Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for use with a microprocessor chip, for storing selected reliability information in an on-chip non-volatile storage device. An on-chip reliability controller coupled to one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip, collects raw reliability information from the one or more on-chip resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller analyzes the raw reliability information to identify selected reliability information for the one or more resources of the microprocessor chip. The on-chip reliability controller stores the selected reliability information in the on-chip non-volatile storage device. The on-chip non-volatile storage device stores the selected reliability information even in the event of an overall failure of the microprocessor chip in which the microprocessor chip loses power.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to locate a group of units of digital information in a volume, optical-storage disk. The apparatus includes a first optical recording layer, a second optical recording layer, and an optical disk reading sled. The first optical recording layer stores a first group of units of digital information in a distinct region of the optical disk. The second optical recording layer stores a first locator for the first group of units of digital information in substantially the same distinct region of the optical disk. A first laser in the optical disk reading sled reads the first locator stored in the second optical recording layer, which indicates the contents of the units of digital information stored in the first optical recording layer being read by a second laser, also in the optical disk reading sled.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a level shifter circuit for use in a memory array is provided that includes (1) a first voltage domain powered by a first voltage; (2) a second voltage domain powered by a second voltage; (3) level shifter circuitry that converts an input signal from the first voltage domain to the second voltage domain; and (4) isolation circuitry that selectively isolates the first voltage domain from the second voltage domain so as to selectively prevent current flow between the first voltage domain and the second voltage domain. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: The present invention includes, but is not limited to, a method, system and computer-usable medium for providing automated management of threshold crossing alarms. Transaction processing resources are selected for monitoring, followed by selecting a monitoring time interval, an initial threshold alarm level. Selections are then made regarding transaction codes to monitor, acceptable average transaction processing times, and acceptable ratio of successful transactions to unsuccessful transactions. The transaction processing resources are then monitored to count the number of transactions processed, measure the processing time for individual transactions, and capture their corresponding transaction result code. An average transaction processing time value and a successful transaction ratio processing value are generated. Comparison operations are performed. If the results of the comparison operations are acceptable, then threshold crossing alarms are then suppressed and the threshold alarm level is increased.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for processing of a series of service messages. In one embodiment, the series of service messages is formed by a plurality of service messages, and at least two server instances provide real-time processing of the service messages and store the information provided by the service messages and results obtained from processing the service messages. The method includes the steps of: determining an activity that affects real-time processing of the service messages will occur in at least one server instance of the server instances; and dispatching subsequent service messages among the service messages to other server instance(s) other than the at least one server instance, so as to ensure that said activity will not affect message processing delay.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for maintaining objects in a lookup cache is provided. A primary list is populated with a first plurality of objects. The primary list is an unordered list of the first plurality of objects. A secondary list is populated with a second plurality of objects. The secondary list is an ordered list of the second plurality of objects. Periodically, at least one object of the first plurality of objects is demoted to the secondary list, and at least one object of the second plurality of objects is promoted to the primary list.

Abstract: A method of forming a high-K gate stack for a MOSFET device to control the threshold voltage for the MOSFET device. A first high-K metallic oxide layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. At least one composite layer is then formed directly on the first layer. The composite layer is composed of a second high-K metallic oxide layer formed directly on a dipole induction layer. The dipole induction layer includes a high-K metallic oxide having higher oxygen vacancy affinity and lower oxygen vacancy diffusivity than the first and second layers. A metallic gate electrode is then formed on the composite layer. Formation of the various layers is such as to position the dipole induction layer of the composite layer between the gate electrode and substrate so as to shift the threshold voltage to a desired level. A high-K gate stack in a MOSFET device formed by the above method is also provided.

Abstract: A string handling method, program, and information processing apparatus capable of reducing the amount of data stored in a storage. An information processing apparatus handles strings. The information processing apparatus includes a storage storing a group of strings including a plurality of strings each of which consists of a plurality of pieces of character data, a reference section which refers to a particular string in the group of strings, a character data detecting section which detects character data that is not referenced as the particular string in the group of strings, and a character data deleting section which deletes the detected character data from the group of strings.

Abstract: A distributed data processing system includes: (1) a first node with a processor, a first memory, and asynchronous memory mover logic; and connection mechanism that connects (2) a second node having a second memory. The processor includes processing logic for completing a cross-node asynchronous memory move (AMM) operation, wherein the processor performs a move of data in virtual address space from a first effective address to a second effective address, and the asynchronous memory mover logic completes a physical move of the data from a first memory location in the first memory having a first real address to a second memory location in the second memory having a second real address. The data is transmitted via the connection mechanism connecting the two nodes independent of the processor.

