IBM Patents

The International Business Machines Corporation provides IT infrastructure and services to enterprise customers.

IBM Patents by Type
  • IBM Patents Granted: IBM patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • IBM Patent Applications: IBM patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • Patent number: 9467420
    Abstract: An approach for regional firewall clustering for optimal state-sharing of different sites in a virtualized/networked (e.g., cloud) computing environment is provided. In a typical embodiment, each firewall in a given region is informed of its peer firewalls via a registration process with a centralized server. Each firewall opens up an Internet protocol (IP)-based communication channel to each of its peers in the region to share state table information. This allows for asymmetrical firewall flows through the network and allows routing protocols to ascertain the best path to a given destination without having to take firewall placement into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert K. Floyd, III, Baiju D. Mandalia, Robert P. Monaco, Mahesh Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9466785
    Abstract: Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices and methods for making the same include growing a tunnel barrier layer on a first magnetic layer. A thin layer of non-wetting material is formed on the tunnel barrier layer, such that the non-wetting material forms distinct regions on the tunnel barrier layer. A second magnetic layer is grown on the tunnel barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Daniel C. Worledge
  • Patent number: 9466722
    Abstract: A large area electrical contact for use in integrated circuits features a non-planar, sloped bottom profile. The sloped bottom profile provides a larger electrical contact area, thus reducing the contact resistance, while maintaining a small contact footprint. The sloped bottom profile can be formed by recessing an underlying layer, wherein the bottom profile can be crafted to have a V-shape, U-shape, crescent shape, or other profile shape that includes at least a substantially sloped portion in the vertical direction. In one embodiment, the underlying layer is an epitaxial fin of a FinFET. A method of fabricating the low-resistance electrical contact employs a thin etch stop liner for use as a hard mask. The etch stop liner, e.g., HfO2, prevents erosion of an adjacent gate structure during the formation of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Ruilong Xie, Xiuyu Cai, Chun-chen Yeh
  • Patent number: 9467452
    Abstract: The computer transitions services from a first user to a second user by receiving a notification of transition of job function from a first user to a second user. The computer determines, by one or more computer processors, services utilized by the first user in performance of the job function. The computer determines, by one or more computer processors, usage information for each of the services. The computer notifies the second user of the services utilized by the first user in performance of the job function and the determined usage information for each of the services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Trudy L. Hewitt, Francesco C. Schembari, Robert M. Schwenn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9465807
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for managing a file cache with a filesystem cache manager is disclosed. The method may include installing the filesystem cache manager for the file cache by a mount command. The filesystem cache manager may include a specified time interval and a first cache elimination instruction. The method may further include starting a first timer upon the installation of the filesystem cache manager. The method may further include running the first cache elimination instruction when the first timer reaches the specified time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mathew Accapadi, Grover C. Davidson, II, Dirk Michel, Bret R. Olszewski
  • Patent number: 9465824
    Abstract: A method begins with a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN) determining that an encoded data slice of a set of encoded data slices requires rebuilding and sending partial rebuild requests to storage units of the DSN. The method continues with one of the storage units generating a partial rebuilt slice based one or more encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices stored by the one of the storage units and securing the partial rebuilt slice using a shared secret scheme that is shared among the storage units to produce a secured partial rebuilt slice. The method continues with the computing device receiving a set of secured partial rebuilt slices from the storage units, recovering a set of partial rebuilt slices from the set of secured partial rebuilt slices, and rebuilding the encoded data slice from the set of partial rebuilt slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason K. Resch, Greg Dhuse
  • Patent number: 9467411
    Abstract: Identifying content in an incoming message on a social network includes categorizing a sender-recipient relationship between a sender and a recipient of an incoming message in an activity stream in a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shadi E. Albouyeh, Bernadette A. Carter, Jeffrey R. Hoy, Stephanie L. Trunzo
  • Patent number: 9466033
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for reconfiguring an analytics model without retraining the analytics model. A contemplated method includes: providing a cloud-based classifier which performs analytics on input data, the classifier including an analytics model; receiving a first data set at the classifier, wherein the first data set is a training data set; via the analytics model, discovering features in the first data set; receiving a second input data set at the classifier; via the analytics model, discovering one or more new features in the second input data set; and reconfiguring the analytics model, without retraining the analytics model, based on one or more new features discovered in the second input data set. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rema Ananthanarayanan, Kalapriya Kannan
