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: 9875168
    Abstract: In an approach to automatic connection detection in an environment, the environment including a first device and a switching device, a first port on the first device being connected to a second port on the switching device, automatic connection detection occurs by associating a fifth port on the switching device to the second port. In response to detecting an identifier of a sixth port on a third device at the first port on the first device, it's determined that the sixth port on the third device is connected to the fifth port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chang W. Chen, Jin Yan Huang
  • Patent number: 9876698
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product embodiments for controlling congestion in a storage grid, by a processor device, are provided. In a storage grid, a storage request transmit queue length is monitored. Upon reaching at least one of a certain threshold, a watermarked message is transmitted to a receiving node, the receiving node altering storage requests based upon the watermarked message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Amit, Zah Barzik, Vladislav Drouker, Maxim Kalaev
  • Patent number: 9876861
    Abstract: Autonomic discovery and integration of complementary Internet services can include discovering a plurality of services that are complementary to an offered service and selecting a service from the plurality of services as a candidate for integration with the offered service. A new service can be automatically generated by integrating the candidate service with the offered service. The new service can be included in a service catalog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abhijit A. Deshmukh, Anurag Srivastava
  • Patent number: 9875148
    Abstract: Creating, maintaining and using a lock dependency graph in a way that includes the following steps: (i) acquiring a first restriction on processor access in a multi-processor computer system; (ii) modeling the first restriction as first locking primitive information; and (iii) storing data corresponding to the first locking primitive information in a lock dependency graph. The first restriction on processor access is one of the following two types: (i) disabling the interrupts on a given processor; and/or (ii) sending inter-processor interrupts with synchronous waiting from one processor to another (including itself).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Srivatsa S. Bhat
  • Patent number: 9875153
    Abstract: A flash memory codeword architecture is provided. A non-integer count of logical pages is packed into a codeword payload data container. A codeword payload header is generated. The codeword payload header includes an offset to a first logical page that is packed, at least in part, into the codeword payload data container. The codeword payload data container and the codeword payload header are concatenated to generate a codeword payload. Error-correcting code data is generated based, at least in part, on the codeword payload using a systematic error-correcting code. The codeword payload and error-correcting code data is concatenated to generate a codeword. A physical page is programmed with the codeword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Camp, Timothy J. Fisher, Aaron D. Fry, Lincoln T. Simmons, Adalberto G. Yanes
  • Patent number: 9875331
    Abstract: One aspect includes identifying via groups that each includes a ratio of a plurality of signal vias to one ground via based on a design file defining a layout of a multi-layer circuit board. A genetic via placement solver iteratively evaluates potential placement solutions that adjust a placement of one or more of the signal vias until at least one solution is identified that meets one or more placement criteria of the signal vias. The genetic via placement solver performs a mutation and recombination of one or more solutions that do not meet the one or more placement criteria and re-evaluates the one or more solutions that do not meet the one or more placement criteria. The design file is modified to include at least one shifted signal via position based on identifying the at least one solution that meets the one or more placement criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sungjun Chun, Matteo Cocchini, Michael A. Cracraft
  • Patent number: 9876090
    Abstract: A transistor device includes a source region, a drain region and a III-V channel material disposed between the source and drain region. A gate dielectric layer is epitaxially grown on the III-V channel material. The gate dielectric layer includes a (X)Se compound, wherein X includes one or more of Zn, Cd and/or Mg. A gate conductor is formed on the gate dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guy M. Cohen, Martin M. Frank
  • Patent number: 9873766
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a product, such as a thermoset, has a polyhexahydrotriazine and a self-polymerized cross-linkable polymer. In some embodiments, a product is the reaction product of a diamine, an aldehyde, and a compound having an ?,?-unsaturated electron withdrawing moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dylan J. Boday, Mareva B. Fevre, Jeannette M. Garcia, James L. Hedrick, Rudy J. Wojtecki
  • Patent number: 9875266
