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).
  • Publication number: 20150063768
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a method for forming an optical waveguide structure. Initially, a base film stack is received with an optical waveguide feature covered by a lower dielectric layer. An etch stop feature is then formed on the lower dielectric layer, and an upper dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop feature. Subsequently, a trench is patterned in the upper dielectric layer and the etch stop feature at least in part by utilizing the etch stop feature as an etch stop. Lastly, a waveguide coupler feature is formed in the trench, at least a portion of the waveguide coupler feature having a refractive index higher than the lower dielectric layer and the upper dielectric layer. The waveguide coupler feature is positioned over at least a portion of the optical waveguide feature but is separated from the optical waveguide feature by a portion of the lower dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Russell A. Budd, Fuad E. Doany, Christopher V. Jahnes, Benjamin G. Lee, Laurent Schares
  • Publication number: 20150064884
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming an insulator layer over a substrate; opening a trench in the insulator layer so as to expose one or more semiconductor structures formed on the substrate; forming a protective layer on sidewalls of the trench; subjecting the substrate to a precleaning operation in preparation for epitaxial semiconductor formation, wherein the protective layer prevents expansion of the sidewalls of the trench as a result of the precleaning operation; and forming epitaxial semiconductor material within the trench and over the exposed one or more semiconductor structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Ali Khakifirooz
  • Publication number: 20150066700
    Abstract: A method or apparatus for generating or modifying use-oriented information may include stored information regarding general and detailed product information. An information processor may receive additional information regarding an individual user or consumer of the product, as well as the particular context in which the product is used by the individual. Based at least on the received use context, the information processor may select or modify relatively specific product-related or service-related information, personalized or tailored to the individual's particular use of the product. The resulting use-oriented information may be sent to the individual by way of a telecommunications network or other suitable means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Andrew R. Jones, C. Steven Lingafelt, Kevin C. McConnell, John E. Moore, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150059856
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a film including titanium on a conductive layer formed on a substrate. An absorber layer is formed including a Cu—Zn—Sn containing chalcogenide compound with a kesterite structure of the formula: Cu2-xZn1+ySn(S1-zSez)4+q wherein 0?x?1; 0?y?1; 0?z?1; ?1?q?1 (CZTS) on the film. The absorber layer is annealed to diffuse titanium therein and to recrystallize the CZTS material of the film. A buffer layer is formed on the absorber layer, and a transparent conductive layer is formed on the buffer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marinus J. Hopstaken, David B. Mitzi, Wei Wang, Mark T. Winkler
  • Publication number: 20150067659
    Abstract: An approach is provided in in which distributed runtime environment executes a software application that includes isolated runtime constructs corresponding to an isolated runtime environment. During the execution, the distributed runtime environment identifies isolated runtime constructs included in the software application and selects distributed runtime constructs corresponding to the isolated runtime constructs. In turn, the distributed runtime environment executes the distributed runtime constructs in lieu of executing the isolated runtime constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Davis
  • Publication number: 20150067501
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for customizing help screens. A computer receives a request for help content. The computer identifies an annotated help file that corresponds to the request for help content. The computer identifies one or more variables in the identified annotated help file. The computer retrieves a value for each of the one or more variables from a software product. The computer replaces each of the one or more variables in the identified annotated help file with the retrieved value to generate customized help content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Albee Jhoney, Gaurav Nigam, Arun Ramakrishnan, Rohit Shetty
  • Patent number: 8972346
    Abstract: Operating a parallel database server system, where the database server system comprises at least two database servers and one data source. A client identifier is received from a client requesting services from one of said database servers. Information associated with said client is retrieved. The client is allocated to one of said database servers based on the retrieved information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W Pickel, Wolfgang Reichert, Johannes Schuetzner
  • Patent number: 8972389
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for displaying ontology data. An ontology is displayed for a selected item. The ontology presents representational elements associated with the selected item, a combination of the representational elements defining and/or establishing a context for the selected item. The representational elements are categorized on a hierarchical path, the elements ordered by scope size. The ontology can be navigated in multiple directions with the directions including items broader in scope, and items narrower in scope. Navigating in one of these directions includes a displayed representational element from the ontology having a scope size reflecting the navigated direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barry A. Kritt, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 8969966