  • Patent number: 9465685
    Abstract: An expert system extracts events associated with executing an application from log files generated by various topological resources in a distributed computing environment. The events are plotted as plot points on a time series graph. Patterns are identified in the plot points that are associated with application problems, along with the computing environment configurations both before the problem and after the problem was resolved. The difference in the configurations represents a corrective action for the application problem, and the expert system links the corrective action to the pattern. When a pattern repeats in conjunction with another application problem, the corrective action is identified as a possible solution to the new problem. A confidence level associated with the pattern/corrective action may be increased when a user accepts the corrective action and may be decreased when a user rejects the corrective action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Geetha Adinarayan, Anindya Neogi, Vinay G. Rajagopal, Rohit Shetty
  • Patent number: 9465791
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically detecting spelling errors in one or more documents, such as documents being processed for the creation of a lexicon According to one aspect of the invention, a spelling error is detected in one or more documents by determining if at least one given word in the one or more documents satisfies a predefined misspelling criteria, wherein the predefined misspelling criteria comprises the at least one given word having a frequency below a predefined low threshold and the at least one given word being within a predefined edit distance of one or more other words in the one or more documents having a frequency above a predefined high threshold; and identifying a given word as a potentially misspelled word if the given word satisfies the predefined misspelling criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: H. Richard Gail, Sidney L. Hantler, Meir M. Laker, Jonathan Lenchner, Daniel Milch
  • Patent number: 9465373
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for implementing an operational parameter change within the data processing system based on an identified degradation. One or more degradations existing in the data processing system are identified based on a set of degradation values obtained from a set of degradation sensors. A determination is made as to whether one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations. Responsive to determining that the one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations, an input change is implemented to a one or more control devices in order that the one or more operational parameters are modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Michael S. Floyd, Tilman Gloekler, Charles R. Lefurgy, Karthick Rajamani
  • Patent number: 9463815
    Abstract: Predicting operational changes in a multi-detector environment includes generating, via a computer processing device, a factor matrix for each univariate time series data in a set of sparse time series data collected from data sources, identifying a subset of the time series data as a feature selection based on application of a loss function, and generating a predictive model from the subset of the time series data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arun Hampapur, Qing He, Hongfei Li, Zhiguo Li, Dhaivat P. Parikh
  • Patent number: 9466590
    Abstract: A multi-chip system includes a top chip stack element comprising a top chip having two major surfaces and top solder pads arrayed along a plane of one of the major surfaces; a bottom chip stack element comprising a bottom substrate having two major surfaces and bottom solder pads arrayed along a plane of one of the major surfaces; one or more solder reservoir pads connected to one or more of the top solder pads or of the bottom solder pads; and solder material; and wherein at least one of the top solder pads is connected to one of the bottom solder pads by one of the solder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tymon Barwicz, Yves C. Martin, Jae-Woong Nah
  • Patent number: 9465706
    Abstract: Instead of disabling PCI communication between system resources in a host computing device and I/O devices when a PCI Host Bridge (PHB) is reset, the host computing device may include a PCI communication path for maintaining communication between the system resources and the I/O devices. In one embodiment, the redundant PCI communication path includes a second PHB that is maintained in a standby state. The host may monitor the errors generated by a plurality of master PHBs and select a master PHB that satisfies an error threshold. The second PHB (i.e., a servant PHB) and the selected master PHB are synchronized, and the second PHB is coupled to the PCI communication path between the master PHB and a PCI switch. The master PHB can then be reset while the second PHB maintains PCI communication between the host and the I/O devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jesse P. Arroyo, Anjan Kumar Guttahalli Krishna
  • Patent number: 9465825
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, computer program product and system for data quality monitoring includes measuring a data quality of loaded data relative to a predefined data quality metric. The measuring the data quality includes identifying delta changes in at least one of the loaded data and the data quality rules relative to a previous measurement of the data quality of the loaded data. Logical calculus defined in the data quality rules is applied to the identified delta changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sebastian Nelke, Martin Oberhofer, Yannick Saillet, Jens Seifert
