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).
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Patent number: 7115947Abstract: Disclosed is a method and structure for a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET) structure that has different thickness gate dielectrics covering the fins extending from the substrate. These fins have a central channel region and source and drain regions on opposite sides of the channel region. The thicker gate dielectrics can comprise multiple layers of dielectric and the thinner gate dielectrics can comprise less layers of dielectric. A cap comprising a different material than the gate dielectrics can be positioned over the fins.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William F. Clark, Jr., Edward J. Nowak, Jr.
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Patent number: 7115959Abstract: The present invention provides a gate stack structure that has high mobilites and low interfacial charges as well as semiconductor devices, i.e., metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) that include the same. In the semiconductor devices, the gate stack structure of the present invention is located between the substrate and an overlaying gate conductor. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating the inventive gate stack structure in which a high temperature annealing process (on the order of about 800° C.) is employed. The high temperature anneal used in the present invention provides a gate stack structure that has an interface state density, as measured by charge pumping, of about 8×1010 charges/cm2 or less, a peak mobility of about 250 cm2/V-s or greater and substantially no mobility degradation at about 6.0×1012 inversion charges/cm2 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Wanda Andreoni, Alessandro C. Callegari, Eduard A. Cartier, Alessandro Curioni, Christopher P. D'Emic, Evengi Gousev, Michael A. Gribelyuk, Paul C. Jamison, Rajarao Jammy, Dianne L. Lacey, Fenton R. McFeely, Vijay Narayanan, Carlo A. Pignedoli, Joseph P. Shepard, Jr., Sufi Zafar
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Patent number: 7115934Abstract: A trench capacitor formed with a bottle etch step has a polygonal cross section produced by forming thermally oxidizing the trench walls with thinner oxide at the corners of the trench, then performing the bottle etch step with the nitride in place, thereby extending the trench walls laterally only outside the corners, so that the distance of closest approach between adjacent trenches is reduced while the length of the perimeter is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kangguo Cheng, Ramachandra Divakaruni
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Patent number: 7117428Abstract: A redundancy register architecture associated with a RAM provides for soft-error tolerance. An enable register provides soft error rate protection to the registers that contain replacement information for redundant rows and columns. The gate register determines whether a row or column replacement register contains a specific address, and parity protection to the replacement register is activated as necessitated. The register architecture is changed to make the register state a “don't care” state for the majority of the registers. A small number of registers that are critical to the redundancy system are identified and made more robust to upsets. Word-line and column-line substitution is implemented. A ripple parity scheme is implemented when parity checks are activated.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeffrey H Oppold, Michael R Ouellette, Larry Wissell
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Patent number: 7117366Abstract: A system and method for allowing access to data or processing on a remote computer. An authorizing computer provides client computers with a data specification and remote computer address along with an authorization code that is digitally signed or encrypted and that may only be used for a limited number of times. A client computer then accesses the remote computer by providing the digitally signed authorization code. The remote computer responds with the data or processing if the digital signature is successfully verified and the authorization code has been used fewer than the limited number of times.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Christopher R. Vincent
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Patent number: 7117433Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture, and memory for displaying a relationship between an HTML file and an element in the HTML file is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of reading information from a project file, the information comprising a relationship between the element and the HTML file, processing the information to map the element to the HTML file, and displaying the mapping. In one embodiment, the invention also comprises a program storage device, tangibly embodying instructions for performing the above method steps. The invention also comprises an apparatus for displaying a relationship between an HTML file and an element such as a control in the HTML file. The apparatus includes a means for reading information from a project file, a processor coupled to the reading means for using the information to map the element to the HTML file, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the mapping.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1998Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Howard Justin Glaser, Daniel Edward House
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Patent number: 7115921Abstract: Gate conductors on an integrated circuit are formed with enlarged upper portions which are utilized to electrically connect the gate conductors with other devices. A semiconductor device comprises a gate conductor with an enlarged upper portion which electrically connects the gate conductor to a local diffusion region. Another semiconductor device comprises two gate conductors with enlarged upper portions which merge to create electrically interconnected gate conductors. Methods for forming the above semiconductor devices are also described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Timothy Joseph Dalton, Louis L. Hsu, Carl Radens, Keith Kwong Hon Wong, Chih-Chao Yang
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Patent number: 7115996Abstract: A method to selectively cap interconnects with indium or tin bronzes and copper oxides thereof is provided. The invention also provides the interconnect and copper surfaces so formed.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniel C. Edelstein, Sung Kwon Kang, Maurice McGlashan-Powell, Eugene J. O'Sullivan, George F. Walker