    Abstract: Methods for semiconductor fabrication include forming a well in a semiconductor substrate. A pocket is formed within the well, the pocket having an opposite doping polarity as the well to provide a p-n junction between the well and the pocket. Defects are created at the p-n junction such that a leakage resistance of the p-n junction is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, STMicroelectronics, Inc., Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Laurent Grenouillet, Ali Khakifirooz, Yannick Le Tiec, Qing Liu, Maud Vinet
  • Patent number: 8973012
    Abstract: An approach for composing an analytic solution is provided. After associating descriptive schemas with web services and web-based applets, a set of input data sources is enumerated for selection. A desired output type is received. Based on the descriptive schemas that specify required inputs and outputs of the web services and web-based applets, combinations of web services and web-based applets are generated. The generated combinations achieve a result of the desired output type from one of the enumerated input data sources. Each combination is derived from available web services and web-based applets. The combinations include one or more workflows that provide an analytic solution. A workflow whose result satisfies the business objective may be saved. Steps in a workflow may be iteratively refined to generate a workflow whose result satisfies the business objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ying Chen, Thilina Gunarathne, Eugene M. Maximilien, William S. Spangler
  • Patent number: 8972959
    Abstract: A method of converting a program code of a program running in multi-thread to a program code which causes fewer lock collisions. The method includes reading the program code into a memory and searching the program code for a first conditional statement making a branch to a path, which is in a synchronized block and has no side effect on the synchronized block; duplicating the path having no side effect to which the branch is made by the searched first conditional statement into the outside of the synchronized block; and adding a second conditional statement into the program code in response to the duplication, wherein the second conditional statement is a conditional statement making a branch to the duplicated path having no side effect. Also provided is a system and an article of manufacture which causes a computer to carry out the steps of the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuaki Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 8972475
    Abstract: Secure communications are provided over a network in a distributed workload environment having target hosts which are accessed through a distribution processor by a common network address. Secure communications are provided by routing both inbound and outbound communications with target hosts which are associated with a secure network communication through the distribution processor. Both inbound and outbound secure network communications are processed at the distribution processor so as to provide network security processing of communications from the target host and network security processing of communications to the target host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Russell Godwin, David Anthony Herr, Linwood H. Overby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8972979
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to post-install configuration of virtual appliances in a virtual machine. A packaging and distribution format is provided with two tools to support the configuration of the virtual machine. The first tool is employed to support configuration of the virtual machine, and employs an activation script during a boot operation. The second tool is employed by a call from the first tool. The second tool configures a virtual application in communication with the virtual machine with use of a configuration script. The configuration script is separate from the activation script and disassociated from an image binary of the virtual machine. The disassociation of the configuration script from the activation script supports changes to the configuration script without affecting the image binary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Kashyap, Scott S. Moser
  • Patent number: 8969163
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure may include preparing a continuous active layer in a region of the substrate and forming a plurality of adjacent gates on the continuous active layer. A first raised epitaxial layer may be deposited on a recessed region of the continuous active layer between a first and a second one of the plurality of gates, whereby the first and second gates are adjacent. A second raised epitaxial layer may be deposited on another recessed region of the continuous active layer between the second and a third one of the plurality of gates, whereby the second and third gates are adjacent. Using a cut mask, a trench structure is etched into the second gate structure and a region underneath the second gate in the continuous active layer. The trench is filled with isolation material for electrically isolating the first and second raised epitaxial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael V. Aquilino, Byeong Yeol Kim, Ying Li, Carl John Radens
  • Patent number: 8972667
    Abstract: A device with an interconnect having a plurality of memory controllers for connecting the plurality of memory controllers. Each memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers is coupled to an allocated memory for storing data. Further, each memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers has one accelerator of a plurality of accelerators for mutually exchanging data over the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Alexander Auernhammer, Victoria Caparros Cabezas, Andreas Christian Doering, Patricia Maria Sagmeister