  • Patent number: 9465427
    Abstract: A trigger can relate to power usage of a computing device that a computer program to be run or running on the computing device causes. Detection of the trigger causes performance of a power-saving action. The power-saving action relates to the computer program to reduce the power usage of the computing device. The power-saving action is a strictly software-oriented action. An amount of power of the computing device used in detecting the trigger and performing the power-saving action is less than a reduction of the power usage of the computing device that results from performing the power-saving action, resulting in a net power usage reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Al Chakra, Itzhack Goldberg, Liam Harpur, John Rice
  • Patent number: 9467444
    Abstract: The disclosed network resource management system employs a hardware configuration management (HCM) information handling system (IHS) that may couple to a single administered IHS or to multiple administered IHSs via an administrative network. An HCM tool in the HCM IHS may generate, modify and store hardware configuration information, including physical network identifications (PNet IDs), in an HCM database and share the HCM database with the administered IHSs. The administered IHS may be a privileged network access (PNA) IHS. The PNA IHS may receive a privileged network access management (PNAM) database from a PNAM IHS via the administrative network. The PNA tool may extract hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, from the HCM database and privileged network access information, including PNet IDs, from the PNAM database. The PNA tool may utilize the information, including PNet IDs, to enable the PNA IHS to limit access to privileged networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry W Stevens, Patricia G Driever, Constantinos Kassimis, Gary O. McAfee, Alexandra Winter
  • Patent number: 9465783
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a conversion manager receives a conversion request that identifies a conversion mode corresponding to a first category and a second category. The conversion manager identifies one or more first terms corresponding to the first category that are included in a page of text. As such, the conversion manager selects one or more second terms corresponding to the second category and, in turn, replaces the first terms with their corresponding second terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dhruv A. Bhatt, Kristin E. McNeil, Nitaben A. Patel
  • Patent number: 9465861
    Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module traversing multiple index structures based on search criteria to identify an object retrieval structure. The method continues with the DS processing module retrieving a set of encoded data slices corresponding to the object retrieval structure from a dispersed storage network (DSN) and decoding the set of encoded data slices in accordance with a dispersed storage error coding function to recover the object retrieval structure. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying one of one or more data version records of the recovered object retrieval structure based on the search criteria to produce an identified data version record and determining DSN addressing information for at least a portion of data based on information of the identified data version record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Greg Dhuse, Ilya Volvovski, Adam Michael Gray, Andrew Baptist
  • Patent number: 9466364
    Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a correlation detector comprising an input unit configured to receive a plurality of parallel data streams of discrete events. The correlation detector further comprises a memory array having a plurality of resistive memory elements. At least one resistive memory element is allocated to each of the parallel data streams. Furthermore, a programming array is provided comprising a plurality of programming elements. At least one programming element is allocated to each resistive memory element for applying a programming signal to the respective memory element. The correlation detector comprises further a control unit that is configured to control the programming signals as a function of a co-arrival characteristic of the discrete events. A correlation unit is configured to detect correlations between the received data streams based on resistance changes of the resistive memory elements. The invention further concerns a related method for detecting correlations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nikolaos Papandreou, Abu Sebastian, Tomas Tuma
  • Patent number: 9465650
    Abstract: A method of transaction replication includes transmitting at least one transaction received during an epoch from a local node to remote nodes of a domain of 2N+1 nodes at the end of an epoch (N is an integer greater than or equal to 1). The remote nodes log receipt of the at least one transaction, notify the local node of the receipt of the at least one transaction, transmit the at least one transaction to all of the 2N+1 nodes, and add the at least one transaction to an execution order upon receiving at least N+1 copies of the at least one transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shicong Meng, Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 9465625
    Abstract: A computer deploys an operating environment onto a provisionable server. The computer assigns an operating environment from an operating environment configuration management database to the provisionable server in response to detecting a provisioning event. The computer stores a record of the assignment in a deployment configuration management database and updates a management server with a designated operating environment identifier of the assignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: U Gopalakrishnan, William P. Horn, Ajay Mohindra, Shailabh Nagar, Randy A. Rendahl
