Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that predicts a result produced by a section of code in order to support speculative program execution. The system begins by executing the section of code using a head thread in order to produce a result. Before the head thread produces the result, the system generates a predicted result to be used in place of the result. Next, the system allows a speculative thread to use the predicted result in speculatively executing subsequent code that follows the section of code. After the head thread finishes executing the section of code, the system determines if a difference between the predicted result and the result generated by the head thread has affected execution of the speculative thread. If so, the system executes the subsequent code again using the result generated by the head thread. If not, the system performs a join operation to merge state associated with the speculative thread with state associated with the head thread.

Abstract: Content subscribers can dynamically activate content and content publishing resources that are distributed on a network. A content request from the content subscriber can engage a content locator in determining an appropriate content publisher to activate the content. Once the appropriate content publisher is found, the content publisher activates the content by presenting appropriate content publishing resources. Optionally, two more content publishers cooperate together to activate the requested content. Licenses to the content and content publishing resources are monitored to ensure that content publishers are compensated. System components, such as content subscribers, content locators, content publishers, are auto-configured during initial registration and dynamically updated if configuration parameters change. Optionally, a performance driver changes various configuration parameters of system components to ensure a desired performance during content activation.

Abstract: A computer system may include a system memory, an active device configured to access data stored in the system memory, where the active device includes a cache configured to store data accessed by the active device, an address network for conveying address packets between the active device and the system memory, and a data network for conveying data packets between the active device and the system memory. An access right corresponding to a given block allocated in the cache transitions in response to a corresponding data packet being received by the cache. An ownership responsibility for the given block transitions in response to a corresponding address packet being received by the cache. The access right transitions at a different time than the ownership responsibility transitions. The cache is configured to inhibit receipt of the corresponding data packet based on a value of a timestamp associated with the corresponding data packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for passing configuration information over a network. In one embodiment, the configuration information is passed between a DHCP server and a DHCP client and includes parameters not formally defined within DHCP. The parameters are therefore encoded into a vendor-specific portion of a DHCP message using at least one triplet comprising a code field, a length field, and a value field. The value field comprises a set of one or more name-value pairs. The code field includes an indication of encryption of the value field. In another embodiment, a fixed-function appliance device is attached to a network, and is booted using boot code and a configuration stored locally to the device. The device then downloads a network configuration, which is compared to the locally stored configuration. If the network configuration is different from the locally stored configuration, the network configuration is stored locally to the device.

Abstract: A method for expressing the algorithms for the manipulation of hardware includes providing program instructions that describe a sequence of one or more transactions for manipulating hardware components of a system. The program instructions may call one or more code segments that include specific information associated with particular hardware components of the system. In addition, the program instructions are independent of the specific information. The method may also include translating the program instructions into an executable form and executing the executable form of the program instructions to manipulate the hardware components of the system from one consistent state to a next consistent state.

Abstract: A test execution system has a central repository that contains a management unit, available test suites and a single test execution harness. Using the management unit, a system administrator establishes active versions of the various test suites, and their individual configurations. End users install clients of the central repository, using a system-provided installer program. In the client, an execution script is created, which downloads the harness and a local configuration file. Then, when the harness is executed at the client, it loads with all designated test suites already installed, configured and ready for execution. The client always has the most current versions of all test suites. All necessary information is obtained from a single central location.

Abstract: In a shared memory system, ineffective write operations (“dead stores”) can be handled in a manner to reduce unnecessary consumption of resources. In a shared memory system, when a non-owning processing unit requests data from a shared memory location owned by another processing unit, the memory controller for the shared memory requests a most current copy of the data from the owner processing unit. Instead of the owner processing unit reflexively sending its data to the memory controller, the owner processing unit determines whether the data has been changed, and, if it has not changed, transmits indication of such to the memory controller. Since the data has not changed, then the data at the shared memory location is proper and can be sent to satisfy the requesting processing unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for expediting parity checked TLB access operations is described in connection with a multithreaded multiprocessor chip. This parity checking mechanism eliminates the need to read a CAM entry from a TLB during a TLB access by storing the tag parity value in a RAM portion of a TLB, using the CAM key input to generate a tag parity check value for a matched entry, and comparing the generated tag parity check value to the stored tag parity value to determine if there is a parity match or error.

Abstract: A method for determining a stack distance including spatial locality for running software. The method may include receiving a plurality of memory references each including a corresponding address. The method may also include performing a merge function on each address corresponding to each received memory reference to generate a modified version of each corresponding address, and then performing a first hash function on the modified version of each corresponding address. In addition, the method may include performing a filter function on each address corresponding to each received memory reference. The method may further include selectively storing an indication representative of the modified version of each corresponding address in a hash table dependent upon results of the first hash function and the filter function. A stack distance may then be determined based upon contents of the hash table.