  • Patent number: 8970018
    Abstract: A differential port and a method of arranging the differential port are described. The method includes arranging a first electrode to receive a drive signal, and arranging a second electrode to receive a guard signal, the guard signal having a different phase than the drive signal and the first electrode and the second electrode having a gap therebetween. The method also includes disposing a signal line from the first electrode to drive a radio frequency (RF) device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Abraham, Jay M. Gambetta
  • Patent number: 8968197
    Abstract: A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product directs a user using a physiological sensor to a needed medical resource. A real-time state of a medical condition of a user is determined based on readings from a physiological sensor on a user. A processing system correlates the real-time state of the medical condition of the user to a medical resource, which has been predetermined to have a capability of ameliorating the real-time state of the medical condition of the user. Directions are then sent, to the user, for a temporally nearest medical resource that has been predetermined to have the capability of ameliorating the real-time state of the medical condition of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Friedlander, Richard Hennessy, James R. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8972983
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a shared group of resource and efficient processing of one or more jobs in the share group of resources. Tools are provided in the shared group of resource to assess and organize a topology of the shared resources, including physical and virtual machines, as well as storage devices. The topology is stored in a known location and utilized for efficient assignment of one or more jobs responsive to the hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Min Li, Prasenjit Sarkar, Dinesh K. Subhraveti
  • Patent number: 8972932
    Abstract: The present invention provides an approach and corresponding framework that separates data from its formatting/view by generating the dynamic JavaScript (data) as a set (e.g., at least one) of JavaScript (data) objects, without any HTML formatting. Then, a set of JavaScript functions can be created that takes the set of JavaScript objects as a parameter, and outputs all or a subset of this data object in a format determined by this JavaScript function. In general, these formatting functions can be static, rather than dynamic, JavaScript. This approach has the advantage of providing a much greater degree of formatting flexibility, without the need for each new format to establish a connection with the back-end system providing the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Liu, Jennifer Lai, Brian J. McDonald, Laurie Miller, Karen A. Ughetta, Yael Ravin
  • Patent number: 8972534
    Abstract: An arrangement permitting a user for example in a internet point or using a different profile in the same machine can connect to a web server to download and install local client software such as a java application or a browser plug-in the first time he accesses to this service from that browser in order to customize his environment. Once authenticated, he can choose the personalization to be performed in whatever application installed and eligible to be user customizable. For example he can replicate in the system his browser settings (favorites, cookies, forms etc) or word templates as a clone of environment setting of his personal machine. The customization can depend on pre-defined profiles to allow the user customization of a subset of settings, for example only browser settings. Models of different operating environments are defined and called upon to enable interactions with different client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Donatelli, Barbara Febonio, Filomena Ferrara, Mario Loriedo, Tommaso Mazzarotto, Sandro Piccinini
  • Patent number: 8972654
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for tape writing of small transactions. A first file is written as a plurality of fixed-length data sets (DS), the DS number of the final DS in the plurality of DS is stored in memory as #N(DS#N) and the WP number as #M(WP#M), and the final first file and the second file in the DS following the final DS(DS#N, WP#M) containing the first file are packed and written in sequential DS units, and are stored as DS#N, DS#N+1, etc, and WP#M+1 in sequential order in DS containing the second file. The remaining first, second, or third file is packed and DS#N with WP#M is overwritten as DS#N with WP#M+2, and the remaining #N in the DS numbers of the second file and the third file in the subsequent DS are written as DS#N+1, N+2, etc. with WP#M+2, and the DS#N, #N+1, #N+2, etc. with WP+M+2 are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takamasa Hirata, Setsuko Masuda, Yuhko Mori, Yutaka Oishi, Terue Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8967456
    Abstract: A user interface element identification system, including: a display device to display the user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to: assign at least two machine readable visual artifacts to a graphical element in the user interface; position the machine readable visual artifacts in different locations within the element, wherein the locations of the artifacts designate a metadata attribute for the element; and display the machine readable visual artifacts in the user interface on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron M Cohen
  • Patent number: 8972386
