Abstract: A method and system for improving the working set of a program image. The working set (WS) improvement system of the present invention employs a two-phase technique for improving the working set. In the first phase, the WS improvement system inputs the program image and outputs a program image with the locality of its references improved. In the second phase, the WS improvement system inputs the program image with its locality of references improved and outputs a program image with the placement of its basic blocks in relation to page boundaries improved so that the working set is reduced.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for monitoring a task executing on a data processing system, the task having an associated work in process queue and an associated work pending queue. The task is configured to properly execute requests that are terminated in progress and restarted from an initial start point. A watchdog task determines if the task is executing properly and restarts the task if it is not executing properly. Restarting is provided by placing requests in the work in process queue of the terminated task in the work pending queue and clearing the work in process queue. Execution by the task of requests from the work pending queue is then reinitiated.

Abstract: A method of efficiently coordinating the communication of data and commands between multiple entities in a system is disclosed. A transaction protocol enabling centralized scheduling of chains of data transfers in a system is disclosed.

Abstract: Allocation of shareable resources of a computing environment are dynamically adjusted to balance the workload of that environment. Workload is managed across two or more partitions of a plurality of partitions of the computing environment. The managing includes dynamically adjusting allocation of a shareable resource of at least one partition of the two or more partitions in order to balance workload goals of the two or more partitions.

Abstract: A component-based framework includes system services and component integration interfaces that provide a run-time environment for component-based server application in which server application components have control over the duration of their state independent of client action. The framework provides functions that a server application component calls to indicate its work for a client is complete, and its state is to be destroyed. On the component's return from the client's method call, the framework destroys the component's state thus releasing any server computer resources held by the component. This allows the server application components to be programmed so as to minimize the duration that their state remains in memory consuming server computer resources, and which enhances scalability of the server application.

Abstract: Groups of partitions of a computing environment are managed. At least one group of the computing environment includes a plurality of partitions of the computing environment. Shareable resources are assigned to the partitions of the group and are managed as a group.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes an information appliance system (100) having an information appliance device (102) with a focus manager (206). Among other things, the focus manager is disposed to manage a plurality of asynchronous entities (214). Focus manager (206) receives an asynchronous request (209), stores it in a queue (250) and assigns it a priority level (252, 254, 256). Based on the priority level (252, 254, 256), an asynchronous entity (214) takes over control of user interface device resources from an entity (210), utilizes the resources, and returns them to the entity (210).

Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a persistent CGI model is used to provide a CGI program extension that captures the advantages of the presently known CGI model but overcomes many of the related disadvantages. The persistent CGI program is executed as a sub-process of the web server. The persistent CGI program receives input from web browsers through standard input and environment variables and provides output through standard output in the same manner as existing CGI programs. However, unlike existing CGI programs, the persistent CGI program is not automatically terminated after output is transmitted to the web browser by the web server application. Instead, the persistent CGI program remains active and waits for additional input from the same web browser. This allows transactions to remain open and, accordingly, state data relating to on-going transactions can be maintained in between web browser requests.

Abstract: The invention in one embodiment is a method for installing an operating system on a computer. The method includes generating an external configuration file containing information about a plurality of devices that might be associated with the computer; identifying a particular device associated with the computer, the particular device being one of the plurality of devices; installing a driver on the computer according to the information stored in the external configuration file and the particular device's identity; and installing the operating system according to information stored in the external configuration file and the particular device's identity.

Abstract: When an information processing apparatus performs the process, it stores hysteresis data itemizing the process type, the apparatus in charge of processing, the person for instructing the process, the process object information and execution time. Then, necessary hysteresis data are searched for by designating the conditions in the items, desired hysteresis data is selected from the hysteresis data that are found, and the same process (re-printing of the same document) or a new process (saving a printed document with a new file name) is performed for the object in the selected hysteresis data. The hysteresis number is provided for the hysteresis data, and a correlation is provided for the process that caused the process represented by the hysteresis data, and the hysteresis number of the process that is caused by the process represented by the hysteresis data.

Abstract: An event notification channel is provided in a computer controlled object oriented programming system having at least one event supplier object and a plurality of event consumer objects which may be run continuously without interruption and without loss of event notification to any consumer object irrespective of whether any of the consumer objects are off line for filter modification or any other maintenance purpose. The channel transmits events from supplier objects to a plurality of filter objects, each respectively associated with one of the plurality of consumer objects for passing only selected events to the associated consumer object. The system includes a plurality of proxy consumer objects, each associated with one of said consumer objects and between said filter object and said supplier object, whereby said proxy consumer object may receive supplier transmitted events on behalf of its associated consumer object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring that a process interacting with a failing process is notified of the failure of that process. Each process has a unique process identifier (PID) associated with it. Each process optionally has an affinity list containing one or more entries, each of which contains the identifier of a process that is to be notified when the process fails. A process updates the affinity list of a target process (either itself or another process) by calling an affinity service of the operating system (OS) kernel, specifying the type of operation (add or delete), the identifier of the target process, the identifier of the process that is to notified, and the type of event that is to be generated for the process that is to be notified. When a process fails, a process termination service of the OS kernel examines the affinity list of the failing process and, for each entry in the list, generates an event of the specified type for the process specified as to be notified.

