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: 8966016
    Abstract: A computer-implementable method, system and computer media for typing a resource-based event in a rule system. In one embodiment, the computer-implementable method includes the steps of: defining an event type according to a resource property that is associated with the event type; creating a resource definition that describes which one or more event type can occur in a resource; storing the resource definition in the rule system; receiving asynchronous data from a particular resource in the data processing system; correlating the asynchronous data with a particular rule that is associated with a resource definition for the particular resource; and applying the particular rule to the asynchronous data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 8965890
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and processing context sensitive media objects are disclosed. One method is directed to processing a context sensitive media object in a target context. The method includes receiving an object with one or more object rules embedded within the object such that the one or more object rules are propagated with the object. Further, a determination of whether the object is context sensitive is made. If the object is context sensitive, the method prioritizes between the one or more object rules and one or more context rules related to a target context. In addition, a determination of which method or methods should be executed to process the object in the target context is made based on the prioritization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paolo Dettori, Julio Nogima, Frank A. Schaffa, Augustine C. Schilling
  • Patent number: 8964825
    Abstract: Analog signal current integrators are provided having tunable peaking functions. Analog signal current integrators with tunable peaking functions enable data rate dependent loss compensation for applications in high data rate receiver integrated circuits incorporating advanced equalization functions, such as decision-feedback equalizers. For instance, a current integrator circuit includes a current integrating amplifier circuit comprising an adjustable circuit element to tune a peaking response of the current integrator circuit, and a peaking control circuit to generate a control signal to adjust a value of the adjustable circuit element as a function of an operating condition of the current integrator circuit. The operating condition may be a specified data rate or a communication channel characteristic or both. The adjustable circuit element may be a degeneration capacitor or a bias current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Troy J. Beukema, John F. Bulzacchelli
  • Patent number: 8963661
    Abstract: A nano-electro-mechanical switch includes an input electrode, a body electrode, an insulating layer, an actuator electrode, an output electrode, and a cantilever beam adapted to flex in response to an actuation voltage applied between the body electrode and the actuator electrode. The cantilever beam includes the input electrode, the body electrode and the insulating layer, the latter separating the body electrode from the input electrode, the cantilever beam being configured such that, upon flexion of the cantilever beam, the input electrode comes in contact with the output electrode at a single mechanical contact point at the level of an end of the cantilever beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Despont, Ute Drechsler, Daniel Grogg, Christoph Hagleitner, Yu Pu
  • Patent number: 8962430
    Abstract: On a substrate formed of a first semiconductor layer, an insulating layer and a second semiconductor layer, a silicon oxide pad layer and a silicon nitride pad layer are deposited and patterned to define a mask. The mask is used to open a trench through the first semiconductor layer and insulating layer and into the second semiconductor layer. A dual liner of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride is conformally deposited within the trench. The trench is filled with silicon dioxide. A hydrofluoric acid etch removes the silicon nitride pad layer along with a portion of the conformal silicon nitride liner. A hot phosphoric acid etch removes the silicon oxide pad layer, a portion of the silicon oxide filling the trench and a portion of the conformal silicon nitride liner. The dual liner protects against substrate etch through at an edge of the trench between the first and second semiconductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Liu, Nicolas Loubet, Bruce Doris
  • Patent number: 8965839
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer-implemented system, and a computer program product for data binning are disclosed. In a first aspect, the computer-implemented method comprises in response to a determination that a data value is greater than an estimated maximum data value, calculating a new bin position for the data value by adding multiples of a bin width to the estimated maximum data value until a bin where the data value belongs is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Louis L. Kittock, Jon K. Peck, Vladimir E. Shklover
  • Patent number: 8966455
    Abstract: Machines, systems and methods for distinguishing feasible paths in a program by statically tracking one or more execution paths are provided. The method comprises reading one or more program statements in an execution path; adding a location identification for the program statement read to an abstract representation of the execution stack at the time the program statement is executed, in response to determining that the program statement is a procedure call; updating the abstract representations of the execution stack to exclude infeasible execution paths for a possible point in program where the procedure could return or continue, in response to determining that the program statement is a return from a procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aharon Abadi, Jonathan Bnayahu, Yishai Feldman
  • Patent number: 8961280