    Abstract: A computer system executes an instant message session in a host message program of a first collaborative tool between users. The computer system executes the instant message session in a participant message program of a second collaborative tool. The computer system further receives a first request from the users to automatically or manually route the instant messages of the instant message session from the host message program of a mobile message program of a third collaborative tool. The computer system further transmits the instant messages from the host message program to the mobile message program based on conditions. The computer system further receives a second request from the mobile message program to route the instant message of the instant message session from the mobile device. The computer system transmits the instant message session based on the second request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hana Curtis, Kenny P. Maycock
  • Patent number: 8973007
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for adaptive lock list searching of waiting threads includes determining an average service time for a lock associated with a shared computing resource; determining an average search time for selecting a thread to next receive the lock from a plurality of threads waiting for the lock; summing the average service time and the average search time; applying a search factor to the summed average service time and average search time to obtain a target search time for searching the waiting threads for selecting the next thread for obtaining the lock; determining a quantity of waiting threads to consider for next obtaining the lock based on the target search time and the average search time, the quantity being less than a total quantity of waiting threads; and identifying the next thread to obtain the lock from the quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mathew Accapadi, Grover C. Davidson, II, Dirk Michel, Bret R. Olszewski
  • Patent number: 8972403
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to organizing data records in a relational database. An aspect of the invention includes creating index items for a plurality of data records. Each index item includes a counter and the creating results in a plurality of counters. The numerical values of counters in corresponding index items are updated for data records in the plurality of data records that are subjected to random access. The plurality of data records are reorganized based upon the numerical values of the plurality of counters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: You-Chin Fuh, Ke Wei Wei, Xin Ying Yang, Jian Wei Zhang, Jing Zhou, Xiang Zhou
  • Patent number: 8972321
    Abstract: A system, a method and a computer program product for verifying a statement are provided. The system is configured to receive a statement. The system is configured to decompose the received statement into one or more sets of question and answer pairs. The system is configured to determine a confidence value of each answer in the one or more question and answer pair sets. The system is configured to combine the determined confidence values. The combined confidence values represent a probability that the received statement is evaluated as true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Ferrucci, David C. Gondek, Aditya A. Kalyanpur, Adam P. Lally, Siddharth Patwardham
  • Patent number: 8972615
    Abstract: A computer program product is provided for performing: obtaining, by a channel subsystem, a transport command word (TCW) specified by an operating system, the TCW comprising an address of a transport services request block (TSRQB) and an address of a transport services response block (TSRSB); obtaining the TSRQB; building at least one command request based on the TSRQB, and sending the at least one command request from the channel subsystem to at least one network entity, the at least one command request including at least one of a fiber-channel generic services (FC-GS) request, a fiber-channel link services (FC-LS) request, and a fiber-channel link-level function (FC-SB) request; receiving a response to the at least one command request from the at least one network entity; and storing the response to the TSRSB based on the address of the TSRSB obtained from the TCW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Casper, Patricia G. Driever, John R. Flanagan, Louis W. Ricci, Gustav E. Sittmann, III
  • Patent number: 8972662
    Abstract: The population of data to be inserted into secondary data storage cache is controlled by determining a heat metric of candidate data; adjusting a heat metric threshold; rejecting candidate data provided to the secondary data storage cache whose heat metric is less than the threshold; and admitting candidate data whose heat metric is equal to or greater than the heat metric threshold. The adjustment of the heat metric threshold is determined by comparing a reference metric related to hits of data most recently inserted into the secondary data storage cache, to a reference metric related to hits of data most recently evicted from the secondary data storage cache; if the most recently inserted reference metric is greater than the most recently evicted reference metric, decrementing the threshold; and if the most recently inserted reference metric is less than the most recently evicted reference metric, incrementing the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Benhase, Stephen L. Blinick, Evangelos S. Eleftheriou, Lokesh M. Gupta, Robert Haas, Xiao-Yu Hu, Ioannis Koltsidas, Roman A. Pletka
  • Patent number: 8969964
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate stack formed on an active region in a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) portion of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The SOI substrate includes a n-type field effect transistor (nFET) portion. A gate spacer is formed over the gate stack. A source region and a drain region are formed within a first region and a second region, respectively, of the pFET portion of the semiconductor layer including embedded silicon germanium (eSiGe). A source region and a drain region are formed within a first region and a second region, respectively, of the nFET portion of the semiconductor layer including eSiGe. The source and drain regions within the pFET portion includes at least one dimension that is different from at least one dimension of the source and drain regions within the nFET portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leland Chang, Isaac Lauer, Chung-Hsun Lin, Jeffrey W. Sleight