    Abstract: Techniques for restoring point-in-time and transaction consistency across consistency groups between a first and a second independent database management system (DBMS) for a disaster recovery. Several consistency groups (CGs) are defined for replication. For each CG in the first DBMS data changes are transmitted to a second DBMS. A timestamp representing a most recently received commit log record or a heartbeat during periods of inactivity for a CG is stored in a database table at regular intervals. At regular intervals, the timestamp is compared with timestamps for other CGs to identify a common time at which data to be applied to the CGs in the second DBMS have been received into a recoverable data store. The received data is applied to the CGs in the second DBMS up to the common time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Serge Bourbonnais, Austin F. M. D'Costa, You-Chin Fuh, James Z. Teng, Tyrone Yu
  • Patent number: 9875107
    Abstract: As disclosed herein a method, executed by a processor, for accelerated instruction execution includes retrieving an execute instruction including a register reference and a reference to a target instruction, retrieving the target instruction, decoding the execute instruction using an instruction pipeline, decoding the target instruction using the instruction pipeline, associating the register reference to the target instruction, and executing the target instruction using the register reference as a source operand modifier. The instruction pipeline is configured such that it allows the target instruction to continue processing without waiting for the register reference to be resolved. The contents of the referenced register may be retrieved in a later stage of the instruction pipeline, and the target instruction may be modified and executed. An apparatus corresponding to the described method is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Khary J. Alexander, Fadi Y. Busaba, Brian W. Curran, David S. Hutton, Edward T. Malley, Brian R. Prasky, John G. Rell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9875953
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) can be cooled by using a structure that includes two elements, such as integrated circuits (ICs) or electronic packages, in a stacked arrangement, with the elements having surfaces that face each other. The structure also includes a pair of fluidic channel boundaries, between the facing surfaces, where each fluidic channel boundary is formed by an arrangement of adjacent discrete connecting structures. The primary and secondary fluidic channel boundaries and the facing surfaces define a fluidic channel that is useful for promoting boiling of and directing the flow of a refrigerant between the two surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Chainer, Pritish R. Parida, Mark D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9876089
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a method of forming portions of a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET). The method includes forming at least one fin, and forming a dielectric layer over at least a portion of the at least one fin. The method further includes forming a work function layer over at least a portion of the dielectric layer. The method further includes forming a source region or a drain region adjacent the at least one fin, and performing an anneal operation, wherein the anneal operation anneals the dielectric layer and either the source region or the drain region, and wherein the work function layer provides a protection function to the at least a portion of the dielectric layer during the anneal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Jin Cho, MiaoMiao Wang, Hui Zang
  • Patent number: 9875052
    Abstract: Method and system are provided for storage capacity allocation. The method includes: providing a storage pool having multiple storage drive arrays; designating an initial available storage capacity in the storage pool; and allocating the remaining storage capacity in the storage pool to distributed spare space, wherein distributed spare space spreads portions of a spare drive across multiple storage drives in an array. The method also includes: monitoring an amount of available storage capacity as data is stored to the storage pool and determining when a threshold of a minimum available storage capacity is reached; and re-allocating one or more distributed spare drives from an array to available storage capacity when the threshold of the minimum available storage capacity is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Agombar, Ian Boden, Gordon D. Hutchison, Lee J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9876847
    Abstract: A method and system of managing downloads of a file from a server. A determination is made of whether or not a number of current connections between the client and the server is less than a preset threshold number, exceeding one, of allowable concurrent connections with the server. If the determination is that the number of current connections is less than the preset threshold number, responsive to a request by the client to download the file pursuant to another connection between the client and the server, the computer establishes the other connection between the client and the server and downloads the file to the client via the other connection. If the determination is that the number of current connections is at least the preset threshold number, the computer denies a request by the client to download the file from the server using another connection between the client and the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Campbell, Robert F. Pryor, John B. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9876130
    Abstract: After forming a layer of a Cu-deficient kesterite compound having the formula Cu2-xZn1+xSn(SySe1-y)4, wherein 0<x<1, and 0?y?1, on a substrate and forming a Ag layer on the Cu-deficient kesterite compound layer, the Cu-deficient kesterite compound layer and Ag layer are annealed in a S- and/or Se-rich ambient to provide a film containing a Ag—Cu mixed kesterite compound having the formula AgxCu2-xZnSn(SySe1-y)4, wherein 0<x<2, and 0?y?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Talia S. Gershon, Oki Gunawan, Yun S. Lee, Ravin Mankad
