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: 8171282
    Abstract: An encryption method encrypts a clear text twice using a first encryption engine to produce a first cipher text and a second encryption engine to produce a second cipher text. The method compares the first cipher text with the second cipher text, or compares a checksum of the first cipher text with a checksum of the second cipher text. If the comparison succeeds, the method transmits the data. In some embodiments, the method uses a first instance of an encryption key to produce the first cipher text and a second instance of the encryption key to produce the second cipher text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Amann, Gerhard Banzhaf, Kenneth W. Boyd, Daniel F. Casper, John R. Flanagan, Jeffrey W. Palm, Harry M. Yudenfriend
  • Patent number: 8169736
    Abstract: A method to position a head module, where the head module comprises at least one servo element and a plurality of data elements, where the servo element and each of the plurality of data elements can detect a servo signal, wherein the method includes moving a sequential information storage medium having a servo band encoded therein across the head module and detecting the servo band using the at least one servo element or any one of the plurality of data elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan Xuan Bui, Giovanni Cherubini, Robert Allen Hutchins, Jens Jelitto, Kazuhiro Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 8171499
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for object clone event notification. The apparatus is provided with a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of detecting an event on a primary software object, referencing a set of clones of the primary software object, and notifying one or more clones in the set of clones of the event in response to the event. The event may include events occurring on the primary software object, or events occurring on a software object monitored by the primary software object. These modules in the described embodiments include a detection module, a reference module, and a notification module. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would notify object clones of changes within the software system without requiring resource intensive broadcasts or implementation of a separate notification manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corville O. Allen, Suraksha Vidyarthi
  • Patent number: 8171458
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a source-related risk and generating an alert concerning the source-related risk are disclosed. Criteria of the source-related risk are defined. Thresholds associated with the source-related risk are defined. Every operation on an object is detected. If an operation on an object satisfies a criterion among the criteria or if the operation causes to exceed a threshold among the thresholds, an alert is generated for the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ping Cheng, Ya Bin Dang, Lin Luo, Peter K. Malkin, Vadakkedathu T. Rajan, Yuan Yuan
  • Patent number: 8171018
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a system for processing database queries, and more particularly to a method for generating high level language or machine code to implement query execution plans. In one preferred embodiment, the method begins by receiving a subject query, and then forming an execution plan corresponding to the subject query. The execution plan will typically have a sequence of component snippets or pieces and corresponding processes for implementing the pieces. For at least one piece in the plan, the process then (a) generates source code using different code generation techniques as a function of expected runtime processing machine types; and then (b) compiles the generated source code to form machine executable code for implementing the subject query. As a result, the query executed directly as machine executable code thereby avoiding runtime interpretation of the pieces in the execution plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: IBM International Group B.V.
    Inventors: Barry M. Zane, James P. Ballard, Foster D. Hinshaw, Premanand Yerabothu
  • Patent number: 8168109
    Abstract: Coating compositions suitable for UV imprint lithographic applications include at least one vinyl ether crosslinker having at least two vinyl ether groups; at least one diluent comprising a monofunctional vinyl ether compound; at least one photoacid generator soluble in a selected one or both of the at least one monofunctional vinyl ether compound and the at least one vinyl ether crosslinker having the at least two vinyl ether groups; and at least one stabilizer comprising an ester compound selectively substituted with a substituent at an ester position or an alpha and the ester positions. Also disclosed are imprint processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Frances A. Houle, Sally A. Swanson, Taiichi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8170989
    Abstract: The present invention embodiments pertain to managing and exchanging documents. A descriptor is added to an original document, wherein the descriptor includes at least one document identifier representing a logical subject of the document. Modifications to a document being sent or received are identified based on comparing the descriptor of the sent or received document and the descriptor of the original document. The modifications are introduced into the original document to become a single master document of consolidated information relating to the same logical subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Bildhaeuser, Andreas Limmer
  • Patent number: 8171408