    Abstract: A tamper resistant enclosure for an electronic circuit includes an inner copper case, a tamper sensing mesh wrapped around the inner case, an outer copper case enclosing the inner case and the tamper sensing mesh, and a venting device forming a vent channel from inside the inner case to outside the outer case, the vent channel passing between overlapping layers of the tamper sensing mesh and having at least one right angle bend along its length. The venting device consists of two strips of a thin polyamide coverlay material laminated together along their length, and a length of wool yarn sandwiched between the two thin strips and extending from one end of the strips to the other end of the strips to form the vent channel. The length of yarn follows a zig-zag path between the first and second strips, the zig-zag path including at least one right angle bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Richard Dangler, Phillip Duane Isaacs, Arvind Kumar Sinha
  • Patent number: 8966322
    Abstract: System and method for automated testing of hot swap scenarios of field replaceable units (FRUs) in a storage system comprises an external automation server that distributes control signals to actuation systems within a number of FRUs. Power for the actuation systems may be provided by the external automation server or by self-contained power supplies with each actuation system. The actuation systems are responsive to the control signals to move the storage devices back-and-forth thereby electrically and physically disconnecting the storage device's mating connector from the backplane connector. This approach provides a high degree of automation while closely emulating customer hot swap scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary I. Dickenson, Richard Hutzler
  • Patent number: 8964995
    Abstract: An acoustic monitoring system includes a portable acoustic detection device, a sound analysis device and a confidence level device. The portable acoustic detection device is capable of receiving sound at one or more locations near a sound-producing device. The sound analysis device receives the sound from the portable sound detection device, determines a diagnosis based on a comparison between the sound and pre-recorded sound data, and outputs the diagnosis to the portable acoustic detection device. The sound analysis device also determines a corrective action for inhibiting the sound, which is also output to the portable sound detection device. The confidence level device determines a confidence level of the diagnosis indicating a likelihood that the diagnosis is successfully diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Cohn, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Jinjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 8963283
    Abstract: A structure and method is provided for fabricating isolated capacitors. The method includes simultaneously forming a plurality of deep trenches and one or more isolation trenches surrounding a group or array of the plurality of deep trenches through a SOI and doped poly layer, to an underlying insulator layer. The method further includes lining the plurality of deep trenches and one or more isolation trenches with an insulator material. The method further includes filling the plurality of deep trenches and one or more isolation trenches with a conductive material on the insulator material. The deep trenches form deep trench capacitors and the one or more isolation trenches form one or more isolation plates that isolate at least one group or array of the deep trench capacitors from another group or array of the deep trench capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oh-Jung Kwon, Junedong Lee, Paul C. Parries, Dominic J. Schepis
  • Patent number: 8965905
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for discovering relationships between data processing environment components are provided in the illustrative embodiments. Whether a log entry in a set of log entries references a combination of the data processing environment components is detected. The combination of components includes a first component and a second component present in the data processing environment. A type of the log entry is determined. A weight is assigned to the log entry according to the determined type. the weight of the log entry is combined with a second weight of a second log entry to form a cumulative weight. A strength level for which the cumulative weight qualifies is determined. The strength level is assigned to a relationship between the combination of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Ashmore, Ann M. Moyer, Nirmala Shobitha Nandi, John Zupet
  • Patent number: 8964600
    Abstract: Methods are provided for overlaying a virtual network on a physical network in a data center environment. An overlay system is arranged in an overlay virtual network to include an overlay agent and an overlay helper. The overlay agent is implemented in an access switch. The overlay helper is implemented in an end station that is in communication with the access switch. Overlay parameters in compliance with an in-band protocol are transmitted between the overlay agent and the overlay helper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amitabha Biswas, Jayakrishna Kidambi, Nilanjan Mukherjee, Vijoy A. Pandey
  • Patent number: 8965797
    Abstract: In a parallel explosion unit of a parallel explosion apparatus, a processing unit extracts an end product, extracts an assembly directly constituting the end product, and an determines whether or not a BOM tree having the assembly as a vertex is already broken down. When the BOM tree of the assembly is not yet broken down, the processing unit registers the number of units of each component constituting the assembly in an explosion result list and generates a tree-specific list in which the number of units of each component and a registration position of the component in the explosion result list are recorded. When the BOM tree of the assembly is already broken down, the processing unit adds the number of units of each component recorded in the tree-specific list to the number of units at the registration position of the component likewise recorded in the explosion result list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Kageyama