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Patent number: 7115207Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a metal mask for an integrated circuit chip interconnect solder bump. The invention deposits a very thick photoresist on both sides of a very thick molybdenum foil sheet (the molybdenum sheet is at least 8 mils thick and the photoresist is at least 5 microns thick). Then the process exposes and develops the photoresist to produce at least one opening having a diameter of at least 5 mil. The invention simultaneously etches both sides of the molybdenum foil using a very low etchant spray pressure of approximately 5 psi to form at least one via in the molybdenum foil that has a diameter of at least 12 mil and a knife-edge of 0.2 mil. The photoresist is removed after the etching process.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Businss Machines CorporationInventors: Peter H. Berasi, Michael F. Jerome, Doris P. Pulaski, Robert P. Rippstein
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Patent number: 7117466Abstract: A method of removing pessimism in static timing analysis is described. Delays are expressed as a function of discrete parameter settings allowing for both local and global variation to be taken in to account. Based on a specified target slack, each failing timing test is examined to determine a consistent set of parameter settings which produces the worst possible slack. The analysis is performed on a path basis. By considering only parameters which are in common to a particular data/clock path-pair, the number of process combinations that need to be explored is reduced when compared to analyzing all combinations of the global parameter settings. Further, if parameters are separable and linear, worst-case variable assignments for a particular clock/data path pair can be computed in linear time by independently assigning each parameter value.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Kerim Kalafala, Peihua Qi, David J. Hathaway, Alexander J. Suess, Chandramouli Visweswariah
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Patent number: 7117334Abstract: A method and system for allowing nodes in a multi-node computer to be appropriated by a master node in the multi-node computer. The node to be appropriated is suspended into an ACPI S3 Sleep State, causing current system operations state information to be stored in a backup memory in the appropriated node. The master node then populated a primary memory in the appropriated node with OS and other information required to join a partition that includes the master node. When the master node no longer wishes to use the appropriated node, the backup memory in the appropriated node is mirrored back into the primary memory. When the appropriated node “wakes up” from the S3 state, it continues executing software commands where it left off, without knowing anything that had happened after going into the S3 state.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jason Robert Almeida, Scott Neil Dunham, Eric Richard Kern, William Bradley Schwartz
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Patent number: 7116092Abstract: Spectrum analyzer circuits and methods are provided which implement “zero-IF” (direct conversion) or “near-zero IF” (or very low IF) architectures that enable implementation of integrated (on-chip) spectrum analyzers for measuring the frequency spectrum of internal chip signals. An integrated spectrum analyzer circuit, which includes a zero IF or near-zero IF framework, enables a low-power compact design with sufficient resolution bandwidth for on-chip implementation and diagnostics of internal chip signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Keith Aelwyn Jenkins, Anup Paul Jose, Scott Kevin Reynolds
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Patent number: 7116526Abstract: In a lead overlay (LOL) type of read head first and second insulation layers are employed with the first insulation layer being located between a top surface of a first hard bias layer and a first lead layer and the second insulation layer is located between the top surface of a second hard bias layer and a second lead layer for minimizing a shunting of a sense current through the hard bias layers into a read sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ashok Lahiri, Mustafa Pinarbasi
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Patent number: 7117491Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for determining whether data has been modified. One node associated with at least one data unit and a last version number is received. A data structure having a plurality of nodes is processed, wherein there is one node associated with each data unit and at least one node that is capable of aggregating one or more nodes, and wherein version numbers are associated with the nodes. A determination is made from the data structure of one node that is associated with the data units associated with the received node. A determination is then made that at least one data unit associated with the received node has been modified if the received last version number is less than a version number of the determined node.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Luis Antonio Ferreira Alves, Yip-Hing Ng, Michael Harris Rosett, Jyh-shiarn Yur
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Patent number: 7115020Abstract: A lapping system for eliminating crowning in a surface to be lapped includes a first lapping carrier adapted to carry a first workpiece and a second lapping carrier adapted to carry a second workpiece. A stabilizer assembly interconnects the first and second lapping carriers in a mutually stabilizing arrangement that stabilizes the first and second workpieces against rotation. The stabilizer assembly includes first and second stabilizer arms extending between the first lapping carrier and the second lapping carrier. Each lapping carrier and an associated stabilizer arm collectively defines a fixture having a carrier portion and a stabilizer portion, and which may be generally T-shaped. One end of each stabilizer arm is cantilevered from its associated lapping carrier, while the free end of each stabilizer arm is pivotally mounted to the opposite lapping carrier. Downward lapping forces are applied independently to each lapping carrier.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Robert G. Biskeborn