    Abstract: An approach is provided for dynamic loading and rendering of avatar's initial login environment. The approach consists of a method and a system for dynamically rendering locations from a preference list of locations most likely to be visited by an avatar. In one embodiment the method consists of creating a preference list of locations most likely to be visited by the avatar, rendering a dynamically built continuous environment populated from such preference list of locations most likely to be visited by the avatar, and caching and thereafter rendering at least one of the locations from the preference list of locations most likely to be visited by said avatar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dawson, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Clifford A. Pickover, James W. Seaman
  • Patent number: 8171088
    Abstract: An electronic communication is sent from a first tier sender to a first tier of one or more recipients. A first tier recipient propagates the communication to a second tier of one or more recipients. The first tier sender determines that the communication includes an incorrect identity. The first tier sender notifies the first tier recipients of the error and of the corrected identity. Responsive thereto, the first tier recipients send corrections to selected second tier recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Murphy, Jr., Francis A. Pflug
  • Patent number: 8169077
    Abstract: Dielectric interconnect structures and methods for forming the same are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides a dielectric interconnect structure having a noble metal layer (e.g., Ru, Ir, Rh, Pt, RuTa, and alloys of Ru, Ir, Rh, Pt, and RuTa) that is formed directly on a modified dielectric surface. In a typical embodiment, the modified dielectric surface is created by treating an exposed dielectric layer of the interconnect structure with a gaseous ion plasma (e.g., Ar, He, Ne, Xe, N2, H2, NH3, and N2H2). Under the present invention, the noble metal layer could be formed directly on an optional glue layer that is maintained only on vertical surfaces of any trench or via formed in the exposed dielectric layer. In addition, the noble metal layer may or may not be provided along an interface between the via and an internal metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chao Yang, Louis C. Hsu, Rajiv V. Joshi
  • Patent number: 8171395
    Abstract: A method for interfacing with an XML (Extensible Markup Language) parser generator to generate deserialization information interleaved with XML parsing and validation, including: providing an XML parser generator with information about the schema which the instance data conforms to; providing a data reporting application programming interface (API) and a generator module; providing one or more implementations of the data reporting API; providing the XML parser generator with a selected data reporting API implementation module; generating an XML parser to parse and validate instance documents conforming to the specified input schema and deserializing the instance documents into the desired deserialization format during the parse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Margaret Gaitatzes Kostoulas, Moshe E. Matsa, Martha A. Mercaldi, Eric Perkins
  • Patent number: 8170580
    Abstract: A location based system is provided is configured to provide messages to a recipient based on time and location based information. The a method includes detecting when a mobile user has crossed within a predefined geo-boundary. The method further includes sending a message to the mobile user when the mobile user has crossed within the predefined geo-boundary during a predetermined time period set by an originator of the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Dingler, Pramodh D. Narayan, Sri Ramanathan, Michael J. Singer, Matthew A. Terry, Matthew B. Trevathan
  • Patent number: 8171407
    Abstract: Generating popularity ratings for virtual world artifacts based on how often and in what manner avatars access the artifacts is provided. The popularity ratings for virtual world artifacts may be used to determine what virtual world artifacts are selected to have a prominent presence in a virtual world. When an event caused by an avatar accessing a virtual world artifact in a virtual world is detected, the illustrative embodiments receive information about the event, such as the event type, the avatar identifier (ID), and the time the event occurred. The illustrative embodiments generate a rating score for the virtual world artifact based on the information received about the event. The illustrative embodiments update a rendering of the virtual world artifact in the virtual world based on the rating score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yunwu Huang, Jalal Uddin Mahmud, Roger Alan Pollak, John J. Ponzo
  • Patent number: 8169031
    Abstract: A contact structure is disclosed in which a continuous metal semiconductor alloy is located within a via contained within a dielectric material. The continuous semiconductor metal alloy is in direct contact with an upper metal line of a first metal level located atop the continuous semiconductor metal alloy and at least a surface of each source and drain diffusion region located beneath the continuous metal semiconductor alloy. The continuous metal semiconductor alloy can be derived from either a semiconductor nanowire or an epitaxial grown semiconductor material. The continuous metal semiconductor alloy includes a lower portion that is contained within an upper surface of each source and drain region, and a vertical pillar portion extending upward from the lower portion. The lower portion of the continuous metal semiconductor alloy and the vertical pillar portion are not separated by a material interface. Instead, the two portions of the continuous metal semiconductor alloy are of unitary construction, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guy M. Cohen, Christos D. Dimitrakopoulos, Alfred Grill
  • Patent number: 8170845
    Abstract: A method for modeling performance of an information technology system having one or more servers for serving a number of types of transactions includes modeling a service time of each transaction type at each server and a processor overhead at each server as one of a polynomial, exponential, or logarithmic function of the average arrival rate of each transaction type at the corresponding server to generate service time and processor overhead functions and inferring optimal values of coefficients in the service time and processor overhead functions to generate a performance model of the information technology system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dinesh Kumar, Li Zhang