  • Patent number: 8963925
    Abstract: A slanted viewer is provided to maximize data visibility. In the context of computer graphics and a rendering technique, the slanted viewer's use of three-dimensional rendering provides an instant view of full data without compromising the visibility of other view areas or data and with minimum user interactions. The slanted viewer combines the use of two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts to enhance, as well as to preserve, a well-established user interaction environment and navigation system. The slanted viewer serves effectively in viewers showing extended length of text or objects horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Shelley Lau
  • Patent number: 8964025
    Abstract: An object located within an image foreground relative to image content within a field of view of at least one camera lens is identified, using image processing module, as an image obstruction. Responsive to identifying the image obstruction, points of view of at least one camera lens are determined that provide image content portions of the image content that, in combination, yield a complete image of the image content without the image obstruction located within the image foreground. The image content portions are combined to yield the complete image of the image content without the image obstruction located within the foreground. The combined complete image is stored to a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Cudak, Christopher J. Hardee, Randall C. Humes, Heather C. Miller
  • Patent number: 8963567
    Abstract: A wafer probing system includes a probe card assembly having a plurality of individual probe structures configured make contact with a semiconductor wafer mounted on a motor driven wafer chuck, with each probe structure configured with a pressure sensing unit integrated therewith; and a controller configured to drive the probe card assembly with one or more piezoelectric driver units response to feedback from the pressure sensing units of the individual probe structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Edwards, Oleg Gluschenkov, Louis V. Medina, Tso-Hui Ting, Ping-Chuan Wang, Yongchun Xin
  • Patent number: 8964493
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for substituting a group of memory cells for a defective group of memory cells in a memory. In a step, an exemplary embodiment replaces a signal path to a group of defective memory cells with a signal path to a redundant group of memory cells. In another step, an exemplary embodiment isolates the signal path to the redundant group of memory cells from a load imposed by the signal path to the replaced group of defective memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Silke Penth, Raphael Polig, Tobias Werner, Alexander Woerner
  • Patent number: 8960912
    Abstract: A method is provided for projecting a three-dimensional image. The method includes providing a first light source that emits first eye images and a second light source that emits second eye images. A polarization of the first light source is orthogonal to a polarization of the second light source. A first eye image of a first color is projected from the first light source. A second eye image of the same first color is projected from the second light source. A first eye image of a second color is projected from the first light source. A second eye image of the same second color is projected from the second light source. A first eye image of a third color is projected from the first light source. A second eye image of a third color is projected from the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Casimer M. DeCusatis
  • Patent number: 8966510
    Abstract: A method for executing kernels in a hybrid system includes running a program on a host computer and identifying in an instruction stream of the program a first instruction including a function of a target classification. The method includes generating a first kernel including the function and transmitting the first kernel to a client system to execute the first kernel based on identifying the first instruction as being of the target classification. The method also includes determining whether to store results of executing the first kernel in a read-only buffer of the client system based on determining whether a subsequent instruction of the target classification relies upon results of the first instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: D. Gary Chapman, Rajaram B. Krishnamurthy, Deborah A. Odell, Benjamin P. Segal
  • Patent number: 8966471
    Abstract: In a method for determining and scoring signatures for a software package, a processor compares files on a clean computer system after installation of a software package to files on the clean computer system before the installation. The processor determines a signature of the software package. The signature includes files on the clean computer system after installation of the software package that were not present on the clean computer system before the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael K. Boudreau, Jamie B. Marsnik, Bradley T. Moore, Angela T. Pistole
  • Patent number: 8966254
    Abstract: A confidential information exchange between a sender and a receiver may be conducted without the use of encryption keys. The information is coded with a Challenge-Response Table that is shared between the sender and the receiver. Rather than sending a challenge and then waiting for a response, the challenge and response are both sent by the sender of the information. The information sent comprises an index with a challenge and a response from the Challenge-Response Table. Upon receiving the coded information, the receiver uses the Challenge-Response Table to decode the information by using the index to locate the challenge and its valid response. Upon determining that the challenge and the response are correct, a first decoded answer is determined. Upon determining that either the challenge or the response, or both, are incorrect, a second decoded answer is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Subramaniyam Chandrasekaran, Shunmugam Murugan, Arun C. Ramachandran, Lakshmanan Velusamy