  • Patent number: 9876508
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for encoding an input string of binary characters representing alphanumeric characters. A system includes: a character writing engine for writing a binary character to an empty cell of a multi-dimensional shape beginning with a starting empty cell; a next cell determination engine for determining a next empty cell by traversing neighboring cells in the multi-dimensional shape until an empty cell is located; a loop facilitator for looping back to the character writing engine and the next cell determining engine until no more data characters or a next empty cell is not determined; and a serialization engine for serializing the cells into a one dimensional binary string of characters representing an encoded string of alphanumeric characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic J. Bauchot, Marc Joel Herve Legroux
  • Patent number: 9876783
    Abstract: Distribution of verification of passwords for electronic account. Password verification is distributed (divided) across multiple entities to reduce potential exposure in the event of a server exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Koved, Gelareh Taban
  • Patent number: 9877088
    Abstract: A method and system for relaying a sensor communication to a central monitoring system by utilizing a crowdsourcing model. The method includes: obtaining a registered device through crowdsourcing; registering the registered device into a central monitoring system; configuring the registered device to communicate with a plurality of road management sensors and with the central monitoring system; monitoring and gathering location information of the registered device by the central monitoring system; transmitting, via the central monitoring system, a request to gather a sensor communication from a sensor to the registered device; executing the request, via the registered device, by capturing the sensor communication emitted from the sensor, wherein the sensor communication is emitted using a passive radio-frequency identification tag; and relaying at least a part of the sensor communication from the registered device to the central monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tamer E. Abuelsaad, John E. Moore, Jr., Rajeshkumar N. Singi, Robert R. Wentworth
  • Patent number: 9875088
    Abstract: A template function is received. The template function includes one or more data types. A single abstract instantiation of the template function is created. An abstract internal descriptor for each data type is created. A map set for each abstract internal descriptor is created. The number of instantiations required and the type of instantiation required is provided. A finished object is created using each map set. The finished object is a translation of the intermediate representation into assembly code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xiao Feng Guan, JiuFu Guo, Jin Song Ji, Jia Bing Liu
  • Patent number: 9875060
    Abstract: Migrating memory MMIO from a source I/O adapter of a source computing system to a destination I/O adapter of a destination computing system, includes: collecting, by a source hypervisor of the source computing system, MMIO mapping information, where the source hypervisor supports a logical partition on the source computing system and the logical partition is configured for MMIO operations with the source I/O adapter through an MMU; placing, by a destination hypervisor of the destination computing system, the destination I/O adapter in an error state; migrating the logical partition from the source computing system to the destination computing system; configuring, by the destination hypervisor of the destination computing system, the destination computing system for MMIO with the LPAR utilizing the MMIO mapping information collected by the source hypervisor; and restarting the logical partition on the destination computing system, including recovering, by the logical partition, from the error state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse P. Arroyo, Charles S. Graham, Prathima Kommineni, Timothy J. Schimke
  • Patent number: 9875144
    Abstract: Aspects include identifying physical resources in a computer environment, allocating virtual resources to the physical resources, and aggregating the virtual resources, as a virtual resource pool, at a per virtual machine level in the computer environment. Other aspects include evaluating the virtual resources in the virtual resource pool against resource pool domain constraints, and determining a resource allocation adjustment as a function of the evaluating. The resource allocation adjustment is configured to achieve a maximum specified virtual machine density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Simon J. Kofkin-Hansen, Richard T. Lemelin, Setareh Mehrabanzad, Shawn P. Raess
  • Patent number: 9875230
    Abstract: A method, a processing device, and a computer program product are provided. Via at least one processing device, each text file is selected from a collection of text files, wherein the collection of text files has an intensity with respect to negative sentiment toward a common issue. At least one profile algorithm is performed, each calculating a corresponding profile score for that text file. At least one corresponding profile score of the text files of the collection are combined to produce an aggregated profile score for each of at least one profile algorithm. The aggregated profile score of each of the at least one profile algorithm for the collection is stored. A signature for the collection of text files includes the aggregated profile score of each of the at least one profile algorithm for the collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick W. Fink, Kristin E. McNeil, Philip E. Parker, David B. Werts