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Patent number: 7116094Abstract: An apparatus and a method for testing semiconductor devices, such as individual integrated circuits in semiconductor chips, by directing a current in each circuit through a respective selected predetermined path to establish, in each circuit, a respective focused magnetic field and converting each such magnetic field into a respective voltage which, when fed to respective amplifier gated with a respective selected frequency, will modulate each such respective voltage. Each such respective voltage is then used to create a respective pulsating magnetic field that when detected by a respective remote magnetic sensor will provide a series of respective signals representative of the current in the respective circuit from which the pulsating magnetic field was derived.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Theodore M. Levin, David P. Vallett
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Patent number: 7117451Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for ordering multiple elements within a set of elements in a list in a data processing system. The set of elements are presented in a list format in a graphical user interface. The present invention waits for a first user input selecting the elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the first user input, monitoring is performed for a second user input indicating a movement of the selected elements within the set of elements. In response to detecting the second user input, the selected elements are automatically reordered within the set of elements based on the user input. In this manner, the elements may be manipulated within the list using a single user input rather that requiring a user input to manipulate each element individually.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Robert S. Sielken
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Patent number: 7117448Abstract: A system and method that selects applications that are allowed to be performed by a particular user using a particular workstation is provided. The system identifies one or more roles that have been assigned to the user and matches the identified roles with one or more roles that have been assigned to the workstation. Roles that are allowed for both the workstation and the user are enabled to be used by the user using the workstation. In one embodiment, a user may be allowed to perform multiple roles from the user's workstation. The available roles are selected using an interface, such as a pop-up menu. In one embodiment, the desktop packages and components are received by, displayed on, and launched from a operating system platform-neutral shell application, such as a Java software application running on a Java virtual machine. In this manner, the packages and components are platform-independent.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Richard Cooper, Jason Robert Kersten
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Patent number: 7116314Abstract: A method for distribution of wear for a touch display, includes: providing at least one graphic at a first location on a touch display, where the display includes at least one target area corresponding to the graphic; registering a first touch within the target area; and moving the graphic to a second location on the touch display, where the target area moves in accordance with its corresponding graphic. By moving the target area in this manner, the wear of the touch display is distributed to avoid accelerated wear of particular target areas due to repeated use.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David W. Stanhope, Debra L. Singer-Harter
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Patent number: 7116142Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately tuning the speed of an integrated circuit, i.e. a computer chip, using a built-in sense circuit and controller are provided. The sense circuit is provided in association with a monitored path. The sense circuit includes a variable delay element coupled to a controller. A data signal from the monitored path is provided to the sense circuit which adds an amount of delay as determined by the controller to the data signal. The delayed data signal and the original data signal are compared to determine if their values match. If they match, then the amount of delay added by the variable delay element is increased. If they do not match, then a previous amount of delay, prior to the mismatch, is output as the slack of the monitored path. The slack may then be used to tune the speed of the integrated circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Frank David Ferraiolo, James Stephen Fields, Jr., Norman Karl James, Bradley David McCredie
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Patent number: 7115463Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a patterned silicon-on-insulator substrate which includes dual depth SOI regions or both SOI and non-SOI regions within the same substrate. The method of the present invention includes forming a silicon mask having at least one opening on a surface of Si-containing material, recessing the Si-containing material through the at least one opening using an etching process to provide a structure having at least one recess region and a non-recessed region, and forming a first buried insulating region in the non-recessed region and a second buried insulating region in the recessed region. In accordance with the present invention, the first buried insulating region in the non-recessed region is located above the second buried isolation region in the recessed region. A lift-off step can be employed to remove the first buried insulating region and the material that lies above to provide a substrate containing both SOI and non-SOI regions.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Devendra K. Sadana, Dominic J. Schepis, Michael D. Steigerwalt