  • Patent number: 8966175
    Abstract: The present invention provides an approach for automatic storage planning and provisioning within a clustered computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). The present invention will receive planning input for a set of storage area network volume controllers (SVCs), the planning input indicating a potential load on the SVCs and its associated components. Configuration data for a set of storage components (i.e., the set of SVCs, a set of managed disk (Mdisk) groups associated with the set of SVCs, and a set of backend storage systems) will also be collected. Based on this configuration data, the set of storage components will be filtered to identify candidate storage components capable of addressing the potential load. Then, performance data for the candidate storage components will be analyzed to identify an SVC and an Mdisk group to address the potential load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kavita Chavda, David P. Goodman, Sandeep Gopisetty, Larry S. McGimsey, James E. Olson, Aameek Singh
  • Patent number: 8959941
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method are provided for cooling an electronics rack. The cooling apparatus includes an air-cooled 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 electronics rack, and includes a liquid-cooled condenser facilitating immersion-cooling of electronic components of the electronics rack, a liquid-cooled structure providing conductive cooling to electronic components of the electronics rack, or an air-to-liquid heat exchanger associated with the rack and cooling airflow passing through the electronics rack. A coolant loop couples the cooling subsystem to the liquid-to-air heat exchanger. In operation, heat is transferred via circulating coolant from the electronics rack, and rejected in the liquid-to-air heat exchanger of the 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: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 8966019
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for running software on an adapter. In response to a connection of a hardware interface for the adapter with a current host computer, a processor unit in the adapter determines whether a set of protocols for communicating with the current host computer to access resources is present on the adapter. In response to the set of protocols being absent on the adapter, the processor unit obtains the set of protocols from the current host computer. The processor unit identifies a set of available resources in the current host computer for use by the adapter using the set of protocols. The processor unit runs software stored on a set of storage devices in the adapter using the set of available resources identified for use by the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Diane G. Flemming, William A. Maron, Mysore S. Srinivas, Basu Vaidyanathan
  • Patent number: 8965918
    Abstract: A method, article of manufacture and apparatus for decomposing an initial query into smaller conditional groups for execution on a database is disclosed. A separate database query may be generated for each of the conditional groups, and the results of executing these separate database queries may be combined and returned as the result of the initial query. Typically, the initial query may be decomposed because it is otherwise too large and/or too complex to be executed directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Dettinger, Daniel P. Kolz, Frederick A. Kulack
  • Patent number: 8964527
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, computer storage device, and storage area network for maintaining a communication path from a host to a storage subsystem in a network. A storage subsystem controls data transfer and access to a storage devices in a network including a switch and a host. A topological storage stores topological coupling relationship between the host and the switch and a topological coupling relationship between the switch and the storage subsystem. In response to determining a failed path, the storage subsystem determines a first port on the storage subsystem in the failed path. The storage subsystem determines from the topology storage the topological coupling relationships between the host and the switch and the switch and the storage subsystem. The storage subsystem redirects, based on the topological coupling relationships, a message sent to the first port of the storage subsystem to an operational second port in the storage subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Shu Yang, Dong Hai Yu
  • Patent number: 8963254
    Abstract: A method and structure comprise a field effect transistor structure that includes a first rectangular fin structure positioned on a substrate. The first rectangular fin structure has a bottom contacting the substrate, a top opposite the bottom, and sides between the top and the bottom. The structure additionally includes a second rectangular fin structure positioned on the substrate. Similarly, the second rectangular fin structure also has a bottom contacting the substrate, a top opposite the bottom, and sides between the top and the bottom. The sides of the second rectangular fin structure are parallel to the sides of the first rectangular fin structure. Further, a trench insulator is positioned on the substrate and is positioned between a side of the first rectangular fin structure and a side of the second rectangular fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. Anderson, Edward J. Nowak, Jed H. Rankin
  • Patent number: 8962402