  • Patent number: 9875352
    Abstract: A user manages security of one or more user devices by manipulating one or more sensors located in the user's mouth in a predetermined pattern corresponding to a password. The matching of the predetermined pattern to the password unlocks at least a portion of at least one user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Faraz Ahmad, Anto Ajay Raj John
  • Patent number: 9876845
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure belong to the data processing field and disclose a method and apparatus for data transmission. The method comprises sending a first request to a server in response to a first file locally cached having expired. The first request is for obtaining a first file in a new version, and the first request containing a first version identifier. The first version identifier being for indicating a version of the first file locally cached. Receiving a first response includes difference information and a second version identifier. The difference information makes it possible to obtain the first file in the new version based on the first file locally cached, and the second version identifier is for indicating the new version. The first file in the new version is obtained based on the difference information and the first file locally cached. Using the technical solution provided by the present embodiment(s), pressures on network transmission are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qi Chen, Chao Zheng, Xiang Zhou, Xiao W. Zhu
  • Patent number: 9875034
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a memory system that queues program requests to a block of flash memory until a predefined threshold is reached. That is, instead of performing program requests to write data into the block as the requests are received, the memory system queues the requests until the threshold is satisfied. Once the buffer for the block includes the threshold amount of program requests, the memory system performs the stored requests. In one embodiment, the memory system erases all the pages in the block before writing the new data in the program requests into the destination pages. The data that was originally stored in the pages that are not destination pages is rewritten into the pages. In this example, the queued program requests can be written into the pages using one erase and write step rather than individual erase and write steps for each of the requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saravanan Sethuraman, Gary A Tressler, Harish Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 9875247
    Abstract: At least one subsystem among the plurality of subsystems includes a managing section operable to manage individual route information for routes in a management target region of the at least one subsystem among the plurality of regions and adjacent route information for routes positioned in a partial range from a boundary of the management target region among routes in an adjacent region that is adjacent to the management target region, and an identifying section operable to identify the route on which the moving object is positioned based on the observation position, by using the individual route information and the adjacent route information managed by the at least one subsystem. Also provided is a method and computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Gotoh, Tomohiro Miyahira, Taku Sasaki, Makoto Tanibayashi
  • Patent number: 9875161
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for replicating data between redundant sources. In one embodiment, during a reverse replication process, roles of a source system and target system are altered such that the target system controls the replication process. The target system can identify objects to be transferred, build batches of objects for efficient transfer, and transmit the batches of objects to the source system. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can reduce inefficient communication between a source system and a target system that might otherwise occur during replication processes controlled by the source system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Anglin, Barry Fruchtman
  • Patent number: 9875780
    Abstract: Improved STT MRAM source line configurations are provided. In one aspect, a STT MRAM array includes: a plurality of cells including magnetic tunnel junctions in series with field effect transistors; a plurality of word lines perpendicular to a plurality of bit lines; a plurality of source line segments spanning m+1 of the bit lines, wherein m of the bit lines include regular array bit lines, and wherein at least one other of the bit lines includes an extra bit line that is connected to the source line segments such that the source line segments span the regular array bit lines and the extra bit line. An STT MRAM device and a method for operating an STT MRAM device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: John K. DeBrosse
  • Patent number: 9875367
    Abstract: Customer content is securely loaded on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) located on a secure cryptography card. The customer content is loaded such that it may not be extracted. A customer obtains a secure cryptography card that includes a field programmable gate array and a master key generated by the secure cryptography card. The customer loads customer specific content on the field programmable gate array, wherein, based on the loading, the customer specific content is secure from extraction via the master key by at least entities other than the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd W. Arnold, Mark A. Check, Vincenzo Condorelli