  • Patent number: 8972648
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for allocating logical memory corresponding to a logical partition in a computing system; generating, a S/W PFT data structure corresponding to a first page of the logical memory, wherein the S/W PFT data structure comprises a field indicating that the corresponding first page of logical memory is a klock page; transmitting a request for a page of physical memory and the corresponding S/W PFT data structure to hypervisor, allocating physical memory corresponding to the request; and, in response to a pageout request, paging out available logical memory corresponding to the logical partition that does not indicate that the corresponding page is a klock page prior to paging out the first page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Keerthi Kumar, Shailaja Mallya
  • Patent number: 8971866
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for automatically connecting a calling device to a best available calling device based on resource strength. A computer system receives from a first calling device a request for a call to a second calling device and evaluates resource strength of the second calling device. The computer system determines one or more third calling devices, in response to determining that the resource strength of the second calling device is low. The computer system compares resource strength of the one or more third calling devices with that of the second calling device and determines a best available one of the one or more third calling devices. The computer system connects the call by connecting the first calling device and the best available one of the one or more third calling devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Robert R. Peterson, Asima Silva
  • Patent number: 8972960
    Abstract: Optimizing an application to reduce local memory usage. At least one executable class file of the application can be instrumented with analysis code, the executable class file including bytecode. The class file can be executed on a virtual machine, wherein during execution the analysis code generates data related to the application's use of local memory. The data related to the application's use of the local memory can be analyzed to generate a memory profile analysis. Based on the memory profile analysis, at least one portion of the bytecode can be automatically revised to reduce an amount of the local memory used by the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Brauneis, Jeffrey E. Care, Curtis E. Hrischuk, Andrew D. Naumann
  • Patent number: 8972454
    Abstract: A screen capture application captures image data by receiving a signal defining a display area for which image data is to be captured, accessing metadata relating to components within the defined display area, and, for components within the display area, storing an image of the component and storing associated position data. The screen capture application may store positional relationships between the components within the defined display area, the positional relationships including ordering of the components relative to each other. The screen capture application may store the components as a plurality of layers within a layered image file. The screen capture application may store the component images in respective files and store the position data in a control file. The control file may include details of the respective component image files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony P. Beardsmore, Oliver Fenton, Dale Lane
  • Patent number: 8972926
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments herein provide a computer implemented method for verifying code within an integrated development environment. A first data processing system identifies a code dependency within a first artifact located thereon. The code dependency depends on the second artifact located at the separate node of peer-to-peer network. Responsive to identifying the dependency within the first artifact, the first data processing system identifies a second data processing system within a peer-to-peer network that contains the second artifact. The first data processing system requests permission from the second data processing system to access the second artifact. Responsive to receiving permission to access the second artifact, the first data processing system accesses the second artifact on the second data processing system. The first data processing system then verifies a compatibility of the second artifact with the code dependency within the first artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Leho Nigul
  • Patent number: 8972387
    Abstract: Provided are techniques to search for an entity in an entity resolution system. Search input comprising one or more attribute values of one or more attribute types is received. A resolution search is performed to generate a search result set comprising one or more entities and zero or more generic attribute values for generating additional entities. In response to determining that the resolution search generated at least two generic attribute values, one or more query searches are performed for a unique generic group by generic attribute type to identify the additional entities, wherein the unique generic group comprises a subset of the search input and includes at least two generic attribute types; the identified additional entities are combined with the entities in the search result set; and the search result set is returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas B. Allen, Donald A. Bowsher, Jr., Anthony D. Curcio, Michael H. D'Amico, Brian E. Macy
  • Patent number: 8972963