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Patent number: 7114611Abstract: A conveyor system for a self-checkout apparatus including a first side support rail having an inner side and an outer side and a second side support rail spaced apart from said first side support rail and positioned parallel thereto, where the second side support rail includes an inner side and an outer side. The system also includes a first motor mount affixed to the first side support rail at a first end, a second motor mount affixed to the second side support rail at the first end, and a drive roller having a knurled surface. The drive roller transmits a driving force from a drive motor and positioned at one end of the first side support rail and the second side support rail. The system further includes a return roller positioned at a second end of the first side support rail and the second side support rail, a pair of first tracking guides provided adjacent both ends of the driver roller, a pair of second tracking guides provided adjacent both ends of the return roller and a conveyor belt.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Scott Dickover, Wes Dickover, Mike Radzimski
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Patent number: 7115912Abstract: An integrated circuit chip (IC) is equipped with a device for preventing reverse engineering by monitoring light emissions emitted from transistors and such electrically active devices in a circuit located in the IC. The device can be an opaque structure that blocks emissions from being detected external to the IC. Alternatively, the device can reduce light emissions from the transistors to prevent detection of the light emissions external to the IC. The device, in another alternative, can emit extraneous light emissions to hide a pattern of light emissions emitted from the transistors. As a further alternative, the device can add random delay to a signal driving the transistors to randomize the pattern of light emissions emitted from the transistors to prevent detection of a predetermined pattern of light emissions external to the IC.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeffrey A. Kash, James C. Tsang, Daniel R. Knebel
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Patent number: 7117385Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for recovering terminated partitions in a logical partitioned data processing system. A termination of a partition in a set of partitions associated with a host bridge in the logical partitioned data processing system is detected. The state of other partitions within the set of partitions is checked in response to detecting the termination. A recovery process is initiated if all partitions in the set of partitions have terminated. Input/output slots associated with the host bridge are reset to a normal state if the recovery process is successful. The set of partitions is rebooted after resetting the input/output slots associated with the host bridge without rebooting the logical partitioned data processing system.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Shaival J. Chokshi, Ashwini Kulkarni, Van Hoa Lee, David Lee Randall, Thi Ngoc Tran, David R. Willoughby
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Patent number: 7117320Abstract: A method for maintaining data access during failure of a controller in a multiple controller storage subsystem (103) is provided. The storage subsystem (103) has an array of data storage devices (109) and more than one controller (104, 105) for managing the data storage. The method comprises a first controller (201) saving its internal state information (212) and, optionally, resetting itself (213). One or more of the other controllers (202, 203) carry out the steps of pausing operation of the controller (221, 231), saving internal state information of the controller at the time of pausing (222, 232), and continuing operation of the controller (223, 233). The one or more other controllers (202, 203) may pause operation and save their internal state information when they receive a message broadcast (220, 230) from the first controller (201) which has detected an error.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul Ashmore, Matthew John Fairhurst, Michael Huw Francis, Robert Bruce Nicholson, Simon Walsh, Barry John Wood
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Patent number: 7116639Abstract: To evaluate a communications network, a plurality of network evaluation signals, or probative test packets, are selectively sent and received through the network. Responsive to these evaluation signals, network evaluation parameters are determined and stored. Queuing theory analysis, responsive to these parameters, determines the response time and throughput characteristics, including discrete capacity, utilization and performance, of the network. Calculation of the value of the network's discrete utilization involves the measurement of the network's average delay waiting for service, measurement of the network's standard deviation of delay waiting for service, calculation of discrete utilization from the ratio of these observed values, and then refinement of that calculation by proportionate factoring in instances of dropped samples as cases of one hundred percent utilization to arrive at a final figure for percent of network discrete utilization.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Harry R. Gail, Jr., Fredrick K. P. Klassen, Robert M. Silverman
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Patent number: 7115210Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for detecting abnormal plasma discharge that is useful in, for example, detecting plasma leakage in a reactive ion etching (RIE) chamber. The system includes electrical contacts connected to the chamber that provide an input signal to the chamber. This input signal can be generated by a radio frequency (RF) generator that is connected to the electrical contacts. A variable power controller connected to the RF generator gradually increases (ramps) the power of the input signal being supplied to the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert A. Calderoni, June Cline, Kellie L. Dutra, Ronald G. Meunier, Joseph P. Walko, Justin Wai-chow Wong
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Patent number: 7117325Abstract: Recording devices are disclosed having data storage units using disk-shaped storage media, data allocation storage units for storing allocation information of each stored data, and control units for writing and reading data using the allocation information in the data allocation storage, and also have use status storage units for storing use status information indicating each storage area in the data storage units is a valid area having data written therein or an invalid area having no data written therein. If the control units receive a read request for the data stored in the data storage units, the control units select only data of valid areas using the use status information in the use status storage units and read out the data.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Itoh, Ryohta Kawase