  • Patent number: 9876091
    Abstract: After formation of a silicon nitride gate spacer and a silicon nitride liner overlying a disposable gate structure, a dielectric material layer is deposited, which includes a dielectric material that is not prone to material loss during subsequent exposure to wet or dry etch chemicals employed to remove disposable gate materials in the disposable gate structure. The dielectric material can be a spin-on dielectric material or can be a dielectric metal oxide material. The dielectric material layer and the silicon nitride liner are planarized to provide a planarized dielectric surface in which the disposable gate materials are physically exposed. Surfaces of the planarized dielectric layer is not recessed relative to surfaces of the silicon nitride layer during removal of the disposable gate materials and prior to formation of replacement gate structures, thereby preventing formation of metallic stringers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hemanth Jagannathan, Sanjay Mehta
  • Patent number: 9875300
    Abstract: Electronic natural language processing in a natural language processing (NLP) system, such as a Question-Answering (QA) system. A receives electronic text input, in question form, and determines a readability level indicator in the question. The readability level indicator includes at least a grammatical error, a slang term, and a misspelling type. The computer determines a readability level for the electronic text input based on the readability level indicator, and retrieves candidate answers based on the readability level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donna K. Byron, Devendra Goyal, Lakshminarayanan Krishnamurthy, Priscilla Santos Moraes, Michael C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9875959
    Abstract: Stacked capacitor structures using TSVs are provided. In one aspect, a stacked capacitor structure includes: a first substrate having at least one first capacitor formed in a TSV in the first substrate; and a second substrate, bonded to the first substrate, having at least one second capacitor formed in a TSV in the second substrate, wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor each comprises a first electrode and a dielectric that both surround a second electrode that is at a core of the TSV, wherein the dielectric separates the first electrode from the second electrode, and wherein the second substrate is bonded to the first substrate such that the first capacitor is stacked on the second capacitor. A method of forming a stacked capacitor structure is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Conal E. Murray, Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 9877153
    Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: recording position data for a mobile device over time, the position data being associated to an identifier of the mobile device; outputting to a user an identification code associated to the identifier; receiving input data from a user, the input data including the identification code and user identifying information from a user; responsively to the receiving the input data from a user associating the identification code and the user identifying information; based on the associating processing the position data and user profile data associated to the user identifying information; sending a message to the user based on a result of the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Greenberger, Zachary M. Greenberger
  • Patent number: 9875268
    Abstract: Natural language management of online social network connections may comprise receiving natural language data associated with a user's social network interactions. The natural language data associated with a user's social network interactions is analyzed and features used in the user's social network interactions are determined based on the analysis. The contexts in which the features are used in the user's social network interactions may be also determined. Point values to the features used in the user's social network interactions are assigned. A fingerprint of the user is created at least based on the features and the point values. The created fingerprint may be compared with information associated with online communities, and based on the comparison, one or more of the online communities may be recommended as user's potential social network connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, Matthew E. Broomhall, Robert E. Loredo
  • Patent number: 9875328
    Abstract: An apparatus for storing data includes a latch circuit comprising a first set of transistors that propagate an input signal to an output signal and a second set of transistors that do not propagate the input signal of the latch circuit to the output signal wherein a gate pitch for the first set of transistors is substantially greater than a gate pitch for the second set of transistors. Also disclosed herein, a method for improving circuit performance includes receiving an electronic representation of a plurality of latching circuits associated with a design file and increasing transistor gate pitch for selected transistors of the plurality of latching circuits, wherein the selected transistors comprise transistors that propagate an input signal to an output signal. The method may also include fabricating a chip comprising the plurality of latching circuits. A computer program product corresponding to the method is also disclosed within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Leland Chang, Robert K. Montoye
