Abstract: A method of recording events occurring in an information processing system in a memory unit. A system recorder is used as part of a server system which supports communication of digital information for a microcontroller network. The server system monitors the status of several system functions including temperature, cooling fan speeds, and the presence or absence of canisters and power supplies. The system updates the pertinent event messages and identification codes in the memory unit including the time such event or change in status occurred.

Abstract: The invention enables reporting of diagnostic data from a user's computer to a diagnostic technician or an automated diagnostic system, and may be advantageously applied to report data over a telephone connection. To facilitate diagnostic data reporting, gathering of diagnostic data is automated and the gathered data is automatically reported using a generated audio signal. Automated reporting using a generated audio signal may be helpful in reducing human errors in the reporting of diagnostic data to remote technicians.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mixed enclave operation of a computer network with users employing a multi-level network security interface and users without any network security interface. Either the network security user selects or the network security interface automatically selects whether communications are permissible with other unsecured users. Where a mixed enclave operation is selected, the network security user identifies when communications are being undertaken with another secured user or a non-secured user. Communications with a non-secured user at a lower security level entail securing the data residing with the secured user from transmission back to the non-secured user.

Abstract: A network scanner for security checking of application programs (e.g. Java applets or Active X controls) received over the Internet or an Intranet has both static (pre-run time) and dynamic (run time) scanning. Static scanning at the HTTP proxy server identifies suspicious instructions and instruments them e.g. a pre-and-post filter instruction sequence or otherwise. The instrumented applet is then transferred to the client (web browser) together with security monitoring code. During run time at the client, the instrumented instructions are thereby monitored for security policy violations, and execution of an instruction is prevented in the event of such a violation.

Abstract: In a storage system having a plurality of disks arranged in a RAID array with one of the disks failed, a method of reorganizing the data on the RAID array at the time of failure to prevent both a decrease in performance of the array and reliability of the data and an increase in the cost of operation. Data from the failed disk is regenerated one strip at a time and written onto the original parity chunk for the strip. The resulting fully folded array has the characteristics of a RAID level 0 array. When a replacement disk is inserted into the array the process is reversed to bring the fully folded array back to a fully redundant condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method, system and computer readable medium (the present invention) for reporting information related to a monitor attached to a computer which includes a system memory. The present invention includes electronically reading the information from the monitor and storing the monitor information in the system memory. The present invention further includes retrieving the monitor information from the system memory and providing the monitor information to a display via a browser. The monitor information comprises electronically readable information including its identity. One aspect of the present invention further includes comparing the monitor information with a corresponding last known information, wherein a mismatch indicates that the monitor has been changed. Another aspect of the present invention further includes copying the monitor information to a radio frequency (RF) enabled memory, wherein the monitor information can be logged utilizing an RF reader device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a client application to measure the performance, reliability or security of a system under test, based on user-defined loads to be applied to the system under test. In the present invention, a test may be performed simultaneously on several servers and applications. As the test progresses, results are compiled during run time and visual feedback is provided. By allowing a user to define the test, and by providing run time compilation of results, the present invention can be used for capacity planning. Stopped or truncated tests still provide relevant results. The application also may allow acceptance criteria to be analyzed during the run time of test. Finally, the number of users simulated may be regulated by the application.

Abstract: Provided is a redundant network management system. Several network management modules (NMMs), preferably one for each repeater unit, are provided in a single repeater stack. The NMMs of the repeater stack communicate using a management bus. The modules communicate on the management bus by sending small messages, referred to as “frames.” In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is preferably used in conjunction with a relatively simple and economical 8-bit management bus. This low cost implementation allows only one NMM to access the bus at any given time, and makes use of protocols by which multiple NMMs may use the management bus to communicate while ensuring that no two modules attempt to use the bus at the same time. Moreover, according to the present invention, only one NMM (referred to as the “master”) will perform all of the network management functions for the stack at any one time. The remaining modules operate in “slave” mode.

Abstract: The invention provides a virus extermination method by which an error in operation by a user is prevented and optimum virus extermination based on a type of a virus can be performed without imposing much burden in operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting computer viruses that infect text-based files. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a collection of virus signatures reflecting sequences of characters or instructions known to be found in such viruses is maintained on a computer system. A virus detection program is also maintained for the purpose of comparing the contents of computer files to the virus signatures. Upon execution of the virus detection program, whitespace within text-based files is transformed such that each sequence of whitespace characters is replaced by a single whitespace character. Virus signatures of viruses known to infect text files are similarly transformed. A transformed text-based file is then searched for at least one of said virus signatures. The user is alerted to a possible virus infection if any of the virus signatures are found in a file.

Abstract: A modular distributed I/O system includes a computer coupled to module banks through a network bus. A module bank includes a communication module, terminal bases, and I/O modules. The adjoined terminal bases form a local bus mastered by the communication module. The I/O modules connect to the local bus through terminal bases. I/O modules are pluriform and programmable. The communication module maintains a memory image of the configuration state of each I/O module resident in the module bank. A memory image persists when an I/O module is removed from its terminal base. The memory image is used to configure a new I/O module which is inserted into the same terminal base. The communication module monitors for communication failure on the network bus, and is configured to capture the state of the module bank and automatically restore this captured state after a power-loss event. The terminal bases realize a local bus which includes a parallel bus, a serial bus, and an address assignment bus.

