Patents Assigned to The International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20080064163
    Abstract: A method for integrating the formation of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors within dual damascene processing includes forming a lower interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer having a lower capacitor electrode and one or more lower metal lines therein, the ILD layer having a first dielectric capping layer formed thereon. An upper ILD layer is formed over the lower ILD layer, and a via and upper line structure are defined within the upper ILD layer. The via and upper line structure are filled with a planarizing layer, followed by forming and patterning a resist layer over the planarizing layer. An upper capacitor electrode structure is defined in the upper ILD layer corresponding to a removed portion of the resist. The via, upper line structure and upper capacitor electrode structure are filled with conductive material, wherein a MIM capacitor is defined by the lower capacitor electrode, first dielectric capping layer and upper capacitor electrode structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas D. Coolbaugh, Timothy J. Dalton, Ebenezer Eshun, Vincent J. McGahay, Anthony K. Stamper, Kunal Vaed
  • Publication number: 20080066042
    Abstract: Existing text output from a design rule checker is put in appropriate input format, and automatically displayed as text within a design tool using existing design tool capabilities, such as highlighting, zooming, and drawing box-regions. A graphical display of the output of the rule checker includes the informative text. Design rule violations are listed in a manner in which they can be individually selected. The output is displayed on a unique software program layer within the design tool so as to not effect or make any permanent changes to the original design file. The layers can be safely deleted when no longer in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Archambeault, Thaddeus Chen, Michelle Cook, Charles Gates, Derrick Scott
  • Publication number: 20080066177
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing inter-process integrity serialization services is provided. The method includes enabling process states including a must-stay-controlled (MSC) state and an extended must-stay-controlled (EMSC) state for an invoking process when it is determined that only programs designated as controlled, if any, have been loaded for the invoking process. The invoking process requests loading of a target program into temporary storage for performing a security service. Based upon a control indicator of the target program, the MSC state, and the EMSC state, the method includes controlling one or more activities within the temporary storage. The activities include loading the target program into the temporary storage, executing a main program in the temporary storage, and resetting the MSC state and the EMSC state across execution of the main program during the lifetime of the invoking process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ernest S. Bender
  • Publication number: 20080066174
    Abstract: An electronic memory device configured to store and transfer data with a host device via a memory device connector and a mating host connector is disclosed. The electronic memory device includes a memory storage, a plurality of key buttons disposed upon the memory device, and a display disposed upon the memory device. The plurality of key buttons is configured to allow entry of a security code comprising a plurality of fields, and the display configured to display the security code. The memory device is configured to allow data transfer to or from the memory storage in response to entry of the security code, but to prevent data transfer to or from the memory storage prior to entry of the security code and in response to disconnection of the memory device from the host device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven M. Miller
  • Publication number: 20080063004
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of and system for allocating a buffer. The method comprises the steps of partitioning less than the total buffer storage capacity to a plurality of queue classes, allocating the remaining buffer storage as a spare buffer, and assigning incoming packets into said queue classes based on the packet type. When a queue becomes congested, incoming packets are tagged with the assigned queue class and these additional incoming packets are sent to said spare buffer. When the congested queue class has space available, the additional incoming packets in said spare buffer are pushed into the tail of the congested queue class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin D. Himberger, Mohammad Peyravian
  • Publication number: 20080061953
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for detecting a tailgate event between two vehicles moving in a forward motion is provided. The two vehicles include a first and second vehicle, one of the two vehicles being an offending vehicle and the other of the two vehicles being an affected vehicle. The system includes a range sensor that determines a distance between the two vehicles. The system also includes a processor that calculates a safe distance range between the two vehicles based upon speed, weight, and/or safe braking range values of one or both of the two vehicles; and compares the distance and the safe distance range. The system also includes a recording device on the affected vehicle. Based upon the comparison, the recording device is activated if the distance is less than the safe distance range indicating an unacceptable distance range value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kulvir Bhogal, Gregory Boss, Rick Hamilton, Alexandre Polozoff
  • Publication number: 20080065906
