Abstract: An improved logically partitioned data processing system is provided. In one embodiment, the data processing system includes a plurality of hardware devices, including processors, and a plurality of operating systems. Each of the plurality of operating systems executes within a separate partition within the logically partitioned data processing system. A firmware component provides each operating system with a virtualized copy of the hardware devices, thus maintaining separation between each of the logical partitions. The firmware component is implemented as 64-bits, thus allowing each of the processors to execute in 64-bit mode and eliminating the need for virtual address translation from a 32-bit virtual address to a 64-bit physical address.

Abstract: An object code expansion profiler equips a program for execution profiling by preprocessing the object code files of the program so as to add profiling monitoring code to the beginning of all or substantially all functions. The preprocessing includes, for each function, the steps of grouping the function's instructions into basic blocks, counting the number of cycles required to execute the instructions of the basic block, and inserting special monitoring code with the basic block. The special monitoring code is executed each time the basic block is executed, and updates the profiling information to reflect the number of cycles required to execute the basic block. Special handling is provided for profiling calls to the Operating System (OS). The resultant profiling information is converted into a call graph image most useful for human users.

Abstract: A method to dynamically alter the availability or characteristics of specified system resources (e.g. interprocess communications facilities or tuning variables that control operating efficiency) is described. The inventive method is unique in that it allows the modification of system resources without the need to rebuild and re-initialized (i.e., reboot) the operating system. If required by the specific alteration being performed, creation of new kernel control structures may require that one or more of a kernel's static-type data structures be converted to dynamic-type data structures.

Abstract: A method and system of increasing efficiency within a data processing system having multiple applications executing within the data processing system. Each of the applications requires a specific environment. A collection of parameters which specify an environment is stored within the data processing system in response to an initialization of the environment for utilization by a first application. Next, the minimal requirements of an second application requesting an environment are determined in response to an attempted initialization of the second application. An existing environment is then utilized if the collection of parameters specifying the environment meets the minimal requirements of the second application, wherein data processing efficiency is increased.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing work granules of a parent task among processes running on various nodes in a multi-processing computer system is provided. The parent task is divided into work granules of varying sizes based on the location of the data that must be accessed to perform the work granules. At least one process on each of the nodes that will be assisting in the execution of the parent task is initially assigned a work granule based on efficiency considerations. Such efficiency considerations may include, for example, the location of the data to be accessed relative to the process, the current I/O load of the devices on which data to be accessed is stored, and the relative sizes of the various work granules. When a process completes the work granule assigned to it, the process is assigned one of the remaining unassigned work granules. Again the work granule assignment is made based on efficiency considerations. This process continues until all of the work granules have been completed.

Abstract: A system and method for altering a boot sequence provided by a Basic Input/Output System that, when executed, enables diagnostics of the electronic system containing the BIOS by a service provider. Access to the service provider may be established through a publicly accessible network such as the Internet.

Abstract: A novel computer workstation interface program provides for subordination of select operating system and application commands. The system permits a seamless integration of distinct applications with a common context controller that permits inter-application communication regarding the operating environment. System resources are managed to insure critical operations retain priority, while permitting access to resources as they are freed by the system.The workstation enhances user productivity by creating a work environment orchestrated around task and function rather than specific application and file paradigms.

Abstract: A method and system utilized by a multi-processor computer for storing exponent codes is provided. The multi-processor computer includes a plurality of processing elements. Each processing element executes a task having an instruction set. The processing elements are assigned a position in an execution sequence that defines the order in which the processing elements generate their respective outputs. Instruction sets are stored in a computer memory attached to the processing elements. The instruction sets are stored so that the processing elements produce outputs according to the execution schedule. The computer memory can be accessed using a two-dimensional addressing scheme where one dimension designates processing elements and the other designates instructions. Each instruction set includes one or more exponent codes that cause a processing element to raise an input value to a specified power.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for executing tasks in a multiprocessor system including a plurality of processors, each processor taking either an "idle" state and a "run" state, wherein the method includes the steps of: detecting, when a first processor among the plurality of processors that is executing a first task newly generates a second task, whether or not a second processor taking the "idle" state exists among the plurality of processors; assigning the second task, if a second processor taking the "idle" state is detected, to the second processor, so as to begin execution of the second task by the second processor, change the state of the second processor from the "idle" state to the "run" state, and store a flag having a first value indicating that the execution of the first task has not been suspended; and suspending, if no second processor taking the "idle" state is detected, the execution of the first task by the first processor, beginning execution of the second task by the first process

Abstract: A method of sharing data between a sender application and a receiver application. The sender application and the receiver application execute on a computer system. The method comprises the following steps. The receiver application generates a receiver interface. The receiver application registers receiver data tokens in a registry. The data tokens correspond to the data. The sender application generates a sender interface. The sender application generates sender data tokens corresponding to the sender interface. A first token, of the sender data tokens, corresponds to one of the receiver data tokens. The sender interface receives the data and determines that the first token is registered by the receiver interface. The sender interface transmits the data to the receiver application.

