Abstract: A system for cooling a semiconductor includes a heat sink in thermal contact with the semiconductor, a thermal interface material (TIM) layer disposed between the heat sink and the semiconductor, and a picture frame support disposed between a substrate of the semiconductor and the heat sink, wherein the picture frame support encloses at least a portion of the semiconductor in a plane between the substrate and the heat sink, and wherein the picture frame support has a height that is greater than a height of the semiconductor.

Abstract: A method for managing computing resources involves obtaining, by an electronic leasing agent, a request to lease access to one or more computing resources, and leasing, by the electronic leasing agent, access to the computing resource(s) based on the request.

Abstract: A method for managing computing resources involves obtaining, by an electronic auction agent, a request to auction access to one or more computing resources, and auctioning, by the electronic auction agent, access to the computing resource(s) based on the request.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a software installation map, also referred to as a dependency map, that involves receiving a first software package comprising at least a first software file and a second software file. The first software file is dependent on the second software file. The method further involves generating a first software element representing the first software file and generating a second software element representing the second software file. The method involves generating a first dependency pointer representing the dependency between the first software file and the second software file. Finally, the software elements are provided in an installation map, and the process repeats for each software file in the first software package.

Abstract: A method for managing computing resources involves obtaining, by an electronic broker agent, a request to broker access to one or more computing resources, and brokering, by the electronic broker agent, access to the computing resource(s) based on the request.

Abstract: A method for storing a data block, involving storing the data block in a storage pool, obtaining a data block location, determining a checksum function for the data block, calculating a data block checksum using the checksum function for the data block, and storing a first indirect block in the storage pool, wherein the first indirect block comprises the data block location, the data block checksum, and a checksum function ID corresponding to the checksum function for the data block.

Abstract: Obfuscating an application program comprises reading an application program comprising code, transforming the application program code into transformed application program code that uses one of multiple opcode value encoding schemes of a dispatch table associated with the application program, and sending the transformed application program code. Executing an obfuscated application program comprises receiving an obfuscated application program comprising at least one instruction opcode value encoded using one of multiple instruction set opcode value encoding schemes, determining a dispatch table associated with the application program, and executing the application program using the associated dispatch table. The dispatch table corresponds to the one of multiple instruction set opcode value encoding schemes.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates moving an original method from a source class to a destination class and for constructing a corresponding forwarding method in the source class that preserves null semantics. During operation, the system translates the original method from the source class into a corresponding moved method, and then incorporates the moved method into the destination class. The system also constructs a forwarding method that invokes the moved method in the destination class. The system then replaces the original method in the source class with the forwarding method. In this way, invoking the forwarding method in the source class causes the moved method to be invoked in the destination class. While constructing the forwarding method, the system generates code that checks whether a “source parameter” of the original method whose class matches the destination class is null. If so, the generated code executes the body of the original method.

Abstract: A mechanism for determining whether an image is of lossy-origin or lossless origin is used to maximize the compression ratio of any future compressions and avoid wasting the precious resources associated with lossless compression/decompression on any image that has previously been subjected to lossy compression/decompression.

Abstract: A network system having a plurality of processing partitions which includes a network interface unit coupled to a plurality of processing entities is disclosed. The network interface unit includes a plurality of memory access channels. The plurality of memory access channels is virtualized. The network interface unit is shared among the plurality of processing partitions.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a plurality of shelves. Each shelf has a carrier for removably receiving a plurality of information processing modules and a switching module. Each shelf also has an interconnection member for providing connections between the information processing modules and the switching module. The switching modules of the respective shelves are interconnected in a logical stacking configuration to form a logical stacking arrangement.

Abstract: A battery-backed cache system with a pluggable battery module. The system includes a RAID controller and a cache. A back up power board is provided upon which a second power connector is provided and the two power connectors are connected. A socket assembly is mounted on the board and is connected to the second power connector. The socket assembly is a standard socket for use with PC Cards and includes a bulkhead adapter for mounting to a case wall with a slot of the socket assembly accessible through the case wall. A battery module is included having a body with dimensions corresponding to the slot. A battery is positioned within the body and a connection interface is provided in the battery module for mating with the socket assembly. The body and connection interface of the battery module comply with PCMCIA specifications for card bodies and interfaces.