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, removable storage cartridge, and article of manufacture for validating an encryption key file on a removable storage media. Copies of an encryption key file are written to multiple locations on a removable storage media, wherein data is encrypted and decrypted using an encryption key included in the encryption key file. A validation operation is performed on the copy of the encryption key file at one of the key locations, wherein the key locations comprise the locations on the removable storage media to which the encryption key files were written. In response to the copy of the encryption key file not validating, a command is sent to cause the data and valid copies of the encryption key file to be rewritten to a new storage media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Itagaki, James Mitchell Karp, Hirokazu Nakayama, Toshiyuki Shiratori, Paul Merrill Greco
  • Publication number: 20080065982
    Abstract: A computer application displayed document such as a Web Page, is manipulated by dragging snippets to and from graphically depicted icons created by the application. The snippets preferably comprise links to the original content for communicating with the content source and/or restoring removed snippets to the displayed document. Preferably links are maintained semantically using RDF and DOM technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen A Evanchik, Alister Lewis-Bowen, Louis M. Weitzman
  • Publication number: 20080063210
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for rekeying encryption keys for removable storage media. A rekey request is received for a coupled removable storage media, wherein encryption on the coupled removable storage media uses a first key and wherein the rekey request indicates a second key. The first key and the second key are accessed in response to the rekey request. The first key is used to perform decryption for the coupled removable storage media and the second key is used to perform encryption for the coupled removable storage media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Gerard Goodman, James Arthur Fisher, Glen Alan Jaquette, Leonard George Jesionowski
  • Publication number: 20080062630
    Abstract: A high density storage enclosure houses first and second pluralities of hard disk drives (HDDs). The enclosure may be partitioned into a plurality of virtual enclosures, the first plurality of HDDs being associated with a first virtual enclosure and the second plurality of HDDs being associated with a second virtual enclosure. Configuration of the storage enclosure is performed by an SES processor in the storage enclosure accessing configuration parameters received from an external configuration unit coupled to the storage enclosure. The virtual enclosures may be configured as two (or more) independent virtual enclosures on two (or more) independent fabrics or may be configured in a trunked manner. Power supplies and cooling blowers in the storage enclosure may also be partitioned and assigned to be managed by SES processors in the virtual enclosures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Elliott, Robert A. Kubo, Gregg S. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20080066076
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system that automatically prompts a user or computer program for tasks, subtasks and supertasks of tasks, expected durations to complete tasks, deadlines, and priorities of the tasks. The invention automatically prompts the user or computer program at regular intervals for the current task and the percentage completion of the task, and sends the user or computer program a message to work on the task if the deadline has passed, informing the user or computer program it is taking longer on the task than the expected duration and in this case also sending the user or computer program a message to work on the supertask of the task, asking the user or computer program to wrap up the task if the task is near completion, and reminding the user or computer program to stay on task if the user or computer program is switching between tasks too quickly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Erik Mueller
  • Publication number: 20080060373
    Abstract: An isolation valve assembly, a coolant connect/disconnect assembly, a cooled multi-blade electronics center, and methods of fabrication thereof are provided employing an isolation valve and actuation mechanism. The isolation valve is disposed within at least one of a coolant supply or return line providing liquid coolant to the electronics subsystem. The actuation member is coupled to the isolation valve to automatically translate a linear motion, resulting from insertion of the electronics subsystem into the operational position within the electronics housing, into a rotational motion to open the isolation valve and allow coolant to pass. The actuation mechanism, which operates to automatically close the isolation valve when the liquid cooled electronics subsystem is withdrawn from the operational position, can be employed in combination with a compression valve coupling, with one fitting of the compression valve coupling being disposed serially in fluid communication with the isolation valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi Campbell, Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth Jr., Madhusudan Iyengar, Donald Porter, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20080061317
    Abstract: A method that includes forming a pattern of strained material and relaxed material on a substrate; forming a strained device in the strained material; and forming a non-strained device in the relaxed material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the strained material is silicon (Si) in either a tensile or compressive state, and the relaxed material is Si in a normal state. A buffer layer of silicon germanium (SiGe), silicon carbon (SiC), or similar material is formed on the substrate and has a lattice constant/structure mis-match with the substrate. A relaxed layer of SiGe, SiC, or similar material is formed on the buffer layer and places the strained material in the tensile or compressive state. In another embodiment, carbon-doped silicon or germanium-doped silicon is used to form the strained material. The structure includes a multi-layered substrate having strained and non-strained materials patterned thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni
  • Publication number: 20080066061