Abstract: A communication session is established between a first device and a second device. A message is transmitted from the first device to the second device. In response to the second device failing to actively respond to the message, the first device terminates the communication session with the second device.

Abstract: A method for protecting the integrity of a set of memory pages to be accessed by an operating system of a data processing system, includes running the operating system in a virtual machine (VM) of the data processing system; verifying the integrity of the set of memory pages on loading of pages in the set to a memory of the data processing system for access by the operating system; in response to verification of the integrity, designating the set of memory pages as trusted pages and, in a page table to be used by the operating system during the access, marking non-trusted pages as paged; and in response to a subsequent page fault interrupt for a non-trusted page, remapping the set of pages to a region of the data processing system memory which is inaccessible to the virtual machine.

Abstract: A method of making a nanoparticle array that includes replicating a dimension of a self-assembled film into a dielectric film, to form a porous dielectric film, conformally depositing a material over said porous dielectric film, and anisotropically and selectively etching said deposited material.

Abstract: A method of preventing surface decomposition of a III-V compound semiconductor is provided. The method includes forming a silicon film having a thickness from 10 ? to 400 ? on a surface of an III-V compound semiconductor. After forming the silicon film onto the surface of the III-V compound semiconductor, a high performance semiconductor device including, for example, a MOSFET, can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor. During the MOSFET fabrication, a high k dielectric can be formed on the capped/passivated III-V compound semiconductor and thereafter, activated source and drain regions can be formed into the III-V compound semiconductor.

Abstract: A method and a system for allowing a guest operating system (guest OS) to modify an entry in a TLB directly without an involvement of a hypervisor are disclosed. Upon receiving a guest TLB miss exception, a guest OS issues a TLBWE (TLB Write Entry) instruction to logic. The logic executes the TLBWE instruction at a supervisor mode without invoking a hypervisor. The TLB may incorporate entries in a guest page table and entries in a host page table.

Abstract: A storage medium for resolving demand and supply imbalances is provided. The storage medium includes machine-readable computer program code and instructions for causing a computer to implement a method. The method includes identifying an excess component inventory liability or constraint in supply capability for an end product by matching current buying patterns for the end product against inventory liability and supply capability based on a previous demand forecast. Where excess component inventory liability exists, the method includes: refocusing the excess component inventory liability by determining alternative end products that use components identified in the excess component inventory liability; and executing sales activities for enticing sales of the alternative end products.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention allow structured data to be transferred between a source application and a target application that process structured data in different formats. For example, structured data may have a set of associated rules which transform the structured data based on a set of variables. The source application may register variable definitions for each of the variables in a registry. The target application may read the registry and register values for each of the rule variables. Once values are registered for the variables, the source application may transfer the structured data to a transformation engine that applies the rules, using the registered values for the variables, to transform the structured data into a format compatible with the target application. In doing so, the transformation engine can generate a document in any format compatible with the target application and subsequently transfer the generated document to the target application.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for IP assessment based on a component business model (CBM). The method assesses components in the CBM via a component assessment module, which interrogates an entity (e.g., a user, a third party consultant, and an information database) with questions. Output (including answers to the questions) from the component assessment module is sent to a component detection module. Scores (e.g., numerical scores and/or low, medium, or high scores) are assigned to the components via the component detection module based on the output from the component assessment module. The output from the component assessment module and/or the scores are analyzed to determine whether a gap, a duplication, a conflict, and/or an over-investment exists in at least one of the components.

Abstract: A method displays a Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagram on a graphic user interface. The UML diagram can have, for example, nodes representing objects of an object-oriented system. Further, input is received regarding the location of a user-directed pointer on the UML diagram. The location of the pointer identifies a currently “selected node” of the UML diagram. In response to such input, the method dynamically highlights portions of the UML diagram depending on the location of the selected node. This highlighting process dynamically alters the appearances of nodes logically related to the selected node by highlighting nodes that are relatively closely related to the selected node differently (e.g., more brightly) than nodes that are not as relatively closely related to the selected node.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal oxide nanostructure comprises disposing a chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor on a solvent-soluble template to form a first structure comprising a deformable chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor layer; setting the deformable chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor layer to form a second structure comprising a set metal oxide precursor layer; dissolving the solvent-soluble template with a solvent to form a third structure comprising the set metal oxide precursor layer; and thermally treating the third structure to form the metal oxide nanostructure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transactional processing within a clustered file system wherein user defined transactions operate on data segments of the file system data. The users are provided within an interface for using a transactional mechanism, namely services for opening, writing and rolling-back transactions. A distributed shared memory technology is utilized to facilitate efficient and coherent cache management within the clustered file system based on the granularity of data segments (rather than files).

