Patents by Inventor Eric A. LAWRENCE

Eric A. LAWRENCE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Power Adjustment Based on Completion Times in a Parallel Computing System
    Publication number: 20100241884
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product optimize power consumption in a parallel computing system that includes a plurality of computing nodes by selectively throttling performance of selected nodes to effectively slow down the completion of quicker executing parts of a workload of the computing system when those parts are dependent upon or otherwise associated with the completion of other, slower executing parts of the same workload. Parts of the workload are executed on the computing nodes, including concurrently executing a first part on a first computing node and a second part on a second computing node. The first node is selectively throttled during execution of the first part to decrease power consumption of the first node and conform a completion time of for the first node in completing the first part of the workload with a completion time for the second node in completing the second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, David L. Darrington, Amanda Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Coverage analysis of program code that accesses a database
    Patent number: 7792950
    Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method collect operational statistics associated with database access by a computer program for use in performing coverage analysis on the program. In particular, coverage analysis may be performed for a computer program that accesses a database by tracking accesses to records in the database by the computer program during coverage analysis, and calculating at least one database coverage statistic based upon the tracked accesses to the records in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Richard Dean Dettinger, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Handheld electronic book reader with annotation and usage tracking capabilities
    Patent number: 7783986
    Abstract: A handheld electronic book reader, program product, and method incorporate enhanced annotation and/or usage tracking capabilities. Support is provided for user creation of “contexts” for defined terms in an electronic document. Moreover, annotation data such as contexts, comments and highlighting may be associated with various users, and displayed in connection with the display of an electronic document so as to indicate that different annotation data has been originated by different users. In addition, from the standpoint of usage tracking, usage statistics for an electronic document displayed in a handheld electronic reader may be generated on a page-by-page basis, and/or in association with term definitions. Moreover, usage statistics for multiple users may be combined and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Using ontological relationships in a computer database
    Patent number: 7779024
    Abstract: An apparatus and method use ontological relationships in a query language and a computer database to improve database performance and utility. A set of ontological relationships are stored in the database and new query clauses are used to query the data in advantageous ways. Ontological relationships are preferably stored in a tree structure. This tree structure then can be used to reflect the ontological relationships of data stored in the columns of a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Randy William Ruhlow, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Distribution of Join Operations on a Multi-Node Computer System
    Publication number: 20100205170
    Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes database query joins on a multi-node computing system. In the illustrated examples, a join execution unit utilizes various factors to determine where to best perform the query join. The factors include user controls in a hints record set up by a system user and properties of the system such as database configuration and system resources. The user controls in the hints record include a location flag and a determinicity flag. The properties of the system include the free space on the node and the size join, the data traffic on the networks and the data traffic generated by the join, the time to execute the join and nodes that already have code optimization. The join execution unit also determines whether to use collector nodes to optimize the query join.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Amanda Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Optimizing Power Consumption and Performance in a Hybrid Computer Evironment
    Publication number: 20100205137
    Abstract: A method for optimizing efficiency and power consumption in a hybrid computer system is disclosed. The hybrid computer system may comprise one or more front-end nodes connected to a multi-node computer system. Portions of an application may be offloaded from the front-end nodes to the multi-node computer system. By building historical profiles of the applications running on the multi-node computer system, the system can analyze the trade offs between power consumption and performance. For example, if running the application on the multi-node computer system cuts the run time by 5% but increases power consumption by 20% it may be more advantageous to simply run the entire application on the front-end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, David L. Darrington, Amanda Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Timestamp Synchronization for Queries to Database Portions in Nodes That Have Independent Clocks in a Parallel Computer System
    Publication number: 20100205323
    Abstract: A parallel computer system has multiple nodes that have independent clocks, where the different nodes may include different database portions that are referenced by a query. A timestamp parameter in a query is synchronized across the different nodes that are referenced by the query to assure the timestamps in the different nodes are consistent with each other notwithstanding the independent clocks used in each node. As a result, a database may be scaled to a parallel computer system with multiple nodes in a way that assures the timestamps for different nodes referenced during a query have identical values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, David L. Darrington, Amanda Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Parallel uncompression of a partially compressed database table determines a count of uncompression tasks that satisfies the query
    Patent number: 7747585
    Abstract: A multiprocessing uncompression mechanism takes advantage of existing multiprocessing capability within a database to perform dynamic uncompression of portions of a partially compressed database table that satisfy a query using processes that may be executed in parallel. Historical information is gathered for each query. Uncompression advice includes user-specified parameters that determine how the multiprocessing uncompression mechanism functions. The multiprocessing uncompression mechanism processes the historical information and uncompression advice to determine an appropriate task count for performing uncompression in parallel processes. The existing multiprocessing capability within the database then processes the tasks that perform the uncompression in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Autonomically adjusting configuration parameters for a server when a different server fails
    Patent number: 7739555
    Abstract: A load balancer detects a server failure, and sends a failure notification message to the remaining servers. In response, one or more of the remaining servers may autonomically adjust their configuration parameters, thereby allowing the remaining servers to better handle the increased load caused by the server failure. One or more of the servers may also include a performance measurement mechanism that measures performance before and after an autonomic adjustment of the configuration parameters to determine whether and how much the autonomic adjustments improved the system performance. In this manner server computer systems may autonomically compensate for the failure of another server computer system that was sharing the workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Mahdad Majd, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Monitoring usage of components in a database index
    Patent number: 7730045