  • Patent number: 8171451
    Abstract: A report web service system comprises a web service interface, a report service manager, and a Web Services Description Language (WSDL) generator. The web service interface receives from a Client Application a request for a web service definition for a report as a web service, and transports to the client application the requested web service definition. The report service manager converts definitions of one or more objects in a report definition in a report store that corresponds to the requested report into web service definitions, and generates an object model based on the web service definitions to reflect a structure of the objects of the report. The WSDL generator generates a WSDL definition for the web service based on the object model. When a report as defined in the WSDL definition is rendered, a selector selects relevant objects from a generalized model of the rendered results based on information in the WSDL definition, and a representation formatter formats representation of the relevant objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Boland, Wade Williams, Wayne Salter
  • Patent number: 8171014
    Abstract: A method for executing a distributed spatial data query. The present invention allows a client to perform spatial queries against spatial data stored in a various formats in various separate databases. A view of the data is created in the relevant databases, wherein the spatial data is converted to WKB and stored as a BLOB. A federated server contains nicknames for the various database views, and also contains views of the data where the BLOB is converted back to a spatial data type. The federated server presents to clients an application view of the distributed heterogeneous spatial data such that the clients can treat the data as if it were a homogenous data source. Also taught is incorporating distributed non-spatial data into the application view by creating a nickname and a view on top of the nickname which derives spatial information from the non-spatial location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Adler, Fain Butt, Alvin K. Cho, Tian Zhang
  • Patent number: 8168449
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) includes forming a mask over a magnetic layer; forming a template on the mask; applying a diblock copolymer to the template; curing the diblock copolymer to form a first plurality of uniform shapes registered to the template; etching the mask to form a second plurality of uniform shapes; and etching the magnetic layer to form a third plurality of uniform shapes, the third plurality of uniform shapes comprising a plurality of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). A diblock copolymer mask for fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) includes a magnetic layer; a mask formed on the magnetic layer; a template formed on the mask; and a diblock copolymer mask comprising a plurality of uniform shapes formed on and registered to the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Gaidis
  • Patent number: 8171339
    Abstract: Provided are a method, apparatus, and computer program product for testing a virtualized storage system. Data defining one or more configuration features of the virtualized storage system is received. Also received is a set of one or more predetermined rules defining interpretation of the disk exercising commands, the interpretation being dependent on one or more of the configuration features. A first disk exercising command is received. The first disk exercising command is interpreted in accordance with one of the predetermined rules to produce a second disk exercising command. The second disk exercising command is sent to the virtualized storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Eccles, Cameron James Mcallister, Hedley Proctor
  • Patent number: 8168971
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing and more particularly to a CMOS device with at least one embedded SiGe layer in the source/drain region of the PFET, and at least one embedded SiGe layer in the channel region of the NFET. In one embodiment, the structure of the invention enhances the electron mobility in the NFET device, and further enhances the hole mobility in the PFET device. Additionally, by using the fabrication methods and hence achieving the final structure of the invention, it is also possible to construct a PFET and NFET each with embedded SiGe layers on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dureseti Chidambarrao, Anda C. Mocuta, Dan M. Mocuta, Carl Radens
  • Patent number: 8169055
    Abstract: At least one through-substrate via is formed around the periphery of a semiconductor chip or a semiconductor chiplet included in a semiconductor chip. The at least one through-substrate via may be a single through-substrate via that laterally surrounds the semiconductor chip or the semiconductor chiplet, or may comprise a plurality of through-substrate vias that surrounds the periphery with at least one gap among the through-substrate vias. A stack of back-end-of-line (BEOL) metal structures that laterally surrounds the semiconductor chip or the semiconductor chiplet are formed directly on the substrate contact vias and electrically connected to the at least one through-substrate via. A metallic layer is formed on the backside of the semiconductor substrate including the at least one through-substrate via. The conductive structure including the metallic layer, the at least one through-substrate via, and the stack of the BEOL metal structures function as an electrical ground built into the semiconductor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Gillis, Wan Ni
  • Patent number: 8171116
