Abstract: A method and apparatus to vertically mount a first printed circuit board into a high-density connector on a second circuit board using one or more torque-limiting screws. A suitable support structure or support surface may be mounted on the second circuit board with the top of the support structure lying below the high-density connector in such a manner as to align the connecting edge on the first circuit board with the longitudinal opening in the high-density connector when the first circuit board is placed on the top surface of the support structure. One or more torque-limiting screws may be mounted on appropriated edges of the first circuit board. One or more grooved channels, preferably equal in number to the torque-limiting screws on the first circuit board, may be provided on the top of the support structure. The torque-limiting screws on the first circuit board are oriented in line with the corresponding grooved channels when the first circuit board is placed on the top of the support structure.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for determining how to compile a program at runtime. A bytecode instruction associated with the program that can be compiled in multiple ways is retrieved and compiled in a particular way, typically the default way. At runtime, a virtual machine determines whether another way of compiling the bytecode instruction is more desirable and, if so, the bytecode is then recompiled the other way. In some embodiments, the portion of the program that contains the bytecode instruction to be recompiled is placed in a queue with other instructions that are to be recompiled. The virtual machine may examine changing requirements of the program that have developed at the program's execution in which the requirements are derived from profile data on each of the multiple ways the program can be compiled. The bytecode instruction within the program may be recompiled in a more preferred way based upon the profile data.

Abstract: A dynamic termination logic driver, one that is capable of launching signals at a driving end of a transmission line and is capable of terminating signals at a receiver end of the transmission line, controls output impedance and includes within the driver an impedance circuit and slew rate control. Accordingly, a desired output impedance can be advantageously established and maintained over a wide range of variations in operating conditions, manufacturing processes and output voltage levels. Such a driver also advantageously limits any crowbar current, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the driver with little, if any, degradation of driver performance. The driver includes a pull up circuit coupled to receive at least one of a plurality of control codes and the driver also includes a pull down circuit coupled to receive at least one of the plurality of control codes.

Abstract: In a computer system having a kernel supporting an interface definition language, a file system composed of an object framework. The object framework includes a set of proxy vnodes, a set of memcache vnodes, and a set of storage vnodes. The set of proxy vnodes and the set of memcache vnodes are linked to the set of storage vnodes through the use of the interface definition language, and the set of proxy vnodes are linked to the set of memcache vnodes through the use of a set of pointers. Each proxy vnode of said set of proxy vnodes is typed so as to differentiate between a set of file system objects such as files, directories and devices. The set of memcache vnodes forms an interface to a virtual memory system while the set of storage vnodes forms an interface to an underlying file system. The file system also uses a set of file paging interfaces that support extensions to the file system while providing full coherence of data.

Abstract: A method and system for transforming an intermediate form into an object-oriented database. The intermediate form is derived from a grammatical form of an object-oriented database through the process of compilation. The grammatical form is an expression of an object-oriented database in a textual form according to a grammar. The intermediate form comprises an array of intelligent entry objects that encapsulate data with methods for manipulating that data. The intermediate form comprises entries as in the object-oriented database but lacks the infrastructure of the database. The intermediate form can be used to populate the object-oriented database with entries. Population takes place through a public API for accessing the object-oriented database; in other words, through an interface which declares methods for navigating the database and adding entries to the database.

Abstract: A random number generator, useful in association with a computer system of a computer network, generates a randomly distributed back-off time interval between a collision and the retransmission of the packet, e.g. for Ethernet's collision sense multiple access/collision detect (CSMA/CD) protocol. The random number generator includes a data-based number generator, a timer-based number generator and a number combiner. The combiner is provided the output numbers from data-based and timer-based number generators, and in turn generates a random number. A user selectable initialization number is provided as a seed number for the data-based number generator. Subsequently, a cyclic redundency check (CRC) generator provides numbers for data-based number generator. A free-running timer provides numbers for the timer-based number generator. The user selectable initialization number is also provided as a seed number for the data-based and timer-base generators.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for compiling and linking a source file and to generate a symbol table associating a global symbol with a register referenced in the source file. The symbol table enables a linker to initialize the global registers using a relocation entry which holds an initializer. The compiler also generates an object file from the source file. The object file includes the global symbol information. A linker links the object file potentially with at least one other object file or shared library to thereby generate an executable file or shared library. The linker uses the global symbol information contained in the object file to initialize the global registers and to perform relocation operations.

Abstract: A casing for electronic, heat-emitting components, has a front provided with an ornamented bezel. Instead of a conventional ventilation grill in such front bezel, the bezel is bowed outwardly relative to the front edges of the sides of the casing. Ventilation is provided through the gaps between the back of the bezel and the front edges of the sides. The upper portion of the bezel may be formed with an opening to receive a media bezel having openings therein for removable disk drives, floppy disks and the like.

Abstract: Improved techniques for reporting events raised by entities running on computer networks are disclosed. The techniques provide an event distribution system that handles events generated by various software and other entities installed on a computer or communications network. The event distribution system is capable of handling large volumes of event traffic and can be installed and operated separately from other network management software components to provide thereby more robust operations in the case one or more components fail. In addition, the event distribution system can be scaled readily to handle greater volumes of network traffic. In one embodiment, an event distribution service is coupled with an event source. In addition, an event listener is provided on the computer network. When an event is generated from the event source and received by the event distribution system, the event distribution system processes and forwards the event, or a notification of the event, to an appropriate listener.