    Abstract: A lateral diffusion metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) comprises a semiconductor substrate having an STI structure in a top surface of the substrate, a drift region below the STI structure, and a source region and a drain region on opposite sides of the STI structure. A gate conductor is on the substrate over a gap between the STI structure and the source region, and partially overlaps the drift region. Floating gate pieces are over the STI structure. A conformal dielectric layer is on the top surface and on the gate conductor and floating gate pieces and forms a mesa above the gate conductor and floating gate pieces. A conformal etch-stop layer is embedded within the conformal dielectric layer. A drift electrode is formed on the conformal etch-stop layer over, relative to the top surface, the drift region. The drift electrode has a variable thickness relative to the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Santosh Sharma, Yun Shi, Anthony K. Stamper
  • Patent number: 8966473
    Abstract: Computing environments within a grid computing system are dynamically built in response to specific job resource requirements from a grid resource allocator, including activating needed hardware, provisioning operating systems, application programs, and software drivers. Optimally, prior to building a computing environment for a particular job, cost/revenue analysis is performed, and if operational objectives would not be met by building the environment and executing the job, a job sell-off process is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig W. Fellenstein, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Joshy Joseph, James W. Seaman
  • Patent number: 8966213
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for granting and revoking supplemental memory allocation requests. Supplemental memory allocations of memory resources are granted to applications following initial memory allocations of the memory resources to the applications. In response to determining that available memory resources have fallen below an availability threshold, determining a weighting factor for each supplemental memory allocation based on at least one of an amount of the memory resources allocated to the supplemental memory allocation and a measured duration during which the memory resources have been allocated. At least one of the supplemental memory allocations is selected to revoke based on the determined weighting factors of the supplemental memory allocations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Logan Erdmann, David C. Reed, Thomas C. Reed, Max D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8963340
    Abstract: A preassembly semiconductor device comprises substrate soldering structures extending toward chip soldering structures for forming solder connections with the chip soldering structures, i.e., the chip and the substrate are in preassembly positions relative to one another. The height of the substrate soldering structures is greater than the height of the chip soldering structures. A pre-applied underfill is contiguous with the substrate and is sufficiently thick so as to extend substantially no further than the full height of the substrate soldering structures. In another embodiment the height of the chip soldering structures is greater than the height of the substrate soldering structures and the pre-applied underfill is contiguous with the semiconductor chip and sufficiently thick so as to extend substantially no further than the full height of the chip soldering structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Claudius Feger, Michael A. Gaynes, Jae-Woong Nah, Da-Yuan Shih
  • Patent number: 8962479
    Abstract: A metal cap is formed on an exposed upper surface of a conductive structure that is embedded within an interconnect dielectric material. During the formation of the metal cap, metallic residues simultaneously form on an exposed upper surface of the interconnect dielectric material. A thermal nitridization process or plasma nitridation process is then performed which partially or completely converts the metallic residues into nitrided metallic residues. During the nitridization process, a surface region of the interconnect dielectric material and a surface region of the metal cap also become nitrided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Stephan A. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8965867
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for measuring and utilizing media topic influence. A publically disseminated media transmission is received. Public influence of the media transmission is measured via: identifying one or more media sources used to disseminate the media transmission; and obtaining one or more predetermined influence values associated with the one or more media sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sameep Mehta, Mrinmaya Sachan, Nisanth M. Simon, L. Venkata Subramaniam
  • Patent number: 8962408
    Abstract: A self-aligned carbon nanostructure transistor is formed by a method that includes providing a material stack including a gate dielectric material having a dielectric constant of greater than silicon oxide and a sacrificial gate material. Next, a carbon nanostructure is formed on an exposed surface of the gate dielectric material. After forming the carbon nanostructure, metal semiconductor alloy portions are formed self-aligned to the material stack. The sacrificial gate material is then replaced with a conductive metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Cao, Zhengwen Li, Fei Liu, Zhen Zhang
  • Patent number: 8966068
    Abstract: In an embodiment, in response to detecting a request by a program to access a network, if the request is the first time that the program requests to access the network, a subset of instructions is replaced in the program with supervisor call instructions. The supervisor call instructions cause respective interrupts of execution of the program. In response to each of the respective interrupts of execution of the program, the supervisor call instructions that caused the respective interrupts are replaced with the respective swapped instructions, and if a number of the respective interrupts of execution exceed a trap threshold, all remaining of the respective swapped instructions are stored to the program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cary L. Bates, Lee Nee Helgeson, Justin K. King, Michelle A. Schlicht
  • Patent number: 8965845