  • Patent number: 9875045
    Abstract: A device for matching, in input data, a regular expression with back-references, represented by a finite-state machine (FSM). The device comprises a plurality of parallel processing elements (PPEs), an interconnection network for interconnecting the PPEs with each other, and a memory for receiving and storing input data. The PPEs process the input data stored in the memory, based on backtracking to process the back-references, and implement FA next state logic to generate new active FA configurations or mark themselves as available to receive active FA configurations. The interconnection network retrieves active FA configurations from the PPEs and allocates the active FA configurations to available PPEs. The PPEs are configured to match a regular expression in the input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kubilay Atasu, Silvio Dragone
  • Patent number: 9877243
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a location of a mobile device. The location of a mobile device is determined accurately according to information which includes call data records of the mobile device. By employing a partial ellipse integral model, two physical world factors are taken into consideration in reducing the location uncertainty in call data records. The factors include: spatiotemporal constraints of the device's movement in the physical world and the telecommunication cell area's geometry information, which increase the accuracy of determining the location of a mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heng Cao, Wei Shan Dong, Chun Yang Ma, Ju Wei Shi, Chunhua Tian, Yu Wang, Chao Zhang
  • Patent number: 9874413
    Abstract: Methods of preventing overheating of computer equipment in a cabinet when a supply coolant to a cooler in the cabinet fails. An example embodiment is a data center that includes a plurality of cabinets and at least two main coolant supply lines. The cabinets are configured to house computer equipment and the main coolant supply lines provide coolant to the plurality of cabinets. Moreover, each cabinet includes a cooler and each of these coolers includes at least two radiators which receive coolant from different main coolant supply lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9873774
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shape memory polymer (SMP) thermal interface material. The shape memory polymer may include a SMP matrix. The SMP matrix may include a liquid crystal elastomer. The SMP material may also include a thermally conductive filler embedded within the SMP matrix. The thermally conductive filler may include one or more substantially aligned subcomponents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Kuczynski, Kevin M. O'Connell, Chelsie M. Peterson, Mark D. Plucinski, Timothy J. Tofil
  • Patent number: 9876951
    Abstract: A method, computer program product and computer system is provided. A processor identifies a location of a user. A processor determines a subject based on the location of the user. A processor determines a composition factor associated with the subject. A processor determines a popularity score for the subject based, at least in part on, a plurality of search queries from a plurality of users. Responsive to the popularity score for the subject being above a threshold, a processor sends a suggestion for an image including the subject and the composition factor associated with the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Craig M. Trim
  • Patent number: 9876074
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor fin portion having an end wall and extending upward from a substrate. A gate structure straddles a portion of the semiconductor fin portion. A first set of gate spacers is located on opposing sidewall surfaces of the gate structure; and a second set of gate spacers is located on sidewalls of the first set of gate spacers. One gate spacer of the second set of gate spacers has a lower portion that directly contacts the end wall of the semiconductor fin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce B. Doris, Hong He, Sivananda K. Kanakasabapathy, Gauri Karve, Fee Li Lie, Derrick Liu, Soon-Cheon Seo, Stuart A. Sieg
  • Patent number: 9876732
    Abstract: Resource provisioning to a process in a distributed computing system, such as a cloud computing system. An instruction to provision a resource is received. Portions of the resource are provisioned to the process as they become available, and prior to all portions becoming available, based on determining that the provisioning speed is greater than or equal to the use speed for the resource. If the use speed is faster, it may be actively slowed down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corville O. Allen, Andrew R. Freed
  • Patent number: 9875125
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for performing input/output (I/O) requests to two or more physical adapters in parallel. One method for performing an input/output (I/O) request includes mapping an address for at least a first page associated with a virtual I/O request to an entry in a virtual TCE table and identifying a plurality of physical adapters required to service the virtual I/O request. For each of the identified physical adapters, the entry in the virtual TCE table is mapped to an entry in a physical TCE table corresponding to the physical adapter. This method may also include, in parallel, issuing physical I/O requests to the physical adapters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew T. Koch, Kyle A. Lucke, Nicholas J. Rogness, Steven E. Royer
  • Patent number: 9875171
