Abstract: A system and method for reducing service latency includes dividing an information technology service for a customer into an infrastructure management service and a data management service. Data associated with the information technology service is stored in a backup memory. A set of infrastructure images related to the information technology service is stored at a cloud service provider. The infrastructure images are updated with software updates and hardware updates, as needed, and the data associated with the information technology service is updated through backup and restore mechanisms. The set of infrastructure images that have been updated with data with latest updates are started for recovery, continuity, testing, etc.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating a call to a library function at compile time. A first call included in a program being compiled by a compiler is identified. The first call is a call to a library function included in a pre-defined list of library functions external to the program. The first call includes one or more arguments associated with one or more formal arguments of a library function in the pre-defined list. The identification of the first call includes searching the pre-defined list of library functions for the library function. The arguments are determined to be constants. A second call to the library function is constructed in an optimizer of the compiler. A result of the second call is statically computed in the optimizer by issuing the second call with the constants as arguments. During compile time, the first call is replaced with the result.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a plurality of configuration items in an information repository are provided. Lifecycle state transitions of the plurality of configuration items are regulated in accordance with one or more lifecycle state transition diagrams and, when a life cycle state transition involves a protected life cycle state, one or more request for change identifiers.

Abstract: Nanodispersions of inorganic clays in isocyanate may be created via pre-exfoliation, delamination, or both of the clay and subsequent mixing with isocyanate. In an embodiment, such an isocyanate nanodispersion is reacted with an isocyanate-reactive material or substrate to form a polyurethane nanocomposite.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for performing information transformations on an information stream composed of configuration items (CIs) for improving data quality and extending the capabilities of a configuration management database (CMDB). In one embodiment the data transformations ensure that a CMDB can be used to manage environments that use Network Address Translation by the modification of the signatures of analyzed CIs so that the resulting set of CIs is unique. The modification is applied to augment the signature with a domain specific prefix so that, when loaded into the enterprise wide CMDB, a CI is uniquely identified.

Abstract: A method for auditing and verifying configuration items (CIs) in an information technology (IT) configuration management database (CMDB) includes identifying which configuration item (CI) types should be part of an audit, defining link rules to link an authorized CI type stored in a CMDB to an actual CI type that is part of an IT infrastructure, retrieving all authorized CI instances of the identified CI types from the CMDB, retrieving all actual CI instances of the identified CI types from a discovery upload of a current IT environment, comparing the actual CI instances to the authorized CI instances, and taking remedial action when variances are discovered.

Abstract: A method, information processing system and computer readable medium for performing a transform of a multidimensional matrix in a distributed memory network. The method includes storing a multidimensional matrix of side N in a distributed memory network comprising a plurality of nodes and distributing work associated with a calculation of a transform of the matrix among N.sup.2 of the plurality of nodes. The method further includes receiving results of the calculation of the transform of the matrix by the nodes.

Abstract: A method for facilitating compliance testing in an information technology (IT) environment is provided. The method includes defining each IT component of an enterprise as a set of attribute value pairs represented as a configuration item (CI) and defining relationships among the CIs. Configuration Standards for the CIs are defined to include scope identifying CIs to which the Configuration Standards apply and restrictions defining requirements for compliance. Compliance testing is performed for IT components of the enterprise against a selected Configuration Standards by determining, depending on the scope and the restrictions of each of the selected Configuration Standards, which of the IT components within the scope of the selected Configuration Standards fails to meet the restrictions of respective ones of the selected Configuration Standards; and by outputting results as a list, which includes each of the IT components that failed to meet respective ones of the selected Configuration Standards.

Abstract: A pulley assembly operable in connection with a tensioner assembly is provided for tensioning a belt. The pulley assembly includes one or more elements for sealing the pulley to protect the pulley assembly in harsh environments. For instance, the pulley assembly may include one or more shields for protecting the pulley from contaminants entering the interior of the pulley assembly that can lead to premature failure.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products decompose a service process into service process operations; filter the service operations based on at least one pre-determined criterion; identify at least one different service process operation to be used to replace an existing service process operation; and replace the existing service process operation with the at least one different service process operation. The service process can be decomposed using specific service features derived from reference service processes. The pre-determined criterion used to filter the service operations can constitute a service level; a service category; or a service process feature. A service process feature describes core functionality of the service.