Abstract: Special bit-mapped images, or buttons, are programmed to display in a primary topic window of an on-line help system when a result or warning may be helpful to the user. The user can choose whether or not to click a pointing device, such as a mouse on the bit-mapped image. Clicking the pointing device on the bit-mapped image will pull up the expected result or warning in either a secondary topic window or pop-up, either of-which can be closed when the information has been reviewed. Such an organization of help information in multiple windows provides users with access to information that may be useful and even essential, without cluttering the primary topic window and decreasing user productivity.

Abstract: In an object oriented software environment, a system and method is disclosed that addresses both state recovery and relationship recovery in the event of a system halt. The system is suited to enterprise-class distributed systems with extensive object relationships. Each essential object is saved in persistent storage. Essential values within each object are updated in storage according to a method within each object. After a partial or total halt of the system, the state of the software is reconstructed in a two phase process. In the first phase, the essential objects are restored from persistent storage, along with essential values. In the second phase, a method uniquely implemented by each object will reconstruct non-essential objects and variables. The second phase is ideally tailored to allow the system to be reconstructed even when the underlying hardware or software has been altered.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine is equipped with a computerized control and an infrared (IR) communications transceiver. A user equipped with an IR transceiver may download an electronic copy of an article, an electronic copy of the newspaper itself or a network address where these may be obtained. The IR link is also used to transfer digital cash or payment authorizations to the vending machine in exchange for the information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to allow a key manager node in a network to initiate the process of changing a group key for all nodes in a multicasting group. In the described embodiment, the key manager node initiates changing the group key by setting an indicator in a multicast packet. The indicator indicates that each of the nodes in the multicast group should obtain a new group key from the key manager node. The key manager node sets the indicator whenever the key manager node determines that the nodes in the group need to change their key. The nodes in the multicast group then obtain a key from the key manager node. In one embodiment of the present invention, the key manager node sends the group key to the members of the group and, once all nodes in the group have received their key, sends an indicator that the group members should start using the new keys. In another embodiment, the key manager node sends the new key to the group, along with instructions specifying when the new key is to take effect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching between threads of a program in response to a long-latency event. In one embodiment, the long-latency events are load or store operations which trigger a thread switch if there is a miss in the level 2 cache. In addition to providing separate groups of registers for multiple threads, a group of program address registers pointing to different threads are provided. A switching mechanism switches between the program address registers in response to the long-latency events.

Abstract: A dynamic termination logic driver, the driver capable of launching signals at a driving end of a transmission line and terminating signals at a receiver end of the transmission line, controls slew rate over a wide range of variations in operating conditions, manufacturing processes and output voltage levels. Such a driver also advantageously limits any crowbar current, thereby reducing the overall power consumption of the driver with little, if any, degradation of driver performance. The driver includes a pull up circuit having an impedance, the pull up circuit including a pull up output circuit and a buffer circuit, the pull up output circuit including a parallel pull up circuit, a pull up output control circuit, and a pull up slew rate control circuit, wherein the parallel pull up circuit and the pull up output control circuit are coupled in parallel.

Abstract: A multilevel security attribute passing system on a computer operating under a multilevel operating system engaged in stream communications and enabling contemporaneously opening a plurality of sockets having the same port number while meeting the requirements of a predetermined security policy. The security attributes of received data are copied into a credentials structure identified by a pointer in an attribute structure. The security of a data node configured for data stream communication is specified by storing the security attributes of transferred data into a selected data structure and then pointing to the selected data structure with intervening transmission and attribute structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to the installation of an operating system at a local computer connected or connectable to a remote management computer. To do this a standard operating system is provided on a storage medium at the local computer. Then a modular definition of an operating system model, defining a customised configuration of the standard operating system, is supplied from a memory at the management computer to the local computer. The standard installation of the operating system to a memory of the local computer is performed using the standard operating system on the storage medium and, in addition, this is customized using the model. The use of a modular definition of a model of a customized operating system installation facilitates the maintenance of the customized installation procedure.

Abstract: A cache memory includes a plurality of memory chips, or other separately addressable memory sections, which are configured to collectively store a plurality of cache lines. Each cache line includes data and an associated cache tag. The cache tag may include an address tag which identifies the line as well as state information indicating the coherency state for the line. Each cache line is stored across the memory chips in a row formed by corresponding entries (i.e., entries accessed using the same index address). The plurality of cache lines is grouped into separate subsets based on index addresses, thereby forming several separate classes of cache lines. The cache tags associated with cache lines of different classes are stored in different memory chips. During operation, the cache controller may receive multiple snoop requests corresponding to, for example, transactions initiated by various processors.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for checking an installation of a plurality of power supply modules in a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processor modules. A detector detects if one of the processor modules is present. A voltage monitor monitors the voltage level of one of the power supply modules which corresponds to the processor module. A control circuit generates a control signal to turn off the power if the processor module is present and the voltage level is outside an operating range.

Abstract: The present invention uses a stack management unit including a stack cache to accelerate data retrieval from a stack and data storage into the stack. In one embodiment, the stack management unit includes a stack cache, a dribble manager unit, and a stack control unit. The dribble manager unit maintains a cached stack portion, typically a top portion of the stack in the stack cache. The stack cache includes a stack cache memory circuit, one or more read ports, and one or more write ports. The stack management unit also includes an address pipeline to transfer multiple data words by the spill control unit and the fill control unit to improve the throughput of spill and fill operations. When new data words are written to the top memory location of the stack, the optop pointer is incremented. If data words are read off the stack the optop pointer is decremented. During normal operations the dribble manager unit detects spill conditions and fill conditions.