Patents Assigned to Sun Microsystems
  • Patent number: 6199142
    Abstract: An integrated processor/memory device comprising a main memory, a CPU, and a full width cache. The main memory comprises main memory banks. Each of the main memory banks stores rows of words. The rows are a predetermined number of words wide. The cache comprises cache banks. Each of the cache banks stores one or more cache lines of words. Each of the cache lines has a corresponding row in the corresponding main memory bank. The cache lines are the predetermined number of words wide. When the CPU issues an address in the address space of the corresponding main memory bank, the cache bank determines from the address and the tags of the cache lines whether a cache bank hit or a cache miss has occurred in the cache bank. When a cache bank miss occurs, the cache bank replaces a victim cache line of the cache lines with a new cache line that comprises the corresponding row of the corresponding memory bank specified by the issued address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashley Saulsbury, Andreas Nowatzyk, Fong Pong
  • Patent number: 6199196
    Abstract: A linkage editor executing at a server receives instructions for packaging software components that are required for program execution at a client. The linkage editor generates an output file by iteratively analyzing the program for references to other software components and extracting those components from their parent classes. The linkage editor sends the completed output file to an interface task, which transmits it to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Madany, Richard Tuck, Nedim Fresko
  • Patent number: 6198325
    Abstract: An active digital voltage regulator circuit is a two terminal device that is connected in shunt to first and second power supply input lines. The active digital voltage regulator circuit stores energy during times when the local power supply voltage is greater than a predefined voltage, e.g., during times when the parasitic inductances supplement the local power supply voltage. A control circuit within the regulator circuit is a combination of two self-biasing and off-set nulling power supply monitor circuits. Each power supply monitor circuit further includes a differencing, non-overlapped, dual-output amplifier connected to the first and second power supply input lines. The differencing, non-overlapped, dual-output amplifier includes a predriver stage and an output stage, both of which are connected to the first and second power supply input lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Ang, Alexander Dougald Taylor
  • Patent number: 6199113
    Abstract: A session key is established for accessing a trusted network from a browser. An authentication process receives identification information from a user at the browser, and authenticates the user by checking the identification information against an authentication database. If the authentication database authenticates the user, a session key is created and stored at the browser. If the user is authenticated, a user profile defining access rights for the user is also retrieved. The user is then presented with access options based on the access rights defined in the user profile. In response to a user selection from the access page, the browser forwards an information request to the trusted network. The request includes a session key. A speaker object processes the information request and session key to form a network request packet. The network request packet is formed in a manner that allows authentication of the speaker object. The session packet is forwarded to a trusted network and processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred A. Alegre, Rong Q. Sha, William R. Soley
  • Patent number: 6199080
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed to provide a display of structured information on a computer controlled display device such that the supplemental information used to describe the primary data displayed is always available to be seen by a user. This supplemental information continues to be displayed as the user scrolls or pages through the primary information even if the structured information is embedded in a scrolling context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jakob Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6199071
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer program products are disclosed for archiving a hypertext document that contains a hyperlink definition. Archiving is the process of rendering a hypertext document for storage in a noninteractive form (for example, printing a copy of the hypertext document). The archival copy of the hypertext document presents the reader with a URL, contained in the hyperlink definition, as an embedded note, a footnote, or an endnote. Thus a reader of the archived hypertext document knows the URL associated with the hyperlink definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jakob Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6199075
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed describing generational garbage collection on a card-marked heap memory shared by multiple processing units. When one of the processing units detects that the free space available for node creation is below a threshold, that processing unit pauses its heap mutation processes and signals the other processing units to also pause mutation. After the other processing units pause heap mutation, the processing units then proceed to execute generational garbage collection procedures on the shared heap. The generational garbage collection procedures for each processing unit are driven by pointers stored in each processing unit's register, stack and static variables along with pointers within a specified partition of the shared card-marked heap. The processing units resume mutation of the heap once they all complete their garbage collection processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Ungar, Mario I. Wolczko