  • Patent number: 9466042
    Abstract: A method includes determining an anticipated usage pattern for an information technology system and a desired service level for the information technology system. The method includes determining a utilization saturation point for the information technology system and selecting a number of servers in the information technology system. The method also includes calculating one or more performance characteristics for the information technology system based on the anticipated usage pattern, the desired service level, the utilization saturation point, and the number of servers and comparing the one or more performance characteristics for the information technology system with one or more desired performance characteristics for the information technology system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph L. Temple, III
  • Patent number: 9466039
    Abstract: A method of ranking workers for an incoming task includes recording a list of completed tasks in a computer data structure, extracting first attributes from the list for the tasks that were completed during a pre-determined period, generating a first feature vector for each task and worker from the first extracted attributes, training a Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on the feature vector to output a weight vector, extracting second attributes from an incoming task, generating a second feature vector for each worker based on the second extracted attributes, and ranking the workers using the second feature vectors and the weight vector. The first attributes may be updated during a subsequent period to re-train the SVM on updated first feature vectors to generate an updated weight vector. The workers may be re-ranked based on the second feature vectors and the updated weight vector. Accordingly, the feature vectors are dynamic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maira Athanazio de Cerqueira Gatti, Ricardo Guimaraes Herrmann, David Loewenstern, Florian Pinel, Larisa Shwartz
  • Patent number: 9465547
    Abstract: A first storage system is configured as a proxy for a logical volume stored on a second storage system in a distributed computing environment. A probe request verifying availability of the logical volume is conveyed to an identified port, and upon receiving a response from a second storage system verifying the availability of the logical volume for an I/O request, the I/O request is conveyed to the identified port, a result of the I/O request is received from the identified port, the result is conveyed to the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oren Li-On, Orit Nissan-Messing, Eyal Perek
  • Patent number: 9466614
    Abstract: A vertically integrated memory cell including a deep trench extending into a substrate, a trench capacitor located within the deep trench, and a vertical transistor at least partially embedded within the deep trench above the trench capacitor, the vertical transistor is in direct contact with and electrically coupled to the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Barth, Jr., Babar A. Khan
  • Patent number: 9465688
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system to control event logging and error recovery in a system including adapters, ports, and channels are described. The method includes storing a recovery threshold for each event type among a plurality of event types and storing a level-specific logging threshold for each event type, implementing event handlers for each of the channels, the ports, and the adapters of the system, and implementing a threshold manager for the events identified by the event handlers based on the level-specific logging threshold and the recovery threshold for each of the respective event types of each of the events. For any identified event corresponding with a given event type, the implementing the threshold manager includes considering the recovery threshold and the level-specific logging threshold at every level regardless of a level at which the identified event is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard K. Errickson, Patrick J. Sugrue, Peter K. Szwed
  • Patent number: 9464907
    Abstract: Dynamically establishing a temporary safe evacuation route away from an unsafe situation using unmanned vehicles. The temporary safe evacuation route is determined based on real-time information regarding the unsafe situation. A network of unmanned vehicles are deployed and positioned at determined points along the safe evacuation route. Guidance is provided to the network of unmanned vehicles for display along the safe evacuation route by the unmanned vehicle to aid people in evacuating from the unsafe situation. Information in real time regarding the unsafe situation may be received from the unmanned vehicles. Based on the information received, the safe evacuation route may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guillaume Hoareau, Johannes J. Liebenberg, John G. Musial, Todd R. Whitman
  • Patent number: 9466209
    Abstract: Locations for traffic sensors can be determined by a computer system that identifies a particular segment of a travel path. Traffic flow data from other segments of travel path are accessed based on traffic flow characteristics of the particular path. Using the traffic flow data, parameters for a traffic incident symptom propagation model are generated, and a location of a traffic incident along the segment of the path is determined. Using time-to-detection limits and the incident model, upstream and downstream distances are determined, and the locations of two sensors are identified based on the distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Blandin, Saif Eddin Jabari, Laura Wynter
  • Patent number: 9467313