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Patent number: 7116939Abstract: Apparatus for in-vehicle provision of audio content to a listener. The apparatus includes a cellular telephone adapted to receive broadcast radio content over a wireless network, and an in-vehicle audio system adapted to be fixedly installed in a vehicle, and coupled to receive the broadcast radio content from the cellular telephone, and to play the content in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Gershon Kandler
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Patent number: 7117501Abstract: A technique for tracking a state of one or more input/output (I/O) channels associated with an application, by the application itself, comprises the steps of: (i) storing, by an operating system kernel, one or more selected elements of the state of at least a portion of the one or more I/O channels associated with the application in a memory which is shared by the application and the operating system kernel, when the one or more elements are available to the operating system kernel; (ii) acquiring, by the application, at least a portion of the stored elements through one or more memory read operations of the shared memory; and (iii) assessing, by the application, one or more of the acquired elements to determine the state of the one or more I/O channels corresponding thereto. In this manner, a need for context switching to track the state of the one or more I/O channels is thereby eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Daniela Rosu, Marcel-Catalin Rosu
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Patent number: 7117455Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for optimizing electrical circuits by means of derivative-free optimization. Tunable parameters such as component values, transistor sizes or model parameters are automatically adjusted to obtain an optimal circuit. Any method of measuring the performance of the circuit, including computer simulation, can be incorporated into the optimization technique, with no derivative requirements. An arbitrary continuous optimization problem can be posed, including an objective function, equality and inequality constraints, and simple bounds on the tunable parameters. The optimization technique is efficient and guarantees that it will find a locally optimal solution from any starting point. Further, the procedure includes a method of automatically recovering from electrical failure to enable automatic and productive circuit optimization. A set of measurement widgets is provided to automatically introduce the checking required to recover from electrical failure.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven G. Walker, Chandramouli Visweswariah, Katya Scheinberg, Phillip Restle
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Patent number: 7117264Abstract: A method for communicating among a plurality of peer nodes in a network environment is provided. A discovery command is communicated from a current peer node to at least one neighbor peer node, the neighbor peer node in communication with the current peer node. An aggregated list of peer nodes is received at the current peer node, the aggregated list of peer nodes comprising information about at least one peer node in communication with the at least one neighbor node. Programs and systems of using the method are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Craig H. Becker, Michael H. Conner
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Patent number: 7115997Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip, semiconductor wafer with IC chips in a number of die locations and a method of making the IC chips on the wafer. The IC chips have plated chip interconnect pads. Each plated pad includes a noble metal plated layer electroplated to a platable metal layer. The platable metal layer may be copper and the noble metal plated layer may be of gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium, iridium or indium.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Chandrasekhar Narayan, Kevin Shawn Petrarca
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Patent number: 7117324Abstract: A data processing system using a client-server configuration includes a method and apparatus for simultaneously generating multiple copies of data sets in multiple storage pools. Simultaneous copies of data sets may be made for storage pools having LAN-free paths in addition to storage pools having only access from a LAN path.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: William B J Scheid
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Patent number: 7117222Abstract: Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for improving the performance of a client accessing data from a database are provided. For some embodiments, the client may access and manipulate data from a data source. The client may obtain information regarding one or more distinct date values in a first format stored in a field of a data source to be queried by the client. Furthermore, the client may, based on the information, generate one or more data objects, each containing one of the distinct data values and a corresponding pre-formatted instance of the distinct data value in a second format, wherein the second format is an output format in which to display data values to a user; wherein the corresponding pre-formatted Instance of the distinct values are output for display instead of the respective distinct data value in each instance of a query result returning the respective distinct data value.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: John M. Santosuosso
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Patent number: 7116519Abstract: A tape head comprised of a substrate and a closure coupled to the substrate. Read and/or write elements are embedded in the substrate. Contact pads are coupled to the substrate, the pads being in electrical communication with the read and/or write elements. At least one lapping element is embedded in the substrate. Supplemental pads are coupled to the substrate, the supplemental pads being in electrical communication with at least one lapping element. A tape head according to another embodiment includes a substrate, a patterned (e.g. generally U-shaped, rectangular, etc.) closure formed on the substrate, read and/or write elements embedded in the substrate, and two rows of contact pads coupled to the substrate, the pads being in electrical communication with the read and/or write elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Peter VanderSalm Koeppe, Jason Liang