  • Patent number: 6195106
    Abstract: A frame buffer dynamic random access memory (FBRAM) is disclosed that enables accelerated rendering of Z-buffered graphics primitives. The FBRAM converts read-modify-write transactions such as Z-buffer compare and RBG alpha blending into a write only operation. The FBRAM also implements two levels of internal pixel caches, and a four-way interleaved frame buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Deering, Stephen A. Schlapp, Michael G. Lavelle
  • Patent number: 6195751
    Abstract: A system for secure multicast including a plurality of participants that can send and receive multicast messages. A traffic distribution component is coupled to the participating entities, where the traffic distribution component supports multiple receiver communication. A participant key management component operates within each participant entity where the participant key management component uses a first key that is shared with all of the other participants, and a second key that is shared with a subgroup of participants. A group key management component is implemented using a flat data structure having a size that is logarithmically proportional to the number of participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Germano Caronni, Marcel Waldvogel
  • Patent number: 6195613
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of one or more capacitors using an impedance analyzer, whereby the capacitors are joined to the impedance analyzer with a conductive adhesive. The conductive adhesive may advantageously provide for an electrically and mechanically stable connection between the capacitor and the remainder of the electrical circuit used to measure the ESR of the capacitor. The conductive adhesive may include heat activated or cold solder, or conductive putty. The system comprises a measuring unit for sweeping a frequency range to find the minimum impedance for the capacitor and a connector assembly for holding the capacitor in an electrically and mechanically stable connection using the conductive adhesive. The connector assembly includes a mating portion adapted for electrically connecting the connector assembly to an I/O port of the measuring unit and a terminal portion that accommodates a connection to the capacitor using the conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanmoy Roy, Larry D. Smith, Raymond E. Anderson, Thomas J. Pelc, Douglas W. Forehand
  • Patent number: 6194929
    Abstract: A delay-locked loop includes a phase detection circuit, a charge pump circuit and a phase shift circuit. The phase detection circuit is coupled to receive a first signal and a second signal. The phase detection circuit generates a phase-error output signal indicative of whether the first signal is ahead of or behind the second signal in phase responsive to receiving the first and second signals. The charge pump circuit is coupled to receive a phase-error signal derived from the phase-error output signal. The charge pump circuit generates a plurality of control output signals. Each of the control output signals are based upon the phase-error signal and by at least one signal derived from one other of the control output signals. The phase shift circuit is coupled to receive a plurality of control input signals and a plurality of periodic input signals. The control input signals are derived from the control output signals. Each of the periodic input signals have a different phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Drost, Jose M. Cruz, Robert J. Bosnyak
  • Patent number: 6194969
    Abstract: A system and method for providing master and slave phase-aligned clocks. Upon a failure of a master clock signal, the system switches over to a slave clock signal in phase alignment with the master clock signal. The master clock signal is from a first clock source, while the slave clock signal is from a second clock source. The second clock source comprises a phase locked loop (PLL) including a switch, which is coupled to selectively provide a control signal to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The switch may also provide a reference control voltage to the VCO. The first clock source may be on a first clock board, and the second clock source may be on a second clock board. The clock boards are preferably hot swappable. The first clock board may be removed from the system, such as upon a failure, and a third clock board placed in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew G. Doblar
  • Patent number: 6195420
    Abstract: Specialized computer terminals with a telephone, touch screen and magnetic stripe reader are used to access a customer's bill from various locations within a hotel, such as a restaurant and bar. When checking out a customer can review the bill and can be automatically linked to a customer service representative (CSR) over voice and data links. Groupware permits the customer and CSR to cooperatively review the same version of the bill on their respective terminals and resolve any disputes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Tognazzini
  • Patent number: 6192476
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining whether a principal (e.g. a thread) may access a particular resource. According to one aspect of the invention, the access authorization determination takes into account the sources of the code on the call stack of the principal at the time the access is desired. Because the source of the code on the call stack will vary over time, so will the access rights of the principal. Thus, when a request for an action is made by a thread, a determination is made of whether the action is authorized based on permissions associated with routines in a calling hierarchy associated with the thread. The determination of whether a request is authorized is based on a determination of whether at least one permission associated with each routine encompasses the permission required to perform the requested action. Support for “privileged” routines is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Li Gong