    Abstract: A continuous-time linear equalizer for use in a receiving unit of a high-speed data transmission system for receiving an input signal includes a signal line configured to provide an equalized output voltage, and an active peaking control unit, including a predetermined first number of active peaking transistors each coupled between the signal line and a power supply rail; a peaking resistor that couples gate terminals of each of the active peaking transistors to the signal line; and a first number of first setting switches each associated with each of the first number of active peaking transistors to activate a predetermined number of the first number of transistors according to first setting signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John F. Bulzacchelli, Pier Andrea Francese, Yong Liu, Thomas H. Toifl
  • Patent number: 9466027
    Abstract: Ontologies are used to comprehend regular expressions, by selecting, based on a context relating to a domain of a regular expression, an ontology and an assertion base, parsing the regular expression to identify at least one fragment of the regular expression, identifying one or more assertions in the assertion base corresponding to one of the identified fragments, identifying, for each identified assertion, an associated node in the ontology, and returning, based on the associated nodes, a concept in the ontology as representing the associated fragment of the regular expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian P. Byrne, Ivan M. Milman, Martin A. Oberhofer, Sushain Pandit
  • Patent number: 9465725
    Abstract: Provided are approaches for software defect reporting. Specifically, one approach provides identifying a software defect; generating a software defect report, wherein the software defect report is generated in real-time as the software defect is identified during testing of the test case, wherein the software defect report is submitted by a testing entity to a software developer responsible for creating a software product having the software defect, and wherein the defect report contains information to identify the location of the software defect in the application code of the software product; determining if the software defect report information is complete; and if the software defect report information is not complete, the updating the defect report information, determining if the software defect is reproducible, and recreating the software defect in the case that the software defect is reproducible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jed Maczuba
  • Patent number: 9466781
    Abstract: A piezoelectronic transistor device includes a first piezoelectric (PE) layer, a second PE layer, and a piezoresistive (PR) layer arranged in a stacked configuration, wherein an electrical resistance of the PR layer is dependent upon an applied voltage across the first and second PE layers by an applied pressure to the PR layer by the first and second PE layers. A piezoelectronic logic device includes a first and second piezoelectric transistor (PET), wherein the first and second PE layers of the first PET have a smaller cross sectional area than those of the second PET, such that a voltage drop across the PE layers of the first PET creates a first pressure in the PR layer of the first PET that is smaller than a second pressure in the PR layer of the second PET created by the same voltage drop across the PE layers of the second PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce G. Elmegreen, Glenn J. Martyna, Dennis M. Newns
  • Patent number: 9465609
    Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable correction of source code that fails to comply with an established coding standard in a code base within an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Specifically, a non-compliant segment of code, which requires correction, and that was coded by a first developer, is assembled into a stand-alone artifact that is dispatched to a second developer. The code segment is then corrected by the second developer, and the artifact containing the corrected segment is merged back into the code base from whence the segment originated. In one approach, the artifact comprises the code segment, dependent code classes of the segment, unit tests results, and test data. In another approach, the second developer is identified utilizing a skill-matching algorithm. In yet another approach, the corrected segment is unit-tested prior to being merged back into the code base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Swaminathan Balasubramanian, Radha M. De, Brian M. O'Connell, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 9467712
    Abstract: A method and system include replicating an image representing a sequence of bytes on a local storage medium on a target device by determining a similarity between images and reconstructing a new image using equivalent blocks from one or more similar images locally available on the target device or available on donor devices to reduce network link usage and transfer time in replicating the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael R. Head, Andrzej Kochut, Hidayatullah H. Shaikh
  • Patent number: 9465543
    Abstract: A method for organizing data at levels of granularity larger or smaller than an extent is disclosed. The method initially closes a dataset on a host system. The host system includes a mapping table storing a logical address of the dataset. When the dataset is closed, the host system generates a message indicating that the dataset has been closed and sends the message to a storage system storing the dataset. In response, the storage system allocates a new logical address and copies the dataset from the existing logical address to the new logical address to improve data placement. The storage system then returns the new logical address to the host system so that the host system can update its mapping table. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Y. Chiu, Sangeetha Seshadri
  • Patent number: 9465716