Abstract: A method for providing access to a network interface having a plurality of memory access channels is disclosed. The network interface provides access to a plurality of processing entities. The method includes providing a network interface software hierarchy wherein the network interface software hierarchy provides access to the network interface, and associating various memory access channels with corresponding processing entities via the network interface software hierarchy so as to provide a virtualized network interface.

Abstract: A method for minor garbage collection involves marking cards as clean, where the cards designate ranges of memory locations in a shared older generation, marking a card as dirty to obtain a dirty card when a reference field of an object is modified, where the object is allocated in one of multiple promotion areas, where the promotion area is used to promote objects to the shared older generation only for a single task, and where the card designates the reference field's memory location, examining the promotion areas and the cards to identify a region of the dirty card overlapping the promotion area, where promotion areas associated with other tasks are ignored, scanning the region of the dirty card overlapping the promotion area to identify roots of live young objects associated with the single task, and freeing a young object associated with the single task not identified as live during scanning.

Abstract: A method for garbage collection involves allocating multiple objects in a young generation, where the objects are specific to a task, and where the young generation is specific to the task, performing a minor garbage collection, where an object of the multiple objects is promoted to a promotion area in a shared older generation, and where the promotion area is specific to the task, and freeing the promotion area when the task terminates to obtain a free promotion area without performing a major garbage collection.

Abstract: A rackmount server has dual-redundant hot-swappable fans for uniformly providing air flow to a plurality of CPU modules housed in the rackmount server. Air flow generated by the fans may also be provided to I/O circuitry disposed in the rackmount server. An airflow zone in which air flow is provided by the fans is separate, however, from an airflow zone in which air flow is provided to at least one power supply and/or disk drive housed in the rackmount server.

Abstract: A read and/or write head for a tape drive system has a tape bearing surface that includes relatively smooth areas surrounded by relatively rough areas. Read and/or write elements are located in the smooth areas.

Abstract: A system for tolerating communication lane failures includes a transmitter configured to transmit a segment of data, an error detecting code, and redundant information. The system also includes a receiver coupled to the transmitter via a communication link including a plurality of bit lanes. Each bit of the segment of data may be conveyed to the receiver serially via respective single-bit lanes. The segment of data, the redundant information, and the error detecting code may be accumulated within the receiver over a plurality of clock cycles. The receiver may detect an error in the segment of data using the error detecting code. In addition, the receiver may, in response to detecting the error, regenerate the segment of data using the redundant information. Further, the receiver may determine whether a resulting regenerated bit, along with remaining bits, of the segment of data are correct using the error detecting code.

Abstract: An interconnect system between an integrated circuit device and a printed circuit board may include a filter between the integrated circuit device and the power subsystem of the printed circuit board. The filter may be a low-pass filter that reduces current in a higher frequency range without negatively modifying current in a lower frequency range and may reduce radiated emissions produced during operation of the integrated circuit. The filter may be implemented by arranging core-power voltage conductors and ground conductors at a first or second level interconnect into one or more voltage groupings and one or more adjacent ground groupings such that series inductance is increased. In some embodiments, the first level interconnect may include conductive bumps or pads between an integrated circuit and a substrate. In some embodiments, the second level interconnect may include solder balls, pins, pads, or other conductors of a package, socket, or interposer.

Abstract: A method used on a computer system for determining a most likely cause of a system problem associated with the computer system. By performing the method, the computer system constructs a device tree containing information about all relevant computer devices, determines a score for each of the computer devices represented in the device tree based on predetermined criteria, and aggregates and analyzes the score for each of the computer devices to identify a most likely cause of the system problem. The device tree may be created as having hierarchy levels of tree nodes, each node representing one of all relevant computer devices and each parent node representing a computer device controlling devices represented by child nodes. The score of each of the computer device may be assigned based on whether device is busy, whether the device is idled by the external I/O connection, or whether the device is in a hung or undefined state.