Abstract: An optical communication serial interface is employed to power up a device from a powered down state to a powered on state. An optical receiver element receives serial optical signals transmitted by at least one optical fiber and converts the received serial optical signals to electrical signals. A low level reception converter detects and decodes the electrical signals to provide data and control words from detected and decoded normal electrical signals for a high level command processor. A power supply maintains low level power to at least the optical receiver element and the low level reception converter of the optical communication serial interface while the device is in the powered down state. The low level reception converter detects a particular abnormal sequence of electrical signals; and in response to detecting the particular abnormal sequence of electrical signals, asserts a control signal to power up the device controllable power supply.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing service requests from a common database in a multiple dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server environment. A DHCP authorization cache is provided to implement synchronized access for the multiple DHCP servers to the common database. The DHCP authorization cache includes a plurality of elements, each element for storing a plurality of entries including a client identifier, an ISCSI DHCP router pointer, an ISCSI DHCP router pointer alternate, and a timestamp and the DHCP authorization cache includes an entry pointer initially set to zero.

Abstract: A method that provides for dynamic loop transfer for a method having a first set of instructions being executed by an interpreter is provided. An execution stack includes slots for storing a value of each local variable known to each subroutine while the subroutine is active.

Abstract: Reducing current draw of solid state drives from a shared power supply of a computer at computer startup, each SSD including computer memory, a capacitor, a disk controller, and a charge controller, the disk controller configured to enable the charge controller to charge the capacitor upon receiving a charge command, the SSDs organized into startup groups characterized by a position in a predefined startup order. Upon startup of the computer, beginning with a first startup group in the predefined startup order and until the last startup group in the predefined startup order has received a charge command, embodiments include, sending, by a storage device initiator, a charge command to a startup group to initiate charging of the capacitor of each solid state drive in the startup group and waiting a predefined period of time before sending another charge command to a next startup group in the predefined startup order.

Abstract: A method of statistical analysis is based on an accelerated degradation model for estimating the failure rate from a set of accelerated life data (e.g. stress, humidity, temperature, voltage, resistance, vibration, etc.). The method re-samples randomly distributed data and organizes it into subsets that may be ordered. The maximum is found for each subset. From the maximums a parametric LEV distribution is determined. Maximum Likelihood Estimation methods may be used to find the parameters employed in the determined LEV distribution. The failure rate is calculated using the determined LEV distribution of the sample maximums.

Abstract: When creating exhaustive, affected lists within a request scope, any legal risk due to failure to identify or leverage existing knowledge of a company about custody of evidence related to a legal matter is minimized. Accurate affected lists are constructed for an ongoing or impending litigation. Affected people, systems, or record types are included at first, and the list is modified over time once their exact association to the litigation context is clarified (new ones are added, not required are removed). Automation of data capture eliminates the risk of human error during data entry. Conflict resolution is applied when the same person, system, or record type is identified in the request scope, as part of multiple affiliations and associations. Overlapping lists are automatically merged to enable simple and efficient processing, without having to cull different lists. Affected elements in the request scope that could otherwise be missed are tracked and added.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product that determine a density of a key value referenced in a database query over at least one range of rows, and utilize the determined density to optimize the database query. By doing so, the density of various key values may be determined and compared, and a bit map may be generated over the range of rows of the key value that is denser, resulting in a reduction of resources to build and use the bit map. Moreover, from the bit map over the range of rows to be selected after using the determined density, dense regions may be identified that can be used to optimize block I/O's according to the number of rows to be selected based on the query.

Abstract: A system and method to manage a survey for a community development asset. The system includes a response repository, a sampler, a respondent profile filter, and an inference generator. The response repository stores a plurality of survey responses from survey respondents about a community development asset. The sampler selects a sample response of the plurality of survey responses. The sample response corresponds to an identified respondent. The respondent profile filter identifies a community with which the identified respondent is associated. The inference generator infers a similar response from the community associated with the identified respondent based on the sample response of the identified respondent.

Abstract: A method of forming bit line aligned to a phase change material that includes forming a pedestal of a sacrificial material on a portion of a lower electrode and forming at least one dielectric material adjacent to the sacrificial material, wherein the at least one dielectric material has an upper surface substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the pedestal of the sacrificial material. The pedestal of the sacrificial material is removed selective to the at least one dielectric material and the lower electrode to provide an opening to an exposed surface of the lower electrode. A phase change material is formed on the exposed surface of the lower electrode, and the opening is filled with a conductive fill material. A self-aligned etch back process is also provided.