Abstract: A system for providing a floating point sum includes an analyzer circuit configured to determine a first status of a first floating point operand and a second status of a second floating point operand based upon data within the first floating point operand and data with the second floating point operand respectively. In addition, the system includes a results circuit coupled to the analyzer circuit. The results circuit is configured to assert a resulting floating point operand containing the sum of the first floating point operand and the second floating point operand and a resulting status embedded within the resulting floating point operand.

Abstract: A computer readable medium includes instructions for managing execution of an application module by receiving a request to execute the application module, where the application module is configured to execute on a virtual machine, retrieving license registration information and license status information associated with the application module, communicating the license registration information and the license status information to a license validation module to obtain an authorization response, where the license validation module is associated with the application module and registered with the virtual machine, and executing the application module, if the authorization response indicates that the license registration information and the license status information are valid.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing noise generated by a plurality of fans for moving air includes setting a first fan of the plurality of fans at a predetermined speed; setting a second fan of the plurality of fans at the predetermined speed; and configuring the second fan of the plurality of fans to have a phase shift from the first fan of the plurality of fans. A system and method for reducing noise generated by a plurality of fans for moving air includes setting a first subgroup of fans of the plurality of fans at a predetermined speed; setting a second subgroup of fans of the plurality of fans at the predetermined speed; and configuring the second subgroup of fans of the plurality of fans to have a phase shift from the first subgroup of fans of the plurality of fans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modeling a device in a topology including defining a managed object corresponding to the device, defining a managed resource using the managed object, and creating a node in the topology, wherein creating the node comprises associating the node with the managed resource.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing and encryption or decryption agent so as to preclude access by the encryption agent or decryption agent, respectively, to the information being encrypted or decrypted. To preclude access by the encryption agent, a blinding function is applied to the information prior to forwarding such information to the encryption agent for encryption. To preclude access to the information by the decryption agent, a blinding function is applied to the encrypted information prior to forwarding the encrypted information to the decryption agent for decryption. Once the information has been returned, the information is unblinded, leaving an encrypted or decrypted message respectively.

Abstract: A system for digital content access control comprises a first user device configured to send an authenticated digital content request received in response to sending a digital content request comprising a request for digital content. The system also comprises one or more content provisioners configured to send the authenticated digital content request to the first user device if a user associated with the digital content request is authorized to access the digital content. The system also comprises one or more content repositories configured to send the digital content to a second user device if the authenticated digital content request is associated with the digital content. The system also comprises a synchronizer configured to synchronize information used by the one or more content provisioners to create an authenticated digital content request with information used by the one or more content repositories to validate the authenticated digital content request.

Abstract: An application program may include application modules. One or more of the application modules may each include a dynamic component and static component. The dynamic components and the static components may be configured to function according to an initial set of requirements for the application. A dynamic component generator may receive a new set of requirements for the application and generate updated dynamic components to replace the current dynamic components. The updated dynamic components may be configured to function according to the new set of requirements.

Abstract: A system for providing floating point division includes an analyzer circuit configured to determine a first status of a first floating point operand and a second status of a second floating point operand based upon data within the first floating point operand and data within the second floating point operand respectively. In addition, the system includes a results circuit coupled to the analyzer circuit. The results circuit is configured to assert a resulting floating point operand containing the result of the division of the first floating point operand by the second floating point operand. Additionally, the results circuit provides resulting status embedded within the resulting floating point operand.

Abstract: A latent error detector may be configured to reveal latent errors within a plurality of components within a computer system. The latent error detector may be configured to access configuration data specifying one or more types of components and one or more modules for each type of component. The one or more modules for each type of component may be configured to initiate a component-specific operation to reveal a latent error within the one or more components of the one or more types of components. A framework may be configured to call the one or more modules for each type of component. The framework may be configured as a main software module to access the one or more modules.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides apparatus and a method for handling an incoming packet at a port in a network. The port belongs to one or more partitions, and at least one service level is associated with each of the partitions. When a packet is received at the port, a partition key and a service level are extracted from the packet. The extracted partition key is used to determine the partition to which the received packet belongs. The service level extracted from the packet is then compared against the service level(s) associated with the determined partition in order to authenticate the packet. In another embodiment, the service level is correlated against a destination identifier from the packet instead of the partition key.

Abstract: A method, and associated system, for delivering data services such as virtualization to legacy devices. The method involves reserving a metadata region in memory of a storage resource in a storage pool that is controlled by (or is captive to) a data services platform. The metadata region includes a global set containing information used by the data services platform to manage the data services, including virtualization of volumes throughout the storage pool. The method includes locating an available legacy storage device and retrieving element information for the legacy storage device. A volume or virtualized legacy volume is built based on the collected element information, and the global set in the metadata region is update to include volume information for the legacy storage device. The legacy storage device includes memory that stores legacy or user data, but the steps of the method are performed to leave the legacy data unchanged.