Abstract: An inventive protocol for communicating between a management processor and host processors allows for the cooperative management of resources among host processors within a partition and also among a set of partitions in a computer system, wherein each partition may function under an instantiation of an operating system with a group of host processors. The protocol employs a message passing system using mailbox pairs in fixed but moveable or relocatable locations within the computer system shared memory. The messages share a format having specific codes or descriptors that act as codes for coordination of message interpretation. These codes include at least a validity flag and a sequence enumerator, and in a response message of a request/response message pair, a status indicator. Additionally, routing codes and function codes and code modifiers may be provided. Specific implementation details and messages are described to enable the smooth functioning of complex multiprocessor systems.

Abstract: In a data processing system comprising a first level cache, a second level cache, and a processor return path, wherein only one of the first level cache and second level cache can control the processor return path at a given time, an improvement comprises a queue disposed between an output of the first level cache and the processor return path to buffer data output from the first level cache so that the first level cache can continue to process memory requests even though the second level cache has control of the processor return path.

Abstract: A pressure spring for urging a document (10) against a reading head (22) in a document processing machine, comprises a resilient band (46) on band support arms (50) with different portions of the discontinuous resilient band (46) being selected to lie between the support arms (50). Manually operable means (80), (70) can be provided. In one embodiment, a motor (84) under the action of a controller (106), automatically advances the discontinuous band (46) whenever a service date or a pre-determined document count has been exceeded. Should the discontinuous resilient band (46) reach an extremity of travel, the controller (106) provides that the motor (84) returns the discontinuous resilient band (46) back to its start position.

Abstract: An emulator is comprised of a host processor, an emulator, assist unit, and a memory which are closely coupled together over a co-processor bus. Stored in the memory is a user program which is a sequence of instructions from a user instruction set that is to be emulated, and a control program which is a mixture of host processor instructions and emulator assist unit instructions. In operation, the host processor reads and executes the hosts instructions, and it reads and passes the emulator assist unit instructions to the emulator assist unit for execution in that unit. By this means, the host processor and the emulator assist unit share the emulation tasks; and those tasks which are most difficult for the host are performed by the emulation assist unit.

Abstract: A multichip integrated circuit module includes a ceramic substrate, a plurality of integrated circuit chips mounted on the substrate, and a metal lid which covers the chips and rests on the substrate without attaching to it. Also, the module includes two thin cylindrical members. One cylindrical member surrounds the substrate and makes an airtight solder joint to the substrate's perimeter, while the other cylindrical member surrounds the lid and makes an airtight solder joint to the lid's perimeter. Both cylindrical members run parallel to each other and make an airtight welded joint with each other. When the lid and substrate thermally expand at unequal rates, one thin cylindrical member is deflected by the other member. When a defective chip is replaced, the joint between the two cylindrical members is ground away; and subsequently, the remaining parallel portions of the cylindrical members are rewelded together.

Abstract: A Surface Wave Acoustic (SAW) is constructed with hyperbolically curved electrode fingers. The transducers consist of relatively narrower inner electrode fingers and relatively wider outer electrode fingers, and may also be divided into a plurality of tracks with each of the tracks being subdivided into a plurality of subtransducer elements which are capacitively coupled in electrical series.