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for configuring different computers of a network. Each computer plays a specific physic role (defined by an architecture of the network) and/or a specific logic role (defined by the applications running in the network). A reference model and a transition table are associated with each product to be installed in the network; the reference model specifies a target configuration for each role (defined by the components of the product to be installed), while the transition table specifies the actions required to reach each target configuration from each current configuration of the computers. A server identifies the role and the current configuration of each computer; the actions required to enforce the desired target configuration on the computer are then established and executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Luigi Pichetti, Antonio Secomandi, Roberto Ranucci, Claudio Marinelli, Francesco Lupini
  • Patent number: 8169025
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and fabrication method include a strained semiconductor layer having a strain in one axis. A long fin and a short fin are formed in the semiconductor layer such that the long fin has a strained length along the one axis. An n-type transistor is formed on the long fin, and a p-type transistor is formed on the at least one short fin. The strain in the n-type transistor improves performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Kangguo Cheng, Bruce B. Doris, Ali Khakifirooz, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi
  • Patent number: 8171377
    Abstract: A system to improve memory reliability in computer systems that may include memory chips, and may rely on a error control encoder to send codeword symbols for storage in each of the memory chips. At least two symbols from a codeword are assigned to each memory chip and therefore failure of any of the memory chips could affect two symbols or more. The system may also include a table to record failures and partial failures of the codeword symbols for each of the memory chips so the error control encoder can correct subsequent partial failures based upon the previous partial failures. The error control coder is capable of correcting and/or detecting more errors if only a fraction of a chip is noted in the table as having a failure as opposed to a full chip noted as having a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Barry M. Trager, Shmuel Winograd
  • Patent number: 8171068
    Abstract: A method of generating a set of unique pseudorandom N-digit base-B integers includes the steps of selecting an integer A, wherein A is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or less than BN?1, and adding to integer A an integer P, modulus BN, wherein P is equal to or greater than 0 and equal to or less than BN?1, and wherein P and N are relatively prime, to obtain a first element of the set. The method generates a second element of the set by adding P to the first element, modulus BN. The method generates the complete set of unique pseudorandom N-digit base-B integers by repeating the process BN times. Elements of the set may be used to populate a data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Brand L. Hunt
  • Patent number: 8171501
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for managing a plurality of applications in a computer cluster. Each application is able to run on a particular node in the cluster. In one embodiment, associations are maintained among a plurality of modes and the plurality of applications, with each application being associated with at least one mode. Responsive to designation of at least one mode as active for the cluster, each application that is associated with an active mode is flagged as eligible for activation, each inactive application that is not associated with any active mode is flagged as ineligible for activation, and each active application that is not associated with any active mode is flagged as ineligible for activation and inactivated. Flagging as eligible, flagging as ineligible and flagging as ineligible and inactivating may be performed in any order, and inactivating is sequenced according to dependencies among the applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Paul Clarke
  • Patent number: 8171454
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for programming software components that treats software components as the basic unit of abstraction and computation. A software component is encapsulated and classes and other program entities, such as data fields and methods, within a given component do not exist beyond a component boundary. A component interacts with other components only by means of a defined set of input and output ports. A component can inherit and implement ports declared in a template and can declare and implement new ports. A component can only access the external environment through its output ports. An output port of one component can only be connected to a conforming input port of another component. A connect statement is an explicit plumbing operation for connecting components together. Interactions between components are loosely coupled. A related set of templates can be grouped together to form a group. Groups are useful for implementing implicit invocation and multicasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Vugranam C. Sreedhar
  • Patent number: 8171473
    Abstract: The service assignment tool analyzes a service to determine whether the service can execute on a cluster. If the service cannot execute on a cluster, the service is assigned to a single virtual machine. The service assignment tool identifies non-cluster friendly services by performing a static analysis on the bytecode of the service. The bytecode of the service is analyzed by comparing each segment of bytecode to a list of known good and bad coding conventions. If each segment of bytecode in a service meets the good coding convention criteria, then the service is cluster friendly. If one segment of bytecode does not meet the good coding convention criteria, then the entire service is considered to be not cluster friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew David Lavin
  • Patent number: 8169882