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method/data processing system for solving resource conflicts in assembler programs which is characterized by the steps of: a) Generating internal representation of control flow of the source code of the assembler program by using standard techniques of compiler constructions, wherein said internal representation contains nodes for every instruction of found in said source code and a directed edge for every possible flow of control between nodes, b) Attributing data attributes to said nodes and/or said edges, wherein said data, attributes are used to store the information whether the hardware resource used by at least one instruction of said assembler program is available or for which amount of time is unavailable, c) Applying a data-flow analysis method to said internal representation of the control flow of the source code for determining whether the hardware resource used by at least one instruction of said assembler program is available or for which amount of time is unav
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wolfgang Gellerich
  • Publication number: 20080065461
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for keeping calendars up-to-date, whereby a person's working hours, events, and actual availability are accurately reflected. In response to user-generated input and/or application-generated input, working hours can be updated and calendar events can be added to, deleted from, or changed on the user's calendar. This makes it easy for users to keep calendars (including working hours) up-to-date and helps both people and applications that use calendar data. Profiles are preferably used to specify working hours, and a particular user may have one or more profiles available (including a default profile); the user can then easily select from among these profiles to update the working hours for a date/day, or a range of dates/days. Preferences may be associated with the profiles, providing a convenient way of isolating information that applies only to a particular set of working hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: J. Doss, Renee Kovales, Diane Pozefsky, Robert Sundstrom
  • Publication number: 20080065824
    Abstract: A high density storage enclosure houses first and second pluralities of hard disk drives (HDDs). The enclosure may be partitioned into a plurality of virtual enclosures, the first plurality of HDDs being associated with a first virtual enclosure and the second plurality of HDDs being associated with a second virtual enclosure. In the event of a failure within one of the virtual enclosures, an SES in the failed virtual enclosure is isolated from the rest of the virtual enclosure. Then, an inter-enclosure link may be enabled between the failed virtual enclosure and another virtual enclosure. The isolated SES processor may then be accessed to obtain data associated with the failure and to execute commands associated with a recovery process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Elliott, Robert A. Kubo, Gregg S. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20080062640
    Abstract: An optical transceiver includes structures that define an electrical connector port for allowing connection of an electrical connector to an optical subassembly of the transceiver, and structures that define a vent surrounding at least portions of the connector port, whereby the vent allows bidirectional passage of air therethrough. Included in the transceiver are structures that define electromagnetic interference shielding and selectively transfer heat of heat generating electronic components by conduction to a transceiver housing. Methods of cooling the transceiver by ventilation and internal heat conduction are present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Anderl, Scott Branch, David Gaio, Michael Hanley, William Hogan, Howard Mahaney
  • Publication number: 20080061836
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems to improve performance of integrated circuits are discussed. Some embodiments comprise methods to increase rates of logic evaluation in integrated circuits. The methods generally involve evaluating logic in one or more logic branches, where one of more of those branches employs a current mirror, and outputting a logic value through an output stage that also employs a current mirror. Other embodiments comprise apparatuses and circuits to reduce logic evaluation time in an integrated circuit, generally comprising one or more logic modules coupled to one or more current mirrors, where the current mirrors increase the discharge rates of logic elements in the integrated circuit and speed logic evaluation. Various embodiments have two or more logic modules to evaluate logic in parallel. Various embodiments may comprise “AND” and “NAND” logic circuits, such as dynamic “AND” and “NAND” gates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zhibin Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080065910
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for processing a query spanning separate databases while revealing only minimal information beyond a query answer, by executing only specific information-limiting protocols according to query type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: RAKESH AGRAWAL, ALEXANDRE EVFIMIEVSKI, RAMAKRISHNAN SRIKANT
  • Publication number: 20080065914
    Abstract: A method for regulating system power using a power governor for DRAM in a multi-node computer system regulating memory power consumption of an entire computer system employs a closed ring that connects all the power governors within the system to enable them to work in concert so that each of the power governors has the knowledge of memory activities within the entire system. They then control and limit the memory usage based on a true overall measurement instead of just local measurement. Each nodal power governor has memory command counter, ring number receiver, ring number transmitter, governor activation controller, and memory traffic controller. Each nodal power governor counts the weight of memory command. The degree of limiting actual memory activities can be programmed when the governor is active. Besides, the command priorities can be adjusted in activation too. A hybrid ring structure can be employed with a nodal power structure to achieve the fastest number circulation speed economically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Kark, Liyong Wang