    Abstract: A method of automating patching of a computer system includes determining whether a computer patch is available for a computer system of a customer, determining a patch management policy of the customer, determining a patch window of the customer based on the determined patch management policy, and directing application of the computer patch to the computer system at the determined patch window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Salman A. Baset, Rajesh Garg, Ashu Gupta, Hai Huang, Mohamed Fazal Mohamed Feroze, Sumithra Ravichandran, MadhuSudhan Kagalavadi Ningaiah, Chunqiang Tang, Mahesh Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8972921
    Abstract: A method and system to control crosstalk among qubits on a chip are described. The method includes placing two or more components symmetrically on the chip, the chip including the qubits, and driving two or more ports symmetrically to control the crosstalk based on controlling coupling of chip mode frequencies and qubit frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Abraham, Jerry M. Chow, Jay M. Gambetta
  • Patent number: 8972163
    Abstract: Approaches for indicating vehicle fuel efficiency for vehicle usage patterns are provided. Patterns of inefficient operation are detected and conveyed to a user to inform the user of the impact of his/her inefficient operation. In these embodiments, a fuel efficiency tool provides this capability. The fuel efficiency tool comprises: an analysis component configured to analyze usage patterns of a vehicle; a calculation component configured to calculate a vehicle fuel efficiency for each of the usage patterns; and a notification component configured to: provide a real-time notification to a user of the vehicle indicating each of the following via a feedback device within the vehicle: a numerical representation of the vehicle fuel efficiency calculated for each of the plurality of recurring driver habits; and a monetary value indicating an amount of money sacrificed by at least one vehicle usage pattern that is contributing to inefficient vehicle fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rendell L. Green, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, James W. Seaman, Richard H. Stephen
  • Patent number: 8966922
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronic subsystem of an electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes a local cooling station, which has a liquid-to-air heat exchanger and ducting for directing a cooling airflow across the heat exchanger. A cooling subsystem is associated with the electronic subsystem of the rack, and includes either a housing facilitating immersion cooling of electronic components of the electronic subsystem, or one or more liquid-cooled structures providing conductive cooling to the electronic components of the electronic subsystem. A coolant loop couples the cooling subsystem to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station. In operation, heat is transferred via circulating coolant from the electronic subsystem and rejected in the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the local cooling station to the cooling airflow passing across the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the cooling airflow is outdoor air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8969213
    Abstract: A metal layer is deposited over an underlying material layer. The metal layer includes an elemental metal that can be converted into a dielectric metal-containing compound by plasma oxidation and/or nitridation. A hard mask portion is formed over the metal layer. Plasma oxidation or nitridation is performed to convert physically exposed surfaces of the metal layer into the dielectric metal-containing compound. The sequence of a surface pull back of the hard mask portion, trench etching, another surface pull back, and conversion of top surfaces into the dielectric metal-containing compound are repeated to form a line pattern having a spacing that is not limited by lithographic minimum dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chiahsun Tseng, David V. Horak, Chun-chen Yeh, Yunpeng Yin
  • Patent number: 8972873
    Abstract: Widget creation, editing, augmentation, tracking and deployment is provided. Embodiments may include a Widget Assembly Application (“WAA”). The WAA may employ generalized widget templates selected by a user for customizing or assembling widgets. A generator may render previously assembled widgets when requested. The generator may use a skeleton specific to the target server type and widget, and code supporting the generator and the WAA may employ recursive eye-catcher syntax. Widgets may be deployed from any discovered instance to additional remote widget containers of the same or different type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Kenyon Gerken, III, Jimmy Ming-Der Hsu
  • Patent number: 8970380
    Abstract: A system for verifying compliance, comprises an input device including a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader module, wherein the RFID reader module is capable of determining that an RFID tag corresponding to a medication dose in a product packaging is not detectable, and recording a time of the determination that the RFID tag is not detectable, a network, and a data management service module which is capable of receiving from the input device via the network information corresponding to the RFID tag and the time when the RFID tag was determined not detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa J. Buco, David M. Loewenstern, Florian Pinel, Larisa Shwartz
  • Patent number: 8971862
    Abstract: A location based service configured to route local advertising for streamed media and media blocking based on a location of the recipient. The method include detecting a location of a mobile user and routing streaming media of a local affiliate to a mobile device of the mobile user based on the detected location of the mobile user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Dingler, Stephen E. Jaffe, Christopher E. Holladay, Sri Ramanathan, Matthew A. Terry, Matthew B. Trevathan