    Abstract: A composition of matter for the recording medium of nanometer scale thermo-mechanical information storage devices and a nanometer scale thermo-mechanical information storage device. The composition includes: one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers, each of the one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers comprising (a) a first monomer including an aryl ether ketone and (b) a second monomer including an aryl ether ketone and a first phenylethynyl moiety, each of the one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers having two terminal ends, each terminal end having a phenylethynyl moiety the same as or different from the first phenylethynyl moiety. The one or more polyaryletherketone copolymers are thermally cured and the resulting cross-linked polyaryletherketone resin used as the recording layer in an atomic force data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Anthony DiPietro, Urs T. Duerig, Jane Elizabeth Frommer, Bernd Walter Gotsmann, Erik Christopher Hagberg, James Lupton Hedrick, Armin W. Knoll, Teddie Peregrino Magbitang, Robert Dennis Miller, Russell Clayton Pratt, Charles-Gordon Wade
  • Patent number: 8168474
    Abstract: Systems and methods simultaneously form first openings and second openings in a substrate. The first openings are formed smaller than the second openings. The method also simultaneously forms a first material in the first openings and the second openings. The first material fills the first openings, and the first material lines the second openings. The method forms a second material different than the first material in the second openings. The second material fills the second openings. The method forms a plurality of integrated circuit structures over the first material and the second material within the second openings. The method applies mechanical stress to the substrate to cause the substrate to split along the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, Panglijen Candra, Thomas J. Dunbar, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Mark D. Jaffe, Robert K. Leidy, Yen L. Lim
  • Patent number: 8171104
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for scheduling and searching meetings in a network environment. A form is transmitted over a network to be rendered at an organizer computer to enable entry of information on a meeting. The form is received having organizer entered information on one meeting. The information in the received form is stored in a meeting database, wherein the stored information from the received form is associated with the meeting identified in the received form. A user computer accessed by a user is enabled to register for at least one selected meeting. An email database accessed by the user is updated automatically to include information on the at least one selected meeting indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaoying Qi
  • Patent number: 8168451
    Abstract: Inspection methods. A method includes adhering an optical blocking layer directly onto and in direct mechanical contact with a semiconductor process wafer, the blocking layer being substantially opaque to a range of wavelengths of light; applying at least one layer over the blocking layer; and inspecting optically at least one wavelength at least one inspection area, the blocking layer extending substantially throughout the inspection area. An inspection method including adhering an optical absorbing layer to a semiconductor process wafer, where the absorbing layer is configured to substantially absorb a range of wavelengths of light; applying at least one layer over the absorbing layer; and inspecting optically at least one wavelength at least one inspection area of the process wafer. A manufacturing method including ascertaining if a defect is present within a photoresist layer, and changing a semiconductor manufacturing process to prevent the defect, if the defect is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Colin J. Brodsky, Mary Jane Brodsky, Sean Burns, Habib Hichri
  • Patent number: 8171438
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for verification of a program partitioned according to the control flow information of the program. Properties are received indicating outcome states for a program. The program is processed to determine a control flow in the program and paths in the control flow. Enabled paths are determined in the control flow having states satisfying requirements of the outcome states. For each enabled path, a determination is made of inert variables not used along the control flow of the path and a representation of states and transitions for the enabled path is generated, wherein the represented states and transitions do not include the inert variables. The generated representation of the states and transitions for the enabled path are combined into a merged computation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: David Ward
  • Patent number: 8171130
    Abstract: Improved problem diagnosis techniques for use in accordance with computing systems, e.g., distributed computing systems, are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for diagnosing a problem associated with a computing system comprises the following steps/operations. One or more probes are executed in accordance with at least a portion of a previously selected probe schedule. When a result of one or more of the probes of the previously selected probe schedule indicates, at least, a potential problem associated with the computing system, one or more probes which optimize at least one criterion are selected in real-time. The one or more selected probes are executed so as to diagnose the potential problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Brodie, Genady Grabarnik, Sheng Ma, Natalia V. Odintsova, Irina Rish
  • Patent number: 8170948