Abstract: A method of determining scenario causality, along with precedence causality, is disclosed. Information is recorded relating to events occurring during execution of a process. The information includes object related information and process related information. The information is translated into a sequence of scenario graph language statements, one or more events translated to a statement. From the statements, process execution flow is determined establishing some scenario causality and precedence causality.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are disclosed for minimizing the memory required by memory management structures in a multi-threaded operating environment. The shortest necessary lifetime of a memory management structure is determined to allow the memory required to maintain the memory management structure to be reallocated for other uses when the memory management structure is no longer required. A memory management structure comprises a synchronization object for each data segment. A link list of synchronization nodes is also maintained to identify to the read thread a next data segment to be read and comprises a segment ready indicator that also indicates whether a data segment is available for access. If the segment ready indicator indicates to the read thread that the data segment is available for access, the read thread proceeds directly to reading the data segment without accessing the synchronization object.

Abstract: A system and method is described for generic automated tuning for performance management. The system comprises a target to be controlled and a generic automated tuning agent (GATA) that performs this control. The controlled target provides interfaces to metrics relating to workload, service levels, and configuration information, as well as a means to adjust tuning controls that determine resource allocations within the target. The GATA inputs the metrics, estimates new tuning control settings based on service objectives specified by administrators, and outputs the tuning control settings.

Abstract: Techniques for porting operating systems of a first class whose representatives include operating systems implementing the POSIX standard to operating systems of a second class whose representatives include operating systems implementing the Win32 API. Processes belonging to operating systems of the first class are characterized by a single thread, parent-child relationships, and signal handlers that execute on the top of the stack; processes belonging to operating systems belonging to the second class have multiple threads, do not have parent-child relationships and do not necessarily execute their signal handlers at the top of the stack. Techniques are disclosed for implementing signal handling as required for operating systems of the first class and providing a signal to a parent process of the first class when one of its child processes terninates.

Abstract: A computer system includes a real-time interrupt that causes the operating system to determine which isochronous tasks are pending. In one embodiment, applications that include isochronous tasks are certified to be well-behaved and the operating system will only initiate applications that are known to be well-behaved by checking a list of certified applications. The operating system will not initiate an application if insufficient resources are available for executing the tasks of the application. Each application informs the operating system of an execution rate and a maximum duration of its isochronous tasks. Prior to initiating an application, the operating system verifies that resources are available to execute the isochronous tasks of the application. The operating system includes a non-maskable interrupt to terminate isochronous tasks. Termination may be necessary if an isochronous task fails to execute within its specified maximum duration.

Abstract: In a distributed computer system, a data set having a plurality of data rows is extended by adding an additional column to the data set and assigning a persistent partition ID to each of the plurality of data rows in the additional column. The extended data set can then be queried by a plurality of queries, each of which has conditions that select the same rows from the data set and each of which has different partition ID information. The partition ID information forms a different result set from the selected rows so that the result set of each query forms a non-overlapping, transferable result set partition. Together, the result set partitions form the complete result set. The result set partitions can be transferred in parallel through the computer system to increase the system throughput.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the working set of a program image. The working set (WS) improvement system of the present invention employs a two-phase technique for improving the working set. In the first phase, the WS improvement system inputs the program image and outputs a program image with the locality of its references improved. In the second phase, the WS improvement system inputs the program image with its locality of references improved and outputs a program image with the placement of its basic blocks in relation to page boundaries improved so that the working set is reduced.

Abstract: A computerized method provides unshared local storage space to a process distributed by a trusted source through the use of an identity associated with the process that specifies local capabilities for the identity on a computer. The method obtains the identity and allocates the local storage space based on the information on the local capabilities, securing the space with the identity so that only a process with the same identity can access the space. The method also enforces the local capabilities on the process by monitoring the use of the local storage space. The identity is uniquely defined by a digital certificate or similar security facility. The identity is associated with a data structure, such as a digital signature, that includes the size of the local storage space and, optionally, whether the process is subject to global storage limits set by the computer. A computerized system which executes the method is also disclosed.