Abstract: A method for facilitating compliance testing in an environment is provided. The method includes defining each component as a set of attribute value pairs represented as a configuration item (CI) and defining relationships among the CIs. Configuration Standards for the CIs are defined to include scope identifying CIs to which the Configuration Standards apply and restrictions defining requirements for compliance. Compliance testing is performed for components against a selected Configuration Standards by determining, depending on the scope and the restrictions of each of the selected Configuration Standards, which of the components within the scope of the selected Configuration Standards fails to meet the restrictions of respective ones of the selected Configuration Standards; and by outputting results as a list, which includes each of the components that failed to meet respective ones of the selected Configuration Standards.

Abstract: A method for configuring multiple lifecycles, and associating each lifecycle with one or more subcategories of items includes receiving a request for a state change for an item in a current state; determining if the item's current state exists in the located lifecycle; wherein if the current state does not exist in the located lifecycle, the current state is updated with a series of update rules; determining if the current state has flags; wherein the flags are checked for one or more protection rules; generating a list of target states; receiving a user selected target state from the generated list; checking the selected target state for one or more associated protection rules; recording a state change for the selected target state in response to the satisfaction of the one or more associated protection rules, and if no protection rules are found; and propagating the state change.

Abstract: A printed article prepared by a flexographic printing process by applying a coating or ink that contains materials that are highly reactive with hydroxyl groups to an article substrate using a flexographic roller or plate made of non-polar polymers and optionally impregnated with silicone. In addition, a flexographic process for preparing a printed article by pattern applying more than one type of coating onto an article substrate. Unique patterns are laser engraved onto non-polar polymeric flexographic rollers/plates that may be impregnated with silicone, to preferably each coat different portions of the article substrate surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the problem of scheduling work for employees and/or other resources in a help desk or similar environment. The employees have different levels of training and availabilities. The jobs, which occur as a result of dynamically occurring events, consist of multiple tasks ordered by chain precedence. Each job and/or task carries with it a penalty which is a step function of the time taken to complete it, the deadlines and penalties having been negotiated as part of one or more service level agreement contracts. The goal is to minimize the total amount of penalties paid. The invention consists of a pair of heuristic schemes for this difficult scheduling problem, one greedy and one randomized. The greedy scheme is used to provide a quick initial solution, while the greedy and randomized schemes are combined in order to think more deeply about particular problem instances.

Abstract: A method to organize nodes into an overlay network and to disseminate multicast messages within this overlay both through an efficient tree embedded in the overlay and through gossips exchanged between overlay neighbors. Regardless of the size of the system, this invention incurs a constant low overhead on each node.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide methods, computer program products and apparatus that describe techniques for improved selection of agreements between entities, such as between a service provider and another entity (e.g., a supplier or customer of the service provider).

Abstract: A method to organize nodes into an overlay network and to disseminate multicast messages within this overlay both through an efficient tree embedded in the overlay and through gossips exchanged between overlay neighbors. Regardless of the size of the system, this invention incurs a constant low overhead on each node.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for managing execution of processes on a data processing system The data processing system comprises process instances that are each an execution of a corresponding process. Each process instance comprises activity instances. Business impacts are determined for the process instances, the activity instances, or both. Order of execution of the activity instances is managed by allocating resources to activity instances in order to achieve an objective defined in terms of the business impacts. In another embodiment, requests are received for the execution of the processes. For a given request, one or more of the operations of assigning, updating, aggregating, and weighting of first business impacts associated with the given request are performed to create second business impacts associated with the given request. Additionally, requests can be modified.

Abstract: Techniques for authenticating one or more configuration items in an information repository are provided comprising the step of running an audit on the one or more configuration items in accordance with a change history of each of the one or more configuration items and one or more request for change identifiers.

Abstract: Techniques for managing a plurality of configuration items in an information repository are provided. Lifecycle state transitions of the plurality of configuration items are regulated in accordance with one or more lifecycle state transition diagrams and, when a life cycle state transition involves a protected life cycle state, one or more request for change identifiers.