Abstract: A method for evaluating application software used with a computer system having a graphic user interface. The method is implemented as a computer program that runs simultaneously with the application software. The program continually checks a system-provided event record to determine if a user-initiated event has occurred. If so, the program relates the event to an on-screen object of the graphic user interface and to the time at which it occurred. The program outputs an event capture log, which may be used for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A code translator, constructed similar to a compiler, accepts as an input to be translated the assembly code written for one architecture (e.g., VAX), and produces as an output object code for a different machine architecture (e.g., RISC). The input code is converted into an intermediate language, and a flow graph is constructed. The flow graph is referenced by a flow analyzer for recognizing certain architecture-specific and calling standard-specific coding practices or idioms that cannot be automatically converted, particularly relating to stack usage, register usage, condition codes, and passing arguments for procedure calls. By tracking stack usage within routines, the compiler can distinguish up-level stack and return address references from valid local references. Also, it can inform the user of stack misalignment, which has a severe performance penalty, and can detect code segments where different flow paths may result in different stack depths at runtime, which may indicate a source code error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting a computer network protocol analyzer into a Token Ring network. Commercial integrated circuits are used to initiate a standard protocol test and synchronization sequence and to actuate an insertion relay in a network coupling unit. After actuation of the insertion relay, incoming network data is switched onto outgoing network data lines, bypassing the commercial protocol circuitry. As a result, the analyzer can be inserted into a Token Ring even when there are network problems which would prohibit insertion under normal protocol.

Abstract: A method is provided for executing a subroutine in a computer which includes a memory and a stack. The memory has a plurality of sequentially ordered memory address locations referenced by respective address codes. The subroutine is stored in a preselected range of memory locations. The method includes storing a signature word on the stack, the signature word corresponding to an entry address code in memory for the subroutine; storing a return address on the stack, the return address code corresponding to a memory location where control is to be passed after execution of the subroutine; passing control to the subroutine entry address; executing the subroutine; comparing the signature word stored on the stack with the subroutine entry address code; passing control to the return address if the compared values are equal; and executing a software interrupt if the compared values are not equal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a parallel vector machine model for building a compiler that exploits three different levels of parallelism found in a variety of parallel processing machines, and in particular, the Connection Machine.RTM. Computer CM-2 system. The fundamental idea behind the parallel vector machine model is to have a target machine that has a collection of thousands of vector processors each with its own interface to memory. Thus allowing a fine-grained array-based source program to be mapped onto a course-grained hardware made up of the vector processors. In the parallel vector machine model used by CM Fortran 1.0, the FPUs, their registers, and the memory hiearchy are directly exposed to the compiler. Thus, the CM-2 target machine is not 64K simple bit-serial processors. Rather, the target is a machine containing 2K PEs (processing elements), where each PE is both superpipelined and superscalar. The compiler uses data distribution to spread the problem out among the 2K processors.

Abstract: A data processing system (10), comprised of a central processing unit (14) and a memory system (16), has an efficient initialization operation. The memory system (16) provides a bus interface unit (20) to automatically determine whether the system (10) should execute an initialization operation or function in a normal mode of operation. The memory system (16) begins execution of the initialization operation of the system (10) in response to both a logic value of a reset signal and a value of an address transferred by an address bus. The memory system (16) automatically terminates execution of the initialization operation in response to the value of the address transferred by the address bus.

Abstract: In a computer system where applications and data manipulated by the applications are implemented in an object oriented manner, an object type and its deriving attribute are stored as an entry in a table having an identifier. The object type table is in turn stored in a database. Similarly, the object type and its attribute values having corresponding attribute identifiers are stored as an entry in a table having an identifier. The object type attribute table is in turn also stored in a database. An object type deriving manager and an object type attribute values obtaining manager corresponding to the object type table and the object type attribute table are provided for deriving object type and obtaining object type attribute values respectively. A row getting interface routine and a column getting interface routine are provided for invoking the functions of the object type deriving manager and the functions of the object type attribute values obtaining manager.