Abstract: A fault diagnostic apparatus for the recognition of defective components of a technical system with fault-relevant process variables contains a diagnostic module which has a checklist and a table of predetermined conditions (in memory). The conditions are determined by a component fault simulation in a generated model of the operation of the system. The checklist provides a primary process variable and secondary process variables affected thereby, and the table of conditions gives for each combination of fault-relevant process variables, the corresponding components suspected of being faulty. During the operation of the system, the diagnostic module detects the condition values of the primary process variables and, upon the occurrence of a fault condition therein, activates a diagnostic process in which it compares the actual condition combination with the one stored in the table of conditions.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a testing system for testing X Servers. The testing system comprises a test harness that communicates with an X Server being tested to obtain the test results therefrom, an archive database for storing test archives to be used by the test harness for testing the X Server, a test result storage database for storing results of an X Server test, and a viewing tool that presents the user with a result file which the user analyzes to determine the X Server defect. Preferably, the test harness is object-oriented code that has a polymorphic and hierarchical structure. The basic units of the test harness are objects, such as display connections, screens, graphics contexts, pixmaps, colormaps and windows. Within the test context, each object encodes a unique hierarchy that indicates its dependencies on other test harness objects.

Abstract: In one apparatus, a number of obfuscated programming instructions are equipped to self-verify whether execution of the obfuscated programming instructions is being observed. In another apparatus, a number of obfuscated programming instruction are equipped to determine whether the apparatus is being operated in a mode that supports single step execution of the obfuscated programming instructions. In yet another apparatus, a number of obfuscated programming instruction are equipped to verify whether an amount of elapsed execution time has exceeded a threshold. In yet another apparatus, a first and a second group of obfuscated programming instruction are provided to implement a first and a second tamper resistant technique respectively, with the first and the second group of programming instructions sharing a storage location for a first and a second key value corresponding to the first and the second tamper resistant technique.

Abstract: In a failure diagnosing apparatus for a semiconductor integrated circuit device as a semiconductor integrated circuit device (106), an operation of a semiconductor integrated circuit device is simulated using a set of test vectors to produce a simulation result. The semiconductor integrated circuit device is tested using the set of test vectors to produce a test result. Next, a first set of combinations of circuit elements is defined based on a circuit data of the semiconductor integrated circuit device. In this case, the semiconductor integrated circuit device is composed of the circuit elements. A final set of failure candidates is estimated from the first set of combinations based on the simulation result and the test result for each of the test vectors. Then, the final set of failure candidates is outputted.

Abstract: The method described is distinguished in that overwriting return addresses stored for later use and/or using incorrectly stored or overwritten return addresses as a return address are prevented. This further prevents deliberate manipulation of program execution of software programs.

Abstract: To establish an access-controlled communications path between a client and an access-controlled network resource, a determination is initially made as to whether the client is authorized to access the access-controlled resource. If the client is authorized to access the access-controlled resource, then a validated parameter associated with the client (e.g. the client's network address) is established. Thereafter, a firewall is configured to selectively accept future communications having the validated parameter associated therewith. Upon receiving a communication, a determination is made as to whether the communication has the validated parameter associated therewith. If it does (thereby indicating that the communication is from the authorized client), then the communication is allowed to pass through the firewall to the access-controlled network resource. In this manner, an access-controlled communications path is established between the client and the access-controlled network resource.

Abstract: A network of microcontrollers for monitoring and diagnosing the environmental conditions of a computer is disclosed. The network of microcontrollers provides a management system by which computer users can accurately gauge the health of their computer. The network of microcontrollers provides users the ability to detect system fan speeds, internal temperatures and voltage levels. The invention is designed to not only be resilient to faults, but also allows for the system maintenance, modification, and growth—without downtime. Additionally, the present invention allows users to replace failed components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface cards and storage, without impacting existing users. One of the primary roles of the present invention is to manage the environment without outside involvement. This self-management allows the system to continue to operate even though components have failed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing detection of the signatures effected by a defective Floppy Diskette Controller (“FDC”) operates on media independent of files thereon, or on files, independent of the media on which they are stored. Multiple testing strategies incorporate evaluations to detect signatures of data corruption introduced by defective FDCs from long transfer delays, short transfer delays, contiguous storage of logical sectors, or fragmented storage of logical sectors of a file. A false positive filter uses secondary testing of data. Filters remove from consideration those common patterns that properly and naturally occur. These filters rely on indicia demonstrating that primary leading indicators of the presence of an error do not really result from an actual error. The signatures may be detected regardless of subsequent transfer of corrupted files to various media including the media tested.

Abstract: A test generator creates a cyclic directed graph representation of the interface of a program being tested and then generates tests from this representation. In generating the tests, the test generator iteratively selects traversal paths through the cyclic directed graph that result in traversal of every edge in the graph in a random order with a minimum number of iterations. The resulting tests contain randomly selected actions and randomly generated data, and thus when executed, these tests randomly manipulate the program being tested.