    Abstract: An information repository and management system for data regarding a client base which integrates a plurality of information types including database records, word processor files, e-mail, other hyperlinked documents, web pages and web sites. Implemented as a database application on a web-enabled database server, sales and marketing team members may access the system through an intranet or remotely through an Internet. Portions of the database may be extracted and placed on a portable computing device for traveling purposes. The extracted database can be later synchronized with the central database upon return of a sales and marketing team member from a meeting or business trip. Links and expandable subforms are provided to web sites for stock quoting and client home pages, allowing sales team members to quickly gather information regarding a company's latest news announcements, stock performance, and financial status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Samuel Brattain, Enrique Rodriguez, Terry Varon Washington, Sandra Sue Shore
  • Patent number: 8170992
    Abstract: The input and batch processing of data for insertion in a database. In one aspect of the invention, processing input data includes receiving data for insertion into a database, the data including data fields holding data entries. At least one of the data fields is determined to be a standard field having a standard data entry, and at least one different data field is determined to have been designated a batch mode field, where each batch mode field has a plurality of associated batch mode data entries. A data record is created for each batch mode data entry of the batch mode field, where each data record includes a different batch mode data entry, and each data record includes a copy of the standard data entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Raymond Ayars
  • Patent number: 8168542
    Abstract: A tubular object is fabricated by a method comprising the steps of providing a first layer, forming a second layer on the first layer, and then patterning the second layer to form a raised feature with one or more sidewalls. Subsequently, the first layer is processed such that components of the first layer deposit on the one or more sidewalls of the raised feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kuan-Neng Chen, John Christopher Arnold, Niranjana Ruiz
  • Patent number: 8171230
    Abstract: A PCI Express (PCIe) computer system utilizes address translation services to translate virtual addresses from I/O device adaptors to physical addresses of system memory. A combined memory controller and host bridge uses a translation agent to convert the I/O addresses via translation control entries (TCEs) in a TCE table (also known as an address translation and protection table). Some of the I/O device adaptors have address translation caches for local storage of TCEs. The TCE definition includes a new non-cacheable control bit which is set active in the TCE table when the TCE is in the process of being invalidated. The memory controller prevents further caching of the TCE while the non-cacheable control bit is active. A further implementation utilizes a change-in-progress control bit of the TCE to indicate that the TCE is in the process of being changed to allow simultaneous invalidation of the previously TCE information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Freimuth, Renato J. Recio, Steven M. Thurber
  • Patent number: 8171001
    Abstract: Provided are an article of manufacture, system, and method for using a data mining algorithm to generate rules used to validate a selected region of a predicted column. A data set has a plurality of columns and records providing data for each of the columns. Selection is received of at least one predicted column for which rules are to be generated and at least one region of the selected at least one predicted column, wherein each region specifies data positions in the column. The data set is processed to determine association relationships among data in at least one predictor column and subsequences in the selected at least one region of the at least one predicted column. At least one rule is generated from the relationships specifying a condition involving at least one predictor column that predicts at least one value in the selected region of the at least one predicted column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mary Ann Roth, Yannick Saillet
  • Patent number: 8171412
    Abstract: A visual presentation system and method for synchronizing presentation data being viewed in a display with speech input. A system is disclosed that includes: a speech recognition system for recognizing speech input; an association system for determining a context of the speech input and matching the context with a relevant portion of the presentation data; and a visual coordination system for coordinating the display of a data item from the presentation data based on a match made by the association system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anne R. Sand, Steven M. Miller
  • Patent number: 8171075
    Abstract: An information technology (IT) environment includes IT managed resources in which the resources are abstracted using a model. In response to determining that a request for information received from a client is non-optimal in terms of processing the request, a first hint can be constructed that indicates how future requests are to be formulated by the client so that they are more optimal in terms of processing the future requests. In response to determining that the information is internally structured non-optimally in terms of processing the request, a second hint can be constructed that indicates how the information is to be internally structured more optimally in terms of processing future requests. In response to determining that processing the request will be non-optimal, a third hint can be constructed relating to a characteristic that results in non-optimal processing of the request, and logged within a hint log for offline analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Martine B. Wedlake, Ross E. Hagglund, Arthur J. Colvig
  • Patent number: 8171224