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Patent number: 7117182Abstract: A method for carrying out multi-party transactions in which at least one party or user has information which he considers private, the method comprising: a first determining step, in which it is determined which parties will take part in the transaction; a second determining step, in which it is determined, for each party taking part in the transaction, what information about the user that party requires in order to complete the corresponding part of the transaction; a selecting step, which may occur before or after the determining steps, in which one or more nonces, GUIDs, or other tokens are selected, to represent the user in the course of the transaction; a providing step, in which each party determined in the first determining step is provided with information comprising the corresponding information about the user determined in the second determining step, and one or more of the nonces, GUIDs, or other tokens selected in the selecting step; an execution step, in which the parties to the transaction complType: GrantFiled: January 8, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David M. Chess, Ian N. Whalley, Steve R. White
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Patent number: 7117221Abstract: Changed information is provided to multiple masters of a multi-master environment. In order to facilitate the providing of the changed information to the various masters, at least one replication data structure is used. This data structure is managed in such a way that conflicts are avoided in updating the data structure, and thus, in communicating the changed information to the masters.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Timothy J. Hahn, John R. McGarvey
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Patent number: 7116594Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit comprises (1) an isolation device comprising a control terminal and first and second terminals, the first terminal of the isolation device coupled to a signal line, (2) a gated diode comprising first and second terminals, the first terminal of the gated diode coupled to the second terminal of the isolation device, and the second terminal of the gated diode coupled to a set line; and (3) control circuitry coupled to the control terminal of the isolation device and adapted to control voltage on the control terminal of the isolation device in order to enable and disable the isolation device. A latch circuit further comprises a precharge device comprising a control terminal and first and second terminals, the first terminal of the precharge device coupled to a power supply voltage, and the second terminal of the precharge device coupled to the first terminal of the isolation device.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Wing K. Luk, Leland Chang, Robert H. Dennard, Robert Montoye
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Patent number: 7117203Abstract: Content addressable data storage and compression for semi-persistent computer memory for a database management system including providing a data structure that associates data identifiers and retrieval keys for memory blocks for storing in semi-persistent memory data from the database management system; searching for a segment of a chunk of data from the database management system that matches a memory block from semi-persistent memory; and if a matching segment is found: discarding the matching segment; storing in the data structure in the database management system a retrieval key for the matching segment in association with a data identifier; identifying an unmatched portion of the chunk that does not match the memory block; storing the unmatched portion semi-persistently in a free memory block from a file system; and storing in the data structure in the database management system a retrieval key for the unmatched portion in association with the data identifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Gilfix, Anthony N. Liguori
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Patent number: 7117434Abstract: A Graphical User Interface (GUI) (and method for navigating data blocks) includes a display window, and a retrieval object displayed on the display window for assisting a user in retrieving data which is spatially organized in N-dimensions and displaying the data on the window.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Marcos Nogueira Novaes
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Patent number: 7116664Abstract: A structure and technique for preventing collisions using a hash table in conjunction with a CAM to identify and prevent collisions of binary keys. A portion of the hash value of a binary key, which does not collide with a portion of the hash value of any other reference binary key, is used as an entry in the hash table. If two or more binary keys have identical values of the portions of the hash values, each of these binary keys are stored in their entirety, in the CAM. The key in the CAM provides a pointer to a data structure where the action associated with that binary key is stored. If the binary key is not found in the CAM, the binary key is hashed, and a specific entry in the hash table is selected using a portion of this hash value.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gordon Taylor Davis, Andreas Guenther Herkersdorf, Clark Debs Jeffries, Mark Anthony Rinaldi
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Patent number: 7117337Abstract: A mechanism for generating pre-translated segments for use in virtual to real address translation is provided in which segments that are determined to meet a density threshold are promoted to a pre-translated segment class. The pages of these segments are moved to a contiguous portion of memory and the segment table entry corresponding to the segment is updated to indicate the segment to be a pre-translated segment and to include the base real address for the contiguous portion of memory. In one embodiment, as each page is moved, its page table entry is updated to point to the new location of the page so that the page is still accessible during promotion of the segment to a pre-translated segment. In this way, virtual-to-real address translation may be performed by concatenating the segment base real address, the page identifier, and a byte offset into the page.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Men-Chow Chiang, Sujatha Kashyap