    Abstract: The invention relates to implementing run-time instrumentation directed sampling. An aspect of the invention includes fetching a run-time instrumentation next (RINEXT) instruction from an instruction stream. The instruction stream includes the RINEXT instruction followed by a next sequential instruction (NSI) in program order. The method further includes executing the RINEXT instruction by a processor. The executing includes determining whether a current run-time instrumentation state enables setting a sample point for reporting run-time instrumentation information during program execution. Based on the current run-time instrumentation state enabling setting the sample point, the NSI is a sample instruction for causing a run-time instrumentation event. Based on executing the NSI sample instruction, the run-time instrumentation event causes recording of run-time instrumentation information into a run-time instrumentation program buffer as a reporting group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles W. Gainey, Jr., Marcel M. Mitran, Chung-Lung K. Shum, Kevin Stoodley
  • Patent number: 9465649
    Abstract: A method of transaction replication includes transmitting at least one transaction received during an epoch from a local node to remote nodes of a domain of 2N+1 nodes at the end of an epoch (N is an integer greater than or equal to 1). The remote nodes log receipt of the at least one transaction, notify the local node of the receipt of the at least one transaction, transmit the at least one transaction to all of the 2N+1 nodes, and add the at least one transaction to an execution order upon receiving at least N+1 copies of the at least one transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shicong Meng, Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 9466740
    Abstract: An encapsulated integrated photodetector waveguide structures with alignment tolerance and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a waveguide structure bounded by one or more shallow trench isolation (STI) structure(s). The method further includes forming a photodetector fully landed on the waveguide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Solomon Assefa, Bruce W. Porth, Steven M. Shank
  • Patent number: 9465714
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes selecting a runtime for executing a program. The runtime includes a first combination of feature implementations, where each feature implementation implements a feature of an application programming interface (API). Execution of the program is monitored, and the execution uses the runtime. Monitor data is generated based on the monitoring. A second combination of feature implementations are selected, by a computer processor, where the selection is based at least in part on the monitor data. The runtime is modified by activating the second combination of feature implementations to replace the first combination of feature implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Samuel F. Antao, Carlo Bertolli, Alexandre E. Eichenberger, John K. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9464915
    Abstract: An approach for a route stabilization scrolling mode is provided. The approach displays a map window, wherein the map window includes a visible region of a map, the map including a plotted route originating at a source location and ending at a destination location. The approach receives one or more swipe gestures within the map window. The approach determines whether the one or more swipe gestures exceeds an escape velocity threshold. Responsive to a determination that the one or more swipe gestures exceeds the level of intensity to progress the map window into an area of the map away from the plotted route, the approach generates one or more custom pegs, wherein the one or more custom pegs is a compressed snapshot of a last position on the plotted route prior to exceeding the escape velocity threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Kalyanaraman, Senthil K. Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 9466533
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a through electrode includes a lamination body including at least three layers, including respective vertically aligned electrode parts, the electrode part on the surface of an uppermost layer and including an aperture, the electrode part of the intermediate layer having an aperture smaller than the aperture of the uppermost layer; a through-hole extending from the aperture of the electrode part on the uppermost layer to the surface of the electrode part on a lowermost layer, the through-hole having a depressed part on a side wall thereof between the electrode parts therein; an insulating layer disposed on the entire side wall in the through-hole at a part other than on surfaces of the electrode parts; and a conductive material filling the through-hole from the surface of the electrode part on the lowermost layer to the surface of the electrode part on the uppermost layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Horibe, Hiroyuki Mori, Yasumitsu Orii, Kuniaki Sueoka, Kazushige Toriyama
  • Patent number: 9463674
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving, by one or more sensors, data for one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles including one or more slots. The computer-implemented method further includes combining the one or more slots from each of the one or more cycles into a combined slot group. The computer-implemented method further includes converting the combined slot group into a converted slot group. The computer-implemented method further includes monitoring the converted slot group for an anomaly. The computer-implemented method further includes, responsive to the anomaly: Comparing the anomaly to one or more known anomalies to determine a correlation between the anomaly and the one or more known anomalies, and determining the anomaly location. The computer-implemented method further includes reporting a problem condition based on at least one of the correlation and the anomaly location. A corresponding computer system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shi Wen He, Jun Liao, Rui Shen, Dan Dan Wang, Wen Bao Yin