    Abstract: A method of providing history based done logic for a D-cache includes receiving a D-cache line in an L2 cache; determining if the D-cache line is unprefetchable; aging the D-cache line without a delay if the D-cache line is prefetchable; and aging the D-cache line with a delay if the D-cache line is unprefetchable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Luick
  • Patent number: 8171139
    Abstract: Popular object requests are handled using a front-end cache, and hashing is applied only to the requests in the stream that were not handled by the front-end cache. A cache (e.g., a web proxy cache) is placed in front of a Level 7 switch and services the popular requests from the cache based on the content of the request (e.g., based on the portion of an HTTP request following the domain name). The remaining requests are hashed and then routed to the back-end server. Requests that make it past the cache are still routed to the back-end server. A Level 4 switch is placed in front of a plurality of web proxy caches, each of which are in turn placed in front of a respective Level 7 switch, each of which are connected to a respective server farm, so that incoming web requests are handled on a round robin basis (or other SLB technique) before being sent to the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Chase, Ronald P. Doyle
  • Patent number: 8170863
    Abstract: Under the present invention, the portlets of a portal page are individually configured for translation of the web content therein. In configuring a portlet, a set of specifications is designated. Once such specification is a translation paradigm that dictates whether translation of the web content within the portlet will be automatic, or viewer initiated. By individually configuring the portlets, the entire portal page is not translated as a whole, but rather the web content is translated on a portlet-by-portlet basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pralhad M. Khatri, Marshall A. Lamb, Richard Redpath, Robert S. Sielken
  • Patent number: 8169447
    Abstract: A color computer output is dynamically converted into a monochrome computer output based on a stored profile. The stored profile may be for a piece of hardware (e.g., a monochrome printer), or a user (e.g., a color-blind user).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir Singh Bhogal, Robert Ross Peterson
  • Patent number: 8171276
    Abstract: A computer implemented process performs a plurality of computer bootups in minimal mode. Login authentication is disabled during the computer bootups. All startup programs and services not required to install new software are disabled during the computer bootups. New software is installed during the computer bootups. During the final computer bootup, the disabled startup programs and services are enabled to restore the computer to normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Phillip Fried
  • Patent number: 8171295
    Abstract: To provide an information processing apparatus, a server apparatus, a method of an information processing apparatus, a method of a server apparatus, and an apparatus executable program. An information processing apparatus uses signed integrity values unique to software configuration and asserting integrity of initial codes of a networked server. The server apparatus generates keys used for certifying the server apparatus (S810, S820, S830). One of the keys are certified by a third party to generate a digital signature (S840). The digital signature is attached to the integrity values and the signed integrity values are transmitted to the information processing apparatus for allowing the information processing apparatus to have secure services through the network (S850, S860).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Munetoh, Hiroshi Maruyama, Frank Seliger, Nataraj Nagaratnam
  • Patent number: 8171067
    Abstract: Provided is a method for implementing a file system that includes a combination of read-only and read/write parts. A file system located on a data server maintains an original copy of a data store. An “Ephemeral” file system (EFS) is created on a client computer. The data server is contacted only once for each file accessed and the copy is in an original state each time the system is mounted. Changes made to the file system by one client are not seen by other clients. The EFS maintains the file system state in memory and uses the NFS server as a backing stored for cached file data. File data for files created on the client are backed up by the client system's swapping space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Brown, Duen-wen Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8171257
    Abstract: Provided are a method, computer program product and system for determining an end of valid log in a log of write records. Records are written to a log in a storage device in a sequential order, wherein the records include a next pointer addressing a next record in a write order and a far ahead pointer addressing a far ahead record in the write order following the record. The far ahead pointer and the next pointer in a plurality of records are used to determine an end of valid log from which to start writing further records.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Russell Lee Lewis
  • Patent number: 8171298
    Abstract: An authentication framework is provided which enables dynamic user authentication that combines multiple authentication objects using a shared context and that permits customizable interaction design to suit varying user preferences and transaction/application requirements. Such a framework provides a high degree of flexibility, accuracy, convenience and robustness. In one illustrative aspect of the invention, an automated technique for user authentication comprises the following steps/operations. First, user input is obtained. At least a portion of the user input is associated with two or more verification objects. Then, the user is verified based on the two or more verification objects in accordance with at least one verification policy operating on a context shared across the two or more verification objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ganesh N. Ramaswamy, Ran Zilca, Oleg Alecksandrovich