Abstract: A shell program is used in conjunction with a computer that has a multitasking operating system. The shell program interprets sequences of commands, submitted as scripts, and passes the interpreted commands on to the operating system for execution. The shell program accepts scripts which define distinct sets of commands that are to be executed in parallel, and also accepts conditional commands that synchronize the execution of specified sets of commands with other specified sets of commands. Scripts are executed by the shell by creating a thread of execution for each set of commands that is to be executed in parallel with other sets of commands. All the threads created by the shell program share a common address space so that status information from the various threads, as well as computational results generated by these threads, can be used by other ones of the threads to synchronize the execution of such threads.

Abstract: An application, executing on a first processing element in a MP system without an asymmetric feature, issues an instruction requiring that feature to complete. A program check interruption gives control to interrupt handlers, which create a high-priority, non-preemptable work unit control block and enters the dispatcher to enqueue the work unit on a processor-related queue associated with a second processing element having the asymmetric feature. When the dispatcher executes in the second processing element, it executes the non-preemptable work unit, which transfers control to the application at the point of interruption. Subsequently the application has only whatever processor affinity obtained prior to the program check.

Abstract: A computer workstation 10 intended for use in a computer network 30 (e.g. a LAN), has initialization control logic which, on system power on, interrogates an IPL determinator 45 held in non-volatile read/write storage (e.g. in CMOS) to determine a source of IPL control logic and sets 51, at a predetermined location within a reserved data area of the workstation RAM, an IPL source indicator. The initialization control logic then passes control to the IPL control logic. This causes initial programs to be loaded into the workstation RAM from the IPL source. The IPL source indicator, which is preferably held in an extended BIOS data area can be used by applications running in the workstation's working memory or on a server of a network to which the workstation is connected, to check on the IPL source used. Even if the IPL determinator is changed in preparation for a subsequent session, the IPL indicator will reliably reflect the source of IPL for the current session.

Abstract: A system for reconfiguring a multiple user VM computing system is described. A CMS source file is used to generate new nucleus system definitions for a control program of an operating VM system. The CMS source file is edited and converted to a tag entry format for use in a diagnose interface. Using the diagnose interface, an override disk under control of the control program may be updated with new override data. In a subsequent system IPL, or upon issuance of an OVERRIDE command with the IMMEDIATE option from the CMS application, the newly-stored data from the CP override DASD may be loaded in the control program memory.

Abstract: In a network management system installing object class defining information, the benefits of altering object class definitions and responding to real time instance generation requests are both available. The system includes a first region for storing object class definitions, a second region for storing instances of the class for which generation is requested and a third region for storing a class information table for updating. The contents of the third region are generated or updated by batch processing on the basis of the first region. Real time processing means generates or updates the contents of the second region on the basis of the contents of the third region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for permitting the consensual delegation of selected software command operations by one user to another user in a data processing system. An Affinity Activity Object (AAO) is established and associated with a selected user. A plurality of parameters are then listed within the Affinity Activity Object (AAO) and these parameters are then utilized to identify selected software command operations, an identification of those users for which the associated user consents to undertake those software command operations and a selected time frame during which such undertaking will be permitted. In response to a request for delegation of a software command operation, these listed parameters are then evaluated and only those selected software command operations satisfying the listed parameters are delegated to the associated user.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for automatically generating computer programs for use in parallel processor arrangements from a user generated block diagram of the program. The system includes a library of parallel program modules and parallel program interface modules, a background manager (glue), a virtual shared memory, and a visual programming interface. Using the visual programming interface, the user selects parallel program modules and program interface modules and specifies operating characteristics information required to implement a block diagram of the desired program. The user then enables the system to create the source program, compile the program and execute the program on the system. The glue manager automatically establishes the communication paths needed to provide communication between the program and interface modules.