  • Patent number: 9466690
    Abstract: After forming trenches extending through a dielectric material stack including, from bottom to top, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer and a third dielectric layer that is located over a semiconductor substrate, a fin stack of, from bottom to top, an insulating III-V compound material fin portion and a III-V compound semiconductor fin is formed within each trench. The third dielectric layer is removed to expose a first portion of each III-V compound semiconductor fin. After forming a sidewall spacer on sidewalls of the first portion of each III-V compound semiconductor fin, the second dielectric layer is removed to expose a second portion of each III-V compound semiconductor fin. The exposed second portion of each III-V compound semiconductor fin is removed. The remaining first portion of each III-V compound semiconductor fin constitutes an active portion over which a FinFET is subsequently formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karthik Balakrishnan, Kangguo Cheng, Pouya Hashemi, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9466672
    Abstract: A semiconductor stack includes a substrate; a first semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; a tensile strained interlayer layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer disposed on the strained interlayer; wherein the difference in strain between the first semiconductor layer and the tensile strained interlayer is about 1 to about 2%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Keith E. Fogel, Pouya Hashemi, John A. Ott, Alexander Reznicek
  • Patent number: 9466358
    Abstract: A design structure can include elements that, when processed in a semiconductor manufacturing facility, produce an SRAM that includes a first local evaluator coupled to a first global bit line (GBL) and a first set of local bit lines (LBLs). The SRAM can also include a second local evaluator communicatively coupled to the first local evaluator. The second local evaluator is coupled to a second GBL and second set of LBLs. The second GBL is consecutive to the first GBL. The first and second evaluators are to generate signals from the LBLs such that one GBL of a combined first and second GBLs is active at any point in a read or write cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lior Arie, Lidar Herooti, Noam Jungmann, Elazar Kachir, Hezi Shalom, Israel A. Wagner
  • Patent number: 9466563
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes first and second metallization levels. The first metallization level includes a first metal routing path. The second metallization level includes a dielectric layer having a via opening formed therein extending vertically through the dielectric layer to reach a top surface of the first metal routing path. A metal plug is deposited at a bottom of the via opening in direct contact with the first metal routing path. A remaining open area of the via opening is filled with a metal material to define a second metal routing path. The metal plug is formed of cobalt or an alloy including cobalt, and has an aspect ratio of greater than 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yann Mignot, Terry Spooner, James John Kelly
  • Patent number: 9465613
    Abstract: A method and circuit arrangement for selectively predicating an instruction in an instruction stream based upon a value corresponding to a predication register address indicated by a portion of an operand associated with the instruction. A first compare instruction in an instruction stream stores a compare result in at a register address of a predication register. The register address of the predication register is stored in a portion of an operand associated with a second instruction, and during decoding the second instruction, the predication register is accessed to determine a value stored at the register address of the predication register, and the second instruction is selectively predicated based on the value stored at the register address of the predication register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Adam J. Muff, Paul E. Schardt, Robert A. Shearer, Matthew R. Tubbs
  • Patent number: 9467400
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for managing unavailability notices. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of initializing an out of office notice, wherein the out of office notice is associated with a first user of an e-mail service; receiving inputs for the out of office notice, wherein the inputs include one or more of: a duration of time selection, alternative contact information, and message content; receiving a list of one or more user to whom to send an out of office alert notice with the received inputs; and sending to the one or more users from the list the out of office alert notice with the received inputs and a reminder function, wherein the reminder function allows for each of the one or more users to receive a reminder about unavailability at another time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Supreet K. Bhatia, Girish Padmanabhan, Rajesh Patil, Prasad P. Purandare, Hina Purohit, Paryushan P. Sarsamkar, Jaitirth V. Shirole
  • Patent number: 9465681
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methodologies for allowing a computer program code to efficiently respond to and process events. For events having a multiple stage completion sequence, and wherein several of the events occur within relatively close time proximity to each other, portions of the multiple stages may be coalesced without adding latency, thereby maintaining responsiveness of the computer program. The disclosed coalescing systems and methodologies include state machines and counters that in effect “replace” certain stages of the event sequence when the frequency of events increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gregg, Kulwant M. Pandey