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of proactive data object replication in named data networks. In various examples, proactive data object replication may be implemented in one or more named data networks in the form of systems, methods and/or algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Seraphin B. Calo, Raheleh B. Dilmaghani, Bong Jun Ko, Kang-Won Lee, Vasileios Pappas, Dinesh C. Verma
  • Patent number: 8965825
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to mode determination for multivariate time series data. An aspect includes determining first within-mode and first cross-mode parameters for a first number of modes, each mode comprising one or more time periods in the multivariate time series. Another aspect includes determining a first likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the first sets of within-mode parameters and first set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes determining second within-mode and second cross-mode parameters for a second number of modes. Another aspect includes determining a second likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the second sets of within-mode parameters and second set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes based on the first likelihood being higher than the second likelihood, selecting the first number of modes to model the at least one multivariate time series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Axel Hochstein
  • Patent number: 8966224
    Abstract: A parallel computer that includes compute nodes having computer processors and a CAU (Collectives Acceleration Unit) that couples processors to one another for data communications. In embodiments of the present invention, deterministic reduction operation include: organizing processors of the parallel computer and a CAU into a branched tree topology, where the CAU is a root of the branched tree topology and the processors are children of the root CAU; establishing a receive buffer that includes receive elements associated with processors and configured to store the associated processor's contribution data; receiving, in any order from the processors, each processor's contribution data; tracking receipt of each processor's contribution data; and reducing, the contribution data in a predefined order, only after receipt of contribution data from all processors in the branched tree topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Archer, Michael A. Blocksome, Joseph D. Ratterman, Brian E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8965748
    Abstract: Method, system and computer program product for estimating the overall energy efficiency of a data center over a period of time. In one embodiment, a computer processor coupled to computer readable memory is configured to receive time parameters indicating the period of time over which the overall energy efficiency of the data center is to be estimated, receive component parameters indicating the performance characteristics of data center components and the operational interactions between the data center components, simulate the operation and interaction of the data center components based, at least in part, on the component parameters for the period of time over which the energy efficiency is estimated, and output results of the simulation to estimate the overall energy efficiency of the data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8963294
    Abstract: A method, structure and alignment procedure, for forming a finFET. The method including, defining a first fin of the finFET with a first mask and defining a second fin of the finFET with a second mask. The structure including integral first and second fins of single-crystal semiconductor material and longitudinal axes of the first and second fins aligned in the same crystal direction but offset from each other. The alignment procedure including simultaneously aligning alignment marks on a gate mask to alignment targets formed separately by a first masked used to define the first fin and a second mask used to define the second fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jochen Beintner, Thomas Ludwig, Edward Joseph Nowak
  • Patent number: 8963020
    Abstract: A process of copper plating a through-hole in a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board made from such process. The process comprises: providing a printed circuit board with at least two copper interconnect lines separated by an insulator in the vertical direction; providing a through-hole in the printed circuit board in the vertical direction such that the interconnect lines provide a copper land in the through-hole; applying a seed layer to an interior surface of the through-hole; removing an outermost portion of the seed layer from the interior surface of the through-hole with a laser; applying copper on the seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Buchwalter, Russell Alan Budd
  • Patent number: 8964390
    Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating pumped immersion-cooling of electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing forming a compartment about one or more components, a supply manifold, a return manifold, and a coolant loop coupling in fluid communication the supply and return manifolds and the housing. Coolant flowing through the coolant loop flows through the compartment of the housing and at least partially immersion-cools the component(s) by flow boiling. A pump facilitates circulation of coolant within the loop, and a coolant bypass line is coupled between the supply and return manifolds. The return manifold includes a mixed-phase manifold section, and the bypass line provides coolant from the supply manifold directly to the mixed-phase manifold section. Coolant flows from the coolant bypass line into the mixed-phase manifold section in a direction counter to the direction of any coolant vapor flow within that manifold section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 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: 8966115