  • Patent number: 6192483
    Abstract: Data integrity and availability is assured by preventing a node of a distributed, clustered system from accessing shared data in the case of a failure of the node or communication links with the node. The node is prevented from accessing the shared data in the presence of such a failure by ensuring that such a failure is detected in less time than a secondary node would allow user I/O activities to commence after reconfiguration. The prompt detection of failure is assured by periodically determining which configuration of the current cluster each node believes itself to be a member of Each node maintains a sequence number which identifies the current configuration of the cluster. Periodically, each node exchanges its sequence number with all other nodes of the cluster. If a particular node detects that it believes itself to be a member of a preceding configuration to that to which another node belongs, the node determines that the cluster has been reconfigured since the node last performed a reconfiguration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hossein Moiin, Angelo Pruscino
  • Patent number: 6191658
    Abstract: An oscillator circuit having a topology that provides for high-speed oscillation in an even number of phases. The topology generally comprises an even number of inverting circuit elements generally including a keeper and an even number of inverters. The circuit elements are connected such that each output of each circuit element is coupled to at least one input of a neighboring circuit element such that a signal traversing a closed path is inverted an odd number of times. One oscillator is implemented using circuit elements containing a keeper having two nodes and two pairs of inverters. The outputs of one pair of inverters are tied to a first node of the keeper and the outputs of the other pair are tied to a second node. In a preferred embodiment, the oscillator circuit contains four such circuit elements arranged in a ring such that the outputs of each circuit element are coupled to the two neighbor circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott M. Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 6192517
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a method for modifying a sequence of instructions to improve memory management within a storage device during execution of the instructions, comprises the steps, performed by a processor, of (a) analyzing the sequence of instructions for a conflict indicating an undeterminable variable type, (b) determining the type of conflict, and (c) modifying the sequence of instructions to eliminate the conflict based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ole Agesen, David L. Detlefs
  • Patent number: 6192516
    Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing the execution speed of interpreted programs which utilize an operand stack are provided. The value for the top of the operand stack is stored in one or more registers. A state of the interpreter indicates the data type of the value for the top of the operand stack stored in the one or more registers. An interpreter may be generated that is both fast and efficient in terms of the memory required for the interpreter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Griesemer
  • Patent number: 6192404
    Abstract: A base node of a computer network sends concurrent TTL query messages using multicast to other receiving nodes of the computer network. Each of the TTL query messages has a different time-to-live (TTL) parameter value and records the TTL parameter of the TTL query message into a message body. The receiving nodes receive one or more of the TTL query messages, namely, those TTL query messages whose TTL parameter values are sufficient to allow the TTL query message to reach the receiving node. Each receiving node can determine the TTL distance to the receiving node from the base node by determining the lowest TTL parameter value of all TTL query messages which reached the receiving node. Each receiving node communicates the TTL distance by sending to the base node a TTL query response message which indicates, in the message body, the least TTL parameter value of all TTL query messages received by the receiving node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Hurst, Dah Ming Chiu, Stephen R. Hanna, Radia J. Pearlman
  • Patent number: 6192401
    Abstract: A distributed computer system and method for determining cluster membership in a distributed computer system. A plurality of computers configurable as cluster nodes are coupled through one or more public and/or private communications networks. Cluster management software running on the plurality of computers is configured to group various ones of the computers into a cluster. Weighting values are assigned to each node, such as by relative processing power. Each fully connected subset of nodes are grouped into a possible cluster configuration. The weighting value of each subset is calculated. The membership in the cluster is chosen based on the subset with the optimum weighting value among all the possible cluster configurations. The maximum weighting value may be adjusted if the maximum weighting value is greater than or equal to the sum of all other weighting values for all other nodes in the current cluster configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramin Modiri, Hossein Moiin