape keys have other purposes in addition to removing the Java modal dialog box. A first escape key is a “back” key. Although the back key is typically used within a web browser to return to a previously viewed web page, in dialog box mode, the effect of the back key is to remove the dialog box from the display (under certain circumstances, as discussed below). A second escape key in the described embodiment is the “goto” key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Kanungo, Juan Carlos Soto, Jr.