Abstract: A Virtual Machine (VM) is created utilizing a virtual Operating System (OS) disk and virtual application disks, each of which may be from disparate third party suppliers. One or more files in the virtual application disk are then linked to a specific file system location (node) in the virtual OS disk.

Abstract: A high-resolution magnetic encoder system includes a magnetic resistive sensor, a fixed suspension, and a mechanism. The magnetic resistive sensor is mounted to the fixed suspension above a magnetic medium having at least one magnetic track. The fixed suspension is attached to the mechanism, such as a housing, a substrate, and/or an electronic board. The sensor is adapted to perform a relative movement with respect to and in close contact to the surface of the magnetic medium. The magnetic medium may be protected by an overcoat layer. The magnetic resistive sensor may be Giant Magnetic-Resistive (GMR) sensor and/or a Tunneling Magnetic-Resistive Sensor (TMR).

Abstract: A method, computer-readable medium, and an apparatus for generating a transcendental value. The method includes receiving an input containing an input value and an opcode and determining whether the opcode corresponds to a trigonometric operation or a power-of-two operation. The method also includes calculating a fractional value and an integer value from the input value, generating the transcendental value based on the fractional value by adding at least a portion of the fractional value with at least one of a shifted fractional value produced by shifting the portion of the fractional value and a constant value, and providing the transcendental value in response to the request. In this fashion, the same circuit area may be used to carry out both trigonometric and power-of-two calculations, leading to greater circuit area savings and performance advantages while not sacrificing significant accuracy.

Abstract: A data storage system includes an encoder subsystem comprising an error correction code encoder, a modulation encoder, and a precoder, and a decoder subsystem similarly comprising a detector, an inverse precoder, a channel decoder, and an error correction code decoder. The error correction encoder applies an error correction code to the incoming user bit stream, and the modulation encoder applies so-called modulation or constrained coding to the error correction coded bit stream. The precoder applies so-called preceding to the modulation encoded bit stream. However, this preceding is applied to selected portions of the bit stream only. There can also be a permutation step where the bit sequence is permuted after the modulation encoder before preceding is applied by the precoder. The decoder subsystem operates in the inverse manner.

Abstract: A request for a partial update of web content is received that identifies at least one web content element associated with the web content. An update is requested for the identified at least one web content element from a content server. The partial update of the web content is performed in response to receipt of the update for the identified at least one web content element from the content server. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: Semiconductor device circuits and methods are provided for adjusting core processor performance based on usage metrics. Metric detection and adjustment are performed in digital logic hardware guided by registers providing maximum and minimum frequency settings, without intervening input from system software or firmware, thus greatly speeding the processor performance adjustment. Power-performance drivers provide applications or the operating system ability to specify maximum and minimum frequency requirements.

Abstract: A method of knowledge sharing using a computer system is provided. The method includes: receiving a question electronically submitted by a user; forwarding the question and at least one response option to at least one expert using a first computer interface; monitoring selected response options from the at least one expert; and selectively presenting the selected response options to the user using a second computer interface.

Abstract: The drive for multi-tasking and/or availability of numerous applications can interfere with productivity. Constant interruptions from email and real-time online communication can lead to decreased productivity. In addition, attempting to tackle a massive number of different projects with different applications can impede progress on any one of the projects. Functionality can be implemented in a workspace to focus interaction with one or more applications in the workspace. Focused interaction allows a user to limit distractions (e.g., email notifications, instant message notifications, etc) and restrict activities not related to his or her current task.

Abstract: Systems and methods enabling search of a repository for the location of data that is similar to input data, using a defined measure of similarity, in a time that is independent of the size of the repository and linear in a size of the input data, and a space that is proportional to a small fraction of the size of the repository. The similar data segments thus located are further analyzed to determine their common (identical) data sections, regardless of the order and position of the common data sections in the repository and input, and in a time that is linear in the segment size and in constant space.

Abstract: A method and system of predicting a maintenance schedule and estimating a cost for warranty service of systems, for example, hardware systems, is provided. The method and system in one aspect may collect component usage data and obtain component reliability data for each of the plurality of components. A component life distribution module (CLDM) may be constructed based on the real time component usage data and the component reliability data, and from CLDM a mean time to fail data may be obtained. A system life distribution model (SLDM) may be selected and the mean time to fail data input into the SLDM to obtain an operating environment index that represents the effect of environment conditions on the lifetime and reliability. A maintenance schedule may be predicted and an adjusted cost of warranty service may be calculated based on the operating environment index for each of the plurality of components.