  • Patent number: 8972681
    Abstract: A method for increasing the efficiency of a “copy-on-write” operation performed on an SSD to extend the life of the SSD is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving a first logical address specifying a logical location where new data should be written to an SSD. The first logical address maps to a first physical location, storing original data, on the SSD. The method further receives a second logical address specifying a logical location where the original data should be available on the SSD. The second logical address maps to a second physical location on the SSD. To efficiently perform the copy-on-write operation, the method writes the new data to a new physical location on the SSD, maps the first logical address to the new physical location, and maps the second logical address to the first physical location. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Evan Jones, Subhojit Roy, Rahul Fiske
  • Patent number: 8972801
    Abstract: A technique for motivating lazy RCU callbacks under out-of-memory conditions. In response to detecting an actual or potential OOM condition, non-lazy callback processing is performed for all processors whose RCU callback lists are non-empty due to at least one callback permitting lazy callback processing being present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. McKenney
  • Patent number: 8972546
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed for booting a server from a shared storage system. The present invention teaches at least one server having at least one processor, a storage system having a plurality of storage drives and at least one boot volume corresponding to the at least one server, and a switch fabric having at least one switch; the switch fabric isolates boot traffic form storage traffic and enables communication between the server and the boot volume of the storage system. In some embodiments the switch fabric includes one or more partitionable switches that isolate boot traffic from storage traffic. The boot volumes may be a redundant array of storage devices. In certain embodiments, the present invention also includes devices external to the server, switch fabric, and storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shah Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Gregg Steven Lucas
  • Patent number: 8969189
    Abstract: After formation of a replacement gate structure, a template dielectric layer employed to pattern the replacement gate structure is removed. After deposition of a dielectric liner, a first dielectric material layer is deposited by an anisotropic deposition and an isotropic etchback. A second dielectric material layer is deposited and planarized employing the first dielectric material portion as a stopping structure. The first dielectric material portion is removed selective to the second dielectric material layer, and is replaced with gate cap dielectric material portion including at least one dielectric material different from the materials of the dielectric material layers. A contact via hole extending to a source/drain region is formed employing the gate cap dielectric material portion as an etch stop structure. A contact via structure is spaced from the replacement gate structure at least by remaining portions of the gate cap dielectric material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hong He, Chiahsun Tseng, Chun-chen Yeh, Yunpeng Yin
  • Patent number: 8972279
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for matching audio advertisements to items on a shopping list in a mobile device. Audio advertisements are matched to items on a shopping list by obtaining the shopping list from a mobile device of the user; applying a speech recognizer to at least one audio advertisement detected on a microphone of the mobile device; identifying one or more key words in the at least one audio advertisement; comparing the one or more identified key words to one or more items on the shopping list stored on the mobile device; and storing the information related to the at least one advertisement if the one or more identified key words match the one or more items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan G. Cole, Siddique A. Mohammed, Victor S. Moore, Dhandapani Shanmugam
  • Patent number: 8972808
    Abstract: A technique for controlling scan access of multiple scan devices (including or more slave scan devices and a master scan device) to a scan chain includes sending, by a requesting slave scan device included in the one or more slave scan devices, a first request for access to the scan chain to the master scan device. The master scan device and the one or more slave scan devices are connected to the scan chain. The technique also includes receiving, at the requesting slave scan device, an evaluation result from the master scan device and accessing, by the requesting slave scan device, the scan chain in response to the evaluation result indicating access granted. Finally, the technique includes sending, by the requesting slave scan device, one or more second requests for access to the scan chain to the master scan device in response to the evaluation result indicating access denied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benedikt Geukes, Heiko Michel, Matteo Michel, Manfred Walz
  • Patent number: 8969187
    Abstract: A method of forming a gate structure with a self-aligned contact is provided and includes sequentially depositing a sacrificial layer and a secondary layer onto poly-Si disposed at a location of the gate structure, encapsulating the sacrificial layer, the secondary layer and the poly-Si, removing the sacrificial layer through openings formed in the secondary layer and forming silicide within at least the space formally occupied by the sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dechao Guo, Wilfried E. A. Haensch, Shu-Jen Han, Chung-Hsun Lin