Abstract: A method of operating a data storage system that includes a plurality of host connections for connecting host processors to the data storage system. The data stroage system includes digital storage that is partitioned into a plurality of volumes. The method includes the steps of mapping the plurality of volumes to the plurality of host connections so that each of the host connections has associated therewith a corresponding subset of the volumes and wherein a host processor connected to any given one of the host connections is able to access only the volumes that are mapped to that host connection. In the data storage system, supporting a connect and a disconnect command. The connect command enables a host processor to map a designated one of the volumes to a designated one of the host connections; and the disconnect command enables a host processor to unmap a designated one of the volumes from a designated one of the host connections.

Abstract: A distributed software development system includes an apparatus for managing subsystem development in at least one development device. The management apparatus includes a system information file for storing information indicative of a correspondence between a plurality of subsystems and a plurality of specifications. The contents of the specifications are stored in a specification information file. When a subsystem is revised, a subsystem extracting device extracts from these files information regarding the subsystem to be revised. The extracted information is sent to the development device. After being revised by the development device, the extracted information is sent back to the management apparatus. An updating device receives the information and updates the subsystem information file and the specification information file according to the information received.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism to integrate differing transaction protocols by augmenting an existing Resource Manager to act as both a Transaction Manager and a Resource Manager within a system which also contains a standards-based Transaction Manager which has overall transaction management responsibility. The Transaction Manager within the Resource Manager acts as an interface to provide specific mappings between the Transaction Manager which has overall transaction management responsibility and a proprietary transaction processing system which it manages. The interface is required to map different transaction identification specifications, record appropriate state information and have procedures to effect failure and restart scenarios.

Abstract: A method for scheduling when a server provides service to entities. The method includes the steps of identifying when a first entity requests service from the server. Next there is the step of providing service to an entity, such as a first entity or a second entity, as a function of virtual time. A scheduler for controlling when a server provides service to entities. The scheduler comprises a memory having times which are a function of when entities request service from the server. The scheduler is also comprised of a virtual clock that keeps track of time. The scheduler is also comprised of a controller which causes an entity to receive service from the server as a function of virtual time. Rate can also be utilized.

Abstract: Very large amounts of data may be handled by the user interface of computers. The main processor is thus permanently overloaded, so that the computing power available for the actual application is sharply reduced in a manner that cannot be predicted without limiting the user requests. A new computer architecture is disclosed which allows a higher and more exactly predictable computing power to be achieved. In order to make the rest of the system independent from the user interface, the computer is subdivided in such a way that a first module (part 1) takes over the display and operation tasks of the user interface, a second module (part 2) takes over the processing of the application programs without their user interface, and a third module (part 3) takes over the remaining functional units. All modules have their own internal data paths. An interface between the first and second modules support the exchange of messages and data without affecting the independent processes in the first and second modules.

Abstract: A hardware resource manager for real-time control of a hardware resource in a multiprocessing environment is disclosed. The hardware resource manager performs control and management functions for a limited hardware resource that can be accessed by multiple asynchronous application programs in order to achieve real-time response by the limited hardware resource. The hardware resource manager of the present invention comprises a shared memory buffer and a resource daemon. The shared memory buffer provides for semaphore locking capability so that only one application program may control the hardware resource manager at a time, and virtual memory capability for storing data and command information from the application programs. The resource daemon provides interpretation and processing capability for controlling the limited hardware resource via the data and command information received from the shared memory buffer.

Abstract: An object-oriented computer environment is managed by storing, in a plurality of repositories accessible during the life cycles of objects, information required to initiate object operations. The repositories can contain location information identifying the storage location of system objects or information indicating preferences for a preselected manner of performing object operations. In another preferred form, the repositories can be assigned to different levels of a hierarchy to control the distribution of stored information.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and dispatching selected events in an application program comprises an application routine which registers selected events of interest to form a series of handler tables, an event manager which evaluates each new event as it occurs to determine whether any new events are registered in the series of handler tables, and a series of event handlers for responsively handling new events which are registered in the series of handler tables.

Abstract: In a distributed transaction processing system, deadlocks generated between global transactions so as to stretch over a plurality of resource managers which access database can be detected, thus aiming at effective use of resources. For this reason, the system is configured in such a manner that a transaction manager for collectively managing global transactions is provided with global deadlock detector for detecting deadlocks generated so as to stretch over a plurality of resource managers between a plurality of global transactions which result from wait-for relation as to occupation of hardware resources.

Abstract: A single threaded computer is provided with a threaded environment by using thread related batch jobs to accept thread tasks and individually apply them to specialized batch jobs that perform the tasks. Return data is applied by the thread related batch jobs to a common queue and the using application is caused to wait on the common queue, thereby overcoming the single threaded computer limitation that an application can only wait on one queue at a time. The thread tasks are thereby performed asynchronously while the user application effectively waits on all such thread tasks by waiting on the common queue. The threaded environment maintains a pool of active thread related batch jobs and permits the cloning of new thread related batch jobs from existing thread related batch jobs to efficiently manage the thread pool.