    Abstract: Provided is techniques for the distribution and control of digital content such that Quality of Experience (QoE) is maintained. Content is protected from when the content is encrypted to when it is used. To ensure the QoE of particular content, a content owner embeds a list of required or preferred components that must be employed to render the content. The content owner's list of required or preferred components specifies specific components “trusted” to correctly process the content. The specified chain of preferred components is compared to possible devices in the system that processes the content. If there are multiple acceptable devices for a specific link, a preference system is employed to determine the device that executed the particular part of the chain. The preference system is based upon a number of factors, such as, but not limited to, performance characteristics, user preferences, expected stability, power requirements and system preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bellwood, Robert B. Chumbley, Jacob D. Eisinger, Travis M. Grigsby, Matthew F. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8966482
    Abstract: A virtual machine management method and system is provided. The method includes receiving by a computing system, a list of virtual machines deployed within an enterprise. The computing system determines that a specified time period has elapsed during deployment and a list of resources and transactions associated with the virtual machines is retrieved. The computing system calculates a cost value and service value for deploying the virtual machines and a premium value associated with the services. The computing system determines if the premium value is within a policy for the enterprise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Charles M. Kinard
  • Patent number: 8966148
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending a request to one or more distributed fabric protocol (DFP) system members in order to retrieve one or more events from the one or more DFP system members, wherein the one or more events are received as data encapsulated in a packet(s), receiving one or more acknowledgements to the request from the one or more DFP system members at a local network switch of the DFP system master, upon receipt of the at least one packet: decoding the at least one packet to retrieve details of the one or more events using a dedicated processor of the DFP system master, creating and sending a message signaled interrupt (MSI) comprising the details of the one or more events to a local processor of the DFP system master using the dedicated processor, and reading the MSI using the local processor of the DFP system master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander P. Campbell, Keshav G. Kamble, Vijoy A. Pandey
  • Patent number: 8963620
    Abstract: Various embodiments include approaches for controlling a supply voltage or a clock frequency to an integrated circuit (IC). Various additional embodiments include circuitry for controlling a supply voltage or a clock frequency of an IC. In some cases, a method includes: locating a set of temperature sensors on bin locations in an IC; determining temperature bounds of the bin locations in the IC as a function of a determined temperature at the set of temperature sensors; determining timing constraints as a function of supply voltages at the bin locations and the determined temperature at the set of temperature sensors; and determining operational voltage bounds for the IC as a function of the determined temperature at the set of temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeanne P. S. Bickford, Eric A. Foreman, David J. Hathaway, Mark W. Kuemerle, Susan K. Lichtensteiger
  • Patent number: 8965752
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to detecting that a text string is subject to an algorithmic function that would modify one of more parts of the text string to be at least one proposed text substring for presentation via a user interface, wherein the at least one proposed text substring is a portion of the text string. Some embodiments are further directed to evaluating the at least one proposed text substring against one or more prohibited text strings prohibited for presentation via the user interface and detecting, in response to the evaluating of the at least one proposed text substring against the one or more prohibited text strings, that the at least one proposed text substring is one of the one or more prohibited text strings. Some embodiments are further directed to modifying the at least one proposed text substring, in response to detecting that the at least one proposed text substring is one of the one or more prohibited text strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Diane C. Chalmers, Nixon Cheaz, Andrew J. Ivory, David M. Stecher
  • Patent number: 8965944
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed for the generation of range-constrained test cases for verification of designs of arithmetic floating point units. Given three ranges of floating point numbers Rx, Ry, Rz, a floating point operation (op), and a rounding-mode (round), three floating point numbers x, y, z are generated such that x?Rx, y?Ry, z?Rz, and z=round ( x op y). Solutions are provided for add and subtract operations. Range constraints are imposed on the input operands and on the result operand of floating point add and subtract instructions to target corner cases when generating test cases for use in verification of floating point hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Abraham Ziv
  • Patent number: 8966458
    Abstract: A virtual machine can be extended to be aware of secondary cores and specific capabilities of the secondary cores. If a unit of platform-independent code (e.g., a function, a method, a package, a library, etc.) is more suitable to be run on a secondary core, the primary core can package the unit of platform-independent code (“code unit”) and associated data according to the ISA of the secondary core. The primary core can then offload the code unit to an interpreter associated with the secondary core to execute the code unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Asai, Andrew B. Cornwall, Rajan Raman, Akira Saitoh, Ravi Shah