    Abstract: A technique for estimating a format of a log message (LM) according to the present invention includes creating a first directed graph structure by dividing a first LM by predetermined characters to define divided portions as nodes and arranging the nodes in order from the beginning of the first LM; creating a second directed graph structure by performing on a second LM the same processing as that performed on the first LM; comparing nodes in the first directed graph structure with nodes in the second directed graph structure to detect nodes other than nodes including a corresponding character string; adding to the first directed graph structure the node detected in the second directed graph structure among the detected nodes as a first branch node; and estimating the format, based on the first directed graph structure including the first branch node added thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Masayoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9875315
    Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a display of a keyword search result. First Document Object Model (DOM) element(s) in a web page DOM are identified as including DOM element(s) specifying first content that is relevant to the keyword. Second DOM element(s) in the DOM are identified as specifying second content that is irrelevant to the keyword. DOM element(s) are determined to specify paragraph(s) in the first content which were hidden from view as a result of a prior search of another keyword and based on the paragraph(s) not including the other keyword. The display of the result of the search is generated to include the first content and the paragraph(s) according to modified first attribute(s) of the DOM element(s) specifying the paragraph(s), and hide the second content from view, according to modified second attribute(s) of the second DOM element(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Robert R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9876816
    Abstract: A system for detecting security vulnerabilities in web applications, the system including, a black-box tester configured to provide a payload to a web application during a first interaction with the web application at a computer server, where the payload includes a payload instruction and an identifier, and an execution engine configured to detect the identifier within the payload received during an interaction with the web application subsequent to the first interaction, and determine, responsive to detecting the identifier within the payload, whether the payload instruction underwent a security check prior to execution of the payload instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yair Amit, Alexander Landa, Omer Tripp
  • Patent number: 9876681
    Abstract: A resource management solution for use in a data-processing infrastructure comprising a server data-processing entity and a set of target data-processing entitiesthat is operable for downloading a set of corresponding management policies, executing a verification action indicated in each one of the corresponding management policies for verifying a compliance of the target data-processing entity with the management policy, executing a target-side remediation action indicated in each violated one of the corresponding target-side management policies which the target data-processing entity is not compliant with, for remedying the non-compliance of the target data-processing entity with the violated target-side management policy, sending an indication of a remediation request for each violated one of the corresponding server-side management policies, which each target data-processing entity is not compliant with, and executing by the server data-processing entity, a corresponding server-side remediation action in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michele Crudele, James S. Jennings, Bernardo Pastorelli
  • Patent number: 9876765
    Abstract: A first communication element is received on a communicating device. A defined mapping is identified based on an identification of a recipient device. The first communication element is mapped to a second communication element based on the defined mapping. The mapped communication element is provided to the recipient device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Geetika T. Lakshmanan, Michael Muller
  • Patent number: 9875966
    Abstract: Low resistance interconnect structures containing a combined via level/line level interconnect structure and an overlying line level interconnect structure are provided in which both interconnect structures include a metal or metal alloy having a bamboo microstructure are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Chao Yang
  • Patent number: 9876200
    Abstract: A microbattery structure for hermetically sealed microbatteries is provided. In one embodiment, the microbattery structure includes a first silicon substrate containing at least one pedestal which houses a cathode material of a microbattery and at least one depression which houses A FIRST sealant material of the microbattery. The structure further includes a second silicon substrate containing at least one pedestal which houses an anode material of the microbattery and at least one depression which houses a second sealant material of the microbattery. An insulated centerpiece is bonded to the first sealant material present in at least two depressions on the first silicon substrate. An interlock structure is formed by aligning and superimposing the second silicon substrate on the first silicon substrate in a mortise and tenon fashion and sealing the two substrates using a high force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Andry, Bucknell C. Webb, Cornelia T. Yang