Abstract: A system and method for updating power supply voltages due to variations from aging are described. A functional unit includes a power supply monitor capable of measuring power supply variations in a region of the functional unit. An age counter measures an age of the functional unit. A control unit notifies the power supply monitor to measure an operating voltage reference. When the control unit receives a measured operating voltage reference, the control unit determines an updated age of the region different from the current age based on the measured operating voltage reference. The control unit updates the age counter with the corresponding age, which is younger than the previous age in some cases due to the region not experiencing predicted stress and aging. The control unit is capable of determining a voltage adjustment for the operating voltage reference based on an age indicated by the age counter.

Abstract: A system and method for updating power supply voltages due to variations from aging are described. A functional unit includes a power supply monitor capable of measuring power supply variations in a region of the functional unit. An age counter measures an age of the functional unit. A control unit notifies the power supply monitor to measure an operating voltage reference. When the control unit receives a measured operating voltage reference, the control unit determines an updated age of the region different from the current age based on the measured operating voltage reference. The control unit updates the age counter with the corresponding age, which is younger than the previous age in some cases due to the region not experiencing predicted stress and aging. The control unit is capable of determining a voltage adjustment for the operating voltage reference based on an age indicated by the age counter.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scrambling and descrambling data in a computer system includes transmitting non-scrambled data from a first high speed inter chip (IP) link circuit located on a first chip to a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) physical (PHY) circuit located on the first chip, the first high speed link IP indicating the data is not scrambled. The received non-scrambled data is scrambled by the first SERDES PHY circuit and transmitted to a second chip. The received scrambled data is descrambled by a second SERDES PHY circuit located on the second chip. The non-scrambled data is transmitted by the second SERDES PHY circuit to a second high speed link IP circuit located on the second chip to a third circuit for further processing or transmission.

Abstract: A system and method for updating power supply voltages due to variations from aging are described. A functional unit includes a power supply monitor capable of measuring power supply variations in a region of the functional unit. An age counter measures an age of the functional unit. A control unit notifies the power supply monitor to measure an operating voltage reference. When the control unit receives a measured operating voltage reference, the control unit determines an updated age of the region different from the current age based on the measured operating voltage reference. The control unit updates the age counter with the corresponding age, which is younger than the previous age in some cases due to the region not experiencing predicted stress and aging. The control unit is capable of determining a voltage adjustment for the operating voltage reference based on an age indicated by the age counter.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scrambling and descrambling data in a computer system includes transmitting non-scrambled data from a first high speed inter chip (IP) link circuit located on a first chip to a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) physical (PHY) circuit located on the first chip, the first high speed link IP indicating the data is not scrambled. The received non-scrambled data is scrambled by the first SERDES PHY circuit and transmitted to a second chip. The received scrambled data is descrambled by a second SERDES PHY circuit located on the second chip. The non-scrambled data is transmitted by the second SERDES PHY circuit to a second high speed link IP circuit located on the second chip to a third circuit for further processing or transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scrambling and descrambling data in a computer system includes transmitting non-scrambled data from a first high speed inter chip (IP) link circuit located on a first chip to a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) physical (PHY) circuit located on the first chip, the first high speed link IP indicating the data is not scrambled. The received non-scrambled data is scrambled by the first SERDES PHY circuit and transmitted to a second chip. The received scrambled data is descrambled by a second SERDES PHY circuit located on the second chip. The non-scrambled data is transmitted by the second SERDES PHY circuit to a second high speed link IP circuit located on the second chip to a third circuit for further processing or transmission.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: An interactive computer game system (10) for one or more players includes a game server (12) that generates a first game piece (19A) controlled by a first player, and a second game piece (19B). The first game piece (19A) has a first adjustable battle parameter that is adjustable by the first player and a first fixed battle parameter that is not adjustable by the first player. The second game piece (19B) can have a second adjustable battle parameter that is adjustable by the second player and a second fixed battle parameter that is not adjustable by the second player. The game pieces (19A, 19B) engage in a battle having an outcome determined by an algorithm that is based at least partly upon one or more of the adjustable battle parameters and/or one or more of the fixed battle parameters. In another embodiment, the game server (12) generates a pool of game pieces from which the players select activated first game pieces and second game pieces, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for playing a trading card game between a first player and a second player. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of determining that the first player has an initiative, which allows the first player to perform a plurality of steps during a first cycle prior to the second player performing any of the steps during the first cycle. Subsequently, the second player can perform a plurality of steps during the first cycle. The initiative then shifts to the second player, at which time the second player can perform a plurality of steps during a second cycle prior to the first player performing any of the steps during the second cycle. In another embodiment, the method includes temporarily eliminating one of a first card and a second card from play and reorienting the deactivated card on the play area to be recognizable as a card that has been temporarily deactivated from play.

Abstract: An interactive computer game system (10) for one or more players includes a game server (12) that generates a first game piece (19A) controlled by a first player, and a second game piece (19B). The first game piece (19A) has a first adjustable battle parameter that is adjustable by the first player and a first fixed battle parameter that is not adjustable by the first player. The second game piece (19B) can have a second adjustable battle parameter that is adjustable by the second player and a second fixed battle parameter that is not adjustable by the second player. The game pieces (19A, 19B) engage in a battle having an outcome determined by an algorithm that is based at least partly upon one or more of the adjustable battle parameters and/or one or more of the fixed battle parameters. In another embodiment, the game server (12) generates a pool of game pieces from which the players select activated first game pieces and second game pieces, respectively.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring clock frequency variations on a peripheral bus is provided to improve operations of the peripheral device despite changes in the clock frequency. In one aspect of the arrangement, a processing unit is coupled to a host bus which in turn is coupled to a peripheral bus which is coupled to a peripheral device. A monitoring arrangement is provided which detects a change in the clock frequency of the peripheral bus and determines if the frequency change exceeds a threshold associated with the peripheral device. If the threshold is exceeded, the peripheral device is informed that the clock frequency of the peripheral bus has changed. A peripheral device operating a different operating levels may use the information from the monitoring arrangement to alter the operating level of the peripheral device to conform to the new bus clock frequency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moulding an assembly of a thermoplastics member with a fusion pad 2b such as a pipe tapping tee saddle or a pipe coupling. The fusion pad 2b has an element which is to be electrically heated to weld the assembly to a compatible thermoplastics material and this pad is mounted in the cavity 105, 106 of an injection moulding tool 100 by which the thermoplastics member is to be moulded over the fusion pad 2b. During this latter moulding a control system 111 electrically heats the element to assist in bonding the thermoplastics envelope of the fusion pad to the thermoplastics of the member which is being moulded. A wall part 103 of the moulding tool 100 on which the fusion pad 2b is mounted may be temperature controlled 122 to maintain the surface of the fusion pad in contact therewith substantially solid.