    Abstract: Database indexes include multiple fields that are used to track how the components of the index are used. An index component monitoring mechanism tracks how the components of the index are used, and updates fields in the index accordingly. Such component-level statistics allow a query optimizer to make more intelligent decisions regarding when to build a new index and when to discard an index, and also provide information regarding which queries are using the index, the maintenance cost of the index, and the selectivity of the index when used to process a query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Database range constraint that is dynamically limited by data in the database
    Patent number: 7720824
    Abstract: A dynamic range constraint is defined that has one or more limits that are computed from data residing in the database. In a first embodiment, a dynamic range constraint is defined for a database column that includes at least one limit that is computed from data within that column. In a second embodiment, a dynamic range constraint is defined for a database column that includes at least one limit that is computed from data in a different database column. The limits may be computed using any suitable heuristic or criteria, including statistical analysis of the data in the database. In this manner a range constraint for a column may evolve automatically as the data in the database changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Dynamically allocating space for a fixed length part of a variable length field in a database table
    Patent number: 7720874
    Abstract: An enhanced space allocation mechanism (ESAM) for dynamically allocating space for a fixed length part of variable length fields, such as VARCHAR fields, in database tables. Each record in such a variable length field has a fixed length part, a variable length part, and a pointer to the variable length part. The ESAM determines how much space to allocate based on the data that was historically put into these tables. In one embodiment, a database management system (DBMS) maintains a historical record that includes fields identifying the table, column and application ID, as well as fields that track a count and a total length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Replacing an unavailable element in a query
    Patent number: 7720839
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment replace an element in a query with a backup if the element is not available, but the backup is available. An element may also be removed from the query if the element is not required. In various embodiments, the element may be a table or a user-defined function. In this way, the query may still execute even if the element is not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Randy William Ruhlow, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Journaling database queries for database replication
    Patent number: 7685170
    Abstract: A database journal mechanism stores both row operations and database queries in a database journal. The database queries in the journal provide significant additional information that may be used in a number of different ways. For example, a database replication send mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiments could read a database query in the journal and determine that the query affects several rows. The database replication send mechanism could then transmit the database query to the computer system that hosts the replicated database. A database replication receive mechanism in accordance with the preferred embodiments receives the database query, and executes the database query on the replicated database. As a result, the transmission of a single database query can replace the transmission of many row operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, John Matthew Santosuosso, John A. Stroh
  • PHOSPHOROUS REMOVAL SYSTEM AND PROCESS
    Publication number: 20100051526
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Eric A. LAWRENCE, Joseph E. Zuback
  • Dynamic optimization of prepared statements in a statement pool
    Patent number: 7653620
    Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method dynamically optimize prepared statements resident in a statement pool to permit subsequent reuses of such statements to utilize the optimized representations of such statements. The optimization of pooled statements may be performed responsive to the tracked usage of the statements in a statement pool, to direct the overhead associated with such optimization to those statements that are more likely to be utilized in the future. Among a multitude of possible optimizations, a pooled statement that requests data in a format other than that utilized by the database being accessed may be modified to request the data in the format used by the database, thereby decreasing the overhead in the database associated with format conversions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy Alan Arnold, Eric Lawrence Barsness, Richard Dean Dettinger, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Low-impact performance sampling within a massively parallel computer
    Patent number: 7647484
    Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method sample at different times nodes that are performing similar work. Performance data associated with first and second node subsets performing the similar work are sampled at different times, e.g., in a round-robin fashion, and in accordance with a given sampling rate. The performance data is analyzed. Nodes whose performance suffers as a result of a sampling operation may be identified and removed from a subsequent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, David L. Darrington, Amanda E. Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Autonomically adjusting configuration parameters for a server when a different server fails
    Patent number: 7644321
    Abstract: A load balancer detects a server failure, and sends a failure notification message to the remaining servers. In response, one or more of the remaining servers may autonomically adjust their configuration parameters, thereby allowing the remaining servers to better handle the increased load caused by the server failure. One or more of the servers may also include a performance measurement mechanism that measures performance before and after an autonomic adjustment of the configuration parameters to determine whether and how much the autonomic adjustments improved the system performance. In this manner server computer systems may autonomically compensate for the failure of another server computer system that was sharing the workload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Mahdad Majd, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • MANAGEMENT OF PERSISTENT MEMORY IN A MULTI-NODE COMPUTER SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20090313452
    Abstract: A method and apparatus creates and manages persistent memory (PM) in a multi-node computing system. A PM Manager in the service node creates and manages pools of nodes with various sizes of PM. A node manager uses the pools of nodes to load applications to the nodes according to the size of the available PM. The PM Manager can dynamically adjust the size of the PM according to the needs of the applications based on historical use or as determined by a system administrator. The PM Manager works with an operating system kernel on the nodes to provide persistent memory for application data and system metadata. The PM Manager uses the persistent memory to load applications to preserve data from one application to the next. Also, the data preserved in persistent memory may be system metadata such as file system data that will be available to subsequent applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, David L. Darrington, Patrick Joseph McCarthy, Amanda Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Initializing diagnostic functions when specified run-time error criteria are satisfied
    Patent number: 7634690
    Abstract: A run-time monitor allows defining sets of run-time error criteria and corresponding diagnostic action to take when the run-time error criteria is satisfied. One way to define the run-time error criteria is to take a baseline measurement of run-time errors that occur during normal processing conditions. A run-time error criteria may then be defined that is based on the baseline measurement. In this manner, a rate of run-time errors that normally occur may be ignored, while a rate of run-time errors in excess of the run-time error criteria could automatically initiate diagnostic action. In this manner, the ability of a programmer to debug run-time errors is significantly enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, Cary Lee Bates, Mahdad Majd, John Matthew Santosuosso