Abstract: A method is provided for a first logical processor to determine a running status of a target logical processor of an information processing system. In such method, an instruction is issued by the first logical processor running on the information processing system for determining whether the target logical processor is running. In response to issuing the instruction, a state descriptor belonging to the target logical processor is queried to determine whether the target logical processor is currently running. A result is then returned to the first logical processor, the result indicating whether or not the target logical processor is currently running.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for estimating, refining, and using the tare mass for an item to determine and monitor item depletion. In response to detecting an initial presence of an item in the storage unit, a controller collects data about the item. The controller then searches a database for a recorded item containing the same item identification. The tare mass of the item is set equal to the refined tare mass of the recorded item retrieved from the database. The tare mass is then used to calculate a depletion threshold for the item.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for efficiently using disk space when unarchiving files in the same file system. An archive file is read to identify a total number of data files in the archive file. The number of headers in the archive file is determined based on the total number of data files. A location in a first disk space of a largest data file in the archive file is determined from an offset in a header corresponding to the largest data file. The largest data file is then copied from the first disk space to a second disk space. The first disk space occupied by the largest data file is then released by truncating the archive file. The obtaining, copying, and releasing steps are repeated for each data file in the archive file until all of the data files are unarchived.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer program product for implementing a business systems management solution for end-to-end event management. The present invention realizes a number of business systems management functionalities, including defining event databases and means for event monitoring and correlating a customer's business functions by using an enterprise view focused on a system of applications, operating systems, connections, and physical components. Together these components make up a business system as defined by the customer. As such, a business system can cross technology platforms, physical space, and comprise multiple applications, or a business system could be limited to a single platform, location, and application.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying solder to semiconductor chips is provided that employs a plurality of apertured decals to define areas for engaging solder on a semiconductor chip. Each of the plurality of decals includes an upper, center and bottom layer having apertures present therethrough. The apparatus fills the apertures with solder. The upper and bottom layers of the apertured decals are removed to provide solder portions projecting from the center layer. The apparatus provides a station for applying an adhesive layer to the exposed surfaces of the center layer having the solder portions projecting therefrom. The apparatus includes a station for contacting the solder and adhesive to the semiconductor chip. The apparatus also includes a separating structure for detaching the portion of the center layer that is in contacting to the semiconductor chip through the solder.

Abstract: A system and method for using product profiling to maximize load capacity of a vehicle. The method includes defining product profiles and retrieving product information associated with the product profiles. The method further includes performing cubing operations for products associated with the product information. The system includes components to perform the method steps.

Abstract: A method for performing garbage collection on an object heap is described. In one embodiment, such a method includes performing a copy phase on an object heap by copying live objects from a source space to a destination space. An abort condition is generated when copying an object from the source space to the destination space fails due to insufficient space. In response to the abort condition, tracing work and reference updating associated with the copy phase are terminated. A mark phase is then initiated that marks live objects in the source space. This mark phase resumes tracing work and reference updating terminated by the copy phase in order to avoid or minimize the repetition of work performed by the copy phase. A corresponding computer program product and system are also described.

Abstract: Reducing application downtime during failover including identifying a critical line in the startup of an application, the critical line comprising the point in the startup of the application in which the application begins to use dependent resources; checkpointing the application at the critical line of startup; identifying a failure in the application; and restarting the application from the checkpointed application at the critical line.

Abstract: A horizontal heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) includes doped single crystalline Ge having a doping of the first conductivity type as the base having an energy bandgap of about 0.66 eV, and doped polysilicon having a doping of a second conductivity type as a wide-gap-emitter having an energy bandgap of about 1.12 eV. In one embodiment, doped polysilicon having a doping of the second conductivity type is employed as the collector. In other embodiments, a single crystalline Ge having a doping of the second conductivity type is employed as the collector. In such embodiments, because the base and the collector include the same semiconductor material, i.e., Ge, having the same lattice constant, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the collector and the base. In both embodiments, because the emitter is polycrystalline and the base is single crystalline, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the base and the emitter.

Abstract: A method to match an autonomic manager with a manageable resource may include using a management style profile to match the autonomic manager with the manageable resource. The method may also include validating that the autonomic manager can manage the manageable resource using a defined management style of the autonomic manager.

Abstract: A method for dynamic consistency group formation, in one embodiment, includes creating a snapshot of first data stored on a source storage system with respect to data content and data structure, copying the snapshot to a target storage system, detecting one or more write operations affecting data on the source storage system while copying the first data, detecting one or more collisions affecting the first data on the source storage system, wherein a collision occurs whenever the write operations affect the first data prior to the first data being written, setting a consistency group interval which represents an interval duration between successive snapshot create-and-copy events, and altering the consistency group interval to minimize collisions affecting data on at least one of the storage systems. Other methods for dynamic consistency group formation are also described.