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Patent number: 7117333Abstract: The process, apparatus, and system estimate the size of a data block in a data buffer to efficiently recover the data block to the memory of a computer. The data block resides in a data buffer prior to being written to a destination medium. If the data block cannot be written to the destination medium, the process, apparatus, and system create a data block size estimate. The data block size estimate may be based on the size of the largest data block in the data buffer. Alternately, the data block size estimate may be based on the size of a data block in the memory of the computer. The computer reserves a memory space proportional to the data block size estimate and recovers the data block to the memory space.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ralph Thomas Beeston, Kirby Grant Dahman, Gavin Stuart Johnson, Trang Thuy Le
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Patent number: 7116569Abstract: A CAM system is disclosed in which requests for address translation are provided as input search data to a dynamic compare bitline generator. The dynamic compare bitline generator also receives a compare mask and applies the compare mask to associated input search data bits on a per bit basis. The mask contains information that specifies a selected page size and a selected logic mode that can be applied to a compare array in which the specified search is conducted. The compare array is coupled to a data array to which the compare array indicates a result of the search.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joaquin Hinojosa, Eric Jason Fluhr, Michael Ju Hyeok Lee, Jose Angel Paredes, Ed Seewann
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Patent number: 7117322Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing retention of stored objects. A modification request is received with respect to a stored object. A determination is made as to whether a retention protection mechanism is set and a storage policy associated with the stored object is processed to determine whether the stored object has expired according to the storage policy in response to determining that the retention protection mechanism is set. The modification request is allowed to proceed in response to determining that the stored object has expired.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Avishai Haim Hochberg, Toby Lyn Marek, David Maxwell Cannon, Howard Newton Martin, Donald Paul Warren, Jr., Mark Alan Haye
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Patent number: 7116223Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to monitor a container associated with an item. According to one embodiment, an indication that a container has been opened is received. For example, the container may transmit a signal when a person opens the container to access an item. Based on the received indication, ownership of the item may be transferred and/or another item may be provided (e.g., to the person who opened the container). According to other embodiments, item quality information, item warranty information, and/or security information are determined based on the received indication. According to still other embodiments, a sender receives a notification based on the indication or the indication is recorded as an acceptance of an agreement. In yet another embodiment, the indication is used to verify that the container was opened in accordance with an item requirement.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Edith H. Stern, David P. Greene, Philip Shi-lung Yu, Barry E. Willner, Robert E. Chapman
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Patent number: 7117231Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for computerized synchronization of an audio stream having a first synchronized textual representation usable for subtitling of the audio stream in the original language, with a second synchronized textual representation which can be used as an alternative subtitle including a transcription of the original language into another language. Time synchronous links can be built between the audio stream and, for instance, the textual representations of the words spoken in the audio stream. More particularly, the second representation can inherit the synchronization between the audio stream and the first representation using structure association information determined between the first and the second representation.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Uwe Fischer, Stefan Hoffmann, Werner Kriechbaum, Gerhard Stenzel
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Patent number: 7116865Abstract: A single-mode optical waveguide with a core, surrounded by a cladding consisting of an inner soft layer and an outer harder layer is described. The outer layer has a grating structure on its inner surface, whose spatial frequency is the same as that of the guided mode. The thickness of the inner cladding is sufficient to keep the grating outside the mode field in undeformed regions of the waveguide, so that normally no out-coupling of the light results. Connections are made by crossing two such waveguides at an angle and pressing them together. This results in deformation of the two waveguides such that the gratings are brought into proximity with the cores. Light is coupled out of one waveguide and into the other in the deformed region, resulting in a self-aligning optical connection. The out-coupled light propagates normal to the waveguide axis, so errors in the crossing angle cause little change in efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Claudius Feger, Philip O. D. Hobbs, Maurice McGlashan-Powell
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Patent number: 7117357Abstract: A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for pre-encrypting static information transmitted by secure Web sites. The data processing system includes a server computer system coupled to a client computer system utilizing a network. The server computer system receives a request for a secure Web page that is maintained by the server. The secure Web page includes dynamically-changing information and static information. The server encrypts and transmits the encrypted dynamically-changing information. The server determines whether the static information has been pre-encrypted. If the static information has been pre-encrypted, the server bypasses the encryption step and transmits the pre-encrypted static information.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Steven A. Bade